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.
—Shall we go?
I looked up from the computer. Ryan was standing next to me smiling at me in a way that only he knew how to do and that made my breathing go faster. Kate was already gone. I had to stay a while longer.
—Yes, let's go. —I replied as I turned off the computer and looked for my bag.
We went down quietly and as we were leaving, a question came to mind.
—Who's driving my car? — I asked him as we walked out the double doors.
It was snowing lightly outside, and Sawyer was parked in front of us, while my car was about ten yards behind us.
—I'll take him, give me the keys. — he said, reaching out his hand in front of me.
I put the keys in his hand without protesting and got into the car quickly. I was freezing out there.
—To my apartment, Sawyer. —I told him as I lay down on the seat.
—Right away, Ana. —he replied as he started the car.
Fifteen minutes later Sawyer stopped in the underground garage of my building and Ryan parked next to him. He stepped out of the car with an elegance I had never seen before and handed me the keys. I walked to the elevator and pressed the call button while Ryan was standing behind me.
—I'm not leaving until I see you come into your apartment. —he said as I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
The truth was that I saw all this as ridiculous and totally unnecessary. The doors opened and I got in the elevator followed by Ryan. I pressed the button on my floor and the doors closed. It was lucky it was only five floors. The doors opened and I walked to my apartment.
—You can go now. —I told him as I took out the keys and put them in the lock.
—See you tomorrow, Anastasia. —he said as I walked in and closed the door.
I threw my car keys frustrated on the coffee table in the middle and Kate ran out of the room to see what the noise had been.
—What happened? Are you all right?
—Actually, no, I don't feel well. —I said dropping on the couch.
—Why don't you tell me. —she said cheering me on.
I knew I couldn't tell her about my extra security, I didn't want her to worry. She had enough with his sick father.
—Well, from tomorrow Sawyer will pick me up and bring me back.
—What's that about?
—New orders from Mr. Chasting. —I lied to her.
I was just hoping she wouldn't dig any deeper.
—That's it, or he wants to keep you around longer. —she said, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
I wish that were the case and not that my life was in danger.
—That will never work, Kate.
I knew that a relationship between us was impossible. He didn't want to get romantically involved with anyone for fear of being hurt. And if he was protecting me right now it was just a precautionary measure.
—Did he tell you that? He told you that you couldn't have a relationship.
—He didn't have to tell me, I could tell from the way he looked at me when I came back from lunch, I don't think I could have a relationship with such a volatile person.
The truth was, I hadn't asked him. And I would very much like to know what kind of relationship we had. If we had any.
—But you're still in love with him. —unfortunately.
—Yes. —I answered with a sigh.
I was madly in love with him.
—By the way, why was he so angry? — she asked me drastically changing the subject, I had to invent something fast.
—I forgot to send some urgent papers.
— It seemed like you'd done something much worse. —she said to me while I was taking off my shoes. If you only knew, Kate.
—I'm going to take a bath and go to bed. —I said as I rubbed my head and walked to my room.
After today I needed to rest.
—You're not having dinner?
—I don't know. —I said as I walked into my room, closing the door.
A bath, I need a bath.
Hot water is always a good relaxant for the tired body. I told myself as I lay down on the bed and covered myself with the duvet after a well-deserved hot shower. I had clarified my ideas a bit, but there were still things I would like to understand about all this.
I turned to the little table and put on my glasses and then grabbed my laptop and turned it on. I needed to clear this up now. I needed to know if it meant anything to him, that he cared so much about me, and if there was any chance of a relationship between the two of us.
From: Anastasia Steele
To: Ryan Chasting
Date: Monday, 2/11/2015 8:41 PM
Subject: Questions that need to be answered.
I need you to answer something, it's important to me. You said you're not interested in romance, or a long-term relationship. Although you also said you didn't sleep with the same woman twice. Then I'd like to know where I come in on all this because I really don't understand it. You say you're worried about my safety. Nothing more. Didn't the other night mean anything to you? You still keep your word you don't want a relationship?
Anastasia Steele
I sent him and waited. I was staring at the computer screen. I was nervous and anxious to know his answer. Five minutes later the new e-mail alert made me pay all my attention to the computer. It was Ryan's.
From: Ryan Chasting
To: Anastasia Steele
Date: Monday, 2/11/2015 8:50 PM
Subject: Our relationship?
Yeah, we have a relationship. I'm your boss and I really wouldn't want to lose an asset as important as you. You're the best assistant I've had in the last two years. I warned you we'd only sleep together once. It was just one night of sex, good sex, nothing more. I can't have a relationship with you, it's against my principles. Nothing has changed. I'm worried about your safety, that's all, I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to you because of a slip of mine. And I think Grace would kill me if anything happened to you. I know she's very attached of you.
Ryan Chasting, CEO of TecFall.
That cleared things up. He was still the same asshole he was before. Although when he wanted to, he could be loving, gentle, sweet, sexy. He could also be a hell of a son of a bitch. It was true, he had warned me. But I thought that having slept with me twice now would make a difference. I made a mistake.
Well, that at least gave me the answer I needed. I had to forget about it. Forget about it for real. He had already achieved what he wanted, to sleep with me, now nothing mattered. I was just one more of the many others he had broken her heart to.
I wiped a tear that ran down my cheek. I didn't even realize I was crying. I cleaned my cheeks well. I wasn't going to cry, not for him. It wasn't worth it. I turned off the computer and took off my glasses by putting them on the bedside table. I turned off the light on the table and cuddled up in my bed. I closed my eyes.
No more thinking about Ryan Chasting. No more thinking about Ryan Chasting. And repeating this, I fell asleep.
The next morning I was having breakfast when I received a text message on my phone:
"I'll wait for you downstairs in front of your apartment."
Sawyer
I'd forgotten all about it. Now I had bodyguards. Kate was already gone. I finished breakfast, got my bag and went downstairs. Sawyer was parked in front of the apartment. I opened the back door while I greeted him.
—Good morning, Sawyer. —I said sitting down as I closed the door.
But what was my surprise when I saw that I wasn't alone in the car. Ryan was staring at me next to me, more than usual. He was wearing a dark blue suit as well as a tie and a black shirt. His eyes looked at me curiously, you could tell. The light beard on his face made him look damn sexy.
—Good morning, Mr. Chasting. — I formally greeted him.
He smiled sideways at me. Sometimes I thought he was doing it on purpose. I loved it every time he smiled at me like that. But today I wasn't going to give in to his charms. I was going to forget it from today. He was just my boss.
—Good morning, Anastasia, to the office Sawyer. —he said as he looked straight ahead and looked away from me.
I settled into my seat as far away from him as possible. The last thing I needed right now was for his leg to rub against mine. That would only make the situation, which was already quite complicated, worse. I turned my face to the window and didn't look at him the whole way.
Upon arrival at the company it snowed a little and Sawyer parked in the underground garage. I got out of the car and headed for the elevator. I could feel Ryan's footsteps behind me. When he got to the elevator doors, he stood next to me.
—What perfume do you wear? —he asked me as he leaned over and pressed the call button.
His question took me by surprise.
—I don't have any today. —I replied by staring at the elevator doors.
I had found that it was much easier to deal with him without looking him in the eyes.
The doors opened and we got into the elevator. Ryan stood next to me and pressed the number 25 on the panel as the doors closed. I could see out of the corner of my eyes as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then he opened his eyes, turned to where I was and began to approach me.
—What are you doing? —I told him as I took a few steps back until I came across the button panel. He was cornered and had no way out.
His body stuck to mine. His hands pressing mine on both sides of my body so I wouldn't move. And his nose went up to my neck, I could feel his panting breath racing my heartbeat and bristling all over my skin. I had to stop him, I couldn't let this go on, but it was very difficult if he held my hands.
Then I felt his lips and tongue on my neck, sucking, tasting my skin. His hands let go of mine and then I pushed him away from me. He stared at me with his breath shaken like mine. Then he approached me again and his lips fiercely attacked mine without even giving me time to react.
I didn't push him this time. I let myself be carried away by his kiss and his hands that slid tantalizingly all over my body. I didn't really understand anything that was happening, but I didn't care. Right now as his tongue slid into my mouth and his hips pressed me against the elevator, I didn't care about anything else. One of my hands tangled in his hair while the other clutched by his wide back. His hips pressed me against the cold wall of the elevator, letting me feel how excited he was at that moment, and a groan escaped from me that he caught as he bit my lips lightly.
I felt the elevator doors open as Ryan pulled his lips away from mine and grabbed one of my hands between his and dragged me down the aisle with him.
Then I became aware of where we were.
Ryan put his hand on the panel and the doors opened. I didn't pay much attention, I was just focused on his warm hand wrapping mine. He held me tightly enough so I wouldn't run away. But this was wrong, I couldn't let this go on. He couldn't dispose of me every time he felt like it.