2

The following day I was sent home and told to stay in bed for a few day and may only go back to work in a week's time. So here I am alone in the huge penthouse with Mrs. Taylor. Mrs. Jones and Taylor got married a week ago. We will be moving to the great house soon. Elliot and his team are almost done with all the changes we asked to do for us. Gia delivered the final plans for the great house and left immediately. I later sat behind the desk of my own office in the library of Escala and started to check my e-mail's. I replied to my e-mails and then had nothing to do further.

I can't find my phone for some reason, I've looked everywhere. Sawyer and a new youngster on the security team they call Ryan are keeping watch over me. At lunchtime, I wandered over to the kitchen and made myself a sub. Okay, Mrs. Taylor insisted on making it for me. I sat and ate it with a tall glass of milk. I was just about done eating when out of nowhere the whole penthouse was filled with security and FBI agents. Taylor phones Gail and told her what is going on.

Apparently Christian still had my phone on him when it rang and it was Jack, who called saying he has kidnapped Mia and want five million dollars in six hours or he will start sending her back piece by piece. Instantly I felt freezing again as anxiety and panic set in again. Why does this keep happening to us? Christian had a few important meetings up in Portland but is boarding the new imported Charlie Tango as they speak. They will land on Escala's roof. Gail and Taylor hung up and she immediately turned to me when we got the news. She put an arm around my shoulders to support me. Why can't we just stay happy for longer than a day? She steered me to my room and lay me down.

'Mrs. Grey, you need to lay down. Once Mr. Grey is here I tell him you went to lay down a bit. Rest while you can.'

'Yes, and thank you for everything Gail. You and Taylor are really much more worth than gold.'

'Thank you, Mrs. Grey.' She smiled at me then left the room leaving the door ajar a little. I turned on my sleeping side and drift off. I was woken when with a gentle kiss on my temple and I open my eyes as Christian head back out of the room. The curtains of our room are now drawn. I got up and peeked out of the curtains. There are men all over our security mixed with federal agents with their fancy earpieces on, all over the balcony. I got back into bed and just lay in the dark room.

I know out in the great room is chaos and I am not sure I want to be out there while I can be in the peace and quiet of my room. Carrick, Grace, Kate, and Elliot they are all here too I can hear their voices in the hall. I heard footsteps approaching our room and I just turned on my side and close my eyes. Grace is here to look me over as to focus her mind on something else, other than her kidnapped daughter. She looked me over and felt my forehead.

'You know she really had us so worried two days ago.' Grace whispered to Kate.

'I just can't believe she haven't told me yet. I will overlook the fact that Christian forgot her phone in his jacket pocket when she had an emergency and all. But still, she could have told me.'

'Normally couples wait to tell their friends and relatives until the twelfth week of pregnancy. I think she will still tell you but in her own time.' Grace came up for me. Thank you, mother Grey. Carrick also came into my room letting Grace know Christian has got the money from the bank for the ransom. I 'woke up', yawning.

'Hi. What is going on?' I asked 'clueless'.

'Hello, sweetheart. Sorry, we woke you.' Grace smiled at me.

'It's okay I need to go to the bathroom anyway.'

'Christian has gone to get the ransom ready.'

'Oh, as long as Christian don't do the drop.' There were awkward looks on everyone's faces. A panic grip my heart and chest when just that was confirmed. 'If he goes Jack will have another opportunity to kill Christian.'

'We have tried reasoning with him but you know Christian, once he gets that determined look in his eyes there is rarely anything we can do to change his mind. I've talked to him and so has Grace but no such luck. He just wouldn't listen to any of us. Maybe he will listen to you, Ana. Or at least try if he doesn't want to hear any of us.' Carrick walked over to me. I nod my head in understanding. He helped me out of bed and I slip on my slippers and wrapped a blanket around myself as I make my way to where all the chaos were in the great room. It was like he knew I was in the room and came right towards me.

'Ana, baby what are you doing out of bed. You should rest.' Christian cupped my face.

'I will. What is going on?' I asked him.

'I'm going to drop off the ransom for Mia at the address Jack gave me over your phone.' I felt my burning tears spill over.

'Why all these tears, baby?'

'I just want you and Mia safely back home.'

'Me too, love. That is why I'm going.'

'Please- please don't go, Christian, I beg of you. This will be his ultimate opportunity to try and kill you again and I wouldn't bare it if I am going to lose you Christian then you can just pull the trigger here and now.' His eyes widen in surprise at my words.

'So many words just to say you love me behind them all. I love you to Ana. I will wear a bulletproof vest and a wire the whole time. Beside Detective Clark and his men will go with me and surround the place.' He gave me a soft kiss and I accept his kiss. Then closed my eyes then shook my head then ran down the hall back to our room in tears. The people behind me moved out with the money. I reached our room and fell on the bed in tears. Grace and Kate came to comfort me, but nothing worked later my sobs died down but silent tears kept streaming down my face as I fold my arms around myself.

How can I keep calm or stop crying when Mia and Christian are out there facing a psycho. My nerves are prickling on end all over my body like someone took a needle and stuck the bottom of my feet with their needle every few seconds. It is really unsettling. Grace just held me as she now cried her silent tears with me. I wrapped my arms around her waist and we just held each other for support.

Carrick raced into the room and told us there were shots fired and that put me over the edge and I was on my feet not sure what to do but I have to do something. Carrick raced after me. The shots fired were all at Jack and Elizabeth. Elizabeth? What is her involvement with Jack? Is he also blackmailing her? Christian and Mia are perfectly fine. Mia was knocked out by some drug they gave her and is taken to the hospital. Kate, Elliot, Grace, Carrick and myself, we all head towards the hospital to be at Mia's bedside.

When we reached Mia's room everyone rushed into her side. I hung back outside Mia's room with our security and FBI agents. The last time I saw Christian I thought he might die, I am just so relieved to see him at his sister's bedside and perfectly okay. I almost lost him.

'What happened out there Taylor?' I asked Taylor beside me.

'When we got to the drop off location, Jack was in a warehouse type building with Miss Grey. Miss Morgan was Jack's protection.'

'Hiding behind a woman. Typical.'

'Yes. Mr. Grey lay the ransom bags on the ground in front of him. With his hands raised in surrender. Miss Morgan got a warning shot into the ground beside Mr. Grey and that is when the FBI took it as a signal of things going bad and shot Miss Morgan in the leg and shoulder and Jack was killed on the scene.'

'Jack is dead?' I asked looking from the room to Taylor.

'Yes, Mrs. Grey.'

'Finally, this is all over.'

'It would look that way, ma'am.' Taylor spoke with such huge relieve on his face. I felt very much relieved more than I showed. Christian walked over to me where I was talking to Taylor.

'Thank you for all your hard work protecting Christian all the time, Taylor. There are really no words what you and Gail mean to me and Christian.'

'You're welcome, ma'am. Besides, it's our job to look after such wonderful people.' I smiled up at him and squeeze Taylor's hand, then head over to where Christian was waiting for me. He steered me over to a nice comfy armchair. Before I sat down, I turned to him and looked up at him.

'Thank you for coming back to me in one piece, .'

'Glad to be back and with much relief, I can assure you.' He rested his hands on my sides. He bends down and gave me a kiss that can move mountains, or at least just my earth then. I sat down and we waited and waited some more for Mia to come to. Three days later she came to and was still a little drowsy but talking to us. According to Mia's story, Elizabeth got her while she was at the gym and alone in the locker room on her way to the showers. With Mia now okay and safe. Christian and I finally head home. We took a quick shower and then went to bed it was late into the night.

The next day according to detective Clark, Elizabeth is recovering in a guarded room somewhere in the hospital but she spilled her guts and just as I suspected Jack was blackmailing her to do his dirty business for him or else he will expose her to the tabloids. I am really glad the earth is rid of such a psychopath for good. We really have too many of them these days and one less is a good thing in my books.

Feel much better than I have ever felt in the past month. With Christian's arms around me cradling our little blip we fell asleep with him kissing my neck. This sparked a somehow other energy in me like it always has and before we both knew it were engaged in everything wonderful. This is how we entered the new day. After a fabulous hour, I fell asleep the happiest woman in the whole world.