Chapter 7

Christian PoV

"I think I have to face facts," I said to no one in particular. "Ana doesn't want me anymore."

Taylor popped his head into my study. "I hate to agree, sir, but I think you're right. She's found what you couldn't give her in Elliot, and she doesn't want to give that up."

"I'll always want her and only her, though. I can't see myself with anyone else. She's all I'll ever want."

"That's rather unhealthy, sir," he said. "Though if you and Ana are truly meant to be, she'll come around."

"You think so?" I asked, daring not to feel the hope that was lurking beneath the surface.

"It's like the old saying, 'If you love someone, let them go.' If they come back, they're yours. If not, then they were never yours to begin with." The man was far too wise for his paycheck.

"Remind me in December to give you a hell of a bonus."

He chuckled. "Yes, sir. Would you like me to have Mrs. Jones bring you something to eat?"

I wasn't hungry. I hadn't been hungry since the day she stormed out. But I knew I needed to eat. I gave him a solemn nod and he scampered off in search of Mrs. Jones.

In the meantime I'd done some digging on Jack Hyde, per my brother's request. As much as I hated him at the moment, he had a point in checking up on the douche. Barney and Welch had been working round the clock trying to find information about him, but nothing of substance was coming up. The only things I could find were that his last twelve PAs had quit their jobs within six months of being hired. None of them would say why they quit. That screams blackmail, but if they won't tell anyone the truth, we can't catch the guy on it.

Further research will have to be done. Perhaps by yours truly. "That's it!" I exclaimed. "Barney," I barked into my phone, telling it to call my head of IT.

"Sir?" he answered.

"Set up a fake incentive for the editorial staff at SIP. I want Hyde to be given a six month trial membership at my gym. I'll beat the truth out of him."

"That's actually an excellent idea, sir," he said.

"Yes, and that's why I'm the CEO," I agreed. I hung up the phone and headed to the gym for a much needed workout with Bastille. I'd brief him on the plans and I knew he'd be all for it.

By lunch on Friday, Barney had called to let me know that it was all set up. Or at least I thought that was why he called. "Sir, I was about to send the gym membership con to Hyde, but his profile came up as flagged for an HR investigation."

"What for?"

"Well, it turns out Miss Steele filed a complaint against him not half an hour ago. A sexual harassment complaint."

"He's fired!" I roared. "I'm going to SIP now to see it's done."

Ana PoV

"Is that brute your boyfriend?" Jack asked as he saw Elliot drop me off at work again. He called me into his office to ask me about my boyfriend? It was lunch time on Friday; I was hoping he'd let me go home early.

"Yes, he is," I replied. At Jack's sour expression I pressed, "Is something wrong?"

"No, I just didn't picture you with a big guy like that. I mean you're so tiny. How does it even work? Wouldn't he crush you? Or are you always on top?"

"Jack, are you asking me about my sex-life? Isn't that a bit inappropriate?" I was appalled at his question.

"Aw, come on, Ana. I'm just making friendly conversation." He reached over the desk and patted my leg. A little too close to my lady bits for my comfort.

"Friendly conversation?! That usually takes place at a bar with your friends, not in your office with your employee." I stood up and left his office, heading for HR. That was the last straw. He was calling after me, but I ignored him. "I need to register a complaint," I began.

"Regarding…" the HR representative urged.

"Sexual harassment."

"By whom?" she asked.

"Jack Hyde, my boss," I answered. Her eyes lit up as if she was glad I stepped forward.

"Oh thank god! We've been trying to get him out of here on that charge for the longest time. And, you're Anastasia Steele, right?" I nodded. "Good. Tell me, and I'm sorry to have to ask you this, but have you engaged in any private relations with him? I know you just started, so it's early yet, but I have to ask."

"No, we haven't," I replied, almost offended. "I have a boyfriend."

"That never stops him," she muttered. I wasn't entirely sure she meant for me to hear that. "Can you describe exactly what he has said and done?" At my nod, she took out a form and began taking notes as I described what he had said the past few days. A few lingering looks, flirtatious commentary, hovering a little too close to my personal space, and that day's comment about my sex-life.

"This is very good information, Ana. Thank you. At the very least, we can have you moved to a different editor's service. And he'll be written up minimum. I hope Roach fires his ass, but I can't promise that."

I thanked her for her time and headed back to my desk. Unfortunately, Jack saw me leaving the HR area and quirked an eyebrow at me. I ignored him again and sat down.

"What did you just do?" he demanded.

"I'm on my lunch break, Mr. Hyde. May I have my allotted time before you start bombarding me with questions, please?"

"You just came from HR. What did you tell them?!" He was bent forward, leaning over my desk, both fists digging into the surface. I could smell the mix of coffee and bourbon on his breath. Gross.

"It really isn't any of your business what I told them," I challenged, meeting his icy glare with one of my own.

"Hyde! Get in here!" I heard Roach call out. Hyde huffed and backed away from my desk, staring me down on his way to Roach's office. After that, the elevator dinged, causing me to jump in my seat. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I knew who was standing there.

"Miss Steele," he greeted, using his professional but curt tone.

"Mr. Grey," I greeted back. "May I help you?"

"Yes, I understand you filed a Sexual Harassment complaint against Jack Hyde?" he queried.

"How did you know about… Christian! Did you buy SIP? Tell me the truth!" Honestly, would I never escape him?

"Please address me as Mr. Grey. I'm here on professional business, Miss Steele. And to reassure you, I've some other information about Jack Hyde that will ensure his termination from employment here at SIP," he whispered.

He breezed past my desk and headed towards Roach's office. I made that complaint not fifteen minutes before and he was already there, waiting to fire Hyde. How on earth did he know about it so fast? Even if he was the owner of the company, he must have been watching me like a hawk.

Paranoid, I started searching my immediate area for cameras or listening devices. Maybe there was one in Hyde's office. Nothing. Perhaps the HR representative was required to submit my complaint directly to department heads and the CEO? But that didn't make much sense.

About twenty minutes later, shouting could be heard from Roach's office, from both Hyde and Christian. Oh lord. What was going on? Soon after, Hyde stormed out of the room and headed right towards me. Taylor and another of Christian's security detail stepped up quickly though, and shielded me from him. It was pretty clear to me that the man was just fired.

"I'll get you for this, Little Bird!" he yelled, facing away from me and slamming his office door. Little Bird? How did he know Elliot's nickname for me?

"Did he call you Little Bird?" Christian asked. I hadn't even realized he was standing next to my desk.

"Yes, I… I think so."

"Is that his nickname for you or something?" Christian didn't bother to hide his disgust.

"No… it… it's Elliot's nickname for me. I don't know how he could know that," I answered quietly.

Christian stiffened and walked into Hyde's office, closing the door behind him quietly. I could hear Christian's voice, but couldn't make out the words. Hyde started laughing maniacally, and I knew he was off his rocker for sure.

"Miss Steele, it wasn't you he called Little Bird," he told me as he came back out. "It was me."

"What? Why?"

"He wouldn't say," he replied. "Feel free to take the rest of the day, Miss Steele."

"Um, okay. Thank you, Chri—Mr. Grey." He nodded, gave me a half smile and disappeared as quickly as he arrived.

Rather than sitting at my desk and waiting for Elliot to arrive, I hailed a cab back to my place. One of these days I would have to just start driving my car to work. Elliot and I had decided that I would stay at his place over the weekend, since Kate was due back on Sunday.

I sent Elliot a text that I got off work early and he could just come right to my place after work. At his question, I told him I'd tell him about it when he got there.

My bags were packed, and I was sitting on the couch waiting with a glass of wine in hand when the doorbell rang. But oddly enough, it was Taylor, not Elliot.

"Taylor? What are you doing here?"

"Miss Steele. I'm here to introduce you to your security detail. This is Belinda Prescott," he said, gesturing to a statuesque woman that stood behind him. She gave me a tight-lipped smile and nodded her head.

"Security detail? Is this Christian's doing?"

"Yes, but not in the way you think," Taylor replied. "Hyde made some threats against you when he was fired earlier. Mr. Grey believed it would be best for you have a detail at least until Hyde calms down a bit. I have to say I agree with him, and I can assure you this is in no way an attempt for him to get you back. In fact he said, and I quote, 'she'll hate this, and she'll think I'm still playing a game, but I have to take Hyde's threat seriously. She needs protection. Roach does, too.' It's the truth, Miss Steele. If I may be frank, I believe he's realized that you're not his to win back anymore."

"He has?" Taylor nodded again. "Well, Belinda, it's nice to meet you. I'm Ana." I offered her my hand and she shook it graciously.

"Taylor, tell him thank you, please. I don't know what Hyde has up his sleeves, and I don't want to find out."

"Agreed, Miss Steele. And I'll tell him. Have a good evening."

"Well Belinda, it's you and me. Elliot is on his way over," I told her. "Is there anything you need to know?"

"No ma'am. I'm just to keep an eye on you when you're not at work and ensure that Hyde stays as far from you as possible. The intention is for you to not even know I'm there."

"Oh, well that's fine. Can I get you anything? Tea? Water? Something to eat?"

"No thank you," she replied. "I'll just be outside, on patrol." I nodded my thanks and off she went. I noticed that while she was wearing hard bottomed shoes, she didn't make a sound as she walked through the hallway and down the stairs. Great, another Taylor-trained ninja security guard.

Elliot passed her on his way up the stairs and asked me if she was a new neighbor. "No, she's my security detail. Courtesy of the new CEO of SIP, Christian Grey," I told him.

"Why do you need security detail?"

I explained the whole story to him, and in the end he agreed that I needed protecting. "I can't protect you when you're not with me, so I guess I'll have to defer to Christian's megalomaniac tendencies here. He really does just want you to be safe, even if he can't be with you."

"That's more or less what Taylor said, too. You should have seen Jack, though. If looks could kill…" I trailed off, shaking off the creepy feeling his stares gave me.

"Shall we head to mine?" he asked, eyeing my suitcase. "Or did your bodyguard advise you to stay here?"

"No, she didn't. She just said that she'll keep her distance and ensure that Hyde stays far away from me. 'The intention is for you to not even know I'm here,' she said. So let's go!"

"Why Little Bird, are you excited?" he asked.

"Perhaps a little bit," I replied, fighting my blush. I hadn't told him, but the afternoon before, I made a side trip to a nearby parlor and had some lady-scaping done, per Kate's suggestion, for the first time in my life. I was ready to take that next step. If he was.

Elliot PoV

Ana and I piled into my car and headed towards my place. I had been there most of the day cleaning and making sure it was acceptable for her presence. Unlike my brother, I didn't have a housekeeper to ensure my place was always impeccable. Something told me that Ana preferred the "lived-in" look to the museum feel of Christian's penthouse.

"Big Bird! What a beautiful building!" Ana exclaimed as she hopped out of the car. I retrieved her bag from the trunk and followed her to the door. Reaching around her with the key, I opened the door for her and directed her to the elevator. She was bouncing from foot to foot, excited as a kid on Christmas morning.

"Well, here we are," I said as I opened the oversized pocket door that led into my warehouse style apartment. "Make yourself at home."

"Elliot… it's beautiful. If I didn't already know you were an architect, I'd know for sure now."

"Thanks, babe. Let me give you the tour," I offered. She held out her hand for me, which I wrapped in my own and led her around the house. "Here's the kitchen, I'm sure you could have all kinds of fun here," I began. "And there's the half bathroom there, and over here the living room. Ninety-six inch television. It's the only way to go." She giggled and rolled her eyes at that comment.

I then showed her the guest bedroom, the patio, the game room and finally my bedroom. "So this is where the magic happens, eh?" she teased.

"One can only hope," I replied. In the past when I've given women the tour, they kept their feet on the outside of the room and leaned in to appraise the space, like they were afraid if they enter the room that it meant they were easy or something. Not Ana though, she walked right in and sat right on the bed, and patted the space next to her.

I sat down, careful to keep my space, though all my instincts were urging me to attack her. Did she even know how sexy she was in her blue dress? I knew she wore that item just for me, after I told her how good she looked in baby blue. "I'm ready, Elliot," she whispered.

I wanted to play around that I didn't know what she was talking about. But I knew. Oh damn did I know. "Really?"

"Mm hmm," she confirmed as she leaned over and captured my lips. Then she pushed against my shoulder blades, urging me to lay back. And then she was straddling me. Oh hot damn. Her sex was hovering just over my own, and there was far too much fabric between us.

"What about dinner?" I asked, giving her one last chance to back out.

"Dinner schminner," she replied, grinding herself against me. Oh holy hell. I flipped us over so now I was hovering over her, kissing her passionately. "Too many clothes," she mumbled against my lips.

"Agreed." I sat up and took off my shirt, unbuckled my belt and undid the button of my jeans before I couldn't stand to not be kissing her anymore. I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers again. "Do you have any idea how much I want you?" I whispered into her ear as I nibbled along her neck.

"I have a small idea," she replied as her hand roamed down my chest and she palmed me through my jeans. "Or rather a big idea," she corrected. Damn right.

"Just you wait and see, Little Bird," I teased. Her dress appeared to be just one big piece of flowy fabric. No zippers or buttons to fumble with. I pushed the straps off her shoulders and pulled the garment down, watching as it revealed a strapless baby blue bustier with a matching thong. Dear god in heaven.

Her legs were smooth and creamy. She prepared for this. It wasn't a last minute decision upon seeing my bedroom. She knew she wanted this tonight. And I knew not to give her anymore chances to walk away.

"God, you're so beautiful, Ana." She looked shy and a little scared as I appraised her amazing body. I undid the zipper of my jeans and kicked them off, leaving me only in my boxer-briefs. Ana's teeth sunk into her bottom lip as her eyes zeroed on the bulge in my shorts.

"I want you, Elliot," she breathed. "Right now." She leaned up on her elbows to undo the clasps on her bustier.

"Ah, ah, ah, Little Bird. Let me," I said. I slid my fingers up her legs across her sex and up her torso. Her skin was smooth as silk, and looked as delectable as warm honey. I couldn't wait to find out how she tasted. I kissed her again, pouring all my emotions into it as I reached around and undid the 5, 6, 7 clasps! of her bra. Jeez, what kind of bra needs that many clasps?

Then she was revealed to me. Her breasts were perfect. On display for me and good enough to eat. I leaned down and captured one peak in my mouth, flicking my tongue over the hardening nip. "Oh, please Elliot!" she begged.

"Please what?" I asked. "What do you want, Ana?"

"I want you inside me," she whispered, almost unsure of her words. But I was only too happy to oblige.

I shimmied my boxers off as she pushed her thong down her legs. I helped pull it off her feet and I urged her further up the bed so she could rest her head against the pillow. I felt down her body, feeling the silky skin warm under my touch. I could tell I was igniting her body, and she was loving it. My fingers found her sex and I learned that she was wet. Very wet. "Oh, you're so wet, Ana. I like that."

"Elliot," she breathed. "I want you so bad."

"You don't have to go on wanting anymore," I assured her as I placed myself at her entrance and pushed slowly into her. She grimaced slightly as her body accommodated me. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm… oh, I'm very good," she replied, moaning on the end. I pulled almost all of the way out and slid back in. And dear god, she was tight. She moaned again and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, clinging to me for dear life.

"Oh Ana, you feel so good," I said into her neck. I picked up the pace, but kept gentle strokes. I figured she was no stranger to the rough stuff with Christian, but I had no idea what she actually liked.

"More," she moaned. "I want more. Faster. Harder." Oh hell yes. She wrapped her legs around me, digging her heels into my hamstrings and urged me on. Then came the nails. If her glorious sex tightening around me as she came didn't tell me, her fingernails clawing at my back certainly did. She began chanting my name, getting louder and louder as her climax took over.

I followed soon behind her, spilling into her as she rode out the last waves of her release. I collapsed on top of her, trying my hardest not to let my weight crush her. Dear god, I hadn't come that hard in… well, ever. This woman was something else.

"Oh Ana… that was incredible." She was tracing patterns lightly along my arms as I caught my breath. "How was it for you?" I asked.

"Life affirming," she replied. "I try so hard not to compare you and your brother. And I won't say who's better in bed, because the two experiences are so different. I mean, you know what he's into, so I can tell you that I was never able to touch him. Yet with you, I was wrapped around you like a sloth clinging to a tree and you seemed to like it. And when I scratched you, you seemed to like that, too."

"I loved it, Ana. Feel free to do that any time."

"Mmm," she agreed. "I don't know about you, but I've worked up an appetite."

"Let's eat, then."