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 "EL SECRETO"
In case you're wondering if Christian is in the novel, is there, just won´t expected.
Mr. Chasting no longer needed me at 5:30 pm, so I carefully put the rose in the box and go to find Kate.
We rode in the cars to the apartment and after Kate parked hers in the garage mounted on mine and headed towards the Little Star. Just like the day before, the line of people for dinner there was huge.
—Is this queue for entry? —Kate asked me in amazement.
—Yes. —I answered her as we walked towards the entrance.
As soon as we got there, the two guards stopped us.
—Good evening, Anastasia Steele, I'm here to see the chef.
—Go ahead. —One of them said as they let us through.
We walked down the hall to the maître.
—Good evening Miss Steele, it's a pleasure to have you back with us, please follow me, the chef will see you soon. —he said as he opened a different door to the living room.
He led us down a hallway to a small hall.
—Wait here, the chef will be with you in a moment. —he said as he disappeared through another door.
We were in a small foyer where there was a sofa and several armchairs. We sat next to each other.
We didn't sit for long, after a few minutes the door opened and the maitre came out with who was supposed to be the chef. We stood up while the maître was returning to his work station and leaving us with the chef. He was tall, with blond hair falling on both sides of his face and emerald green eyes. He approached us with a smile on his face.
—Good evening, you're Anastasia who spoke to me on the phone. —he said as he stood in front of Kate and took one of her hands to kiss her. —Nice to meet you. —he said as Kate and I laughed and he looked at us without understanding.
—The pleasure is mine, but I'm not Anastasia, she's Anastasia. —Kate said pointing in my direction.
—Excuse me. —he said as he let go of Kate's hand and came to where I was, doing the same thing.
He had an unusual accent that I couldn't identify at first, I think he was Irish.
—Apologies accepted, that's Kate, my roommate and workmate. —I told him as he stared at her while she smiled.
It was the funniest scene ever. They both looked at each other and smiled like idiots. So I decided to interrupt.
—Excuse me, but I think we're at a disadvantage, you haven't told us your name yet.
—Of course. —he said as he turned to me and for a moment stopped looking at Kate. —Elliot. Please be seated. —he said as we sat on the sofa and he sat in an armchair. — Tell me Anastasia, what can I do for you?
—I had dinner here yesterday with my boss Mr. Chasting. I just wanted to see if any of your staff noticed anything strange.
—Strange as what? —he asked intrigued.
—I don't know.
—You told me about a rose that was sent to you. How do you know it was sent to you from here?
—From what the note says.
—The rose is black by chance?
—Yes.
—Do you have it with you? — he asked me as I took the box out of my bag and showed it to him.
He opened the box and looked at the rose carefully.
—Yes, it's from my restaurant. It's not just any rose. —he said as I looked at him without missing a single detail of what he was saying. —It's an exotic species from London. They only sent me five. —he said as I was shocked. —They are very difficult to find and extremely expensive. I got those from a friend of mine. —he said as he returned the box to me.
Oh, God!
Extremely expensive?
How much would a black rose cost?
—Then you have no idea who might have taken the rose? And the handwriting on the note, maybe you recognize it or the person's initials. —I said as I took out the card and showed it to him.
He watched it for a while until he shook his head.
—I'm sorry, I'd like to help you, but I don't recognize the handwriting or the initials. —he said as he gave me back the card.
—Thanks anyway for your help. —I told him honestly as I stood up and Kate did the same thing.
—You're welcome. I just hope he's not a psychopath. —he said as got up and the three of us laughed.
—Let's hope not. Kate, shall we go? — I asked as I looked at her with his eyes fixed on Elliot.
—Yes, let's go. —she said as she looked away and we walked towards the door.
—Thank you for your help, Elliot. — I said once more, extending my hand as a farewell to him.
—It's always a pleasure to meet such beautiful ladies. —he said as he kissed my hand and then took Kate's hand to say goodbye too. —I'm sorry I couldn't help you.
—Don't worry. Thank you for your time. — I told him as we left the restaurant looking for the car.
—Wau! I almost had a heart attack. —Kate told me in the car while I couldn't stop laughing.
—The truth was, I had never seen you so affected by a man. The both of you looked at each other like idiots, Kate. All do you needed was the bedroom.
—Well…—she said as she showed me a card.
—And that card? —I asked her, squinting.
—Elliot gave it to me when he said goodbye.
—Well, at least somebody solved his problem. —I said as I drove to our apartment and Kate laughed like an idiot next to me.
—Shall we order some dinner? —I asked her by closing the door of the apartment.
—Yeah, I vote for a pizza. —Kate said as she threw herself on the sofa in the living room.
—Well, pizza it is. —I said as I picked up the phone to order. But then someone knock on the door. —Are we expecting someone? —I asked as I walked to the door and Kate shrugged.
When I opened the door there was a well-dressed boy with two boxes in his hands.
—Anastasia Steele? —he asked as he stared at me.
—Yes.
—I've got a delivery from the Little Star.
—We haven't ordered anything.
—Courtesy of the chef. —he said, spreading the boxes out to me. — Enjoy it.
I closed the door with my foot and walked towards the kitchen.
—Who was?
—They brought us something from the Little Star. —I told her as she ran to where I was.
—But we didn't order anything.
—Yes, I know.
On one of the boxes was a folded note I hadn't noticed. I took it off and read it out loud:
It was rude of me not to invite them to dinner. I hope this will excuse me.
Elliot.
Kate and I stared at each other for a moment. And then I opened one of the boxes quickly. There was nothing inside but the biscuit I had eaten with Mr. Chasting.
—You're gonna love this. —I told Kate as my mouth watered.
—Have you eaten it yet?
—Yes, at dinner with Mr. Chasting. —I replied as she stared at me.
—I don't think you've told me much about that dinner.
—There's not much to tell.
I took the dessert out of the box and put it on the counter. When I opened the other box there was an exquisite dish of something in it that I didn't know how to identify but I knew it would be delicious.
—I think you can put the phone down now, we won't need it today. —Kate told me as she took it out of my hand. —How did he know where you lived?
—I think Mr. Chasting might have something to do with that. —I replied thoughtfully. —Let's forget about it and have dinner before it gets cold. —I said while I was getting some plates.
—Yeah, I'm dying to try dessert.
—Believe me, you'll die when you try it. —I told her while she was laughing.
None of us spoke over dinner. That was delicious and we quickly finished it. Then we get to the dessert. This time I enjoyed every spoonful I put in my mouth.
—That's the most delicious thing I've ever tasted in my life. —Kate told me when we finished dessert and sat on the sofa in the living room while I was zapping on the canals.
—I told you.
—I think I'm gonna call the chef and thank him for dinner. —she said to me as she stood up smiling mischievously and looked for the card.
And she went to his room. I sat in front of the TV watching a movie I had no idea what it was about.
My secret admirer's card was still running through my mind. Now that I thought about it, I had an investigation pending. I got up off the couch, turned off the TV and headed for my room. I turned on my laptop and started looking for the exotic black rose of London.
The truth was, for such an exotic, there wasn't much information. Only that there was one person who had it all over London, although they never mentioned his name. And that it was not very frequent to find them since they were only given once a year. The plant gave fifteen to twenty roses, of which it sold only five, the others it almost always gave away to its friends. But I was more impressed when I saw what each of those roses cost.
Two hundred dollars!
Who gives $200 for a rose?
I continued to look for information but the owner of the unusual black rose greenhouse had no information.
Two hours later, I was still at the same place. I had no idea who my secret admirer might be. I closed the computer and went to the bathroom for a relaxing shower. I had to call Grace. I'd completely forgotten about her.
I finished the shower and as I sat on the bed I took my cell phone to call her. It was almost 10:00 p.m. I was just hoping she weren't sleeping.
The phone rang several times until she answered me.
—I thought you'd forgotten about me. —she scolded me, but I knew she must have been smiling.
—It's been two very stressful days. —I told her as I felt her laugh on the other side.
—What did you think of Mr. Chasting?
That's a good question, Mom. He's so hot.
—I've never had such a long agenda discussion. —I told her while she was laughing.
—How late did he keep you?
—Until after noon. —I told her while she was laughing on the other side of the line.
—I'm glad you find that funny.
—No, it's not that. Sorry I couldn't warn you, but I knew he'd do that.
—What! —I exclaimed irritably.
—Yeah, that was one of his tests.
—One of them. And he didn't tell you what the others would be?
—No, but don't worry, I know you'll get along.
—How do you know that?
—I'll tell you a little secret. —she said as I was gluing the phone more to my ear. —You two have a lot in common.
Me and Mr. Chasting have a lot in common. That I had to see.
—As far as I can see, you know a lot about him.
—No more than you.
—But you just told me...
—Don't believe everything you see, Ana, appearances can be deceiving, and I know that beneath that strong appearance lies someone kind, courteous and gentle.
—If you say so. — but I doubt very much that he and I have anything in common. —Well Mom, I just called you to talk to you for a while, I'm going to sleep, tomorrow must be another interesting day. —I said yawning as she laughed again. I loved to hear her laugh.
—It's okay, honey. Sleep tight.
—I love you.
—I love you too. — and hung up.
I settled down on the bed and covered myself with the quilt as I left my glasses on the bedside table.
—I have to forget everything, Mr. Chasting, my secret admirer and just concentrate on the work. —I said to myself as I settled down in bed to sleep. —Tomorrow will be a completely different day. I said as I closed my eyes.