After he came in, I ordered a cup of coffee. And I tried to concentrate on work. But it was impossible. All I could think about was Christian putting his fingers in his mouth, savoring me and the madness I was almost about to do. And at this moment I regretted that we had been interrupted. Then I remembered what I had to do and I got to work on it, I'd charge him my fees later. And I would double it.
I only needed half an hour to pass the firewalls and access the main server where all the information was. Making sure to erase all traces of my raid there after copying everything necessary and leaving. As if I had never logged in. After encrypting all the information I copied it into a flash memory and stored it in my purse.
I was checking the mail when Mr. Chasting's office door opened and Benjamin left. They had been meeting for almost an hour.
—See you, Miss Steele.
And without saying anything else, he left the office.
My desk phone rang.
—Come to my office. —and he hung up.
His tone of voice had been cold, serious and demanding. I got up quickly and went into the office. I sat at his table.
—I need you to convene an urgent meeting with all TecFall directors. I want them in fifteen minutes in the meeting room.
— Did something happen?
—Nothing of importance, just a few adjustments I have to make on the occasion of my visit to London. This is a top priority, I need all managers without exception.
Christian had taken off his jacket and was taking off his tie. I decided not to ask him what had happened, much less tell him that I had fulfilled his commission, later I would.
I left his office and quickly called all the directors to an emergency meeting in the meeting room. Ten minutes later all the managers were in the room, including Benjamin, the CEO of London. When everything was settled, I decided to leave. I was going out the door when Christian grabbed my arm. I turned to him. He had the two upper buttons of the shirt unbuttoned and the sleeves folded up at the elbows. You could say he was stressed.
— Where are you going?
—To my office. —I replied as if it were the most obvious thing.
—Stay, you must know this too since you are involved.
Then I saw my mother go into the meeting room and sit at the head of the table.
What was going on?
— What are you talking about?
—I know it's a very sudden decision. —he said, looking at his watch. —Sit next to my mother. —he said to me very softly as he pulled my arm to Grace's side. —Let's begin. —he said out loud, catching everyone's attention.
The attendees began to sit in their seats. Christian stood between Grace and me in a very protective pose. When everyone was seated Christian began the meeting.
—I apologize for convening this meeting at such short notice but I had to make some urgent readjustments.
What readjustments?
— As you all know this week will be the first test of the prototype of artificial intelligence based on nanotechnology and will take place in London. This morning I received a visit from the CEO of London... —all eyes turned to Benjamin sitting at the other end of the table... —.and after meeting for an hour, we have made a difficult decision with which I am not very happy but it is necessary.
All the attendees looked at each other and began to mutter to each other. I looked at Christian but his face reflected no emotion.
—There will be a temporary change in the direction of the company.
The murmurs increased.
—This is not something that was done without thinking. —he looked at Grace and she smiled at him. —Grace has given me her unconditional support and agrees with the decision I made.
Grace was in on this, too. I stared at my mother and she smiled at me.
—Next Thursday will be the PIANANO1 test. And from tomorrow TecFall will be managed by London CEO Benjamin Thomas Wilkins and I will be in charge of London management.
What? This was unexpected, very unexpected. I looked at Grace and she smiled at me tenderly. Why was she smiling at me like that? What was Christian planning with this sudden change in the agenda? What was going on with protecting me?
I needed answers to all my questions. And the sooner the better. But this was neither the time nor the place for that.
—Tomorrow morning he will contact you and give you all the necessary information. Anybody have anything to say?
Nobody moved their lips.
—That will be all, thank you, you may leave.
The directors started to get up and leave the meeting room. Grace kissed me and got up, said goodbye to Christian with a kiss on the cheek and just like everyone else left.
I couldn't get out of the chair. I still didn't believe what had just happened.
Christian was leaving for London tomorrow.
One day.
We only had one day left together.
—Let's go. —Christian interrupted my thoughts.
When I looked around I realized that we were alone. I got up from my seat and Christian intertwined his fingers with mine and stared at me.
—Follow me.
And I followed him without protesting.
We left the meeting room for the elevator. No one was there anymore. Christian pressed the button and the doors opened. The elevator was empty. We went in and before the doors closed Christian took the key out of the elevator, introduced it and led me to the secret room.
As soon as we entered, he pressed a button on his watch and stared at me.
—I know I owe you an explanation, and you must have hundreds of questions to ask me, so I will try to summarize everything for you quickly. —he said to me as we sat on the edge of the bed.
—All right. —I said as I listened.
—Before the London CEO came in this morning I got a call from my superior. They intercepted a telephone call and discovered that they would try to steal the prototype once again in London.
— What?
—And not only that, they believe the suspect works in London in conjunction with someone here. That's why I had to make these sudden changes, which involve you.
—I don't see how. —I inquired sarcastically.
—You really think I'm going to leave you here to your fate, you're coming with me to London.
— You're crazy! I can't leave everything here and go with you to London. What will my mother say?
—Your mother agrees with the decision.
— Have you talked to my mother about taking me to London with you? But who do you think you are to talk to her before me? —I exploded, as he thought to talk to her before I did.
—His son.
True, I had forgotten.
How could I leave my whole life here and go and live in London with Christian?
And when it was all over. How could I be? —Shattered. —my subconscious repressed me. Yes, I was going to be destroyed. As I saw it, I only had one option. To go with him to London, where Christian would protect me. There was another option, but I quickly discarded that one.
To remain here abandoned to my fate, with a broken heart and a death threat, was not an option.
We didn't have time for much when we arrived that night. We ordered a pizza around 11:00 pm and after eating it accompanied by a soda, we quickly started packing for the trip. Christian had taken care of all the travel arrangements and our flight was leaving at 8:30 am. I had so much to prepare and so much to leave behind.
How long would we be in London? It could be weeks as well as months. How long could a mission last?
I was finishing packing my first suitcase when my phone rang. I looked for it in the clothes that were scattered over the bed.
It was Kate. I put the phone on speaker. Christian was taking a bath.
—Hello Kate.
— How long are you going to be in London?
—I don't know Kate, it's not something I can just ask him.
— So is the relationship very serious?
—Yes, we can't live without each other. —literally.
— Wow! You don't know how happy I am for you, I never thought you could forget "the idiot".
Yes, it had been difficult. But I had made it.
—Neither did I.
—I see you're willing to do anything for him.
—Yes, Kate. I would. If now he asked me to jump out of an airplane, I would do it without hesitation twice.
—I'm glad you found someone who loves you like you love him.
—Yes, so do I.
— Have you finished packing?
—I'm doing it as we speak.
—Well, I'm not bothering you anymore. Finish your suitcases and don't forget me.
—I won't do it, Kate, or better yet, you won't leave me.
—How well you know me. I'll let you finish Ana, good night, have a good trip.
—Thank you, I'll call you as soon as I get settled in London. —And I hung up.
And I stared at the phone on the bed.
—You don't know how much I'd like him to love me the way I love him. —I said to the phone.
I took a deep breath.
I didn't like lying to Kate. But what other choice did I have. She couldn't know the hidden truth behind my relationship with Christian. I wiped a tear from my cheek.
Then I felt the bathroom door open. Christian came out with a towel tangled around his waist.
— Are you all right?
—Yes, I need a shower. —I said, running quickly to the bathroom and closing the door behind me.
There were too many feelings, too many emotions. Too many changes in too little time. I opened the shower and got under the water as the tears flowed out of my eyes.
Tomorrow at this time I would be beginning a new life, in a country practically foreign to me, with a man who I love with all my being, but who does not love me. —But he wants you. —my subconscious shouted at me.
Yes, sex with Christian was great. But it couldn't all come down to that, could it? Could I just be with him for sex? Well, so far it's been like that, and I was doing great. And so it would be until he finished his mission that the same could end the day after tomorrow as in three years.
But most of me wanted more, I needed more. And I knew that sooner or later I wouldn't be able to continue this agreement and I would have to give it up completely. But for now, as long as I could and felt capable, I was going to enjoy the moments we had together to the fullest.
1: Prototype of Artificial Intelligence based on Nanotechnology.
