„Do you think he'll like it?" Ana asked when she stepped out of her bedroom into the living room where Gideon was waiting.
„He would have to be blind and stupid if he didn't like what he is seeing... you look amazing Ana."
„Thanks..." She murmured looking at the silver-grey evening gown she was wearing. The moment she had seen it at Neimann's she knew it was her dress. Not just was it almost the same dress she wore almost four years ago when she had been to the gala with Christian, but when the light hit it, it was the exact color of his eyes, which had her fall for the dress immediately, even though Kate and Mia had begged her to choose a very daring red dress she had tried on, but she had known it wasn't the right choice. Christian would have gotten a heart attack and a charity event wasn't the right place to gather all the attention by wearing a dress like that.
„Ana Lambert, are you nervous?" Gideon smirked and she flipped him off.
„Charming, but why are you nervous."
„Because this was a mistake, Gideon, I'm giving him hope when I don't even know if there is any."
„Ana, maybe there never was..."
„Stop... I can't allow him in based on maybe's or what if's... He would never survive this and it would humiliate not just me but him too... I cannot do this unless I know for certain."
„If he knows he can help..."
„No! End of discussion, it was my mistake, I was stupid and I do not want for him to get involved. Please, do we have to discuss this now?"
„No, of course not... I just want you to be happy, Ana... and it seems that he is what makes you happy."
„He is... and I ruined everything by being a stupid brat... I have to make this right not him." She said and poured herself a shot. „Do you want one too?"
„No thank you, I know you are trying to set me up with Grey's sister, so I need to be on high alert or you are going to shoot your little arrows at me left and right Cupid." He joked.
„Afraid I'll get you with one?"
„No, I'm afraid I like what I see, fuck her brains out and ghost her, in turn pissing Grey off thereby ensuring that every single future encounter I might have with him is going to be filled with tension and possible fist fights. You love him, so I want him to accept me as your friend, not see me as the guy who banged his sister and dumped her."
„Alright, I get it, you won't hear me complain... however now might be a good time to tell you that Mia's date bailed on her and I told her it wasn't an issue, because you are without a date too... sooo... she will be here with Christian in five minutes." Ana said quickly and was suddenly very interested in studying her fingernails.
„You know, right now I really, really want to spank you."
„No you don't, you knew I was up to something." She laughed.
„You better hope I keep my pants on then because right now, I'm in the mood to be rough and I'm not sure Mia Grey is into that."
„Gideon!"
„You know me, I just say things how they are."
„You don't have to be crude and you will not be rough with Mia." Ana warned him and then went to open the door, but when she saw Mia her mouth dropped open.
„Isn't the dress amazing, I loved it on you, but when you didn't buy it I just had to go back and buy it for myself."
„Oh dear." Ana exclaimed.
„I wouldn't even call that... that thing a dress... do you have something to cover her up... a blanket... maybe a bed sheet?" Christian asked but stopped when he got a good look of Ana in her dress.
„You remembered?" He asked softly.
„Yes... one of the best days of my life... do you like the dress?"
„You look beautiful, Ana." He said, she ushered them inside and groaned on the inside when she saw the look on Gideon's face because she knew that look... Looks like the future relationship between Christian and Gideon is going to be filled with tension and fist fights.
When they arrived at the event Christian asked Mia and Gideon to go ahead and remained by the car with Ana.
„I have something for you... well technically it's already yours, but you left it at my place... so, this is for you." He said and handed her a small velvet covered box.
„Wait are those... Christian, you kept them?" Ana asked moved when she opened the box and found her second chance earrings.
„Yes... I guess now they are no longer second chance earrings... but maybe third time's a charm?" He asked hopeful and she gave him a shy smile, removed the earrings she was wearing and put the beautiful diamond earrings in.
„Thank you for keeping them." She said and took the arm he had offered to her before they moved into the line of people waiting to be let inside and greet Carrick and Grace.
Ana was a bit nervous to see his parents again because while she had talked to Grace on the phone she had been cold towards her, so now Ana was expecting for his parents not to be pleased to see them together. After all, she had hurt their son and Christian had been hurt enough in his life.
To her surprise, however, they were so warm and welcoming to her that she forgot all about her worries and went to the family table with Christian.
„Wow, the tent looks amazing." She said when they stepped inside.
„I preferred the masks." Christian said making Ana smile.
„Yes, I liked them too. So... is Elena going to be here?" She asked a little colder than intended and Christian froze. She had no idea... but then again, his family had made sure that his name would not come up in the trial against her and that all the sorted details of what she had done to him would never come to light. So of course, she couldn't know, because he highly doubted Ana ever went to google search Elena.
„Come, let's take a walk, we still have time before the event starts. He said and led her to the boathouse where they sat down on a bench.
„Elena is in prison. She is a serving a life sentence without the chance of ever getting parole." He explained.
„What was she charged with?" Ana asked quietly.
„Sexual abuse, misconduct with minors... rape in over sixty different cases."
„Oh my God... I knew she was a vile person but... so many children." Ana whispered.
„It was me who started her demise." Christian explained and Ana looked at him.
„Why?"
„When you were gone, I was miserable... Elena tried to force me back into the lifestyle no matter how often I kept telling her that I didn't want it anymore. It had me thinking that if she was my friend, she should support me in my decisions not try to force her will on me. One night while I kept thinking about her behavior I remembered all the times John tried to warn me about her, how you instantly saw her as a predator... and I realized that she was trying to keep me in the lifestyle to still have a hold over me, to keep me from my family and that was when I saw what you and John had been trying to tell me all along... Elena didn't seduce me, she abused me and even though at the time I was a willing victim, what she did to me was wrong... I didn't need someone who would beat me for bad behavior and reward me for good... what I needed back then was someone to love me while I was on my best behavior and to love me, even more, when I was acting out... So, I told my family and they were upset, hurt and angry about what was done to me but they still loved me and my Dad made sure that without my name being involved Elena would get the punishment she deserves."
„I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." Ana whispered.
„You were like I said your instinct about her was one of the main reasons I saw the light."
„I'm proud of you for realizing that what she has done to you was wrong." Ana said after a moment of letting his words sink in and he got up.
„Come, I do believe that we have a party to attend and I know that Mia has put your name on the list for the first dance auction."
„You are not going to spend 100.000 dollars for a dance with me again." Ana warned him.
„Baby, nothing can stop me from getting that dance with you, no matter how much I have to pay. I will win you." He said and offered his arm to her so they walked back to the tent in time for the event to begin.
Christian was surprised when Ana started to bit on the weekend at his parent's house in Montana and in the end, won the bid.
„I would have taken you there for free." He whispered to her.
„I know but it's for a good cause... and if I do remember correctly, I also still have a weekend at your house in Aspen open, which I won the last time I was here."
„That you do, Miss Steele... I will be happy to accompany you, should you so wish."
„I was actually thinking about a fishing trip with my Dad..."
„I'm sorry, I just..."
„But I'm sure if I take both of you with me it will be more fun." She finished her sentence and he smiled.
„I'm sure it will be, just let me know when and where, and I will make all the arrangements." He said.
An hour later Ana was dancing with Christian, still shocked that he bit 250k this time to win the first dance with her. She was sure that the bidding war would have lasted even longer, but Christian had given each guy who had dared to bid on her the death glare and one guy, who ignored it was pulled aside by Taylor. She looked at Mia who was dancing with Gideon and smiled. Gideon had taken the backseat when Mia had been auctioned and she almost thought he wouldn't bid at all when at the last second he stepped forward and bid double the amount the last bidder had called out making sure he won the bid with no one daring to even bid against him.
„So... do I need to break Cross's legs?" Christian asked when he saw them too.
„What? No! He won't do anything."
„Ana, I highly doubt that. He wants her, no doubt."
„Even if so, he said he wouldn't try anything with Mia because he doesn't want things to go downhill with you... because he knows that would be upsetting to me." She explained and Christian nodded, he didn't necessarily believe it, but he was willing to give Cross the benefit of the doubt because he had been a good friend to Ana in a time she really needed a friend and that was something he could appreciate.
„Will you try too?" She asked.
„Not to murder him?" He replied amused.
„Yes, I know your temper and the fact that you don't like me being friends with another man. So, I know I'm asking for a lot, but maybe you could see him as my Mia."
„A brother?" He asked and she nodded.
„Yes, I can try that for you."
„Thank you." She said with a big smile and they danced and had fun until the party was over and it was time to go home, where he brought her to her apartment, fought the urge to kiss her and wished her a good night instead...