Hello,
Time for another chapter and it's 10th chapter. It's quite cool.. Thanks for giving your time to read it and hopefully you enjoyed it. Thank you for all the feedback as well.
Have fun
~m

Chapter 10

APOV

I didn't know one could be so exhausted. I had to admit that before I met Christian my life was easier. There was no boyfriend, nobody wanted to hurt me, and now I felt like my entire life was changing.

I felt sorry for Christian, I knew it was a very hard time for him. We didn't stay over at my Dad's because we got the info that Leila was found. I hated to leave my family like this, but they didn't stop us. They understood. We promised to make it up to them whenever we get the chance.

Leila was different from what I expected. Her writing was interesting. She enjoyed her relationship, but at the same time she was conflicted if that was what she wanted from him. I knew she had feelings for him and he had none. That was one of the things that made me feel uncomfortable whenever I thought about her.

But when I saw her, I saw a kind person, although there was something wrong. She had worried expression and she was barely on her feet.

"I'm glad to see you." I heard Christian saying in relief.

"I came here on my own actually. I didn't know that anyone was looking for me." Taylor told us that that and that she posed no danger.

"You wanted to see me?" He asked her in disbelief and I sensed a bit of fear. "Why?" She waited a moment before we answered. She looked at me and I knew she wasn't sure if I should be there.

"This is my fiancée, Anastasia." Much to my surprise, she gave us a sincere smile.

"Congratulations. I wanted to check up if you're okay."

"Why?" Grey was on high alert now.

"Well, I came here for a reason. I wanted to warn you." She looked at me as well. "Or actually, I wanted to warn you."

"I don't know what you're playing at Leila, but don't threat Ana." I raised my hand to shut up. She wasn't threatening us.

"Christian, listen first, talk later." I said coldly to him. "Leila, you don't look too well. Just tell us why you're here." Christian was only looking at me and I knew I was beginning to lose control over my emotions.

"Elena Lincoln approached me a while ago. She wanted to convince me to try again with you." At the bitch's name I shivered. It wasn't going to end. I was never going to be free from her claws.

"What?" I couldn't believe my own ears.

"She introduced us to one another. She always thought I was her best choice. She hates you and wants you gone." Leila offered as an explanation. From what I've read, Leila was the type Elena would approve. I wanted to vomit.

"She sent you here?" Christian's voice was full of anger but it wasn't pointed at her.

"Nobody sent me. I left her house because she was at your parents'. It was the best option I had. I needed to do something. I decided to come to you and tell you I have nothing to do with her. She threatened me. I wanted to ask you for help to get away from her. I want to go back to my life and act like nothing happened." I saw that Christian's expression changed. He was no longer angry, he was worried. I also felt upset, but I had to think straight.

"No offence Mr Grey, but I don't want to be in your life in any way." She said quietly.

"I'm glad you came to me." Eventually, he smiled sadly and shook her hand. I wanted to show him somehow that he wasn't alone.

"Why were you looking for me?" I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk to her about it yet.

"Later, Leila." I said to her. I took Christian out of the guest room and Mrs Jones gave me tea.

"It's too late for tea. I'll talk to Taylor and Welch. I want to know as much as possible about the situation. I'll talk to her tomorrow, but I'd like to ask you to keep her company. I didn't expect her to come to me, but I'm glad she did."

"If what she's saying is true than you owe her an apology."

"I know." He nodded. I knew that situation was bothering him more that he thought. Elena was going to great lengths to get rid of me. "Ana, thanks for being logical." I knew it was his way of a compliment.

"I'll be with Leila if you need me." Christian disappeared in his study and I went to the library to pick up the journal and went to see her.

I knocked and entered the room. Leila have me a kind smile.

"Anastasia. It was you, who wanted to talk, not Mr Grey."

"We both wanted to see you, but for two different reasons." I gulped. She look just the same as in the pictures, but I felt a bit intimidated by her. It lasted for a couple of seconds but I realised she knew him better than me in some aspects. She could give him what I couldn't.

"I didn't mean to be rude earlier. Don't take it to personally, please. I didn't want to beat around the bush." She touched my shoulder and I turned to look at her.

"Do you know why she's like that with me?"

"Mostly because you're his more." The way she spoke it rang a familiar bell in my head. She cared about him too, but she knew he wouldn't love her back. What did I have that Leila didn't?

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He loves you, and she doesn't understand it. She wanted to keep him for herself." I pulled out the journal and put it on the bed. I was curious of her reaction and she didn't disappoint me.

"Where did you get it?" She asked me quietly. She suddenly became nervous and looked carefully at the door.

"So, it is yours." she nodded once. "I found it in sub's room a few months ago. It was among other books."

"I must have forgotten about it when I was leaving." There was an awkward silence between us. I came to her for a reason. She seemed to be honest and friendly, but I wanted to get some answers.

"You didn't leave it in purpose." I said to clarify. "I wanted to ask you about a few things…"

We mostly talked about the circumstances when the journal was written. It was weird to talk to her about her relationship with Christian.
According to Leila, he's become softer, since they were in the arrangement.

"He isn't acting like Mrs. Lincoln for instance. That woman is a sadistic bitch. I you must be careful. She won't quit before she finishes you."

"You still care about him, don't you?" She didn't have to say it out loud.

"Yes, but currently I'm seeing someone, who cares about me as well." I wanted to go to my apartment to start packing. I said goodbye and went to Christian's study. He was with Taylor, Welch and Sawyer. I had to get used to them.

"We're finished. You can start your interrogation in the morning. Luke, could you take me to my apartment, please?" I hated when I didn't have my car. I knew I could always rely on Sawyer.

"Did she upset you?"

"No, I just want to see Kate and start packing. I'm not sure if I'd be back for the night." I gave him a brief smile.

"Leave us for a minute." We were alone and I saw he was obviously worried about something.

"How was it?" I repeated him everything I was told. I needed some time alone to process everything and I couldn't think of anything else than packing. That had to be done anyway.
Besides, I needed to go back to work and sort out the mess.

"I was talking here to give you more protection. From now on, Sawyer isn't leaving your side." I didn't want to argue, but I wasn't sure if I wanted anyone around me. On the other hand I didn't feel very much safe. I was afraid of that woman.

"Okay. Just don't be an ass to Leila." I kissed him goodbye and went to the apartment I shared with Kate. It was odd because I knew these were my last days here. We've had such a great time together. I was lucky I didn't have much stuff. The other advantage was that some of my boxes were still unpacked and the rest was folded behind a chest of drawers.

The worst box was the one with books. I tried to remember which books Christian has, and which he doesn't. It took me longer than I originally expected. Each of my books had a special history and that often determined as well, to which box the book was going to be put.

I heard the door open and I came to say hi to my friend.

"Ana. It's great to see you. Wait, you don't look to well. What happened?" I hugged and smiled. I was okay.

"I'm just packing my things and I was going through the books." I explained. Kate knew I've always been close to my books. Some of them were treated so carefully as if they were living creatures.

"Oh, so it is official, then?"

"Yup. Whenever I'm ready. Besides, I needed some time alone. Last months have been overwhelming." I didn't mean to sound sad or to show that there was something wrong with me.

"I'll miss you." She pouted and looked at me with those big blue eyes.

"I'll miss you too. Want to give me a hand?" It took us less time to pack my belongings. I was glad I didn't have much of it. Luckily, my notes from university took two big boxes, and they weren't touched since I graduated. She told me about the situation at the Greys, to put it mildly Grace wasn't fine.

"I feel sorry for them that they found out like this."

"They would find out sooner or later. There was no good way to tell them." I thought about meeting Grace for lunch. She needed a bit of normalcy after everything that happened.

"I guess you're right." I texted Christian I wasn't going home for the night. I didn't feel best with the knowledge that I left my boyfriend with one of his masochist exes, but I trusted him.

CPOV

I didn't like sleeping alone. Until I met Ana, I was sure I was incapable of sharing bed with someone. Now that I met Ana, I hate nights without her. When she's close, I feel at peace.

My day at the office was fine and totally uneventful. Almost everyone was still in the Christmas
I had that feeling that something was still wrong. Leila was in my apartment. I planned to talk to her about the journal. I needed to be sure there were no other indications that it concerned me. If it fell into the wrong hands… I didn't even want to think about that. Ana let me know that some of her boxes are ready to be sent, yet that she still needs some time to sort everything out.

I let Leila stay just to be sure she isn't followed or that she won't flee. Leila was one of Elena's favourite pets. She would've been my favourite as well if she didn't fall for me.

"I was wondering when I'd see you. Thanks for letting me stay, I hope it wasn't a problem for Anastasia."

"Don't worry about her. I wanted to remind you about your NDA. I read it as well. I know you didn't use any names, but I want to be sure, that in others there's no sensitive information."

"You don't have to worry, Mr Grey." I took a minute to look at her and I didn't see that there was something wrong. She was smiling naturally although she felt a bit uncomfortable.

"You're happy with her." She said it more to herself than to me.

"Yes, very much. Is there any other way you can help us? What is Elena up to?"

"I don't know exactly, but she's running out of time. I left her house because it was finally empty." I was about to leave when I remembered something.

"You didn't start it, do you know who did?" Leila nodded.

"It doesn't matter. Believe me and let it go." I left her alone. I went to my study. I took out all the files of subs before Leila. One drew my immediate attention and I felt guilty again. I wasn't sure if I should tell Anastasia. I had to really think it over. I made sure Ana had someone to look out for her. I was thinking about coming to her, but she said she needed space.

"How was your day?" Ana asked me on the way home.

"I saw Flynn again. We talked about Elena a lot. We went back to the beginning." I didn't like to think about her but she couldn't leave my head. I felt so powerless.

"How are you holding up?" I was trying to hold my shit together. We heard no news from her.
She called my mother the day after the party, but Grace didn't answer the phone.

"I'm trying to be okay." Leila was sent home, but I made sure there was someone to watch her. I had to keep an eye on her. Maybe Elena would decide to contact her again. I couldn't leave her off my sight.

"I've sent my last box yesterday. I'll spend the evening on unpacking some of it.," She told me in a distracted voice. She wasn't totally with me. I knew she wouldn't accept Mrs. Jones' help.

"That's good. I missed you in my bed." I said to bring her back to the car.

"I drew your attention. For other reasons as well." I had a crazy plan of inviting my siblings to New Year's Eve. If Ana would like, I could also invite Alexandra.

"Would you like to spend New Year's Eve with my siblings at Escala? We could play pool some other games and have fun together. It can be in pyjamas if you want. I can invite Alex." Ana was thinking about it. I knew she was undermined because of Elena. I wanted to distract her a bit. She needed to relax.

"Okay, I'll call Mia, and maybe she could teach me something. Christian, that won't distract me from thinking about that bitch. I'm sorry, baby."

She will return.
That will be it. Let me know if you enjoyed it and see you next time :)
~m