I know some of you were sad that I had made the chapters shorter this time, so I have some good news for you, they are some how all getting longer as a I go. Not entirely sure why but I'm just going to go with it. Nowhere near as long as last time but longer none the less.
Christian's POV
As I ride the elevator to Ana's apartment, I'm can't help but wonder how Ana can afford this place, I remember when this building was built it made the papers for having extortionate rent prices. But then again who am I to say anything about where anyone lives given that I can only afford to live in Manhattan because my parents own the building my brother and I live in. It's this beautifully restored brownstone we split into two different apartments for us and our friends to live in. Maybe that's it, maybe Ana's family pay for her to live here. Hell, maybe she has some ultra-high paying clients at work, croupiers can get massive amounts in tips in high rolling casinos.
Jeez if Elliot was here, he'd probably have a stroke, he's got a weird fascination with this building I think he made our parents bring him up here like twice a week just to see each stage of construction. He was like twelve at the time and it drove them nuts, but they appreciated his passion for it, so they placated him, knowing it was all he really cared about. He really did, still does love architecture given that he majored in it. It's fair to say it wasn't just a phase.
The reason this building is so special is because its built in the shape of a T, so each apartment has its own wing, I guess. It was built that way because it had to fit around the already existing architecture, that they either couldn't take down or buy. It's also built without a fully completed top floor so instead of having a penthouse that spans the entirety of the top floor it has a pool and a garden on the top floor with a penthouse only spanning one and a half of its wings. It's supposed to be a thing of beauty, I guess I'll get to find out when I get up to Ana's. When Ana buzzed me in, she gave me a code to enter into the lift's panel to take me to her floor, but it wasn't until the P lit up on the panel that I realised she had the whole top floor to herself. There is a button for the pool as well but seeing as this elevator has two doors, I'm guessing that it doesn't open onto Ana part if someone wants to use the pool. But as I look at the rest of the buttons it becomes clear there is no garden button leading me to believe that it's just a private penthouse garden. When the elevator opens on the top floor, I'm greeted by a hallway rather than being let directly into Ana's apartment like most penthouses are designed.
I knock on the door and wait but I'm in no way prepared for her when she opens the door, her outfit is a thing wet dreams are made of. I know it's corny to say but her skinny jeans really do look like they're painted on, and her top accentuates her figure without being revealing. I'm ashamed to admit it takes me a few seconds for my gaze to reach hers because I'm too busy checking her out, but it goes unnoticed by Ana as her eyes are still firmly fixed on the floor.
"Hey." I voice as softly as I can manage because if I noticed anything earlier today it's that she can get stuck in her head and can be startled easily. Thankfully, she doesn't jump at the sound of my voice, but she still doesn't raise her eyes. So, I reach out slowly making sure my hand can be seen and raise her chin because God help me, I want to look into those beautiful blues again.
"Hey." She breathes out when our eyes finally connect almost as if she's too afraid to speak so I take that as my queue to lead our conversation.
"You look beautiful." I must have given that compliment hundreds of times, but I've never gotten a reaction like hers before. The almost instant blush that fills her cheeks and neck and the way she almost steps back from me as if startled by my words only catching herself at the last second, tells me so much more than words could ever. That she rarely gets compliments and when she does, I doubt she takes them seriously, so I decide then a there that even if it takes forever, I'm going to make this stunning girl in front of me realises how beautiful she really is.
"T… thanks." She manages to stammer out in response before stepping back into the apartment. "Uh, come in, I just need to grab my phone and then we can go." She says in a rush, and it's obvious her nerves are running rampant through her slender frame. It's not until she goes to walk towards what I assume is her bedroom that either of us seem to notice the gigantic snarling dog on the floor at her feet.
"Ben, calm. Friend." She tells him and instantly his stance changes and relaxes. I don't move, waiting for him to make the next move, knowing the last thing I want is another trip to the ER and this time with a dog bite. Don't get me wrong I'm not scared of dogs but this one is clearly very protective and I'm guessing he would do anything to protect her. "Uh… sorry he doesn't trust new people unless told to. Uh… Christian this is Ben and Ben this is Christian, a friend." She says gesturing between the two of us like he can understand us. I would say she's crazy but there's no doubt in my mind that he does because once she stops talking, he gets up and walks toward me. I raise my hand in front me so he can smell me, and hopefully decide I'm not a threat.
"Hi, buddy." I say just going to give his head a pat after he's done sniffing me, but he nuzzles into the touch, so I take that as in invitation and give him a good head scratch.
"Good to see you two are getting alone, I'll go get my phone." She says with a harsh laugh before wandering into the room across from the kitchen.
While she's gone, I take the chance to look around her apartment, no I'm not snooping just looking around. Okay, maybe a little snooping. The main part the apartment is all open plan so I can see everything from where I'm standing. First is the kitchen, a sleek modern design with a soft grey pallet, that fades into a small dining area with a table and chairs. In the living room there is this massive wall full pictures of different skylines from all over the world, I can recognise Paris and Sydney I'm about to step closer and look at them closer, but I get distracted by the floor to ceiling windows, looking out over the Manhattan skyline with a perfect view of the sunset. I don't think I've ever seen a sunset from this high up before, even in the office were only about 20 stories up however Ana lives on the 41st floor so it's even a better view.
"It's amazing isn't it?" I hear from beside me, and I spin startled by the fact I didn't even hear her come out of her room despite the fact she has on heels and the floor are hardwood.
"Stunning. It looks like it belongs in a painting." My response causes a look to pass across her features but before I have a chance to fully decipher it, it's gone. It's one that almost looks like guilt or maybe shame.
"Wanna watch it before we go?" She asks reaching down to run her good hand over Ben's head where he's nuzzling into her thigh.
"Yeah." She gestures to the couch that faces the windows and we both sit watching the beautiful view until the sun has disappeared into the buildings below.
Once the sun has set, we both sit for a few moments just taking in the beauty of the New York skyline. I don't really understand what people see in a country view, for me there will never be anything more beautiful than a city skyline at night. I get up before Ana to help her off the couch knowing that it can't be easy getting up with a broken wrist, off of a couch that basically swallows you whole.
She thanks me as we walk towards the door, as she bends down to say goodbye to Ben before we go. As I look around the room once more, something by the door catches my eye on one of the coat hooks.
"What's that?" I ask pointing, Ana looks up and her gaze follows my finger, when she spots it to her head ducks and this time, I have no trouble deciphering the look on her face this time, its embarrassment.
"Hey, hey. Don't look at it like that, tell me what it's for. Ana you have nothing to be ashamed of." I say walking over to her once again tipping her chin, so we gain eye contact.
"I… I…uh." She stammers out and I can almost feel her heart begin to race, apparently so does Ben because he starts to butt into her leg, I assume that it's his way trying to tell her to calm down. When she starts to calm as she reaches down to pet him everything falls into place.
"Is Ben a therapy dog, mental health?" I can see the shock on her face when my words register, and I'm not sure if it's the fact that I know what a therapy dog is or that I've guessed right.
"Yes." When she doesn't clarify, I go to release her chin but just as my finger slips away, she continues. "It's a bit more complicated than that but yes he is a therapy dog, mental health specifically, he's also a guard dog as well, hence his first reaction to you. It's his training, he sees anyone in his home he doesn't know he goes into guard mode. I don't know if you noticed earlier but I suffer from panic attacks, well used to now I guess, Ben was a present, a way to help me cope." She rushes everything out so fast that I barely catch it all. I can tell that was hard for her to admit. Most people would have a hard time admitting that to anyone, let alone a virtual stranger. Explaining something so personal to someone can leave you feeling vulnerable and weak. So, that fact that she offered me the information so freely, means a lot to me.
"Thank you for telling me." I say with a warm smile hoping she understands just how much that meant to me. "Is he coming with us tonight?"
"No?" She says but it's more of a question.
"No? Okay let's try that again. Do you want him to come with us?"
"Yes, but not everywhere is dog, even service dog friendly, and it's not like he's small so he can't exactly be hidden."
"Okay, that makes sense. What if I told you I know the owner of the bar and he would be fine with him coming? And that everyone we're going out with would fine too? Then would you take him?"
"Really? Uh… then yes." She says at first not believing me, but I can see her eyes searching my face. Eventually she must find what she is looking for because her posture relaxes, and she agrees.
"Okay then, let's get him ready and then we well go." I say reaching for his vest, when I pull it off the rack, I'm relieved that its thinner than it looks because it's still hot outside and I don't want him to overheat.
Ana tries to pull the vest over his head, as Ben sits quietly on the floor, clearly used to it, but with only one hand it proves harder than normal, so I step in to help. I can't help thinking that this is nothing like the time when Elliott and I tried to put a jumper on our dog one Christmas. The vest has a built-in harness, so all Ana has to do is clip the lead onto his back, I get the feeling that the leash is just decoration. Given what I've seen of Ben's behaviour he strikes me as the kind of dog that is so well trained that he walks along sider her no matter what.
"Ready?" I ask when she stands and turns back to face me, she gives me a blinding smile and I can tell how much calmer she is now that Ben is coming with us and I'm thankful I spotted the vest.
"Yeah let's go." She spins and walk to the door and I follow go to follow when it hits me.
"Don't you need your sling?"
"Oh yeah." She says handing me Ben's lead before returning to her bedroom to retrieve it. When she returns, she's trying and failing to retie it so she can put it back on and gives me an impish smile, which I can't help but return. I take it from her and retie it before slipping it over her head careful not to mess up her hair and help her slide her arm back into place before handing her back her leash. I can't help but be disappointment that with both her hands out of the way we can't hold hands. Silly really considering we just met, and this isn't a date, per say.
Once we get to the elevator, she lets me know that we need to stop a few floors down to get her protection detail for the evening. We're in the elevator on our way down when I look over and I can see all her nerves have returned and she's looking at me with a curious expression.
"You okay?" I ask trying to figure out what has caused her nerves to spike, but the answer is the last thing I would expect.
"The night we met you mention Mia, who was she to you?" She blurts before her hand flies to cover her mouth like she can't quite believe that came out of her mouth.
As always thanks for reading.
Please leave a review if you can, I love reading them.
FearfullyBrave.