Chapter 9 : TickTock

Author's note!

Sorry if I messed up in the other chapters. I'm typing this out on iPhone, so it's quite... Difficult in a sense. Let me try to clarify a bit. It has not been a week! The apartment scene happens the same day as the confession scene! Also, Elliott only suggests Ana comes live in his spare apartment, she's living with Steve.

Sorry for the slow update! Charis is away at camp. I somehow managed to land myself a computer. Enjoy! Next chapter coming on too.

And I'm sorry! Throughout the trilogy, Ana's not the angsty sort! But hm. Okay. I'll try my best to muster all my angst in the next few chapters! Give this girl a backbone'

And yes! Charis is super sweet :) everyone say thanks! China's extremely cold, but beautiful when dressed in snow. I've been practicing my Chinese! So yup :) thanks for all your well wishes!

I had just finished taking a shower and was grateful that Kate had brought for me. Checking the bed side clock, it was almost 12 midnight. Ethan was not waiting for me in the bedroom.

A shower had been just what I needed to gather and arrange both my thoughts and feelings. It had been difficult to focus on the betrayal and Christian with Ethan around.

Being by Ethan kept me strangely happy. Besides his humor and actual personality, his senses seemed to be attuned to mine. Whenever I began to drift away and start down the road of memories of a certain CEO, he would reach down and grab me back into his company. I barely found the time to think of Christian at all.

It never occurred to me that Ethan could be more to me than just a mere 'Bestfriend's brother'. Maybe if I had taken a little more notice of him earlier, we would have been closer by now.

In addition, there was his puzzling words about Christian. Since when did Ethan Kavanagh fight on the opposite end of Kate? Since when did Ethan speak in defense of Christian?

After much thought, Christian's flowery gesture did warm my heart. But no matter how much sugar Christian tried to bring into my life to sweeten the bitterness he had caused, it was not going to be that simple.

Sure, I did love the man. But giving him such a response would only indicate that money could buy everything in the world. Even if I did love him, I was not at all sure that I was ready to be his friend again, much less his girlfriend.

Time and time again, I had wondered how I compared to Christian's past submissives. As if my heart and imagination could not torture me enough, I had to actually meet one and then find out that Christian had gone back to her.

My insecurities were through the roof now. I was constantly wondering where I went wrong and unfortunately, I knew where I did. I had not been obedient enough to give him what he wanted, to let him inflict pain on me in order to feed his barbaric hunger.

Before the agony could begin to feed on me as well, I needed to distract myself. Where was Ethan?

Grabbing a comb, I headed out to look for him.

Are they all still here?

When I had came back from the paparazzi attack, Mia and the others had insisted they stayed until I had finished bathing. They wanted to discuss how I should handle the paparazzi as time came. But a small part of me knew it was something greater. Who would want to talk about anything during such an ungodly hour?

I took a step out of the bedroom and into the uneasy gazes of the earlier circle. My body grew alarmed. They bore smiles on their faces but yet, something seemed off. Those smiles barely seemed to reach their eyes, as if they were trying to hide something.

"What are you guys up to?" I raised my eyebrows, drying my hair at the mean time.

I had expected them to have all returned to their respective homes already, it was extremely late and even I would prefer to crash instead of entertaining guests. It also greatly bothered me that we were imposing on Steve.

Elliott was the one to break the ice, "Ana, you've seen the paparazzi."

"Yeah?" I urged him to go on.

"Their ruthlessness, their strength, your susceptibility?" He went around the bush.

I threw him a filthy look. "What is it?"

"For your safety," Elliott began, but then, he got interrupted by a familiar voice resounding from the kitchen.

"Ana," Christian cooed.

I turned to find Taylor and Sawyer flanking Christian, I had missed them when I first came out because they were located at the kitchen. From my experience, there was probably a debrief going on there.

"I'm just here to talk security details." He said, putting both arms up in surrender.

I made no move towards him but scrutinized him from where I am. Beside his men, for once Christian did not look as good. He had lost his glow and his eyes were droopy, dark circles sitting under the grey. Even in his CEO outfit, he looked drained and helpless.

And it's all your fault, my inner goddess pointed out.

Feeling a tinge of regret, I wondered how a mere person like myself could alter a god like him. Was I even responsible?

Sighing at my lack of response, Christian gestured at Sawyer. "Sawyer will be your personal bodyguard again."

My lips pulled up at the corners. "Sawyer!" I exclaimed excitedly, somewhat missing his company over the last few days.

Sawyer's cheeks turned rosy as he shyly returned a "Good evening, Ms Steele."

Christian's eyes narrowed at my enthusiasm. "Secondly," He tested the word, " I feel that it would be best if you return to Escala."

My smile banished itself from my face and I felt my cheeks heating up at the thought. That jerk thinks he can walk back into my life and demand I bend to his every whim.

"Told you it was a no." Kate chanted from the back, taunting.

"Give me a minute, Ms Kavanagh." Christian hissed back, annoyed. Then his eyes softened upon meeting mine, "I can't protect you here."

"Sawyer can." I retorted.

Christian waved his arms around the apartment, "This place isn't at all conducive. "

An unappreciative grumble vibrated off Steve. "Thanks."

Without so much as a glance to the owner of the apartment, Christian corrected himself. "Sawyer needs a place to stay, it's too small."

There was something in his voice but I just could not put my finger on it. He seemed to be getting increasingly agitated with every mention of my staying here.

"You know what?" I asked him. He raised his eyebrows in answer. "It's late now, we should all go to bed."

"You're right." He heaved a sigh of relief. "Let's go, Ana."

I said the words slowly, "You're mistaken, Christian."
His joy was short lived as he realized what I was about to say, his lips straightening with his grimace. "Goodbye, Christian."

"She's right, bro." All eyes turned to Mia. "I think we've all had enough for one day." She looked alarm, as if trying to prevent a catastrophe from happening.

This was probably why they had all stayed. They were going to be the buffer between Christian and I clashed. But I still failed to see what would start the fire to the bomb that was Christian Grey.

There was a cold tense moment of silence, the atmosphere was suffocating. It must be the time of the day, my brain was half asleep and unable to pick up on what exactly was going on.

Taking a few long strides, Christian closed the distance between us until I was in half an arms length. I made no move to retreat or advance, staring there at him idly.

"Ana, I just want you home."

"Its Leila's home now." Christian clenched his teeth iust as tightly as he balled his fists. Clearly, my brain was in no mood to make any calculated responses today.

"WHAT THE HELL ANA?" Came a furious shout. The entire room was on high alert, even Taylor and Sawyer leaned forward defensively. Except, they were not backing up Christian, instead, they seemed to be working up to restrain their boss.

From behind me, rumbled a warning direct from Katherine Kavanagh herself. "Watch yourself, Grey." She spat.

Restrain him? I thought to myself. Why would he need to be restrained? This was bad. Picking up on the acknowledgement, I leaned away from him.

Noticing, he lowered his voice to prevent himself from further shaking me. "Is that what you think."

It must be the placebo effect kicking in, because I felt bold. "I know it, Mr Grey."

Christian's eyes knitted angrily, his face reddening along with his emotions. "We clearly need to talk."

Narrowing my eyes into filthy slits, I gave him a taunting laugh. "All the talking is done."

"There's something I have to explain." He tried to reason.

"Another time, Mr Grey." I retorted defiantly, knowing that this attitude would definitely be putting him on an edge.

All his colleagues, acquaintances and staff did as they were told. Well, he was soon going to learn that I was not his submissive and he would not get his way.

My guess was right. Every last bit of composure in Christian Grey vanished in an instant and he bore his teeth. " WHY DO YOU INSIST ON STAYING HERE?!"

With a blink of an eye, the entire scene changed. Taylor and Sawyer had their arms crossed against Christian's chest, like he was a beast about to tear my head off. Elliott placed himself in between myself and Christian, palm in his brother's face.

Christian was crimson, anger torching every inch of his body. Through his eyes, I saw himself fighting against the darkness within.

I was made aware of Ethan and Kate by my side as both brother and sister stroked my arms, trying to keep me calm. Mia, as peaceful as she usually was, had her hold on Kate, attempting to prevent her from brutally tearing her brother apart.

Stepping out from my right wing, Steve crossed his arms as he stared Christian down. "You should leave."

"WHY?!" He directed his holler at me. " FOR ETHAN?!"

I flinched at the strength of his voice, my ears stinging as a result. There it was. This was what had his panties all twisted in a bunch and finally, he had gotten it off his chest. So the ticking time bomb begins.

"Hey, watch it!" Ethan growled back, his voice still much softer in comparison to Christian.

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW YOU'VE BEEN F***ING ANA?"

Such a filthy word. "You're wrong." My return was quiet.

"DON'T TELL ME DIFFERENT, ANASTASIA STEELE." Christian flared at Ethan. "SHE'S FUC*ING MINE."

Ethan shifted himself to cover me, protectively shielding me from the threat of an explosion. "GET AWAY FROM HER." Christian tossed himself forward, fighting against the mighty arms of his men. "I'LL FIRE YOU BOTH."

Taylor and Sawyer held their ground, clearly understanding that to let him go would pose a graver consequence.

My judgment skills decided to turn rogue. "We don't f***, Mr Grey. Ethan and I make sweet love to each other."

Then, the richest man I knew threw his men to opposite ends of the room. He lunged for Ethan, pinning him to the ground as he began delivering blow after blow to his jaw.

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