Previously

'Wow, I have to say, that felt good to finally tell her what I thought after all this time,' I thought.

As soon as she disappeared from my view, I felt Elliot tap me on the shoulder.

"Well, she took that well," he smirked. I smirked back as he continued.

"Why don't you join us for dinner and you get reacquainted with Ana," he suggested. I nodded before we walked over to table that the girls now accompanied.

Chapter 7

Monday 15th August 2016

Ana's POV

As soon as I walked into the restaurant with Mia and Kate, I nearly turned around and walked out again when I saw Christian sitting at a table in front of us, but Mia stopped me.

"Oh, I don't fucking believe it! And he is with that trampy whore," she stated. I couldn't pull my stare away from the man I loved and his girlfriend, who looked slightly familiar.

When he looked up and locked eyes with me, I felt my heart skip a beat. When his girlfriend looked around and stared at us, I instantly recognised her. She was the bitch who was lost her temper when I poured hot coffee and no matter how much I apologised she continued acting as if world war three broke out.

The Christian I knew, hated those kinds of people and put them down constantly. It showed how much he had changed in the past two years.

The hostess was about to escort us to our table when a loud bang echoed through the restaurant.

"Enough! That is my sister and her friends you're talking about and nobody talks about them like that," he yelled. He spoke with so much anger in his voice that tears fell from my eyes as I continued to watch their argument.

"What is wrong with you? How dare you speak to me like that! I'm your girlfriend and I deserve to be treated with respect," she snapped and if possible, my heart broke a little more of her confirming that he wasn't mine anymore.

I blocked out their argument as we walked to our table but paused when we heard her screaming.

"WHAT?" she yelled.

Elliot looked from us to his brother and shrugged his shoulders as he made his way over to him.

"Are you in love with someone else?" she asked. My breath hitched as he locked eyes with mine before answering.

"Yes! I'm in love with someone else and she happens to be standing over there," he answered, not tearing his eyes away from mine. She looked over at me with a look of hate and fury before raising her hand and slapping him hard across the face. She was about to hit him again, when Elliot grabbed her raised wrist.

She looked like she was about to cry and I almost felt sorry for her when I saw Christian lose his temper.

"The first one was free but if you touch me again, then I will forget that I was raised a gentleman," he growled and I waited in bated breath for her response but Christian didn't give her a chance.

"As of tonight, you will no longer have access to my bank account... See you around," he continued to growl at her.

They continued to argue back and forth as I tuned them out until I heard a loud clatter of high heels stomping out of the restaurant.

I opened the menu and scanned through it. I was about to close it when I felt Christian sitting beside me? My body stiffened slightly at the feel of him next to me, as I looked back back at him, I found him looking more gorgeous than ever.

"Ladies, Christian is joining us," Elliot stated. Mia and Kate looked at me as if seeking confirmation. I shrugged, pretending not to care when I really wanted to throw myself in his arms and forget about everything that happened.

My friends were so quiet you could hear a pin drop until the waitress came to take our orders.

I ordered the 8oz petite filet mignon while Mia and Kate the Flemings house salads. I had to laugh when Elliot ordered the 20oz Prime bone-in ribeye.

"Oh my god, Elliot! How on earth can you eat all that?" I asked in astonishment but all Elliot did was smirk back at me while rubbing his stomach.

"Ana, if you knew Elliot then you would know that a 20oz steak is just a snack to him," Kate chuckled, but I shook my head.

"There is no way he can eat a 20oz steak in one sitting," I challenged while Elliot's face lit up.

"Do you wish to make a wager on that, Ana Banana?" he asked as he looked over at Christian who was sitting there, watching our banter in amusement as the waitress placed our meals in front of us.

I eyed Elliot's steak and grinned while thinking 'this will be one bet I will win.'

Ok Elliott, you're on! Just name your terms," I suggested.

Elliot looked from me to Christian who was tucking into his own 12oz main filet mignon.

"Ok! If you win, then I will be your slave along with Kate and Mia's for one day," he smirked. I looked over at Mia and Kate who were giggling with excitement.

"Alright, I agree but what if you win?" I asked. Elliot looked from Christian to me before answering.

"If I win, you go out with Christian for one night, and put your hostility to rest," he answered smugly.

I was about to disagree when he continued.

"Ana, you need to learn how to be around Christian, even if you don't get back together. We would like to continue doing things together but can't if you and Christian are always at odds with each other. I mean even now I feel the tension radiating off you both."

I looked at Christian sitting beside me as he smirked arrogantly before answering Elliot.

"Ok! It's a deal," Ana answered.

Elliot chuckled before he dived into his steak.

Christian's POV

I smirked as I thought 'How was Ana supposed to know that Elliot eating an 20oz steak was like an Olympic sport to him'. I watched as he mangled the steak while thinking of where to take Ana out on our date. I needed it to be special enough to win her back.

'I could make reservations at Per se. I heard that you needed to make reservations, months in advance but I know people and was sure that I could pull a few strings to get in. The after dinner, we could take a horse drawn carriage through Central park.'

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard cheering from beside me. I looked from Ana who was sitting there with a huge smile on her face to Elliot, who was looking slightly green and with a half-eaten steak in front of me.

My heart sank as I watched him push the plate away and run straight for the rest rooms.

"Woohoo! We have a slave for a day," Mia exclaimed. Kate joined in with her excitement while Ana looked deep in thought before addressing me.

"Christian, could I speak to you in private?" she asked. I tried not to show that I was surprised by her request so I nodded. Kate and Mia were so into their plans for Elliott that they didn't notice when Ana and I left the table.

We sat opposite each other at a vacant table, and didn't say a word for several minutes. Thankfully, it was Ana who first broke the silence.

"Christian, when we spoke earlier in your classroom, I can't deny that I was hurt over the fact that you didn't wait for me. I mean, for the past two years, I had to live with my parents and put up with the fact that they continued to put us down as well as making my life a misery. My parents tried to set me up on a number of dates but I continued to turn them down because I couldn't see myself with anybody but you," she said, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"I was hurt and upset by the fact that you didn't wait for me and gave into your parents nagging by dating that woman but I behaved immaturely this morning and I'm sorry about that," she apologised.

I reached over and took her hand in mine as I looked in her eyes.

"No, I'm the one who is sorry. When we separated, it was as if I lost a part of myself. I think that is why I let my mother talk me into dating Karen. I didn't realise until recently that she was trying to control me but never again. I'm in control of my own destiny and it's about time she knew that," I explained as Ana smiled.

"Not to change the subject but this isn't the time or place to be discussing this. I know that Elliot lost the bet but I agreed with him that we should talk, just the two of us," she said.

I tried to hide my excitement at what she was saying as Ana continued.

"So, you choose the day and time and let me know," she smiled as she stood up, but I leaned over and placed my hand on her arm.

"How about Saturday night? It will be good for you to get your first week of classes out of the way first," I suggested. She looked thoughtful for a second before nodding in agreement. We went back to our table, where Kate and Mia were looking at us in wonder. Kate was about to say something when Elliot came back to the table.

"Would you mind if we left? I'm not feeling so good," Elliot asked as he stood from the table. Kate and Mia nodded while getting up from the table but Ana continued to sit.

"First, Elliot, we need to discuss our bet! You lost, so you need to be a slave to me, Kate and Mia for one day," she smirked. I looked at her in awe as she continued.

"How does Saturday suit you," she asked as she looked at Kate and Mia who nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, whatever," he answered as they walked out of the restaurant. I paid the bill before following them outside. It seemed like the fresh air was giving Elliot some colour.

"Well bro, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Elliot said before him, Kate and Mia got into the car that the Valet brought around.

Ana looked back at me and whispered, "I wouldn't want to be in Elliot's shoes on Saturday when he realises what I have in store for him," she chuckled as I grinned.

"And you have a date with me Saturday night," I reminded her as she leaned in and kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear.

"I remember and I can't wait," she answered before getting into Elliot's car driving off. I shook my head. I sincerely couldn't believe how mature and grown up was about this. She simply took my breath away.

I handed the valet my ticket and waited for him to bring my car around as I thought that the first thing I needed to do was to cancel all Karen's credit cards and take her name off my bank accounts. Secondly, I needed to confront my mother, to show her that I was the master of my own universe and that I would be the luckiest man in the world if Ana gave me another chance.