Ana had the day off because after the furniture had been moved into the offices the other day it was now up to HR to interview for the open positions so they could finally start to work on the first of the upcoming month. She had already made appointments with some promising new authors and others that already worked with Cross Publishing, but had been coming to New York until now.
Work was what kept her sane, but she had also learned that sometimes she needed to take a little break and surprisingly, she had found out that she enjoyed to go to a spa once a month to get pampered and her weekly visit at the nail salon had also become a ritual she treasured, because it gave her the chance to just relax and have some meaningless chit-chat.
After finding a salon she liked near Escala she had an appointment there today and was just in the middle of getting her mani/pedi when someone took the seat next to her to soak her feet.
„Urgh... the weather is disgusting, I hate fog." She heard the woman say and put her magazine down.
„Mia?" She asked and Mia Grey turned around.
„Oh my god! Ana, how are you?"
„Great, you?"
„Me too. Christian told me you are back... why didn't you come to Kate and Elliot's wedding?" Mia asked and Ana sighed.
„I've been gone for so long and we didn't get the chance to talk things out... I didn't want to ruin her big day... was the wedding everything Kate has hoped for it to be?"
„It was a true princess wedding... just beautiful. Elliot cried like a baby when he saw Kate in her dress... and Christian gave a beautiful speech. Just like Ethan."
„How is he?"
„I don't know... we don't talk much. We tried to date, but he told me later it feels wrong to him because his sister is dating my brother. I guess my Mr. Right is still out there." Mia said with a pout. She wanted to find love so bad, but every guy she met didn't come even close to the picture she had created in her head.
„You'll find the right one eventually and you are still young... so there is no rush." Ana offered even though she knew the feeling of just wanting to be the bride and not watch her friends getting married, but that was a topic she didn't want to discuss right now... or until she could do something about it.
„So, do you have plans for tonight?"
„No, probably just ordering food and go to bed early."
„But it's Friday, we could go out. There is this great club, good music, the bartender makes delicious cocktails and it's not too stuffed to dance without ending up in an unwanted bump and grind sandwich." Mia said and against her will Ana was tempted to agree. Being friends with Gideon had come with many nights spent at one of his nightclubs and in doing so she had learned to enjoy dancing the night away every now and then.
„I know you want to." Mia said when she noticed the smile on Ana's face.
„Ok, I'm in, do you want to pick me up at 8, we can have some drinks at my place and then take a cab. I live at Escala now."
„Perfect, I can visit Christian and then come to your place."
„Ask him if he wants to join us." Ana heard herself say before she could stop the words from leaving her mouth.
„Really, awesome!" Mia cheered and Ana knew she now had no other choice than to spent the night with both siblings. When she was being honest with herself she had to confess though, that she wanted to see him as well... she wanted more than just see him, she wanted to tell him everything and beg him to forgive her... hope he could still love her, but she couldn't... not until this nightmare was finally over because she knew he would move heaven and earth to make this last piece of her nightmare go away and while it would be a great help, she also knew she could never look at him again if he found it and saw it... it was just too much.
„Are you alright?" Mia asked when she saw the troubled look on Ana's face.
„Yes, sorry, I was just thinking about work..."
„So, what are you going to wear tonight so I know which color not to go for?"
„Not quite sure, either the good old LBD or my favorite purple bandage dress."
„Ok, I was going for red or pink, so all is good." Mia said with a smile and they fell into a more comfortable conversation about Mia's plans to open her second restaurant soon and Ana learned that not surprisingly Mia wasn't the cook in her first restaurant, because she didn't want to commit to work seven days a week. Instead she had hired staff to run the place for her and planned on opening a few more restaurants in the following years to turn it into a successful chain of world cuisine restaurants.
Back at home Ana made some phone calls and started to read some manuscripts which seemed to be promising and worth reading more than the first three chapters. She had just found one she really liked when Gideon called.
„Hi, aren't you at work?"
„I am, but guess who came to my office."
„Oh my god, Christian is in New York?" She asked.
„Yes, I don't know if he is staying, but he was here. Ana, maybe it is time for you to tell him the truth."
„I can't... not as long as... you know. I couldn't survive it if he saw it and he wouldn't either."
„Ok... I'm doing all I can Ana but we don't have any leads right now."
„I know... just please keep looking."
„You know I will, Ana... don't worry, I'll get it for you."
„Thank you, Gideon."
„Not for this, Ana. So, what are you up to?"
„Reading manuscripts and later I'm going out with Mia, Christian's younger sister, I met her by chance and she can talk anyone into anything." She giggled.
„Sounds like a fun girl to be around."
„She is great... you would like her."
„Ana." Gideon warned.
„Just saying."
„I know, but I also know that you love to play cupid... that's how all my guy friends are now happily married and even my younger sister is now engaged because you played the matchmaker, but I don't want to settle down." He said.
„One day you will... you just need to find the right girl, because if you do she will make you want to settle down without a doubt."
„Changing the subject." He grumbled.
„Alright... fashion question, the little black number with the sequins or the purple bandage with the cutout back."
„Number two, number one screams fuck me, and I'm not there to beat the guys off of you." Gideon said making her laugh.
„It's not that bad."
„It is and you know it, you just don't want to give yourself as much credit as you deserve in the looks department."
„Maybe, but then again if I was a vain bitch we wouldn't be friends."
„True, so I'm flying down for the opening of the new branch. I'll be there on the 30th and stay until the 3rd, so you can show me around Seattle if you want to."
„Of course, I want to... maybe we can go to Montesano for an afternoon so I can show you where I grew up and introduce you to Ray."
„Sure, sounds great... so enjoy your night."
„You too, bye Gideon." Ana ended the call, took a shower, styled her hair into a high ponytail, then put her underwear and dress on, did her makeup and returned into the living room where she had a salad for dinner and then a glass of wine while she waited for Mia. Seeing that Christian had been in New York this morning she didn't expect him to show up to go clubbing with them and it made her feel relieved and upset at the same time.
When it knocked at her door she got up and forgot to breathe for a second when she was faced with not only Mia but also Christian.
„But... I thought you were in New York." She murmured.
„I was, but I flew back just in time to go to the club with both of you." Christian replied with a smile that made Ana turn around, so he wouldn't see the effect he had on her.
„Cocktail or wine for you, Christian?" She asked as she started to mix her favorite cocktail.
„A whiskey if you have."
„Jack Daniels or Fireball?"
„Jack Daniels." Christian replied and so she gave Mia a cocktail and him a whiskey.
„How is the work on your new offices going?" He asked.
„Good." She replied.
„Just good?" Christian questioned.
„Well, I hope you do understand that I can't give you any details since you happen to own a publishing house in Seattle as well." She replied this time with a smirk and he raised an eyebrow.
„You think you can beat me when it comes to business?" He asked and now she raised one eyebrow.
„Christian, I would never dare to imply that I have even half the knowledge or capability when it comes to mergers and acquisitions as you have... when it comes to the book world, however... let's just say if I was out for blood SIP would be dead weight in a month from now." She said.
„Challenge accepted, Miss Steele."
„You want me to ruin one of your companies?" She asked baffled.
„Ana, when I bought SIP I did it to gift it to you one day... and I kept it for the same reason. Now, however, you already have a career and even though SIP is established within Seattle, I have to admit that you working there now would mean a step back for you, which is not what I want for you. However, I'm very intrigued to see if you can live up to what you just said."
„Oh, I can ruin SIP without a doubt, but this is not game, people's livelihood is no joke to me." Ana said still reeling from his admission that he had bought and kept SIP for her.
„Every single employee can find a new position within GEH, so Ana interested in a friendly wager?" He challenged her and she was intrigued.
„What do you want?"
„A weekend."
„A weekend?" She asked not quite sure what he meant.
„Yes, if SIP is still running within a month from Cross Publishing being open you have to spend a weekend with me, 48 hours just you and me, no internet, no phones, no tv, no nothing just us." Christian said and Ana was not sure if this was a good idea because even if she agreed she now wanted to lose just to have this time with him, even if the thought of him finding out the truth scared her.
„Why Miss Steele, are you afraid you can't live up to your own words?" He teased her and that did it for her.
„Game on... and it's Miss Lambert." She said with a pout.
„Baby... as long as it's Miss I don't give a fuck what your last name is." Christian said making Mia giggle and Ana roll her eyes.
„Keep rolling your eyes, Ana... I'm going to have fun with that when you lose."
„Funny, you didn't even ask what I what I want when I win." She said instead of acknowledging his last comment.
„What do you want?"
„I'm not going to tell you... you'll find out when the time has come." She said when really, she had no idea what she wanted.
„Can we take a ride in your Aston Martin, Ana... that car looks amazing." Mia said when they went to the garage where Taylor was waiting for them.
„Mia, I had a glass of wine, two cocktails and a shot, same goes for you and Christian had a glass of wine and two whiskey... no one is driving the DB9 tonight... but I can pick you up for a drive around town next weekend." Ana said, because even though she felt like she was fine to drive she knew she wasn't and wouldn't take any risks. So they all got into the car with Taylor driving them to the club while Ana was wondering what she had gotten herself into by agreeing to do the wager...