THE ORIGINAL NOVEL WAS WRITTEN IN SPANISH, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TRANSLATION. IF YOU WANT TO READ IT IN SPANISH LOOK FOR IT UNDER THE SAME PSEUDONYM AND BY NAME "GIRO DEL DESTINO"

I spent the rest of the morning finishing the removal of the remaining layers of varnish. It was around 12:30 am when Mia and Ethan picked me up for lunch at Deli´s in central park.

We had one hour for lunch, so we weren't in a hurry to have a loud lunch while enjoying the view of central park. Fifteen minutes before our lunch break was over, we decided to return to the museum. As we were arriving on the steps of the MET entrance Mia called me.

—You saw who's right in front of us. —she said as I looked ahead.

About 10 meters ahead of us Christian was walking, he was wearing the black pants that fit too well on his body and the white linen shirt still tucked away in his elbows, he had taken off his tie. I was walking at a steady, safe pace, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn't take my eyes off him and watch his wide back and his agile, elegant movements up the stairs. He had changed so much, he didn't remember walking so elegantly, London had changed him and I didn't know how much.

But did I want to know? No, better not, I didn't want to know what had happened, that would only make things worse than they already were, it was enough to have him as my boss. That was going to be my biggest torture from now on. We climbed the stairs of the entrance without almost noticing it because I was in my inner thoughts. Mia and Ethan came after me, as I felt them laughing and whispering very quietly, even though I couldn't hear what they were saying.

—Now we're catching up with you. —I heard Mia screaming but I kept walking towards the elevator, not even seeing where I was going.

I was very much in the middle of my thoughts about the reunion with Christian, until I inadvertently stumbled upon someone and ended up on the floor on my buttocks.

—Are you all right? —not that voice, another except that one.

I looked up slowly and Christian was looking at me very worried, I had never seen him with that worried look.

—Anastasia are you okay? —Oh, my God, that voice, how it had changed.

Shit why he had to say my name like that, I didn't know what I had but it sounded so different than other people said it. And that tone of voice he had now, made my legs tremble as they had in his office.

—If you don't tell me something in the next five seconds I'm going to think you have a concussion and I'm going to have to carry you and take you to the hospital.

—No...I'm fine. —I told him a little nervous as he extended a hand to help me to my feet.

I took his dubious hand, he pulled me hard and quickly stood in front of him. Not only changed physically, I was also much taller than I remembered. For a brief moment I stared him in the eyes, losing myself in his deep gray gaze without saying a word.

But there was something in her gaze, it was no longer the same cheerful look that I knew, now she looked colder, darker, more controlling. I took my eyes off of his and let go of his hand, I didn't realize I was still holding it.

—Thank you. —I replied as I got on the elevator that it was opening the doors at the time.

Christian came up to me and the doors closed with just the two of us. At this moment what I wanted most was Mia and Ethan's company, I didn't know why but Christian's closeness made me nervous. The trip in the elevator took longer than usual, I didn't know if it was because Christian was almost stuck to me or because the elevator was actually going slower than usual.

I could feel the tension between us, but there was also something else, I could feel a strange sensation running through my body completely. It was strange, something like this had never happened to me before. Neither of us said anything, and as curious as I was to know what had happened in his life, I held back, because I knew very well where it would lead me if I asked him. And I didn't want to suffer again like I did six years ago. Luckily for me the elevator doors opened at that moment and I quickly left without even looking at Christian.

I continued working on the painting all afternoon, I hadn't even noticed when Mia and Ethan had returned. I was very focused on what I was doing, until a sound behind me made me jump terribly. Christian was behind me watching what I was doing.

—You scared me! —I told him as I tried to calm my hectic breathing.

—I'm sorry, I didn't mean, I just want to see how the restoration was going. —he replied very seriously as he looked closely at the picture.

I watched him over my shoulder, which only made me more nervous than I already was, both because of his closeness and because of the scare he had given me.

—It's pretty well preserved, but I want to go easy, just like when it was painted by Rembrandt in his day. I told him as he continued to look at the picture.

—I like that very much, that you want to take it easy on a job as complicated as this. —he replied, looking away from the painting for a moment and staring me in the eyes.

—Thank you. —I replied as I looked at the painting again.

—I won't bother you anymore then, you can go on. —he said as he walked away from me.

Christian left again to his office, but before he entered he looked where I was. After entering he closed the curtains of the office again and I never saw him again. I continued my work until 5:20 p.m. when I started picking up things to leave. And at 5:30 p.m., Mia Ethan and I were walking down the stairs at the entrance of the MET.

—Not bad for a first day. —Mia said to me as she smiled.

—Not bad at all. —I replied.

—See you tomorrow. —Mia said, giving me a hug.

—See you tomorrow, Anna. —Ethan told me.

—See you tomorrow. —I told them as I looked for my car and drove home.

When I arrived I found Kate in the kitchen, happier than usual preparing dinner.

—I see you're in a very good mood today. — I told her as I left my purse at the bar and sat on a stool.

—Very happy. —she said with a big smile on his face.

—Well, tell me how it went, I assure you it was better than my first day at work. —I told her with all possible attention.

—Well, I'll tell you what, he lives outside of Manhattan, in a big house, well, you could say it's a mansion. —she said very excited.

—Is this his home or his parents'?" —I asked curiously.

—His parents', he's living here to be close to business.

—Then he introduced you to his family. —I asked her intrigued.

—Yeah, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. — she replied with a smile.

—I told you. —I replied with a smile.

—And how was your day at work. —she asked me curiously.

—You're not gonna believe me when I tell you. —I told her as she left what she was doing and gave me her undivided attention.

—What happened?—she asked very intrigued.

—Remember the story I told you about Christian?

—Yeah, the guy you were gonna sleep with when you were 16, right. —Boy, she sure has a good memory.

—The same one.

—What happened to him? —Kate asked again.

—Remember what I told you about the supervisor? — I told her staring at her.

—Yes, they called him the beast or something and he was very strict about the hours they told you about. —she said to me. I could see he didn't miss a thing.

—Exactly. —I agreed with her.

— And I'm glad it has something to do with each other. —She said strangely.

— Well, they're the same person. — I replied.

—Nooo! —she said, opening his eyes wide.

—Yes, and that's not all. —I told her as I watched his reaction.

—Is there more? —she replied in amazement.

— If the fucker's a son of a bitch. — I told her and started to tell her what happened in the office that I hadn't told anyone until now.

—Well, he's a son of a bitch just like you told me. — She agreed with me as she continued with dinner.

—Yes, it has changed completely, it has nothing of the Christian in it that I remember, although I cannot deny the obvious, he look so good. But let's change the subject, I don't want to talk about things that aren't worth talking about, I'm going to take a quick bath and come back so you can tell me about the party. —I said begging her not to ask me anything else.

I went out to the room and bathed quickly, clearing my head a little of Christian's and what had happened in the office. I still couldn't believe we'd met again after all these years. I went back and sat on the sidewalk again.

—Tell me about the party. —I encouraged her.

—All right, well I'll tell you that the party was great, Elliot introduced me to a lot of people and his best friend, the owner of the nightclub we went to.

—I see you had a great time. —I said, I was excited to see her happy.

—Yes and Tray invited us to spend the weekend on his yacht, you too. —she said, putting a plate in front of me.

—Tray? I don't know any Tray. —I said strange.

—Tray is Elliot's best friend. —she answered my question, but I still didn't know him.

—The owner of the club? —I asked in amazement.

—Yes. —she said with a smile.

—And why he invited me, I don't know him. —I said with a frown on my face.

—That's my fault. —she said smiling as I stared at her.

—Katherine Kavanagh what did you do? —I told her snuffing her out with my eyes.

—I told him about you and he wants to meet you. —she said with a smile.

—Kate, you know what happens when I'm alone with a guy in a room. —I said, snorting as I shook my head.

—No one said to stay alone with him, just to meet him, —she said with a smile.

—You understood. —I said, grimacing as I stared at her.

—I'll tell you something similar to what you told me yesterday afternoon, nothing bad could happen if you spend the weekend with some friends and meet someone. —she said, putting a plate of roast chicken on the bar.

—I'm going to accept, but I think I'm already regretting this, I don't think it's a good idea. —I shook my head and said, This was not going to work out, I had a feeling.

—Great, on Labor Friday you'll come straight back here. —she said to me in a bossy way.

—Shall we leave on Friday? —I asked her with a frown.

—Yes, Tray is anxious to meet you. —she replied very excited.

—Tell me you didn't show him a picture of me?

—No, I didn't have any with me, unfortunately, but I gave him a good description. —she said while I was looking for the silverware.

—It must have been very good to have invited me. —I told her to put the cutlery on both sides of the plates.

—It is good that you have accepted, so you can clear your mind a little and forget one beast to focus on another. —she said, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

—Hey —I said without understanding what he meant.

—Don't ever tell Elliot I said this. —she said looking at me seriously.

—What.

—Tray is so hot.

—Yeah, then I guess you'll give me a description of him. —I told her while Kate was thinking about it for a moment.

—I could do it but I think the impression will be greater if I don't tell you what it's like, — she said laughing and making me laugh too.

The week passed quickly, and I continued to work on restoring the Rembrandt. Christian would leave his office every afternoon and check on the progress of the restoration work. In the mornings I waited for Mia and Ethan at the entrance of the MET and sometimes they waited for me.

When we cross him Christian he would say good morning and we would say hello back, as Mia always said, but he was still serious all the time. Sometimes I got the impression that I was upset about something but I didn't care. Occasionally we exchanged glances, without saying anything and other times I surprised him by looking where I was.