"Who can ever love an inhuman thing, a monster?"

Christian immediately let go of her face and turned his head away. Ana was so confused; the thought of the man in her vision turning into something inhuman made chills go up and down her spine.

"Christian?" she whispered, not understanding what just had happened.

He still had his head the other way, refusing to look her in the eyes.

"Look at me, please? I… I don't understand what just happened. I just saw myself?! No, it wasn't me… it was Agathe… she was pregnant and… and Soterios… he… he…" she managed to say but couldn't finish her sentence.

Ana shook her head and grabbed Christian's face, making him look her way. And when he did look up at her, all she saw in his eyes was pain… and sorrow and a tad of bitterness.

She caressed his cheek, while Ana let her tears flow freely.

"Christian, please. Tell me. What's going on? I… I don't understand. And I see it in your eyes that you know. Tell me?" she pleaded.

Christian saw confusion in her eyes and also love. She felt love for him? Oh, he wanted to. He desperately wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to tell her that Soterios didn't disappear during a storm at sea, but that he left Agathe because of the curse ( family secret), because he turned into an inhuman thing and was terrified to hurt his unborn child and wife, and that he himself also was capable to turn into that 'thing', that monster.

He wanted to tell her, because she wanted to understand it all. But… He shook his head. No… it was best if she didn't know. Cause like she just whispered minutes ago: "Who can ever love an inhuman thing, a monster?"

At the moment Ana purposely brushed her fingers against the skin of his face, attempting to get a reaction from him.

"Christian? You can tell me. Does it have to do with that horrible man in the forest, the day you were attacked? Cause I remember him asking me for help. He asked me to break the curse? Who is he? Is he family of yours? Cause he sure looks an awful lot like you. And where is he now?" Ana asked, not her intention to bombard him with those questions.

But she couldn't help but ask so much, because Ana really wanted to know. She still didn't believe in curses, but that creep in the forest did and so did Calinico and Galya. Ana just wanted to understand, and wished that Christian would open up to her…

Christian thought very hard at that, his brain working overtime, but he came to the same conclusion every single time. He should not tell Ana. His heart told him to, but his head told him no! And the way her fingers were brushing against his skin, didn't help either. It was like she had him under her spell. He wanted to pull away, but he didn't have the strength to do so. So Christian just sat there, quietly without saying a thing to Ana.

"Christian, do you also believe that the curse is real and that I can break it?" she whispered.

She was afraid to hear his answer, but Ana wanted to know if he too believed…

At that, Christian swallowed hard and knew that they were now on very dangerous grounds. If he would tell her now that he did believe, will she think that he purposely lured her in? Cause that was not true! Will she think that this whole time, he has been tricking her to like him? Will she think that he did all of this so he could use her? No… he didn't want Ana to think that he was this calculating, controlling jerk. He'd rather have her hating him for being distant again than that she thought that he had misled her into liking him. The last thing Christian wanted was for her to think that he purposely wanted to use Ana.

All that Ana wanted from him at this very moment, was for Christian to be honest with her. If he did believe the curse is real then… then she wanted to understand it all… but at this moment she just wanted him to open up to her and be honest, nothing more and nothing less.

Christian knew that he was a centimeter away from falling in love with Ana and he knew she probably felt the same way. But it just happened; the last thing he wanted to do was 'use' her. At that, Christian pulled away from Ana, making her whimper lightly. She instantly missed the feel of his skin on her fingers and what she saw in his eyes this instant, made Ana's heart bleed.

He had closed himself off from her again. The walls around him was evident and strong. Christian's face was expressionless, again. At one point he opened the window and the limo came to a stop.

"Miss Ana, we have arrived at your destination. The others are waiting for you." The limo driver said.

At that, Christian looked at her and politely said." Ana. See you later, OK? Go have fun with the others. I'll only be at work for 1 or 2 hours."

Ana nodded at that, the disappointment clear on her face and walked out the limo without looking back once…

~ Ten minutes later, on Christian's yacht ~

At the moment, Ana was sunbathing with a book in her hand, lying on her stomach. She was wearing her two piece, almost making one of the workers of the dock fall into the water when he saw her in it. They all laughed at him, but said man walked away blushing like a teenager.

Ana really liked Christian's yacht. Kate liked it too, saying that it was a real turn on. At that, Ana pinched her best friend.

"Ouch! What did you do that for?" Kate asked.

"My father is also here you know… and Calinico and Elena. They could hear you!" Ana scolded her.

"So if they did? I am just stating the obvious. By the way… Christian is GORGEOUS." She said.

"I know he is." Ana replied.

"And he likes you too." Kate stated.

"I know he does." Ana retorted.

"But?" Kate asked, while raising an eyebrow.

"But nothing, OK?" Ana snapped, not her intention to be so harsh, but it slipped out.

Ana wasn't in the mood to talk about their host. She was very disappointed in him. At that, Kate observed her and narrowed her eyes.

"What?" Ana asked.

"What happened between you two this morning?" her best friend asked curiously.

Ana let out a breathy sigh at that." Everything was going great. I helped him to get ready for work. We talked and laughed. In the limo we… uhumm… I kissed him, but then it all went downhill. I asked him a question. I know it wasn't the simplest question, but… well I asked him and… and right before my very eyes I saw him close himself up again. He put up his walls around him… just like before…" Ana explained.

At that, Kate asked." But what did you ask him?"

Ana shook her head at that." I don't wanna go into details, Kate. Not right now." Ana replied, then started biting the insides of her cheek.

"OK." Kate said, not wanting to press the matter.

"I really don't know what to do, Kate. I really, really like him. But I'm starting to get fed up, you know. To me it feels like Christian opens one door, so I can get in. But the second I'm inside, he slams two doors right in front of my face! I just get frustrated... argh!" Ana blurted out, her hands clenched.

At that, Kate grabbed Ana's hand and squeezed it lightly. She then decided to lighten up her best friend's mood, so she changed the subject.

"So you two kissed?" Kate asked, a smile gracing her pretty face.

Ana smiled at that and nodded, a dreamy look on her face.

"How was it?" Her best friend asked, curiously.

"It was AMAZING." Ana replied, her fingers automatically brushing her golden rose pendant.

XXX XX XXX

At the moment Christian sat behind his desk in his office, attempting to get some work done. He tried to concentrate, but all he could think about was the look on Ana's face when she stepped out of the limo. He tried his best to shake it off, but without any success. It was a look of pure disappointment— that's how Ana had been looking at him.

Out of frustration he groaned aloud, making his secretary run from her desk and open his door.

"Are you, OK sir?" she asked, concerned.

Christian shook his head at that, looking at the older woman.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I… I just have trouble concentrating, that's all." He replied.

"Why don't you take the day off, sir? Clear your head a bit." She advised.

"No. I will be, OK. Thank you though. I'll just finish this first." He responded, while attempting to smile at her.

The older woman nodded at that, and walked back to her own desk.

The second his secretary was out of sight, Christian grabbed his crutches and walked to the balcony of his office. He watched the sight before him and inhaled the pure, fresh air. Christian felt awful about how he acted towards Ana this morning. At that, he mentally kicked himself.

"Why? Why are you so incredible, my whirlwind?" Christian whispered, his mind bringing him back to when he had Ana in his arms, holding her close.

At the moment Christian felt so torn. He knew that being honest to her was at this point the right thing to do. Cause just this morning, he almost confessed his love to Ana. He clenched his hands into fists and closed his eyes. Trust— trust was such an issue for him.

This morning Ana kissed him, making him feel the intensity of it, making him feel how much she cared for him, the feeling blowing his mind as it was happening. It was indeed a special first kiss, one that he'd always remember… for sure.

But then there's the other issue: Honesty. Christian knew deep down that he should tell Ana about Yorgos and himself. He knew that there was no turning back now, but…

But he saw the look in her eyes, after she had that vision of his ancestor (Soterios) turning into something else. The words that Ana had used, felt like a dagger through his heart. 'Who can ever love an inhuman thing, a monster?' Was what she whispered.

Could she? Could Ana love him if she knew that he was able to turn into that 'thing', that monster?

He didn't have the answer to that question, his head starting to hurt from all the thinking. At that, Christian groaned and walked back inside the office. As a sigh escaped his lips, he decided to do something. Christian grabbed his phone and dialed Ana's number. After three rings she picked up her phone.

"Hello." She said.

"Ana?"

"Christian." she stated.

"Ana, I… I'm so sorry about what happened in the limo."

"Which part?" she asked firmly.

At that, he let out a deep breath and paused for a moment. Oh, she was so going to make him suffer, huh?

"The part, when you asked me those questions and I… I didn't answer you. And the part, when I pulled coldly away from you. And the part, where uhmm… where I acted all distant like before… I… I am really sorry about all of that, Ana." he explained.

At that, he heard Ana sigh from the other side of the line. Oh, he wished that he could be there with her and take her in his arms.

She didn't reply, so Christian continued." I— I, uhmm… I'm also sorry that I acted like a total jerk. Please, can we start over from the part where you kissed me and I felt like I was on cloud nine?" he pleaded.

"No." Ana replied, making his heart break into bits and pieces. But then she continued." What I mean is that I want to give you a chance, OK? But… no more Mr. Distant, got it. I know that I overwhelmed you with all of my questions. But I was overwhelmed also by that vision. I know now that it wasn't fair of me to expect you to answer all of it at once. So for that, I apologize." Ana explained.

"You don't have to apologize, Ana. I'm the one who's sorry." He stated.

"OK, then. Maybe in time you can answer my questions one at a time?" Ana asked carefully.

"OK, it's a deal." He replied, as a smile graced both their faces.

XXX XX XXX

At the moment Christian's secretary just wrote an email for a client and just as she was about to press send, she saw a beautiful young woman walking in with a little boy. Said woman held onto the little boy and looked very nervous.

"Excuse me. But can I please talk to Mr. Grey?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The secretary shook her head at that." Sorry, Miss. But you have to make an appointment first." The older woman stated.

"I know that, but please? It's a very urgent matter. I really need to talk to him. I… I, he is the only one who I can turn to. PLEASE?" the young woman pleaded, tears pooling in her pretty eyes.

Christian's secretary was a strict person who took her job very seriously, but she noticed that the young woman was on the verge of breaking down. So, she decided to disturb her boss. Something just told her that this was the right thing to do.

At that, the older woman walked over to Christian's office." I'm really sorry, sir. But I have a young woman here who is in desperate need to talk with you." The older woman said, as she looked him straight in the eyes.

Christian frowned at that." I don't remember having an appointment." He said.

"I know you don't, sir. But I think you want to talk to her. Her name is Xylia." She stated.

Oh, that immediately caught Christian's attention.


Note: Oooh, boy! What now?

And will Christian really tell Ana about the family secret? Hmmm...

To guest G: Oh, most definitely! There is a link, and we will find out more in later chapters. I'm happy you like my story. ;)

Guys, it's my pleasure to share my story with you all. * heart sign*

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, you all.

And tell me what you think of it? Thank you in advance! :)

And of course, THANK YOU all for the wonderful reviews and support! :)

Till next chapter! :)

J