As requested here is Eva. Thank you all for your reviews. Enjoy.
-Chapter-14 Here's Eva-
Ana
"Ana. Ana. Baby wake up."
"Go away Christian. I am sleeping."
"ANA!" Gideon shouts. My eyes spring open and he looks very irritated.
"What?!" I sit up and remember where I am. "Sorry. I forgot where I was."
"Clearly." Gideon gets up and takes his pajama pants off and puts his suit pants back on facing away from me. He still has on his white t-shirt and by the way he opens the bedroom door I can tell he is really angry. Perhaps I was meant to be a single woman. Men are not my strong suit.
I get up and use the bathroom before going back out into the main area. Gideon is sitting in a seat with his laptop propped open. I sit across from him and he completely ignores me. This is the first time I see him angry with me. I don't like it. He has been nothing but nice to me and I keep screwing up.
"I am sorry Gideon. I didn't mean it." I look in my lap and fiddle with my hands.
"Whatever." He says but doesn't look at me.
"Gideon, I am." I push the top of his laptop closed and he sits back glaring at me. I look at him seriously. "I. Am. Sorry. You have been nothing but patient with me and after a very long night I forgot where I was."
"Perhaps you are just having a hard time keeping your boy toys straight. Maybe the next time you are with Grey you can scream my name while he fucks you. That should get the rise out of him you are looking for." He spits back at me.
"Don't make me feel any worse about myself then I already do." Tears well up in my eyes. "I already feel like a whore." I love Christian but I can' t be with him. I can be with Gideon but I don't love him. I am so confused.
"Enough with the tears." He stands up and pulls me up by my hands. He puts his hands on my shoulders and looks directly into my eyes. "You are a strong, brave, and captivating woman Anastasia but every time I see you, you are crying or sad. Grey has you all over the map. It is time to be an adult now and make a decision. What do you want? Don't worry about hurting anyone's feelings or taking the easy way out. What is it that you want from life? Is it Grey? If it is Grey I will drop you off and never bother you again. If it's not Grey, then move on. Don't let him do this to you. Stop this back and forth." I just stare at him. No more tears. He is giving me the proverbial slap in the face I need. I do want Christian but after witnessing what he had with Leila I can't be that person for him. I can't handle that lifestyle.
"I have to talk to Christian. I need closure. I can't be the woman Christian wants me to be but I have to tell him that myself." Those are the words that come out of my mouth. Without thinking those are my thoughts.
"Good. And you're not a whore. You are just confused." He hugs me close but this time there are no tears. "I am sorry I was harsh with you. Ever hear the expression you've got to be cruel to be kind."
"I have." I pull back. "Thank you Gideon."
"Your welcome." He kisses me on the cheek. He leans in my ear. "But if you ever call me Christian again I will put you over my knee." I pull back to look at his face and my eyes widen. "Try me." I smile and he lets me go and slaps my behind playfully.
Eva
I sit on the couch with my morning coffee in hand. I see Cary sitting in the chair next to me deep in thought over what he is looking at on his IPad.
"What is so interesting?"
"Your not going to like it baby girl." Cary hands over the IPad and I see the headline of a nationwide tabloid. "Grey vs. Cross" I look over at Cary and he encourages me to continue.
During the recent fundraiser for Coping Together it is confirmed that Billionaire CEO Christian Grey, 27, and Billionaire CEO Gideon Cross, 27, had a bidding war during the first dance auction over a one Anastasia Steele, 21, Assistant Editor for City Publishing in New York. The highest bid going to Gideon Cross topping off at a whopping One Million dollars. It has been reported that even though Cross was the last bid, Steele ran off and left the event before he got what he paid for. Grey and Cross were witnessed shortly after Miss Steele's departure being restrained by security before a physical altercation broke out. We will be following this story closely as the War of the Billionaires continues.
I look up at Cary dumbfounded. "I told you, you wouldn't like it."
"It's fine. I am with Brent and it could be worse. He could be with Corrine or Magdalene. He deserves to be happy." I look at my coffee and think about when I left New York.
I pack the last of my things from my apartment. My mother and I have already said our good-byes. Cary carries some bags out to the car and I take one last look around. I am going to miss this apartment and I am going to miss Gideon. My nightmares have gotten worse since I left him. They should be better now that Nathan is dead but they aren't. Being around Gideon scares me.
I step out into the street and I see Gideon on the sidewalk leaning against the Bentley. He looks so good in his cargo shorts and t-shirt. Young and carefree suits him
"Gideon. What are you doing here?"
"I am here to beg you not to leave. Please, please Eva don't go. I will do whatever it takes to keep you here. Marry me. Stay with me and be my wife. You told me you were going to marry me and-"
"Gideon stop." Tears stream down my face. "Please I can't listen to this. I have to go. I love you I do but I can't do this. We are not good for each other. We will wind up breaking each other in the end and I can't do that to you or me."
"Eva if you leave you will be killing me. I am just a shell of a man. I am nothing without you."
"Don't say that. You have so much to offer Gideon. You are a wonderful man and I will always cherish the time we have spent together. I will ask that you do me a favor though."
"Anything. For you anything."
"Don't sleep with Corrine or Magdalene. That would piss me off." I smile at him and kiss him on the cheek. He grabs my face and kisses me long and hard. I return his passion and we both pull away. I climb into the car and roll down the window. "Later Ace." I wink at him as the car pulls away.
"You can't blame yourself Eva. Cross is a fucked up person. I am glad he killed Nathan but between your nightmares and his he would have destroyed you. You were in too deep and you fell too hard too fast."
"This girl looks sweet enough. I just hope she is not playing with him. I don't think he could take it."
"Cross is a big boy. He can handle it. He has obviously moved on so you shouldn't beat yourself up about this anymore."
"Well at least it will make the Charity Dinner at the Met next weekend a little less awkward. Since you are my date and he will have a date of his own I am sure we can all be civil and I can't wait to see my mother."
"Unless Corrine is there and then the claws come out." Cary smiles.
"Ah Cary, the best friend a screwball like me could ever want." I drink the rest of my coffee and go back for seconds before heading out to meet Brent.
Christian
Uh…what happened? My head is killing me. I wake up and I am still dressed in my clothes from last night. My head is throbbing. Who is yelling? I roll off the couch onto the floor and hold my head in my hands. I use the couch to help me get up and steady myself. There must still be alcohol in my system because I am unsteady on my feet. Who is yelling? I make my way to the door of my study and the light is blinding. I hear yelling. My head is pounding. I don't think I have been this drunk since I was 15 years old. Ugh…
I walk into the kitchen to find Mrs. Jones making breakfast. Taylor is standing at the counter talking to…ech…its Elena. What the hell does she want? I walk over to the cabinet not saying a word. I grab the aspirin and some juice from the fridge.
"Christian. Were you drinking?"
"Not today Elena. I really don't want to hear any of your shit today."
"Mrs. Lincoln as I stated before Mr. Grey doesn't feel well perhaps you can come back at a later time."
"Give it up Taylor. She is not going to leave until she has pissed me off this morning so speak and get it over with Elena."
"Have you seen the paper this morning. What the hell were you thinking Christian. Honestly." Elena slaps the paper on the counter top and I read the article about how Gideon and I were fighting over Anastasia. "Have I taught you nothing about discretion Christian? You don't make this kind of display over a sub."
I look at Taylor and him and Gail exit the kitchen. "She is not my sub Elena. She is my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend, Christian don't be stupid. And how does Gideon Cross fit into all this." I explain the whole story to Elena. I tell her what happened with Leila and how Ana left and went back to New York.
"Well your better off. This girl has brought you nothing but heartache."
"Back off Elena. I mean it. I love her and I am going to get her back."
"She is going to hurt you. You know she will."
"Enough Elena. Now if you will excuse me I have to take a shower and nurse this pounding head."
"That's another thing Christian. Did you get drunk last night? What have I taught you about discipline? I have a good mind to take upstairs and whip it out of you. Don't lose focus over some tramp."
"Whip it out of me?" I am disgusted. "Elena I would never let you touch me like that ever again. That part of our relationship is over. It has been for sometime. And don't call her a tramp. You are on thin ice with me Elena. I mean it. Now go." She gets herself together and leaves.
I eat my breakfast in silence and go off to take a shower and lay in a dark room.
Just before I nod off Taylor knocks at the door.
Ana
We are back in New York and I am unsure of what I am going to do.
"Ana, have you thought about where you are going to stay. You do know Grey checked you out of your hotel, right?"
"What?! No I did not know that. Shit. What am I going to do now?"
"You can stay with me. You can use the spare room. We can have it redecorated if it isn't to your liking."
"Are you crazy? Christian would have a fit." Gideon looks at me with narrow eyes.
"Well considering we don't care what Christian thinks it is a moot point don't you think." He is getting angry again.
"Your right. Moving forward, right." I say with confidence.
"Right." Gideon agrees.
"Gideon I don't want you to be in the middle of all this. I think it's best if I just stay at a hotel."
"Fine. As you wish. At least come back to my apartment for now so I can make the arrangements at The Cross Tower Hotel. We can also get some breakfast."
"Shit. If he checked me out that means he had all my stuff sent back to Seattle. I have no clothes."
Gideon laughs at me. I don't think this is funny. I have nothing but the, well my underwear the rest are Gideon's clothes. He opens his phone and makes a call. He calls a personal shopper and tells them that he needs jeans and sneakers and a shirt for me sent over to his apartment immediately along with undergarments. He then informs them that we him and I will be in later to pick out some more stuff and they should have everything ready for me to pick out. He looks back at me and I shake my head.
"Your going so you can stop giving me that dirty look. I am buying you clothes because I can and you will accept them. No questions asked. I will also be booking you the suite at hotel and I will make sure you will have private security outside your door 24/7."
"Why to keep Christian away?"
"Not only him but every other creep and paparazzi away. Look." He hands me his phone and I see an article about Gideon, Christian, and myself. Shit. Wait until Christian sees this. Wait until my mother sees this. Damn it I left my phone in Seattle.
"Ok. I will do as you say Mr. Cross. I also need to make a pit stop at some point today to get a new phone. I will have to call my mother and father explain this." With the press of a button Gideon calls someone and has a new IPhone sent to his apartment ASAP.
"Gideon, you don't have to keep doing that."
"Yes I do. I have never met a girl who isn't interested in my money. It makes me happy to buy you things because you don't expect them. What good is my money if I can't share it with someone."
"Well thank you all the same."
We walk into the Gideon's apartment building and I almost expect to see Christian himself standing here waiting. I am relieved. Gideon pulls me toward him when he sees my trepidation. We climb into the elevator and I yawn. When we get out there is a package outside the door. Gideon's hands are full so I grab it and bring it inside for him. I place it on the counter and he grabs a knife to cut the tape open. He opens the box and immediately closes it.
"Ana, I think this package is for you." He says with a scowl on his face.
I think it is probably the clothes Gideon ordered for me. I open the box and I see a card written in Christian's handwriting.
She's mine. I win. –Christian Grey
Inside the box I see the black lace dress shredded to pieces and the shoes with the heals snapped off. I take a deep breath and shake my head. I close the box and I can feel tears pooling in my eyes.
"No tears. Don't' even think about it. It's only a dress and now perhaps you can see that his anger is clouding his judgment." I take another deep breath and fight back the tears. He is right no tears. Strong Ana. No more week soppy Ana. Gideon and I have breakfast and after, my phone and clothes arrive. Before I get dressed I excuse myself to call my mother. Gideon had my cell number kept the same so I have text messages and voicemail messages from my mother, Jose, Ray, and even Kate. Oh no. Better start explaining.
I call my mother first and explain that Christian and I broke up but spare the details. I give her all the info she needs. I do the same with Ray. Gideon sits on the chair opposite me and he is looking up gossip about last night on his laptop when I call Jose.
"Hi, Jose."
"Ana, where the hell have you been? I have been worried sick about you. You missed my show. "
"I know. I am sorry. How did it go?"
"It went good. I am doing another in New York this week."
"Really! I am in New York. Send me the information and I will be sure to be there."
"Seriously. Great. But which billionaire CEO will be accompanying you?"
"Oh shut up. I guess you saw the article." Gideon is listening but hasn't taken his eyes off the monitor.
"Saw it. Your face is on every newspaper in town."
"I know. I am working in New York for the next 5 weeks. I can't wait to see you. Where are you staying? Do you want to stay with me?" Gideon looks at me over his computer screen. His eyes are now fixated on me.
"Sure. I am sure your digs are swankier then mine would be anyway."
"Great. Send me the info on the show and when you get in. I will meet you."
"Okay. Bye Ana." I hang up my phone and drop it in my lap.
"Who is Jose?"
"A friend."
"A very gay friend I hope." He raises his brow.
"Not the last time I checked." I laugh.
"Then why is it that I would allow him to stay with you."
Gideon
Is she crazy? Does she really think I would let a straight man stay in the same hotel room with her. I will have to upgrade her to a double suite. He will at least have his own room. I will try to keep her out on the nights he is in town. It seems like the Grey vs. Cross pissing contest has gone viral. I set up more security and this time they better not screw up. I also order a personal detail for Ana and beef up security at The Crossfire. Grey has shown his true colors to Ana and I hope for now that is over. She has accepted all of my gifts and that is a start at least. She informs me that she has to call Grey and she has arranged to do so via Skype in Christian's apartment. I ask her if she wants me to go with her and stay out of view, you know to be supportive. I really just want to hear what he has to say and intervene if needed. I will be having him watched as well. His security guard tried to get me to back off when I was bidding by telling me he would drag me out of there and no one would ever find the body. Good luck with that pal. He would have been drop kicked by the time he touched me.
Christian
"What?"
"Mr. Grey, Miss Steele has contacted me sir. She wants to Skype with you."
"What. Really. When?" I run into the bathroom to wash my face and put on a clean shirt. I don't want her to see me this way.
"Now sir. She is asking if she could access the New York apartment to do it since she doesn't have a computer of her own."
Damn it. Her phone and laptop are still here.
"Of course. Tell whoever is there to let her in and let her use the study. Have them set it up so it's ready when she arrives."
"Yes sir. I will tell her. It will be a few minutes so take your time sir."
I am so nervous. What will I tell her? I have to tell her the truth but she won't forgive me. She wont understand why I had to do what I did.
Ana
One of Christian's security guards lets me in and directs me to his study. I look at the screen and see the wall behind his computer. The longer I wait the more I am losing my nerve. I tap on the desk and open the desk drawer. There is nothing of interest in the top drawer. Just pens and a letter opener.
"Uh..hum." I look up at the screen and see Christians handsome face looking back. He is wearing a full megawatt smile and I can't help but blush. "Find anything good?"
"Just looking for a pen Mr. Grey."
"Ah. I see. Well I hope you find what you are looking for." He folds his hands in front of him and his smile is gone. "So…back to New York."
"Yes, Christian. Back to New York. How is Sawyer?"
"A bit bruised from that assholes assault but he'll live. Would you care to tell me why you are back in New York."
I take a deep breath and look down. No more tears Steele. I sit up straighter in my seat and mirror his actions by folding my hands in front of me on the desk. "You want the list of all the reasons I left Christian."
"Yes. Let's start with your list." Mr. CEO is talking.
"Ok lets start with the way you embarrassed me, or how I had one of your ex's point a gun at my face, or how you kicked me out of my own apartment, or how you went into full Dom mode right in front of my eyes with Leila, we can finish somewhere around you telling me what happening after I left against my will."
Christians face falls and his brows furrow. "That's quite a list."
"Christian, when you were standing there with Leila I saw it. I saw what you both had together."
"Ana no. I did that to get Leila to give up the gun. When I walked into that apartment and saw you standing there with a gun pointed to your head it almost died. I just wanted you gone. Out of harm."
"Once she fell to the ground and let go of the gun, I was out of harm. Why wouldn't you just let me help you with her? Or at least stay in my apartment while you sorted her out."
"Because I didn't want you to see…Ana she is my issue to deal with."
"See what Christian? What didn't you want me to see? What did you do with her in my apartment?" I panic. Did he have sex with her? Did he touch her?
Christian
Damn it she is not going to let this go. I will have to tell her the truth. I run both of my hands through my hair and start to talk.
"First, I called Flynn to come over, then I gave her a bath, then I dressed her in some of your clothes, and-"
"Stop. Just stop."
"What do you mean you gave her a bath?"
"Ana she was dirty and disheveled. I had to wash her hair several times before it would even lather. It is my fault she is like this and I felt I owed it to her."
"Did you get in the tub with her?"
"Jesus, NO! It wasn't like that. It had nothing to do with sex Ana. I care for her one person to another but…It's only you Ana. I only love you." Why doesn't she understand that Leila is a very sick girl who needed a friend.
I see Ana soften a little at the explanation. I feel a need to protect Leila. When we were together she always played very hard. She never safe worded. She wanted more and at the time I could never even consider more with anyone. Until Ana. Only Ana.
"Christian, I can't be who you need. What you need. I saw the look on your face when you went into full Dom mode and it was natural to you. It is what you are used to. I can't let you do that to me."
"It's not what I need. Not anymore. Ever since you left, the first time, I couldn't breath. I can't imagine my world without you in it. I look a big leap of faith when I let you touch me. No one has ever done that. I have never let anyone get that close. Only you baby." That's it. That's all I have. Every ounce of my heart was just spilled out onto the pavement for her to see.
"Christian. I am staying in New York. I am staying here for the next 5 weeks. After that then, well, we will see. All I know know is that right now I can't take any more shit. I am full. I am at capacity with all that has happened over the past few weeks."
"You are choosing to be with Gideon. Again." That's it. She doesn't want me anymore. I start to panic. I can't live without her. I can't breath. I stand up and pace.
"Christian…Christian sit down. I can't see you. Please let me finish."
"NO…no…no…you can't. You can't…"
"Christian listen to me damn it and sit down."
I fall back into the chair and my leg is bouncing up and down. My elbow is on the arm of the chair and my index finger on my chin. I don't look at her.
"This has nothing to do with Gideon. This is between you and me. This is my choice. I need a break. You never give me time to just think. I need time. If we are meant to be together then we will be together."
I can't move. I am having trouble breathing. She is leaving. After 5 weeks with Gideon she will never come back to me.
"Ana, I am calling Roach. You are coming back. That's enough of this nonsense. "
"Please don't interfere with my career. If you make Mr. Roach bring me back I will quit. I will quit and we will be done for good. Do you understand me?"
"You would do that. You would quit and stay there just to spite me."
"I am not trying to spite you. I am asking you for time and in return you want to force me to bend to your will. Just give me time. Please."
"Ana, I miss you. I won't make it 5 weeks without you."
"I will miss you too. We can talk and Skype and text as often as you need. I am not abandoning you. I am just taking a breather."
"Fine. Can you at least breath in my apartment? That way I will know you are safe." And watch her every move.
"Sure. I can do that Mr. Grey. BUT…you have to give me space."
"Done. I am not happy about it but I am willing to give you space. Can I visit?" I will anyway.
"Its your apartment. You can do what you wish. Oh…um…I spoke to Jose."
Great first Cross. Then fucking Jose Rodriguez. She has no idea that these bastards are just trying to get into her pants. No one loves her like I do.
"What about him?"
"He has a show in New York this week and I told him he could stay with me. That was before I was going to stay here."
"No. Absolutely, positively, no way in hell you are staying anywhere by yourself with him.
"That is not your discussion to make. We can either stay here or we can stay at a hotel. Jose is my friend-"
"-that tried to rape you."
"That was weeks ago. He was drunk and he is sorry."
Fuck. If I say no she will just run off with him. URGH….I can't sand this. I let out a pained groan and slam my hands on the desk.
"Fine. FUCK!" Ana raises her brows. "That's not what I meant Ana. I don't like this. He says in the guest room. You will let me know when he is arriving and what your plans are. Security will be there with you. With all the attention you will no doubt be getting unwanted attention and I need to make sure your safe.
"Gideon has security under control. He has the same concerns. You know if you both would get past this nonsense you will realize that you both have a bit in common."
"Don't push me Ana. I don't like this shit so don't push me."
She holds up her hands in defeat. "Okay, okay. You win. Look I have to go. Can you please send my stuff back to the apartment? I need my clothes."
"You got it. I will miss you."
"I know but I will see you soon. I have to go but I will talk to you soon."
"Okay baby. I love you. And Ana."
"Yes."
"Don't let him get on top of you baby."
"Good-bye Christian. I will talk to you soon." She rolls her eyes.
She walks away from the screen and I shut down the monitor. It is not an ideal situation but at least she didn't say she would never come back. I need to take this time to get the good on Cross. I will show Ana what a but he is. I will destroy him and I will do everything in my power to show Ana how much I love her.