I'm sitting in the middle of the bed in a Christian sleeved T-shirt while doing research on the internet. But the research doesn't last long. There's not much information about his private life. When Christian comes out of the bathroom, I stop what I'm doing. It's the first time I've seen him like this. I had become so used to seeing him with a beard of all possible lengths that seeing him like this is strange. He's completely shaved, so he looks a little younger.

—Is there a problem? —he asks as he runs his hand over his chin and sits down next to me.

I walk over to him and run my hands over his freshly shaved face. It feels smooth.

—This feels really good. —I press my cheek to his face.

I close my eyes as I rub my cheek against his face. I bring my nose closer and inhale. This is something new. It has a delicious minty smell.

—You smell so good. —I whisper against his face as my mind floods with his scent and absorbs this new sensation against my skin.

—It's the aftershave.

—No. It's something else. —I sniff again.

The menthol smell has mingled with his own creating a delicious, intoxicating aroma that is altering my senses.

—Why did you shave? —I ask him, pulling away and sitting back down across from him.

—I want to make a good impression tomorrow. —he pauses and tilts his head slightly to one side. —Not like when we first met.

I smile at the memory of that moment when we met and his appearance. He's right. He didn't look his best.

—In my defense, I must say that had I known what you really looked like, I would not have compared you to a homeless man.

—I'll remember that the next time a beautiful woman moves in with me.

—Hey. —I push him by the shoulder as we both burst out laughing.

But he pushes me back causing me to fall back on the bed and him on top of me. But then he frowns as he sits up a bit and stares at me.

—Why are you wearing those clothes? —I look down at the gray T-shirt I've taken from the closet.

—I like your T-shirts. Is there a problem with me wearing them?

—None, but it would be a waste with all the clothes in the drawers.

—What clothes?

—Didn't you open the drawer

—No, I didn't. What's in there? You know, you better not tell me, I don't want to know.

—Well, I'll tell you anyway. There are lingerie sets for sleeping and different models of sexy, daring and lacy underwear. —he says in a seductive tone.

I figured that's what must be in the drawers I didn't even want to look through.

—We should talk about that too. Why did you buy all that?

—It's for you.

—For me? I remind you that I have clothes.

—But you don't have them here in my apartment. So when you come you can stay without having to bring clothes of your own.

—You know I'm not going to come every night, right?

—I know, that's what we agreed. I'd like to have you here with me 24/7, though. —he says pulling me to sit on his lap.

I stare at him. And my gaze is lost in his blue eyes for what seems like an eternity. I have so many questions to ask him, I don't know where to start.

—Will you answer all my questions?

—Yes. I'll try. —he says solemnly as he rubs his hands on my back without taking his eyes off me.

—Were you married? —of all the questions I don't understand why this is the first one that has come from my lips.

Christian looks at me with an arched eyebrow.

—Does it bother you that I was married?

—Not at all. It's just that Elena mentioned it.

—I got married a few days before the accident and the relationship didn't end on very good terms.

—Why?

—After the accident, our relationship started to get worse and worse. I was always in a bad mood, and she always accompanied me to the physiotherapy sessions. But when I decided to stop going, we had a big fight. After that, I hardly saw her. I would sit in the wheelchair all day and when she came home from work I was asleep. Or I would just ignore her. I thought that if we didn't fight, things would change.

—But it didn't.

—No. It didn't. We were living together like this for almost 3 years. I concentrated on cooking and she concentrated on her designer career. And so we were happy. Or so I thought. —he pauses as he stops moving his hands up and down my back. —When I didn't exercise, my body became sedentary and I started to gain weight. The only thing I was interested in was cooking, it was the only thing that made me happy. So I didn't mind my weight gain at all.

—What changed? —Christian smiles slightly at me.

—Everything changed at the charity gala where I met you Ana.

He had already told me part of this story. But I don't like to remember that night too much. That night also changed my life. And that part of my life, I haven't told him yet.

—Will you tell me what happened that night? I don't remember much. —he turns his face away from mine.

—Why don't you remember much about that night? —he asks curiously.

And now he turns the questioning to me.

—Because I was a little tipsy I think.

—Ah. That would explain what happened that night. — What happened that night? Did more happen than he told me? —Well, it was a night like all gala nights, boring...

Flashback

1 year ago, O'Connor Charity Gala.

Christian POV

—Could you have worn something different at least? —already Elena is annoying, as usual. —Where is your wife tonight? —she asks sarcastically.

—At a fashion show.

—And why aren't you there supporting her?

—Because I'm supporting mom here.

I see my mother approach and she stares at me.

—You came!— she tells me with a smile on his face wrinkled by the passage of time.

—I promised I would. —I answer her as I look sideways at Elena who rolls her eyes at me. —Even though they're criticizing the clothes I'm wearing.

—You look great. —she says to me as she kisses me on the face.

—Thank you.

At least my mother appreciates the effort I made to get dressed. Or rather, to find some clothes that fit me. I had to do some last minute shopping so I could come in something other than a sweatshirt.

—Fran didn't come?

—It was her big night at the parade.

—Shouldn't you be with her on her big night?

—I know how important this night is for you. —I answer, taking her hands and kissing them. —Besides, I've heard that about her big night a hundred times.

—Son, you shouldn't neglect your marriage like that.

—I'll make it up to her for the night. —I reply with a smile.

I've heard this speech a hundred times. And I always answer the same thing to my mother so as not to worry her. But the reality is very different. Fran and I have been drifting apart little by little since the accident. Every day that passes I realize that we are only a shadow of what we were as a couple when I was competing. When I was famous. When I wasn't stuck in this wheelchair. I know our marriage ended a long time ago, and that all that's left is for one of us to take the necessary step and end this fake one that has lasted longer than it should. But neither of us is doing it.

—What about your new assistant Elena? Didn't you invite her? —my mother asks.

—I did, but apparently the girl got lost.

—Let's hope this one lasts more than two weeks. —I tell her sarcastically, because I know that assistants don't last long under her orders.

—I have a good feeling about this girl. —she answers me with a big smile.

—All right, I'll go get something to drink.

I leave my mother and Elena to welcome the guests and head for the bar. I need something strong to get me through the night. I don't really like these galas, but it's better than a fashion show.

I spend most of the evening, while the guests arrive, by the bar, even though there are waiters handing out drinks everywhere. From here I have a good view of everyone. In the distance I see my mother receiving guests, Elena has disappeared, I imagine she must be embarrassing the poor girl for being late, or coming in the wrong outfit, or something. My sister has an art that only she knows how to make people uncomfortable.

I make my way to my table as the ceremony is about to begin and sit down next to my mother who takes one of my hands in hers.

—You don't know how much it means to me that you're here.

—Yes, I do. —I tell her with a slight smile.

Every year my mother has a gala to raise money for a charity. This year in particular, she did it to raise money for an organization that takes care of children who have been abandoned by their parents, abused, or whose parents simply didn't have the resources to take care of them and were taken in by the system. I was one of those children. And I was fortunate to have been adopted by a loving, kind and caring woman who has given me everything a child could have needed to grow up well.

—It's been a long time since I've done a benefit for this organization. —my mother brings me back to the present.

—Ten years?

—Do you still remember that gala?

—I'll never forget it, believe me. —I answer as we laugh.

My mother decided to have a dance auction and put me on the list. All her friends wanted to dance with Amelie's sexy and attractive son. I remember she raised a lot that year. I don't think any of her friends even look at me nowadays. I barely recognize myself in the mirror when I see myself.

My mother leaves the table to give the speech she always gives at these galas. I smile and stop thinking about the past. I take a sip of my drink and look for Elena in the crowd of people starting to take their seats. I find my sister in the distance and she begins to approach the table with a sexy woman at her side. The first thing I notice is the black heels that stand out against the marble floor. I slide my eyes down her shapely legs until I reach mid-thigh where her dress begins, or ends. It is blue, fitted to her waist and falling over her legs elegantly. Her shoulders are bare revealing delicate skin. The neckline of the dress meets the sleeves in a perfect straight line and hides her breasts underneath. I can't help but stare at them, they are at my eye level. They are not as big as Fran's, which are actually silicone. But they look perfect on that body of few, but perfect curves.

When Elena arrives at the table my mother demands her presence and she apologizes to the woman and walks out to where my mother is. Could this be her assistant? She doesn't look bad at all. But she sure looks like my sister's other assistants. I've met them all. Humorless, uneducated and with lousy fashion sense. I must say that I have not made a good impression on any of them.

But this woman, who looks nervously in every direction except where I am, is different. I can see she feels out of place, like she doesn't belong in this world.

—Do you want something to drink? —I ask her, starting a conversation.

—No, I don't drink. —that's her only answer and she gives it to me without even looking in my direction.

But she has just arrived. Everyone drinks at parties. And I think she could use it because she looks nervous.

—Are you Elena's assistant? —I ask her, trying to get her to look in my direction.

—Yes. —but it's the only reaction I get.

—If you drink something it will calm your nerves.

Only then she turns her face towards me. She slides her gaze down my body and looks up at me with a frown. Yes. I know exactly what just happened to her. My voice doesn't match my appearance. That tends to happen, much more often than you might think.

Just then a waiter passes by with a tray of champagne glasses. I signal to him and take two glasses. I hold one out to her.

—Here, it will help you.

She stares at both glasses in my hands. She takes a step in my direction and takes one of the glasses from me, which she drinks in one go. I look at her impressed.

—You shouldn't drink them all at once, you might get drunk.

But she ignores my warning. She puts the empty glass on the table and takes the other one from my other hand and drinks it just as fast as the last one. This woman has a problem. Or she will in a few minutes. She sits down at the table two seats away from me. The lights dim and the gala begins with my mother's speech. At some point Elena sits next to the mysterious woman whose name I don't know. But I am irresistibly attracted to her. It has been a long time since this had happened to me. I look at her in the dark knowing that she can't see my gaze fixed on her, who is looking towards the stage.

When the lights come back up and they start serving dinner she grabs another drink from one of the waiters. How many has she had by now? I don't think that's very healthy. I think that if Elena doesn't run her off for being late, or the dress, she's probably doing it to put on a show at my mother's gala. And I know she will if she keeps going down this road drinking champagne the way she drinks it. All at once.

The gala is going on. The unknown woman has become uninhibited. She laughs at some joke they've told but I haven't paid attention because I've been looking at her. I must stop looking at her, this is not good for me. I apologize and leave the table for the back garden, I need some peace.

It's not my night, it's not very peaceful in the backyard. It is less well lit than the rest of the house. But there is laughs and laughter as some people line up to go to the bathroom and others just wander around, or sneak off somewhere dark to get their hands dirty. I look at my watch, it's almost midnight. There is little left of this torture. I rub my legs, slightly numb from sitting for so many hours without moving them. I close my eyes at the slight pain in my right leg. Then someone stumbles into my chair in the dark and falls face first to the floor.

—Are you all right? —I ask, offering my hand as I lean forward.

And I get a surprise. It's her.

—You idiot! Watch where you're going! —she shouts at me as she stands up without my help.

—Idiot? I'm not the one who tripped over me.

—You shouldn't be sitting here in the dark.

—And you shouldn't have had so much to drink. How many drinks have you had?

—Who do you think you are? My mother?

—No. I can guarantee you I'm not.

—Why don't you get off your ass and sit somewhere else.

—Because my ass is stick to this chair and where she goes, I go.

—Well, you should get out of the dark and go into the light where everyone can see you.

—That's what I was thinking of doing when you bumped into me.

—But it was you who bumped into me. —she said, staggering slightly.

—Really? I see you've lost your sense of balance. I think you'd better go home.

—I shouldn't have come. This was a bad idea.

—No one will miss you then if you go.

That's not quite true. I would miss her. She has made the night go by so much faster for me. She walks away talking to herself as I watch her disappear from my sight. I think she's going to take my advice.

—Christian, there you are, I've been looking for you. Have you seen my assistant?

—Your assistant? —I ask curiously. —How am I supposed to know who she is if you didn't introduce her to me?

—Don't play dumb, I've been watching you all night and I've seen you devouring her with your eyes.

And I thought everyone was ignoring me.

—Just because I've been watching her doesn't mean I know who she is.

—Her name is Ana. And now tell me if you've seen her.

—She just left that way, I think she wasn't feeling well and was going home.

—I need to talk to her. —she says to me as she walks away leaving me alone again with my thoughts.

Ana.

A beautiful name, for a beautiful woman.

End of flashback