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Ana nodded, impressed by his ambition. "It's a noble vision. »

"Maybe," he said with a slight smile. "But it's also a lonely path. »

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. There was an undeniable connection between them, a magnetic attraction that Ana couldn't ignore. She felt herself blush under his intense gaze, her thoughts spinning.

The coffee was coming to an end, and they got up to leave. As they walked out, Ana, in her nervousness, tripped on the edge of the carpet at the entrance. Before she hits the ground, a strong hand grabs her, preventing her from falling. She looked up and met Christian's concerned gaze, her heart racing.

"Be careful, Ana," he said softly, holding her tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered, embarrassed. "I'm so clumsy. »

"There's nothing clumsy about you," he replied, his eyes fixed on her. "You're just... distracted. »

Ana felt a shiver run down her spine at his words. "Maybe," she admitted, trying to calm her racing heart.

They walked in silence to her car, and just before she got in, Christian grabbed her arm. "Ana, there's something you need to know," he said, his tone serious.

She looked at him, feeling apprehension rising within her. "What then? »

"I am not an easy man to understand," he began. "I have dark sides, aspects of my life that few people know about. And if you decide to continue this... relationship, you need to know what you're getting into. »

Ana felt her heart tighten. "What are you trying to tell me, Christian? »

"I warn you," he said, his gaze intense. "I'm attracted to you, Ana, more than I should be. But I don't want to hurt you. And I know I can do it. »

"Why do you think you might hurt me? » she asked, a hint of challenge in her voice.

Christian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Because I'm broken, Ana. And I don't want to drag you into my darkness. »

"Maybe I can help you find the light," she whispered, her eyes shining with determination.

Christian looked at her, his expression soft but tinged with sadness. "That's what I fear, Ana. That you are too good for me. »

"Don't underestimate my strength," she said, her voice firm.

He smiled slightly, but the seriousness did not leave his eyes. "You are a remarkable woman, Ana Steele. But please think carefully before committing to me. »

"I'm not afraid of you, Christian," she said sincerely. "And I won't back down from a challenge. »

"So you're braver than me," he whispered, before leaning down and placing a light kiss on her forehead. "Take care of yourself, Ana. »

She watched him walk away, her thoughts swirling. She knew that what he had just told her was important, a warning that she should not take lightly. But despite everything, she felt an irresistible attraction to him, an insatiable curiosity to discover his secrets and understand the man behind the mask.

Returning to her apartment, Ana found Kate still sitting on the couch, absently watching television.

"So how did it go? » Kate asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"That was...interesting," Ana replied, sitting down next to her.

"Interesting how? » Kate insisted, turning to face him.

"Christian warned me," Ana said slowly, her thoughts still muddled. "He told me he had dark sides, that I needed to know what I was getting into. »

Kate frowned. "Dark sides? What does this mean? »

"I don't know exactly," Ana admitted. "But he seemed really concerned about protecting me from himself. »

"Maybe he's right," Kate said cautiously. "Maybe you should take a step back and think about what you really want. »

"I know what I want," Ana said determinedly. "I want to understand who he really is. »

"Just be careful, okay? » Kate said, putting a hand on his arm. "I don't want you to get hurt. »

Ana nodded, appreciating her friend's concern. "I'll be careful, Kate. Promised. »

The days that followed were filled with confusion and reflection for Ana. She couldn't get Christian out of her thoughts. Every detail of their meeting, every word exchanged kept coming back. She knew there was something special between them, something deep and powerful. But Christian's words still resonated within her, a warning she couldn't ignore.

One evening, while she was studying in her room, her phone vibrated. She took it and saw a message from Christian.

"Can I see you tomorrow? »

His heart soared at the mere sight of his name. She hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Yes, with pleasure. »

The next day, they met in a park near her home. The air was cool and pleasant, and the leaves on the trees were starting to change color. They walked in silence for a while, enjoying the tranquility of the place.

"I thought a lot

To our conversation," Christian said finally, breaking the silence.

"Me too," Ana replied, looking at him intently.

" And ? he asked, his tone slightly nervous.

"And I'm ready to find out who you really are," she said with determination. "I won't back down. »

Christian stopped, staring at her with burning intensity. "Are you sure of what you're saying? »

"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "I want to know everything about you, Christian. The good and the bad sides. »

He nodded, a glint of admiration in his eyes. "Then I suppose we have a long road ahead of us, Miss Steele. »

She smiled, feeling a wave of warmth and confidence wash over her. "I'm ready for this journey. »

They continued walking, hand in hand, ready to face the challenges ahead together. For Ana, it was the start of an adventure, an exploration of the mysteries and depths of Christian Grey. And despite the warnings and uncertainties, she knew she couldn't turn back.

Ana woke up that morning with a strange feeling of anticipation. Since their last meeting, she had not stopped thinking about Christian. His words, his intense gaze, the way he made her feel... It all disturbed her deeply. She tried to focus on her studies, but her thoughts kept coming back to him.

Around noon, as she was getting ready for class, the doorbell rang. Ana rushed to the door, expecting Kate to come home sooner than expected. But instead she found a delivery man holding a package.

"Miss Steele? » he asked.

"Yes, it's me. »

"This package is for you. » The delivery man handed him the package with a smile before quickly walking away.

Intrigued, Ana closed the door and examined the package. It was carefully packaged, with a stylish label bearing his name. She carefully opened the package and discovered a leather-bound book. Her heart leapt when she read the title: "Tess of Urberville " by Thomas Hardy, a rare edition.

A little note was slipped inside the cover. Ana took it and read it, her hands trembling slightly.

"For Anastasia, who deserves the best. Christian. »

Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude and emotion. She stroked the cover of the book, feeling the soft leather beneath her fingers. She knew that this gift had a special meaning, that Christian had chosen this book with care. She remembered their conversation about "Tess of Urberville ", how she had shared her love of that novel with him. This gesture showed that he had listened, that he had understood.

Ana sat on her bed, the book on her lap. She opened it and began reading the first pages, getting carried away by Tess's story. But his thoughts kept returning to Christian. Why had he done that? What was he trying to tell her with this gift?

She was flipping through the book when her phone vibrated. A message from Christian appeared on the screen.

"I hope you like the book. Could we meet tonight? »

Ana felt her heart speed up. She quickly typed a response.

"Thank you very much, Christian. The book is magnificent. Tonight, yes, with pleasure. What time? »

Moments later he replied, "At 7 p.m. I'll come get you. »

The day seemed to pass in a flash. Ana immersed herself in her classes, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't help but wonder what Christian had planned for tonight, and above all, how she felt about him. This attraction, this connection she felt, was stronger than anything she had ever known.