Chapter 14

Friday 5th May

Christian

The media is finally starting to die down a little but they are still hanging around at the office so I decide to take the day off and oversee the decorating that's happening at the apartment. It's a nice day in Seattle and I stand and stare out at the world below. One of my favourite things to do is watch as the people below go about their business.

"Sir, that's me leaving now. I have cooked enough food to last you until Tuesday when I come back. Taylor and Sawyer have food in their quarters too. Have a nice weekend."

"Thank you Gail, you too. Say hi to the family for me." It's a strange feeling not working on a weekday, but it's a good kind of strange. I grab the paper and settle at the breakfast bar with some breakfast and coffee. The news about me and Ethan is slowly starting to disappear from the paper which is a good sign. We have been spotted out together at dinner and getting coffee but nobody really cares anymore. Were still in magazines though and the internet can't get enough of us. Apparently were the new IT couple.

*Welch Calling*

"Welch what's up."

"Christian, good news for you. We caught Jacqueline and Jack. They were at Ana's flat. My team picked them up and handed them to the police. They've been hiding out at a motel for a few days but when news broke that you and Ana were no longer an item they moved and we lost track of them. Someone called from the building and said there were two suspicious people hanging around. I sent my team in to check it out. It looks like they were preparing for her coming back."

My heart sinks a little, thank god I sent her away. What if she had been in the apartment when they started lurking around?

"Good, any idea what they were up to though?"

"Well it looks like they had a homemade explosive device set up, it looks like it was designed to detonate when the stove was turned on, we managed to get it out and the team have searched the rest of the apartment. Nothing else has been found. They're being transferred to a maximum security facility and being placed in solitary confinement. There's no chance they are going anywhere this time."

"Good, what about Patrick. Any sign of him?"

"He was found this morning in his cell. He had made a small blade from a toothbrush and stabbed himself in the neck. Bled out quickly. His hearing was scheduled for next week and they had decided to release him early, he had a visitor a few days ago though. Must've told him he had been linked to this. He knew he wouldn't have been released so he took his own life."

"Thanks for letting me know. Keep me up to date on those two though. I want to know if anything happens."

"Will do."

I sit the phone down and exhale. I finish eating and put my bowl in the sink before showering to start my day.

"Taylor, any idea when the decorator will be here?"

"She just called; they're parking the cars just now. The playroom has already been emptied. Sawyer and I spend the day yesterday doing it and all of the clothes for Ana are being sent over tomorrow."

"Thank you, you and Sawyer can take it easy today, one of you keep an eye on the cameras though."

"Yes boss. Just call if you need anything."

Taylor disappears in the direction of the security room just in time for Jennifer, my decorator to arrive.

"Jennifer it's been a while, nice to see you again."

"Christian, so what are we doing for you then. I hear we have a few things to do, so where do we start?"

"Well I need my room re-done. I presume Taylor has filled you in. I also have another room that needs totally changed. I need some furniture as well but we can get to that when the rooms are painted at least."

"Sounds like a plan. What are we doing with your room? Just freshening it up or are we making any drastic changes?"

"Just freshen it up, I've not decided if I want to change it yet."

"That's fine, we have the colours used for your room in the file anyway so that's easy enough to fix. What about the other room?"

"Well the other room needs a total change. My plan is to make it an office for Ana, so I was thinking light and feminine. I'm sure whatever you decide will be perfect."

"Well it sound like it's going to be easy then. I'll go out and get my team ready and then we can get started. Any colours you don't want used in the office before we go shopping?"

"Try to avoid dark colours and keep the grey to a minimum." She takes a note and then leaves; I decide to call Ana to let her know the good news.

"Hi Christian"

"Good afternoon Ana, I'm calling with some good news. Welch called me this morning and let me know they managed to catch Jack and Jacqueline, so we don't need to worry about them anymore. "

"That's great news, does that mean you can go and tell everyone this was all just a plan to keep me safe."

"I will be, I have a few things to do in the apartment today though so it won't be until tomorrow evening I get round to making the statement."

"Seems fair, have you called Ethan yet?"

"Not yet, he's next on my list of people to call. Listen I have to go, I'll call you later if I get the chance. If not then ill speak to you tomorrow."

"Okay, well good luck breaking the news to Ethan, I think he was secretly enjoying being your partner for a few days." I chuckle and say goodbye. I dial Ethan's number and tell him the good news.

Eventually Jennifer and her team arrive and get started, I spend the day sitting in the main room working through a few e-mails and thinking of something special to do for Ana to show her how much I care. I've never felt this way about anyone before and it's a little scary to me, i can't even begin to imagine what life would be like without her. She has already changed me so much in the short few weeks we've been together.

I lie back on the sofa and close my eyes for what feels like minutes. The next thing I know I'm being woken up by Sawyer.

"Mr Grey, that's the decorators done. Taylors checked the rooms and everything seems to be in order, Jennifer said she will be back tomorrow to help pick out the office furniture. She had asked that you don't go into the office until everything's set up."

"Thanks Sawyer. You and Taylor can take the rest of the evening off. I'll be in my office trying to figure out what I'm going to say to the press tomorrow."

"Thanks boss."

I lift the laptop and make my way to my office, I check the time and realise I slept for almost 4 hours. I guess I was able to totally relax knowing Jack was behind bars. I call Ros and tell her to schedule a conference tomorrow with the press to clear everything up so I can get back to living my life again.

Ana

I'm relieved to hear that Jacks now behind bars, hopefully that means we can all get back to our lives again. I only have a few more days left here and I plan on spending them in the sun relaxing. This break is just what I needed. It's been so long since I actually went on a holiday that was for the purpose of seeing my parents.

Kate hasn't spent a great deal of time in the sun, she's too busy face timing Elliott. I don't mind though, she's finally found a guy that can keep her grounded and its great. We never thought there would ever be a man patient enough to survive Kate, but it looks like there is.

Mia has been working almost every day but she does take a few hours every day to come and relax with us, it's amazing watching her work though. She just knows clothes so well and some of her dresses are to die for. I set myself up on a sun lounger by the pool and grab my book. The sun is hot on my skin so every now and then I top up my sun cream or take a dip in the pool. Six o'clock rolls around and I decide that's enough sun for one day so I make my way back to my room and get dressed for dinner. I feel a little less on edge now that I know I'm safe and I am able to completely relax at dinner.

"So guys, as fun as it's been spending a few days with you both I actually leave tomorrow. I have a shoot in Paris then it's off to London for a few days before I can finally get home and see my family."

"That's amazing Mia, we should have a few drinks to celebrate tonight then."

We all agree to a few cocktails and then bed, after 2 drinks I can feel my eyes getting heavy. My day in the sun must've tired me out a little. I say goodnight to both Kate and Mia and head off to bed. I quickly text Christian and then close my eyes. I sleep instantly.

Christian

I sleep through the night undisturbed and wake up pretty early. I have a shower and then head to the kitchen for some breakfast. Ros has texted to let me know what time my conference is arranged for so I get myself ready for that. Eventually Jennifer arrives and we spend an hour or two picking out furniture for the office, she made it easy for me by narrowing it down to a few items and just made me pick from them.

"I'll have the pieces delivered tomorrow morning, they will be assembled for you and the office should be finished. Anything else you need please just let me know."

"Thank you, and thanks for getting this done so quickly I know it was last minute."

"Trust me, with the salary you pay me I'd be worried if I didn't get things done fast. I hope she likes the office."

We say goodbye and I have just enough time to eat a quick bite of lunch before heading to work for the conference. I'm not nervous about it this tome though, I just hope the press understand.

"Good afternoon. The past few days have not been easy, but now that there is no longer a threat to the people in my life I think it's time to tell you all the truth. I am not gay, and am very much still involved with Anastasia. There was a threat made to both of us and the only way for us to deal with it was creating the illusion we were no longer an item.

Ethan, the man you believe was my partner is actually a very close friend of Anastasias, and has becomes a close friend to me. I hope you can forgive me for deceiving you all, but I had to protect the people I love.

Thank you all for coming out to hear my set the record straight, again I hope you can all understand why we had to do this."

"Mr Grey, you said you had to protect the people you love. Does that mean that you are in love with Ana, even though you haven't been together very long?"

I hear the questions being fired in my direction and I answer a few before I head back inside.

"It looks as though they all understand why you lied. Hopefully it blows over and you can get back to normal in a few days."

"Thanks for setting that up so soon Ros."

"I was more than happy to; they've been camped outside all week hoping to see you. Hopefully now they can leave and we can all get back to normal."

I smile at Ros and make my way back to the car. I notice the look on Taylors face as I get in, he looks smug. I'm guessing it's because he knows how I feel about Ana.