Lights, Camera, Christian
Chapter 4 - Temp for a day.
CPOV
This feeling is surreal. Waiting to see our baby... Our BABY! On screen. I created life with the most amazing woman on the planet and I'm about to see what that looks like.
Ana squeezes my hand. I turn to her; a smile greets me. "You okay there Daddy?" She giggles, her eyes darting down to my bouncing knee.
Blowing out a breath I nod. "Yeah, I'm good." I lift our entwined hands to my mouth and kiss her fingers. "Really good."
"Ms. Steele." Doctor Green smiles and motions down the hallway with her hand. "How are you feeling?" She asks Ana as we walk hand in hand behind her.
"Pretty good actually. A little tired towards the evening and a little nauseous around dinner time."
"That's normal. Take a seat and I'll be with you both in just a minute."
I look around the office. It's a typical exam room. A bed behind the curtains, the usual doctor's equipment scattered around the room. Baby pictures hang on the wall with thank you cards and there's a 3D model of a woman's stomach with a removable baby.
"Christian!" Ana whisper growls when I pull the baby out of its plastic home.
"What?" I chuckle on a shrug trying to push it back in. Unsuccessful in my attempts I leave it next to the stomach and sit down beside Ana before I break anything else.
"Didn't Grace ever teach you to look but not touch?" She laughs.
"If I followed that rule then, we wouldn't be here would we?" I laugh, leaning back in my seat and resting my arm behind Ana's shoulders.
She turns towards me, serene glow to her face. She's happy. "Excited?" I ask, sweeping my fingers back and forth over her shoulder.
"Just a little." She beams. "Okay, maybe a lot."
The door open and Dr. Greene breezes in with a folder in hand.
She spends the first 20 minutes asking Ana questions, making notes, handing her pamphlets which I steal from her to look through myself. There's information on dietary needs, a guide of what to expect each week; changes in her body, etc.
After all the basics have been covered we get to the important things; how this pregnancy will affect Ana having just had major surgery.
Dr. Greene basically says everything Ana has already been told. She needs to watch her diet as she does have a low immune system. She will be tested regularly, anything she's lacking we'll try to improve naturally with foods before resorting to supplements. Her scar will be monitored to ensure it's stretching well as her stomach grows.
"So most likely she'll be having a C-section?" I ask.
"The chances are high, yes. We'll assess at 32 weeks and every week thereafter. It'll be dependent on the baby and its position late in the pregnancy also. If the baby is breech then, we definitely won't risk a natural birth. But like I said, we can take things as they come.
Ana's healthy and fit, there's no cause for concern at present."
I nod, squeezing Ana's hand. "Do you have any more questions, or shall we continue."
"I'm happy," I look toward Ana, who smiles and tells Dr. Greene that's she's good.
Her weight and blood pressure are recorded. Then she's given a cup to pee in. "You can leave it on the shelf, then come back and lie on the bed. You're wearing a dress so I won't need you to change into a gown, just take your underwear off."
Ana takes the cup, returning a few minutes later looking nervous as she climbs onto the bed; handing me her panties first with a grin. Her eyes look over the scanning equipment taking in the screens and computer.
"As it's early on we'll be doing an internal scan. "If you could just open your legs up." She sets about covering Ana's thighs with a sheet while Ana gets settled.
APOV
I lay back, propped up on the angled bed. I watch as Christian eyes the doctor curiously when she picks up the sonogram wand. His forehead crinkles and his eyes widen as she bring the wand to me and sits down; holding the wand at the opening of my legs.
If I weren't so nervous, I'd be in fits of laughter at the expression on Christian's face. "What the hell are you doing with that?!" He grunts incredulously, his hand running through his hair.
I grab his hand and squeeze it in warning while rolling my eyes.
"Because Ana is not very far into the pregnancy, this is the only way we'll be able to check the baby today." She explains.
"You're going to... Stick. That. In my..." He shakes his head. "In Her...?"
Dr. Greene suppresses a grin. "Yes. Just relax Ana." She slowly inserts the device into me. I distract myself watching Christian whose head is tilting further and further to the side as he watches her arm disappear beneath the sheet. His mouth is forming an adorable 'O'.
His gaze flicks to me looking half pissed half impressed. Giving me a quick wink he turns back to watch the doctor.
"There we go," the doctor smiles, motioning to the screen beside us.
We both look simultaneously at the screen. A jumble of black white.
"Fuck me. Baby, look." Christian stands in front of the screen his face full of wonder and awe. "It's really there." He gets right up close to the screen, his face almost hitting it. "It's so tiny." He whispers.
"About seven or eight weeks I'd guess. But we'll do some measurements." I look at Christian, then the little blob on the screen; a tear running down my cheek. How could I have ever doubted his reaction.
"Everything looks perfect. Heartbeat is there, everything is developing as expected."
Eventually, Christian turns back to face me, a huge smile on his face. Leaning on the bed he cups my face and kisses me softly. "We're having a baby."
"We are," I giggle stroking his jaw with my finger.
"It's perfect... God I love you." He kisses me again, peppering me with little pecks on the lips. "Can we get some pictures?" He asks, standing up and facing Dr. Greene, who is easing the wand out of me slowly.
"Definitely. I can give you a few photos to take with you, and place the rest on disc. Just give me a few minutes." She cleans up then exits the room, leaving us alone.
"Baby, that was amazing. It looked like a little gummy bear."
"It was pretty special." I smile, sitting up and pushing the sheet from my thighs. "Can I have my panties back, please?" I ask, lowering myself to the floor and fixing my dress.
"No way." He laughs.
"What... Why? Pass them here." I hold out my hand expectantly.
"Baby, there's no way you are putting those back on."
"Why the heck not?"
"Because," he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me to his chest; his mouth at my ear. "I just witnessed something that wasn't my cock being shoved up my pussy... We are going to go home and rectify that and I won't waste a second by having to stop and pull that tiny excuse for a pair of panties off." He growls seductively.
I laugh, loudly. "You're going to remind my vagina who it belongs to?"
"Fuck Yeah I am. Mine." He chuckles, cupping me through my dress. "Thank you." He whispers, his mood turning serious. "This is everything I ever wanted, I just didn't know it until I met you." Brushing my hair back, he kisses my forehead.
I sigh into his embrace, feeling the full impact of his affection. "I can't wait to marry you." I murmur, "Become a proper family."
"Have a gazillion babies..." He muses.
"Um, maybe two." I laugh.
"Six at the most." He jokes, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "We'll practice like we need to populate our own country though.
"Three and you've got yourself a deal."
"You drive a hard bargain, baby." He looks down at me looking so satisfied and happy I can't help but reach up and press my mouth to his.
"Oh sorry," Dr. Greene walks back into the room; envelope and Disc case in hand. "Here are your photos, shall we schedule another appointment now or would you like to call it in?"
"Can I wait? We will be away for the wedding, so I'll schedule something for next month when we get back?"
"Sounds great. Congratulations and best wishes for the wedding." She shakes our hands and walks us back through to the reception. The waiting room is empty, thank goodness. We don't need this leaking to the media on top of everything else.
Christian was on cloud nine for the rest of the day. He made good on his promise of a reminder. He gave the staff the night off then heated up some mac and cheese so that we could sit in the great room and look through the disc of photos from the scan on his laptop.
"It looks like a boy," he'd said, tilting his head to look at the current photo at a different angle."
"I'm pretty sure it doesn't develop those bits until later." I looked closely with him. "It looks like a blob."
"Hey, don't be talking about our baby like that!" he grinned, pushing me down onto the sofa and reminding me with his mouth.
It was a great night, just Christian and me.
This morning, if possible he's even happier. I raise an eyebrow curiously as I watch him slip the scan disc into his work satchel. I clear my throat, getting his attention.
"What? I need to back the disc up... Maybe print some more off." His enthusiasm is contagious. Strolling over to him, I jump up into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and kiss him soundly.
"I love that you're so happy about this." I purr, brushing my lips all over his face.
"And I love you." He nips at my jaw and holds me tightly. "You going to the studio today?" He asks, sitting me on the breakfast bar, his hands resting beside my hips.
"Just for the morning. We wrap up at lunch time." I exhale in relief.
"Mmmm, then I get you all to myself until after the wedding. Come have lunch with me?"
"Okay. Want me to pick something up?"
He shakes his head no. "I'll order in."
I leave the set at noon, having spent the better half of the morning saying goodbye to the crew who were shooting the last few scenes.
There will be a wrap party next week so I'll get to talk to those who weren't there today then.
There's a few photographers outside Grey House today. Being in a good mood, I give them a wave and a smile before letting Taylor, who has switched with Carter on my team, usher me into the building.
Walking into the reception area of Christian's floor, the phones are ringing off the hook, Andrea is once again absent and an angry Christian is yelling at someone.
"Maybe I should wait," I say to Taylor, who is shaking his head in silent laughter, just as I hear Christian slam his phone down. "Or not...I'll be here awhile, why don't you go keep Carter company."
"Good luck," Taylor laughs as he stands and heads toward the hallway where close security hangout.
I tap on the door lightly then push it open. Christian's phone starts ringing, but he ignores it. "What?" He groans; his head in his hands not having seen me.
"Well, I was hoping to enjoy lunch with my man..." I start, his head snapping up at my voice.
"Fuck am I glad to see you." He shoots to his feet and rushes over, sweeping me up in his arms.
"Bad day?" I whisper, returning his comfort.
"Don't even ask."
"Where's Andrea? The phone is ringing off the hook out there."
"Sick. I'm on my own." He shrugs.
"No temp?"
"Fired her."
"You what?" I laugh. "Why would you do that?"
"Because I asked for a coffee with one sugar, not a coffee with no sugar and an eyeful of breasts." He groans, releasing me and rubbing his hands over his face. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't order in. Give me five minutes and we can go to the club."
"She flashed you?" I frown, my mind lagging behind; still at the 'eyeful of breasts' comment.
"Pretty much." He takes in my annoyed expression and smiles. "You're pretty cute when you are jealous." His mood lightens, eyes sparkle.
"Why can't another employee fill in for today. This can't be good." I point to reception where the phone has just started ringing again.
"Baby, if I thought there was an employee here who could handle me I wouldn't be looking for an intern."
"You still haven't found one?" He shakes his head no. Sighing I push him through to the constantly ringing phone. "Go answer the phone, I'll call in lunch."
"Baby, they can wait..."
"Go." I smack his ass.
Sitting at his desk, I phone Sawyer and ask him to go grab some lunch then I tidy Christian's desk while I wait for him to return.
"Happy, boss?" He smiles slyly whole strolling back into his office.
"Very," I stand and let him take a seat so that I can plant myself in his lap.
Lunch arrives twenty minutes later, giving Christian and me enough time to go over a few wedding details.
I stay sitting on his lap and eat my pasta salad, feeding him little bits of my food between mouthfuls of his Turkish roll.
"Feel better," resting my forehead on his I kiss his lips.
"You always make things better." He breaths. "I like your dress." Fingering the lace details he trails a finger up to my chin, tilting my face up. "You look good in white." He gives me a lopsided smile and a wink.
"Hmm, I won't be wearing white for the wedding..." I grin. "White's for virgins... And if I remember correctly, a rather grumpy businessman who likes to fire temps who flash him took care of that for me."
"Lucky bastard." He laughs. "I wouldn't fire you, baby."
"What makes you so sure I'd give you a peek if I were your temp for the day anyway."
"Are you offering?" He jokes, running his fingers up and down my arm. I think about it, it's not like I have anything else to do, and how hard can it be answering phones?
"Okay..." I shrug. "Anything I can do to help you."
"Babe I was joking!" He scoffs in shock.
"I'm not. Give me a run down on what I need to do. Just answer the phone when it rings?"
"You won't be doing anything. You need to go home and rest." He's dead serious, but I'm actually a little excited about being able to help him. It'll be like a role, PA to sexy billionaire. I grin wickedly. There's no way I'm letting him talk me out of this.
I push to my feet and straighten my dress. With a lick of my lips, I channel my inner secretary. "The agency would like to apologize for the unprofessional, whorish behavior of the previous temp. I've been sent as a replacement." I bite my lip trying to stifle my laughter watching Christian's reaction; open mouth, wide eyes. "Can I get you anything... Sir? A coffee perhaps."
"Fuck me," he groans throwing his head back.
"Coffee with one sugar?" I add, giving him my most innocent look. "Coming right up... Boss man." I wink, turning and swaying my hips a little more than usual as I walk from his office. My shoulders shake in laughter as I hear him banging his head against his desk.
I'm fixing him a coffee; exactly the way I know he likes it, when I get my first phone call.
I pick it up, pressing the number next to the red flashing button.
"Hello Ana...um Grey's office Amanda speaking," I correct myself. No one needs to know who they are talking to. I raise my face and see Christian leaning against his doorframe, eyebrow raised, arms crossed, and a smile on his face.
"How are you Mr. Mendes...?" Christian's eyes widen and he shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Grey is unavailable at present, can I take a message?"
Christian winks and quite frankly with him looking the way he does in his suit, I don't blame the temp for flashing her tits at him. I want to flash him myself right now.
"Let me check his schedule for you Mr. Mendes." I have a tinker around on Andrea's touch screen. It's all pretty self-explanatory. Schedule. Appointments. Grey.
Christian walks over placing his hands either side of me on the desk trapping me in. His scent hits me like a tidal wave, drowning me in his deliciousness.
He points to a red square two weeks from now. "How does the 24th sound?" I relay to the man on the phone.
I scribble Mendes 24th on a piece of notepad so that I can type it into the computer when I'm off the phone.
"You have a lovely day," I sing before hanging up. "Grumpy prick isn't he?" I mumble.
Christian doesn't respond so I tilt my head right back, stretching my neck to its maximum. His mouth is on mine immediately. Forcefully, passionately.
"Fucking sexy as hell in my office." He groans between fierce kisses. "Take you over ...my... Fucking desk."
He pulls away eventually leaving me breathless.
"Why Mr. Grey..." I pant, my chest heaving, my hand clutching my throat. "I don't believe that was in my contract."
He adjusts his crotch and growls something untranslatable before striding back into his office.
Clearing my throat I pick up the inter-office phone and press the button with Christian's name on it.
He picks up almost immediately. "Ready for your personalized induction, baby?" He asks. I can hear the smile behind the phone.
"Mr. Grey, your three o'clock is here. Shall I send him through?" I answer, trying to reply as though I am unaffected by his suggestion; despite the tingling in my core.
"Fuck! I forgot. Send him through. I'm out after this so put your feet up, baby."
I send Mr. Stevens through, ignoring his curious looks at me - it's not every day you see Anastasia Steele manning a reception - then get to work sorting through all my notes so that Andrea can understand everything I've done when she returns.
I pick up the files on the desk noticing a folder that makes my eyes narrow and breathe hitch.
Elena Lincoln - Esclava. My mood drops instantly. Bitch. I am fuming, but years of performing arts has seen me through the last couple of days. I've managed to remain seemingly calm and unaffected. Christian doesn't need to see how angry I am over this. He's angry enough for the both of us. He says he's getting revenge, and that's fine, but her phone call nearly killed me and that's something I'm not willing to lay down and pretend never happened. No.
I open the folder and run my eyes down the page. I grab a piece of notepad and take notes of important information; her address, phone number and other useful things. I don't know what I'll do with it, but I sure as hell will not let the opportunity pass me by.
Tapping the tip of the ballpoint pen against my lip I quietly contemplate. Perhaps Christian doesn't need to put himself at risk, or in her general vicinity for that matter, in order to execute his revenge.
Maybe, just maybe... Grabbing my phone from my handbag I speed dial Kate.
"Hey," she answers, breathless but I daren't ask why.
"Remember back in LA when we were talking about what we'd be doing if I wasn't an actress and you weren't my PA?"
"Um yeah. Where are you going with this little lady?"
"You no longer have a job."
"Mmm." She hums, her curiosity piqued.
"And I have an idea."
"Do tell..."
So I do, I tell her everything; everything bar the pregnancy that I'd liked to announce with Christian by my side. To say she is angry would be a gross understatement. She is blind with rage.
"Let me make some phone calls and get back to you. We are going to kick her ass, Ana. And what does lover boy think of this?"
I hesitate. Christian is not the only one with contacts. "Leave Christian to me." I mutter.
"He doesn't know?"
"Not about this... No."
"Good luck with that!" She laughs. "Talk to you soon. Love you."
"Love to too... And Kate... Discreetly yeah?"
"Pffft..." She scoffs then ends the call.
The voices from Christian's office get louder as the handle turns and door opens a fraction. I shove the note paper into my bag and place the papers back in her folder before rushing out to the adjoining file room where I take a deep breath.
Not twenty seconds later Christian tilts his head around the door. "Ready, baby?"
"To get you home and talk about wedding napkins... Of course." I plaster a smile on my face, stroll over to him and grab hold of his tie. With more force than necessary I yank him towards me. "You never did give me that personalized induction." I whisper, my mouth hovering over his.
"There's cameras in here," he smirks. "But you're right. How very unprofessional. Follow me Amanda." He grins, using the name I've been answering the telephone with all afternoon.
It's Wednesday morning, and as I sit here sipping my herbal tea watching Christian pack his case for work, the guilt of not telling him hits me. It was only days ago that I had words with him about not sharing; yet here I am holding something back.
The last I heard from Kate it looked like we'd been given the green light.
"Did you hear me?" Christian wraps his arms around my waist from behind and kisses my temple. "What's got you frowning and staring off into space?" He asks.
I turn to face him, his arms falling as I do. His eyes crinkle at the corners when he takes in my expression.
"I umm." I start. He arches an eyebrow and waits. "Did something."
He says nothing, just waits with his arms crossed across his chest.
"I may have taken some information from your office and used it to my advantage." I bite my lip, studying his face.
"You what?"
"I said I may have..."
"I heard you the first time." He bites. "What information? Why would you do that? I would have given it to you had you asked. Everything that's mine is yours... You fucking know that!" Oh he's mad.
"You wouldn't have."
"Wha...I don't even know what to say... Used what information and how?" He seethes.
Figuring distraction is the best option here, I slip off the bar stool, still in my workout gear - a sports bra and little Lycra hot pants. His eyes dart down my body.
Running my hands over my ass to rub my thighs I shrug. "It was nothing... Just anonymously helped a business out."
"Spit it out, Ana. What did you do?" He growls, his eyes looking at my thighs before flicking up to meet my worried gaze.
"I called a few friends and umm... and we kinda bought majority shares in a chain..."
His eyes widen menacingly.
"Of Salons," I choke. "We offered, she accepted. A little too keenly because she didn't read the fine print..."
"You fucking what?!"
I flinch, his voice is thunderous.
"Kate wants to get into the cosmetics business and ..."
"You went behind my back and bought Elena out?"
"You say that like it's a bad thing... She..."
"Do you. Have. ANY idea how much time my team has put into executing a takeover."
Dead silence.
He drops his head, his hands threading through his hair.
"Why didn't you talk to me about this? Weren't you the one who said we needed to share everything?" The pained look on his face tells me everything.
"I saw an opportunity. I took it. She nearly got me killed..."
"YOU. You don't think I know that? You don't think that every time I know you're in a car I don't replay that day over and over in my head. That I'm scared shitless and that every time I answer the phone I'm not holding my breath. You don't think that when I watch you sleeping at night I don't have flash backs of seeing you broken and hurting in that hospital bed?" He chokes, sadness seeping into his anger, memories flashing through his eyes.
"Christian... Babe."
"I'm late." He shakes his head when I move towards him. "Don't."
I hold up my hands in defeat and back away, letting him cool down.
It's not until he's gone and I'm sitting in guilty silence do I remember that I'm scheduled to fly to New York late this afternoon for a talk show appearance as part of my promotional obligations.
CPOV
By mid-afternoon my boiling anger has reduced to a light simmer. I'm not angry that Ana took it on herself to acquire Elena's salons. I'm angry that she withheld it from me. I couldn't give a fuck about the time my team spent gathering all the financial and drafting up contracts. I only care about Ana.
I know why she's done this, and a part of me what's to smile and say 'that's my girl', but the other half wants to put her across my knee and spank her sexy little ass.
It's not a complete loss, I can still hit her ex-husband - hard.
"Sir," Taylor enters my office. I frown, he's supposed to be with Ana.
"Why are you not with Ana?"
"We are just on our way to the airport sir. Carter and Sawyer have just taken her to the studio to pick something up. I'm meeting them at the airport."
"She's leaving?" I push to my feet in a panic. Fuck. I know I was angry this morning, but cut me a fucking break.
"New York, Sir. She'll be gone for a few days..." He drags the words out as if I should know this. I do fucking know this, it just slipped my mind.
Ana has a few interviews to do so Kate and Mia are going with her to have a girly holiday slash bachelorette party, and my bachelor party was pushed up a week also - to tonight.
How the fuck could I have forgotten. My head is fucking thumping; knowing the last thing I said to her was in anger and didn't want her touching me.
I can't let her go like this, not after what happened the last time we were apart.
"Take me to the airport Taylor." I exhale, grabbing my phone and keys in a rush.
A fleet of SUV's are parked beside the GEH jet, so I know Ana is already here, along with Kate and Mia.
Leaving Taylor behind I take the steps two at a time. I can't delay their flight for too long.
Ignoring the greetings from the cockpit as I pass, I head straight to Ana. She's bent over in her seat, head down rummaging around in her handbag.
I stand in the aisle just watching her. She seems off, her movement's jerky and frustrated. Her hair curtains her face as she kicks her bag away with an annoyed groan then closes her eyes.
"You drive me nuts sometimes, baby." I say, my eyes never wavering from her. Her head snaps up. Kate and Mia are in my peripheral vision, and I know I should take this somewhere private. "You were going to leave without saying goodbye?"
"I was looking for my phone..." She points to her bag, her eyes watering. "I couldn't find it. I think I left it at home."
Walking over to her, I crouch down on my haunches between her legs and cradle her face. "Don't ever leave without seeing me. Ever. No matter what's going on, I'll always, always want to kiss these sweet lips goodbye and tell you how much I love you, okay?"
"Okay," she nods, her fingers threading together behind my neck.
"Now give me a kiss." I breathe, my eyes remaining open as she moves in.
Her lips part and capture mine, the weight of this morning vanishing when our mouths connect. "I'm sorry," she pants.
"Not now, baby. Be careful okay. You've got precious cargo onboard." I whisper.
She licks her lip on a smile. "I'm going to miss you." Her smile transforms into a pout, her forehead creased. "Don't have too much fun tonight."
"Baby, I'm going to be miserable. Here," I pull my phone from my pocket and hand it to her. "I want to be able to contact you."
"But your business..."
"Any incoming business calls can be redirected to my office. If anyone calls it'll be family or me."
She tucks the phone into her pocket then wraps herself around me; arms and legs.
"Love you." The words leave her mouth on a whisper, her lips dragging across my jaw until they connect with my mouth. My fingers tangle in her lose hair, pushing her back a fraction so I can look into her eyes.
"Love you too, baby." I loosen my grips so that she can continue her kiss. And what a fucking kiss is it. Soft, sweet, rolling tongues, heavy breaths, feather light caresses, whispered whimpers. My girl is getting worked up, and if I don't walk away, no one will be going anywhere.
Slowing the kiss to a peck I stroke her cheek. "Behave."
"Always." She replies.
"See you in a few days okay. I love you." Pushing to my feet, I plant a parting kiss on her forehead. "Have fun ladies."