Chapter 11

"Why wait on them?" Elliot responds, somewhat annoyed. I wonder the same thing. Christian wanted to tell his parents about his past, but how can he do with Elena being there. He sits back in the couch looking defeated, finishing his glass of bourbon quickly.

"Well, we have some news. Elena made an offer to Carrick and myself to invest in her salons, and we're going to accept." Grace happily declares.

"We thought we would discuss details further and celebrate after dinner," Carrick says as well.

"What?!" Christian growls in response, almost breaking his glass on the coffee table when he slammed it down. Everyone startled by his outburst.

(Ding Dong)

And of course, the doorbell rings. Grace and Carrick get up to answer, still looking at Christian confused. Elliot sits down in the sofa chair across from us, looking confused as well. "What the hell was that?" He whispers to Christian.

"Leave it, Elliot." Usually Christian calls Elliot by his childhood nickname, Lelliot; a name he created when he couldn't say his older brother's name properly when Christian was four. Christian said his correct name in a very serious tone, shows he doesn't want to talk right now. And Elliot notices, not asking another question.

I try to snuggle into Christian side again, but he is so stiff that he is making me uncomfortable. He gets up, heading into the kitchen to get himself another drink. I follow.

"You don't have to do this tonight. We do need to convince your parents to not invest in Elena's salons."

"We!? There is no 'We' in this matter Ana! She is fucking with me, again!" Christian whisper yells at me, as he downs another glass of bourbon. I try to ignore his hurtful comments.

"I know you're hurt-"

"You don't fucking get it, Ana!" Christian practically yells at me this time, getting close to my face. "If she gets my parents into making a deal, I can't fucking say anything! They're not investing in her salons because they could earn a couple of bucks! They're doing it because they feel like they owe her, for 'helping' me!" I understand what Christian is saying, and that is why I think he should be even more motivated to tell them.

"Then you should tell them everything, tonight." I whisper to him, even though he has turned his back on me.

" I can't," Christian says absolutely defeated. He walks away from me, ending our conversation. I must convince him to say something, but how? I know how. I got an idea.

~oOo~

I walk back into the living room with Elena Lincoln and her husband, Andrew sitting together, looking like the loving husband and wife. How completely fake. He is a large man, with a Santa Clause like tummy. His hair is jet black, which makes me think he dyes it. He only seems like Elena's type if she was marrying for money or status, which is probably why they're married.

That is where I formulate an idea. Either he doesn't know about her lifestyle and he is going to get a shock, or he does, and they choose to not say anything. They probably have an arrangement allowing to cheat on each other or something. Either way, this allows for great argument material. I'm going to start an argument at the dinner table, which will cause Elena to get angry. Hopefully she will slip and defend herself or her husband will. Hopefully. Either way, Elena real personality will be known, but I need help.

I'm sitting next to Christian's stiff body once again. We are all listening to how amazing Elena's spas, Esclava, are.

"Grace, Mia, you know how luxurious my spas are. It is like taking a mini vacation," she proclaims.

"I do need a spa day. I look like a mess," Mia says.

"I will get you a discount, especially when your lovely mother invests." Christian fists are balled up in fury.

He turns to me asking if I want a drink, but I shake my head no. He heads back to the kitchen, probably drinking his anger away. I continue to sit here listening to this exchange uncomfortably. Grace looks at Christian walking away with worry.

"I do not understand why Christian stopped investing in your company, especially with everything you've done for him," Grace says. I glare at Elena, waiting for her fake response, but it is Andrew who responds.

"As a business decision, Elena's spas are too small for Christian to continue to invest in. They are not worth his time. We will always be grateful to have received the initial investment from him and grateful that he didn't sell his investment off to the highest bidder, gifting the salons instead."

"Plus, I'm not willing to expand like a cheap chain restaurant. He's moving on to someone who rather do that." Looking straight at me with a 'checkmate' smirk. Is she seriously calling me out? That Bitch.

"Well as long as Christian doesn't mind." Grace commends.

"He doesn't Grace. He even told me to look for another investor, and I thought you and Carrick would be a great choice. You can earn some money and not even lift a finger. I know you work too hard. Anything I can do to help. Plus, this will be good for your retirement."

"We wanted to help you, consider everything you have done for us and our family."

"Oh, please, don't mention it. It was always my pleasure." Elena looking straight at me once again, while taking a sip from her glass of white wine. Fucking disgusting. We got to get rid of this Bitch.

"We should make a spa day to celebrate. Kate and Ana, you should come," Grace says. Kate! Kate! I can't believe I forgot she was here. She can help me.

"I have to go to the bathroom." I suddenly declare, making everyone look at me oddly. "Kate do you have to go too?" I look at her, begging with my eyes to come with me.

"I do. I have to go to the bathroom too." Kate gets up, knowing I must talk to her.

"You know, we have more than one bathroom for you both to use, unless you two ladies insist on sharing one, then maybe I can join."

"Elliot, don't be ridiculous." Kate tells him, slapping his arm. "Where is the bathroom Mrs. Grey?"

"Please Kate, you can call me Grace. And the bathroom is through the foyer, down the hall, first door on your right."

"Thank you, Grace." Kate says, and we walk to the bathroom together. The moment we enter, Kate can no longer resist. "Spill it, Steele! What's going on?"

"I need your help."

"Doing what?"

"Antagonizing Elena."

"Well that will be easy, but don't you think it's a bad time?"

"This is the perfect time. Look how she is acting around Grace, she is practically flirting with her."

"I know, I want to throw up, but I'm desperately trying to impress Grace. I always feel so shy around her. She probably thinks I am a mute."

"I know, I know. I do too." I sigh. "But I can't stand the idea that for the rest of our lives, we will have to hang around that woman every time there is a family get together. She is a terrible person Kate. And Christian is not strong enough to say that to his family. Elliot wouldn't either." I began to pace, with absolute frustration. I can't believe how this woman gets to me. I haven't been angry like this since I was a teenager.

"Ok, ok. I'll help. I would hate hanging around her, literally biting my tongue the whole time." I stop pacing, relieved she can help me. "What do you need me to do?"

"Just, follow my lead. Interject with a comment when you have a good comeback. And make sure she sits across from us."

"Ok, will do. This better work. Otherwise…"

"I know, I know." Otherwise, Grace is going to hate us. Christian can very well hate me. We hug each other. "Thank you."

"Of course, I want to be a part of this family too." Kate says smiling back at me. We walk out of the bathroom, getting ready for battle.

~oOo~

"Dinner ready." Grace says to us, as we head into the dining room to take our seats. Kate and I made the seating work, immediately sitting next to each other, so Christian and Elliot sit next to us. This forces Elena and Andrew to sit across from us, as Mia takes a seat next to Elena. Carrick and Grace sit at the heads of the table. Christian has been quiet ever since hearing the news, having several glasses of bourbon. He seems to be drifting further away, which scares me. I do not want to lose him, and I can see him disconnecting, tarnishing everything we've built.

Dinner arrives. We are first served a delicious authentic Caesar salad, which I begin to eat, waiting for my moment to interject.

"So, Christian, darling. How's business?" Elena ask casually, like she is not hurting him right now.

"Fine." He says, never putting his salad fork down.

"I read an article how you're going to overtake Bill Gates as the wealthiest man in the country." Carrick says proudly.

"Probably."

"I read that is partially because you invested in Ana's company. Annie's Movie Café is going to double in worth by the end of the year. Is that right?"

"It is, and I think that is a gross underestimate. I think it will triple." Christian says, stopping to eat, looking proud of our accomplishment. I smile at him proud too.

"I haven't gone." Elena says.

"You should go. Carrick and I had a lovely date night. We saw a movie called Gone Girl. Not the best movie for a married couple," she says giggling towards her husband. He chuckles back, shaking his head, knowing what she is referencing to. She continues, "It was really good. Creepy, but really good," Grace says.

"I recommend you and Andrew should see it." Grace and Carrick laugh at my joke, since it is a terrible movie for a married couple, considering it is about a crazy wife framing her husband of murder because her husband mistreats her in their marriage. I wasn't joking though.

"The food was absolutely divine. I had a roasted chicken salad wrap, with a Mexican salad. Carrick had a steak salad with guacamole and chips. I couldn't help but try his food too." Grace giggles in delight, remembering that night.

"The night was perfect. I'm going to have to take Grace out again." Carrick responds. "You should take Elena out Andrew."

"But Carrick, movies are not interesting to me." Elena interrupts.

"Yea, I wouldn't think so. Majority of our films we show are either family friendly or made for mature adults. Nothing you would enjoy." I say.

"I try to convince Ana to show more dumb adult movies, you know older woman, younger man sex fantasies, but she won't budge." Kate comments.

"Come on Ana, your ticket sales would go up with some dirty movies." Elliot jokes. Our salad plates are taken away, and soon our main course is put out, which is a glazed steak, brown rice and grilled asparagus. Even though our conversation is grossly inappropriate, I can see Elena looking uneasy by where our chat is going.

"I think that kind of stuff should be seen in private. Just my opinion." I say.

"Well, I'm not interested in that kind of thing either." Elena declares.

"Oh, really. I thought you were somewhat, considering the young gentleman you were hanging out with that one time we met." That peaks everyone's interest. "Where were we Kate?" Christian is looking at me confused and slightly perturbed. He places his hand on my thigh and squeezes, most likely sending me a warning, but I pull away, looking at Kate, and refusing to allow Christian to stop me.

"We were at Neiman Marcus, shopping for business outfits." Kate responds.

"That's right. I needed better clothes, and Kate insisted on doing a shopping spree."

"It was fun, admit it?"

"It was, it was." Elena looks at us confused by our banter, still unsure where we are going with this conversation. "By the end of our shopping trip, I saw you, with a young man, practically following you around like a puppy."

"A very well-trained puppy." Kate quickly responds.

"Who was he?" I ask, making Elena scramble a bit. Everyone seems to be curious of her answer. While Grace looks somewhat agitated I am bringing this up, she does seem curious as well.

"Oh, you must mean, Scott Baily. He is my assistant. I hired him recently after finding out he needed money. He was a homeless runaway, leaving his abusive father a few years ago. I hired him, hoping to help him out with a good job. He assists me at the salons and personally. That is why he was with me at the clothes store." Elena explains.

"Is that something you do frequently, helping vulnerable young men?" Kate asks. I couldn't have asked that better myself.

"I try to help people when I can, especially young people, considering I can't have children and Andrew and I decided to never adopt." Using the sympathy card. I see how she wants to play it. It won't work with me.

"Elena contributes greatly to Coping Together, specifically helping the young teenagers there, providing them jobs or opportunities with other people she is acquainted with," Grace responds. Jesus, is she working a sex ring? You know these jobs are not legit.

"So, you're helping Scott?" I ask.

"Yes, of course." Elena responds, frustrated by my questions.

"He seemed to listen to you very well. You must whip him into shape." I said, hopefully catching the double meaning.

"Ana." Christian says with a warning tone.

"He was a very good assistant. Doing exactly what you say, at any cost or consequences. How is he?"

"He's fine." Changing the subject, Elena tells Grace dinner is delicious. Grace thanks her for her compliment. But I am not done yet. This could very well hurt Christian, but I want him to hear her side of what their relationship was like.

"So Grace, how did you and Elena meet?" I ask. "I never heard the story."

"Not much of a story. I was starting Coping Together, this was right after we adopted Christian and moved to Seattle. I was trying to recruit many of the wives in our neighborhood to come and volunteer their time to help me organize fundraising events. Many women didn't seem interested, except for Elena, who offered her time during one of our luncheons. We knew of each other, being in the same circles, but it wasn't until she volunteered to help that we became friends." Grace smiles at Elena.

"It is nothing Grace, I enjoy helping out. You have been such a great friend to me over the years. Never judging me or treating me differently even though I'm nothing like those other wives," she says wiping a tear away. And the Oscar, I mean, Razzy goes to…. Elena Lincoln.

"Of course." Grace reaches out to grab her hand and squeeze it thoughtfully. I can see Christian's eye roll, as he slouches in his dinning chair. "I should be thanking you for the way you helped Christian."

"How did Elena help Christian?" Kate casually says. I could kiss Kate for asking that question. If I ask, Christian knowns I am starting trouble. By her asking, it is genuine curiosity.

"It was nothing." Elena says, brushing the question off.

"Nonsense. Christina was somewhat of a wild teenager."

"He was a pain in the ass." Carrick jokes. "The perfect example of a bad boy. The girls loved him." Carrick winks at Christian. Christian stares at his plate, shaking his head in response.

" Elena helped by giving him work to do, virtually being her housekeeper around their house, their handyman, Gardner, and pool boy; all kinds of manual labor. I couldn't really do that, since we had a housekeeper and staff. Also, he wouldn't really respond to our punishments. He would do the punishment and then get right back in to trouble. I wanted to help him more emotionally. I probably mother him too much, but I love him, like all my children." Grace responds, lovingly looking at all her children. They smile in response, but Christian's smile looks forced. "Christian did not like going either, for a while; always fighting me about it or lying about having something else to do. Remember Christian?" She asks. He nods his head solemnly. "But I kept pushing you to go, knowing how good it was for you to learn responsibility. Christian did this until he went to college, and he has been better ever sense." Grace grabs Christian's hand to squeeze, but he responds by removing his hand. I can see Christian is not pleased by how Grace sees his and Elena's relationship. "Sweetheart, are you ok?" Grace asks Christian.

"Fine mom. So Elena, does Scott assist you like I did?" Christian asks, surprised by the fact he would ask Elena something so bluntly.

"Not exactly…but similar." Elena cautiously asks. "Scott was hired. Christian, you volunteered, remember?" Wow. Like he had a choice when his mother was sending him to you, and you manipulating him.

Everyone at the table is watching the conversation like it is a tennis match, looking back and forth between Kate, Elena, Grace and I. Christian is just staring at Elena, practically challenging her.

"I wanted to help you. I always want to help you."

"It seems weird to me." I reply.

"Why?" Grace asks.

"It seems weird that an older woman would want to 'help' a teenage boy so much. I mean, if it was the reverse, people would think the man was molesting or raping the young girl."

"Ana! How dare you think that of Elena!" Grace yells, furiously looking at me. Everyone seems shocked at my comments, but more shocked at Grace's response. Now it's my turn to reveal my past.

"What? It's true. My mother's boyfriend wanted me to hang out with him all the time. Watching television with him, helping him make dinner or clean the house with him. I thought he was helping me, since I was so lonely, having no friends and being bullied in high school, but really he was waiting to get into my pants…and he did…a few times." Everyone is looking at me with pity or sadness in their eyes, except for Kate, who looks surprised at my choice of telling everyone, and Christian, who is looking at me in awe. It is unfair for him to have to reveal his past by himself. So, I decided to reveal my past too. "Don't try to tell me that a teenager hanging out at another adult's house alone isn't weird." Elena and surprisingly Andrew are both looking guilty. Great! What has the pervert husband done?

"I'm so sorry that happened to you, but please don't associate the abuse you suffered from with Christian and Elena's relationship. I can understand how it is hard for you to believe, but it's true. They did not have an inappropriate relationship." Grace says to me sternly but sympathetically, trying not to hurt my feelings.

"You can honestly say nothing happened between you and Christian?" I ask, looking directly at Elena.

"Ana, please?!" Grace pleads.

"Just answer my question, to help me understand, help me believe a relationship like that can be a good thing." Now everyone is looking at Elena, waiting for her response. Christian seems to be most anticipating what she is going to say.

"If it would calm you down, Elena, please answer her." Grace asks.

Looking right back at me, without even hesitating, Elena responds, "Nothing ever happened between Christian and I, like what you experienced when you were a teenager. I was helping Christian, and he wanted to help me," she says sincerely and with conviction.

"Maybe he was helping you, but you were hurting him, you conniving Bitch!" That was all me, just taking credit right now. Everyone looks dumbfounded by my words, except for Kate, who looks proud, and Christian, who is smiling, staring at his plate again.

"Ana! I cannot believe you can be so disrespectful!" Grace is practically yelling at me, chastising me like a child. "I would have you thrown out of the house, but it seems like your own past is influencing inappropriate thoughts on Christian's life! Still, you have no right!"

"But she does." Christian casually responds with a smirk on his face and a glee in his eye. He is chuckling.

"Christian?" Grace asks.

"She does mom. Ana has every right to say that. Elena is a conniving bitch," Christian says actually laughing at his comments. Grace looks like she is about to lose her mind. Carrick is absolutely bewildered. Elena is furious, while her husband is scared for his life. Kate and I are looking at each other, mentally thinking our plan is working. And poor Elliot and Mia are dumbfounded. They are not even a part of this craziness, like they are watching a movie of their lives.

"Christian! I don't know what has come over you and especially Ana! Apologize to Elena right now!" Grace commands.

"No."

"Christian," Grace says, warning him.

"No!"

"And why not?!" Grace commands slamming her hand on the table.

"Because! Because…."And he is looking around unsure what to do next, until he looks at me, and he sees in my face. I am here, reassuring him with my eyes that he can do this. I grab his hand and squeeze it. He physically calms down. He finally turns to his mother. "Ana and I are not that different. Elena and I had a sexual relationship when I was 15, and it didn't end till I was 19." Everyone gasps at the table, except for me. I hang my head low, knowing I caused this, but it was the only way to get Christian to say something to his family about Elena in front of her.

"What?" Grace responds, barely in a whisper.

"Grace, it is obvious Ana is manipulating Christian." Elena responds. "Remember how I-"

"QUIET!" Grace commands silencing the room. It appears people do not want to mess with an angry Grace because there is not a sound in the entire house. "What do you mean Christian?" giving Christian the floor to speak.

Christian grabs my hand looking only at me as he tells his story. "The first time I went to Elena's house, I was mowing the backyard lawn. She asked if I wanted to take a break and have something to drink. I agreed. I came into the kitchen to drink some lemonade, when I was confronted with Elena only in a robe. She took the lemonade out of my hand and slapped me. Told me to never act up with my parents again. She then…unbuttoned my pants, and... grabbed me…my crotch... she stroked me. She then used... to touch her," he reluctantly stutters out. I can see his eyes begin to water, since he never looked away from me.

"Oh my god." Grace said, completely distraught, hanging her head.

"Christian, please! Stop making up these lies. Ana is manipulating you, making you think what happened to her, happened to you." Elena pleads, almost making me believe her.

"Well we didn't exactly have the same experience. Considering you attempted to try to teach me BDSM, when really you were sexually abusing me." Christian says looking straight at Elena.

"I was teaching you control." She states.

"You hit me with belts and canes! I did not even know about safe words or being able to tell you to stop!"

"I wasn't hurting you."

"You threatened to touch my chest! And one time you did, out of punishment!"

"I was helping you." Elena pleads.

"You were sexually abusing me!" Christian yells back.

"I didn't have sex with you."

"Not until I wanted to become a Dom, and I guess lucky for you, I was of legal age by then. It was stupid to think you could teach me to be a Dom, considering you know nothing about BDSM."

"Elena! How dare you cheat on me with a child!" Andrew finally pipes up, completely sounding fake.

"Oh, shut up! You didn't give a shit what was happening in our house, as long as you had your young whores at work." Elena yells back.

"Enough! I had enough!" Grace yells, rising from her chair. "I trusted you."

"Grace, please, you know how bad Christian was. I was helping him." Elena tries to defend herself, but it doesn't work.

"I send him off all those times to your house, ignoring his pleas to stay home, only because you convinced me he was getting better."

"He was Grace. His grades were improving; he stopped fighting at school. He stopped drinking heavily."

"Only because as your submissive, I was doing everything in my power to not get punished, not get abused or hurt, not because I wanted to please you!" Christian responds, still holding my hand tightly.

"Get out." Grace commands quietly.

"Please, Grace," Elena says, rising from her chair, so she can be at eye level with Grace. "I never had sex with your son when he was a teenager. I was helping him to learn how to control his anger with BDSM. Look how successful he is, because of-" And suddenly Grace punches Elena, right in the noise. She falls right onto Andrew, who couldn't catch her in time, so they both fall. Everyone stands up. Christian grabs his mother, holding her back.

"I am suing you for harassment!" Elena yells, trying to get back up, covering her bloody nose.

"And if you do, we will ruin you." Carrick responds in a deathly tone. This whole time, Carrick was processing what he heard, but I can tell now, his anger has completely boiled over. "Get out!"

"Don't you threaten my wife!" Andrew yells back. Briefly hearing about his cheating ways, it doesn't seem like he would physically defend Elena, if he had to.

"Get out, now! Or I will give you a bloody nose as well Andrew." With that, Andrew grabs Elena's arm, only for her to refuse his hold. They walk away but stopped by Carrick. "By the way, the deal is off." They continue to walk out, finally hearing the front door slam closed. Christian finally let's go of his mother. Everyone is looking at each other around the table and the blood on the carpet, unsure what to do. Christian though looks relieved, while Grace and Carrick, who look defeated. Grace sits down, following Carrick.

"We are going to finish our family dinner, by having dessert." Grace commands. Grace calls out to her housekeeper for dessert. "You will all enjoy it. I made pecan pie from scratch, getting ready for the holidays. I was hoping we could do something different then our usual pumpkin-" And that does it, Grace lets go, and is now full out crying. "I'm sorry, I am so sorry." She pleads, while Christian goes to her and wraps her around his chest. She cries harder with his sentiment. Carrick comes around to take Grace away from him.

"Let's talk in your office." Christian offers to Carrick. He nods his head, squeezing Christian's shoulder, a gesture showing his apology as well.

"I think I should go too. I have something to say." Elliot responds, looking full of guilt.

"I want to go too." Mia says, barely in a whisper, with tears in her eyes. Grace has not stop crying, as she clings to Carrick. The five of them walk to the office, hopefully to have the family discussion they never had. The desserts come out, but the housekeeper only gives Kate and I dessert, considering we are the only ones here. I look to Kate and at last thank her.

"Thank me, no need. I am glad it worked out…. I didn't know how bad it was." Kate responds.

"It was pretty bad, but Christian is working to get better. This really helped."

"What are you going to do now?"

"Be there for him." I pledge. I will be there for Christian, no matter what happens. But, I think this is the right step for our future together.