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.
Someone caressed my face sweetly. I felt like someone was saying my name far away. I was lying down on something, or rather someone because when I opened my eyes I found myself with Ryan's blue look. His face very close to mine. And its closeness made my breathing faster. I took off my hearing aids and lifted my head off his shoulder.
—We have arrived.
—So fast. —as I looked around I could see the people getting up to get off the plane. It was incredible that I had slept through the whole trip, it had been more than two hours.
—I'm sorry. —I said as I got out of my seat.
—Why?
—For making you uncomfortable during the trip.
—You didn't bother me. —he said smiling slightly at me.
And his smile completely disarmed me. What had changed? From the day I made my decision he wouldn't even smile at me.
We took about an hour to pick up our luggage and when we finally left LaGuardia, a man with black hair, getting gray and dressed in a suit was waiting for us with a sign in his hand were it said TecFall. We had a branch here in New York and I had made all the arrangements to have them pick us up.
We followed him to the car and got into the car after putting our luggage in the trunk.
—What hotel are you staying at? —he asked looking at both of us alternately.
—1Hotel Central Park. —I replied as I lay down on the seat and a yawn escaped my lips.
—Didn't you sleep last night?
If he knew I haven't slept since I met him.
—Yeah, I don't know why I'm so tired.
He didn't ask more and half an hour later the car was parked at the intersection of 6th Avenue and 58th Street.
It was very different from when you see pictures. Standing on the sidewalk and watching it was so much more exciting. The walls of the first three floors were covered with ivy. And the huge steel doors at the hotel entrance were made of fallen branches. I had heard a lot about the Eco hotel, but seeing it was much better. We walked through the doors to find ourselves at the end of a small reception. The floor was made of black granite in the middle, making like a carpet and made of wood on both sides. On the left were some seats and on the right were the elevators. The ceiling was adorned with lamps and hanging plants. Right next to the elevators was a sculpture of a huge nail. Very original.
—Wait for me there, I'll go to see our reservation. —Ryan took my luggage out of my hand and headed for a seat.
— Good evening, can I help you. - said the African-American girl behind the reception desk with a big smile.
—Hi, I made a reservation a few days ago under the name of TecFall. —I told her as the girl typed on the computer and then looked at me.
—Yeah, here's the reservation. A suite for two people.
—No, there must be some mistake, I made the reservation for two separate rooms.
The girl checked the computer again.
—What I have here is that, a suite for two people.
—And isn't there a way to switch to two separate rooms?
—That will be very difficult, with this weekend's convention we have a full hotel.
—All right, if we have to, we'll take the suite. —I told her as she handed me two cards.
—You are in the Greenhouse suite, top floor.
—Thank you. —I turned around and walked over to where Ryan was.
—Everything all right? —he asked me when I got to where he was.
—Yes, there was only one problem with the reservation.
—A problem? If we don't have a room we can search in another hotel and...
—We have a room. —I said, interrupting him. —They just got confused on the reservation and gave us a room for both of us.
—And they couldn't change it for you? —he asked me with an eyebrow raised.
—No, the hotel is full with the technology convention, apparently everyone thought the same about staying where the convention would be.
—You stay here, I'll find another one in another hotel. —he said very determinedly, taking his suitcase. — I don't want to make you uncomfortable.
I couldn't let him leave like that. It was late, the clock at the reception desk was ticking 12:45 am. What I do, what I do.
—I don't mind sharing a room. — I said made him turn around while I handed him a card.
It was a double suite so we would each have a room with its own bathroom. I didn't see the problem in sharing it.
—All right, if you don't mind, then let's go upstairs.
—May I have your luggage? —said a young man as he stood beside us.
—We delivered the bags as we walked to the elevator.
—What room are you in? —he asked us as we entered the elevator.
—In the Greenhouse Suite. — I answered as he pressed our floor number and the doors closed.
Ryan looked at me intrigued by squinting. Something had definitely happened during the flight to change his attitude.
—The Greenhouse suite? —Ryan asked me short, next to me.
—I have no idea why they gave us that room, or why it's called that. —I stared at him. —If that's what you want to know. —he smiled at me with his enigmatic smile.
—Why is that the name of the suite? —he asked the young man in front of us.
—Because the decoration inside gives you the feeling of being in a greenhouse.
At that moment the elevator doors opened and we walked to our room.
—I'm allowed the card. — he asked, I gave him mine.
He slid it into the door and it opened. We entered after him into a small hall with two cupboards to hang coats on either side and beyond this was the dining room. The boy stood in front of us and proceeded to explain to us how the room was arranged.
—Over there is the TV room and the guest room. —he said pointing to his right. —And on the other side is the living room and the master bedroom. Shall I take your bags to your room?
—No, thanks, leave them here. — Ryan replied as he pulled money out of his wallet and tipped him.
—Thank you, have a good night. —he said as he walked out the door.
If the reception was impressive, so was the room we had been given. The dining room had a wooden table for eight people on which was a strange hanging lamp made of branches or perhaps coral, I don't know. On the right was a bar with two glasses and several bottles of wine and drinks. To the left a huge wall of ferns made you feel like you were outdoors instead of in a room. And beyond the table there was a huge window with plants also planted and that gave us a perfect view of the city at night.
—I'm going to rest. —I said as I took my suitcase.
—You won't eat anything?
That's when my gut betrayed me. I hadn't really had a decent dinner since the day before and after a day like today, my body needed it.
—I'll take a bath to eat something. —I said as I turned to the left. I wasn't planning on staying in the master bedroom.
—I'll see if they can bring us some dinner. —Ryan said as he took his suitcase and walked in the opposite direction.
After passing the dining room there were two doors on the left. In the first was the kitchen with a huge fridge and a plateau with a pantry, a microwave and a coffee maker. But what was most impressive was the TV room where a huge customizable blue sofa with many cushions dominated the room. Above my head the lamps were nothing more than ribbons hanging with light bulbs like a Christmas tree garland. On the back wall there were several plants hanging and in the window on the left as well as in the dining room there were also plants planted. On the second door there was a small bathroom with a stone floor and wooden walls. There were hundreds of bouquets of flowers hanging from the ceiling.
I continued on my way to the room.
Everything was decorated with warm colors, neutral colors and accents of blues and creams. Right in front of the bed was a huge TV mounted on a reclaimed wooden wall. I think it was the same wood from the bathroom that was in the TV room. On the left, in the window there was a seat that extended from the building. I already imagined myself huddled there above the streets of Manhattan with a book or a cup of tea in my hand. I smiled inwardly. I imagined myself living here all my life. Yeah, I think I could get used to this. I put the suitcase on the floor and headed for the bathroom.
The bathroom doors were made of glass from the ceiling to the floor. The interior design of the bathroom was completely made of stone. It had a bathtub with a shower, but what caught my eye the most was the steel beam that dominated the room.
I got out of the bathroom and put the suitcase on the bed, got some clothes and headed for the bathroom. I needed a bath urgently, and later I would put my clothes in the wardrobe...
I came out of the bathroom dressed and replied, even though I was still hungry. I went to the kitchen in search of something to eat and met Ryan who was leaving with a plate in his hands.
—I've prepared something to eat. —he said as he walked into the dining room and I followed him.
On the table were two glasses, a bottle of wine and several dishes. There was cheese, ham, slices of bread, butter, a jug of juice and a jug of fruit cocktail. I was looking at all that stuff and I really didn't think we were going to eat all that stuff.
—Sit down, Anastasia, I know you must be hungry. Yesterday you had only one yogurt for lunch and on the flight you didn't eat anything because you were sleeping.
Great, now Sawyer was telling him what I ate or if I ate. But I didn't feel like arguing today, especially not with him. So I willingly sat in a chair as far away from him as possible and started eating my midnight snack. Despite what I imagined, we ate almost everything on the table. Although I think I was the one who ate the most.
—You were hungry. —he said to me as he finished the fruit cocktail in his glass.
—Yes, I was. —I replied while I couldn't stop a yawn from escaping my lips.
—Why don't we just go to bed. —he said to me as he smiled sideways at me. —We have to get up early.
He was right about that. It was almost one o'clock in the morning and at ten o'clock we had the opening conference of the convention.
—I'm going to rest, good night, Mr. Chasting. — I told him as I got up and walked to my room.
—Good night, Anastasia. — I heard what he said when I was in the living room.
I changed to sleeping clothes and lay down on the bed. I put the glasses on the side table and after setting the alarm for 8:00am I went to bed. I covered myself with the duvet and closed my eyes.