Chapter 25: Chapter 25

CHRISTIAN

I'm on my way home after a long days of meetings. I actually enjoying going home knowing that Ana is there and that we get to eat dinner together. I know it's a bit silly but fuck my evenings this week have been great. Ana and I have been doing great, she's actually feeling more at home and I hate thinking that she's going to be going home soon. I'm hoping to find a way to have her stay with me longer. I know that if we spend more time together like this we won't be able to fight our feelings much longer. Ana and I fell asleep in the living room one night watching a moving and I slept so peacefully. Ana had put a bunch of pillows on the floor and sat down then she told me to join her and before we knew it we were being woken up by Taylor who tried to hide his smile. I walk into the penthouse and hear laughing, I follow the sound till I reach the living room to find Mia, Kate and Ana who gives me a hug which is something she's been doing when I come in.

"Christian you're home early?" Mia says like she knows what time I get out.

"This is the time he usually gets here unless he's working late which was only once this week." Ana says like it's nothing. I notice Kate looking at Ana with a huge smirk.

"We tried to kidnap our best friend here for dinner but she said it'd be better if we join you all instead. Ethan and Elliot should be here any minute." Kate says testing my reaction. I smile and hold Ana tight to me making Kate raise a questioning eye brow which makes me laugh.

"As long as I get to eat with Ana I guess I can put up with all of you." I say making them laugh.

"Gee thanks." Mia says.

I go to the room to change and I hear Kate ask Ana if anything has happened between the two of us. When I come back out I see that Elliot and Ethan are already here. Gail lets us know that dinner is served and we all walk to the dinning room. We are all talking and laughing having a good time, it feels so good to do this. We move to the living room once we are done and continue talking.

"So when do I get my room mate back?" Kate asks and I tense up.

"Not any time soon." I say trying to keep the mood light.

I see Ana smile and nod her head as Kate nudges Mia on the side. The rest of the evening goes by rather quickly, eventually every one goes home leaving Ana and myself alone finally.

ANASTASIA

I sit on the couch and Christian sits next to me. "Why was Mia so surprised that you were home when you got here?"

Christian turns to look at me and sighs before he starts talking. "I'm usually working really late, at times it's because I do have a lot of work and other times it was just because I preferred to be at work than to come here."

I can hear the sadness in his voice. I smile thinking that he's been coming home early because I've been here. I've been having so much fun this week with Christian. We've been getting to know each other again and none of us have really changed. I know our feelings for each other are getting stronger and that scares me. For a moment during dinner I imagined me and Christian were actually together which is silly but I couldn't help it. Kate kept asking me if I was sure nothing has happened between me and Christian because we seem so natural together. Mia started laughing when she said she could feel the sexual tension. I told them to stop because Christian and I are good friends. They of course didn't believe me but luckily Ethan and Elliot showed up not that it did much because Kate gave me a I'm not dropping this look. I know she kept studying me and Christian the whole night which made me laugh.

"Ana" I turn to look at Christian who is studying me. "I lost you for a moment there."

"I'm sorry I was just thinking how fast this week went by." Christian is about to say something when Taylor walks in with a serious look.

Christian lets me know that he is going to talk to Taylor in the office and will be back shortly. I decide to go take a shower. I put on some pajamas and head back to the kitchen to make myself a tea. I notice Christian walk out of the study and gives me a soft smile when he sees me in the kitchen.

"Is everything alright?" I ask.

"Yes. Taylor just informed me that Jacqueline tried to come up to the penthouse but she was escorted out right away." Christian looks at me but I don't say anything just nod.

"Ana you are safe here, she won't come near you. I think you should stay here longer to be on the safe side. Taylor told me she seems desperate so we still don't know what she is planning to do."

"I know I'm safe Christian but I shouldn't have to be hiding out. She just slapped me and we are acting like she did something worse, and I hate it. I enjoy being here with you but I know you have your own life to get back to. I don't want to keep being a burden. I have my own apartment, plus Kate who is my room mate and I know you will allow her to come visit me but I'm sure you'll eventually get tired of us."

"First of all I will never get tired of you. As for Kate I can't really say." We both start laughing. "Ana you are always welcomed here and there is no way you are a burden to me. I don't have anything to get back to because all I ever did was work all the time and you already know what I did on the weekends which is something I will not be doing again. You are not hiding out because you are still going to work and are able to go anywhere you want even if I do prefer for you to stay inside but you have Sawyer with you. I'd rather over react than regret not being able to do more if something did happen to you but that won't happen. I don't think she slapped you by the bruise you had. If she did we are all pretty sure she used something to hit you with."

Christian grabs my hand and walks me to the sofa.

"I don't want you to change because of me Christian. Don't get me wrong it's good to see you be more relaxed and act your age. It's like you are enjoying life again but I don't want you to pretend or change because you want to impress me or anyone else." I squeeze Christian's hand hoping he doesn't take it the wrong way.

"Ana I'm doing this for me. I'm finding myself again, you know better than anyone that this is the real me. I'm not pretending or trying to impress anyone. I feel happy and I am enjoy life, it might sound weird but I feel free. When I started doing that shit with Jacqueline, I always felt trapped. Now I know that it wasn't the real me and that's where I had to pretend in order to please Jacqueline. I was doing it because I thought if I got control myself it would impress you and my parents. It's stupid how at the end of it all I was never myself with Jacqueline, I couldn't be. I became what she wanted me to be cold and distant. It did start off as wanting to do it for you but then after Flynn made me hash it all out I realized that I needed to do it for me. It wasn't going to work unless I really wanted this so believe me baby I'm not pretending and I'm doing this because it's what I want even if you and we don't end up together which I won't give up easily." Christian says winking at me.

"Ana I don't want you to feel pressured either. I need you to be you even if your a pain in the ass sometimes." I start laughing and Christian gives me a huge smile.

"I don't feel pressured Christian, and I ain't holding back trust me. I just wanted to make sure that you are happy and that you do this for the right reasons." I tell him.

"Ana I was thinking maybe we could go to the Mile High club for dinner."

"Yes! That will be fun." I say giggling and Christian laughs.

"You would think I have you starving." Christian tells me.

"I think I'm over fed here with Gail's delicious food." I say.

"How was you day today? Were you able to close that deal after all?" I ask.

"It was full of meetings today non stop but over all it was a good day. I didn't have any problems now that I think about it. As for the deal we did close on it and I actually saved some money. They were disrespecting Ross. They would cut her off when she was talking or they wouldn't really let her talk, I of course addressed it the first time and told them we would not put up with that kind of behavior. They stopped but then they started again so of course Ross being Ross told them that she was pulling back on the deal and she hung up on them. Originally I would have been pissed but for some reason I started laughing. They called back right away but both Ross and I refused to take their call. Towards the end of the day we finally decided to take the call and I told them the deal was off the table and I gave them a new figure which was almost half of what we had originally agreed to. I told them it was our final offer so they can take it or find someone else." I love the way Christian lights up when he talks about his business.

"Weren't you worried that they would refuse your offer?" I ask.

"There was a small chance of that happening but we also knew that we were the best offer they had. They were about to argue about it but I told them I don't have time for bullshit so I was going to hang up but they agreed, not happily but they agreed. I had Andrea email the contract so they can sign it so we can start working on all the paper work."

"Wow but that's what they get for being mean to Ross. I'm glad it all worked out in your favor." I say.

"How about you Ana? How has everything been coming along? I know Elliot made you his personal assistant along with being his accountant."

"Elliot is something else but he's been a great boss. I know it's a little overwhelming for him at times. Having to run both Grey Construction and my dad's business so I don't mind helping him if it makes things easier. I'm actually liking it, I was nervous at first but I really enjoy it. My dad's secretary is helping me out which helps. I know Elliot is going to move us over to Grey Construction so it will be easier which we don't mind since his building is bigger and nicer. You know Elliot he likes being out in the field so the fact that he trusts me enough to give me big responsibilities makes me feel happy and confident. It's weird...I don't know how to explain it. I know my dad wanted me to take over but I didn't feel I was ready and I still don't but I guess because I know Elliot is really in charge I feel like I can handle the pressure better it's not all on my shoulders. I know that's probably bad and maybe doesn't make sense. I guess I really do enjoy all the work Elliot is throwing my way. It's like we're partners in a way, that's how he treats me but I still look at him as the boss." I say giggling.

"It makes perfect since. I understand what you mean. Do you ever wish you could have gone to publishing like you had dreamed of doing?" Christian asks me.

"Actually no which is surprising. I had thought about it but you know as strange as it is for me I really love how my career has turned out."

We talk some more and joke around. It feels really good to do this with Christian. We eventually go to bed and part of me wants to sleep next to Christian. We say good night and head to our rooms.