OK. As promised. This is a very long chapter and it is very late. I apologize for any editing errors but my eyes are closing and but I wanted to get this out tonight. Enjoy.
Chapter 12-Coping Together…Literally
Christian
At 6:30am my phone rings and I quickly move to answer it before it wakes Ana. Taylor informs me the plane will be ready to leave at 8:00am. I see Anastasia stir next to me as I complete my call. I love watching her sleep. She is an angel sent to me from heaven and I love her. I haven't told her that since I blurted it out last night. She didn't believe me. I hate to wake her but we need to get out of here. The further I get her away from Cross the better.
"Ana, baby we have to get up." I brush my fingers along her eyebrows and down her cheek. I put a soft kiss on her lips and she opens her eyes. "Morning sleepyhead."
"Ugghhh." She groans. She is definitely not a morning person but after breakfast she can sleep on the plane if she wants.
"Come on baby, we have a big day ahead of us." She opens her eyes and stretches in protest.
An hour later Sawyer picks us up outside and informs me that Taylor is already waiting. Ana hops in the car and I take this opportunity to speak to Sawyer about his diversion skills.
"Sawyer, how did it go last night. Did Crosses security stake out the hotel last night."
"Sir, I diverted him until Taylor informed me you were safely inside. He was here until about 2am then left. He has not returned to his post yet this morning. Since you didn't come home last night I would figure he had no idea you went out so he probably thought he was in the clear."
"Good work Sawyer. Thank you for hanging out here all night. I have informed Taylor we need to get some more security for round the clock surveillance so this should allow both you and Taylor some more free time."
"Of course Mr. Grey." He opens the door and I slid in next to Ana who looks like she is having second thoughts about leaving. I don't even want to talk about it or give her a chance to change her mind. She is coming home and that's final.
We arrive at the airport and the GEH jet is waiting on the tarmac. Taylor greets us at the car and we move into the cabin of the plane. We are soon in the air with Sawyer and Taylor joining us. The flight attendant brings us some breakfast and juice. Ana refuses her normal tea but I have a coffee. After we have finished eating I give Ana the tour. I show her the galley and the bathroom and finally the on board bedroom. I close the door and lock it behind me. She grins at me but I think we have very different ideas of what is going to happen in here. We need to talk and at least neither of us can leave and we will have at least 7 hours of alone time to cool off if need be.
"Hummm, very impressive Mr. Grey. You must really love bringing girls in here. You have total control of them and you can keep them captive at least until the plane hits the ground again."
"I have never thought of it that way but since you are the first girl to ever be in here you will have to let me know."
"Another first, Mr. Grey. I am honored."
"Whatever," he snorts. "Have a seat. I think now is as good as time as ever to discuss our issues."
"Our issues? We may need a longer trip that just to Seattle. Around the world should do it." Her smart mouth makes me smile a bit but she has to take this seriously. We will never make it if we aren't honest.
"Sit, Ana." She sits cross-legged on the corner of the bed and I slide a chair over so we are face to face. She is immediately intimidated. I don't want to intimidate her but I have to express myself without being side tract that she looks so delectable sitting on my bed in black leggings and a black tight t-shirt cut low enough to see her cleavage poking out. Her black boots that come up to her knees top it off. The only way she could look better is if she was holding a whip while I was on my knees in front of her. I quickly shake my head of that thought and she removes her boots to get more comfortable on the bed.
"So where do we start." She looks at me and honestly I don't know. So much has happened I don't know what to say.
"Well first I want to ask you if you would accompany me to a fundraiser that my family hosts every year. It is a dinner at my parent's house and the family will be there. Minus Elliot of course."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Yes." No.
"Then I accept." She looks down at I can tell her mind is in overdrive.
"What?" She is so frustrating. Why can't she just tell me what the problem is instead of me having to ask.
"I don't have anything to wear. I am sure I can borrow something of Kate's."
"No need. Your clothes are all still in your closet. I am sure there is something in there to your liking." As if something as silly as a dress would keep her from being my date. "Besides if you didn't come I think Mia would have hunted you down and dragged you there herself."
"Ok then. I would love to go with you as your…"
"My girlfriend." Why would she thing otherwise?
Ana
His girlfriend to his family maybe but he still wants me to be his sub. After our episode in the playroom I don't know that I can be what he wants and needs. Nothing there has changed. I have told him I love him and I want more but he can't do more and this is the problem. I can't be what he needs and he can't be what I want. I want a boyfriend, not a dom. I saw a glimpse of what having a boyfriend for real would be like when I was with Gideon. Someone to talk to and confide in. Someone that listens and doesn't rule what my every thought or action. I love Christian and I always will but I don't know if we can get past his past and my actions.
"To your family sure. That's what they think we are but to you what would I be accompanying you as. Your sub that you take to family functions to show off that you are not gay."
"Careful." I give her a warning look and she puts her head down. "Anastasia let me ask you a question. Do you want a regular vanilla relationship with no kinky fuckery at all?"
"Kinky fuckery." I squeak.
"Kinky fuckery."
"I can't believe you said that."
"Well, I did. Answer me," he says calmly.
I blush at his wording. "I like your kinky fuckery."
"That's what I thought. So what don't you like."
"Frankly Christian I don't like it that you need to beat me or punish me if I don't comply with a set of rules that you have laid out. I don't like it that you wont let me touch you. I don't like that you feel the need treat me like a possession instead of a person."
Christian
Shit it is what I had thought. She doesn't want rules. Things like what happened in New York happen when the rules are not followed. How can I get her to realize that I am doing this to protect her.
"Ok so none of the hard stuff. I can do that." She looks at me confused.
"Christian are you trying to renegotiate our contract."
"No. You haven't signed a contract so renegotiating is not a factor. I am trying to figure out if we can come to a compromise." He eyes widen and she is looking at me like I am from Mars or something.
"Compromise. My…my. I don't know where the real Christian Grey is but clearly sir you are not him. Christian Grey does not compromise."
"Yes, that's true for most things but since I want you as my girlfriend and not my sub I think compromise is the only way to find a middle ground."
"Your girlfriend? Not your sub?" Is she not listening to me.
"Girlfriend. However accommodating I am willing to be, doing things like running off are not acceptable to me. I am willing to try more if you are." I swallow hard. Its do or die time. My fate is in her hands.
"Christian," she lunges at me and I catch her before she tips us both over in the chair. She kisses me hard and I will assume that's the all clear sign.
"Anastaisia, we are not done yet." She climbs off of me and sits back on the bed knowing what is coming next.
"I know. Christian I am sorry. It was a stupid thing to do."
"Ana. Why? Tell me why you did it." I need to know what I di to drive her to that.
"I don't know. I was mad. I was looking for a friend and I was in a new city where I didn't know anyone. Gideon was nice to me. He listened to me and I him. We became friends-"
"Rather quickly don't you think. You didn't think it was odd that a person like Gideon Cross would show you so much attention after knowing you for a few hours. It didn't occur to you that he was just trying to get into your panties."
"No it didn't occur to me. I don't think he is just trying to get into my pants. He is in love with his girlfriend Eva and he was someone who could empathize with me. He shared more about me in two days then you have since we met. I am not trying to wound you Christian but he didn't ask me to sign a contract to spend time with him, he let me touch him, it was…normal."
"Normal. You think it is normal for someone to have his security team lock her in a security room just so he can grope her. Or is it normal that he snuck you out the backdoor so I wouldn't see you because he knew I was in the building, or perhaps it is normal-"
"Christian stop. I was aware of his game with security. He was being playful when he did it. There was no malice. Also how would he know we were together? I never told him your name so us leaving out the backdoor was to avoid paparazzi." She can't be this naïve.
"Ana. I had a drink with him the night before and we both spoke about our woman issues. Although I didn't give him your name either he had enough to go on to work it out."
"Don't you think you are being a bit paranoid."
"No I do not. I think you are being silly if you don't think that Gideon Cross is a sadistic, controlling son of a bitch." Ok the hypocrisy is not lost on me.
"Christian. Gideon is lonely. He needed someone to talk and I was there. End of story. It doesn't matter now anyway. I am here with you."
"Damn right you are and you are never to see him again. Are we clear on that?"
"Christian you can't tell me who to be friends with." Whoa what?
"Of course I can. I may not be your dom but I am your boyfriend and as your boyfriend I am telling you that you are not to ever see him again."
"And I am telling you that although I have no intentions on ever doing anything with Gideon again but if I choose to be friends with him-"
"NO! Do I make myself clear? NO!" I am yelling and she is making me so mad. She doesn't have one ounce of self-preservation in her body. Cross is a womanizer and he will eat her alive given the chance.
"That is not your call Grey, just like it is not my call to tell you that you can't talk to that god forsaken woman you call a friend."
"Who Elena?"
"Is that her name? Then yes Elena."
"Anastasia that's not the same thing."
"Surely, what she did was worse. But I have to bite my tongue and deal with the fact that you are still in contact with her."
I don't know how to explain what Elena and I had, was what I needed to keep me on the straight and narrow. I needed the discipline that the BDSM lifestyle created for me to get my act together before I followed in the footsteps of my crack whore mother.
"Anastasia, what Elena and I had is over. That was a long time ago. Elena helped me during a time when I needed what she was offering. She kept me sane and out of trouble. It is not the same as you and Gideon. He touched you. He had his hands on you." I get angry at the thought.
"And she fucked you in ways I can't even begin to imagine so excuse me Christian if I don't see the silver lining in you being friends with your pedophile. "
This conversation is going nowhere fast. I will just have to keep him away from her without her knowing. At some point Gideon will show his true colors and I will be there when he does. Although Ana is out of harm from Gideon I have to make sure Leila doesn't get her. Leila is not well judging from the information I have and there is no telling what she would do.
"Ana. I don't want to argue with you. Not about Gideon or Elena. I want to be with you. They can't hurt us if we don't let them." I sit next to her and pull her down to lay next to me on the bed. "Touching is a hard limit for me."
"I know I just wish I knew why." She said that part of why she was taken with Gideon is because he talks to her and shares his thoughts and feelings so I guess I have to start somewhere. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"I don't like to be touched because when I was a young boy before I was adopted, I was severely abused. My mother's pimp would beat me and torture me and she would do nothing to stop him. The only touch I knew was harsh."
Ana
Oh my poor Christian. He was abused. My poor 50. I hug his waist tighter as we lay here just enjoying each others company.
"Christian I am so sorry. Was she abusive too?"
"No. She neglected me but I don't remember her ever beating me. It was a long time ago and I really don't want to discuss it anymore."
"Thank you for telling me. I do appreciate it." I sit up and pull him close to me. Our noses are barely touching and I stare into his beautiful grey eyes with all the love and admiration one can have for another person. "I love you Christian."
"Anastasia. I love you too. I don't deserve you but I do love you. I want you to be my girlfriend and be with me. I can't imagine a world without you in it."
Tears fill my eyes at his confession. He loves me. He really truly loves me and I him.
We stay here for the duration of the flight just lying in each other's arms and talking and just getting to know each other. This is what I need from him. Us getting to know each other is the normalcy I am yearning for. Christian smiles and laughs and he looks so young when he is like this. He is not the intimidating CEO he usually is but instead he is just a regular twenty-seven year old man in love.
Ana
Once we have landed and we are back at Escala Gail has lunch waiting for us. Afer lunch Christian excuses himself and heads off to speak with Taylor in his study. I go to my old room and try to figure out what I am going to wear tonight. As I stand in the middle of the closet I am overwhelmed by the extravagance that surrounds me. I decide to call my mother to check in while I have some alone time.
"Hi, mom."
"Hi, honey how is New York."
"It's fine but right now I am in Seattle."
"Christian missed you, huh. I hope all this traveling doesn't ware you out."
"Yea, something like that. I am his date for some charity dinner tonight so I came back here for the weekend."
"Ana, I think you and Christian are good for each other. I saw how much he loves you and I am glad you have someone who treats you the way you need to be treated. I know I wasn't always a good mother but-"
My mother was always guilty about her time with husband number three, Steve. During the short time that her and Steve dated he was a prefect gentleman. He was nice to me and he always paid very close attention to my mother. After they got married Steve started showing his dark side. He was a very jealous person. He didn't like the fact that men even worked at her office with her. After about a month or so of being married Steve became physically abusive to her and when she was not around he would say things to me that were very inappropriate.
When my mother was on the phone with Ray one day Steve was listening in and he thought they were being to familiar with each other so when she hung up he slapped her and dragged her off into the bedroom where I could hear them screaming. The next morning she went to work and I was off from school. He would often tell me that I was ugly and that no man would ever want me. This morning was different. He told me I had a nice ass, just like my mother. He said that she was used goods and that I would wind up just like her and no one would ever want me. My mother came back to the house for lunch and I asked her if I could live with Ray. She asked why and I told her I missed him and I didn't want to live with Steve. She agreed but it wasn't until months later that I told her what he would say to me. She left him right after that.
"Mom, stop. None of that was your fault. There is no way you could have known and when you did find out you left. There was no permanent damage done. "
"Anastasia you are always trying to be strong. I love you sweet girl. Don't you ever forget it. So how is Christian."
"I think he is crazy mom. Are all men so…frustrating."
"I am afraid so my dear. Look Bob just got home. I will talk to you later. Love you."
"OK mom. I love you too."
Christian
Taylor debriefs me about the Leila situation and there is nothing new. We have upped security and I make sure that all eyes are on Anastasia this evening. If anyone lets anything happen to her I will have his ass. Before our meeting is over I tell Taylor that I need a tube of lipstick. He moves toward the staff quarters and comes back with a brand new tube of harlot red lipstick. I don't ask. I will just assume that it is Gail's and leave it at that.
I was looking for Ana and for a second I thought she left. When I checked her room I hear her talking and I can't help but listen. She tells her about the dinner tonight but doesn't sound excited. Maybe we should just skip it. As I am contemplating interrupting I hear her tell her mother that something is not her fault and there is no permanent damage. I hope to god she wouldn't tell her mother what I did to her. But then she says it is not her mother's fault and she left when she found out I have to remember to get more information on husband number three. Deep down I know there is more to this then meets the eye. Then I hear her call me crazy and frustrating. Well at least she has given her an correct assessment. When she hangs up I move back toward the door and call her name.
"In here." She says.
"There you are. Are you okay."
"Yes, just deciding what to wear. Any suggestions." She has three dresses lined up. Anything she wears will look stunning.
"Humm…I like the Grey one. I forgot to tell you that this is a masquerade ball so once you are finished up here I have your mask downstairs. Mia picked it out special."
"Really, well that sounds like fun." I see her smile and I am truly excited for what tonight has in store.
"Ana I need to talk to you about something."
"Ok.
"Security will be upped tonight. I…I don't know how to say this."
"Just say it Christian. We have both had enough suspense for one day. Just spit it out."
"When we were in Georgia an ex of mine came to Escala. She was very disheveled and out of her mind. Gail was here and when she let her up Leila was looking for me."
"Leila. Britney Spears toxic. That Leila."
"Yes. It seems that her and her husband separated. She was with another man and he recently died. She didn't take the news well and she is now in Seattle. She recently acquired a gun and I am afraid we don't' know where she is."
"A gun, Christian."
Ana
Oh no. I don't want her to hurt him. Oh my god she has a gun and wants to hurt my Christian. I just got him back I can't lose him now. I start to cry and I throw myself at him.
"Shhh baby. It's okay I won't let her hurt you."
I pull back. "Christian I am not afraid she will hurt me I am afraid she will hurt you. She can't take you from me. She can't." I sob into his chest.
Christian
She is worried about me. It makes me feel warm inside.
"Ana, baby she wont take me from you. No one can ever take me from you. Taylor is on it and we will find her. But for now I have a task for you."
She wipes her nose with the back of her hand. "Oh. What is it?" I hand her the tube of red lipstick. "You want me to wear this?"
I smile. She can always make me smile. "No baby. I was thinking of what you said about not being able to touch me. I want to give you a map of my no go areas.
There are some safe areas and maybe if I show you the safe zones I can relax a bit around you. I don't know if I will ever be able to let you touch me everywhere but I am willing to try."
Ana
My heart is melting. Christian is taking this leap of faith and showing me he loves me by letting me touch him. I slam my body into his causing him to fall back on the bed. I straddle him and begin to kiss him hard and passionately. Christians hands glide up the back of my shirt and touching my bare back. I can feel Christian growing beneath me. I pull back before he changes his mind.
"No distractions Mr. Grey. If you are going to let me touch you I am going to take this very seriously." I clap my hands and Christian unbuttons his shirt. I can see every rippling muscle being unveiled like a curtain being pulled back at a Broadway show.
"You seem very eager Miss Steele. Open the tube and twist it up a bit then give me your hand." I put the lipstick on his neck and run it down his sides and across his ribcage and back up to his neck. When I finish I mirror the lines on his back. His eyes are screwed up tight the entire time.
"Done." I am so excited that he has trusted me enough to do this. "Can I touch you in the safe zones. He nods and turns around to lay on the bed. I move next to him and put my finger on his stomach near his belly button. He flitches. "I don't' have to."
"Yes you do. I have to let you touch me. I want you to touch me. I need to feel you and I need to you feel all of me. I just have to get used to it."
I run my finger around his stomach and trail kisses as my finger leaves a spot. I can see him growing and I look over to him and smile.
"Mr. Grey I think you have adjusted quite well." I run my finger down his happy trail and pop open the button on his pants. He gives me a big smile and allows me to continue. I unzip his pants and stroke him through his clothes. He is solid rock and before I know it he has pinned me to the bed with his body.
"Miss Steele, I love you very much and I want to show you just how much you mean to me. I want to make love to you if you will allow me." Sweetness I can live with.
Christian lifts up my shirt and lays soft kisses on my stomach he pulls of my shirt and pulls off my pants. His hands are all over me and his touch is sourcing my skin like fire. This man that I love and who loves me is making me feel like his most cherished possession. Christian continues to make sweet love to me.
Gideon
"Cross."
"Mr. Cross. Miss Steele has gone back to Seattle with Grey. It seems that Mr. Greys Security has snuck her off to avoid us. I am sorry Mr. Cross."
"Mother Fucker. Why didn't anyone tell me? You are fired you dumb bastard. That's twice you let Grey get the best of you." I hang up my phone and throw that vase that is next to my desk against the wall.
"Charles, get the jet ready we are going to Seattle." Charles is one of my pilots and he knows when I call I mean business. I go home and pack a bag and within the hour I am in the air and heading to Seattle. If memory serves Greys parents are throwing their annual Coping Together dinner tonight. Grey should be there and no doubt Ana will be there as well. This should be interesting.
Christian
After a pleasant afternoon I am in the foyer waiting for Ana to come downstairs. She seemed pleased with the earrings I gave her and I am getting excited. Before she got dressed I put in than Ben Wah balls to step up the excitement. As I am going through the final checks with the new security team Ana comes downstairs looking as beautiful as ever in her grey dress. After some final words we are all off. The car ride over Ana asks if Elena will be there tonight. I tell her no so that she doesn't fret over it all night long but to be honest I haven't spoken to her and I have no idea.
When we arrive Ana looks nervous when she sees the extravagance of this evening. I hold her hand and kiss her palm in before I help her put on her mask. As we walk down the green carpet that leads to the backyard a photographer takes out picture and I will be sure to get multiple copies of. Before Ana I never took a woman out in public and especially never had my photo taken with any of them. I look forward lining the walls of Escala with her gorgeous face. After our photo was taken, we make our way through the yard and see my parents approaching.
"Ana darling, you look beautiful." My mother gushes. My father agrees and before we know I know it Mia has attached Ana and I.
"Christian, I am so glad you brought her. Ana we are going to have an amazing time." I see Mia talking to Ana about something that I can't make out as my parents go on and on how wonderful we look together.
We head toward the tent to take out seats for dinner. My parents, grandparents, Mia and her date, and friends of my parents are all at the same table. I hold out Ana's chair and drape my arm over the back of her chair as she takes it all in. I can see her face flush a few times when she moves about. No doubt the balls are doing their job. We will be enjoying some alone time later.
Gideon
No doubt the Greys charity dinner will be as extravagant as always. I was sure to contact Mia when I landed to inquire about what time the auction was going to go on. I take it from her flirty banter she is now hopeful I will be bidding on her again. Fat chance on that. I am going for broke on Ana. When I arrive the dinner is almost over. I spot Ana exiting the tent with Mia and heading toward the bathroom. I stay in the shadows on the other side of the property to give the illusion this is a chance encounter. Greys top guy has already seen me so no doubt Grey himself will know I am here in no time. This being his parents house I will have to mind my manners and not fuck him up in front of everyone present but if he gets out of line I will teach him a lesson he won't soon forget. Ana and Mia exit and I walk back toward the tent in their direction.
"Ana. Mia. Very nice to see you ladies. Ana you look ravishing." I take her hand and kiss her knuckles. Mia stands there shocked. Ana is dumbfounded when she sees me and can't manage to say a word. We just stare at each other for a few seconds and I can see Mia watching us intently out of the corner of my eye. "Mia. You look just as beautiful as I remember." I kiss her hand as well and she flushes.
"Mr. Cross. Nice to see you again. You are just in time for the first dance auction. I hope you bought your checkbook." Mia says in a breathy voice.
"I did indeed." I reply looking directly at Ana.
"Good. See you inside. Come on Ana. We are going to be late." Mia winks at me as they move more into the tent.
Ana
Fuck. Gideon is here. Christian is going to go 50 shades of ballistic. I walk over to the table and Taylor is heading that way as well. I approach the table and sit down. Everyone is looking at me and I don't want to make a scene.
"Christian I have to tell you something." I whisper to him.
"Come on Ana. Its time." Mia grabs my hand and pulls me away before I can tell Christian that Gideon is here. This is not going to be pretty.
Christian
Ana comes back from the bathroom and she looks flushed. No doubt the balls did their job and as soon as I bid on her I am going to whisk her away to my bedroom for some alone time. Just as Ana comes back she tells me she has to tell me something but my annoying sister pulls her off for the first dance auction. Maybe that's what she wanted to tell me. No worries baby no one here will out bid me.
I stand up to make my way to the stage. I see Taylor approaching. "Mr. Grey I need to speak with you sir."
"Is there a security issue? Is it Leila?"
"Not exactly, sir and no it is not Miss Williams. "
"Then it can wait until after the auction."
"Sir-"
"Taylor I am going to go and be with my girlfriend now. If there is an issue then deal with it. I trust you to handle it."
"Ok sir. If you say so."
I walk up to the stage and I see all the girls lined up. I see Mia and Ana deep in conversation and Ana keeps looking around. She is out of her element here and she is not used to so many eyes on her but tonight she is out of luck. She is the most beautiful woman in the room but once I start to bid no one would dare outbid me. As if any of them could.
Ana
"Mia, how do you know Gideon Cross."
"Gideon bid on me a few years ago. He is a very nice guy. Sexy as hell too."
"How do you know Gideon?"
"We have recently become friends. I was transferred to work in our New York office for the next six weeks and my office is located in his building." That's all she really needs to know.
"Oh. You don't think he will bid on you do you." She looks worrisome.
"I don't know. Why? Do you want him to bid on you."
"No, well yes but that is not what concerns me. If Gideon bids on you Christian will flip out. My brother is quite the brawler. I suspect Gideon is the only one in this room that can match him dollar for dollar." And that is my biggest fear. I see Gideon in the back of the room staring at me. He is going to try to make Christian jealous but he doesn't know this is a dangerous game.
"A brawler? Christian."
"Yea. He was a handful when he was younger. It wasn't until he started working with Mrs. Lincoln that he starting calming down."
"Mrs. Lincoln? Elena Lincoln."
"Yes you know her. She is a very scary woman."
"Yes well-" I am cut off my the MC.
"And next up is the beautiful Anastasia. Anastasia is a master yoga instructor. She likes skydiving, hang gliding, and bowling. She speaks fluent Chinese and has a degree in fine art." He is lying of course but the crowd seems pleased. "Lets start the bidding at $1000. Do I hear $1000."
Christian
I raise my hand of course.
"Do I hear 2000."
"2000." Says a figure off to the left of the stage. Who is bidding against me. I recognize that guy anywhere. I will play his game.
"2000. Do I hear 3000?" says the MC.
"10, 000." I up the ante.
"10, 000, wow this just got interesting. Do I hear 12, 000."
"12,000" Says the mysterious stranger that I recognize as John Flynn.
"20,000" I retort.
"25, 000" John counters. I see Ana's face and she is shocked and embarrassed all the same. Don't worry baby he won't win.
"25,000 do I hear 26-"
"One hundred thousand dollars." The crowd gasps. Mia's friend Lily is pissed from the expression on her face. John smiles and nods to me amused. Flynn knows he would never win, he just wanted to drive me up. Its ok though it is for a worthy cause.
"$100, 000. Pretty lady you must be quite a catch. Do I hear 110?" No one dares bid.
"100,000 going once, 100, 000 going twice, s-"
"$200, 000." What the fuck? Who the hell said that. I turn around but I don't see the owner of the voice. I look back to Ana and her mouth flies open. It better not be who I think it is.
Ana
My mouth is open wide. I cannot believe that Gideon bid that much on me.
"200, 000. We have some high rollers here tonight ladies."
"300, 000." Christian belts out.
"400, 000." Gideon starts to walk closer to the stage and even though everyone is wearing masks his signature silky black hair gives him away.
"500,000." Christian retorts. I see that Grace is concerned and she starts to walk toward Christian. I also see Taylor standing close to Gideon and he whispers something into his ear. Gideon gives Taylor a dirty look and shakes his head in the negative.
"600, 000. I can go all night Grey. He licks his lips and looks seductively at me."
"Fuck you Cross. 700, 000."
"Christian!" Grace says.
"Stay out of this mother." Christian says and I see Carrick move toward the two of them to shut this down.
This is ridiculous. I am embarrassed and the two of them could care less about me at this moment. It is all about them trying to one up each other. I look back at Mia who is completely dumbfounded by this whole ordeal. She looks worried that Christian and Gideon are going to throw down right here in front of everyone. I can't be the reason this night is ruined.
"One. Million. Dollars." Gideon says slowly spitting out every word to provoke Christian." That's enough. I have had enough. If they want to act like children they can do it without me. They are embarrassing me and I don't like it.
I quickly get off the stage and exit out the side of the tent. I see Sawyer standing there.
"Sawyer. Take me home now."
"Um…Miss Steele. I don't-"
Taylor approaches. "Sawyer. Take her back to Escala. Now." Taylor looks apologetic. Tears start running down my face.
"No I am going to my apartment. Take me there." Taylor nods to Sawyer. I run down the yard toward the front of the house. Just as Sawyer closes my door I see Christian approaching. "Drive Sawyer."
"Yes Miss Steele."
Sawyer leaves and I begin to really cry. This night was going so well then Christian and Gideon had to fuck it up with their machismo getting the better of them. I just want to go home. To my home, in my bed, with my own thoughts.
I get to my apartment and Sawyer informs me that he is going to park the car and join me upstairs. He tells me he did a sweep of the apartment today and it is clear but he would prefer to stay with me tonight on the couch to keep an eye out in case Leila comes by. I nod in agreement. I don't have the energy for another fight. Since I left my purse in the car I at least have my keys. Thank goodness for that. I really don't want to go back to Escala and deal with Christian after that ridiculous display.
I enter my apartment and I get an eerie feeling I am not alone. Probably Sawyer or Taylor. I turn on the light and put my bag on the counter. When I walk further into my apartment I am faced with…
