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.
And with that idea in mind I started to prepare everything.
The rest of the day passed quickly. On my way back from lunch I went to get Mr. Chasting's coffee and as I entered his office he was on the phone with a frown on his face.
He looked upset.
—What do you mean, a week! —he exclaimed frustrated as he tapped on the table. —Do you have any idea who you're talking to? —he said as he gestured to me to put the coffee on the table.
I put the cup on his desk on a coaster and got out of there quickly before he poured his rage on me. I had never seen him angry before and the truth was that he looked very sexy with the frown. What am I saying, he looks sexy either way.
The afternoon passed quickly without any news and when I realized it was almost time to leave. Then I felt the sound of an incoming e-mail and smiled like an idiot when I saw that it was from Christian.
From: Christian
To: Anastasia Steele
Date: Saturday, 24/10/2015 12:15 AM, CET
Subject: Hello.
How was your day?
Christian.
Well, at least I could talk to Christian. Although I didn't know whether or not to tell him about my boss. It was too late there.
From: Anastasia Steele
To: Christian
Date: Friday, 10/23/2015 5:17 PM
Subject: Summary.
I think I can sum it up in one word. Stressful. I thought you'd be asleep by now.
Ana
Christian answered quickly
From: Christian
To: Anastasia Steele
Date: Saturday, 24/10/2015 12:19 AM, CET
Subject: Stressful?
I will as soon as I talk to you for a while. I know it's probably none of my business, but how about you take it out on me and tell me about your stressful day.
Christian.
And if I told him. Well, I couldn't tell him everything. But I felt he would listen to me if I explained the situation to him.
From: Anastasia Steele
To: Christian
Date: Friday, 10/23/2015 5:23 PM
Subject: Changes.
I have a new boss and the truth is that sometimes he behaves like a gentleman, but sometimes like a jerk. And I really don't understand how hard I try. I'm sorry, I don't want to drag you into this, but I know you'd listen to me.
Ana
Christian took a while to answer, but eventually he did and I smiled as I read his e-mail.
From: Christian
To: Anastasia Steele
Date: Saturday, 24/10/2015 12:27 AM, CET
Subject: Jerk?
Yeah, I know what you're talking. Don't apologize, you can talk to me about anything you want, I told you that. Now what don't you forget about the jerk of your boss's for a moment and think of a proposition I want to make to you.
Christian.
A proposal? The night before, he was asking about the masquerade ball, would it have anything to do with that? There was only one way to find out.
My office phone rang, it was Kate.
—Are you going to leave me abandoned today too? —she said to me as soon as I answered.
— Sorry, it's just that I'm running out of time, I'll be right out. —I said as I hung up the phone and quickly texted Christian.
From: Anastasia Steele
To: Christian
Date: Friday, 10/23/2015 5:29 PM
Subject: Proposal?
Does your proposal have anything to do with the masquerade ball? If so, I accept. I have to go, it's time to go and my friend Kate is rushing me since we're going out at night. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Good night, Christian.
Ana.
I'd check in his answer later. I picked up my things and before I left I knocked on Mr. Chasting's door.
—Do you need anything? —I asked him, opening the door.
He just looked at me with a slight smile.
—No, Ana, you can go now. —he said as he refocused his eyes back on the computer.
I closed the office door and went out looking for Kate.
—I'll never understand the behavior of men. —I told her while I was parking at Navy Pier.
—You mean Mr. Chasting? All men are very similar Ana, you just have to understand them.
Yeah, apparently she'd dominated that part already. We walked to the place where we were going to meet Elliot and his friend and they weren't there yet so we stopped to wait for them.
—Did you tell him exactely where we'd meet? —I asked Kate after 15 minutes there waiting.
—Yes, we agreed to meet in front of Giordano's. —she said as she looked back at where the restaurant was.
It was already getting dark and the sky was full of oranges and purples mixed with rubbing. I watched the sky while we waited.
—Oh God! —Kate exclaimed as I turned to her.
—What!
And I could see the reason for his exclamation. Elliot was accompanied by none other than my boss, Ryan Chasting.
They were both talking and Mr. Chasting was smiling like I had never seen him before. He looked carefree and young. He was wearing tight jeans and a gray shirt with a black jacket. Unlike today at the office, his hair was messy. How old would he be? He couldn't get past 35. He was walking safely in our direction. As soon as his eyes connected with mine I could see that he was astonished to find me here.
Oh, shit! I forgot to tell him I was going on vacation. I'd have to tell him at some point.
They got to where we were and Elliot proceeded to introduce us.
—Ryu, this is my girlfriend Kate and her friend Ana. —he said as he gave Kate a light kiss on the lips and me on the cheek.
—Thanks for the presentation, Elliot, but if you had at least told me their names, it would have saved you a lot of work.
—Eh! — said Elliot, confused, looking at Mr. Chasting.
—Kate, she's a receptionist on the 25th floor and Anastasia, she's my personal assistant. —he said as he stared at me.
The way her lips caressed my name made me tremble, not cold. I knew behind that smile what his true intentions were.
—Oh! Sorry, I just wanted to surprise you.
—Well, you surprised me. —Mr. Chasting said as he looked in my direction.
—If you'll excuse us for a moment, let's go to the bathroom, why don't you looking a table for dinner. —I said with a smile on my face as I grabbed Kate by the arm and drove her to the restaurant bathroom.
I was walking quickly to get out of Mr. Chasting's sight. As soon as we went into the bathroom, I pass in the latch and confronted Kate.
—See what happens to your ideas?
—Come on, Ana, it's not so bad, really. Look on the bright side, he's not a stranger. —she replied with a smile, but as soon as she looked at me she stopped.
—Kate, I don't think I can have dinner with him sitting in front of me. —I said as I sat on one of the benches in the bathroom and put my head in my hands.
—I'm sorry, I had no idea he was the friend Elliot was going to invite.
—I had to have imagined it, I don't know how I didn't see it before. When he took me to dinner at the Little Star he told me that the chef was a very good friend of him. I don't know if I can handle this situation, Kate. —I said, raising my face.
—I had no idea it would affect you so much.
—It doesn't, it's more primitive. I don't know how to explain it to you...what do you do when you feel so attracted to a person that you would break your convictions?
—Oh no! You're in love with him. —she said as she sat next to me.
I didn't even notice myself until now that she was telling me. And she was right. I was in love of Ryan Chasting.
—Believe me, I didn't want it, but I can't feel what I've felt since the day he lift me from the floor. And it gets worse every day.
—What are you going to do?
—There's not much I can do. He has made it very clear to me that he will only sleep with me once and that he is not interested in a relationship with me or anyone else.
—When did he tell you all that? —she asked curiously.
—In the elevator the other day, I don't think I told you everything.
—I see. And Christian?
—Christian? —I asked her with a frown.
—Yeah, your John Doe you're e-mailing yourself with. What about him?
—I don't know yet. We're getting to know each other. It's not like I have as strong feelings for him as I do for Mr. Chasting.
—But could you have a relationship with him? —she asked me as I raised my head and looked into her eyes.
—I don't know, maybe.
— Problem solved. —Kate said as she held my hands. —All you have to do is forget about Mr. Chasting and concentrate on Christian.
She was right about that. I had to forget about Mr. Chasting and a relationship that would only bring me pain and suffering. I had to think about Christian, with him a future could be possible.
—You know, you're right. —I said as I got up. —I have to forget about Mr. Chasting, he's just my boss, that's all.
—Well, now what if we're out to dinner. —Kate said smiling at me.
—Come on. — I told her, as I fill me with courage and we came out of the bathroom.
Elliot and Mr. Chasting were sitting at a table and Kate quickly sat next to Elliot. I had no choice but to sit next to Mr. Chasting.
—We order for you. —Mr. Chasting said, smiling sideways at me. —I hope you don't mind.
—No problem, Mr. Chasting. —I answered him nicely as I took a sip of soda.
He's just my boss, that's all.
—You can stop calling me Mr. Chasting. —We all looked at him in amazement. —We're not at work, and I don't like to be called that, it makes me feel older.
—And how can I call you then?
—You choose. My friends call me Ryu and the others just call me Ryan. And please tutor me, I'm not 40 years old. —he said as we all laughed.
—Okay, Ryan. —I said resignedly as he smiled slightly at me.
—See, it wasn't that hard. —he said as he took a sip of his soda.
This was a facet of him I had never imagined.
Why wasn't he having sentimental relationships?
Why didn't he sleep with the same woman twice?
All Those questions kept coming back to me. Something had to have happened in his pass to he act that way, it wasn't normal.
Wasn't he interested in starting a family?
Have childrens.
I'd have to dig deeper.
His legs rubbed slightly against mine as we ate our pizza. I knew he was doing it on purpose. But I stood my ground. —Don't think about him, don't think about him. —I kept telling myself over and over again.
I barely finished dinner while Ryan was smiling seductively at me. I knew what was going through his mind, I knew what he wanted.
Me.