Disclaimer: I own nothing other than my creative license to bend this story how i see fit! ;)
*** Ana ***
Before I knew it we arrived at our destination. And my god was it beautiful. I had no idea where we were because throughout the entire drive here I had been looking at him or my hands. But this place was incredibly beautiful, it was a secluded place obviously because it was very quiet and surrounded by nature. In front of us was a small wooden cottage, surrounded by white and purple flower. It truly was a dreamy place and here I was, with Mr. Grey himself. He sure was a mysterious and amazing man.
He opened my door and pulled me into his arms, taking in the scent of me again like his life was depending on it. He then took my hand, so very gently and ushered me inside the house, always keeping an eye on me as if to make sure I was enjoying this as much as he was. And I was, it was the best place to be with someone you love, and right now, romance was flowing through the air like crazy. And I had to be as strong as I could possibly be to not let myself get swoop away by this Adonis greek god of a man standing close to me. Hardest task I ever had in my life and I wasn't sure I was going to be successful at it.
"What do you think? Do you like it Anastasia? I didn't really want to share you so I thought this would be a better option." he says, breathing heavily and slowly, never leaving my eyes and reading my every emotion splashed across my face.
"This place is just beautiful Christian. I am truly amazed. Thank you for bringing me here. You didn't have to do this for me." I say, not knowing where to look because I truly felt thankful for him, for his gesture towards me.
"Ana, you deserve the world. And I will do anything in my power to make sure you get it. If you let me." He whispers, getting closer and closer to me, making me take a step back to stop him from completely overpowering me with his scent, allure and intoxicating presence.
"Christian please. You wanted to talk to me and that's why I am here. Nothing changed. We're still not good for each other" I say, sounding much more stronger than my inner convictions. Every fiber of my being wanted to just run into his arms and let him show me just how much he had missed me. But I had to be strong and right now was no time to let my mind wander around.
"I'm sorry Ana. You are right, we should talk. It's just really hard for me to not want to kiss you and make you mine again. You have truly enchanted me and I just can't seem to stay away from you. But I will try my very best to do so. For as long as you wish me too." He says, with a smirk on his gorgeous face, so big I could only slap him in the arm to assure him I was not amused by his sudden change of mood.
"Ok ok. Let's just eat something and start our lovely night on a good note then. This way Miss Steele" he says, holding his hand out to me. I grab it, and after he gently squeezes it, walks us toward the main living room, with me trailing behind him, not being able to avoid my gaze from his perfectly toned ass. My god, this man was perfect in every way and yet again so wrong in so many other ways.
And there in the middle of the room, stood a middle sized, wooden round table, decorated in a very romantic way, two plates set across each other, a vase of red roses in the middle of the table and a bottle of Sancerre wine I assumed, being Christian's favorite, just waiting to be devoured. On the left side of the table stood a little supporting table with three dishes covered by metal lids. And just the smell of it made me lick my lips instantly. Christian noticed and couldn't help but smile and wink at me. He truly was serious when it came to food.
"If you please Miss Steele." He says, pulling up the chair for me to sit in. Wow, a true gentleman, who would have thought?
"Thank you Mr. Grey" I say, clearly amused by his great mood.
"Some wine Miss Steele?" he asks, in a southern accent, making me laugh instantly. He sure was fun when he wasn't being an obsessive control freak. I loved him like this, fun and carefree Christian. So sexy.
"Please Mr. Grey." I say, smiling shyly back at him. This was truly beginning to be a very good night.
After pouring the wine in both of our glasses it was time to unveil the first delicacy. He lifts the lid up and it seems to be a very nice and simple seafood chowder. Yummy, just what I needed, something healthy but still tasty!
"I guess this soup is the perfect beginning of a delicious meal. What do you think Ana?" He asks, smiling ear to ear, clearly pleased with himself, and I have to say, I agree with him, it does smell divine.
"Sounds good to me" I manage to say, trying to avoid licking myself with anticipation. He smirks back at me and starts serving me, with so much precision and determination you would think he was serving the queen of England.
"Thank you" I say, waiting for him to serve himself and then, after a soft smile and a wink from him, we both start devouring that first course. It was so tasty I had to control myself from slurping it all up. He seemed to be in the same mood because he ended that course practically at the same time which made us both laugh a little. I guess he was as hungry as I was.
"That was delicious Christian. Did you make it yourself?" I ask him, clearly mocking the situation, knowing perfectly well he couldn't even boil an egg let alone make something as awesome as this soup. He picks up on my little game and responds in the same mood.
"If I had made it you would be grabbing your stomach for dear life. But thank you for pointing out my culinary flaws Miss Steele. How very charming of you to do so." He says, looking all mockingly appalled by my disdain of his kitchen skills.
"Didn't mean anything by it sir. Just making small talk that's all" I say, in my best southern accent, causing him to just burst out laughing, at me I guess. I didn't really care, it truly was heaven to hear him laugh and I was going to make sure he kept doing it for as long as I could.
"I took no offense my dear. So, should we go on with the next course?" he asks, clearly pleased by my high spirits and lifting the second lid, displaying a perfect looking Parmesan and parsley-crusted salmon, paired with a very tasty looking Crab & asparagus salad with real salad cream. Damn, this was one hell of a meal!
"Wow, that looks even more delicious than the soup!" I say, not being able to restrain myself. I was excited about food, and that didn't happen very often. Christian looked like a kid on Christmas morning, already serving me and himself, smiling that dazzling smile at me, overly pleased with my reaction.
"I'm very glad to see you so happy eating Anastasia. It sure is a sight for sore eyes" he says, still smiling at me. I would never get tired of that smile, no matter how sad or disappointed I was at our current situation.
"This is just too good to refuse. I'm sorry for my poor manners." I say, after noticing that I was almost done eating and he was just starting. But still, he looked rather amused by it and immediately discarded my previous comment. "Don't be silly Ana. I love to see you eat, it's truly mesmerizing. Please, don't mind me" he says, looking very proud of me or him I couldn't really tell. But I soon finish my meal and take a few sips of the wine, which is just to die for of course. I don't intend to get drunk tonight so I'll make sure to keep my drinking to a minimum.
After he finishes, he suddenly looks to me with such determination in his eyes I might pass out from the power of his gaze. And then he says to me, never leaving my eyes and holding my hand softly "Ana, I need to know something and please understand this. I'm not trying to pry in your private life, I just need to know so I can appease my soul. Will you be honest with me?" he asks, and right now all I want do to is kiss him and let him know I have always been truthful with him and always will be. But I restrain myself from dong it and just simply nod. Yes, that's better, no confusion there.
"Ok. Ana, I need to know what happened last night. Why didn't you answered any of my calls and why did someone else respond to message I sent you? I just need to understand and I swear I will let it go." He says, and now this night just got a whole lot more confusing. What? What calls? What message' Was he drunk? Was I drunk? Was I dreaming again? Ouch, my head hurt, I was rambling in my head but he was still staring at me, looking as bit of confused as I was. Ok, let's just clear this out so I can stop my head from spinning.
"Christian, I don't know what you're talking about. Last night I had no calls in my cell and no messages from you either. I'm not sure what to say because you obviously are serious, But I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm sorry" I say, very apologetically, looking utterly ashamed and displeased with the sad look on his face. I hate to cause him any pain and right now I could see he was feeling betrayed.
"Ana, I can prove I sent you a message and someone responded from your phone. Here, check my phone. See for yourself." He says, beginning to sound a little pissed, at me or the situation, I wasn't really sure. Ok, I check his phone and there it is, a message from 'Anastasia', pretty much telling him to fuck off and mind his own business. What the fuck? I did not send this! And I did not get drunk enough to do so without remembering! I remember everything from that night and I know I had my phone with me at all times. I never left my bag . Unless…when I went to the bathroom, but I left it with José, whom I trusted, so I don't understand what happened. José wouldn't mess with my things would he? But wait a minute…then it comes to me, the sight of José holding my phone, looking weird and feeling kind of awkward after I caught him. But he said it was a wrong number calling at that was it, I believed him and didn't think about it for the rest of the night. No he wouldn't. He couldn't. Not my dear friend José. Oh no. What do I do now? How the hell am I suppose to explain myself without knowing all the facts?
"Ana, just tell me what happened. I just want to know the truth, no matter how bad it might be. Please" he begs me, looking straight in my eyes, still holding my hand and squeezing it. How boy, now I was truly confused.
"Christian I told you, I don't know what's going on here. Please, you need to believe me. I'm not lying to you, why would i?!" I blurt out, not able to hide my frustration and anger at this whole thing. And then it hits me, the only person who can clear this whole mess up it's José. I need to call him and fast.
"Christian, I need to make a phone call and hopefully it will make this whole situation much clearer. Ok?" I ask him, squeezing his hand so to show him that I'm not mad or upset at him.
"Ok Ana, but just make it fast. I need to know what happened" he says, looking rather sad and heartbroken, but I make my way across the room and into one of the smaller rooms and shut the door behind me. Ok, its crunching time, so I decide to call José immediately.
Ring Ring Ring…Hi Ana! What's up girl?
Hum, José, I need to ask you something and please, don't lie to me.
O-Ok Ana. Sure, anything for you.
Ok. José, last night, did you mess with my phone and text something to Christian from my phone?
Hmm, Ana. Look, that guy is wrong for you. You are so much better than him, he doesn't deserve you. I was just trying to help you move forward that's all. I'm sorry I lied and I'm sorry if you get mad at me for it but I swear I did it for you. You were so happy and carefree I just wanted to keep you like that for as long as I could. I care about you Ana, you know that. I just want you to be happy. I'm sorry I lied though, I should have told you. I'm sorry
Oh my god. José how could you? I trusted you, I have trusted you for so long and I just don't understand how you could do this to me! You had no right to mess with my life like that! You had no right!
Ana I'm sorry" I'm so sorry! Please believe me! Don't be mad at me please!
No! I can't talk to you right now! I'm really disappointed José. You were one of my best friends and now I just don't know what to believe anymore. I'm sorry. I gotta go.
Ana please! Ana!
And I just close my phone and stare at it. What the fuck is wrong with him? How could he do this? And he still thinks it was for my own good? I mean, who the heel does he think he is to play games with my life? I'm so pissed right now I could scream. And then I notice him, standing at the door, looking at me and asking me if I was ok with his eyes. Oh fifty, no, I'm not ok and right now there's nothing I would love more than just cuddle next to you and forget all about the world.
"Christian, I'm sorry. It was José. He sent you that text and erased all your missed calls from my phone. I'm really sorry. I left my bag with him one time, to go to the bathroom and he just messed everything up. I'm so sorry" I say to him, already feeling the tears creeping down on me and before I know it he pulls me close to me and just holds me, stroking my hair and my back, letting me sob into his chest, and we just stay there, not saying anything for a while until I manage to push myself away from him and just say, between breaths "I'm sorry Christian. I just want to go home now. I need to sleep this off. I'm sorry". And with a soft nod he does as I ask and ushers me out of that dream house and into his car, and drives away, back to the cruel and twisted world I now despise and hate.
I guess faith is really not on my side and just like that, the most perfect night I have had in days is ruined and I'm left with sorrow and sadness. Will I ever have my happy ending or am I destined to a life of loneliness and regret?