Chapter 4

A/N Here is the final part of my story. Thank you kindly for all the interest. To the guest reviewers asking about an update... I can't respond unless you sign in. Therefore your questions sound like demands. Know that I worked at this as often as I could. I had a little trouble bridging two parts I'd already drafted but today I managed it and I hope you enjoy.

After watching the sun come up Ana sleeps lightly and doesn't rise until late morning. She orders room service and having eaten; she showers and packs to go. Staying in the suite has been bliss but she has no intention of taking advantage of Christian's generosity. She's packing her dress and other remaining items into her bag when there is a knock at the door.

Her heart skips a beat as she quickly makes her way to answer it. She wants it to be him, she wants him to say that one night isn't enough, because she's beginning to realise that it might not be. But it isn't him. Instead a hotel employee delivers flowers to her. She's disappointment but given that the flowers can only be from Christian she's also pleased. The arrangement is large but tasteful, filled with antique pink roses, looking soft and endearing. She finds the note and smiles before she even has a chance to read it, 'I've said it before, but it's worth repeating. Thank you' he's written. She laughs a little. How can she feel like she knows something about him already? She certainly knew what he would say, despite the limited conversation they had. When she gets home she plans to use the temporary email one more time.

A taxi seems like the most appropriate way to transport herself and her beautiful flowers. Setting them on her small side table Ana smiles, while she opens her laptop and logs in. There is an undeniable twinge of disappointment in her stomach when she realises there are no new messages. But he sent the flowers so she has an excuse to reach out.

Hi Christian,

Thank you for last night and for the beautiful flowers.

Ana

It's brief but it allows her to make contact with him and to give him an opening to contact her, if he wants to.

Across town in Escala, Christian has received confirmation of the flower delivery and her early departure from the Olympic. He isn't sure what to make of it. Was she uncomfortable staying in the room? His phone alerts him to an incoming email and he stops to check if it's Ana. He wants to smile, he's beginning to crave contact. She is thanking him for the flowers. The message is short and to the point, maybe a little too concise. He wants to read something into her words but he can't. He hits reply, types a message in response.

You're welcome. Thank you for thanking me.

But it's lame and he deletes it. Is silence better that desperation? She left the hotel early and she's sent him a short succinct message. If he's reading her correctly she wants their one night stand to be just one night. So he closes his phone and tries to leave her be. This might not be business but there was a contract. And if there is one thing he knows, it's now to adhere to the terms of a contract; for the most part.

He plans, over and over in his head, ways that he could see her again. Getting her address, while not completely impossible would be morally questionable, undoubtedly unlawful, given the reassurances he gave her. Over the coming days he ties himself up in knots, frustrates himself, attempting to decide between emailing her, leaving her alone and trying to think of a way around his water tight legal contracts.

Ana's days are quiet. Christian hasn't responded so she guesses that he's happy for it to be one night. She doesn't mean to give the situation so much thought but it's a quiet work week and she has more time on her hands than usual. She wonders if she could have done anything different, if she should have emailed something a bit more expressive or appreciative, if he would even consider another offer from her. Could, should, would – argh! This isn't her.

On Friday her phone rings, the agency need to call her in last minute. It seems the same big Seattle Company from a few weeks back are holding another benefit gala and a few last minute staff cancellations means her services are required. Another benefit? How very altruistic she thinks warmly; big company, big heart. Tonight's gala is a masked ball and it's been requested that staff and guests come in disguise. She's informed that her usual professional uniform will be supplemented with a masquerade mask. She likes the idea.

A few hours later, Ana's showered, changed and making her way through the kitchens into the staff area behind the scenes at the gala. Everyone seems intrigued about the idea of the masks, excited to see inside the gala and it's this feeling the moves Ana to the door, and causes her to step into the shadows of the ballroom before she lifts her mask to her face.

Across the room Christian sees her, maybe it's some sort of cosmic connections, but more likely it's the glimpse of a face in the sea of colourful disguises. Then it vanishes as she too assumes the sequins and sparkle of her temporary alter ego. Christian memorises her mask, the colour and embellishments that will allow him to track her during the evening.

Ana doesn't wait on his table; she's a short distance away, he watches her efficient, graceful movements while she's too distracted to notice his attention. He should feel like a voyeur but in many respects that's the purposes of these masks. You can watch and you can engage with someone, all the while retaining your anonymity. But he's no longer interested in anonymity. Christian retrieves his phone from his pocket and sends her an email, the one he's wanted to send her the whole week. He doesn't want to extend their arrangement, he's certain he wants her sexually but he wants more too.

I can't stop thinking about you and I wondered if you'd consider a more conventional meeting. I realise this wasn't the arrangement but I feel like there was something between us. Have a think about it, and if you felt something too then maybe we could meet for dinner.

Christian

He hits send, determined not to over think it again and waits and watches until, what feels like an eternity later, when she goes on her break.

Despite the serene setting of the gala, behind the scenes is fast paced and hectic. People are moving; milling about, preparing food and fulfilling drink orders. She's used to the people, to the rush. In the staff area she gets her bag from her assigned locker and goes to the bathroom to freshen up. When she's finished she gets a glass of water and because she can't stop herself she checks her phone. The device isn't exactly state of the art but she should just be able to check her email again.

"Ana" one of the other servers calls her, needing assistance, just as the inbox loads. She presses read and nods her head, eyes focused on that little screen as she blindly stubbles her way back to her locker. Just as she makes it there the message loads and her eyes widen as she skims his message. "Coming" she replies smiling, slipping the mask back in place and returning to work.

Christian watches her anxiously; he's had a read receipt, something he had his IT guys arrange. Yet there hasn't been a response. Crap, he thinks. Thank god the mask is helping to hide his embarrassment, his sorrow. But then he notices something; her smile. Before, she was pleasant, courteous, and professional. Now there is an undeniable smile. Christian cannot contain his own smile; maybe she is giving it some thought.

An hour later, when the dinner is through and the dancing has commenced the early shift servers are approaching the end of their night, Ana amongst them. She cannot wait; she excited and happy and desperate to email a response. Yes, she would very much like to consider a more conventional meeting. It absolutely wasn't just you that felt something between us.

Ana reaches her locker and gets her phone. She's on edge, her fingers slightly trembling as she opens the email and presses reply. And then she stops. She wants to send something, to reply now but her mind is whirling, her glee making an eloquent or witting response impossible.

"Hi" Christian says from behind her.

Ana squeals and turns, recognising the voice and attempting to hide her phone.

"Hi" she responds, quickly taking in his suave appearance. "You, you shouldn't be back here". God, she's kicking herself for telling him off but Christian just shrugs, removing the mask and revealing the man she has missed all week.

"Is that a yes?" he says indicating the phone she hasn't quite managed to hide, "to dinner?"

"Yes" she says, smiling and sliding her own mask up.

He wants to kiss her then; to lean in and capture her lips. But this is her place of work and he quickly considers how he'd feel if the roles were reversed, so he stops himself.

"Are you finished for the evening?" Christian asks her.

"Yes" she responds; lifting her bag and jacket from the lockers.

"Have you eaten?" he asks.

"Yes, earlier. Before work" she responds.

He's momentarily stumped. He's wondering if it's too late for coffee or if going for a drink will sound too casual.

"I wouldn't mind a glass of wine. It's not too late for that I guess" Ana tells him.

"Not too late" he responds, smiling widely.

Then they leave; their strange encounter now more like an unorthodox beginning.

End

Epilogue – weeks later.

This is a journey, for both of them. Like all journeys the road isn't always smooth. Christians is very rich and Ana is equally proud. She worked hard for what she has, every bit as hard as he has, so she doesn't take kindly to his offer of financial assistance. At least he asked! Ana let's him down gently, explains why her independence is so important, why making it on her own matters. And for his part Christian listens and understands, but of course that doesn't stop him thinking about elaborate birthday, valentines, Christmas, or any other feasible festival gifts. He wants her to have it all bit she explains that all she really wants is him. They make it work because they work at it. Neither is perfect and neither too unyielding to accommodate. Isn't that how love works?

Weeks later they have a date arranged for Friday night; neither plans to work the weekend so their schedules are free. They haven't been intimate since that first night, letting their relationship change and grow until it feels right again. Christian has arranged a surprise and Ana's only slightly apprehensive about how overboard he's planning on going. When the car pulls up at the runway and she sees Christian standing by the jet she realises that a few words of caution might have been appropriate but she's not sorry she let him have his way. He greets her warmly, his nervousness about his plans melting away when he sees a sparkle in her eye. They board the plane and begin their journey.

It's early evening and as she looks out of the window she sees the beginning of a beautiful sunset. There is a warm pink glow to the horizon as far as she can see. A smile touches her lips and as the moments pass the delicate colour grows vibrant and advances into the rest of the pale blue sky. It wouldn't look like this from the ground; it certainly couldn't look like this from her apartment. She looks at Christian, who's been captivated by her all the time she's been entranced by the beauty of the sky. "Thank you" she says so quietly it can't be heard above the muted sound of the engines. But he hears her. He reads the words from her lips and understands what she is trying to say. He smiles back at her, openly and affectionately because that's how he feels. This is nothing in so many ways. They've been intimate yes, but realistically in each other's company for such a limited time. Yet he feels something for her, more than he's ever felt for anyone beyond his family. He worries about how to communicate this to her and then he thinks they've managed so far despite their unconventional introduction. He's going to let the rest work itself out.

The End.

Thank you for reading, for the follows, favourites and every word of every review. Take Care.