"Come with me." He held out his hand, with the other on the car door. I look at him nervously, not knowing what to expect. "Trust me?" He asks reassuringly.
I nod, holding his hand. I step out carefully, pulling my dress out with me. I look up and I see the clear, star filled sky and tall, large trees around me.
"It's beautiful." I look at him in awe. "Where are we? You're not gonna kidnap me and kill me like in one of those movies are you?" I say playfully.
He laughs heartily and has this sparkle in his eyes that just makes me swoon. "I apologize as I am far from your expectations. I would like to do many things with you, but murder is not my thing, Miss Steele."
"Apologies, sir. I just hoped you were one. I get a thrill from the chase." I say playfully and I quickly take off my heels, taking off toward the sea of high grass and wild flowers. I'm high on adrenaline "Catch me if you can!"
I hear him laugh along and start running towards me. His tall stature quickly catches up to me with his long strides. I haven't had this much fun in a while, and apparently I can't stop laughing at myself for running around foolishly in this dress.
"Wait, stop!" I hold one of my arms out and I bend over and start laughing hysterically. Soon, tears of laughter comes to my eyes. Oh lord, what's going on with me!
"Anastasia, are you okay?!" He stands in front of me and I can see he is concerned.
"I'm so sorry!" I'm not drunk, I'm just high on these feelings. I think? "It's just that look at me, I'm running around like a child with someone who I don't even know. I don't do this often. You must think I'm drunk. I mean I'm crying because I can't stop laughing!" Cue more laughter. I try to calm myself down and breathe more slowly, but was promptly interrupted when I feel his arms around me.
He tackles me from his standpoint, and turns our bodies so that I land on him. My bouts of laughter soon ceases from shock. His smile is contagioius. "I don't do this often either, Miss Steele. But right now, I think you're being very adorable. In the past half hour we have spent together, I don't think I've ever met anyone like you."
I'm speechless. We stare into each other's eyes, blue meets grey in intense passion. We were soon disrupted when I unconsciously shiver from the cold air of New York.
He holds me closer to him for a few seconds before saying, "Come Anastasia, lets get you warmed up and that dinner deal we made."
"It's Ana. My friends call me Ana."
"But I like calling you Anastasia. It's a beautiful name. It suits you." I blush. We stand up and I notice the grass all over me.
"I probably look like a mess right now." I laugh nervously, pulling the loose grass from my hair.
"Trust me, you'd be gorgeous in a garbage bag." He winks at me and pulls me towards a small cottage in the distance.
He opens the door and we enter into the cozy, grand home. It's lavished with luxurious decorations yet the atmosphere is warm and comforting. He heads toward the kitchen and turns on the rest of the lights.
"Welcome to my home away from home. I hope you don't mind leftover chicken alfredo from lunch. Please, Anastasia, have a seat while I warm up the food."
I sit down on the comfy, brown sofa in front of the automatically lit fireplace. In this moment, I'm not sure how I feel. I spent so much of the recent years being hostile towards every one around me, and all of a sudden, for some unfathomable reason, I am willing to open up to this guy whom I don't know anything about, except for his name. I am lost in my thoughts of curiosity until Christian sits down next to me... offering me wine. Oops.
I think he sees my hesitation because he then says, "It's from Napa Valley. One of the bests." I blush furiously. What if this is a deal breaker? How old is he? Stop it subconscious.
"Um, I'm not at a legal age to drink." He's taken aback, eyebrows furrowed once again. He sets the two wine glasses of red wine on the coffee table in front of us.
"How old are you Anastasia?"
"I'm 19." He looks away and stares at the coffee table, deep in thought, leaning on his knees. And then suddenly, I am reminded of why I'm always close off. He looks disappointed.
"I'm sorry. I should go. I should've told you." I stand up and start to heads towards the exit. Oh crap where are my shoes? He looks up, but this time his eyes are filled with sadness.
"Please don't go. I don't want you to leave." I hesitate. Do I stay? I don't know. Just try Ana. "Please, I didn't mean to push you away. I'm just shocked because I'm afraid our age difference is gonna push you away itself."
I walk closer to him and observe his features. He looks like he's in his early twenties. How old is he?
"How old are you?" I ask.
"I'm 28 years old." That's not bad at all.
"I don't think that makes a difference to how our relationship turns out. I think we are going to be just fine if you allow it to be." I tell him and I can see that he's relieved. He nods his head.
"Good. Let's talk over dinner. I think the pasta is done." He's not playful anymore. He smiles and holds my hand, pulling me towards the 6-seat dining table that is already set. "I'll be right back."
He comes back with the pot of pasta and serves the two plates before sitting down.
"So Christian, tell me about yourself. What has got you so surprised that I didn't know about you?" I first take a bit of the pasta, moaning in appreciation.
"Well, I am the CEO of Grey Enterprise Holdings. It's a global leader in communications technologies, eco manufacturing, and next generation farming solutions."
"Wow. You're very successful for someone your age. You're so young yet you have accomplished so much." I am genuinely surprised by his achievements.
"Thank you. It's years of hard work and investments. I'm just glad it's payed off."
"I don't mean to be rude, but plenty of entrepreneurs are CEOs. Are you a multi-millionaire or something?" I'm just simply curious. He was surprised when I didn't know who he was. "Brag to me about your achievements." I giggle.
"Alright Anastasia." He smirks that sexy smirk of his. Ugh. He's gorgeous. "I was named one of thirty people in Forbes' 30 under 30 the past three years in a row. My company has amassed me billions. And I may have been last year's Forbes' Most Eligible Bachelor." And he blushes. My jaws dropped and I almost choke on my food. Well that was unexpected.
"Oh wow. Congratulations! Well how in the world did I get so lucky to end up with a one of the most well-known billionaire bachelor tonight?" I joke.
"Well obviously not most well-known if a Miss here didn't know who I was?" He teases me and I roll my eyes accordingly.
"Sorry let's not get ahead of yourself. I am far more well-known and I don't need to know anyone below me." I retort with a sarcastic tone.
"You and your smart mouth Miss Steele." He grins.
"Well if you must know, I don't keep in contact with society that much. I'm pretty much a loner if I must say. My life just fits better that way." He raises an eyebrow.
"But aren't you on the way to becoming one of the youngest A-list actress and model? No social media?"
"Maybe. Who knows where the road will take me? I appreciate my fans and I'm extremely grateful for them, but I believe that social media is just drama. My PR team runs my social medias. I'm just not interested."
"Hmm interesting. We're one in the same in this particular topic. Tell me about yourself Anastasia."
"I'm from Montesano, Washington and I came to New York when I was 18 to basically find my own independence." I look down and try to keep it vague as possible. I'm just not ready to open the can of worms just yet. I think Christian understands that I'm uncomfortable with the subject and ignores my hostile behavior. "The pasta is amazing by the way. Did you cook this?" I compliment.
He chuckles, " I wish. I'm a disaster in the kitchen. I have a housekeeper that can also, fortunately, cook my meals when I'm here. I'm from Washington too. Seattle actually. That's where GEH is located." He's only visiting. I can't go back. I can feel myself start to have a panic attack.
"Hey Ana. You're okay. You don't have to share anything with me you don't want to." His hands caresses my cheeks, thumbs rubbing consolingly. "I want you to take this at your own pace." I nod.
"Thank you for understanding." He nods.
For the rest of the meal, we talk about his family and our childhoods to our present goals and accomplishments. We talk for what seems like hours. He just seems so carefree and his personality just a change from everyone else in my life.
After we finish, he stands up to put the dishes away in the dishwasher. "I know this must seem really straightforward, but would you like to stay over tonight?" Before we talked, I would've outright refused but after I got to know him, I realized that I trust. Like really trust him. "We don't have to do anything." He adds quickly. His eyes express hope.
"Okay." I reassure with a sincere smile.
A/N Late night talks in bed next (: Please review!
