Ch 14: The Mob
I couldn't believe it! I felt like I was having an out of body experience. The jury found me guilty of murdering Ben. I was stunned. I thought that after they wanted to re-examine the transcript of the forensics specialist that Ross brought in for the case, that they would have reasonable doubt. But the state found me guilty. My husband and my lawyer were both trying to tell me not to give up hope, but to be honest, I couldn't hear a word that they were saying.
I held onto my husband for dear life, when the judge let court know that it was adjourned until my sentencing. Why didn't I take the deal? I could have served a couple of years and be out to live the rest of my life with Christian. But I was so sure they'd find me innocent.
Christian continued to console me as he rubbed my hair telling me we'd fight this. After all this time, he's still with me. I didn't want to live without him by my side. I started crying as he held me closer to him.
"Shhh, baby, it'll be okay. Ross is going to do everything he can to repeal this. I promise, you will not go to prison," Christian told Ana.
"I don't want to live without you," Ana continued sobbing.
He pulled away slightly as he held her face in the palm of his hands. "You won't. I won't allow it. I love you," he told her, looking into her now red eyes from crying.
An officer of the court approached the couple. "It's time, Mrs Grey," he told the couple.
"I will be in to see you soon, baby," Christian told his wife. She nodded as the cuffs were placed on her wrists. Ana looked back at her husband as the officer began to escort her out of the courthouse.
Once she was in the hallway, she saw Kate, their eyes met each others. Kate gave Ana an ominous look saying, 'I knew you killed my father'. The officer pulled Ana away as she was being walked from the courthouse into the jail house.
Everyone had stayed behind in the courtroom. Rick had cried out to his wife saying, "I'll never see my sister again outside of jail. I'm the only one of our family left," he sobbed, as Abby comforted him. Kate sat outside in the hallway as she couldn't believe that her best friend was convicted of murdering her father. Her mother took Kate into her arms as they two cried after seeing Ana being taken away.
Jose sat in the courtroom as he still couldn't believe the outcome of the trial. He was so sure that Ana would be acquitted for Ben's murder. He believed Mia's testimony, it all made sense to him.
Christian was beside himself. Seeing his wife being taken away from him and placed in a jail for a murder she didn't commit was too much for him to handle. He began sobbing as he knew what this had meant. How was he was supposed to go on with life with his wife behind bars?
Ana was being walked through the jail house and was brought to the holding cell she had come accustomed to. Soon she would be transported to a women's facility away from everyone she loved.
Once the officer had let her in her cell, they took the cuffs off from her. Ana looked at the cot, and laid down in it. All she could think about was how cold it was. Just last night she was in her childhood room and had made love to her husband and now she was alone in the cell as she waited for her sentencing.
"I couldn't believe it. Grace won. She actually pulled it off." Ana started to cry as she allowed the memories of her and Christian flood her very thoughts.
Ana couldn't forget the first time that she met Christian. She was at Fifties doing her homework, and Christian had come over to her bringing glasses of water as he introduced himself to her. He noticed from her book that she was in a class he knew the professor from the time he went to college. It was their first conversation they had together.
"Hello, there. You're Ana, right?" he asked, sitting next to her.
She looked up at him and replied, "How did you know my name?"
Holy crap! This guy is hot! Damn, look at his sexy copper hair and those mesmerizing gray eyes. Man they just pull you in. He also has that five o'clock shadow happening, I normally don't like facial hair; but on him it's sexy.
Ana shook her head from her lusty thoughts. What was I saying, you're with Jose, remember?
"I saw that Jose guy walk over to you and he said your name. What is a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this and hanging around these people?" he asked, looking at her as she looked down at her books and blushed.
She was cute when she blushed, Christian thought to himself. I was right she is too good for this place.
"Just doing my homework," she said without looking up.
"So, do you always do your homework in a noisy place, why not the library?"
"Well, this way I can spend time with my boyfriend, Jose. Why are you here anyway, sitting by me, shouldn't you be working?" she asked looking back at him.
"Well, I saw you over here studying hard and thought I could bring you some water to drink. So I could get to know you," Christian replied, looking over her papers and said, "Mrs. Jones class huh, English two, very hard class."
"How do you know about her?"
"Well surprise, surprise I went to Seattle U too. I just finished my last semester and I'm waiting to start my internship," Christian said, back to her. "Actually, I was hoping you could help me out. My brother Elliot used to work here and so I thought since your boyfriend worked here and you spend time here that you might have some information for me. In fact he helped pay for me to go to college. Unfortunately EL took the wrong route and he ended up dead. I'm trying to find his killer, maybe you could help?"
"Why me?" she asked cringing.
"Ana, you don't have to be afraid of me. I don't want you cringing every time we talk. I just wanted to know what you know." Amongst other things I'd like to do to you. Stop it, Christian, she's taken. However, that has never stopped me before. I like a challenge.
"First of all I'm not afraid you. Secondly, I'm sorry about your brother, really I am, but I have a lot of work to do," she said gathering her stuff. "Have a good night, Christian," she said, walking away.
Ana smiled for a moment remembering how they had met, "Boy, we sure have come a long way," she told herself, realizing again where she was at. She continued to remember how their relationship evolved from there.
Kate, Jose, and Ethan were trying their best to hide the fact that the girls did indeed have something to do with Elliot's demise. Though it was self defense, Ana knew that once Christian had started fishing for information on his brother that they were in trouble. Christian was ordered by The Boss, to which none of them knew at that time was Christian's mother, a hit out the the person responsible.
Kate tried to divert Christian's attention from Elliot by flirting with him herself but soon had realized that he only had eyes for Ana. Kate had talked with Ana telling her that she was the only who could get through to Christian.
However; Christian thought the one responsible for his brothers death was Jose as he planned to get rid of him and get Ana at the same time. But once he found out that it was Ana who killed Elliot in self defence he put it all on the line for her.
Ana laid in the cot as she remembered how their relationship got started. She married Christian to protect her friends and family from the wrath of the Greys. She truly hated and despised Christian at one time. Once she came face to face with the boss Ana come to realize her true enemy wasn't in fact Christian, it was his mother Grace.
Grace wanted Ana gone and out of their lives so that she could continue controlling Christian to do her bidding for her. She didn't count of Christian actually falling in love with Ana. After she and Christian had a wedding to make his family happy, she realized that she did indeed have feelings for her husband of convenience. Christian and Ana had finally come to an understanding about their marriage and soon realized if they were going to make it work, they had to be vulnerable to each others feelings.
Later after months and months of being married, Christian soon realized that his marriage to Ana wasn't going to work. He took it upon himself to let her out of the relationship so she could continue on her relationship with Jose even though he truly loved her. Ana tried to continue her relationship with Jose as they started "dating" again only to find out her true feelings for Christian.
Finally after about a year, Christian and Ana succumbed to their feelings for another another, telling each other that they fell in love. They decided to renew their vows and allowed Christian's cousin John to do that for them. They honeymooned in San Cristobal where Ana had met the Grey's royal friends the Winslows.
And now look at her, she was in jail for murdering not only her best friends father, but Grace's ex fiance. Ana knew that Mia's testimony was real, but since she talked to the "dead" the court wouldn't allow it into the record. There was only one thing she could do.
Over the week, Christian was doing everything he could to get Ana out of jail. She was about to be escorted to the women's facility and he knew he was running out of time. He was getting more and more desperate. He made a phone to an unlikely source, he hated doing it but at this point he felt he had no choice.
"Well hello, Chris, it's nice to see you again," Bernardo said to him, knowing how much he hated being called Chris.
Christian just gave him an icy glare. "You know how much I hate it when you call me that," he told Bernardo. "We've known each other a very long time."
"Yes, we have, Christian." Bernardo stated. "I was quite surprised to get a phone call from you. It must be important."
"It is. As you know my wife has been convicted of a murder she didn't commit. I'm here to ask you for your help," Christian told him.
Bernardo looked back at Christian. Wow, this kid has a lot of nerve after what he did to my daughter. "Is that so? Now why would I want to help a convicted murder?"
"Whatever; you can believe all you want about Ana, I don't care. I just need your help on getting her out."
"Really? You want my help on the woman who stole you away from my Leila," Bernadardo stated to Christian.
"Bernardo, with all due respect, Leila and I were just kids. What we had is past tense."
"Not from where I'm sitting it isn't. My daughter still loves you Christian."
"You know I do care for Leila, but its friendship and nothing more. Leila understands that. Now could we get back to what I had called you about. I know how much pull you have in this town. I need your help on getting Ana out of jail." Bernardo nodded his head to Christian. He knew he had to be desperate if he was coming to him. "So, will you help me?" Christian asked, looking Bernardo in the eyes.
"Okay," he replied to Christian.
"Really? Your going to help me?" he asked again, thinking this was way too easy.
"Sure, I'll help you. All you had to do was ask," Bernardo stated. Christian got up from his chair as he told him thank you for his help. However; the look on Bernardo's face wasn't exactly friendly. "Have a seat, Christian, we're not done. There's something I need from you…"
Christian sat back down in his seat at Fifties where they had met. "Okay, what is it that you want?" Christian asked.
"It's not for me...well it sort of is. I need you to fulfill a promise you made a while back." Christian began thinking about what Bernardo was saying, he hadn't remembered promises he had made recently to him.
"I'm not following…" Christian replied back.
"It's simple really. I'll help you get Ana out of jail if you marry my daughter," Bernardo told him while he lit up a cigar and took a few puffs.
Christian sat there dumbfounded. "What do you mean? You want me to marry Leila?"
"Did I stutter? Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. You promised to her first, I expect you to fulfill that promise. Then I will do as you requested."
Christian got angry as he shot up out of his chair and glared down at Bernardo. "Wait! You expect me to marry Leila after you get my wife out of jail? That doesn't make any sense! Why would I go through all this trouble of getting her out only to marry your daughter?"
Bernardo who continued smoking his cigar got up and got into Christian's face.
"Because, if you don't Ana will spend the rest of her life in prison. Now those are my conditions, take it or leave it?" he told Christian blowing smoke in his face.
"You're unbelievable! There's no way I'd marry Leila for the sake of getting my wife out. That's absurd!"
"You listen to me boy," Bernardo stated firmly to Christian. "You came to me for help, don't ever forget that! If you want my help those are the stakes. Leave Ana and marry my daughter. Its as simple as that!" he spat to Christian. Just then Leila walked into Fifties and saw her father and Christian. She was all smiles as she walked to the gentleman.
"Hello, father," Leila spoke out, giving her father a kiss on the cheek. Then she turned to Christian saying, "Hello. Long time no see. How are you?"
"Fine,"Christian snapped through clenched teeth. "Actually, could I see you alone for a moment?" he asked her.
"Sure," she answered Christian. "Be right back," she told Bernardo her adoptive father whom she came to love as her real father. She and Christian walked over to the side as they both sat on stools in front of the bar. "What's up?"
Christian looked back at Leila. "As you know my wife was convicted of murdering Ben. I came to your father to ask for his help."
"Oh?" she asked. "I take it from how intense you both were that it didn't go to well."
"Not exactly. Leila, he will only help me if I dump Ana and marry you. I need you to tell your father that it simply won't work. I need you to tell your father to do this for me. I'm asking you as a friend."
Leila looked Christian in the eyes. "Christian, I can't control what my father does…I'm inclined to agree with him."
He looked back at his ex with shock. "What? You can't be serious!" he shouted.
"I'm very serious. I think it's brilliant. You marry me, Ana gets out of prison. Problem solved."
"No, this is a mistake," Christian stated to her dumbfounded.
"I don't think it is. You know how much I love you...I would make a great wife for you if you just gave me a chance."
He was confused. He didn't want to think about it anymore. "Leila, think about this for a moment. Why in the world would you want to marry a man who doesn't love you?"
"You would in time. Look, I think it's a great solution. You could learn to love me like you do Ana…"
"Do you hear yourself?" Christian exploded. "I don't understand you. I mean you'd be willing to be in a loveless marriage just to be married to me?"
"Yes, because that's what I want. I've always wanted to be married to you. I would make a great wife for you. I know what it takes to be in the business. You wouldn't have to change for me."
"This is absolutely absurd! Why would I work so hard on getting my wife out of prison just to be with another woman I don't even love? And you would give up on having another relationship with someone else just to be with me. Leila, your a bright and intelligent woman with a bright future ahead of you. You deserve a man who will love you unconditionally, not someone who is in love with someone else."
They both looked over to Bernard you didn't seem all that happy. He came over to where his daughter and Christian were.
"Look, son, I gave you my stakes in this situation. You have twenty four hours to come to your senses or the deal is off. Leila, my darling, I have another meeting. See you at dinner?"
"Sure, dad. Thank you. I will be home soon," she told Bernardo.
Bernardo left Fifties leaving his daughter and Christian. He honestly didn't know what to think. He had thought these two had lost their minds.
He looked back at his ex as he flat out told her, "Leila, I want you to listen closely to what I have to say. I will get my wife out of jail with or without your father's help. I was hoping I could depend on our friendship. You told me you'd be willing to help and I took you up on your word."
"I get it Christian. But, if my father says you have to marry me then so be it. I would do anything to be your wife again. Like my father said, take it or leave it. I will be waiting for your answer," she told him grabbing her clutch person as she walked away from him.
Christian was not giving up. There had to be a way out of this. He walked out of Fifties as he headed to the jail house. They had moved Ana to a more secure environment. He needed to see his wife, even if it was only for an hour. He arrived and got through to security. He waited until she came to the section where they talked through phones. Ana smiled to her husband as he did the same. They both picked up the phones so they could talk.
"Hey, baby, how are you?" he asked her. Ana had her hair in a ponytail and she was wearing an orange jumpsuit.
"I'm okay...Just missing you," she replied.
"I miss you too. Ross is working non stop to get you an appeal. How are they treating you here?"
"I'm okay. It's just hard being separated from you," she told him through fresh tears.
"Believe me, not half as much as I miss you."
"Christian?" Ana asked him.
"Yes, sweetie," he answered.
"I need you to do something for me…" she stated.
"I'll do anything you want, just name it."
"I already talked to John as he came by earlier, as did Ross. They both are currently working on something for me…" she began to tell Christian.
"Okay," he replied hesitantly.
"I just wanted you to know how much I love you. You have been my one constant thing that had gotten me through so much of everything. But, I need us to be realistic," she told him.
"Honey, what are you trying to tell me?"
"I need you to divorce me…" she started saying only he interrupted.
"What? No! Like hell I will!" he screamed at her.
Ana even had to pull the phone away from her ear. Christian took a couple of breaths to calm down before he spoke again.
"Ana, we have to stay strong through this. We will be together again we just have to work harder at it…"
"I'm tired of having to work hard at it. You don't know what it's like for me even being away from you one day much less a week. My going to prison changed everything. I have to think about what is best for you and your future. If you divorced me you could be free to be with someone else," she continued explaining through tears.
Christian's temper got the best of him as he began to slam the phone down over and over again, causing more fresh tears to fall from Ana's eyes. The cop next to him told him to calm down.
"Ana...please...I don't want anyone else," he began saying as his emotions got the best of him as well. His voice cracked along with tears streaming down his face. "Your the person I was meant to be with. Don't do this…"
"I have too! Don't you see. This is my life now! What kind of life will that be for you to come and see me for just one hour a day," she explained.
"It's better than nothing!" he shouted.
"Christian, I'm about to me moved to another facility. Its fives hours away, you couldn't possibly see me everyday. That's not a life."
"Well then we just have to do what we need to do to make this work. I'm not divorcing you," he flat out told her.
"Then I'll refuse to see you," she told him firmly.
"You can't be serious...Ana...you- we...I'm begging you, don't do this," he begged his wife.
"I love you. Just sign the papers," she told him hanging up the phone as she asked the guard to leave.
Christian began screaming for her. "Ana! Ana please don't leave me! I need you!"
She walked away as she began to cry. She thought about what she just said and wanted to go back and say she was sorry. But the guard tugged on her arm saying, "Mrs Grey, you have to get yourself together."
"I wanted to tell him that I love him and that I'm sorry. Please!" she begged the officer. "Christian!" Ana yelled out to her husband as she began to get light headed and fainted in the officers arms.
Christian called Ross. "Ana just told me what the hell she was planning. I thought you were trying to get her out?"
"I am Christian, but it takes time." Ross told him over the phone.
"I'm not signing any damn divorce papers. I don't know what my wife told you, but I refuse to sign anything!" he shouted back to the lawyer. "You need to get her out now!"
Christian looked through the glass again but didn't see Ana. He left out of the room slamming the door. He refused to give up on Ana.
A/N: Again, this is a minor setback for these two. It will get better. To the guest reviewers to whom I couldn't respond to as they didn't sign in. If you are done with reading the story, okay. Thats cool. I understand. Look, not everyone is going to agree with the author, there have been plenty of stories where I didn't like where the author went, so I just hit the X button. I don't plan to keep this murder plot going on much longer. I figured a couple of chapters and then finally we get some results! If you would stick around and actually see where it ends up great! If not, okay, no problem. As far as the guest review on the Kate thing, again all apart of the plot. You said something about her being a husband f'er and backstabber, that she isn't redeemable, if you feel that way, okay. Like I said, not everyone will agree how I write the characters. I do thank you for your time and reading what you have read so far. Alrighty then, thank you for your continued support. I have posted an edit in my group. Take care and see you all soon!