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.

When I looked at the clock it was almost 5:30 pm. The day had flown away. I picked up the phone and dialed Mr. Chasting's extension.

—Yes Ana.

—Do you need me for anything, Mr. Chasting? —I asked him while the line was momentarily silent.

—No Anastasia, you can leave, remember that Sawyer will take you, I'll know if he does or not. —he said to me before he hung up.

I packed up my things and went out looking for Kate.

—Why can't you leave in my car? —she asked me as the elevator doors opened.

—Because I can't disobey the boss, and he'll find out if I don't go with Sawyer.

—Is he watching you? —you've hit the nail on the head.

—Why don't you ask Mr. Chasting. —I told her as we walked through the lobby.

—I don't think he answered me, that's why I'm asking you.

—I know what you know, nothing. I'm just following orders and that's for Sawyer to take me and bring me back.

—It must have something to do with him testing you.

—It may be. —I told her as I got to the car. —See you there. —I said goodbye to her.

I climbed up quickly because I was freezing out here.

—To the apartment Sawyer. —I told him as he pulled the car out and put it in traffic.

It was snowing, and although I was not very happy with Mr. Chasting's decision on my watch, I was not going to complain at this point. I didn't drive snowing and that way I didn't have to worry about it. Sawyer dropped me off in the underground parking lot and left after I got in the elevator.

After I opened the door to the apartment, my cell phone alerted me to a text message. I left my purse and looked for the phone. It was Ryan's:

"I hope you got home safe and sound with Sawyer in custody."

I decided to answer him and quickly typed him an answer:

"You can sleep peacefully tonight, I arrived well and Sawyer can confirm it."

I didn't understand how he knew I'd already arrived at the house. But I figured Sawyer must have informed him. Kate wasn't here yet. I went to my room and when I was taking off my shoes, my cell phone rang. It was Kate.

—Don't even think about making dinner, I'm coming with Elliot and dinner.

—All right. —she hung up on me.

The truth was that I wasn't going to prepare anything either, I didn't feel like it. I finished taking off my shoes and went to the bathroom, undressed and got in the shower.

Fifteen minutes later when I left my room dressed, Kate was already there with Elliot. They had brought dinner from their restaurant. When we finished dinner and collected everything, Kate took Elliot to her room, I didn't even want to think about what those two would be doing there. I sat near one of the windows as I watched the snow fall. And I was thinking...

—Are you still awake?

I looked at Kate as she was leaving her room for a glass of water.

—What time is it?

The truth was, I had no idea what time it was, or how long I'd been sitting there.

—Almost 12:30 a.m.

—I can't sleep. —I answered truthfully.

She got to where I was and sat next to me, hugging me warmly.

—You can't forget about him, can you? —Kate knew me perfectly well.

—Even though I try not to think about him, in the end I can't help but end up doing it.

—Tell him. Tell him how you feel.

— You're crazy, besides, there can never be anything between me and him.

—Did he tell you that?

—Yes, he told me there would never be anything beyond sex. — sex in secret, a relationship between him and me was unreachable.

—Then, what you need to do is forget about him. — I nodded, as if that were so easy. — For that there is nothing better than a weekend flirt that makes you forget everything. —his comment made me laugh.

—A flirt?

—Yes, you know, one nail pulls out another. So this weekend I'm taking you to...

—New York. —I said, interrupting her.

—I don't think you have to go that far to make out with someone, but if you want to go to New York... —she replied as I laughed again.

—No, I'm leaving for New York on Thursday night, this weekend is the technology convention.

—With Mr. Chasting? —she asked and I nodded.

With my personalized torment Ryan Chasting.

—And how are you doing with the fact that you'll be with him for a weekend?

—Actually I won't be with him, we'll be in separate rooms, I'll organize his schedule of events and...

—Ana... —she said, interrupting me. —This is what you need, to meet new people, to go out, to enjoy.

—But...

—If you want to forget about him, this is your chance. —she said as she took the glass of water to his room.

She was right about that. I had to forget about him. I had to show him that he wasn't the only man on the face of the earth. And with that idea in mind, I got up and headed for my room. I put the glasses on the bedside table and sat down on the bed under the duvet, closed my eyes and fell sound asleep.

On Wednesday I finished organizing the trip's agenda and in the afternoon I received both tickets.

—Mr. Chasting, everything is ready for the trip, the tickets have just arrived and the reservation has already been made at the hotel. —I said entering his office at 5:25 pm.

—Perfect. —he said without looking at me.

—As we have to be there early Friday morning the flight will be tomorrow night, it leaves at 8:30pm.

— Okay, something else.

—No, that's all, if you don't need me to stay, I'm leaving. —I told him as he looked up briefly from the computer. He looked at his watch and then at me.

—See you tomorrow, Anastasia. —he said looking back at the computer.

I turned around and stormed out of his office.

When I arrived at the apartment I started packing my suitcase for the trip. When I finished, exhausted, I went to get something for dinner. I warmed up some of the food from the day before and sat in the living room. Kate was staying with Elliot today. The way her relationship was going, I imagined that I would soon be living permanently alone in the apartment.

At 10:00 pm I decided to go to bed. Tomorrow would be a long day. I took off my glasses and settled under the duvet. I'd forget about Ryan Chasting this weekend, even if it was the last thing I ever did.

And with that idea in mind, I fell asleep.

By the time I got to the office on Thursday morning, I was nervous as hell. I went to my desk and turned on the computer. At least I didn't have to go for his coffee, that was something.

I had to forget about it, but sitting outside his office didn't help much. Every time I went in there, and he laid his eyes on me, my legs would tremble and my heart would race. Its smell of expensive cologne continued to cloud my senses, every time I had it near me and when we met in the elevator, I had to lie down on the wall and gather all my strength to avoid falling to the ground.

At lunchtime I didn't have much of an appetite and I had a knot in my stomach that I couldn't stand. I chose to have just one yogurt. Kate just looked at me, didn't say anything, but her look told me she understood how I felt. As the time to leave for the airport approached, my nerves were killing me.

At 5:30pm, Ryan left his office with his luggage in one hand.

—Shall we go?

—Lets go. —I said as I turned off the computer and looked for my luggage.

I took the luggage in one hand and the tickets in the other. And as Ryan gave way, I walked to the elevators.

It was snowing lightly when we got to the parking lot. Sawyer got out of the car quickly and took our bags. Ryan opened the door for me and I went up quickly followed by him.

—Which way? —Sawyer asked as he sat behind the wheel looking in the rearview mirror.

— O'Hare, Terminal 3 Sawyer. —I said as I felt Ryan staring at me.

—Do you have the convention agenda?

—Yes.

—Let's hear it. —it was absurd to tell him about all the meetings and events he would have to attend at this time. I knew he'd forget everything and eventually have to remind them again.

But without protesting, I began to detail all the events by informing him of some where he would have to give a short speech about TecFall.

The truth was that I had to get it out of my mind no matter what. After informing him of all the events I turned to the window as Sawyer drove down I90 to the airport. And for a moment I forgot that he was by my side.

— We' re here, Anastasia. —his voice brought me back to reality.

As I looked around I realized that we were at the airport and that it was getting dark already. I was so absorbed that I hadn't even noticed anything. Ryan was standing outside the car holding the door for me.

I left quickly while Sawyer opened the trunk and handed us the luggage.

— Allow me. —Ryan said trying to take mine, but I refused.

— Thank you, Mr. Chasting, I can take care of it. —I answered him as he stared at me.

Take that one. I can be distant with you too.

—All right, which way. —he said to me after passing the airport gates.

—Our flight is 639 and leaves from gate H17. —I replied as I began to walk.

When we got there we checked our tickets and went to the boarding lounge. I sat on a bench while we waited for the boarding call. There were still two hours to go so I took out my iPod and let the music flood my senses. I knew Ryan was sitting next to me looking at me. But I didn't listen to him. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the music...

—They're calling to board our flight. —he said as he took out a hearing aid and I opened my eyes.

I turned off the iPod and with the ticket in my hand I went to the gate followed by Ryan. We delivered our tickets and they wished us a happy flight.

For more torture our seats were together, so it would be two and a half hours sitting next to him with nowhere to escape. Ryan's seat was by the window. But then I realized something. He hadn't insisted that I take bodyguards to New York.

—Can I ask you something? —he turned to me.

—Go ahead.

—You're not worried about my safety in New York?

—As much as anywhere in the world.

—And the bodyguard then?

—This weekend, I'll be the bodyguard. —he replied with a radiant smile on his face.

—¡What! — I exclaimed in shock.

—You don't think I can be a bodyguard?

The truth was that I doubted it. He could be anything, but he wasn't a bodyguard, more like a Hollywood actor or an underwear model.

—Do you have any experience as a bodyguard?

— A little.

He'd be the bodyguard. Then he'd go with me everywhere. I think that just completely ruined my plans to get out and forget him.

Within an hour the doors closed and they asked us to turn off the phones. After taking off I put my hearing aids back on and closed my eyes. Its scent flooded my senses, I couldn't help but smell its scent, not when I was so close to it.

And I was overcome by sleep.