Chapter 6

• Suddenly it all came back to me. Drinking myself stupid, running barefoot in the rain. The aquatic park, and trying to kill myself via water. To be fair, it hadn't been the first time I attempted to end my life.
• "Ana. I saw you when you left the party. You looked to be in distress. I didn't know if you would be okay, so I followed you. Then I saw you in the water, and instinct took over."
• I felt another sheen of tears blur my vision, and I looked at him warily.
• "You mean to tell me that because we locked eyes across a crowded ballroom you felt compelled to follow me? That's hard to believe," I said standing, and glancing around the room. I needed shoes, and a coat. Possibly a hair comb judging by how my hair felt in my hand.
• "Why is that hard to believe?" He asked me. Huffing, I placed my uninjured hand on my hip.
• "Because Christian. No one does anything out of the kindness of their heart. No one is trying to help another soul. Everyone just takes, until they can't take anymore!" Shouting the last part. I was breathing heavily, but I couldn't help it. The man had to know the truth. That not everything was chocolates and roses.
• "Ana."
• "Ana," he called again. Slowly moving my gaze to his, I saw his concern, and it made me deflate. Here I was getting angry at a man who saved my life. I didn't ask him to, but he felt that some part of me was worth saving.
• "Thank you," I whispered to him. I saw his surprise, before he nodded once.
• "You're welcome," he replied brusquely, as if he didn't want to show too much weakness. Clearing his throat he glanced down at his shoes.
• "I left a change of clothes for you in the bathroom. Everything you need will be there. When you are done, my cook will make you something to eat, and my driver will take you home."
• Before he could turn and leave, I called out his name. He paused at the door, but didn't turn around.
• "Christian. Why did you save me?"
• I saw his back move, as if he was taking deep breaths. I thought he wouldn't answer until he did several moments later.
• "Because no one should die before they've fully had the chance to live, Anastasia."
• If I thought the bathroom was luxurious, it had nothing on the bathroom. Antique claw tub with everything a woman could possibly need in a bathroom. Clothes, personal items, shampoo, soap, lotions, even packs of makeup which were brand new, and differed from skin tone. After putting on the comfortable jeans, and sweatshirt that fit just right, I saw the shoes perched on the chair Christian was sitting in not too long ago. I smiled that they were clogs, because they were something I would have picked for myself.
• In another life.
• Glancing in the mirror, I decided to leave my hair down after I combed and brushed it. Following the smell of food I took a slow trek down the halls, finally seeing the stairs at the end of the wooden hallway. The house really was beautiful. High ceilings, carpet in each room I passed, but white wood hallway. I loved the various pieces of art that were in places that needed it. I loved that while it was high-class, there was an essence about it that was still homey. Something the mausoleum i'd been living in lacked.
• I even loved the curved staircase, and how the rays from the sun hit the wood, and reflected onto the glass. I held back my gasp when I saw how large the living room was, and looking to my left I could see the front door. Standing in the center of the landing, and to the right, I saw an open kitchen floor plan. Marble, and glass seemed to be the theme. And in front of me was a view of the Pacific Ocean. Walking closer to the floor to ceiling windows, and the glass sliding door I marvelled at how this house seemed to be a castle of some sorts. Sitting on the edge of Land's end. Truly a beautiful sight. It was something out of a romance novel.
• "It's what made me buy the house."
• Gasping, I turned placing a hand over my heart. Breathing in relief when I saw it was Christian I smiled.
• "Honestly, if I hadn't seen the rest of the house, that's what would have sold me. To be so far away from civilization, yet entrenched in the pacific coast is a beautiful thing."
• I blushed when his gaze continued to stare at me when I stopped talking. Lowering my eyes, I shrugged.
• "I'm sorry," I said instead, not wanting to get on his bad side. Through my hair, I saw that he was frowning at me.
• I hope I didn't screw this up.
• "Why would you be sorry, Ana? For having a conversation with me? For expressing, quite beautifully, what I could never put into words?" I knew I had a look of shock on my face because Christian stepped closer. He placed his hand on my shoulder, and spoke softly.
• "Ana, you look surprised. Why?"
• Before I could stop myself, the words came flooding out.
• "Because no one really wants to know my opinion, or hear my side of things is all. I barely-nevermind."