Love the reaction to the last chapter even if a lot of you guessed who may have said something. I can't wait for the full explanation to come out, as you all know I like the drama to be confusing and everything to make sense at a later date. Looking forward to finding out what you think of this chapter!
Wednesday March 20th 2013
I wake up early with tear stained cheeks and a headache. It took ages for me to fall asleep, the possibilities of people who may have reported Christian to CPS and the Police going through my mind on a loop. I can't believe it, Christian would never hurt me physically only in kinky fuckery and only what I can handle, he'd stop if I safe worded.
After a trip to the gym and an hour and a half running I go back up to the suite and shower before India wakes up. After giving her a bottle of formula I go into the suite to see that the pushchair and high chair has arrived as well as a small basket with toys and a note.
To Miss Grey, from Hotel 1000
I smile, glad that someone thought to get India something to play with while we're here and with her content after her bottle I open up a couple of the toys and sit her on the floor to play with them before getting to work.
I check my emails first and I smile sadly seeing one from my husband.
To: Ana Grey
Date: Weds, 20-3-13, 4:38am
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Missing you
Ana baby, I miss you so much already. Laying in our bed without you is killing me especially not knowing how long until we'll be reunited. Lawyers are working on it, they're not working by the letter of the law so hopefully you'll be home soon.
Give India a hug and a kiss from Daddy.
Love you.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey's Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
The tears spilling from eyes stain my cheeks once more as I type out a reply before putting my laptop away as Hannah, Luke and Carrie appear from their guest suite, I hope they didn't mind sharing a room even if it is two queen beds, with down pillows and Thai bed sheets.
"Ok this morning?" Hannah asks taking a seat beside me. I give her a limp smile, she was there for me on tour when I was homesick too.
"Yeah. Now the police and CPS will be here at some point but then maybe we should leave the state for a few days, anyone any idea where we could go?" I ask thinking of all the beautiful locations I was at on tour that I didn't get the chance to enjoy.
"I really want to go back to New Orleans…" Hannah muses, yes New Orleans, I wish we could have done and see more there.
"Luke can you have the jet sorted for about four please?" I ask and he smiles and nods. "You can both go home and do some packing then if you want."
"I'll go pack for both Luke and I, he's your security Ana you need him right here." Hannah says kindly as she strokes my thigh in a caring manner.
"Thank you." I tell her honestly. I don't think I could do any of this without Hannah and Luke beside me, they're really my little team.
"I can organise a hotel and stuff for us from here." Luke mentions and I smile and nod, I know he wants to be doing something to not feel so hopeless.
"And I'll order breakfast." Carrie decides and I give her a smile and a nod completely approving.
The breakfast has been cleared away, everyone's dressed and moping around the place when the police and Serena turn up. I want to kick off and make a fuss but I just have to be honest with them and then hopefully we'll be home soon.
We go through to the large sitting room and I offer them some refreshments from the mini fridge opting for a cold orange juice for myself. Before sitting opposite them on the U-shaped couch.
"To make this easier Mrs Grey we're taking a combined statement rather than make you have to go through it twice ok?"
"Ok." I nod swallowing hard, this is going to be extremely uncomfortable and I know that but the only thing I can think of is that someone saw us in midst of kinky fuckery and got the wrong idea completely.
"Right on Monday March eighteenth at around three pm where were you?" The officer ask, he looks intimidating sat on my couch with his tiny notebook while Serena sits there her blue eyes firmly on me with a legal pad on her lap and a parker pen in her hand.
"Ugh I was at home." I reply remembering Christian and I had both come home from work early to be with India.
"And your husband and daughter?"
"Both at home too." I don't waste time in answering.
"How come both you and your husband where at home when you both run very successful companies?" Serena asks interrupting whatever the office was going to ask.
"I missed my daughter. I'd been on tour and arrived home to spend two weeks doing nothing with my husband and child and Monday was my first day back, by midday I was missing my daughter and decided hey I'm the boss I can leave when I want, and so went home." I explain dryly, I want to fight, scream and shout at them that they're insane.
"And your husband?"
"He'd been angry with India that morning and left the house angry, he came home to make it up to her."
"Why was your husband angry with your daughter?" The officer asks and I smile at the memory.
"She sprayed him with barley oats." I chuckle. "He was feeding her breakfast and she blew a raspberry and as he was dressed for work he had to change. He wasn't the slightest bit pleased." I say amused.
"Hmm." Serena hums as she scribbles in her notebook.
"So what did you do that afternoon?" The officer continues looking at me and ignoring Serena beside him.
"We played games all day with India and watched some learning cartoons before it was time for her nap." I reply.
"And while she napped?" Serena wastes no time in asking.
"I spent some time with my husband." I spit knowing where she's going.
"What do you mean by time?"
"Having sex." Yes writing and talking about Fifty Shades has made it far easier for me to talk openly about sex.
"Is that all?" Serena asks. "As it's during the time your daughter napped someone said that Christian was being violent with you."
"He wouldn't! What do I have to do to prove that to you?!" I yell furiously.
"Would you consent to a physical exam?" The Officer asks gently, at least he seems to care, Serena's so dry and acts as if she has a pipe stuck up her ass.
"What's that?" I ask uncertainty creeping into my voice.
"Our medical examiner will examine your body for any bruising and photograph them."
"Fine." I say shrugging.
"Ok we'll organise that for today seeing as I heard you're planning on leaving the state." Serena hisses, I don't like her at all.
"Ok." I nod trying to appear calm, cool and confident. "Can I ask a question?" I ask the officer and he gives a tight smile and a nod. "Why the drastic action of removing us from our home? It can't be customary for the slightest allegation of domestic violence to lead to this."
"There was a complaint from a few months ago that hadn't been investigated and then this was a second complaint, we had to take action."
"So it's nothing to do with the fact that it's probably in today's papers already and it makes you look good that you've reacted to this one complaint?" I ask angrily while Serena looks at me, I glare back wanting to intimidate her.
"We take all threats and allegations seriously Mrs Grey, we wouldn't doing our job if we didn't. You could have stayed at home the court order was to remove the child."
"My child, India, she has a name. As if I would leave her? You do realise when this is done we're coming after you? We're coming after CPS and we will make you pay for this. India needs her home, I need my home, my husband and my family yet you have us stuck here in a damn hotel…" I swipe away at my angry tears.
"Mrs Grey, please understand that we are doing this for your safety and for that of your daughter's, yet it's drastic but I can assure you as soon as we're content that your home is a safe environment for India you can go home." The Officer says sweetly. I give him a grateful thin lipped smile and a nod.
"Has your husband ever laid a hand on your daughter?"
"Never."
"On you?"
"No."
"Where was your team of people when you and your husband were home on Monday afternoon?" Serena is now interrogating me.
"Mr and Mrs Taylor weren't with us because representatives with their adoption before CPS visited the next day. We dismissed everyone else when we got home." I reply with a shrug. "It was family time. We weren't leaving the house so we didn't need security and the Nanny got to go into town and have some time for herself too."
"Ok I think we're done here. Mrs Grey we'll need to talk to the staff who are here, meanwhile I will organise for the physical if you're still consenting."
"If it proves my husband's innocence I will consent."
"Or prove his guilt." Serena says snidely, I really just want to hit her but manage to say nothing, what happened to the caring woman who bought me here last night with my daughter thinking that we were in danger.
I let the officer and Serena go and speak to the staff while I sort out getting India all changed and ready for the day. I grab my phone and disappear into the bedroom to call my husband, I need to talk to him.
"Ana." He croaks on answer.
"Hi baby." I say trying to supress a sob as I look out towards the Puget Sound.
"I miss you." He says sounding so broken, I sniff hard not wanting to cry.
"I miss you too. We'll fix this Christian."
"I know."
"Is there anything in the papers?" I ask having not checked the news.
"Rumours, nothing in stone. Just more people wondering why there were police officers here yesterday, most think it was a kidnapping attempt and you and India have been taken to a safe place into hiding."
"Then we won't correct them." I say thankful that nothing has leaked yet. "Do you have any idea who it was who reported us? Why would someone do such a thing?"
"I know who it was Ana and it's going to take a while but I'll fix it." Christian says, his voice full of promise and I sigh now we know who it is we should go home soon right?
"Well?" I ask impatiently.
"Zachary may have walked in on our kinky fuckery…."
"What the fuck?!" I yell shocked.
"On Monday in the kitchen. He normally comes straight in here from school and he forgot that he was supposed to go to the apartment on Monday. He told the social worker on Tuesday what he saw and she put in the complaint." He explains and I'm gobsmacked, I can't believe it. Poor Zach he shouldn't have been witness to that.
"He was abused Christian, he knew that woman helped saved him when someone was hurting him." I say quietly, Gail confided a lot of Zach's past to me and I'm not surprised the boy told someone what he saw, a part of me is glad he did at least it shows he knows it was wrong for Christian to be spanking me even though let's be fair I wanted it as much as he did.
"I know. He's a little shaken but Gail and Taylor are dealing with it."
"How did you find out?" I ask knowing that Gail and Taylor wouldn't have told him without a proper explanation.
"Gail came to see me. She was putting Zach to bed last night and he told her that he was to blame for making me sad and making you and India have to leave and he said that he wished he hadn't told anyone what he saw. Gail and Taylor are showing him some movies with fighting in it and trying to explain we were play acting he seems to be buying it so far." Christian explains as I move over to sit on the bed. I can't believe all of this heartache going on for both of us but I am so proud of Zachary, if I was really being hurt and unable to speak out he would have been responsible for getting me help.
"How long could it take for us to get home Christian?" I ask him my voice small and timid.
"I don't know baby. I'm sorry I'm working as fast as I can." He promises.
"Ok, listen I'm going to go to New Orleans. I'll be back on Friday for the Gala I just want to get away." I tell him and I hear him sigh.
"Just stay with Luke baby please."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too, we'll fix this Ana." He says and I sigh before hanging up. I can't believe this. I think Christian and I need to remember that we have Zach running around now and we should keep our sex to the bedroom and Escala. I'll tell him this after a session in the playroom to soften the blow.
As I look around the large master bedroom in the suite I can't help but think of the coming weekend, where Christian and I are supposed to share this room, just the two of us and from this room alone I can see we could have some very amazing kinky fuckery. I have a small fantasy about being fucked from behind while pressed up against a window and I really hope this mess will be sorted so that my fantasy can be made a reality.
God I miss him so much. This is worse than any moment I was away because at least when I was on tour I was working. Here I'm in the same city and I still can't see him. I know there would be something said if they knew I called him because they told me not to contact him but I had to call… I just had too.
Deciding to try and waste some time before I go to get the physical exam which will prove that there's not a mark on me, I log into my laptop and emails deciding some work would do me some good.
My mouth falls open after reading the first email. Holy shit this isn't happening. I want to scream, shout and have a party all at the same time but I manage to refrain myself and instead choose to run into the main room where Hannah is sat with Serena and the Officer.
"Ana what is it?" Hannah asks looking at me, I'm too excited to hold it in.
"Fifty Shades and The Animal Hospital series have both been nominated for awards at the International Book Awards!" I squeal as does Hannah, ignoring the people asking her questions she runs up to me and hugs me tight.
"Congratulations Ana, oh my God!" She says clinging onto my arms as we jump up and down like over excited teenagers.
"I just can't believe it… holy hell." I say completely speechless.
"I've said everything I have to say." Hannah says to the officer and Serena before dragging me through to the bedroom, see this is what I like about her, I may be her boss but she's also one of my best friends and we act like that when appropriate. "Right let me see." She says sitting on my bed as if it was hers, up against the pillows, her legs up and she pulls my laptop up onto her lap.
I climb beside her, naturally curling up into her side so I can see the monitor too, she's amazing and I couldn't do half the things I do and have done if it wasn't for Hannah and that's why I don't mind paying for her to have her own Personal Assistant because that way she can pass on some of the work that would keep her in the office when I need her with me. I can't help but snigger every time I think of the eighteen year old girl that Hannah and I agreed on, Molly, straight out of high school she didn't get into University but a six week unpaid internship proved that she was perfect for our team. Personal Assistant to the Personal Assistant of Ana Grey… funny right?
"Ok so Fifty Shades is up for Best New E-Book Fiction, Chic Lit, Romance, The series as a whole is up for Best Romantic Series and Best Chic Lit Series and The Animal Hospital Series you have Christian the Crocodile up for Children's Educational…"
"How it isn't an education book." I reply thinking all this is confusing.
"Well technically it is, for kids in hospital or with family in hospital it teaches them, helps them understand." Hannah replies.
"Then Mia the Mouse is up for Children's Fiction. Then the entire series is up for Best Children's Series Fiction."
"Wow…. That's just amazing."
"Ok so the ceremony is next week Friday at the Waldorf in New York."
"I guess I'm going to New York!" I say excitedly I haven't been to New York since the tour due to Christian not being home to go Christmas shopping there.
"You're going to New York." Hannah smiles.
"Oh you're coming too and Luke, we need a shopping trip I'm going to need a new dress." I say smiling as Hannah takes all the information down into her phone so that she can upload it to the iPad later. It's mad to find out my books are both up for awards. Two complete different genres and this isn't any book awards this is the International Book Awards, one of the biggest book awards in the world, a televised event here in the USA! I can't believe it, I'm in such a state of shock.
Once Hannah's done she closes the laptop and gives me a hug and congratulations. I am ecstatic and for a moment I get to forget everything that's going on in order to really feel proud of myself. Jeez to be nominated for these awards is amazing, I feel like I've already won so I don't care if I don't win, ok winning would be nice but I'm euphoric at just being nominated.
Of course, it isn't long before I'm pulled out of my euphoric state by the appearance of Serena at my door.
"Yes?" I ask nervously.
"We need to go and do the physical exam now." She says now sounding sympathetic, jeez her moods change faster than Christian's!
"Ok." I nod and grab my phone from the side table. "Let's go."
I didn't expect this. I am literally in a medical suite with a medical examiner. The whole room is cold and uninviting, everything tiled and metallic… medical.
"Ok Mrs Grey…" The Doctor says stepping forward. She seems nice, dark skinned with what I can tell is an afro pulled back into a tight bun with lot of product, she's very pretty even in blue hospital scrubs and a white lab coat.
"Please call me Ana." I say nervously, I'm stood here in my skinny jeans, converse a white tank and a wool cardigan, my arms wrapped around myself, hugging myself trying to make myself feel warm.
"Ana, ok I'm going to make this process as quick and as painless I can alright?" She says softly, sympathetically. I nod, I can't believe I'm doing this.
"Are you ok Ana?" Serena asks touching my shoulder, what happened to the cold hearted bitch back at the hotel.
"I'm fine." I say quietly, I'm anything but fine.
"Ok I need you to step behind that curtain and strip. I need everything off." The Doctor says.
"Everything?" I squeak.
"Yeah, we'll take pictures of any markings or bruising and mark them down on the chart it should take ten to fifteen minutes at most and I'm going to turn the heaters on for you ok?"
"Ok." I nod and then step behind the curtain.
Quickly I pull off all my clothes. There's no mirror for me to check my behind but knowing how rough Christian was with the spatula I wouldn't be surprised if it's still freshly bruised. But I decide at once when they question me I'm going to be honest. I have a very fulfilling kinky sex life, that's nothing to be ashamed of even though I'll have to be careful not to reveal the true extent of that kinkiness.
"Ok." Serena and the Doctor step behind the camera, Serena with the camera in hand and the Doctor with the clipboard.
"If you want to face me first, put your arms out to the side…" I nervously take a deep breath and close my eyes before taking my arms from where they had been hugging myself and keeping my breasts hidden. This is humiliating but it's a small sacrifice to getting this mess cleared up.
I stay as still as possible as the Doctor's latex hands start working into my right arm. She's very gentle but I feel her fingers massaging my skin looking for the slightest discolouring. When she finds a bruise she takes a measuring instrument, holds it up and Serena snaps a photo and marks it on the clipboard.
Ten to fifteen minutes my ass. I have been standing here for what feels like forever when she finally asks me to turn around. I hear two sharp intakes of breaths when my behind is revealed. Oh holy shit.
"Enough." I say turning back to face them. "Christian didn't do to me what I didn't ask him too." I say quietly, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"What do you mean Ana?" Serena asks softly as I cover my breasts up with my arms and cross my legs awkwardly.
"Christian and I have a very… kinky sex life… what Zachary saw… he saw Christian spanking me yes but it wasn't anything I didn't want." I say shaking as I speak, holy fuck this is going to be a mess to clean up.
"Are you telling me that Christian beating you was consensual sex?" Serena asks as the Doctor helps me into a gown quickly giving me back some of my modesty.
"He didn't beat me as you so eloquently put it, it was a spanking, a bit of kinky sex that's all. That's what Zachary saw in the kitchen on Monday." I explain my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Ok… well Ana why couldn't you have just said that?"
"You didn't tell us what was seen or who had seen it!" I yell angrily, this woman has taken the final straw of my patience.
"How do you know it was Zachary?" Serena asks.
"That doesn't matter. I know it was and I know exactly what it is he saw. Christian wouldn't lay a hand on me… without my consent."
"Ok well let's get you back to the hotel. We have to get in front of a judge and have the order upturned." Serena says becoming cold again.
"We'll let you change." The Doctor says kindly and I give her a nod and a small grateful smile.
I grab my cell phone and knock call while I change, Hannah answers on the first ring as expected.
"Hannah I need you to arrange two NDA's have on delivered to the medical suite I'm at and have one ready for Serena to sign. If this gets out we're ruined." I sigh, shit in hell.
Of course it doesn't surprise me the fuss that Serena puts up in the hotel about the NDA but then once I explain to her that I'd take her to court if she spoke of what we did to anyone anyway she signs as a way to prove to us she wouldn't speak of it to anyone. Of course without an NDA I would have a hard time getting her into court for anything but she didn't know that.
Once done we leave the hotel and head for the AG Jet that's waiting for us at Sea-Tac, two nights and Day in New Orleans should be nice. Even if in some way it's pointless flying all the way out there just to have to come back in time for the Gala. Hopefully everything will be sorted in time for the gala and Christian and I can attend without a problem and have the weekend that I planned for us.
I take India from the car seat and climb onto the jet with a heavy heart. I just hope while I'm out of the state everything will be sorted for Christian and I. I'm fed up of feeling like the world is conspiring against us, trying to keep us apart in every way especially with us spending enough time apart as it is.
"Christian." My voice surprises me as I see my husband sat in the booth I always occupy on my jet when flying.
"Hey baby." He smiles.
"What are you doing here?" I ask shocked but pleased to see him.
"The court order doesn't stand out of state, technically it doesn't anyway so as long as we stay out of state until the order is lifted we'll be fine. They're not exactly going to come to New Orleans to get me." He chuckles and I smile, he knew that, that's why he said I should leave the state because he knew he could follow.
I kiss him heavily while he holds around India and I. Now I can relax, let's just hope the court order will be lifted before Friday.
