Chapter 12

The Wall and The Bridge

I got to say that drinking wine for lunch wasn't the best idea at all. I know it's childish but I blamed it all on Christian. His presence took me by shock and I wasn't the best person to handle surprises well. If he needed to go somewhere for Grey Enterprises then why did he need to drop by in India?

Despite knowing that he gave me strange glances from time to time, I did my best to focus on the conversation Carrick was having with the printing suppliers. They were such intelligent men and everything they said sounded they came straight out of a computer.

After Carrick was certain that Suraj had gained the respect and trust of the suppliers, the conversation grew lighter.

Suraj opened up the topic in our table, "I'm really surprised that you're here, Christian. Carrick said that you won't be joining."

Christian went on business-mode when he said, "Pleasure to be here, Suraj and just for clarification, I was not invited here."

"Then why are you here?" I blurted out. Shit! This was the wine talking. I sensed that everyone was a bit surprised by that including Christian so I looked down and just bit my tongue. Okay, enough! Ana, behave!

Christian stared at me intentionally before he explained, "Ana, I'm here because I'm the future owner of the company and that alone is a reason why I should have been invited." He darted his eyes towards his father and immediately there was tension.

Carrick didn't talk directly to Christian but announced to everyone on the table instead, "Christian won't be inhering Lotus until the next three years."

"What?!" Christian was shocked.

"Why is that so?" Suraj calmly asked.

Carrick said, "Christian here wants to change everything about Lotus. He wants to rebrand the entire company. He says he wants us to be known as a publishing company for dystopian genre mostly."

Suraj dramatically gasped.

I couldn't hold my tongue any longer so I added, "Imagine? Removing romance books from a publishing company?"

Suraj gasped louder.

Christian looked frustrated but he was able to remain professional when he said, "In my defense, I assessed our sales for the past year and dystopian book have outweighed any genre we ever published. Our romance books don't sell."

"Which is why we agreed on our conditions, right?" Carrick sounded like he's taunting him.

"What conditions?" Suraj asked.

"I agreed with Christian's idea provided that he can produce a romance novel that could sell," Carrick proudly said.

"Huh?" I was confused and Christian looked tense.

"Christian's a writer before he got into business. If he writes our first-ever bestselling romance novel then he can change everything about Lotus just as he wishes," Carrick smugly said and Christian just looked down, looking like he was about to burst but was just holding it in.

Then out of nowhere, Suraj laughed out loud, "Good one, Carrick. Good one! You know that your son could never write a romance novel so that's why you set that condition!"

Carrick laughed with him too and Christian struggled to keep an expressionless face. He was close to bursting out.

When their laughter died down, Suraj said, "Christian, you are my future boss, but I have to tell you this: the romance story may not be your bestselling ones but somewhere out there, it makes a reader feel alive."

"I know that, Suraj," Christian replied but he continued:

"My wife, Deepika had the same experience, you know. Before we met, she was engaged to a man, but one day, they met up and he told her that he met someone else. Deepika told me that when she was on the verge of giving up love and spend her life as a spinster, she resorted to romance novels and saw love in a brighter light again. And when she met me, she welcomed me as if love never scarred her heart before."

At this point, Christian was looking at him with a strange expression on his face. No, he wasn't annoyed or anything, but he looked like he was processing all that was being said to him.

"We've been married for thirty years and the biggest lesson I've learned from her is that you don't measure strength by the height of the walls you've built around your heart to block love from entering. You become strong when you build a bridge instead-when you connect your heart with another even if love failed you in the past before."

Everyone was quiet at that including Christian. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him take a sip of juice and take a look at me. Meanwhile, I too was astounded by what Suraj said.

"You're a walking Hallmark card, Suraj!" I complimented in awe.

"I'll take that positively, Ana," he smiled.

I took another sip of wine before I started, "You know, I really understand what you said because I've had a series of ex-boyfriends who made me feel like I wanted to give up too. First, there was Michael-"

I was about to tell the entire story of my love life, but Christian plunged a roti into my mouth.

Christian laughed awkwardly, "Oh, you don't want to tell them that, don't you?"

"I want to," nobody could understand what I say because I was chewing a huge chunk of roti.

"Oh, you love more roti? Here, more!" He plunged another big piece of roti before he smoothly changed the topic on the table, "So, what's our agenda for the coming days?"

For someone who wasn't very friendly, Christian surely knew how to keep a conversation engaging. By the time I was done chewing the whole roti, I lost the courage to share the story of my entire disastrous love life. Christian was right! Roti tasted so good! I needed more. I paired it with my wine too.

While the men talked about business, I was reminded of Mukesh's presence next to me. Oh boy! This man was a total simp.

"You really look gorgeous today, Ana. I bet it's for me, huh?"

I glared at him, "What?"

"Just joking, Ana. Although, some part of that is true," Mukesh sounded arrogant and he was getting on my nerves.

I rolled my eyes and just ignored him.

"So, would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow?"

This caught Christian's attention. He was instantly looking at us and I could see his grip on his fork tightening. His nerves were bulging from his hands. He tensed as he waited an answer from me.

It would have been perfect if I said yes so he could be jealous, but I really can't stand Mukesh.

"Sorry, not interested," that's all I said.

Mukesh then began speaking in his language, but Christian literally screamed at him . . . in Hindi. Mukesh's eyes widened while Shannon (who was also seated next to me) looked shaken. Carrick and the suppliers looked confused while Suraj's usually happy face shifted to an expression of concern.

While me? I was just too shocked that Christian spoke Hindi. He knew how to speak their language?

"What's going on? What was that? Can somebody translate in English please?" Carrick asked.

Not wanting to worsen the tension, Suraj smoothly faked a smile and lied, "Christian is angry because Mukesh didn't tell him that it's his birthday."

Our table's mood quickly transformed from shocked then confused then happy?

Carrick cheered, "Oh, Happy Birthday, Mukesh! Ravi? We have a birthday celebrant here!"

As soon as Carrick informed our server, Ravi, he and his crew came to Mukesh in a dash.

"Happy Happy BIRTHDAY! Happy Happy BIRTHDAY!" There was full-on singing and some breakdancing too. Although shaken, Mukesh pretended that he was enjoying. While Christian still looked angry, the table didn't seem to mind. Everyone was too excited to get the free cake and frankly, the staff doing the backflip needed raise.

"What did Christian scream at him?" I whispered to Shannon.

She answered, "Mukesh was saying you'll be his by the end of your trip, so Christian threatened him to fire him if he harasses you one more time."

I glanced back at Christian and his intense grey orbs clashed with my innocent blue ones.

A Couple of Hours Later . . .

By the time we finished our lunch, I was losing my balance and couldn't even walk back to my hotel room. Thank goodness there wasn't any other important meeting after our lunch or else I would have gotten fired for being drunk.

"I got her from here. Don't worry," Christian held me and tried to maintain my balance as he accompanied me to my room.

I was staying at the second floor and when the elevator door opened, I fell on the floor. With an exasperated sight, he picked me up and carried me bridal style to my room.

"I'm allowed to come in, right?"

I only giggled. He sounded too cute when he's asking.

He looked at me incredulously before saying, "I'll take that as a yes."

He got the keycard from my purse and when we entered the room, he wasted no time carefully placing me on the bed.

"There you go..." he arranged the pillow before placing my head on it. He was treating me like a baby and I giggled more because he looked really cute when he did that.

"Okay, you're all set and-"

When he was about to leave, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him so strongly that he was on top of me. Our faces had never been this close. His body heat radiated with mine and I could sense his breathlessness. Our lips were just an inch away from kissing and I leaned in but he pulled back.

"Ana, stop this. You're drunk," he sat on my bed and it saddened me how his voice sounded reprimanding.

I managed to sit up to prove, "I'm not drunk."

"You're drunk, Ana," he reminded me.

I rolled my eyes and pouted, "You just don't want to kiss me."

"What?" he sounded amused.

I crossed my arms and tears built up my eyes. Yes, I was acting like a crazy woman but I couldn't help it.

"You said it before, right? I had flat chest and I had no butt."

"No, I never said that!" he sounded really defensive.

"You might as well have. You let me feel this way, Christian. You make me feel too undesirable. You don't even want to kiss me." My voice cracked.

He got silent so I looked at him and his facial expression softened. His voice sounded like velvet when he tenderly said, "Ana, I'm sorry if you feel that way. Trust me, Ana. You are so desirable. In fact, you are so desirable that I thoughtlessly flew all the way here because I was losing my mind. And, Ana? I'm trying so hard not to kiss you right now."

I was surprised at that and I blushed too.

He continued, "But I am not comfortable kissing you or touching you especially when you're not thinking straight. I don't want you to regret anything when you wake up in the morning. I know better than asking for your consent when you can't give it with a clear mind.:

After that, something inside me sparked again. My sad voice instantly turned into an excited one when I asked, "So you think I'm desirable?"

His expression changed from shock to disbelief, "After everything I said, that's all you grasped?"

Then, out of nowhere, I took my hair tie off and swung my hair seductively. I took my yellow coat off and when I was about to take my blouse off too, Christian urgently stopped me and asked, "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Christian, I want you to draw me like one of your French girls," I sounded like Kate Winslet when I said that. Okay, no, I didn't sound like her but I just tried to be. He said I was desirable and this counted as a Titanic moment.

Christian ruined my seductive moment when he guffawed. He was laughing his ass off. He asked, "What are you talking about, Ana? You're the one who knows how to draw here. And why would I have French girls?"

What was I thinking? This guy never watched romance films at all! He hadn't even watched Titanic!

I rolled my eyes and by this point, my surroundings were like a carousel ride. Still, I managed to sit and lean close to Christian. He assumed I was going to kiss him but I took him by surprise when I just laid my palm flat on his chest instead.

He tensed at that and I right beneath my palms, his heartbeat sounded like drums in a song of the highest tempo. I raised my eyes to look at his and they glimmered with unexplainable words.

"I love the sound of your heart, Christian but there are too many walls," I softly said.

He was wordless so I took advantage of the moment.

"I like you because of your eyes, your laugh, your strange humor, your drive to excel. I like your heart because despite its walls, you never fail to be kind. But you can be annoying too. You can get way too serious. You can be all so defensive. You can be infuriating at times and not to mention, you're not the best person to be with in a party. But despite all that, you make me want to stay. I love you."

His eyes widened at that and I grinned like a child.

"But don't worry Christian, because this right here?" I pressed my palm to his chest with much more pressure. "This right here has walls and I know that you'll never build a bridge."

I was smiling but a single tear rolled down my cheek. He was frozen like a statue so I leaned closer to press my lips on his but before they could even touch, I blacked out.

The Next Day . . .

I kept pacing back and forth. I bit my nails until I could taste my skin. I pulled my hair until my scalp hurt. I just wanted to escape from India and live in a cave located in Seattle and never come out.

I woke up alone in my hotel room and flashbacks of yesterday played out in my mind. I just did the worst things to him! What's worse than seducing him? Telling him that I love him! I shook my head again and again. How could I fix this?

I grabbed my phone to write him a text message. I didn't know how to start. I didn't know what to say to make things less awkward than it was.

Before I could even type my message, his name popped up on my screen.

- Open your window and look down

What?

This was confusing but I did as what he texted. I hoped this wasn't any antic that could make me feel worse about last night. Ugh! I'm such an embarrassment!

I opened my window and looked down. I was staying at the second floor so gazing down the ground wasn't that far.

And when I saw him, it was as if the world stopped and my hands turned cold from shock. What. was. he. doing?

Right down the ground, Christian stood wearing his usual suit and tie but this time, he brought a boombox with him. He raised the boombox up in the air and Frankie Valli's voice just made its way to me.

Pardon the way that I stare

There's nothin' else to compare

The sight of you leaves me weak

There are no words left to speak

Tears were forming in my eyes as I looked at him. He stood in the same way John Cusack did in Say Anything. Christian looked serious but determined at the same time. He serenaded me once with this song but now he played it from the boombox? This was literally straight out of my favorite romcoms.

I love you, baby and if it's quite alright

I need you, baby to warm the lonely night

For a man who told me that love was all a cliché, this has got to be the most cliché thing he ever did!

"Hey shut it! We're trying to sleep here!" my neighbor from the next room screamed from her window.

"Close your window then!" Christian just screamed at her and I laughed.

Don't bring me down, I pray

Oh, pretty baby, now that I've found you, stay

And let me love you, baby, let me love you

As I stared right at him holding that boombox up in the air and this time with a smile on his face, right then I knew what this was: the bridge.

This was our bridge.

Author's Note:

Hello everyone,

This chapter has been one of my favorite. As you may have noticed, this fic is an ode to my favorite romantic movies. From time to time, I mention romance movies. In this chapter, I referenced the iconic scene from Say Anything.

Originally, I intended to update the story tomorrow, but this chapter was one of my personal favorites to write. I had so much fun and I hope you felt the same way.

Thank you for giving my story a chance.

What are your thoughts?