A/N: oh look at this one, brought to you inspired by the band HURT. Setting things straight as I am muddling you all, the ballroom is present, and the content of the chapters flow chronologically unless otherwise stated (The chapters aren't chronological though if that makes sense?) . So the chapter breaks represent the forward flow of time, unless I make a note saying otherwise. Also, Ana does own her own apartment, but she lives in the same block of flats/apartments as Kate. Special thanks to Kathd16, and a quick thank you to all you readers for putting up with my less than amazing updating skills!
Ana clutched José's hand tightly in her own two hands, pulling his hand to her lips, gently kissing his knuckles.
"I am so sorry, if only I wasn't so stubborn," a silent tear escaped Ana's eyes as she whispered to her friend, gently lowering his hand to the bed, in favour of gently stroking his hair before running her hand over the spattering of stubble on his face. "You would be safe and laughing, capturing beautiful moments with your camera."
She stood from her chair, leaning forward and gently kissing José on his forehead. She saw his eye lids flutter, as his eyes moved slightly under them.
"I will make her pay José," She said, once she was sure he wouldn't wake. She gently ran her hand over his face once more, before turning to leave the room.
"You OK Steele?" Kate asked, as she stepped into the hall. Ana quickly wiped away the single tear track and walk to Kate embracing her in a strong hug. "Let's get you home."
And in that moment Ana knew she would do whatever it took to keep this blonder before her safe.
"Ana darling, how are you?" Elena cooed into the phone, sending shivers down Ana's spine.
"Skip the pleasantries, what do you want?" Ana snapped in reply, not wanting to speak to this woman for a moment longer than needed.
"Oh, someone is feeling a bit touchy this morning," Elena laughed. "Seems I have a need for you sooner than I thought. It seems Christian is going to the benefit after all, took a lot of convincing on my part, but we got there in the end." She cackled into the phone once more. "And I have a friend whose previous date for this benefit has become incapacitated by some horrible car accident, tragic really." Ana shuddered, sure Elena had a hand to play in this horrible car accident. "It wasn't fatal, don't worry, just left her slightly immobile for the next few weeks; meaning he needs a new date. He's a lovely man, I'm sure you two will get along just fine. I will email you the time and date, and any other details you may need. I take it you have a dress you could wear?"
"Yes," Ana replied.
"Good," Elena paused. "I am going to book you in at my salon to have your nails done with me, so I can talk you through how you should act. I cannot afford anything to be left to chance. I will email you the time and date. Good bye."
And just like that she was gone, and Ana's day was ruined.
Ana slid into the car with as much grace as she could manage, pleasantly surprising herself in the process. He released her hand and shot her a shy smile, closing the door behind her, going around to his side of the car rather than making her slide across the cold leather seats in the back of his car.
She smiled broadly at him as he took the seat beside her, closing the door behind him. He reached for her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze and Ana couldn't help but wonder how nervous she must really look.
"So what has Elena told you of me?" He asked with a smile. "She told me you are an assistant to a commissioning editor at SIP, but that is about it."
"That's because there is little else to say," Ana smiles sweetly at him. "She has told me nothing of you I am afraid."
"Then what possessed you to agree to this date?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. Ana couldn't deny he was good looking, but he barely held a candle to Christian.
"Elena is a friend, and I trust her not to set me up on a bad date," She replied, batting her eye lashes at him sweetly. "So what is it you do then?"
"I am a surgeon," He said with a smirk. "And looking at you, I can't see a single thing I would change."
"A plastic surgeon then," Ana said, blushing and unsure how to take the compliment. He laughed slightly, and nodded.
"That's how I met Elena," He explained. "Both being in business of beauty and vanity, we attended many of the same events. How about you? Did you meet her through Christian?"
Ana sighed, of course he knew about her and Christian, the whole world did. They hardly tried that hard to escape the pictures in the beginning.
"Something like that, we didn't really get on at first," She replied with a smile. "You know how protective she can be, and how girls are."
"Yes, that is true, I'd hate to be on her bad side," He shoots her a dashing smile, and shifts in his chair so he is now facing forward. Ana felt a sense of relief, as the smile she tried to muster in return to his was little more than a grimace.
She felt her heart beat accelerate, and her stomach sink to the floor. Tonight was not her lucky night it would appear, and she cursed herself for thinking this would be easy. She ripped her eyes away from his retreating copper hair, and turned her attention back to the male stood beside her, clutching her arm.
"Ana! What a surprise," Grace exclaimed, as she greeted Ana, lightly kissing her on the cheek, albeit somewhat awkwardly seeing as her date refused to let go of her arm.
"How nice to see you again, David," Grace turned to the male. He smiled at her, and quickly took Ana away, much to Ana's relief and annoyance. He had no right to drag her away, but she couldn't help but feel like she had been saved from a never ending series of questions she would rather avoid.
He led her to the bar rather than their table, and let Ana sit on a stool first, before taking the one beside her, turning it so he was facing her.
"What can I get you to drink?" He asked her, smiling warmly once more. Ana smiled back, and hesitated before answering, alcohol wasn't really her thing, and she doubted having beer here would help her to fit in.
"Surprise me," She gave him a toothy smile, and he nodded in return, swivelling in his chair and leaning forward in a bid to attract the attention of the bar man.
She took this moment to scrutinize the man before her, confused by the mixed vibes he sent her. He was attentive for the most part, asking her questions and seemingly genuinely interested in her reply. He seemed nice, but that whole thing with dragging her from Grace had alarm bells ringing in her mind. As well as the question involving Christian, do people really ask questions involving an ex on their first date?
But, then again, with Christian being here, would Elena really want to set her up with someone with an overbearing personality? She needed Ana out of the picture, surely she would want to set her up and make her happy, thus driving Christian back to Elena.
Ana shuddered as a thought crossed her mind, what if he was over bearing and violent? His threats making her stay in line and make Christian jealous, inadvertently of course. Elena would be in a win win situation; Ana would be suffering in the way Elena had always wanted her to.
"Here you go," He said as he placed the drink before her, dragging Ana from her thoughts. Well it was too late to think about Elena's intentions now; Ana was in far too deep.
"What have we here then?" Ana asked, eyeing the concoction before her suspiciously. Hindsight being the wonderful thing it is, has now alerted her she should have picked her own drink and kept an eye on her alcohol intake, since his intentions could be far from innocent.
"Do you trust me?" He asked, smirking at her, and sipping his own drink, a carbon copy of hers. Feeling trapped, she could do little but nod in response with a slight smile. His answering smile was all white teeth and Ana once more couldn't help but feel inadequate. "Then drink up."
Preventing her eyes from widening in shock, she simply obeyed, taking a hesitant sip of the fruity cocktail. It was a mixture of fruits she couldn't place, and a weak burn followed the mixture down her throat.
"No need to be so hesitant," He said necking his down in one. He gestured Ana to do the same, and so she did. Once again he smiled at her in return. "Excuse me while I go to the bathroom."
She watched him leave, and turned to play with her now empty glass. She felt a shudder travel down her spine, and uneasiness settled in the pit of her stomach. He knew she was there.