CPOV
I could see the look of awe fill Ana's face, a look that no doubt mirrored mine as we approached the steps that would take us up onto the wall.
This was a special place for Ana as it was the very first place her mother had told her about as a child, a place she had longed to come herself one day.
That day never came for Carla, it has for Ana though and I know she will share everything with her.
I had seen Ana's journal, it's on the bedside table of the room we now shared. She hasn't touched it though apart from to write a few words in when we arrived here in Beijing before she was happy to put it down again. Ana's enjoying the here and now for the first time, instead of always planning the journey ahead. Me, I'm happy to experience everything with her.
As we finally took our first steps onto the Great wall, the peace was broken by my ringing phone. Upon seeing it was my sister, I turned it off, putting it back into my pocket. Some might think I'm being harsh ignoring her call but for once, I'm doing what I want to do, putting myself first and in turn Ana. There will be time for my sisters calls when I'm back in the States but for now, they will continue to go unanswered.
"I wonder if one day, someone just decided to put a wall up, keep the neighbours out," Ana said, giggling in wonder as she ran her hand over the stone.
"I think it was a bit more complex than that" I laughed as we continued to walk, hand in hand.
"I know" she laughed. "It's a beautiful thing, it makes you think how many people have stood where we are now in its lifetime. I can understand my mothers interest in this place, the history that's around us. If these walls could speak, what tale would they tell."
"I don't know if I want to imagine, especially the battles it must have seen. It is here to keep people out after all."
"Either way, I'm so happy to be here. A thousand years ago, maybe not but at this moment in time, being here with you is perfect" she told me, kissing my lips before we continued on our way.
I don't know how far we had walked, we just continued on enjoying the autumn sunshine, stopping at various places to take photos of ourselves. Turning my phone back on to take some photos too, I ignored the messages and calls as at the moment they were of no importance to me. Bringing Ana to Beijing was the best thing I had done and we were enjoying every minute of it without any distractions.
"Do you have a business here?" Ana asked me as we slowly walked back along the wall to our starting point where Taylor is waiting at the car.
"I don't have a business here that I own but I do a lot of business with the Chinese through my various companies."
"I don't know how you keep everything together, how you know if one company is working and another not."
"I have an amazing team of people who work for me, all who have their own group of companies to look after. None of them wants their group to fail so they make sure if any problems do arise, we know about it straight away. The reason I had to fly to New York was because I had a rogue manager in place and it was actually a member of staff who had contacted us."
"They snitched on their boss," she asked.
"Yes and I'm glad that she did. Her boss at the time was actually a friend of my parents and thinking I could trust them to manage it, I gave them more leeway than others. That backfired spectacular, not something I will be repeating again. What's that saying in show business, don't work with children or animals. In business, my policy now is don't work with family or friends of the family."
"I'm sorry to say this but I'm glad they messed up as we wouldn't have met otherwise."
"When you say it like that, thank god for cock-ups," I told her, as we walked down the steps and off the wall.
"I enjoyed today, thank you," Ana told me as we once again reached the car.
"I did too. I will bring you back here again sometime Ana, I promise."
"You don't have to promise me anything Christian. This day, being here will stay with me forever," she told me, a beautiful smile on her face.
"I promise" I repeated, kissing her lips before she got into the car.
As Taylor drove us away from the wall, we both looked back to it. Normally visiting places like this are a once in a lifetime thing, I will make sure Ana sees it as many times as she likes and any other place on this planet too.
...
"What are we doing tomorrow," Ana asked, cuddling into my side once we were in bed.
"You were complaining five minutes ago that you couldn't feel your legs, now you're talking about tomorrow's adventure."
"Yes but you massaged my legs as well as other enjoyable places. I'm bone tired but tomorrow I will be awake and ready for whatever comes next."
"Tomorrow, you will see everything but you won't have to walk far," I told her, as she lifted her head from my chest, a look of confusion on her face. "Tomorrow you will see, now sleep Miss Steele."
"You're so bossy Mr Grey, I like it" she mumbled, finally closing her eyes.
…
We were up early the next morning and to say I was excited was an understatement. Today I get to do one of my favourite things and Ana will be right there beside me.
"Where are we going," she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"You will find out soon enough," I told her, hearing her grumble.
We pulled off the main road, into a small airfield not dissimilar from where my jet is currently waiting to take us home. Here though, it will be a helicopter today that will be taking us up.
"We're flying," Ana asked, as we stopped by the side of the helicopter.
"Yes, there's not just planes that can take to the air" I teased, getting out of the car and opening her door.
"We're flying in a helicopter," she asked and I could hear the excitement in her voice.
"We are, I thought we would get to see more of the wall and city from the air."
We were soon approached by an elderly man who would be our guide today. Unlike his normal tours where he flies his guests, today I will be flying us instead.
"Mister Grey," he said, bowing his head to me, an action I repeated.
"Mr Cho, thank you for accommodating us today."
"My pleasure sir, come come," he told us leading us over to the helicopter and opening the door.
"Climb in Ana and be careful not to touch anything."
"Wouldn't it be better if I was in the back?" she asked nervously.
"No, I want you up front with me."
"You," she asked, shock filling her face as I went around to the other side and climbed in beside her. I waited until Taylor and Mr Cho got into the rear and the doors were closed before I looked over to Ana.
"Yes me."
"Have you flown a helicopter before?" she asked.
"Yes, many times. Don't worry, you're in safe hands" I told her, taking her hand and placing a kiss on top. "Trust me."
"Always," she told me, settling back into her seat once her harness was securely in place.
I followed Mr Cho's instructions, never flying myself in this country before. I didn't want to stray into a place the helicopter was not allowed. Normally I would do a lot of Intel on a place before arriving but with this being a last minute plan, I will give control of our destination to our guest, although the job of flying my girlfriend there is all mine.
"Mr Cho, could you follow the wall from one end to the other" Ana asked.
"I suppose you could. You would run out of fuel long before you got to your destination though" he laughed.
"Let's not try that then," she said, laughing too.
"Do you want to fly it?" I asked.
"No, are you crazy."
"It's easy when you know how."
"I don't want to know now. Not up here. You can give me a lesson on the ground."
I laughed, continuing our tour, following further along the wall than we had done the day before. Eventually, I turned us around and headed back to the airfield. I don't know how many photos Ana took, her phone constantly in her hand. I know there are a few of me on there too but I don't mind, I have lots of her.
We spent the afternoon relaxing in our hotel room, exhausted after the past couple of days. We will be flying to New York tomorrow a few days earlier than planned but I didn't see the point of going back to Seattle in-between.
"He's not available at the moment, can I pass a message on" I heard Ana say.
We had just had a bath together, but ending up with soap suds in my hair, I had opted to have a shower too. Now hearing the anger in Ana's voice, I wish I hadn't bothered.
"No, I'm not his assistant, his secretary either, I'm his girlfriend."
I quickly made my way out of the bathroom just clad in a towel and I could see the distress on Ana's face. She looked like she could happily throw my phone at the wall and I know only a handful of people who could make me feel like that.
"Your sister, apparently you don't do the girlfriend thing so I'm a liar," she said, handing me the phone before she made her way into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
I threw the phone on the bed, ignoring my sisters shouts before making my way into the bathroom. I found Ana sat on the toilet, lid down with her head in her hands.
"What did she say to you," I asked Ana, kneeling before her.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to speak to you like that in there," she said, sadly.
"Ana, you have nothing to apologise for. Mia could make a nun swear."
She gave me a slight smile, rubbing her fists into her eyes as she tried to stop any tears from appearing.
"I answered your phone because I didn't know how long you would be. She was asking who I was."
"Did you tell her, your name I mean."
"I couldn't get a word in as she kept demanding that I put you on the phone. When I told her you were in the shower, she got nasty then, demanding how I would know where you were and I had no right to be in the room with you. I told her I wasn't your assistant, I was your girlfriend but she wouldn't believe me."
"She will believe it by the time I'm finished with her. I'm sorry you had to speak to her Ana. I meant to turn my phone off after speaking with Ros. Thoughts of you naked in the bath pushed everything else from my mind."
"I enjoyed our bath together, I would like to go back to that point."
"Me too," I said, quietly, looking to the bedroom where I could just about still hear my sisters shrill voice through the phone.
"What is it," Ana asked, cradling my face in her hands and bringing my focus back to her.
"I told you about my family, what they're like. Please promise me that they won't come between us."
"Nothing will come between us, Christian. Nothing and no one" she told me, kissing my lips.
I got up from the floor, feeling like I needed a new pair of knees when I stood. As we walked back into the bedroom, my sister's voice became louder through the discarded phone.
I picked it up, putting it to my ear.
"Shut up," I said, finally hearing her quieten.
"About time and don't tell me to shut up. You need a new assistant because she's just plain rude."
"I SAID SHUT UP. Don't you dare speak to my girlfriend like that ever again."
"Youuuur girlfriend" she stuttered. "What about Leila."
"What has Leila got to do with anything. At no point in the past, the present or the future has that woman had anything to do with me."
"But but she likes you."
"Well I don't like her and I don't like you very much at the moment either."
"Christian, I wasn't ringing to make you upset. I will apologise to your girlfriend," she said begrudgingly.
"No, you won't. You don't get to speak to her again, you blew that chance. Now if you don't mind, we were enjoying our day."
"Christian, I rang because I wanted to speak to you about the jet for Vegas."
"Find your own way there Mia, my jets are all occupied and they will be for the foreseeable future," I said, hearing her shout my name, before silence when I ended the call.
"Whose Leila," Ana asked as I lay back on the bed, looking up into my beautiful girlfriends face.
"Like I told Mia, baby, Leila Lincoln is no one."
"It's ok, I can't expect you to not have a past."
I sat up, pushing her down onto the bed, wanting to forget about my sister and especially Leila Lincoln.
"She's no one, Ana. A friend of my sisters who had a crush that was never reciprocated. Status, money that is what the Lincoln's are interested in, all of them and they will get none of that from me."
I didn't want to talk any more about anyone outside of this room, so I brought the conversation back to us. We spoke about New York and what we would like to do there. Although I do have to attend the Banker's ball, I will be leaving as soon as I can to go and join Ana at her own. Her dance card will be filled for the evening then, I will make sure of that.
"Are you sad to leave?" I asked Ana the next morning as we were packing our bags.
"Sad to leave but I have amazing memories of our trip. It has been the best time of my life Christian, getting to explore new places but more than anything, spending this time with you."
"I know how you feel," I told her, wrapping my arms around her waist. "Whatever happens from here on out, you're my girlfriend and we will work everything out together."
"I agree," she said as I brought my lips down to hers, ending any more words.
….
I watched Ana do the safety demonstration with a flourish, laughing at the way she described every detail, before mimicking Stephan's voice. When she finally took a seat by my side, I could see Taylor trying to contain his laughter.
"Don't think I don't know what you were doing?" Stephan said, over the tannoy.
"Does he have a camera in there which can see in here?" she asked.
"No, he must just know you well."
Throughout the flight, Ana kept us filled with tea and coffee, dinner too. Despite being my girlfriend she told me she was there to do a job and she was determined to do it no matter how many times I tried to persuade her to take a seat.
I'm going to miss her when she leaves as I have no doubt in my mind that she will get this job. How could she not, you would only have to spend moments in her presences to know how good she is. She's a bird what needs to be free, I will just have to wait until she flies back to me.
….
I was surrounded by the type of people I had grown up around, the type of people who I stayed far away from now. It was a complete contrast to the past couple of days Ana and I had spent, just the two of us exploring New York together.
I had watched Ana get ready for dinner with her friends, taking her back to bed twice in the process. I would give anything to be back in that bed, away from these people now.
I had done the rounds, spoken to who I wanted to speak to and now I was waiting until these dull speeches were over and then I was out of here.
"There you are Grey, I wondered where you had gotten to" I heard behind me which caused me to roll my eyes.
"I had a matter to attend to," I told Gregg, Reg, I have no idea what his name is and I had no interest in doing business with him either.
I got up from the table, excusing myself as I sent a message to Taylor to be outside of the hotel. I had spent enough time here, I was ready to leave and catch up with my girl.
"Are you leaving already?" a woman asked me as I headed for the hotel front door.
"Yes, do I know you."
"No, but you could buy me a drink and we could get to know each other better, Mr Grey."
"Goodbye," I said, ignoring her. Just another chancer looking for the status and power that I would never give.
I got into the waiting car as Taylor immediately started heading into traffic. It wouldn't take long to get there and after being around the fake people this evening, I was desperate to be around someone real.
We had just pulled up outside when my phone rang. Looking at the caller Id, I ignored it, letting it go to voicemail. My mother had no doubt heard of my conversation with my sister. The number of calls I had received and ignored since then was proof of that.
"Do you have a ticket Deary?" an elderly lady asked as I opened the door of Frankie's Place.
"Yes, of course," I told her, returning her smile as I removed from my wallet the ticket Ana had given to me earlier.
She clipped it, before giving it back to me now with a few new holes in it. Thanking her, I made my way to the double doors before me.
As soon as I opened them, I smiled. The atmosphere here was so different than the place I had left, the music and laughter upbeat. I was looking around for my girlfriend when I heard my name being called.
"You're Christian," a blond woman asked, approaching me. "I'm Kate, Ana's friend."
"Hello, yes, it's nice to meet you."
"You too," she said, smiling at me.
"Where is Ana," I asked, still not seeing her.
"Waltzing with Buddy" she laughed, pointing to an old man, whose back was to me.
As he turned around, Ana came into view. She was laughing, looking beautiful as ever and compared to the evening I had so far, a complete breath of fresh air.
I excused myself, walking closer to Ana, hearing Kate and the other women she was with, laughing. Stopping behind them, I tapped the man on the shoulder.
"May I cut in," I asked, earning a beautiful smile from my girl.
"Ana," he said, turning to her. "Is that alright with you."
"That's perfectly fine Buddy, I think you have earned a rest."
"Thank goodness for that, you could dance my feet off girl," he said, laughing when Ana kissed his cheek.
Ana was in my arms then, and I could relax for the first time this evening. The more time I spend with her, the more I crave the calm, the ease at which everything is around her. The more time I spend with Ana, the more I realise that the world my parents live in, the world I have spent the past few hours in, is not for me. I need calm, I need peace and most of all, I need Ana.
Thank you for reading.
Until next time, take care.
Caroline.
