CHAPTER 39

"Well, it's about time!" Eva says good naturedly as she walks towards the man.

"Hey baby girl" he drawls as he wraps her in his arms.

I glance at Gideon and while to the casual onlooker he isn't visibly showing any anger at the fact Eva is in another man's arms, his eyes are practically glowing with possessiveness. It is a trait I have come to recognise from the same expression Christian has when any man comes near me. I look closer and I see that his hand is gripping his glass so tightly I'm afraid he is going to break it. I reach across the table and squeeze his arm. He looks at me, relaxes his grip on his glass but only slightly and smiles tightly.

He leans towards me, "He's her best friend and I know he has been through as much as her, but…" he whispers.

"But what?" I ask wondering why he trailed off.

Gideon leans even closer and lowers his voice even more so that I can barely hear him. "Cary Taylor is completely self-destructive. He will screw anything with a pulse and he has been known to self-harm. He sabotages any potential personal relationship he has and Eva is the only person who he has completely let in but he has also behaved appallingly at times towards her. She shared an apartment with him when they first moved to New York and she came home one evening and walked in on him partaking in an orgy in her living room – and the word orgy is no exaggeration. I believe wholeheartedly Eva's life would be better and far easier if he wasn't in it. However, he is her best friend. They met in therapy when she lived in San Diego and have been friends ever since. She believes she needs him in her life so I have to accept that and as such I tolerate him".

I am shocked at Gideon's assessment of the man who is now making his way towards the table with a confident swagger and a huge grin on his face, but the way he has described him makes me believe that the way he behaves is clearly from whatever has happened to him in his past. After Christian had told me about the diagnosis which his new therapist had given him, I had looked it up. I was surprised at how many different variations of the same disorder there were and how many people diagnosed with the same thing could display a totally different set of symptoms and behaviour, so after what Gideon has just said it just makes me wonder. So therefore, I am determined to remain open minded about this man and reserve judgement on him.

"Hello, I'm so sorry I'm late but the shoot over-ran. But it enabled me to make a bit of an entrance" he says with a wicked smirk.

I watch as he leans down and kisses Monica's cheek affectionately and she immediately stands and hugs him. His eyes close as he savours the contact and I go through everything that Gideon has just said. I realise that this man is crying out for love and affection and it makes me wonder once again what happened to him.

Richard Stanton stands and shakes Cary's hand and I realise that they both appear to treat him like a son. Once he has finished greeting them, his eyes move around the table. They pause on each of us and soften when he looks at Ava.

"Cary, come and sit down and let me introduce you to everyone" Eva says as she pulls his arm.

Cary takes his seat as Eva quickly does the introductions. Cary looks at me and offers me a brilliant smile. He really is an attractive man and I can see why he is a successful model.

"So, you are Anastasia" he says with a grin.

I shake my head, "No, just Ana" I say firmly. "I'm pleased to meet you Cary" I add politely.

He doesn't reply but he searches my face and I wonder what he is looking for, then I realise he is searching for any evidence of similarities between me and Eva. I raise my eyebrows questioningly.

"Why are you staring at me? If you are looking to see if there any similarities between me and Eva you will be looking for a long time, I inherited my mother's looks".

Cary still doesn't say anything but moves his attention to Elliot, "Well, hello handsome" he says and Eva nudges him sharply in the ribs as Elliot's face is a complete picture of shock at Cary's comment.

"Stop it Cary" she whispers.

"What? All these obscenely handsome men and I can't comment on the fact or even flirt a little?" he asks as he waves his hand around the table. Monica and Richard shuffle in their seats uncomfortably at his brazen behaviour and Eva rolls her eyes.

"Everyone here is straight Cary" she says and I swear I see a glimmer of disappointment in his eyes as she says this. I wonder if he is just behaving like this for shock value because it is working. I have no problem with Cary being gay and I know Christian doesn't but after what Gideon said about his screwing anything with a pulse, I am guessing that Cary is probably bisexual

I continue to study him throughout lunch. He does calm down somewhat but he still makes the odd comment which could be interpreted in a totally different way other than innocent. I have to say my first impressions of him are mixed. If I were to simply take him at face value; I would dismiss him as someone who is obnoxious, a superficial show off and a drama queen. Someone who enjoys making others feel uncomfortable. But I think there is much more to Cary Taylor than meets the eye and much more than he is willing to show. Years of watching Christian's public persona has taught me that. Although Christian's persona is the polar opposite to Cary. I bite my lip and decide that I want to delve deeper as Cary Taylor intrigues me.

About half way through lunch it is clear that Ava is completely shattered and when she has finished eating, Elliot excuses himself and tells us he is heading back to Christian's apartment so Ava can have a nap. This gives me the opportunity to voice my opinions of Cary as I wasn't about to say anything while Ava was within earshot.

Talk up to this point has been pretty superficial, general chit chat about our lives. My work at Grey Publishing and Christian's empire. Monica comments that Christian and Gideon are very similar how they built their empires from the ground up at a young age and amassed an obscene wealth before they even turned thirty. When there is a pause in the chat I turn towards Cary.

"So, what about you Cary?" I ask.

He looks surprised but quickly recovers and grins cheekily.

"What about me?" he asks.

"You have barely spoken about yourself and how you came to be where you are. From what has been said, I am assuming you have known Eva a long time?" I say innocently.

I watch as he shuffles in his seat and the brashness has now vanished.

"Yeah, we met when we were both living in San Diego. We became friends and then we both moved here to New York" he says with a shrug.

"How did you meet?" I ask, and I see Gideon give me a knowing glance.

I watch Cary shift again in his seat and he looks at Eva and she quickly steps in to answer. She gives his hand a reassuring squeeze and smiles at him. "It's ok Cary, Ana knows everything about what happened to me". She pauses and then turns towards me. "We met at Dr Travis' place. He was the therapist who my dad put me with when I went to live with him and it was there, I met Cary".

I nod and look towards Cary who is now looking warily at me.

"So, I take it you have also had a tough life, and bad things have happened to you which explains a lot" I say and his eyebrows rise at that.

"How did…? What do you mean?" he asks nervously all bravado now completely gone.

I smile, "The way you hide behind a brash exterior, putting on a front. Saying and doing things which you know will keep people from seeing the real you, keep people from getting too close. I think that you are using that front as a protection so you don't get hurt. I think there is far more to you than what you portray and hopefully with time you will learn to trust me and let me in and let me be your friend, as you have let Eva in".

Gideon is staring at me in shock as is Christian but Eva is grinning widely and turns towards Cary, "I told you she was smart, didn't I?" she says simply.

At this Richard and Monica stand up, "I think we need to get going, I have a business meeting which I need to attend" Richard says.

He shakes Christian's hand once more, "It was lovely to meet you all, please give my regards to Elliot" he says and Christian nods and assures him he will.

Then he turns towards me and smiles kindly at me, "It was a pleasure meeting you Ana" he says.

"It was" Monica adds.

I feel myself blushing at their words and I wave my hand dismissively.

(CHRISTIAN)

As Richard and Monica Stanton leave the table I glance at Ana once more. I saw her whispering with Gideon when Cary first arrived and I also noticed how she was studying him throughout lunch. To be fair I had dismissed him as an arrogant show off but after Ana said what she said and it came to light where Cary had met Eva my opinion has shifted somewhat. I am surprised as I am usually very good at summing people up accurately, and yet Cary managed to fool me which tells me that Ana is correct and there is far more to him than meets the eye.

I look across the table towards Gideon, he has been very quiet throughout lunch and I want the opportunity to talk to him in private. I think quickly and decide on a course of action.

"Ana, why don't you, Eva and Cary head off somewhere if you want to get to know Cary better" I begin and I see the surprise on Ana's face and I acknowledge that what I said was probably the last thing she expected me to say.

"I'm sure Gideon and I can entertain ourselves, and besides I have been scolded once already today by Eva for talking business". I look meaningfully at Gideon and he quickly catches on that I want to discuss the therapist with him in private.

Gideon nods, "That sounds like an excellent idea" he says as he stands. He lifts his hand and almost immediately a waiter appears and he quickly settles the bill. With that I also stand and move around the table towards Ana, she looks up at me as I lean down and press a light sweet kiss to her lips.

"I'll see you later baby" I say.

"Thank you" she whispers back at me and I squeeze her arm gently in response.

"I'll take you back to the Crossfire and show you around Cross Industries" Gideon says as I move away from Ana.

He pauses and leans down and cupping Eva's face with his hands he kisses her. "I'll see you later Angel" he says almost reluctantly.

Eva grins at him, "Bye Ace" she mutters.

I see amusement twitch at his lips at the nickname and as he straightens, he glances almost dismissively towards Cary.

"Cary" he acknowledges and Cary simply raises his hand. I see Gideon texting furiously and then he looks at Eva once more.

"Raul will be waiting for you when you are ready to leave" Gideon says and Eva nods. Then he turns his attention towards me. "Ready?" he asks.

I gesture towards the exit, "Lead the way" I say and we both leave the ladies walking side by side.

"You really don't like Cary, do you?" I say once we are out of earshot and Gideon snorts.

"I made it that obvious?" he says.

I shrug, "I picked up on a few pointers" I say simply.

"He is a complete disaster; he is self-destructive and Eva would be far better without him in her life" he says bluntly.

I stare at him, "Don't beat around the bush, just say what you really think" I say sarcastically and Gideon grins before shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, he just… he just rubs me the wrong way. I have witnessed Cary Taylor in self-destructive mode too many times and every time it happens Eva always manages to get caught in the crossfire. She always defends him and makes excuses for him… the only thing in his favour is he is unwaveringly loyal to Eva; he protects her in his own way as much as I do. He has caused her trouble but he never intentionally tries to hurt her. I was so jealous of him in the beginning but Eva assured me their relationship was more like a brother and sister and I soon realised that is all it was but I still don't like him".

"I have to say I thought he was a bit of an obnoxious idiot at first, but then after what Ana said what she said; I began to question my initial opinion of him" I say carefully.

Gideon looks at me, "What do you mean?" he asks.

"He's hiding behind a persona" I begin and Gideon snorts and shakes his head dismissively.

I gesture to him and then to me, "Do we not put on a front? Do we not show the world exactly what we want them to see so that they don't see the broken men inside?" I say.

Gideon stops and stares at me, "We do, but we don't behave like man whores and we don't go out of our way to make other people feel uncomfortable in our presence" he splutters in indignation.

I smile at him, "No, we don't but I can safely say that I have done things privately, behind closed doors which I am now not proud off… before Ana obviously" I say.

Gideon cocks his head to one side as he acknowledges what I am saying.

"Ok, I admit that I've also had my fair share of women… and done things I'm not proud of… before Eva" he says.

"Which leads me neatly on to that envelope I gave you when we first arrived" I say as we reach the Bentley waiting for us at the kerb.

I smile at Angus who opens the door for me and as I climb in, I pause and thank him. Gideon follows me into the car and once he is settled, he pulls out the envelope I gave him and he opens it. I watch him scanning the information I have enclosed about my new therapist. I don't say anything and wait for some kind of response from him. Eventually he looks up at me and fixes his steady gaze on me.

"So… you say she is good?" he asks nervously as he holds up the papers.

I nod, "Absolutely, and incredibly thorough. She has made a significant difference in my life since I have been seeing her… It has also made me realise that John Flynn wasn't as good as I thought. It appears he was just stringing me along using me as his main source of income whereas now I feel I am making significant progress".

Gideon nods and much to my surprise he looks up at Angus who is watching us through the rear-view mirror.

"I'm thinking of seeking some help… for my nightmares" he begins and Angus beams at him.

"Well that warms my heart lad, as it's about time… and as I've told you before, not all therapists are monster's. I know it will be hard for you to trust but in the long run if you can… and if this person can help, it can only be a good thing".

"It's a female therapist" he says and then he looks at me, "And you believe she will help me?" he asks and I can see the hope in his eyes and hear it in his voice so I don't hesitate and nod my head firmly.

"I do" I say simply.