Hey everyone I am back with the next chapter. I just wanted to let everyone know that this story is going to mostly focus on Christian, but I will throw in Ana's POV in every couple of chapters to. Okay I hope you like this chapter, enjoy!
Christians POV
The air is cool and crisp on my skin as I step out of the heat regulated Audi that I had waiting at the airport. There is nothing but hints of snow, that I am sure is to come, on the ground as I make my way up the winding ramp that leads up to the large cabin style house. This is where my parents would always take us for winter holiday when we where children, it was one of my truly favorite place as a child; I got to hide in the thick trees that encased the house. It truly looks like a grand tree fort. Elliot nor Mia liked it here very much because they where always so far from their friends and such. Me on the other hand, I loved the stillness and silence that the woods would bring me. Nothing could ever hurt me in this place.
I decided to give the month off to both Taylor and Ms. Jones that way they can spend the holidays with their families without having me to be bothered with. Taylor nearly had a field day, but he reluctantly agreed, because his ex was going to let their daughter stay with him for Christmas.
I am about to open the cabin door when it suddenly swings open and a elderly face pops out. "Oh goodness me! Look how big have gotten, Mr. Grey how good to see you again. I am truly delight that you are spending a month up here! I have gotten everything ready for you, and I will be around once a week to restock your fridge and make you anything you'd like for the next week," I fallow her into the foyer as she continues to rattle off details about my stay. I give her a fond grin, Ms. Belk, has been working up here as the care taker of the house since I was just a small boy. Mia, Eliot, and I have always thought of her as another grandmother.
Once she is done explaining things to me, she takes her leave. I make my way up the old creaky stairs to the master bedroom. I had the place redecorated a while ago when my parents gave it to me, they wanted to sell it and get a new property but I refused, so they just gave the house to me and bought a new one that is closer to the town.
I make short work of unpacking my things, but my mind wonders to my trip down here.
"Okay you need to leave, I thought you where supposed to be on the plane hours ago? Do you need me to call Taylor," Ros says striding into my office like she owns the place. I don't even look up when plops down in the chair across from me.
"I just needed to check on this one thing for the Taiwanese deal that is happening soon. Maybe I should stay just until it is over," I sigh there is just so much work to be done right now, why did I think that leaving for a month was a good idea again.
"I know this whole deal like the back of my hand Christian, I promise you nothing is going to go wrong," she leans forward in her seat just a little. I glance up at her, knowing she is right I close my laptop and stand up slowly.
"I am counting on you Ros," I tell her seriously.
"Wouldn't have it another way boss," she grins. I shake my head at her. Grabbing my bag I head out of the building and into my Audi that will take me to the airport.
I drive right onto the tarmac and quickly chat with the pilot before boarding. While waiting for us to take off I check a couple of me emails, I know Ros said she has things handled but I still need to stay up to date if something is to change in a moments notice. She would kill me if she knew I was reading my email; I think she might be the only friend I have other than Elena, whom I don't consider a friend anymore.
The flight isn't to long just enough time for me to go over a couple of documents that needed review. Just as we land however I get a call from none other then my mother.
"Hi Mother," I say climbing into my car as it is being loaded with my things.
"Christian I called your office this afternoon, Andrea picked up. She told me something about a month vacation in Aspen?" she says getting right to the point.
"Yeah about that, I just needed a little time away from the city that's all," I explain.
"Why didn't you tell us, we are more then happy to come down there and join you. It can be just like when you where all little," she says excitedly.
"Mom, Elliot and Mia hated coming down here. Plus you and Dad have work, it would be better if I just stayed here by myself," I can hear the disappointment and hurt in her next words.
"Oh… okay. Well don't forget to check in Honey."
"I gotta run Mom, bye" hanging up I sigh. My mother means well, and she saved me in my early years of life. But now it's just better if I stay away and let them all be their happy loving family without me.
I shake myself out of my day dream and focus on the unpacking that I am almost finished with. It's getting pretty late when I am all settled in, but I decided to go into town and grab a bite to eat.
I know there is food in the fridge; but it has been quite a long time since I have been here that I must say I am curious to see it all again. The town itself is far but not bad from where I'm staying so it doesn't take me very long to find it. I have to admit that the town looks absolutely beautiful when it is all lit up like it is during the winter months.
I find a place to park and hop out of the car, in a spontaneous move I decide to just wonder around looking for a place to eat rather then looking one up. I see a place not far from me that is tucked in-between two little shopping boutiques.
I'm just about to reach for the door, when something in the window of the store catches my eye. I move away from the entrance to see if I can get a better look at what caught my attention.
Inside the shop, I can see two women through the window; they must not have realized how late it has gotten while shopping. One of them has straight blonde hair and the other a rich long brown hair. They both have their backs to me, but it appears they are laughing or crying I can't tell. The blonde one moves farther into the store so I can no longer see her at my vantage point.
The other woman turns so she is now facing me, my mouth falls open a little when she does. She has to be the most beautiful women I have ever see and the way her long hair swishes when she walks; everything about her screams feminine. I can't stop staring at her, she starts to walk to where I am standing staring like an idiot at her. She stops and makes eye contact with me through the window, then she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and smiles at me.
I have alway been good at charming women, all I have to do is smile at them and they almost always will drop there panties for me. But for an instant I lose all baring of self and act like a freaking 12 year old boy when a female talks to them for the first time.
I stagger backwards away from the window and I duck right into the restaurant next door. I sigh with relief when the door closes behind me. Then I smack myself on the head for acting like such an idiot, what is wrong with me.
"Um Sir, would you like a table?" the matire d' asks. Composing myself like any respectful billionaire would I nod and he leads me to a seat towards the back.
I try to decide on what I want having never been here before when I hear the waiter heading my way; but not because he is going to ask me something, but because he is leading in to more people to dine in the back area.
"Right this way," says the waiter. Behind him are the two women who I was gawking at not 5 minutes before.
Ana's POV
"Ana, seriously come on! We are going to miss our flight," Katie says from the door of our apartment sporting what I can only assume is way more than she needs for our trip.
"I'm ready!" I say making my way to the door, " I was just making sure everything was off before we left."
"Oh Ana, you worry to much; everything will be just fine while we are gone," she links her arm through mine and we walk down to meet the taxi that is waiting for us.
"So Ana, this must be as good a time as any, but you remember that guy I have been kind of seeing for a little bit," she says like she is nervous about something. I definitely don't like the way this is sounding so far.
"Uh, yeah what about him," I inquire.
"Well you see, I kind of invited him to come down for a little bit and like hang out with us," she says sheepishly.
"Kate," I say exasperatedly, "Why didn't you tell me? Now I am going to have to hardcore third wheel this whole trip."
"No, no, it won't be like that I promise!" she waves her hands.
Knowing Kate that is most definitely how it is going to be for the whole trip. What will end up happening is that Kate and Tanner-Trent, whatever his name is, are going to be going at it like rabbits and I am going to be left to do whatever. Normally I wouldn't mind this, but the whole point of the trip was it was supposed to be a me and Kate vacation. I sigh and lean back into my seat closing my eyes.
"Don't be mad, he isn't supposed to even get there for a couple of days. SO it will be just you and me, promise," I give her a half smile, I swear it's like sometimes she is oblivious.
The rest of the way to the airport we talk about work and all the things that we want to do when we get there. Kate has been a dozen times but this is a first for me, so I am really excited; I read that it is just beautiful during the winter when the snow is thick on the ground just covering everything.
When we arrive at the airport we get all of our bags checked then wait around for our flight so that we can board. Kate tells me all about "Her Man" and how she thinks he is truly different form any other guy that she has ever known. Knowing Kate she will then probably ask me soon about guys, truth be told I haven't ever found anyone that I want to spend that much time with or give them that piece of me. Kate still kids around with my not having be deflowered before, she isn't particularly shrewd when it comes to men.
Kate falls right to sleep when we finally get up into the air, so I plug in my headphones in and pull out one of the manuscripts that I brought with me. We have a layover in Salt Lake City, but we don't have to get off the plane, so I let Kate continue to sleep as we refuel. It's only when we finally land in Aspen do I shake Kate awake. For someone who gets up so early all the time and goes to bed so late she sure does hate to be woken up let me tell you.
After getting all of our bags and things we find out that Kate's parents actually got us a driver so we didn't have to get a taxi to her parents home here.
"Remind me to thank your parents a million times when we finally get back to Seattle," I say feeling a little overwhelm but all the wealth that has been thrown around so far for this trip.
"It's really not a problem, my parents really wanted someone to use the house this winter so why not us?" she says simply while walking over to the driver and tossing her stuff into the trunk of the SUV.
"Let get to the house and freshen up, then we can do a little light shopping before getting dinner. I know this really great little Italian place right next to some shops," Kate tells me when we are all settled into the car.
"That sounds great, I really want to see some of the town. I have heard that it is so beautiful" I tell her.
"It really is, especially during the night. Maybe you'll meet someone then we can all hang out for the trip. Omg Ana, its going to happen I can just feel it," well I knew that was going to be thrown in there didn't I.
The house-more like mansion- is absolutely stunning, it has this dark brown rustic wood features and floor to ceiling windows that will be perfect for gazing out of and watching the snow fall. Kate and I pick our rooms, mine is giant with a window that overlooks parts of the town and the thick forest on the opposite sides of us.
Kate comes into my room a couple of minutes later and we both go back down to where the car is waiting for us. We drive into the town and head for the nearest shop, its a small store with a large window in the from. The Italian place that Kate was talking about early is right next door, she says we will go there next because she is simply famished but really wanted to look in here first.
There is this wonderful black dress that I pick up and try on, but it is no where in my budget so I carefully put it back where I found it. Kate on the other hand is already decided she wants half the store. I giggle because it is just so Kate, when she goes shopping of any sort, you should see her at the grocery store.
"What's so funny Ana?" she asks me holding up a blue blouse.
"Oh nothing," I say walking over to where she is standing, "Just remembering the time you and I went to the grocery store." I laugh.
"We had Twinkie's for months!" she laughs and we are both busting up remember when Kate decided it would be the best idea to buy three of the super jumbo packs of Twinkie's once.
"Look at those pants!" Kate says a couple of seconds later, and wonders over to them.
I decide to stroll back to where the large window is in the front of the store, when I get close enough I notice there is a man outside. He has to be the most handsome person I have ever seen in my life. I don't think people like him exist in real life, he appears to be staring at something in the store so I give him a friendly smile. The man stumbles back as if my smile shocked him, he turns quickly and goes into the restaurant next door. Well that was odd, I think to myself.
"Hey Ana, you ready to eat?" Kate asks coming up behind me.
"Um yeah, what about all your stuff?" I ask.
"Don't worry about it, they will just send it to the house," she says leaving the store. I fallow her out then into the restaurant that the mystery man disappeared into. The waiter directs us into the far back of the restaurant where there is only one other person is dining. Its the mystery man, and I have to say he looks nearly like Adonis now that I see him in a better light.
We are seat a little ways away form him, I am facing him so I can see him better. Kate talks about all the things she can't wait to wear that she just got at the store. I, however, am focused on this handsome man, then he turns his head and we make eye contact. I flush and turn away like a stupid school girl who has a crush. Out of habit I bite my lip and tuck a piece of hair out of my eyes.
Kate seems to have noticed everything that just happened, "Ana, who are you flirting with right now," she asks turning her head around to get a better look at the mysterious man who caught my eye.
"Kate I was not flirting," I protest.
We both look over to the man, but he is no where to be seen; his table is completely empty.
Okay, chapter three is over. Tell me what you think now that both Ana and Christian are in the same town and so close to meeting! As always I love to hear from you.
Until Next Time
-AJ