History
Ana's POV:
I barely move as Christian explains everything that has transpired from last night until after I witnessed a very emotional Grace and Carrick exit the penthouse with Elliot. His brother was putting on a brave face, but it was obvious that he was horribly shaken. Christian's darkest and most hideous secrets are finally out. I don't know how to feel, but I am in awe of his bravery. The world's most private man just forced to expose every one of his dark secrets. I want to hold him, reassure him, but know that this would pain his even more. He can't handle touch.
Christian leans back on the couch holding my hand tightly. I suspect his tight grip is to prevent me from moving away from him. He confounds me! One minute I would describe him as arrogant, cold and seeking to control the world, the next I would have to argue the opposite. He is looking at me, waiting for me to speak, but I don't know what I can say. He looks too cool right now, but I reason that he is feeling relief.
"Ana?"
"Yes," I reply offering him a small smile. My voice is unusually soft.
"You are very quiet," Christian gazes upon me. The expression in his eyes is soft as he runs his knuckles gently over my jaw line.
"I don't know what to say. This is just too much," I admit, feeling my eyes water up.
"Ana, please I don't want you to pity me. If I could have I would have hidden the whole truth from you, but Elena's threat made that impossible and you have wanted me to be open with you. You now know about my past and why I am the way I am."
"That's not what I mean, well not entirely," I sigh. "I don't understand why you did all this? You took an incredible risk!" I start to calculate how big a chance Christian just took and may still need to take.
"Anastasia, I did this because I wanted to protect you. No one will ever attempt to threaten you or put in the same situation as last night." Christian is a mixture of control and warmth.
"You could have lost everything! What if your disclosure had taken a different outcome? What if Elena had come over earlier or if she had…." I start to shake a little considering what could have happened, though deep down I know that he is too clever to take chances. Every one of his moves is calculated and thought out.
"It wasn't going to happen," Christian is defiant and strong.
"But…." I start to shake even more
"Anastasia STOP! Listen to me," Christian grabs my shoulders, keeping me still. "Everything I did was because I love you. I will move the earth and the moon for you." I gulp, and again I am stunned into silence. "Ana I meant what I said when I told you I loved you. I haven't felt like this before, ever."
"Christian it is just too much to take in… I need some time," I sigh. He cocks his head to the side and then tugs at my hand and pulls me onto his lap. I willingly sink into his arms and rest against him. I hold my breath wondering if he will flinch. I am careful to make sure that I don't touch his chest. Christian nuzzles his nose into my hair and then commences to kiss my ear. I moan slightly as he starts to softly bite it. Damn, he is trying to distract me and is succeeding.
"I need to get to work," I mutter, looking at my watch. Shit I am late. I better ring my boss Linda and tell her I am on my way. I pray I won't be in trouble!
"No, you don't. Remember I had Taylor contact SIP and tell them you were ill." Oh yeah, I forgot… but still.
"I should still go to work. I don't know how my boss is going to take some guy calling in sick for me. I will make up an excuse. Can Taylor or Sawyer drive me so I can get there as quick as possible?" I get up, but I don't manage to get very far as Christian has gripped my hand even harder.
"No don't go! I don't have to go into work today, and neither do you. We can do anything you want! Just name it!"
"I can't, I have to go! My boss won't be happy with some strange guy calling in sick for me, plus I only started work just over a week ago. I don't want to management to develop a negative opinion of me."
"It won't happen. Trust me!" Christian voice is confident, as he smirks briefly but then looks at me impassively when he realises I am studying his facial expression.
"How can you be so confident?" I ask cautiously. He still is the master of the Universe after all.
"I am familiar with the management." Arrogance shines through Christian. What even vulnerability there was about him earlier today has vanished completely.
"You know Roach?" I inquire.
"I have met him once."
"That isn't sufficient to make such a judgement." I refute.
"Anastasia I know someone higher up in management at SIP" Christian admits.
"You mean the owner? You know the CEO of the Lockridge Corporation?" I continue to probe.
"Something like that," I roll my eyes at his indirect answer. "You know the next time you roll your eyes at me I am going to throw you over my shoulder and take you upstairs." I gulp at his answer and though I am curious about what is upstairs, otherwise the room, I am more concerned about work. I have only just started this job and I don't want to lose it.
"Yes or no, do you know the owner? Ryan, or is it Bryce Lockridge? "
"His name is Bryan Lockridge and yes I know him. My mother is associated through the hospital with his children's charity. I, usually, attend his annual fundraiser and I have donated money to his charity before," Christian informs me.
"Do you have any leverage with him?" Christian cocks his head to the side at my continued questions. I don't want him to interfere my work, but I need to know if he has the means to do so, because if he does, then it is in his nature that he will.
"Yes, so it won't be any concern you having today off. If your boss, Linda, or Roach do or say anything, I will rectify the situation. You needn't worry about work" Christian looks almost smug in his response.
"Have you intervened at SIP already?" I question seeking confirmation that he had me swapped employment positions with Ben.
"Are you sure you want to know?" Christian sits up uncomfortably
"Yes" I reply, but my voice is meek giving away how unsure I really am.
"I didn't want you working for Hyde. In fact, his days are numbered," Christian states with so much authority.
"What do you mean?" I probe.
"Are you hungry? You haven't eaten this morning and neither have I!" Mr. Mercurial is back with a vengeance and is now headed off in the direction of Mrs. Jones in the kitchen without explaining what he means.
My cell phone beeps. It's a text message from my boss Linda, telling me that she has got the message that I am unwell and that I should rest and get better soon. I sigh, resigned to the fact that I am free for the day and might as well work out what this relationship will be with Christian and hopefully have him elaborate on his last statement.
By the time I have re-joined Christian in the kitchen, he is placing my favourite cup of tea and his coffee on the breakfast bench while Mrs. Jones is whisking away.
"Miss Steele, are mushrooms and spinach okay in your omelette?" She asks politely.
"Yes thank you." Mrs. Jones works quickly and once she places our breakfast in front of us she leaves Christian and me alone. The food in front of me looks delicious, but I don't know if I will be able to eat it. Christian commences eating heartily, as usual.
"Is there something wrong with your breakfast?"
"No."
"Then eat," Christian orders. His annoyance gives me an idea.
"I will eat if you show me your room. The one you mentioned before. The room that you did everything," I speak slowly, so I can take deep breaths at the same time in order to not lose my nerve.
"Why?" Christian probes.
"Curiosity," I shrug hoping the one class I took of drama at school is sufficient to pull off the façade of my calm state. I need to know exactly what this room entails. It has been part of him for years, it is his means of coping. Christian may have said that he loves me but how long will that last if I am unable to participate and meet his needs.
"Eat, then we will see," Christian replies, thought regards me prudently. I busy myself with finishing my breakfast as does Christian, but quickly wish that we had continued to converse about another topic. The silence fills the room making me apprehensive. Christian finishes his meal first and looks at me.
"Do you mind if I have a shower before I give you your requested tour? That is if you are you still sure you want to see the room?" Christian is looking at me inexpressively; however, this is just an attempt to hide his emotions.
"I don't mind. I will wait here and finish my breakfast and yes I still want my tour, of sorts. I need to see the room." Christian cocks his head to the side, and then slightly nods. I pray he doesn't quiz me as to why I have developed a sudden need. I thank god when he walks off into the direction of his bedroom instead.
I struggle to finish the last of my omelette as a thousand thoughts run through my mind. I wish I had asked Christian what is in his room beforehand. Maybe this way I could prepare myself. My cell phone rings and when I check the ID I find that it is Kate. Please don't tell me that Elliot told her I was here and she is ringing me to put me through the Great Kavanagh Inquisition. I take a deep breath and try to act as casual and worry free as possible.
Ana: Morning Kate!
Kate: Ana, are you still at Escala?
I am instantly worried. Kate sounds frantic, nothing like her usual cool and collected self.
Ana: Yes.
Kate: Is Christian there? I have been trying to reach him. He isn't answering his cell phone.
Ana: Yes, he is here. He's in the shower. But why are you ringing him? I didn't even know you had his number. How did you even know I was here?
Kate: Elliot told me but that is all he said and I got Christian's number from Elliot's phone. You need to get Christian here right now!
Ana: Where?
Kate: Elliot's house. He came home this morning after being at Escala and started to drink. A lot!
Ana: Elliot is drunk?
Kate: If only that is what he was? Elliot is practically inconsolable and likely to break everything that he owns. He has just muttered about Christian. I called in sick at work because I was worried about what he would do if he were alone. Elliot won't talk to me and I honestly think Christian is the only one that is going to be able to talk to him.
Ana: I will get Christian. We will come over.
Kate: Hurry!
I walk straight through Christian's room and enter the bathroom. The seriousness and horror in Kate's voice haunts me that I don't think before I open the shower door, and for the second time, get to witness the perfect physical shape that is Christian Grey.
"Anastasia, eager are you?" Christian asks playfully.
"No… yes… No!" I blush horribly, but remember the tone in Kate's voice. "Kate just rang me. We need to go to Elliot's place. Supposedly he is in pretty bad shape after this morning."
Christian runs his hands through his wet hair and I feel guilty for wishing that it was me doing that considering the situation with his brother. I stand back as Christian gets out of the shower and dresses quickly. His eyes are down cast and but I know that they are filled with regret and darkness. Fully dressed he looks up at me; I want to wrap my arms around him and tell him that everything will okay.
"I have to go. I am sorry."
"Can I come with you?" I request
"I don't think that would be a good idea."
"Kate is still at Elliot's house. I think she needs me as much as Elliot needs you."
"Fine. Let's go."
Christians POV:
Ana and I enter Elliot's house and are met by a shaken Kate. She and Ana hug tightly, which causes Kate to start to cry uncontrollably.
"Where is Elliot?"
"He is in the bedroom," Kate informs me in between her sobs. I walk into the direction of the bedroom and once I open the door the stench of hard liquor hits every single one of my senses. Elliot is sitting up against the wall of the room. His hand is covered in blood and there is a couple of broken items in the room. I head into the bathroom and grab a towel, some antibacterial spray and water.
"Elliot give me your hand" I order but he doesn't even appear to listen. I grab it myself and apply the spray, which causes him to scream out loud.
"FUCK, how much did you put on my hand you bastard?"
"Enough."
"You're an asshole you know that?" Elliot yells at me.
"Yes," I reply.
"Christian just explain why you went back to Elena. You knew what she and I did, plus what she wanted to do with me! Why did you let her do that to you! You promised me you wouldn't go back after I caught you!" Elliot clenches his fist and looks like he is going to try and futilely put a hole in the wall again.
I grab the bottle of aged whiskey that Elliot has been drinking, one to prevent him for continuing to drink himself into oblivion, and two because I could use the some of this temporary remedy.
"I ought to knock you out Christian. First tell me why you continued your relationship with Elena?
Elliot is trying not to yell, but is failing. Before I can respond he starts to rant. "You're the biggest fucked up bastard you know that. You call me telling to go over to your penthouse at the crack of dawn and inform me you were fucking that bitch for years. Then you continue to inform me that I may need to have you're larger than life corporation signed over to me to protect your employees because of her. But worst of all you then send in the shit head lawyer to set up all the paperwork and don't give me a chance to even speak." Anger pours out of Elliot, but I know that he is more upset than anything.
"So now that I am here, what do you want to know?" I ask taking a long drink of the whiskey.
"Tell me how you managed to keep it secret and why you didn't stop?" Elliot requests.
"That's a lot to explain and you never liked History class."
"Try me. It about time I took a refresher course!" I pass Elliot the bottle and watch as he takes another drink before I do the same. Usually, it is in my nightmare that my past revisits me, but today is unlike any other day.
Authors Note: Sorry it has taken me a couple of weeks to finish this chapter. I have started on the next chapter. There has been a lot of downs in my life at the moment which made writing hard, but that is life hey? So next chapter, I am going to explain what Elena and Christian story as it relates to this FF and the twist with Elliot.