Book Title: In the Shadows

Book Genre: Mature Romance/Thriller

Author: 99sharks

Character Name: Chris Sanders

Nominated by: pseudonymLove

About the story:

Sussianna is 20 going to be 21, she lives in Boston, and it's her final year at Boston University College. She already knows what she wants to do for her life- a marine biologist. But after a horrible tragedy happened in her past, which keeps hunting her almost every single night, she lost all hope for her life to change. Now, she must learn how to cope with life. She felt her world had fallen apart; felt she would never escape her past and would be in darkness- what she calls "the shadows"- forever. Until her life changes by someone she never thought of.

When she crossed paths with a dark and mysterious guy named Chris she found everything she was hoping for. Chris seemed nice at first but became spiteful and rude to the point where he drives her crazy and makes her want to walk away from him, but it's not that easy to just walk away. She becomes under his spell; she wants to give him a chance and just maybe he will be the 'nice guy' he proclaims he is. But he's not what he all seems to be and becomes what she'd feared the most.

Hello Mr. Sanders.  Can I call you Chris? 

My birth name is Christopher Sanders, but you can call me Chris for short. I actually prefer Chris because it reminds me of my father and he has always called me Christopher; therefore, I just despise my full name.

Chris it is. Welcome and thanks for agreeing to talk to us today.

You're welcome. I was not planning to do this, but Sussianna talked me into it. She can be persuasive and she thinks I am the one who is very persuasive. (Laughs)

Ha ha. Can I get you something to drink? Water? Soda? Coffee? Wine? Whiskey?

Hmm, some coffee... I like my coffee black with two sugars, please.

On it's way. While we wait, tell me a little about yourself?

My story? Well, there's not much to tell. My name is Chris Sanders and I'm twenty-seven years old. I started college at BU later on in life; most people graduate when they are twenty-one or twenty-two, but instead of going to school I decided to travel around the world for three years. Well, I actually traveled in the ocean on my sailboat- monohull. I do like to travel a lot.

Sailing the world.  That sounds cool. Where do you live?

I was originally born in New York. Since I was a small boy my father moved us from state to state and country to country. But when my grandfather got very ill, I moved to Boston and since his passing, I never left.

Do you have any jobs or hobbies?

I don't have a job... yet, but I don't think I need a job for a long time because I am set for life. Since my grandfather passed away, he left all his assets to me which now makes me a billionaire- 1.6 billion to be exact. Thanks to him I don't have to work for life. My hobbies include sailing, working on cars, watching sports, partying, traveling, and... Well if I name my other hobbies than that would be inappropriate because this is a family interview. (Wink and chuckles)

I appreciate your discretion. What are some of your likes and dislikes?

Well, I have to say I dislike when people don't listen to me, I have to have it my way or else I get upset. I like it when people do as I ask and don't defy me.

I see. What is your greatest fear?

(The room went silent) I would say my greatest fear would be... If Sussianna found out my secret that I am keeping from her. If she finds out what I am hiding from her; I'm afraid she'll leave me and won't want to do anything with me ever again. I am not a very nice guy as Sussianna has proclaimed I am. I told her to stay away from me and it's for a good reason because I'm... I can't curse, I have to be civilized here; so I would call myself "messed up." My life is... complicated. I am extremely complicated.

Well, I'm sure you are being to hard on yourself. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

Change my past? Impossible... But if I could change one thing from my past would be to have my mum come back. Perhaps if I would have been a better person she would not have left me and my sister. My mum left when I was only five years old and that day when she left was so hard for me to cope because my dad went to drinking as well as working all the time that he never really cared about my sister and me. I believe he detested us because we reminded him of my mum. I think if it wasn't for my sister comforting and taking care of me I would have turned out worse than I already am. She is the one who sets me straight. Still, I wouldn't have wanted my mum to leave as she did; surely everything would have been better for my family, and just maybe I won't be so "messed up." But who knows? Because that would not have happened. I can't change the past, even if I could, I bet my mum would have still left.

Gosh, I'm sorry about your mother.  Your sister sounds amazing. Tell me a little more about her. 

Yes, I have my older sister who I dearly care for, and will do anything to protect her. My sister and I are very close; she's the only family I really got. Yeah, I got my father, but he was never there for us; it seemed like we were never good enough for my father for him to care about us. That's why I love my sister so much because she's the one who really took care of me since I was a small boy. Besides Sussianna, my sister is the only person I would die and do anything for.

Are you in love?

Me? In love? (chuckles) I don't fall in love nor do I plan to. (Stayed silent for a few minutes) Unexpectedly, someone did touch my heart. I have never wanted anything more than her. It seems I can't stay away from her; I even at times feel like I am a stalker because I follow her everywhere she goes. You called me demented. Nevertheless, she makes me feel more alive and I can be more myself when I'm with her. Even though she gets me irritated, she can also be a pain in my behind, and she drives me crazy, especially with that smart mouth of hers; I just can't get her out of my head. I never felt this feeling before; she's my everything.

Are you married?

(Chuckles) I have never been married nor I will ever get married. You will have to drag my behind to the altar and tie me down if you want me to be married. Marriage is not for me, plus I believe it's just a piece of paper and nothing to get involved in. It's like why get married when you can just live together? I guess that's just me, but I would rather live together than ever get married.

Do you have a secret?

My secret? You are asking about my secrets? (Rubbing my head) I have more secrets than I can account for... My secrets have hurt people, including my own sister. I have even killed people before which I am not proud of, but it was to protect my family from harm that's why I did what I did. I am ashamed of my past because I have done more harm than good. People usually say I am not a good person and they are right. I can't go too much into detail about it because that will give away the plot and I feel I already said more than enough than I should. But I will tell you one of my secrets of mine... my family and I have harmed and have done wrongdoing to others in the past. We- (Beep it out). Sorry, I can't reveal the whole secret... yet.

Wow, that's a lot to handle.  Let's try a fun question. Do you like to cook?

Are you actually kidding me right now? I can't even boil water let alone cook. I have Mrs. Brooks to thank for always cleaning, cooking, and doing my laundry since I was a young boy. So, no I do not like to cook, if I did cook I think I would burn the food. (Chuckles) 

Are you happy we know your story?

My own vision of my story? Well, I believe people would hate me worse than they already do. Most people despise me; I don't get along with others and others don't like me. However, I'm happy you all know the story- our story of Sussianna and mine.

Is there anything you wanted to say to your fans?

What can I say? I am truly grateful that you read my story, well technically it's not my vision of the story... yet, but Sussianna's perspective on how she sees things and her own thoughts on what's going on in that beautiful head of hers- I just wish I knew what she was thinking as the fans do. However, Ashleymarie, our author will be doing a story about me in the future and how I'm thinking from my own perspective; after she's completed the sequels. It will be called "In the Shadows told by Chris Sanders" so I am excited for you guys to read my insight into things.

Anyway, thank you all for your support because I actually thought more of the fans hated me and preferred Sussianna or even her friend Camille. I was so surprised that I got this interview. Well if you are my fans then I hope you will love my vision of the story. All I can say is thank you so much for being a fan, especially my own fan.

Ah, Chris we all have fans. Can we look forward to reading more of your story?

Yeah, of course, well my Sussianna and my story is just the beginning, there will be sequels coming soon, hopefully. (Did I actually just say my Sussianna? Shaking my head. Okay moving on.) Just hoping our author, Ashleymarie will write more and update when she has more time. Her schedule is busy, especially that finals are coming up, but she says that when she has more time on her hands, she'll be updating more chapters soon when she finishes her finals for this semester. Plus these new chapters are going to be thrilling, I am trusting her that she'll update more often, but unfortunately I am always last in her busy schedule. (Sighs)

Well, I think your fans (and myself) are willing to wait.  School, as you know Chris, is very important. That's all the time we have today.  Thanks Chris for stopping by. Perhaps you'll come back someday. 

Thank you for having me for this interview, it was my pleasure.

To read Chris' story, click on the link in the comment here --->

Now it's your turn to ask Chris.

Add your questions as an inline comment here. Don't forget to tag 99sharks  so they can get the question to her. ---->