Chapter 10

I'm at work and I cannot find my phone anywhere. I think maybe it fell out in the car, so I call Taylor.

"Mrs. Grey."

"Hi Taylor, could you check the Audi and see if I left my phone in the back seat?"

"Of course Mrs. Grey." He takes a minute and then says "Yes it is here. I'll have one of the security detail bring it over to you."

"Actually, I think I'll pick up some lunch for Christian and I and head to GEH myself to pick it up."

"Alright Mrs. Grey."

"Thanks Taylor."

Sawyer and I leave the office and stop at a favorite bistro of mine. I called ahead, so our order is ready when we arrive. I get to Christian's floor and Andrea has stepped away from her desk, so I walk over to Christian's office but when I open the door I'm thrown by what I see.

Reyna is sitting across from Christian and he looks livid.

What is she doing here? I thought we agreed he wouldn't do this. The pregnancy hormones are in full swing but I can't bring myself to speak. I just stand there in shock.

"Ana, what are you doing here?" he says like a boy who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"I forgot my phone in the car and thought I'd surprise you with lunch when I came to get it. It looks like I'm interrupting, so I'll give you two some privacy," I spit out and turn to leave.

"Ana wait!" There is panic in Christian's voice. He runs after me and catches my arm in the lobby. "Ana please. I couldn't just do nothing."

"Yes you could have. It's simple; you just do nothing! You don't pick up a phone. You don't call your ex submissive. You don't meet with a women you used to fuck. You just do nothing!"

"I'm sorry. I just wanted some control over the situation." He says forwardly and then raises his voice. "Do you think you're the only one who is uncomfortable with this? I don't want her to meet my parents, my siblings, my children, you, or anyone. I don't want her in my life as evident by me ending our contract years ago!"

The elevator pings and Andrea walks out. "Oh hello Mrs. Grey" she looks at us and senses the tense atmosphere. Christian glares at her causing her to scurry away.

"My office." Christian pulls me after him and I'm more than a little angry at this gesture. Is this any way to treat your pregnant wife? How rude.

Reyna is putting her jacket on when we re-enter.

"Reyna get the fuck out of my office." She just looks down at the ground and as if on cue Anastasia Steele puts on her boxing gloves ready to defend this poor woman.

"Christian Grey how dare you speak to her like that! You are the one who called her into your office probably inconveniencing her and you think you can treat her like your sub? Well sorry mister, her contract has long expired and she deserves some fucking respect as she has been nothing but helpful to your sister and courteous to you and your family."

Christian looks at me shocked before glaring at me. He's angry but I don't care. He's come a long way since we met 5 years ago and I'm not going to let him revert to his old attitude.

Reyna looks at me. "Mrs. Grey, thank you, but you don't need to defend me. I chose to accept the job with Mia. I made my bed."

"Yes, but you were just doing your job. Please just go back to your work. I would like to be civil until the wedding is through and then we can all part ways. Now if you don't mind I would like to speak to my dear husband."

Reyna hurries out trying to compose herself on the way.

"Ana I do not like you acting like you wear the pants in this relationship and I'm your fucking trophy husband."

Oh no he didn't. "Christian if you are going to go behind my back and pull shit like this then I reserve the right to behave as such. I'm going back to work and then I'm taking the kids-" and before I can finish Christian interrupts me, the panic on his face evident

"You can't. Ana you can't leave me. I'm sorry. Please don't leave. Please." He's choked up and I am shocked.

"Christian, for Christ sake I'm not leaving you. How could you think that?" I close the distance between us and place my hands on his heavenly face. "Baby you need to let me finish talking before you jump to conclusions."

"But you said-"

"I said I was taking the kids to your parent's for the night and we'd talk about this out when I'm not so mad at you. I vowed till death do us part and I meant it Christian. I could never be without you."

"Oh thank god." He went in for a kiss but I pull away.

"Christian I am really angry at you right now. I can't kiss you."

"Ana, please. I need this."

"And I needed you to be honest with me and not contact your ex-sub behind my back. Now, I'm leaving and I'll speak with you tomorrow. Goodbye"

He looks sad as I leave, but I stand firm.

That night after I've put the children down for bed I meet Grace downstairs for a cup of tea.

She hands me a cup and a tea bag before sitting down next to me. "So Ana, are you going to tell me what happened?"

"I wish I could Grace, but I can't. It's complicated."

"Trust me Ana, raising Christian gave me the skills I need to deal with complicated."

"I can't." I whisper trying to keep tears at bay.

"You can tell me anything darling. You are just as much my daughter as Mia is." She places her hand on mine and I start to cry. After a while, I decide to open up.

"Christian had a run in with an ex of his. She is…working loosely with him"...that's vague enough right? "and we agreed he wouldn't have unnecessary contact with her, but today I walked into his office and she was there with him. Alone." Tears start to flow again.

"It wasn't El-"

"No. It wasn't Elena. It was a more recent ex." At least I could be happy that Mrs. Robinson was out of our lives.

"So he had more than one partner before you? Was this just a one night stand or an actual relationship?"

Boy Christian's family really has no idea about his past whatsoever. "It was a relationship. Well, it was a relationship in Christian's world."

Grace looks at me confused.

"Grace I don't want to overstep a boundary, but I've kept all of this to myself since we met and I don't think I can keep it in right now."

"Ana, what you say to me is confidential. I will not even tell Carrick. I promise."

"Christian considers me his first relationship and first girlfriend despite however many women he was with before. I'm assuming you don't know this, but he initially just wanted me to stay with him on the weekends and well you know. Those were his terms and he told me if I wouldn't agree we would never do anything and he'd never see me again. I was so connected with him that I gave in just to be with him."

"Oh Ana, I had no idea. I could kill my son right now for objectifying you like that!"

"Please don't be angry. I made the decision and it all worked out in the end, but Grace, I've met two of Christian's exes by accident and it was the last thing I wanted. His past relationships were complicated and now another woman comes into our lives. I just want my happily ever after without all this shit." Whoa maybe I'm getting a little too intense. I should be talking with Kate, not Grace; although, it is nice to get this off my chest. "I'm sorry about my language."

Grace smiles. "I'm not Mother Theresa sweetheart. I've heard and used that word before." She smiles before returning to looking serious. "This is all very off-putting though. I wish I could have raised a better man."

"Grace, you raised a wonderful man. Don't ever doubt that. Christian is my world. I love him so much and he is so successful, thoughtful, caring, and everything a mother could hope her son to be. He's just, I don't know, difficult sometimes."

Grace starts to tear up. "You are a saint my dear."

"Thanks, but I have to disagree. After I walked in on the two of them talking, I got so angry and Christian was angry too. I just get so insecure when it comes to the women from his past. They're all extremely beautiful. I'm terrified he's going to look at me all bloated and emotional and then look at who he could have been with and-" I can't finish my sentence it's too scary.

"Darling, Christian loves you. I see how he looks at you, in any state, and he clearly thinks you are the most beautiful girl in the world. Not many things are certain in the world, but that is. The life you two share is much too beautiful to throw away. Christian loves you and no one else. You have nothing to be worried about."

Here come the tears again. "I hope so."

"I know so. Now why don't you go get some rest? I want those grandchildren of mine that you're carrying to be happy and healthy."

"Alright. Good night." I stand up slowly and start to walk towards the stairs. "Grace?"

"Yes Ana?"

"Thank you for listening. You are such a gift to Christian and me."

"I'm delighted to hear that you think so. Good night."