4/26/18

A/N: You're all amazing. Now on with the show.

I don't own FSoG or it's characters. Please remember that this is being developed as an original story and adapted for FFN posting before publication. It will only be available for a limited time after completion before it is removed. Find me on Facebook as Steele Heart. I'll be posting more information there as the time comes nearer.

Laters,

Falling Undercover

Chapter 10

With dinner finished, Christian asked Ana to dance with him. He knew that Ana wanted to stay through the end of the evening. "Tell me how you do it. You spend all night schmoozing with these people; you remember each of their names and where they work and what they do there. Some of these people are pretentious pricks. If I wasn't here, how many would have hit on you tonight?" Christian didn't want to admit that Ana had such an effect on him. He was feeling obsessive in a way that was completely unprofessional.

"It's the nature of my job. These aren't fun events for me. They are business networking opportunities. Trust me; I wish that I could come here and support the cause, bring it the attention that it needs. Most of the people here see dollar signs when they see me walk through the door though. That means that they all want to talk to me. Some want an opinion about a deal they're working on. Other want to do business with me. Most of the ladies here want money from me for their organization." Ana hated these events most of the time. Tonight was different. She wanted literacy improved across the board. Seattle's homeless population was heavily laden with illiterate adults. Many of the public schools failed their state exams for reading. There just wasn't funding for the necessary tutors. Even the city's public library was falling behind in funding to purchase new books.

"Tonight," Ana sighed. "Tonight is supposed to be about the literacy issues in the city. There is a large homeless population that is illiterate. If they can't read and write, how can they find gainful employment? The children in the elementary schools are failing their state reading exams. Classrooms are overcrowded, and teachers can't give each child enough attention. The school districts don't have enough in their budgets for private tutors. Many of the high school students are scoring low on their SAT's strictly because they can't read fast enough. That post office building I stole out from under Bailey, it's going to change all of that. Half the money tonight will go to The Greater Seattle Area's Literacy Center. SHE is matching the donation and promising to provide the same amount equal to the entire pot for the next five years to fund the programs. Literacy in Motion isn't happy about having their fund cut in half from tonight, but they will get over it. They've not accomplished what they have promised to do in four years."

Christian listened to the drive in Ana's voice when she spoke. He could tell she cared. Christian had heard his mother many times when he was younger talk with such passion. He knew she still chaired Coping Together and that she held the ball every year, but he always declined the invitation when she called. Christian had not visited the pain of his early childhood in years. It was easier to pretend none of it ever happened. He had vowed many years ago to never think about the issues that led him to military school. That was a decision that Christian still hadn't resolved and forgiven his family for. It was part of the reason why he stayed away from them for the most part. Abandoned. That was how he felt when his father handed him the duffel bag he had packed and directed him to get on the plane.

Christian shook his head and tried to clear the fog of his trip down memory lane. "I find it admiral that you are genuine in your concern. Many of these people are here supporting the cause just to be seen here. They don't care, and tomorrow they'll be scouring the papers to see if their perfect hair was featured. Next week they'll do it again with a new cause. You, however, are genuine and true to what you feel in your heart. I've watched you all week. You act like a bitch to the men that expect to see a bitch when she's buying their company. You fight to save as many jobs as you can when you're done with the deal though. When you're at Steele House, you're polite to those that work on your floor. You greet the receptionist on the bottom floor every morning, but when it came to your department heads meeting, you were back to being the bitch. You're true to yourself for the most part. But you still give people the persona they expect to see."

By now, Ana was leaning into Christopher. He was holding one of her hands, and her other was wrapped around his neck, playing with the hair brushing the top of his collar. Christopher had one arm wrapped around her back and was pulling her closer. She heard each of his words as it was whispered in her ear. He had told her he didn't want others to overhear their conversation and blow his cover. Ana was happy with their position though. She ached to lean up and kiss him again. Ana knew Christopher had a job to do, but she couldn't help the thoughts the man evoked in her mind. She'd never been attracted to a man like she was with him.

Christian was lost in thought, looking around the room, scanning to make sure the men Taylor had sent were watching. He wanted to see if he saw Sawyer again. Christian hadn't seen him since that brief slip earlier. Christian wanted to think that it was a slip, his mind playing tricks on him, but he knew with 100% certainty that he had seen Luke there. The question was why was he there and where was he now. Without being conscious of it, Christian started stroking up and down Ana's back.

"That feels good." Ana's simple statement brings Christian from his mental laps around the room. He immediately stops what he's doing, in the middle of the floor taking a step back from Ana.

"Let's get a drink." Ana saw something flash behind Christopher's eyes. She can't identify it, but she feels rejected with his abrupt end to their dance. Ana had only taken three sips of her wine at dinner. She never drank the champagne from earlier. She could use a drink.

"Sure." They start to move of a dance floor when Ana spots a waiter coming straight to her, his tray held to the right of him carrying a single glass of champagne. Perfect. Ana stops and takes the glass before Christopher can get the two of them to the bar and immediately drinks it down. "That was good champagne. They usually serve cheap stuff at these events."

Christian knows his eyes are wide as he stares at her. Christian hadn't seen her drink a glass of alcohol that fast all week.

"I'd like something stronger now. Let's go lover boy." Now Christian knows his eyes are getting bigger as he stares at Ana like she's grown a second head. "Don't be a party pooper, Christopher. I've had to deal with all these fake ass bitches all night. I want another drink, and then I want to dance with your sexy ass some more."

Ana reached for Christopher's hand wondering why he's suddenly acting restrained and pulling away. "Maybe you shouldn't have another drink so swiftly. Let's dance some more."

Christian pulls Ana back to the dance floor taking her into his arms for yet another slow dance. She's pressed up against him completely now, purring like a kitten. "I've never been one to take notice of a man before. You, Christopher, you had my attention the minute I realized someone had opened my office door for me."

Christian is out of his league. He doesn't think that she's drunk, but she's sure loosened up. "I was attracted to you as well, but I have a job to do. Whatever this is Ana, it can't be real. Tonight we're pretending. We're good at the pretending, but that's all it can be."

Ana lurches back from Christian and looks into those steel gray eyes that have her so enraptured. "So you don't want to go back to the penthouse and join me in bed tonight?" She's feeling dizzy and not sure why she's saying the things she's saying. "I want you, Christopher. I've never wanted another man, just you." Ana rubs a hand up and down his chest, watching her fingers glide across his chest toward his abdomen. "I want to see the promised land. Kate promises me it's great for relieving stress."

Fucking Hell. Christian doesn't know what's going on. Ana's hand continues to travel south, and he grabs it to stop her movements before she has a chance to molest him. Not that he wouldn't welcome that any other day, but something isn't right. "Ana I don't think you know what you're saying."

"Of course I don't. I've never had sex before. Well, sex that I was conscious for. Wanna be the first?" Christian drops Ana's hand and takes her chin between his thumb and forefinger, titling it up to see her eyes. "Shit Ana." Her pupils have completely dilated. Christian is cursing himself. She's been drugged. He knows that he needs to get her to the hospital. "We need to find Ryan."

Christian digs into his pocket to call Ryan and Luke while he directs Ana out of the ballroom. Ana is giggly, and he knows some people will assume that she's drunk. The cameras are still blinding them as he gets Ana into the back of the car with Ryan at the wheel. People are yelling out questions left and right, but thankfully Ana didn't try to answer any of them, just waved goodbye with her whole arm. "Ryan get us to the ER immediately. Someone's slipped Ms. Steele something in her champagne. I need to call Sawyer and have him meet us there."

Once that call is made, Christian takes a deep breath before he places his next call. "Taylor."

"Someone put something in Ms. Steele's champagne she had after dancing. Find that glass and get it printed." Christian hung up immediately not wanting to risk having to answer any further questions. It's possible that Ryan may be listening closely and he doesn't want to let on to who he really is.

"Chrisssstopherss, I don'tss fweel sso goooood." Ana is in the car slumped next to Christian.

"I know you don't sweetheart. We're going to take you to see a doctor who'll fix you right up. Ryan drive faster."