Chapter 50: chapter 50

"Omg! We are receiving the support than we expected. Looks like Collins teased many. Definitely he gonna die behind the bars. We are getting more and more victims. Looks like his attorney group need to work hard or find a loophole" Mac replied happily looking at his phone."Ana...?" He called my name.That's when I realized I'm zoned out, "I'm sorry, what?""Omg! Are you zoning out while driving?" He panicked, "Step away! Let me drive it"."No...No...I can take care. It won't happen again. I'm so sorry" I apologized to him and focused on driving."What's happening?" He asked me with an interest."It's been two days and Chris is not ready to talk with me" I sighed, "I'm thinking of a way to make him see me"."Oh! Come on! Don't tell me I need to teach you this, you are a girl. You definitely knew"."What again?""There is a simple solution, bone with him"."Mac, I'm being serious. Don't joke about it"."Look, I'm not joking. This is the best solution for any problem between the couples" he winked."Eww...don't tell you and Jamie try this"."I didn't" he tried to contain his smile, "You found it"."Aww...Man you are equally dirty to him".He chuckled, "Seriously! Try it".I scratched my chin, "No thanks, I'll find another way"."Well then, your loss" he shrugged his shoulders.After few minutes, we stopped before our publisher, Samantha's office. We stepped out of the car, "Once again, why are we here?" Mac asked when we headed towards the elevator."Samantha is not accepting our publication fee. At first, we had some troubles and were financially inadequate. So, we couldn't afford to pay her and she published it for free. But now, we are doing good and she is not accepting the fee. So we are here to convince her to accept the fee"."Okay, got it. I just wanna be sure".Elevator pinged and we came out of it. When we tried to open her cabin door, Chuck came out with her. I was pretty shocked and they two were stunned."Chuck...what are you doing here?" I asked.They looked at each other for a second, "Umm...umm...nothing" Chuck spoke anxiously, "We...we...we are friends"."Yeah...yeah" she tried to back up."Oh! Really?" I crossed my arms, "Then why you two are tensed and sweating profusely?""Oh! It's nothing. The temperature here is so high. That's why...uff...so sweaty" he tried to lie."Chuck...I love how you try to lie and I appreciate it. Now, can you tell the truth?""Ana...""Now!" I demanded him.He sighed, "Okay! The thing is...I'm here to pay your publication fee" he closed his eyes saying that."I'm sorry, what? You are paying my publication fee?""Listen, umm..." Samantha spoke, "The thing is Chris is paying your publication fee ever since you started here" she bit her lower lip, "He kinda asked me to help when you are looking for a publisher, I'm sorry" she replied guiltily.I dropped my Jaws, "So...so...that's why you didn't accept my money?""Again sorry" she lowered her head.I can't believe Chris did this. Of course, he tried to save me when I was in a difficult situation. But now, I'm stable and he knows it. Then why the fuck he is doing it. I still can't believe it, he hid this for years and he is accusing me of my actions."Chuck, you drop Mac back in my office and where is your boss right now?""He is in your apartment" he replied in a worried tone."If you try to tell this to him, once I leave. You'll be sorry for it"."I swear my mouth is closed" he surrendered."Good. Now, excuse me! I have important work to take care of".I went inside the apartment, shouting his name, "Christopher!" searching for him in the living room.There is no reply."Christopher!" I looked for him in the kitchen.Again, no reply.I went inside the bedroom, he was there searching for clothes inside the cupboard. He just came out of the shower and water is dripping from his bare chest, abs, and hair. He stood there with a white towel wrapped around his waist showcasing every tattoos on his upper body.Oh! Boy! Suddenly, Mac's idea flashed before my eyes. I shrugged it away and asked him, "You didn't hear me calling your name?"He still concentrated on the clothes."Christopher!" This time I yelled.He let out a hot breath, "What do you want?" He mumbled under his breath.I touched his hand and made him look at me, "Are you paying my publication fee?" I asked him angrily.He tried to avoid eye contact."Christopher! I'm asking you again, are you paying my publication fee?"He moved away from me and stopped before the bed, "Kind of"."Are you kidding?" I went before him, "You hid this from me and you are accusing me of the same thing".He intensified his look, "No...no...it's different"."How come it's different?" I squealed, "I went behind your back only to save you from your control-freak parents. The same you did so that my career won't come to an end and you hid this for years. Tell me, how is this different?""What would happened if he tried to kill you?" He bursted out, "I'm not really angry for going behind the back or...or...you didn't keep your promise. I'm angry that you welcomed danger because of me. That...that...that...night...I mean anything can happened. How the fuck I'll search when you disappeared in the middle of the night from my bed? I mean, it's good he left you with a deal. But, what if he lured you there using my name? Did you really worried about the consequences?""Fine, I'm sorry. I didn't think straight when he mentioned Ian's baby. All I could think about was how it'll free you from the control freaks. It's because I love you, Idiot! I'll do anything for you. Even if it kills me".Silence spread over between us. He ran his eyes over me with love and I couldn't stop gawking at his bare body. It's been a week we touched each other and now it's increasing the tension in the air. All of sudden, he pressed his lips against me pulling me to him. I reciprocated it, very soon our differences disappiated and we were in the bed.A few hours later, I rested my face on his chest and he wrapped his hands around me. I looked at the tattoo on his left chest which is inscribed in tiny letters, "I always wondered what this means?" I asked touching it."It's for Ian. It's his favorite quote said by his favorite teacher Eckhart Tolle 'When there is anger, there is always pain underneath. I inked it after a week he died".A few seconds went by in silence. He inhaled the scent of my hair and said, "I missed this" he kissed my head deeply.I smirked, looks like Mac's plan is not that bad, "So, are we good?" I asked running hands on his chest."It depends," he said.I raised my head from his chest and looked at him, "What do you mean?""Ana..." He interlocked my fingers with him, "I know it's hard for you to trust someone after you went through the stuff. But...I want you to believe me. You are a pure soul and I swear that I won't hurt you ever. So, please can you trust me?" He asked with pleading eyes."Chris! Who said I'm not trusting you? I trust you"."But still not that much as Jamie, Right?" He asked with a hint of jealousy."No...No..." I kissed his lower lip, "Looks like someone is jealous"."No, I'm not" he tried to be normal, "I'm just stating the fact"."Well, then that fact is wrong. I trust you more than him, stupid. The reason I hid the Collin things is that I don't want you to get into any trouble. Not because I didn't trust you. Now this time, I swear a real swear that you are the first person I'll reach. Can you give me a second chance, please?"He smiled, "I love you"."Thanks..." I kissed him, "Umm...I have another question".He ran his hands through my hair and asked, "What?""Why did you hid our relationship?"He exhaled, "You've been into the center of attention for long. I don't wanna give you an extra burden. That's why I hid it and I don't wanna some freak tabs to cook a story about us for now. Once this all comes to an end, we'll...wait a minute! Since, when you wanted our personal life to be revealed in public?""Sorry, when you said we were friends that...kind of bummed me. I thought you are going to end this...""Ana" he interrupted, "You are the woman of my life" he looked at me with love, "No one can change it and you are the first person to have my heart" he kissed my forehead, "No! Wait! Technically second, cause at first, I said this to Jessica"."Really? You think it's funny?" I stared at him."No, I'm not kidding. No, wait!" He raised his index finger, "Actually, I said those words to the girls when I was drunk. So technically...you are" he made his thinking face."Really! Stop it!" I punched his chest."Ouch! It pains...oh...I remember I think you are 25...""Enough!" I throwed the pillow at him."Fine! Fine! I'm sorry...you are the first person I'm saying this. I'm just kidding...hey! This is really paining" he shouted to stop.I didn't mind and continued to hit him with pillows. After few seconds, he rolled over and sat on top of me pinning my hands to the bed, "Okay, now I'm serious. You are my life, Ana. I mean it" he kissed me, "I may be bad in the past. But in presence and future, I can assure I'll be a perfect boyfriend, husband, and a father".It swelled my heart, "I love you Chris and I'll never get tired of saying it".He kissed me smiling, "Wanna do it again?""Is that even a question?" I winked.