Christian POV
"Security team?" Ana asks as I pour the bubbling liquid into champagne flutes.
"Close protection. They're under Taylor's control. He's trained in that, too." I hand her a glass.
"He's very versatile."
"Yes, he is. You look lovely, Ana. Cheers." I raise my glass to meet hers. She takes a sip and closes her eyes, savoring the wine.
"I just want to finish this night" she says. I feel the same I just want this night to end.
"Here, you're going to need this." I give her the velvet bag that contains her mask. "Open it."
Ana does and pulls out the delicate silver masquerade mask and runs her fingers through the plumes.
"It's a masked ball."
"Of course it is." She examines the mask in wonder "Let's get over with this night"
A few hours later
I have to say that this night was a good evening, any problem, any surprises and my date make a wonderful jobs being spectacular.
I look at my left and I see Ana looking in the quietly water. We are in the boat house of Ana's house and there's this feeling like something it's not right.
"What you think?" I ask. She looks at me for a few moments. Thinking.
"The Monday I have to fly to New York for Fashion Week and after that I think I will be gone for like a month." She says. I don't understand why she sounds like this.
"You shouldn't be excited?" I ask.
"I am, it's just...there's a lot of things going on" She stands up and take her shoes and offer me a hand "It's exhausting"
We start walking into the back yard of the house, I can see Taylor looking all from the distance. When we are in the door of the terrace, she turns to look me.
"What you gonna do a month without seeing your best friend" She ask. I smile.
"I will survive" I say and she smile. "Good luck in your thing and I will see you in a month" she smiles and looks lest anxious.
"Don't do anything stupid" she says. I don't planning do anything, what I gonna do a whole month without Ana's presence. It's gonna be challenging but I can handle it.
"Since you don't plan to see your best friend tomorrow" she give me that ironic look. "Have a safe fly and don't be a stranger"
"If you need anything, call me"
"Okay dad" we both start to laughing.
This whole situation looks like the romantic shit in the movies when the best friends look at each other and are about to say they feelings for each other. But with my luck, that's ain't gonna happen today. I take a step and give her a kiss in her forehead.
I guess this is a 'See you later' for now.
A few weeks later
Milan Fashion Week
Ana POV
This last week I haven't feeling good. If I don't have to do some modeling and go to some Fashion Shows, I would stay in my hotel room.
My phone start to ring and it's Ray. I answer at the third ring.
"Hi Dad" I say. I wash my mouth and I just look sick as fuck.
"How is going everything, Ana Bear" He ask. I come out of the bathroom and get in the bed.
"To the moment good, but I really don't feel good. Maybe was food poisoning." I say. I feel like shit "I feel really sick dad"
"Why don't you stay at the hotel, until you feel good" He ask. I wish I could do that.
"Because I have shit to do, Dad" I say. Now I feel bad for explode like that. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't explode on you. I'm gonna be okay, don't worry"
"You're sure?"
"Pinky promise"
Two weeks later
Seattle
Christian POV
We have arrived at my parents house for our weakly dinner. I get out of the car and Taylor follows me.
When I enter, I see that almost everybody is here even Ana's dad. I take my seat.
"How are you, Christian" Ray ask. I leave my phone and the maid start to serve the food.
"I'm good, Mr Steele" I say. Elliot and Mia are low talking and looking in my direction "How are the business"
A hour later
We are in the living room, sharing some drinks. I think about asking Ray about Ana, but I don't do it.
"Christian, have you talk to Ana in this days?" Mia ask. I look at her and every pair of eyes in the room stare at me.
"I haven't talk to her since NYFW" I say. Grace enter in the room with just in time to hear my answer.
"Oh, sweetheart! You guys are fighting again?" She ask.
"Not really, she's been ghosting me since that" I know via Sawyer that she's ok, but anything more that that.
"Actually she was sick a few weeks ago, the last time I talk to her, she told me that she was in some spiritual something" Ray says.
"I can't believe she don't invite me" Mia says. We all smile at that.
Ana POV
I'm in my room and my flight was last night. It was not my intention to hide myself in my room and literally ghost everybody.
Ray don't like to lie, but I tell him that only was for tonight. I don't really want to see everybody, So I tell him that if anyone ask about me, he's gonna say that I'm in some spiritual shit.
Tomorrow I have a appointment with Dr Greene in her office and to be honest, I'm terrified to see her tomorrow.
Since I started to throwing up in Milan, at the beginning I think that was some kind of food poisoning.
Then the dizziness started, I believe that was because I was so fucking stressed. Anyway she has to give me my monthly shot.
My phones ring and it's a message from Mia.
Mia ️
I can't believe that I wasn't invited to your spiritual encounter.
Me
It's gonna end tomorrow, I should be back in Seattle in the night 😉
I really do need a vacations.
Next Day
I'm in the office of Dr Greene and lest say that my outfit says 'discretion'. Im wearing a lounge set with sunglasses. When I enter in her office, she receives me with a smile.
"Always a pleasure to see you Anastasia" she says. She takes a cup and give it to me "You already know what to do"
When I give the the cup, she start to asking me questions. I tell her that I was sick and that my period was late, but it was for the stress. The test is ready and she takes it.
"Congratulations! You're pregnant" I repeat those words in my head and I think I'm in shock.
Congratulations! You're pregnant
Congratulations! You're pregnant
Congratulations! You're pregnant
"This can't be happening, I'm in birth control" I say. I think I'm about to have a panic attack.
"Birth control it's ain't one hundred percent secure, when can make a ultrasound to confirm it"
I lay in the ultrasound table with a sheet over my middle part, she takes the ultrasound stick and put it a condom and some blue gel and tells me to relaxer. It's feel uncomfortable, I see the screen and I don't know what I'm supposed to see.
"It's too early to see the heartbeat, but yes, you're definitely pregnant. Four or five weeks, I would say." She frowns. "Looks like the shot ran out early. Oh well, that happens."
"Would you like me to print out a picture for you?"
I nod, still unable to speak, and Dr. Greene presses a button. Then she gently removes the wand and hands me a paper towel to clean myself.
"Congratulations, Anastasia," she says as I sit up. "We'll need to make another appointment. I suggest in four weeks' time. Then we can ascertain the exact age of your baby and set a likely due date. You can get dressed now."
"Okay." I'm reeling and I dress hurriedly. I have a blip, a little blip. When I emerge from behind the screen, Dr. Greene is back at her desk.
"In the meantime, I'd like you to start this course of folic acid and multivitamins. Here's a leaflet of dos and don'ts." As she hands me a package of pills and a leaflet, she continues to talk at me, but I'm not listening. I'm in shock. Overwhelmed. Surely I should be happy. Surely I should be thirty . . . at least. This is too soon - far too soon. I try to quell my rising sense of panic.
I wish Dr. Greene a polite goodbye and head in a daze back down to the exit and out into the cool fall afternoon.
A few hours later
I'm in my way to Escala, after I leave Dr Greene's office, I received a text from Christian asking if I was in the city. I suppose some paparazzi took a picture of me.
After think about, I agree to have dinner in his apartment. This should be good, I believe I can do this. I can talk to him. Christian is going to freak, I know, but how much and how far, I have no idea.
When the doors of the elevator opens, I enter in the living room, Christian is waiting for me, he gives me a smile when he sees me.
"Hey stranger" he says. I give him a nervous smile.
"Hey you" I say and the smell of the food is killing me, God I'm so fucking hungry.
"You gonna tell me what I did for you ghost me" he ask. We are eating. Thank Goodness for Gail, cause this taste amazing.
"I just have a lot of things happening, it's ain't personal" He looks at me and now I'm more nervous. "I had a discussion with my mom, you know how these things are"
"I can't be your best friend and be there for you, if you don't tell me what's going on" he stares at me, looking for something. Something that gives me again.
"I know that, it's ain't problems with your Mom, so tell me" I think I'm about to passing out.
I take a few breaths and try to calm down.
"Ana?" I look at him and I can see that he's really worried.
"I'm pregnant"