Seattle
"So I guess you arranged that whole 'papers-needed-signing' thing," I sneer making the invisible air-quotes with my fingers. He shrugs innocently. "I don't know what you're talking about Ana" I roll my eyes. "You know Ana, I'll have no trouble taking you over my knee right here right now if you continue to roll your eyes at me." "I'm not your sub Christian! You have no right to make threats!" I hiss, careful to keep my voice down. His eyes widen with anger and his lips press into a thin line.
Just then the elevator pings open and he drags me roughly by the arm into the elevator. He presses the button for the lobby while I rub my arm where he grabbed me. Completely shocked I can't even yell. My arm throbs in pain. 2 floors down, he pulls the emergency break and the lift stops. I recover my ability to yell. "What the hell Christian? What do you think you're doing? That really hurt," I shriek at him still rubbing my arm. He just closes his eyes in response and breathes slowly. After 30 seconds he walks over to me, pushes my hand out of the way and rubs my arm. "I'm sorry for hurting you" he whispers.
I'm completely taken by surprise. That's not the reaction I was expecting. "It's okay Christian. It doesn't hurt so much now," I mumble shuffling away. I can't stand so close to him, it's distracting. "Christian, would you mind undoing the emergency break? Daniel could get back any minute and he might worry if I'm not there," I say gently. "Well he should've thought of that before allowing you to wear that to a business meeting. Do you know what everyone in that room was thinking? If I didn't call you back into the office they would've been all over you. I would never let you wear that to a business meeting!"
"What do you mean 'let' Christian? He didn't 'let' me wear this. I don't have to ask him permission because he's not a crazy control freak unlike someone…" I hiss. "What do you want Christian? What's so important that you had to distract my boyfriend to talk to me about?" I instantly regret calling Daniel my boyfriend as Christian's face screws up in pain when I mentioned it. But then in a second the emotion is gone and replaced with a look of indifference.
"I don't care who you screw in your spare time Ana, I just want to ensure that you didn't tell him anything that would breach the NDA. Obviously you told him we were something since he wouldn't stop pissing all over you, marking you as his. But I swear Ana if he knows…" I cut him off. "He doesn't know anything about your red room of pain or your sick need to punish girls. I just told him we were together for a while and when we ended it, it wasn't on good terms. That's all…" His eyes darken and I glare at him. He's not the only one who can use hurtful words.
"Well as long as you don't reveal anything, there'll be no problem. You think you could do what I ask for once in your life Ana?" He asks condescendingly. I roll my eyes deliberately. Out of nowhere Christian backs me into the back of the lift and just glares at me with our noses almost touching. For that moment I yearn to touch him, kiss him. In that moment, I miss him. A myriad of emotions washes over his face before he finally settles on his usual impassive one. "What am I going to do with you Ana" He mutters much too soft and steps back releasing me. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Well Ms. Steele, I believe that is all we need to discuss today. Tell your boyfriend that we'll be in touch about the deal. And Ana, I never really figured you as one who would sleep your way to the top." He says malevolently as he undoes the emergency break and the elevator hums back to life. He gets off the next floor, leaving me stunned. I can't believe he just accused me of that. I follow the elevator to the lobby and am surprised to see Daniel talking to the security guard heatedly.
"What do you mean you don't know where Mr. Grey is? He clearly has …" He cuts off as he spots me walking out of the elevator. I quickly try to pull myself together and manage a weak smile. "Ana, are you okay? Where is he? The bastard." He spits out, swearing. I assure him I'm okay and that I'll explain on the way back to the hotel. He agrees reluctantly and we quickly get into the BMW. As we are about to drive off I see a pair of steel gray eyes fuming boring into me. I avoid his 'death stare' and am relieved once we're out of his sight.
~0o0~ C.G
As her BMW turns right and is out of sight my shoulders slump immediately and I motion for Taylor to bring the car around. Not the way I would have liked to meet her or the conversation I wanted to have with her. I sigh. I can't believe I was taken completely by surprise. I hate losing control like this. I pull out my phone and dial Michelle's number. "I need you at Escala in 20. I know it's not a weekend but I still would like you to come in," I say trying to soften my voice to persuade her to come. She agrees and I sigh in relief. At least I'll get some control back and then later I can think about the consequences of the elevator exchange and how to make up for it.
I reach Escala in 10 minutes. I go to change to my playroom jeans and remove my shirt, shoes and socks. Anxiety rips thorough my body as my craving for control eats me. Where is Michelle? I growl and walk to the Kitchen where Mrs. Jones is busying herself. "Mrs. Jones, I'd like a glass of white wine." Recognizing my mood, she hurries to fetch me my request without a word. I take a mouthful and feel slightly comforted. I hear the ping of the elevator and think it's about damn time. "Michelle, strip and go up to the playroom now." I bellow. I turn around and right when I down the rest of the glass I choke as I see who's standing in the elevator.
"Ana!" I splutter. I continue coughing having accidentally inhaled some of the wine upon seeing those familiar gorgeous long legs. What the fuck is she doing here?! "Hello Christian" she replies wryly, obviously enjoying having caught me by surprise. How does she keep pulling one over on me? "So you took on another sub huh?" She asks rhetorically. "What are you doing here? And you're the one who left remember? Was I supposed to be pining over you?" I nastily spit out. But that's exactly what I've been doing, pining after her. And I wince to myself at my unspoken admission.
"I don't care who you screw in your spare time Christian" She coolly quotes me the line I used on her earlier. "If you don't care then what the hell are you doing here? I thought you left with your boyfriend?" And finally it looks like I've taken her by surprise. "I don't know" She replies softly. "I told Dan I needed some time alone and found myself coming here." Her honesty softens my mood.
"Ana, would you excuse me a minute I need to make a quick call" I say quickly wanting to cancel Michelle's impromptu visit. I finally have Ana alone, I don't want any interruptions. "If you're gonna call that hooker/sub to cancel, don't bother. I already spoke with her downstairs and told her to swing by later. I figure you'd need her after our conversation now" She announces confidently. Once again control escapes me in favour of Ana. It's really starting to irritate me.
"Funny, I didn't think light brown haired girls were your thing" She adds, infuriating me even more. When did she get so observant? She pauses and looks at me expectantly waiting for my reply. How do I tell her I couldn't take on a dark brown haired sub because it reminded too much of her? Though I still needed a brown haired sub I was able to work with Flynn so that light brown haired subs would do. I begin to deliberate whether I should be honest with her when she interrupts with another question.
"Christian did you buy SIP only to sell to Wright's Publishing to get me here?" She asks, tripping over her words as she rushes to get them all out as fast as possible. Finally a question that's easy to answer. "Yes and No…" I reply, a small smirk playing on my lips. And now I have control of this conversation I declare triumphantly to myself. She looks frustrated and confused. Join the club Ana.
I move to the kitchen and pour myself another glass of wine and hold up the bottle asking her silently if she wanted a glass too. She shakes her head, "do you have scotch?" she asks surprising me once more. "Since when do you drink scotch?" I ask incredulously. "It helps me think" she shrugs. I move to the bar to pour her a glass of scotch. She sure has changed.
"What do you mean yes and no?" she probes gracing me with a small smile of thanks as I hand her the glass. My heart flips a little. She has the most stunning smile I've ever seen. Get a grip! I need to focus if not I'm going to keep losing control! "Yes because the reasons I bought and sold SIP concern you" I pause to sip my wine and to make her wait for her answer, enjoying being in the driver's seat of this conversation for once. "I admit I sold SIP to Wright's Publishing as an excuse to meet you either here or in Manchester where I now know you live. But I didn't buy SIP only to sell it to WP." I pause again.
"So why did you buy it?" her impatience unmistakable. "I bought SIP a year ago when they hired you. I bought it at first to make sure you were safe and then later planned to gift it to you and make you CEO." She gasps in complete and utter shock. "But but but… why? Why would you do that? Why didn't you tell me?" she stammers. Okay we're back to difficult questions. I sigh and decide this is one answer I should get off my chest.
"I now know, after several sessions with Dr Flynn I might add, that it was my way of showing my feelings to you. I wanted to make you happy and I wanted to give you the world," I say unabashed hoping that my bluntness will take away some of the deep emotions apparent in what I just said. I can't tell her how much she means to me. She's moved on. She probably is happier without me. I was a fool to think someone as pure and wonderful as Ana could ever love me. My insecurities eat me during the silence in which Ana looks too astounded to say anything.
"I don't… I don't understand…" She starts trailing off. Crap! Crap! She looks like she's about to cry… what do I do? I panic. "You said you didn't love me" her voice cracks and her welled up tears threaten to spill. "Ana, I never said that. I said it was wrong of you to love me. I couldn't make you happy." I recite. I remember too much about what was said in that day; No thanks to the recurring nightmares I have every other night about it.
She shakes her head vigorously, tears overflowing, staining her flushed cheeks. I stride to her and wrap my arms around her trying to comfort her. "Ana… Ana… Shhhh…" I say soothingly, rubbing her back. She continues to sob into my chest and wraps her arms around my waist. "It's okay Ana…" I whisper. "It's not okay!" She suddenly yells into my now wet chest and she tries to push me away. I let her move away but still keep my grip on her shoulders so that she's only an arm length away from me. She tries to calm down, her sobs turning into dry heaves. "Because of you I went through hell, I left the country, my friends, my parents, everything I knew to get away from you. All because you didn't think I should love you when you did?" So she did catch that I love her, damn.
"Ana, I'm so sorry... I didn't mean for you to leave everyth-" I try to explain before getting interrupted. "Well it's too late now isn't it Christian" she spits. I tug her towards me again and she relents. "Yes it is…" I mummer quietly into her lavender smelling hair. We stand like that for a while and for the first time in a year I feel complete. All too soon she pulls back but reaches down and holds my hand, pulling me to the couch. I follow not caring about who's leading who or who's in control. She makes me feel so free.
~0o0~ A.S
As I sit down on his comfy couch, still holding Christian's strong hands I pull him gently to sit beside me. I rest my head against his bare chest once again feeling a little lightheaded and tired from all the drama and emotions of the day. As my breathing shallows, I close my eyes. "Ana!" Christian's booming voice fills me. My eyes are shot wide open. "Sorry Christian" I must've dozed off. "tired…." I mutter sleepily. ".. and a little lightheaded" Sleep beckons….
Suddenly I'm being swooped up and have no idea which way is up. Christian cradles me in his arms. "Mrs Jones!" he calls out loudly. "When was the last time you ate today?" he asks menacingly. "Err… I can't remember… I skipped breakfast in lieu of the meeting but I must've had a donut duri-" "No, you didn't." Christian interjects angrily. "How do you know?" I ask defiantly. "Because I watched you the entire time and you didn't eat a thing. You must be lightheaded from the lack of food and sleepy because of the scotch you drank on an empty stomach," He growls. I forgot how touchy he is about food.
"Yes Sir? Ana! Dear, I haven't see- are you alright Ana? You look pale. Really pale," Mrs Jones exclaims. "Could you fix her something to eat? She hasn't eaten all day!" He asks gruffly as he puts me down on the stool of his breakfast table.
Suddenly I feel bile rise at the back of my throat. Oh crap! I think as I rush towards the nearest bathroom which happens to be the one attached to Christian's room and unglamorously throw up in his pristine white toilet. I hear him running. "Ana! Ana! Are you okay?" he asks, worry etched in his perfect face. He stands behind me holding back my hair and rubbing my back trying to soothe me. I didn't have much to puke out and soon flush the evidence of my embarrassment.
Christian hands me a new toothbrush and I start to scrub my teeth. Ugh, I hate puking. After I'm done he hands me a tall glass of water. "Drink" he orders. I gladly accept the cool water and finish the whole glass. Satisfied he lifts me into his arms and deposits me on his bed. I'm shocked. "Christian I'm not staying in your bed" I exclaim indignantly. He ignores me and dexterously removes my soiled blouse and goes to unzip my skirt. "Christian! Stop undressing me!" and I move to stop him.
"Ana, unless you want to sit in your own vomit I suggest you stop acting like a child and let me help you." When did he become the grown up? I think to myself as I lift myself up allowing him to remove my skirt carefully. He walks towards his bathroom with my clothes leaving me on his bed in nothing but my underwear. This brings back memories I think sadistically to myself bringing back those memories. He returns with one of his crisp white shirt and allows me to put it on myself as he leaves the room. His eyes never strayed onto my body and I was grateful. But I somehow can't help feeling a little sad. Is he not attracted to me anymore? No.
Before I had any more time to dwell, he returns with a breakfast tray full of food and places it over me. "Eat Ana" he pleads. I comply. I forgot how good a cook Mrs Jones was. "Christian this mushroom soup is delicious!" I exclaim. He smiles. After I'm done he removes the tray. When he sees me about to get up he asks "where do you think you're going? Sleep!" "But Christian…" I whine. "Ana, no arguments. Sleep. You almost passed out, puked and had your first meal all day. You're going to sleep and rest." He's right, there's no arguing with him when he's in this mood. I lie down and soon sleep catches me.
My dreams are filled with sad music, filled with pain and sorrow and I pull myself out of it unable to bear it any longer. Even as I wake, I hear it. It seems louder than when I was dreaming, I wonder to myself. That's when I realise that it's coming from outside. I pull Christian's over-sized shirt closer around me and pad towards where I know I'll find Christian brooding over his grand piano. I stand from afar watching him. He looks so sad. He stops playing abruptly and I worry that he's seen me spying but then I see a lone tear escape and my heart aches. I rush towards him instinctively and he looks shocked to see me.
"Christian! Don't cry… Cause if you cry, I'll cry…" I say burying my face into his chest as we sit in an awkward position on the piano bench. "I'm not crying Ana… Don't worry" He says assuredly. I look up at him through my eyelashes. He has a sad smile on his face and I want nothing more than to take it all away.
I find myself gravitating towards him… Towards his lips. And before I know it, our lips crush into each other's. His tongue strokes my bottom lip and our kiss deepens. Our hands roam over each other's bodies and he pulls me closer to him so that I'm flush against him. All too soon he pulls away. "Ana… we can't do this" He says gently. "Why not?!" I ask insolently. He looks pained before he whispers, "You're with Daniel"
The little bubble I've been in since I've been here bursts. Daniel! How could I have forgotten about him? He's going to be so worried. "What time is it?" I ask Christian anxiously. "3 in the morning" He sighs in reply. CRAP! I've stayed here all afternoon and night. "I had to send Michelle away after you ordered her to return at night." He says trying to lighten the mood though his is still one of pain. I smile nervously at him. "Sorry about that" I grimace. He starts to explain himself.
"Don't Christian, I don't want an explanation. I have to go, Daniel will be worried." I say and I start to gather my things. "You can't go now," he states matter-of-factly. "Why not?" "Because you're wearing nothing but underwear and my shirt, " He points out. I look down and see his shirt barely coming down to my thighs. "Where're my clothes Christian?" I ask. "They're hanging in the room."
I change to the sound of his resumed pain-filled music but my thoughts are consumed with Daniel. Oh man… does this constitute cheating? I can't believe I kissed him. I cannot let him get to me like that again. After I've gathered all my things and see that I've 23 missed calls from Daniel, I exit Christian's room. We both stare at each other and I nod, not trusting myself to speak. "Taylor will drop you off." He says sadly. I nod again. I had assumed nothing less and know better than to argue with him. He moves towards me to hug me but I shake my head. "I don't think we should" I explain. He nods silently and we just stare at each other until the elevator pings open.
"Ms Steele" Taylor calls. I walk into the elevator. "Goodbye Christian" I say not turning around. I can't bear to see the pain in his eyes again. He doesn't reply and the elevator doors close behind me. I climb into the security car and Taylor informs me that my car will be returned before the sun comes up. I mumble a thank you and start to wreck my brains for a good excuse as to why I was out all night to tell Daniel.
I can't possibly tell him I spent the night at my ex's place, could I? He'd never believe nothing physical happened. A lot did happen though. But I can't think about that right now. We pull up in front of Bellevue and I see a flurry of activity going on in the lobby.
"ANA!" A familiar voice shouts in relief. Suddenly I'm enveloped in familiar hands and I hug Daniel, guilt eating me inside. "What happened Ana?" he asks.
What do you think Ana will tell him? Will she lie or tell him the truth? Tell me what you think!
Thank you all for supporting this story and for your wonderful reviews. Just thought I'll tell you that I reply to your reviews on the review page instead of individually. :) DawnMidnight x