Just a quick note, I've changed the genre, characters and pairings in the description to match the new outcome. Also please don't fight in the review section. I know how it feels to be a reader and passionate about a story only to have it take a nosedive or take a turn I don't like, but at the end of the day it's just fiction and no one was truly harmed... or as I like to say, if you get a book from the store or library you wouldn't cuss out the author at a book signing or smack the librarian with it when you have to return the book ;) So, no matter if you are team Christian or team Elliot just keep in mind to be nice to each other, because I rarely delete any reviews but had to delete about a douzen today...


When I get into the office the next morning I walk straight into my office and cringe when I see Christian leaning casually against my desk.

"Here to sniff me?" I ask and continue to take my coat off and put it on the hanger in the corner. Without even glancing at him again I put my purse on the desk, start a cup of coffee in my coffee maker and open a window.

"You know, the more you ignore me the closer I get." I hear him right behind me and stiffen as he places both hands on my hips to pull me against him.

"I will sue you for sexual harassment at the workplace if you don't take your hands off me right now." I get out between gritted teeth.

"I came back because of you, Ana." He whispers into my ear and I manage to get away from him and put the desk between us.

"You had your first chance when I was fifteen... your second when I was twenty-one. Now, I'm twenty-six and it's too late Christian. I love Elliot, you once told me you only see me when you think about your future and for a long time it was the same for me. Now, it's not. Now, I see Elliot, I want to spend the rest of my life with him, have children with him... and not you. So, if you only came here because of me you'll end up bitterly disappointed." I say stone faced.

"No, you are just hurt... but I'll get through that."

"You can't... because I'm no longer hurt, I'm over you, Christian. You had so much time to come back but it's too late now."

"I wanted to come back to you, Ana... but when I finally could I had nothing to offer to you, I needed to make something out of myself first... and I did... I can lay the world at your feet now." He says and I laugh bitterly.

"And that's where you went so wrong. I never wanted anything other than you. I don't need or want nice things, all I wanted was to be with you. So, I hope your fancy career keeps you warm at night, laughs with you... holds you when you are sad and is everything you ever wanted out of life. Because that's all I ever wanted and I found it in Elliot. Now, unless you want to discuss work please leave my office, so I can do my work." I say and after staring at me for the longest time he nods, turns around and leaves my office while I slump into my office chair and grip the armrests with all of my strength to stop myself from running after him, apologize... do anything just to make that hurt look leave his face.

"Ana, are you alright?" I hear Hannah's voice and look up.

"Yes, of course."

"Are you sure, you look pale and Mr. Taylor seems in a horrible mood."

"We just had an argument... it's nothing, Hannah."

"He is not going to fire you, is he?" She asks worried.

"No, Christian... he is CJ's dad, and we haven't seen each other in five years... it's complicated. But don't worry, I don't think he is going to fire anyone."

"That's CJ's dad? Christ, Ana... where do you find all these hot guys, I mean Elliot and now Mr. Taylor... that's insane." She says and I roll my eyes.

"It's a really long story, Hannah and I'm not in the mood to tell it now. I need to get my notes for the editors meeting done. Is Christian attending it?"

"Yes."

"OK, I need to work." I mutter and for the next two hours I do not allow myself to think of Christian, so I get a good deal of work done and head into the meeting.

When the meeting is over I'm sure I have a hole in the back of my head from Christian's stare that I could feel on me the entire time. So, I'm glad when it's done.

"A word, Miss Steele." Christian says just as I'm about to leave, and so I have no choice but to leave while my colleagues leave the meeting room.

"So, what is your opinion on the lack of success SIP has." He says surprising me and he smiles when notices it.

"I am here to make this company a success, Ana, so give me your opinion." He says and I relax and sit down again.

"The main problem is that Jerry didn't go with the time. Many of the successful authors we had left because the felt misrepresented due to the lack of the use of modern ways to publish. Jerry believes that a book should only come in one form, which is the physical form."

"And you don't agree with that?"

"My opinion is yes, a good book should always come as a printed edition. Business wise, it's very different. Many people prefer e-books because they can just read them on a devise of their choosing, others enjoy the audio format, so they can listen to books while they are in the car, out for a run or just while doing their daily chores at home, in addition audio books allow people who are suffering from an impaired vision to enjoy books. So, only selling printed editions is just not the right way to go business wise. Everyone here has told Jerry this, but by the time he was willing to make the changes SIP was already so deep in trouble that he couldn't afford any changes."

"I see, what would it take to get there?"

"The first step would be to have meetings with different companies that produce audio books, see where the demand is with the books we have recently published and of course get new authors to sign with SIP. As for the e-books, that would need its own division within SIP."

"Is there anyone here at SIP who would be able to build and manage a strong e-book division?" He asks and I think about for a moment.

"Rachel would be a good. She is young, driven and has already worked in the e-book division of a different publisher."

"Rachel DeLuca?"

"Yes."

"Good, I would like to discuss some more topics with you. How about we meet for dinner tonight?" He asks and I stiffen.

"I don't think that would be a wise idea and I already have plans for dinner."

"What kind of plans?"

"Mia and her fiancé, Andrew, as well as Kate are coming over for dinner."

"Where is CJ?"

"Right now at school, later he will be staying with my parents."

"Does he know Mia?" Christian asks and I get up and walk to the door before I answer.

"Mia is his aunt, of course he knows her." I say and watch as he closes his eyes.

"Why do you still insist that they are my siblings? It's been almost twelve years now."

"Because it doesn't matter if you are related by blood. You want to know what makes the three of you siblings? Well, here it goes... you and Elliot camping in Mia bedroom for weeks when she had nightmares makes you siblings, Elliot beating up the stupid playground bully who picked on you makes you siblings, you lying to your parents when Elliot put a dent in Carrick's car makes you siblings... there are so many times that you have proven to be real siblings and that is something that doesn't go away. So, you can tell yourself for as long as you want that Elliot and Mia are not your siblings, but we both know that it's nothing but a lie."

"So you think if I was to approach Mia she would listen to me?" He asks almost scared and I frown.

"You miss them, do you?"

"Possibly." He says and I sigh.

"Wait here." I tell him leave the meeting room and take my phone out to call Elliot.

"Hi babe, do I have to kick his ass?"

"No, look, I know this is all kinds of weird, but would you mind if he would join us for dinner tonight?"

"Why?"

"He all but admitted that he wants to talk to Mia and I don't trust him enough to just tell him where she lives or give him her number, so I thought if we are there too we can make sure he doesn't hurt her again... he doesn't know... you know."

"Of course he doesn't... well, I actually don't want him anywhere near her but you are right, if it has to happen then it's best if we are around, so yeah, invite him."

"OK, well... there goes our relaxed evening..."

"Still planning on having a hot night." Elliot replies teasingly and I smile.

"I will hold you to it... I have to go."

"Me too. Love you, babe."

"I love you too, Elliot." I reply hang up and turn around to go back into the meeting room but instead find Christian leaning in the open door frame.

"No private phone calls during work, Miss Steele." He says coldly.

"I know that, but I had to talk to Elliot... anyway, if you want to talk to Mia feel free to stop by at my place tonight. You can join us for dinner."

"You are inviting me to have dinner with you?"

"And my boyfriend, who happens to be your brother, as well as your sister and her fiancé and Kate. Do you know where I live?"

"Yes, Elliot's house."

"Actually it's my house."

"What?"

"Elliot build it for me, I hired him to build my home before we even started to date. It just took so long because I kept changing my mind about the design."

"I see... when does dinner start?"

"Around seven... Christian I wasn't going to bring this up, but if you are not interested in being a brother for Mia, please just stay away."

"Why?"

"After you rejected her, Elena died and Carrick went to jail... it was just too much for Mia, she tried to take her own life..."

"What, why didn't you call me... anyone?"

"Christian, you made it clear that you have no interest in her when she came to Canada and begged to be allowed to just see you once. At the time I just needed to focus on what would help Mia not things that would upset her. She is better now, meeting Andrew helped a lot, having Naylah even more."

"Nylah?"

"Mia and Andrew have a two year old daughter... here." I say and show him a picture on my phone.

"I had no idea." He murmurs and I want to feel bad for him but I can't. He made the choice to have no contact with his siblings, so he might as well live with the consequences.

"I have to go back to work, stop by if you want to see Mia." I mutter and return to my office where I sit down and take a deep breath before I call Mia because I can't just have Christian show up without her knowing.

"Hi Ana, please don't tell me you want to cancel dinner tonight, I was so looking forward to a night around adults."

"No, we are still on... it's just... Christian is in town, he bought SIP, and he might stop by for dinner tonight."

"He... why?"

"He was asking about you and well, I thought it would be best if you meet him while you are not alone since right now I don't trust him very much." I explain to her and for a moment Mia is silent.

"Has he changed a lot?"

"Well, he is grown up now... that's all I can really say at this point. If you don't want to see him I can tell him not to come."

"No, I want to see him."

"OK, then I'll see you tonight."

"OK, bye Ana."

"Bye, Mia." I hang up and sit back in my desk chair. Tonight was supposed to be a quiet night with friends and now it seems like an impending disaster about to happen. Still, I would be happy for Mia if Christian actually wants to reconnect with her. As for Elliot and Christian, I know me being with Elliot is going to make it harder for them to reconnect, but we are all adults now, so maybe there is hope for them as well. At the very least, I hope Christian will be able to act civil around Elliot because if he doesn't I will have to ask him to leave...