4

At 6:45 p.m., she was ready. She had chosen a simple but elegant dress, her slightly wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. She looked at herself in the mirror, trying to calm her apprehension. There was something new about her, a confidence she had never felt before.

At 7 p.m. sharp, the doorbell rings. Ana opened the door to find Christian, impeccable as always, a charming smile on his lips.

"You look lovely, Anastasia," he said, looking at her intently.

"Thank you Christian. You too," she replied, blushing slightly.

They left the apartment and got into Christian's car. During the ride, they exchanged small talk, but Ana sensed an underlying tension. She knew there were things unsaid, feelings they needed to explore.

They arrived at an elegant, intimate and warm restaurant. Christian helped her out of the car, his hand warm and reassuring on her arm. They were led to a table near the window, offering a magnificent view of the illuminated city.

Once settled, Christian spoke, breaking the silence that had settled.

"So, did you like the book? »

Ana smiles, touched by his attention. "Yes, a lot. This is a magnificent edition. Thanks again, Christian. »

"I'm glad you like it. You deserve the best, Anastasia. »

They discussed their readings, their literary tastes, and little by little, the conversation became more personal. Christian asked her about her aspirations, her dreams, and Ana felt more and more comfortable sharing her thoughts with him.

"Christian," she said finally, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "Why did you choose this book for me? »

He looked at her, his gray eyes shining with an intense light. "Because, Ana, you remind me of Tess. Strong, resilient, but also vulnerable. And because I wanted you to know how much I appreciate you. »

Ana felt her cheeks redden. "I'm not sure I'm as strong as Tess. »

"I believe you are," he replied softly. "You have an inner strength you don't even know you have. »

She looked at him, moved by his words. "Thank you Christian. It means a lot to me. »

They continued to talk, sharing moments of laughter and reflection. Ana found herself feeling closer and closer to him, wanting to know more about this complex and fascinating man. But she also knew that there were sides of him that she didn't yet understand, secrets that he carefully guarded.

The evening passed too quickly for her liking, and before she knew it, it was time to leave. Christian walked her to her door, and they stood there, in the silence of the night, looking at each other intently.

"Ana," he said softly, breaking the silence. "There are still many things you need to know about me. Things I want to share with you, but at the right time. »

"I'm willing to listen, Christian," she replied sincerely. "When you're ready to talk. »

He nodded, grateful. " Thanks for your patience. And thank you for this evening. »

"It was a wonderful evening," she said, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you for everything. »

Christian approached slowly, and before she could react, he placed a light kiss on her lips. Ana felt a wave of heat wash over her, her heart racing.

"Goodnight, Anastasia," he whispered against her lips.

"Good night, Christian," she replied, her eyes closed, savoring the moment.

She watched him walk away, her mind racing. This kiss, this simple contact, had awakened feelings in her that she could not ignore. She knew that her life had changed irreversibly, that Christian Gray had opened a door in her heart that she could never close.

When she returned to her apartment, she found Kate sitting on the couch, a mischievous smile on her lips.

"So, this party? » asked Kate, visibly impatient to know everything.

"It was... amazing," Ana replied, a dreamy smile on her lips.

"Amazing how? » insisted Kate.

"Christian gave me a rare edition of 'Tess of Urberville'," Ana said, her eyes bright with excitement. "And we spent the evening talking about everything, our lives, our dreams. It was so... intimate. »

"Wow," Kate said, impressed. "He's really something, this Christian Grey. »

"Yes, he is," Ana whispered, her thoughts returning to him. "But there's still so much I don't know about him. »

"Take your time," Kate advised. "Let's get to know him little by little. And above all, take care of yourself. »

"I'll be careful," Ana promised, touched by her friend's concern.

That night, Ana went to bed with the book of "Tess of Urberville " on her bedside table. She fell asleep thinking about Christian, their conversations, that kiss. She knew her feelings for him were deep and complex, going way beyond simple attraction. And despite Christian's warnings, she couldn't help feeling ready to dive into the unknown, to discover everything their relationship could offer her.

Ana felt nervous all day. Christian had invited her to dinner, and she knew it wouldn't be a simple evening. Since he had given her the book by "Tess of Urberville ", their meetings had taken on a new intensity, a depth that she had never felt before. She prepared carefully, choosing an elegant blue dress that hugged her curves without being too provocative. She applied light makeup, accentuating her blue eyes and letting her hair fall in natural curls over her shoulders.

At precisely 7 p.m., the doorbell rang. Ana took a deep breath and opened the door to find Christian, looking impeccable as always in a black suit. He smiled at her, his gray eyes shining with admiration.

"You look lovely, Anastasia," he said softly, taking her hand and kissing it lightly.

"Thank you Christian. You look very elegant too," she replied, feeling her heart beat faster.

They went downstairs and Christian led her to his car. Ana expected to see her usual Audi, but was surprised to discover a shiny black limousine. He opened the door for her and helped her get in.

"We're going to take a little detour tonight," he said with an enigmatic smile.

Curious, Ana looked out the window as the limousine took them through the city. After a few minutes, they arrived at a private helipad. Ana's eyes widened in surprise.

"A helicopter? » she asked, incredulous.

"Yes," Christian replied, an amused smile on his lips. "I thought it would be a fun way to start our evening. »

He helped her board, and moments later they flew into the air. Ana was amazed by the spectacular view of the illuminated city below them. She looked out the window, feeling a rush of adrenaline and excitement.

"Wow, this is incredible," she whispered, dazzled by the beauty of the scene.

Christian looked at her tenderly. "I wanted this evening to be special for you. »

They flew over the city for several minutes before landing on the roof of a luxury building. Christian helped her down, and they were taken to a private elevator that took them directly to the top floor. The doors opened into an elegant restaurant, with breathtaking panoramic views.

They were led to a table by the window, and Ana felt almost dizzy by the beauty and luxury of the place. The dim lights, the elegantly set tables, everything contributed to creating an intimate and romantic atmosphere.

"Christian, it's beautiful," she said as she sat down. " THANKS. »

"I wanted this evening to be unforgettable," he replied, taking her hand in his. "To show you how much you mean to me. »

They spent the first part of dinner talking about everything and nothing, sharing stories and laughing. But Ana could sense an underlying tension, an anticipation for what was to come.

After dessert, Christian leaned towards her slightly, his expression becoming more serious. "Ana, there's something I need to talk to you about," he began.

She felt her heart tighten. "What then, Christian? »

"We shared some incredible times together," he said softly. "And I feel a deep connection with you, more than I've ever felt with anyone else. But there is a part of me that you don't know yet. A part you need to understand if we want to go further. »