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.
That night I was talking to Christian until late that night. I told him that I had found the perfect mask, but I never told him what I would be dressed up as much as he insisted. And so the week went by, quickly.
Mr. Chasting's been insisting on calls to my phone all week. I still didn't understand how he got the number. His e-mails kept coming were he telling me scandalous things that made my breathing quicken. After the third lewd e-mail, I had them deleted automatically. I was trying to forget about him and it didn't help much. I blocked his calls to my phone. And so the week ended, calmly, just talking to Christian. Without further disturbance from Mr. Chasting.
On Saturday when I woke up and put away the curtains, I found an overcast sky from which fine snow was falling. Winter had arrived.
I had all day to prepare for the masquerade ball tonight and I was really looking forward to it. I hadn't told Christian yet that I was going in costume, I just told him that I would wear the dress he had given me and that I would wait for him sitting at the bar.
Today, I would need to relax completely. I was nervous. I would finally meet him. I filled the bath tub and immersed myself completely in the warm water once it was full. I shaved completely and washed my hair. I wanted to be perfect today. It's been a long time since anyone's made me feel this way.
At noon I ate only one apple. The truth was that the anxiety had made me lose my appetite. By 5:30 pm the snow had increased. It was the first snowfall of the winter season. Half an hour later I was getting dressed for the masquerade ball. Today was one of those times when I didn't wear my glasses. So I looked for the lenses and put them on. I left my hair loose on my shoulders after curling it a little. I didn't need blush to my cheeks, I was so excited to meet Christian that they were naturally tinged with a slight pink.
I left for the hotel with overtime. It was snowing so I took a taxi and told the taxi driver to drive slowly and carefully. I didn't like to drive when it was snowing. I never did.
We had agreed to meet at 8:00 pm and as punctual as I always liked to be, I was there at the right time. I sat at the bar and the bartender came up to me.
—Are you going to have a drink? —the bartender asked me looking at me more than enough.
—Just a soda, I'm waiting for someone. —I said as he walked away in search of my order.
I needed to have my mind clear by the time Christian got here. Half an hour later my phone rang. It was him.
—Hello. —I tried not to sound too excited but I know I missed.
—Excuse me, but I'm going to be a little late, my plane was late.
—Don't worry, it's okay.
—I'm worried, I don't want you to think I stood you up.
—All right, I'll wait for you then.
—See you in a bit.
At least he called me to say he was late. I decided to walk a little to stretch my legs. I got up from the bar and walked to the hotel entrance. Outside the weather had worsened, and what had begun as a light snowstorm had turned into a big snowstorm that threatened to leave us all locked up here tonight. I went back to the bar and ordered another soda.
An hour later my phone was ringing again.
I answered immediately when I saw who he was.
—Are you at the hotel yet? —I replied excitedly.
—No, I'm sorry, but I couldn't make it. My car broke down and they stopped traffic because of the storm. Excuse me Ana, I know how excited you were to meet us tonight but apparently it will have to be another time.
—All right, don't worry about it. Weather is against us today. —I said a little disappointed.
—Yes. Enjoy your dance and we'll talk tomorrow for a bite to eat, what you think.
—All right, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Good night.
—See you tomorrow, beautiful. —he told me before he hung up.
He called me beautiful. I felt my cheeks burn as my breathing got a little faster.
Well, things happened for a reason. And if fate had wanted us not to meet today, it would have its reason. So I decided to take advantage and enjoy the party.
—A margarita, please. —I decided to change my order.
I had to remember not to drink too much, though. It could not be the same as the last time I had come to this party.
An hour later I was ordering my third and final margarita. I didn't mean to stop by.
—Can I join you? —said a voice behind me.
I didn't need to turn around to find out who he was. I knew that voice everywhere I went. Did he recognize me? Or he was just trying to flirt with the girl in red sitting alone at the bar. I had to see which one it was.
—Why not. — I told him inviting him to sit down.
He sat next to me in an empty seat. And then I turned to look at him. He was wearing a black suit completely with a white shirt and a bow tie. He was wearing a black mask that made his blue eyes pop. His messy hair was falling off the side of his mask. He just stared at me. And I could see in his eyes lust, desire and surprise.
—Anastasia? —he asked in amazement. He didn't recognize me.
—Yeah. Did you think it was someone else? —I was intrigued.
—The truth is yes. I never imagined it would be you, if I'd known it was you, I'd have come to you an hour ago. And I wouldn't have given it so much thought.
—You've been staring at me for an hour? —that's being cheeky.
—Yes. I was wondering who was the pretty one sitting alone at the bar. Are you waiting for someone? —he said to me as he gestured to the bartender and asked for a whiskey.
—I was, but he couldn't make it because of the storm.
—Ah! You always invite people to sit next to you without knowing them or you knew it was me?— he asked me mockingly.
—I knew it was you. — I replied with my eyes fixed on his.
I urgently needed something stronger to deal with so many mixed feelings. Although the margaritas were already making theirs. I think it was best to stop drinking immediately, I didn't want to make a mistake I knew I would regret later.
—Another margarita? —he asked me as I finished what was left in my glass.
—No thanks, I shouldn't drink any more for today.
—Are you afraid I'll take advantage of you? —he smiled at me broadly.
And then I realized something I hadn't noticed before. When he laughed like that, he'd get dimples in his cheeks. What a woman could resist that. I figured none.
—You don't look like the kind of person who takes advantage of the situation no matter how much it want to have sex with someone. —I told him while he was sipping his whiskey.
—I didn't imagine you knew me so well.
—I don't do it. —you're still a mystery to me. One I'm not planning on solving, so far.
—Why don't you come with me to enjoy the party? — he said, standing up and holding out his arm to me.
I stared at his arm. Why didn't I go with him? That was a good question. The truth was that at the moment what I wanted most was for time to pass quickly so that I could meet Christian tomorrow. I just had to focus on Christian and everything would be fine. I couldn't lose control of the situation again. I'd enjoy the party by his side. Just that.
—All right. —I accepted resignedly holding on to his arm.
And as he held me by his forearm we walked around the hotel and the different party rooms until we stayed in one where there were very few people. That's strange.
—Why are there so few people here? —I asked intrigued.
—For the music. —he said as he drove me to the ballroom and a romantic ballad began to sound.
Had he done it on purpose? We began to dance slowly to the rhythm of the music. I had to finish clarifying the situation. There were still some things that didn't fit me here.
—Did you know I'd be here? —I asked him as he stared at me.
—I didn't know that. The invitation was sent to me yesterday. I didn't really want to go down, but I needed to be distracted.
Right, I forgot he was staying here at the Drake.
—Is your job stressing you out?
—Yeah, since you went on vacation and didn't answer my calls or my messages. —he said to me as he placed a hand on my lower back and I repressed a groan.
I move his hand towards my waist and made it clear to him what our situation was. He just smiled mischievously at me. The truth was, I couldn't help feeling for him, but I had to give it a try. In my mind a little voice told me this was a bad idea, but I didn't listen.
—What are you dressed as? Don't tell me penguin, because it would be so obvious. — I asked as he laughed.
—Don't tell anyone, but I'm a secret agent.—he whispered in my ear, making my skin stand on.
—Ah! James Bond. You got the gun too? — I inquired curiously.
—Yes. —he said as he placed one of my hands under his left arm where I could touch the gun holster.
He had taken his costume very seriously.
For a moment we stood there dancing, just staring into each other's eyes.
—I never noticed before, you have beautiful hazel eyes. —he said to me as I squinted and smiled at him.
—Thank you, I imagine you say that to all the women you want to sleep with. —he smiled at me, biting his lip.
—Yes.
—And it works?
—Always. —he told me as he slowly spun me around the dance floor and I smiled.
—I don't think it'll work with me, I still keep my word.
—Yeah, I can see you're hard to convince. I've never had to seduce a woman so much to sleep with her.
—Then I guess I'm the only one who refused.
—Yeah. And that's starting to make me desperate.
It was unbelievable. He was still sticking to his plan to want to sleep with me. I decided to change the topic of conversation. I wasn't planning on falling for his game.
—For a secret agent, you don't keep your identity very secret. —I told him while he just smiled at me.
—I love the dress you're wearing? —he said as he looked down at me.
—Thank you, it's a gift.
— Let me guess, the person you were expecting tonight gave it to you.
—Yes.
—What are you costume are, by the way?
—I'll let you guess. —I answered him as we slowly turned around the dance floor with two other couples.
An hour later my heels were killing me, I needed to rest. I think it was time to go to my room.
—I need to get some rest. — I said as he looked at me with a frown.
Apparently his plans to spend the night with someone had been frustrated by going after me.
—All right, let me walk you to your room. —said once again offering me his arm, which I politely accepted as we drove to the elevators.
In the elevator I let go of my heels and held them in my hand, I couldn't stand them for another minute. Ryan next to me laughed when he saw me taking off my heels.
—I'm not going to hide the truth from you, I hate these things. —I told him as we both laughed out loud.
My room was on the top floor and Ryan gently walked me to the door. The truth was, he had behaved like a gentleman. He hadn't even insisted on his plan to try to get me into his bed anymore. When I got to my room I slipped the card and the door opened.
—Thank you for making the night so enjoyable. — I told him as he stared at me.
We still had our masks on, I didn't know why we hadn't taken them off yet.
—You're welcome. Will you tell me what you're dressed as? I still can't guess, the only thing I can think of is she-devil. —he said with his eyes fixed on mine as he lay at my door.
—No, I don't think you'll guess. —I replied with a nod of my head.
—You can take me out of this torture and tell me please.
—All right. I'm dressed as a phoenix. —he stared at me in awe.
—We have a lot in common. —he said to me as he smiled at me from the side leaning over the door.
I didn't understand how I'd held up so long. The truth was, he had me on the verge of madness. If I didn't get into my room soon, I was going to do something stupid. His lips invited me to kiss them and the truth was that I desperately wanted him, whom I was going to fool. Since the day of the fair I had not been able to get it out of my mind no matter how hard I tried.
—Good night, Ryan. —I told him as he stepped into the room and he took my hand.
—Good night, Ana. —he said to me as he brought my hand to his lips and kissed her tenderly.
And I felt that discharge begin to travel all over my body from where his lips were...his warm lips that had already been on mine. And for a moment that seemed like an eternity, we looked each other in the eyes. Then his lips began to slowly ascend up my arm. I had to stop it, my brain kept telling me. But my body didn't react, it had another idea in mind. And as much as I wanted to push him away so that he wouldn't continue, it was impossible for me to refuse what I had wanted for so long. Tomorrow I'd be sorry for everything and I'd pick up my broken heart and try to put it back together again.
Now, I was going to do what I've wanted so much since I'd met him.