THE ORIGINAL NOVEL WAS WRITTEN IN SPANISH, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TRANSLATION. IF YOU WANT TO READ IT IN SPANISH LOOK FOR IT UNDER THE SAME PSEUDONYM AND BY NAME "EL SECRETO"

In case you're wondering if Christian is in the novel, is there, just won´t expected.

I let go of his hand and stopped in the middle of the room.

Ryan turned to me and looked at me, squinting.

—What's going on? —he asked me, standing in front of me.

I answered by staring him in the eyes.

—I can't do this. —I shook my head as I said that.

I couldn't believe I was telling him that. But he had to understand that we were either together or we weren't.

—Why not? — he asked as if the equation in front of him wasn't obvious.

— Because you can't do with me whatever you want. — I confronted him. —Last night you told me that we didn't have a relationship, that it was just one night of sex and today you come and kiss me like that. I don't understand you. If you think I'm gonna play your games, you're wrong. —I said as I turned my back on him and walked towards the door.

But what are you doing? What you want most is to sleep with him one more time. —I was rebuked by my subconscious. —No, I had to forget it, I couldn't be with him like this. As much as it cost me, I couldn't be with him like this.

My head was a complete chaos that debated whether to play along or not.

When I was about to walk out the door, Ryan grabbed me gently by the hand.

—Wait Anastasia. —he said as he turned me around and with his other hand raised my face to stare me in the eyes. —Don't go. —he said in a sweet and kind tone as he let go of my face.

—What do you want, Ryan? —I replied exhausted.

The truth was, his games had me tired.

—Apologize to you.

—Excuse me? —I raised an eyebrow as I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.

—Yeah, for being such a asshole most of the time.

He even got his nickname right.

—Ah! Then you don't always act like an asshole. — I told him to put my glasses back in place.

Ryan was still holding my hand.

—No, only when necessary. —he replied very quietly.

—So you have a dual personality disorder? — I inquired curiously.

—Something like that. —he replied as I could feel his fingers slipping in the palm of my hand, sending a delicious tingle through my body.

—Why are you doing this to me? — I said begging.

—The truth is, I couldn't resist your intoxicating smell, I almost attacked you in the car. —he said as he drew his lips closer to mine and I stopped him by letting go of his grip and putting both hands on his chest.

— You just can't do this and expect me not to feel anything. It doesn't work that way. I have feelings and I don't like people playing with them. — I said to him, moving away from him as I walked to the other side of the room, putting distance between the two of us. —They already did it once and I won't let you do it again. — The last thing I said more for myself than for him to hear.

—I don't mean to play with your feelings, Ana. You know why I kissed you in the elevator and brought you here?

—To sleep with me again, I think it's pretty obvious. —I said, turning to him.

—Yeah, that too.

—You said you didn't sleep with the same woman twice. —I asked with my arms folded as I frowned.

—I don't think that can be helped anymore. —he said with a mocking smile.

—So you want a relationship with me?

—No, I just want to sleep with you.

—Why? —That was the dumbest question I'd ever asked anyone.

—Because I want you, Ana, like I never wanted anyone else, but the fear that something will happen to you because of my past makes me behave like a fool. —he said as he sat on the bed and wiped his hands over his hair. —I'm sorry if I hurt you with my e-mail last night but you have to understand that everything I do or say is probably being monitored. —he said to me as I walked over to him and sat next to him.

—What do you mean then? You want a secret relationship with me?

— It wouldn't be a relationship, just sex. No one can know. I told you, and I keep it I'm not interested in a relationship.

—But you kiss me on the Ferris wheel? We were in public.

— That was before we slept together. There's nothing I want more than to sleep with you again. But you need to know that we will never have a normal relationship like the others, we will not go to the movies or have dinner with friends. I'll never stay in your apartment or you in mine. I can't put you in any more danger than you should be right now.

— And that decision should not be made by me. I shouldn't decide what I want or don't want.

—Ana, if you want to be with me it's like this. There is no other way.

There was no other way.

He was giving me the opportunity of a relationship with him but in a different way than I imagined. I don't know if I could have a relationship with him like that. Sneaking around. The truth wasn't what I imagined it would be. We'd only meet to have sex, nothing more. Without involving feelings. An empty relationship.

—I don't know, Ryan, I didn't imagine what it would be like then. We'd sneak up on each other here to have sex. —I said as I shook my head.

— Say yes please, and it doesn't have to be here, there are other methods to meet us on the sneak-by.

—Other methods? Is it worth the risk? Is my life not in danger according to you?

—Yes, your life is in danger, but I know you want this as much as I do, I see it in your eyes, in the way you look at me.

—You just want to sleep with me, I want to, but I also want a relationship. Get to know you, get to know me, go out, have dinner with friends, have fun. What any woman would want.

—I never sleep with the same woman twice, and with you, even if it was a mistake, I have done it and I want to do it again. I've never violated that rule. I am offering you what I have never offered to anyone...after... —he was silent for a moment as I stared him in the eyes. —What I offer you is sex without commitment or emotional ties, and you don't want it.

—I'm sorry, but I can't. —I said as I let go of his hands.

—Can't or won't?

I didn't answer him and the question remained in the air floating among us, the truth was that I wanted it very much. If it was a relationship, maybe I'd think about it. In a relationship, you risk your heart winning or losing. But I wasn't willing to risk my life just for sex.

—Then why did you sleep with me even though you knew I wasn't interested in a relationship, even though you knew it would only be once?

—A mistake. I wasn't thinking clearly and I couldn't resist the temptation. I told myself it would only be once and then I'd forget you. But I wasn't ready for all this to happen. And now you come and propose something like this... —I answered by bowing my head.

I had to think this through clearly. Yes, I wanted to, I was in love with him. But I wasn't willing to lend myself to the madness he was proposing. Perhaps the people who had murdered his fiancée did not know like him that we had already slept together and my life was not in danger as he said. But if I accepted this madness, we risked being discovered and my life would be at stake.

I knew someone was watching me and it would be best not to give them anything to think about. I got out of bed and looked him in the eyes.

—Excuse me, Ryan, but I can't do this.

It would be easier to try to forget, than to get involved in a crazy, meaningless relationship by risking both my life and my heart in the attempt.

—Anastasia... —he said getting out of bed and standing in front of me. —Are you sure about your decision? Because if you walk out that door, you must understand there's no turning back. I want you but I can't force you to do anything you don't want.

—I'm not, but it's the right thing to do. —I said as I turned around and walked towards the door.

—Let's go back then. —he said as he walked behind me.

We took the elevator and marked the 25th floor. I shook Kate's hand as I walked past her desk. Ryan came walking by my side looking stunning as only he could.

—I'll get your coffee. —I said when we got to my office.

—Ask them to bring it to me, please. —he said to me as I looked at him squinting.

—Don't you want me to make it for you?

— No, Ana, from today they bring it to my office. —he said as he walked into his office, leaving me with my mouth open.

He definitely had some kind of dual personality disorder.

All right, if that's what he decided, then so be it.

I was very hurt by the decision I had made, but I knew it was the right thing to do. It was better to forget about him now than to suffer later. I called the pantry and asked them to bring a coffee to Mr. Chasting, and left directions to bring it to him at the times he had told me. After his coffee was left, the phone rang. It was him.

—Tell me Mr. Chasting.

—Come to my office to check the agenda.

—I'll be right there, Mr. Chasting. —I hung up the phone and took the diary.

I breathed several times before entering his office and sitting in the chair in front of his desk. Ryan put all his attention on me...

We had been together for more than an hour now and the truth was that his presence and his cold and distant treatment were beginning to disturb me.

—We have some things that came up at the last minute, like the renovation of the Hyatt security system.

—Yes, I understand that they have already received a proposal and they are reviewing it.

—Yes.

—Anything else on the agenda? —he said looking at his watch.

— Yes, they called for confirmation of your attendance at the technology convention to be held this weekend in New York.

—Yes, confirm attendance, and make all necessary arrangements for the trip. —he paused the conversation and stared at me. — I hope you haven't made any plans for the weekend.

—No Mr Chasting, I do not have them, I know my duties and I know that I must go with you to this convention as I have done with Grace.

—All right. —he said as he leaned back in his chair. —If there's nothing else, you're dismissed.

I left the office with a knot in my stomach and my heart racing. I sat in my chair and while waiting for the computer to turn on I tried to calm my nerves. The truth was, I had completely forgotten about the New York convention. I couldn't tell him I couldn't go or make up an excuse.

So I set out to prepare everything for the trip. I spent the morning calling the airline to get two tickets to New York. We had to be there early on Friday so the tickets would be for Thursday night.

Kate didn't ask why Sawyer was having lunch with us but I knew she would later. After returning from lunch I continued to make the arrangements and made the reservation at the same hotel where the convention would be held.