I'm lying peacefully in bed, reflecting over everything that's just happened. I never would've imagined what Christian told me, but I also would've never imagined his life being that way. My heart aches at the memory of his confession.
"They're cigarette burns. I was abused when I was little."
"He abused us. He used to throw me around and beat the shit out of me. He did the same to my mother."
Oh, Fifty... My heart hurts even more.
I slowly sit up and hold the comforter to my chest, quickly noticing that Christian is nowhere to be seen. I hear faint voices coming from outside and carefully sit up, smiling when I see a dark pair of jeans, matching bra and panties, and cream sweater waiting for me on a chair. I dress quickly and pull my hair in a ponytail, and step outside to find Christian tying a knot of some kind and talking with someone at the wheel. He looks up and smiles when he sees me, and I smile shyly in return.
"Good morning", he addresses once I approach him.
"Good morning."
"Sleep well?"
"I did. You?"
"I tend to sleep better when you're there."
"Really?"
"Does that surprise you?"
"Nothing you do surprises me anymore", I remark and raise a brow to emphasize my point. Christian laughs and finishes with the knot, before waving at Ed and leading me to a couch on the other side. He motions for me to sit and I oblige.
"I guess now I know where your knot-tying expertise comes from", I smirk.
"Are you complaining, Miss Steele?"
"Not at all, Mr. Grey", I smile sweetly and he pulls me close and kisses the top of my head.
"Did they find Leila?", I ask and notice Christian tensing as I do.
"Not yet, but they changed all the locks. You can stay with me until she's found."
"I can't do that, I have to work tomorrow."
"Ana, I'm not letting you wander the city while Leila's still out there."
"I'm not 'wandering the city', I'm going home and then I'm going to my office. I'll be fine. You have enough security for my family and yours." He opens his mouth to speak but I hold my hand up to stop him before he can continue.
"Don't get off me on the job thing. I love working and I have bills to pay. And I meant it when I said that I don't want your money."
"It's not about that. I just don't want you going out there when Leila's still at large."
"Why are you so concerned about her? Is it because she damaged my car?" He sighs deeply and I immediately know there's more to the story.
"What?", I prompt.
"Leila bought a gun before coming to my penthouse", he says quietly and I sit up straight at this new piece of news.
"Before her suicide attempt?"
"Yes. She wanted to use it on Mrs. Jones but, she cut herself instead."
"How do you know this?"
"Gail told me this morning. I didn't wanna worry you." I scoff at his remark and roll my eyes before sitting back in my seat.
"Did you just roll your eyes at me?", he whispers and when I gaze at him, he has that look in his eyes. Oh my...
"Maybe I did, Mr. Grey, but alas we're at sea and nowhere near your Red Room of Pain."
"That didn't prove too difficult last night", he smirks and I blush, remembering that I'm the one that tied him to a bed.
"Am I ever gonna go in there again?", I ask suddenly and Christian gapes at me as if I've grown three heads.
"I don't think we should."
"Because I left?"
"Because of what you saw." I furrow my brows at his comment.
"Saw what?"
"Another side of me, which led you to leaving."
"Christian, I told you. That time was different."
"No-one's ever walked out on me before. I was worried you left for good."
"Christian, I'm here now and I'm definitely not leaving. I love you way too much to ever do that to you again."
"Ana, it wasn't your fault."
"Elena said you came to her after I left." Christian looks at me as if he doesn't know what I'm talking about.
"When?", he asks finally.
"At the masquerade."
"Ana, I didn't see her after that. I hardly saw anyone when you left."
"Really?"
"What else did she say?"
"Um, that you were so broken when I left and how you're not the man for me."
"Fuck...", he whispers and I wonder if I went too far.
"Ana, she's wrong. You're all I want, but I have no idea why she doesn't feel the same."
"It's not like we got off on the right foot when we met."
"I know but she's never told me that I should steer clear of anyone. I don't know if it's because of the dinner at my parent's or not, but I'm not going to let her try and tear us apart."
"Do you still trust her?"
"Not after this. I don't know why she's going against you, but I wouldn't worry about it. If you want, I can talk to her about it."
"I would prefer it if you didn't."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't trust her, Christian. After what she did to you..."
"Ana, it doesn't mean anything. After what happened with my mother, I needed some release."
"Then why did Elena think that sex was the option?"
"I don't know, but she saved me, and kept me from acting out again."
"Again? What do you mean?"
"Remember when I said it's hard being a perfect son in a perfect family?" I nod.
"What I meant is that by the time I reached my teens, I was lashing out at everyone, started drinking, stealing even, then Elena came in and made me forget."
"Why were you acting out?"
"I guess I was depressed. I didn't trust my family and needed to calm myself down. Elena stopped that for a while, but it wasn't until Linc found out that we had to end our relationship."
"Linc?"
"Elena's ex."
"Mr. Robinson?"
"Yeah. He doesn't like me very much after he found out his wife was fucking me."
"What happened?"
"He almost beat us to death."
"Oh my God."
"That's another reason why I owe her. I felt responsible for what happened, so I bought her salon and she helped me start my business, once I returned the favor."
"And you still glorify her after that?"
"I don't glorify anyone, Ana. Only you", he smiles and leans down to kiss me, thus ending the conversation.
"Thank you. For everything", I retort.
"We aim to please, Miss Steele."
"I'm well aware of that, Mr. Grey", I smirk and kiss him again.
"You wanna take the helm?", he asks suddenly and for a moment I wonder what he means.
"Take the helm?"
"Steer the boat", he clarifies and my eyes widen further.
"I can't do that", I protest but he takes my hand and leads me to the front. He quickly introduces me to Ed and then indicates for him to leave.
"Here, grab the wheel and keep it steady. I gotta help Ed with the sails."
"Christian, I can't do that."
"It's easy. I know you can do it. Here, let me strap you in", he remarks and before I can protest, he grabs a bright orange life jacket and fastens me in. He then guides me over to the wheel and places my hands on it, causing my heart to stop beating as a result.
"I'll be quick. Just keep it steady and hold on when the wind kicks in."
"Christian, don't leave me."
"It's okay. I'll be back", he reassures me and gives me a quick kiss before climbing up the center of the boat and hoisting the sails. I tightly grip the steering wheel, my knuckles going whiter as I do, and listen to the crashing waves and rushing wind as my heart continues to pound in my chest. I look ahead and gasp in wonder at how beautiful everything looks, and I can't fight my giggle as I suddenly realize why Christian asked me to do this.
"You're doing good, baby!", Christian shouts above the wind. "Hold her steady and don't let go no matter what."
"Aye, aye Captain", I joke and concentrate hard on keeping the boat steady. Finally, I hear Christian approaching me and stands behind me so he can grip the wheel.
"Is this still more?", he shouts.
"Oh my God, so much more", I exclaim and I sense his answering grin behind me.
"Better than flying?"
"I think they're pretty much the same", I giggle and Christian laughs in response.
"You're doing good. You like it?"
"Yes! It's beautiful", I yell as my hair flies in the wind and Christian holds me close.
"I knew you could do it", Christian whispers in my ear before kissing my cheek, causing me to giggle like a schoolgirl. The wind starts to die down and my adrenaline kicks in as we slow down.
"Nice work. Ed can take it from here", Christian remarks and leads me away from the wheel and on the left side of the boat to take in the sights.
"It's beautiful, Christian", I respond, breathless.
"Just like you", he retorts and when I look at him, he looks proud. Before I can stop myself, I throw my arms around his neck and stand up on my tiptoes before kissing him deeply. He immediately responds and holds me close, instinctively pushing me closer to his body.
"I love you", I beam.
"Well, I love you", he answers and kisses me again.
After a few hours, we stop at the pier and my heart is still pounding at the perfect afternoon. Will I ever get tired of this?
Of course not!, my subconscious remarks and I can't help my answering grin.
"Thanks, Ed. I'll call you if I need anything", Christian remarks towards Ed and takes my hand as we walk down the pier.
"Do you need to go home?", Christian asks once we reach his car.
"No", I reply. I don't want to leave.
"Good. Taylor said it should be safe, so we can have lunch and I'll take you back to my apartment."
"Okay", I reply as Christian holds my door open for me and I slide in. Just then, my phone starts ringing and pulling it out of my back pocket, I check the caller ID; Jack?
"Hello?", I answer.
"Ana, can you come in for a second? I need to talk to you about something urgent."
"Right now?", I inquire.
"No time like the present."
"Um, okay. I can be there in twenty minutes."
"I'll see you then", he responds before hanging up.
"What is it?", Christian asks once he's closed his door.
"Um, can we go by SIP for a minute? Jack wants to talk to me." Christian tenses at my request and I wonder if I shouldn't have asked.
"What's it about?", he asks once we pull out.
"I don't know. He just said it was urgent." Christian lets out a heavy sigh and turns down a lane in the direction of SIP.
"Make it quick. I'm anxious to get you home", he orders gently and I nod in response.
We pull up outside SIP and I give Christian a quick kiss before grabbing my phone and heading inside. I wave to Claire, the receptionist, before heading for the elevators and heading to my floor. Once the doors open, I walk quickly towards Jack's office just as Hannah emerges from it.
"Ana", she exclaims, obviously surprised to see me.
"Hi, Hannah. I'm just here to see Jack."
"Are you in trouble?"
"No, he just said he needed to see me", I inform her but as I do, I notice a level of uncertainty etched on her face. What's wrong?
"Okay", she says recovering. "Call me if you need anything", she remarks and after a final smile, she heads down the hall. Feeling confused at the encounter, I take a deep breath and gently knock on Jack's door.
"Hi, Jack", I say sweetly.
"Ana, take a seat", he retorts coldly and I quickly do as I'm told.
"Did you book my room for New York?", he asks once he sits down.
"For the book expo on Friday?"
"Yes. It should be in the diary."
"Yeah, I booked your room, of course." Did I do something wrong?
"Then why didn't you book a room for yourself?" What?
"I'm sorry?"
"It's expected that my assistants attend with me on any trip I go on."
"Oh. Um, I didn't know that. I'm sorry." Why didn't anyone tell me?
"May I ask why you didn't know?"
"Um, I guess no-one told me."
"Are you sure it had nothing to do with the fact that you were hanging out with your boyfriend?"
"What? No, of course not. I just wasn't informed."
"Try to avoid that in the future, Ana. Book yourself a room and we'll leave at eight on Friday."
"Of course, Jack. Again, I'm so sorry."
"Don't apologize, just get yourself a room", he remarks before pulling out his cell. "Unless Christian Grey needs you here. I mean, it's not like you need to work", he retorts and I'm that close to rolling my eyes at him.
"I'll sort it out. You have my word", I respond sweetly and he looks pleased by my answer. He then motions for me to leave and I do so without hesitation. Shit, what am I supposed to tell Christian?