Of course as you know I do not own I am just merely borrowing the characters to use and abuse as I please!
Again THANK YOU for all your reviews, it keeps me going when I struggle with where to go next with this story. I had originally planned to kill Elena in the car accident but changed my mind so I could possibly use her again in future chapters…
So a near normal day for Ana? Maybe?
When I wake up shivering with cold I find that the bed is empty. I've somehow tossed and turned enough that the comforter is twisted somewhere at my feet and there is no sign of my husband. I climb out of the bed and make my way to the bathroom door where my robe hangs. As I reach for it I hear the distant sounds of the piano being played. It's obvious that Christian has something on his mind as he plays a sweet melody that I'm not familiar with.
As I have done many times before I close my robe around me before making my way through to the great room where the piano sits. As soon as I enter I see that he has closed the lid in hoping not to disturb me, he can be so thoughtful when he wants to be. He's topless and I can see the muscles of his back ripple with every movement of his arms along the piano. It's an interesting sight.
I make my way over to him quietly, I don't want him to stop playing on my account, if anything I love listening to him when he plays, it's like he's using music to let out his feelings.
I slide onto the stool beside him and he shifts a little to make room for me. He looks at me and smiles but he doesn't stop playing. I smile back, this man, my fifty shades, makes me so happy. Now that we've talked I think things can only get better from here.
Suddenly the melody ends and he drops his hands down from keys and surprisingly he lower his head to my shoulder. I drop my cheek to his head and place my hand gently on his back, he sighs contently as I rubs soft circles.
"Everything ok?" I ask gently.
"Yeah." He replies though I can sense there is something on his mind.
"You know Christian, when I promised I'd talk to you, I was hoping you'd promise me the same thing." I say gently, I don't want him to snap at me or change shade, I like relaxed fifty.
"I know Ana, and I want to so much it's just not that easy." He sighs and I wrap my other arm around his front and am careful not to squeeze so that I won't hurt his ribs.
"I know Christian, believe me I know." I reply softly, me opening up to him took long enough.
"I almost lost you." He whispers and I know he's teary without even looking at him.
"You'll never lose me Christian." I tell him. "I promise you."
"I know, but I was so scared Ana, I was miles away and you were telling me you were leaving and you were taking money out of the account. If you weren't so clever I would never have found you."
"Well we should thank the Lord that I am clever then shouldn't we." I say playfully and I can feel him smiling though I can't see it.
"Yes we should Mrs Grey. Yes we should." He says.
"Mr Grey come to bed?" I ask feeing totally tired.
"Bed?" he asks eyeing me up.
"To sleep Christian, I'm completely wasted."
He grins and we both stand, maybe the morning will bring something better to us.
The next morning I wake just as Christian leaves the bathroom. I smile at my hunky Adonis with drips falling from his copper hair down to his shoulders, I still can't believe how lucky I am having snapped up the hottest man in Seattle… possibly the USA!
"Like what you see?" He asks with a twinkle in his eye.
"Oh you know it." I tease and he displays a shit eating million dollar grin and I melt, he is the only man who can make me melt with a smile.
"So what are your plans for today Mrs Grey?" He asks and I laugh at the rhyme but I know my face turns sour when I remember the last time a name was rhymed like that. "What is it?" he asks his own face falling at the sight of mine.
"Nothing." I say shaking my head.
"Ana I thought we agreed to be honest with each other and talk to one another, what's on your mind?"
"I just remembered something from Aspen. I was talking with your Dad."
"You spoke with Carrick?"
"Yes, he sabotaged me in the study , not long before I overheard you and Grace talking."
"Oh." He says as he himself remembers everything that followed that incident.
"It's nothing Christian, really." I say as he comes to sit beside me.
"What made you remember it now?"
"I rhymed." I say laughing and he grins at me.
"What did you and my Dad talk about then?"
"Do we have to do this now?"
"Yes."
I sigh and think back to the conversation I had with Carrick Grey in the Study at the house in Aspen.
"He just asked me how I was and how we were handling everything and suggested we talk that's all." I shrug. "I think he just wanted to make sure we were ok."
"Ok." He says content with my answer. "Right I need to get to work."
"You're going to work? Christian you have two broken ribs!"
"Yes Mrs Grey I know however I have an empire to run, I suspect you will also be going to work to."
"I guess." I shrug I had planned on working from home but if Christian is going to Grey's House then I am not staying in Escala alone.
"We need to visit the house this evening, how about we go to dinner afterwards?"
"Sure." I smile, I'm looking forward to seeing the house all finished but getting to see some of the work in process
He walks into the closet leaving me to head into the bathroom and start my own morning routine. It's not easy to do anything with my arm in a cast, luckily it's small and confided to my wrist giving me almost free use of my fingers. After I wash my hair I am quick into the closet just as Christian exits.
"Will you be at breakfast when I get there Mr Grey?" I call after him.
"Depends how long you take." He winks.
I just laugh, playful fifty is back and I am going to do everything I possibly can to keep him here for as long as is possible. Maybe I can take him for a stint in the playroom this evening, give him some of the control he lost out in Aspen back.
I choose a simple grey halter neck business dress with a navy single button jacket and a red pair of ankle strap pumps by Manolo Blahnik. I pull my hair back into a high sleek pony tail and put on some simple makeup. I love getting dressed for work. I feel sophisticated and feel like the wife of a multi-billionaire.
Once happy with my appearance I make my way into the kitchen where Christian is eating and Mrs Jones is busying herself.
"Oh my Mrs Grey." Christian says with a hint of teasing in his voice.
"You like what you see Mr Grey?" I ask back before giving him a slow twirl, I feel his eyes roaming over every inch of the outfit and my body.
"Very nice. You look like the next big CEO."
"I'll settle for President thank you." I reply knowing that on the date of our wedding anniversary I will be the CEO of Grey's Publishing and right now I don't want to think of the added stress that's going to come with that.
"What would you like to eat Ana?" Christian asks as soon as I sit down and there he is my controlling fifty.
"I'll just have some granola please Mrs Jones."
"Coming right up." She smiles at me as I lean my head on my hand and gaze at my husband.
"So what do you have to do today Mrs Grey?" He asks between bites of his omelette.
"Well I have to sort out the mess I made of Tabitha Riley's book release, it should have happened yesterday but unforeseen circumstances have pushed it back, now she's asking for more money or threatening to go with someone else."
"Ouch." He chuckles.
"Yes some authors think that just because they sold one book their sequel has rights, I'm going to make sure she knows otherwise." I tease as Mrs Jones deposits my breakfast in front of me, complete with my Twinings tea.
"See I knew you could handle being in charge."
"Tell me that after I have dealt with her." I say knowing that it could all go wrong. "I might even make it clear to her that if she pulls the plug on us because you and I were in a car accident I will make sure that not a single other publishing house in Seattle will sign her."
"You have that type of power?" He asks me with a raised eyebrow.
"Nope, but she doesn't know that." I laugh.
"Mrs Grey what have I turned you into?" He asks leaning into me.
"At least you acknowledge that you're the one to blame here Mr Grey." I laugh before his lips capture mine.
Through the corner of my eye I see Mrs Jones making herself scarce. I relax then into my husband's sweet kiss knowing that this will be it for at least 10 hours when I meet him to go to the house.
"Oh my Mother called asking about Thanksgiving, will you call your parents find out if they're interested in joining us? They can stay here at Escala or we can put them in a hotel but she needs to know so they can shop."
"Sure thing, I'll call them as soon as I'm in the office."
"Good. Call my Mother as soon as you know." He smiles. "I have to go now."
"Have a good day Mr Grey." I tease and he grins.
"You too and look after Sawyer, he's not going to be used to having you taking charge."
"Hey, he'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about."
"Why?"
"Your ribs."
"Are fine." He tells me sternly and I know not to mention it again. "Now I'll pick you up at six with Taylor, be ready to go."
"Yes Sir." I smile before kissing him one last time and watching him go.
As soon as he's gone I make my way to the bedroom to retrieve my BlackBerry, I have a feeling that I am going to need it on hand today as I am going to be busy until six and Christian comes to get me.
"Ready to go Sawyer?" I ask without looking up from my emails where I am going through everything that has been sent to me from the office that needs to be addressed today.
"Yes Mr Grey, should I bring the car round?"
"No I think we'll take the R8, I'll drive." I tell him again without lifting my head from my phone.
I know that Sawyer has no instructions from Christian to not allow me to drive so he doesn't do anything but fetch the keys.
"Thank you for breakfast Mrs Jones." I smile. "Have a good day."
"You too Ana." She says even though my eyes are still glued to my email, it's going to be a busy day.
We travel down the elevator in silence and still my eyes are glued to my BlackBerry, I should have continued to check this while we were out in Aspen but after everything I switched it off and left it be hoping nothing urgent would come up. It was a bad idea as now I have a hundred million things to do.
I climb into the driver's side of the car, exit my email and throw my phone onto the top. As we exit the parking lot the press take notice and begin snapping photos, I groan knowing that they're there because of everything that happened in Aspen but as Christian said we'd give a statement if and when necessary and otherwise we had to just ignore the vultures till they went away.
I put my foot down as soon as I exit the parking lot just until I'm away from the barrage of questions being shouted at the car, as if I could answer them anyway. I laugh when I see Sawyer adjusting himself, he's as nervous as Christian about my driving skills but if Wanda was as dangerous as Christian made her out to be they shouldn't worry, I never had an accident in her.
Outside the office more press are gathered and as I use my briefcase to cover myself Sawyer wraps himself almost over me in order to get me inside unharmed. Christian has warned me in the past about haters hanging out in press throwing things even though we're the victims in this case it could still happen.
Once inside the office I am barraged with questions from the editors about different situations, people need my signature, they need me to review things and I ignore it all as Sawyer gets me safely into the elevator, they can send anything they need me to sort to Hannah and I'll look over it as soon as I can, they know the drill yet they still choose to bombard me.
"Well that's what I call a thrilling start to the morning." I say as soon as Sawyer and I are alone in the elevator.
He just smiles briefly at me and I grin back at him, he's so shy it's unreal and he's very much weary of me too since the incident with Jack Hyde.
"Right then Sawyer here are the car keys, I trust I can leave you to your own devices while I work?" I tease handing the keys over.
"I'll be in the café across the street Ma'am. Message or call if you need me."
"Thank you Sawyer." I say stepping off the elevator and into the lobby outside my office.
I watch the doors close and then turn to Hannah where she is patiently waiting for me behind her desk.
"Ok so what mess has been made of this place while I have been gone Hannah?" I ask.
"You have about a gazillion messages Mrs Grey, they're all in your box on your desk waiting for you."
"Ok what appointments do I have today?" I ask walking towards my office and she quickly follows me.
"You have a meeting with Tabitha Riley at ten thirty, followed by a lunch time meeting with the board and then you have an appointment with Doctor Greene at three." Hannah says quickly, she has my daily planner memorised.
"Shit, I completely forgot about Doctor Greene. Call Sawyer, tell him to have the car out front for two thirty then I shouldn't be more than an hour so I will be back. Can you make sure the small conference room is set up for the meeting with Riley, make sure there are drinks and cakes we're about to lose her as a signed author and I wouldn't like that to happen. Then make sure there is lunch in the big conference room for everyone for the board. And I would kill for a tea."
"Sure thing Mrs Grey." She says scribbling in her notebook as she turns around and exits my office.
I sink into my chair and take a deep breath, I was right. Today is going to be a very long day.
I power up my computer and pick up the pile of phone messages from the in tray. As the computer loads I flick through them, piling them in three piles in order of importance. Urgent, Non-Urgent and somewhere in between. Hannah brings in my tea and I barely even notice as I fire up my email account. Of course there is one from my husband.
To: Anastasia Grey
Subject: Good Morning
From: Christian Grey
Ana,
I already miss you, time goes by way to slowly when we are apart and a meeting with the Seattle shipment board is no fun either!
I look forward to six o'clock, don't forget we're visiting the house and then having a late dinner.
I love you baby
Christian Grey
Lonely CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
Jesus that man can be sweet when he wants to be. I quickly knock the reply button hoping that he won't consume to much of my time today as I am going to be a mess between everything that needs to be done.
To: Christian Grey
Subject: Miss you too
From: Anastasia Grey
Looking forward to six too, I can't wait to see the house (Or you either!) However I don't think I am going to have as much time to brood as you are, I left Grey's Publishing in quite a bit of a mess when I turned off my BlackBerry after your accident.
I luckily have a lunch provided board meeting at noon so I will be eating.
I also have an appointment with Doctor Greene, nothing to worry about, just a check-up after … and my next shot.
A x
Anastasia Grey
Already wiped and it's not even ten President, Grey Publishing, Inc.
I click send then pick up the pile of urgent calls and sort through them. Many of them are disgruntled employees, mainly editors, who need me to go over some things before they're finalised and published. Hannah can deal with the apology phone calls and that will take a load off. I remember the little gadget Christian has on his desk that contacts his assistant with a click of the button and I realise I need one of those as I leave my office to ask her to do the work I should really do myself.
By the time I get back to my office there is another email from Christian.
To: Anastasia Grey
Subject: Busy Day
From: Christian Grey
I would like to discuss your appointment with Doctor Greene, have you enough time for a phone conversation?
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
Uh-oh. This can't be good.
I quickly pick up the office phone and call his cell phone. I already know the number and I can't be bothered fetching the BlackBerry from my briefcase.
"Grey." He snaps.
"Hey baby." I say softly hoping he'll relax as soon as he realises it's me.
"Hey Ana." He replies and though he sounds a little more relaxed than on answering he still sounds uptight.
"So uh what is it you wanted to discuss about my relatively unimportant appointment with my OBGYN?" I ask trying to sound unflustered by his request to discuss this matter.
"Oh well, what is the appointment for?"
I rub my hand across my forehead and squeeze my eyes shut, this is hard enough as it is without having to explain it to Christian.
"It's just a scan to see if my body has returned properly to its pre-pregnancy state Christian and then I'll have my shot to make sure we have no more invaders." I add the last bit to try and humour into the situation but I know he heard my voice quiver at the words 'pre-pregnancy'.
"Ana." He says softly.
"What?"
"I don't want you to have the shot."
My eyes pop wide open and I almost drop the phone in my lap. I'm shocked into silence.
"Ana are you still there?"
"Yes… yes I'm still here." I manage as my mind begins going into overdrive.
"I don't want you to have the shot Ana."
"Christian…"
"I want to have children Ana, we're ready…"
"Christian stop it!" I snap and he is quick to shut up. "First of all, it's not advised to get pregnant until six months after a miscarriage, that means at least another two months, secondly I don't want to discuss this over the phone with you. We'll discuss it at home or dinner or in the car, anywhere but face to face."
"Do you not want to have my children Ana?" He asks and I can hear that he sounds hurt.
"Of course I do Christian." I sigh.
"Then what's the problem?"
"Christian… please not now?"
"Fine. But this conversation isn't over Anastasia. Call me if you need anything."
He hangs up without even saying goodbye. I sigh and return the phone to its holster. This is not a conversation I was expecting to have with Christian any time soon. How do I tell him that I'm not ready to be a mother, that the loss of Little Blip was a blessing in disguise? Yes we would have made great parents had Blip lived but it didn't and now I want to see the world and grow up some, I'm twenty two years old and the president of Grey's Publishing. I am not ready to be a Mom, not yet, not for a few years. He's going to be so angry when I tell him.
Knowing that I won't be able to relax for a while now thanks to that impromptu phone conversation I pick up the phone and call Sawyer.
"Can you meet me downstairs Sawyer please?"
He replies in the affirmative and I hang up before making my way out of the office.
"Hannah I'm taking a break. If it isn't urgent then I don't want to hear about it. If it is I'm on my BlackBerry." I tell her.
"Of course Mrs Grey." She replies without question and I step into the elevator.
The ride down is quiet with very few people coming or going. I rub my forehead again, a habit I think I've picked up to stop myself from rolling my eyes or biting my lip. Or it might be the fact that I have a headache coming on due to the stress I've been under.
I step out into the ground floor lobby and just as I'm about to turn for the door there is an almighty Crash!