APOV

My eyes flutter open and it takes me sometime to remember where I am and what I'm doing in such a soft bed. I look at the clock on my bedside table and it reads 12:30 pm. Man, I've been out cold for a while, I think to myself. I get up and use the restroom and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I'm starting to see my cheekbones and I can clearly see my ribs. But now that I'm in an environment that will provide me with food, I'll be able to gain my weight back. I step out of the bathroom and spot a note lying on the floor near my door. I pick it up and read the hand written message:

Dear Ana,

I hope you slept well. I'll be gone to work until 6 but I'll try to be home earlier than that if possible. If you would like something else to wear, please take whatever you need from my closet. Feel free to look around the apartment; this is your home now for as long as you want and I want you to be comfortable.

Christian

I smile and hold the letter close to me. Maybe I can learn to trust men again with his help. I put his letter in a drawer and step out from my new haven. I walk barefoot into the kitchen and see there is a large living room with a floor to ceiling widow and a large half square shaped couch in front of a large T.V. I spy Gail in the kitchen working on something. I don't want to scare her so I try my best to clear my voice and get a squeak out of myself. God I sound so stupid. She jumps but turns to me with a grin on her face.

"Hello Ana. Did you sleep okay," she asks and my heart feels like it might explode. I miss motherly concern.

"Yes thank you. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes I did. Would you like breakfast or just so straight into lunch?" I grin knowing that it's well past noon.

"Lunch please. Thank you." She puts down her bowl and walks over to the fridge. I take a peak inside her bowl and see what looks like cookie batter. When she's facing me I ask, "Are you making cookies?"

"Yes I thought we might need some sweets around here besides you. Don't tell Jason I told you this but he begs me for these cookies constantly." I giggle at her hushed tone and while she prepares me something she lets me spread the batter out onto a baking sheet. When I place them in the oven, she places a large salad with grilled chicken strips on top and a glass of water on the island. While the cookies bake and I eat, I ask Gail to tell me about herself. She in turn tells me about how she came to meet and work for Christian and how she met Jason. She also tells me and shows me pictures of Jason's daughter Sophie from a previous marriage. After we've talked and take the cookies out of the oven, I take a cookie and go exploring. My goodness these cookies are delicious! I find another guest bedroom that is similar to mine but doesn't have such quite feminine colors. I continue opening doors and accidently come across the living quarters of Gail and Jason, but I don't want to be nosy so I just shut the door. I open another one and see a bunch of T.V monitors. I realize its CCTV and see there is a camera pointed down the main hall and one pointed at the elevator. There also appears to be two in the garage. I shut the door and continue walking around the apartment. Next I find a home gym complete with a treadmill, an elliptical, a weight system, and a punching bag. I find Christian's room and walk in. His colors are light gray with light blue accents. I walk further into his room and see his closet door is open. Inside there are rows of suit jackets, shirts, and pants of all colors. He has several pairs of shoes and large dressers. His manly scent is all over the place and it smells wonderful. I take a look into his en suite bathroom and it's like mine. As I walk back down the hall I see the final door and open it. In it there is a floor to ceiling window that takes up one wall. Two walls are bookshelves lined with novels. The final wall is white and has a fireplace in it. In front of the fireplace is a lovely black sofa and in the middle of the room is a large piano. I wander around in awe and look at some of the novels and find Jane Eyre. The thought of being in this room sends me back memories of spending time at the library near home. The library was practically my home, my escape. I take the copy of Jane Eyre and lay it on the piano bench and walk back into the kitchen. I once again startle Gail but she soon recovers.

"Can I make myself some tea please?"

"I'll make it Ana, just give me a few minutes." She makes it and I give her my thanks and take it back into the library and sit down on the bench facing the skyline of Seattle. As I drink the pleasant warm liquid my mind runs back to the wonderful and handsome man who has saved me. No! I can't like him! He only wants my friendship and that is all I should give him. But why do I feel a pull to be near him? Every time we're in the same room, I want to be close to him and just stare into his alluring silver eyes. There's probably several women crawling over him all the time; he's smart, gentle as a lamb, and drop dead gorgeous. He's basically Mr. Rochester; he looks rough and mean at times but under that is a loving man.

"Do you play piano Ana," his sultry voice sounds, causing me to jump and drop the teacup from my hands. Shit!

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry," I tell the floor as I get on my knees and begin picking up the pieces of glass. Great, one day in the house of the man who saved me and I'm breaking his stuff.

"Here stop Ana, you'll hurt yourself worse." He's besides me in a minute and quickly picks me up. I freeze in his warm arms as he carries me over to the couch. "Hey Gail."

"Yes," she calls from the kitchen.

"Can you bring the first aid kit and the broom and dust pan into the library please?" He pulls a trashcan beside me and sits on the other side of me. I feel my cheeks heat as I continue mouthing apologies. Gail rushes in and hands him the kit as she goes over and cleans up my mess.

"No I should do it! I broke it," I plead with Christian.

"No Ana you're hurt and you need to be treated." He looks straight into my eyes with a mixture of concern and determination with his warm hands wrapped around mine.

"I'm so sorry I broke the cup. I'll buy you a new one I promise."

"You'll do no such thing except hold still while I work on you." I look down and see my hands are cut but nothing major. I can feel his breath on my arm as he works on cleaning the cuts and applying bandages. "There we go right as rain. Did you have a nice day?" He looks up from my hand and gives me a heart-stopping smile and again I feel my face redden.

"I did thank you. Did you have a nice day at work?"

"I did although I kept thinking how I should have stayed with you today to make you feel more welcomed."

"It's okay. I had lunch with Gail and she made cookies," I say trying to cheer him up.

"Oh I love her cookies." I smile at his love for her cooking and he returns the smile. "So, um, do you play the piano?" I shake my head no. "Would you like to learn?"

"Yes please."