Chapter 12: I Wouldn't Bet on It!

July 4, 2011

Ana's POV:

Christian and I had the most relaxing and wonderful time on The Grace Sunday. We spent the night on the boat and it was crazy romantic and we didn't even talk about the wedding. We just had fun, getting to know each other better. Here were are engaged and getting married in 26 days and we have never talked about religion, politics, favorite foods, sports and all those little details that seem pretty important in getting to know each other better. We found out we don't see eye to eye on some political issues and I surprised Christian by being able to name every player on the Mariners and most of the Seahawks. He had no idea I was so passionate about football. It was just so fun to have the short time away.

So, I don't understand why when he got home from work last night he was so crabby and short with me. Every time I spoke he snapped at me, and he didn't speak to me most of the night. He locked himself away in the office. I finally fell asleep in the library, and he must have carried me to bed. When I woke up this morning, he was already out of bed and I found him in the office. I am not going to let this go on any longer.

"Christian, have I done something wrong?"

"No, why would you ask me that?" But he doesn't say this like he means it. He just stares at me, but not with his sexy, warm Christian eyes. What is going on with him? I decide to close the distance between us and walk around to the other side of his desk and sit on his lap. I touch his face and put my forehead against his forehead.

"I don't believe you. Please tell me what has happened? Is it me or is it something else?"

He stares at me and he is so cold. What has happened?

"When were you going to tell me Ana?"

What is he talking about? Tell him what?

"Christian, I am not sure what I haven't told you. Please tell me, don't shut me out."

Christian finally puts his hand on my arm and rubs his hand back and forth. "Elliot told me yesterday that Kate has planned a trip for you and god knows who else to go to Las Vegas for your bachelorette party. I assume you are aware of this and think it is ok."

Holy Shit! I just found out about this myself late yesterday afternoon and I haven't even had a chance to think about it, yet alone talk to him about it. I can't believe he is acting so childish and angry about something like this.

"Really Christian? Are you kidding me? This is why you are mad at me? I just found out late yesterday about this and you didn't even talk to me all night. I have nothing to do with this. Kate called me yesterday and said she and Mia were planning my bachelorette party but she wouldn't tell me any details because it was supposed to me a surprise." I lean back and look at him. "I didn't know it was in Las Vegas until you just told me."

Christian breathes in nods his head and smiles at me. He leans forward and tries to kiss me. I jump off his lap.

"What Ana? Why are you getting up?"

I can't believe him. "You ignore me, are angry with me and don't even tell me why, then try and kiss me. It doesn't work that way. How could you be mad at me for something I didn't even know anything about?"

"I assumed you knew about it. I am sorry. I should have known that Kate and Mia would try and pull something like this."

"Like what? Planning a bachelorette party? It's not a criminal offense Christian. I understand that Elliot is planning a party for you as well. You don't see me going thermonuclear."

"Because he isn't going to have a bachelor's party for me, I don't want one. Do you want a bachelorette party? Do you want to go to Las Vegas, get drunk, see male strippers, act foolish, put yourself at risk and have every asshole in the state of Nevada hit on you? That is something you want?" Christian is now standing and he has raised his voice. I am furious. I can't believe him.

"I never said I wanted to go to Vegas and I certainly have no interest in getting drunk, seeing male strippers, acting foolish – although you apparently think that is a given- or putting myself at risk. But, yes I think it would be fun to spend an evening with my girlfriends having some quality time before the wedding. I am not telling Kate no if she and Mia want to plan something." I have now raised my voice as well.

He arrogantly smirks at me and sits back down. "You're not going to Las Vegas." Just like that Fifty makes his edict and I am suppose to heal. Oh my god he makes me so angry. I don't even care about going to Las Vegas, but there is no damn way he is going to be the one to tell me I can't go.

"Don't you trust me Christian? You can't tell me I can't go." Oops, I might have said the wrong thing.

"Are you fucking kidding me Ana. Are you that naïve? Do I trust you? Yes and no. I trust that you love me. I trust that your intentions will be to go and spend some fucking quality time with your girlfriends –whatever fucking quality time means. But I don't trust that you won't drink too much, I don't trust that guys won't want to be dancing with you and trying to get down your pants. I don't trust that you won't be recognized and the paparazzi will be following you everywhere putting yourself at risk for god knows what. No, you are not fucking going and I am not giving in on this. If Kate wants to throw you a mother fucking bachelorette party, she can do it here in Seattle where your god damn ass will be safe and I can make sure you end up back in our bed at the end of the evening, instead of with some fucking asshole that is trying to brideball you."

Wow Fifty is pissed. I don't even know how to respond to all of his comments. I guess I need to calm him down but where to begin. His most rational point is the paparazzi, I guess I will give him that and see if we can work through this. And what the hell does brideball mean?

"Well glad you have so much confidence in me Christian. I understand what your concerns are regarding the paparazzi, and I guess we would have to take extra security with us to make sure we didn't have any problems." There, that should make him happy.

Evidently, not. Christian snorts. "I am not providing extra fucking security for you to go parading around Vegas. You're not going Ana. Tell Kate to have a great time, because not only are you not going, I don't want Mia to go either. So Kate's little shindig is getting smaller by the minute."

What! "Christian, you can't keep Mia from going. Actually you can't keep me from going either." I think I may have pushed my luck. I am waiting for him to start screaming but he sits back down and looks at me with this very arrogant smirk. I know this look and I think I may have just lost this argument. I certainly wouldn't place a Las Vegas bet that he has won this argument, but the odds are in his favor.

In a very calm, almost chilling voice Fifty looks at me and says, "First of all, never, ever tell me I can't do something Ana. I think I have demonstrated to you that I am very use to getting my way, especially in matters that are important to me. This is beyond important to me. Secondly, I am not giving in on this and you are not going. And finally, this discussion between you and me is over. If you want me to tell Miss Kavanagh that she needs to come up with a Plan B, one that takes place in Seattle, I am more than happy to do so. In fact, I would enjoy having this conversation with her. If you prefer to tell her that is fine, but one way or another, she needs to understand, this isn't happening." He goes back to his laptop and starts reading his emails. Just like that, he ends the conversation. I stand there in shock just staring at him for several minutes.

"What Ana? I am trying to get some things done before getting ready to go to my parents." I can't believe him. "Remember we have to pick up my grandparents. I doubt you are wearing just my t-shirt today, so maybe you should get ready."

"Is it always going to be like this Christian?" He looks at me but doesn't say anything for a long time.

"Yes, it will always be like this if and when it means protecting you and keeping you safe. Yes, I will do everything and anything to protect what is mine. And you are mine. Yes, I know you think I am not treating you like an equal and yes I get that you are really, really pissed at me right now. But this is the one thing you can't change about me. "

"Christian, I love that you always want to keep me safe, and I don't want to change anything about you. Well hardly anything, but don't you think you are being a bit over protective?"

He shakes his head several times and just looks at me with this look like I am the one that is being unreasonable. "Ana, everyday threats come to GEH, addressed to me. Since we have been engaged, the number of threats has increased ten-fold. We have been intercepting mail at SIP intended for you as well," Christian informs me. Why am I just hearing about this? He continues, "You should know that these are just some of the reasons that I worry about you in a place where I can't control your safety."

"No Christian. How would I know, you never share anything with me." If he is trying to make me feel bad or guilty, it is working.

"Baby, I don't want to fill your head with this shit. But clearly, you need to know why I can't just let you do things that may harm you. "Christian gets up and sits on the end of his desk, pulling me closer to him.

He continues. "Yes, I have jealousy issues, and that plays a part of it, because I can't stand the thought of you getting grabbed and looked at by any other man. But, you need to trust me on this. Las Vegas is simply not an option. I am sorry I took this out on you. I should have realized Kate would have pulled this shit on her own." He kisses my forehead.

I am so confused. I don't like how he dictates what I can and can't do, but deep inside I know he is right. I have had a small sampling of what being married to Christian will be like. The media is obsessed with him, and new it feels like they are obsessed with me. I don't even really want to go to Las Vegas. But I don't like how he handled this.

"I want to have fun today baby. I don't want to fight. I love you so fucking much, please can't we drop it?" Christian asks as he puts his arms around my waste. I kiss him on the lips and I am sure he thinks that I am conceding. And maybe I am. It's probably not worth the security risk and I am stunned about the information regarding the threats. I want to ask him more about that, but I think for now, I will let it go. Besides, I know this argument is far from over. He hasn't run into Kate yet.

"Okay, Christian. Let's have fun today. But that means you can't give Kate the cold shoulder, glare at her and be mad all day. I hate when you two go at each other." I am serious about this. I know they tolerate each other for me. The last time we were together we all had fun, but there is always that feeling that any minute they might go at each other. I know Christian and if he is mad at someone, he won't hesitate to ignore them or make them feel his wrath without even a word.

"I am going to get ready Christian. I'll be in the shower if you want to show me how sorry you are." I smile at him at leave this office, hoping to get this behind us for now.

Christian's POV

Right now I feel like an asshole. Yes, it is true that threats come all the time, and I really don't want Ana at risk in a shithole of a city like Las Vegas. But the truth of the matter is, I am so fucking jealous and protective of what is mine, namely Ana, I would never be able to handle her going to Vegas without me, even if there were no security issues. I would be imagining everything possible and I know I would be calling her so often she wouldn't even have fun. I would make everyone on my security team go with her and she would have a miserable time, so what is the point. I didn't want to tell her about the threats, because now she will worry about that, but if it was the only way to get through to her, then so be it. Now, I get to spend the rest of the day trying to avoid Kate because I don't want to start anything at my parent's house. Maybe I can offer to send them on the company jet to a spa in Arizona or even to Napa to some wineries. There has to be some room for compromise here. I can do that. I will offer another suggestion. But no way is Ana going to Vegas and no way is Elliot throwing me a fucking bachelor's party. Why do I feel like I am losing control again?