Chapter 20

SO SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY, IT HAS BEEN A CRAZY FEW MONTHS FOR ME... FIRST MY DAD HAD TO HAVE MAJOR SURGERY BECAUSE HE HAD CANCER. MY BROTHER GOT REALLY SICK AND NEEDED TWO SURGERIES. THEN MY MOTHER WAS IN HOSPITAL WITH PNEUMONIA, SO I HAVE BEEN HOME TAKING CARE OF EVERYONE. EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE DOING A LOT BETTER SO NOW THE WRITING CAN CONTINUE, I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE STILL GOING TO STICK AROUND.. I HAVE MISSED YOU GUYS!

Ana POV

A couple days later…..

I'm staying at my old place with Kate, I don't like being at Escala without Christian being there. It just doesn't feel right. He has been in NY and he hasn't texted or called and I don't know how much more I can take. Grey hasn't been her usual playful self, she has been lying around moping all day. I'm sure she misses Christian too, it is close to 8 here and it is 11pm there. I had Sawyer check in with Taylor to make sure they got there safely the other night. I cry when I look at some pictures of us on my cell phone looking so happy together. I sit here and stare at one of him and Grey cuddling. "God this man is too gorgeous" I think as I catch my breath. I give in and call him, he doesn't answer so I want to leave a voicemail because there is so much I want and need to say but instead I just hang up. The only thing my stomach could handle eating today was a banana. The place our relationship is in takes a heavy toll on me. It takes a while but I finally fall asleep.

At seven in the morning my cell phone is going off, my heart beats faster and I hope to see his perfect face flashing across my screen but when it doesn't I feel my heart break.

I answer failing at trying to sound cheerful, "Hi Mama"

"Hey baby what's wrong?" She asks concerned.

Both my parents don't know that I've moved in with my boyfriend and we haven't even been together for a full month yet. I told my mom about Christian when we first met but I haven't given any other details.

I sigh, "I just miss you.." Which is true but not the giving the whole truth.

"Oh sweetie I miss you too. I've wanted to visit family in Italy, Why don't you come with? We can make it a special trip for us. Your great uncle Antonio sent us tickets a while back ago that we can use! Nonno hasn't felt very well and who knows how much longer he will be around."

I start to cry a bit when she brings up my grandpa, he was so heartbroken when my Nonna passed away that he moved back to Italy to be with other family still there. I had already helped my grandma with the restaurant and she trusted me to keep it going.

"Let's go then Mama. I want to see Tata. I will fly into LA and then we can leave together." When I was younger I couldn't say papa very well so Tata just stuck.

"I love you Ana; I can't wait to see you."

"Me too Mama, love you." I say before hanging up.

I get online to find me the next flight to LA and get out my wallet. When pulling out my card it I see the black AMEX next to mine that brings back a memory from last week.

I'm in the kitchen making Christian and I some grilled cheese for lunch. We eat like kids sometimes. He enters the kitchen wrapping his strong arms around my waist nuzzling my neck and I let out an involuntary moan.

I feel his smile and look up into his lustful eyes, "Let's skip lunch and I'll eat you instead" he states huskily.

"Behave yourself Mr. Grey; I need you strong with enough energy for what I have planned tonight."

He lets out a sexy growl, "I love it when you talk like that baby."

I plate our food and he says, "Oh this came in for you today. I want you to use it for anything and everything you need."

He hands me what looks like a black AMEX credit card….. I look at it and see that it has my name on it.

"Christian, please tell me that you are joking? I have plenty of my own money and can take care of myself. "

He looks down frustrated, "Anastasia, I love taking care of you. You are my woman and I want to spoil you. That's a man's job isn't it?"

I roll my eyes, "Maybe in the 50's but honey we aren't married and I am quite capable of doing that job myself."

He scoops me up into his arms so I'm dangling over his shoulder, "I've warned you about the eye rolling, so you've earned some spankings." He says swatting my behind a few times before setting me on my chair at the table. I giggle.

"Baby, I love it when you spank me." I feel my cheeks heat up as I admit it.

He laughs, "Oh I know you do naughty girl."

We ate lunch then played around all afternoon in his playroom and then continued the fun in our bedroom.

He must have snuck that card in my wallet after I fell asleep that's so typical of him. I purchase the plane tickets for Sawyer and me on my card of course, Christian is crazy to think I would use his money at all in the first place. I call Sawyer and tell him about our trip and it is surprising that he actually sounded happy about the trip. He is stoic and all business just like Taylor. Not as much but still most of the time. I asked for him not to tell Taylor because I don't want to talk to Christian about it yet. I'm scared that he is going to end things with us, never once has he ignored me like this. Well we haven't been together long but still. I keep wondering if maybe he isn't answering because he met another woman. I shake those unwelcome thoughts as I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

Sawyer and I quickly head to Escala so I can pack quickly, but before packing I write a note to leave for Christian on his desk.

After landing at LAX I check my cell and there is nothing from Christian, not even a text. Sawyer and I meet up with my mom. Once we spot my gorgeous mother she hugs me tight.

"Ana, you don't look so well. What is going on?" a mother's intuition is killer.

"I had a disagreement with Christian and now he is ignoring me. Well he is on a business trip in NY but he hasn't responded to my call or the text I sent him." I reply looking down not wanting her to see just how bad it hurts.

She pulls me in for another hug, "Well maybe now isn't the best time to go to Italy if you want this new relationship to work out. I'm sure he just wanted a little space and will want to work this out in person when he gets back home."

I wipe away my tears, "We are going to see Tata. Let's get some food and then we are off for our 15 hour flight to Rome." I'm able smile a real smile for the first time in days.

My mom smiles, "We should stay here for a couple days in Malibu while you sort this mess out with your boyfriend, then we will go."

I laugh, "Mama, it might take an act from above for all that to be sorted out so we don't have to wait for that."

"Oh come on baby I would love for you to spend some time with Bob before we go. You've hardly got to spend any quality time with us."

I give in, I can't say no to my mom. "Fine Mama, we will spend a couple days here before leaving."

Christian POV

The past 48 hours have been an utter nightmare. I haven't slept the New York office had everything completely fucked up on this deal; I've spent every minute since I've landed here trying to get everything corrected. I haven't called or messaged Ana and I feel bad about it but I needed to turn that part of me off so I could concentrate on fixing this merger because it is a huge deal. Taylor is driving us to the airport; I pull out my cell phone to see that she called me last night. She didn't leave a voicemail. I call her back and it goes straight to voicemail. I try again a minute later and it goes to voicemail as well.

This makes me nervous; I hope that she is okay. "Taylor check in with Sawyer to see how Ana is doing and what is the problem with her phone?"

Taylor responds a couple minutes later, "Sir nothing from Sawyer yet, when I spoke with him earlier he said she was fine."

I shake my head, "Her cell phone going to voicemail is not fine. Sawyer not responding is not fine."

This is going to be a fucking long flight…

Once we are back in Seattle and Ryan has picked us up from the airport I try to call Ana again, still going straight to voicemail.

Taylor is talking to someone, I hope it is Sawyer. After he has finished his call, "Sir, Sawyer has checked in that Ana is fine. She forgot to turn her phone back on."

"Back on? Why did she turn it off to begin with?" I ask thinking Taylor will have the answer.

When we get back to Escala I expect Grey to run towards the elevator once it opens but that doesn't happen. I head to my study to drop off my briefcase. I see a note on my desk from Ana.

"Christian,

I'm spending some time with my mother. We are going to visit some family in Italy. I don't know when you will be back because you have been avoiding me. Mia has agreed to take care of Grey until you get back. She has moved in with Kate so Grey will be there with her. I will miss you, I love you Christian.

Ana"

That's it I'm going to fire Sawyer so fucking fast his head is going to be spinning. He didn't think to tell me that she was leaving out of the country. I'm so pissed.

Taylor enters my office.

"Sir, I've spoken to Sawyer again and demanded to know their location or else he would be terminated. He states they are staying in Malibu for a couple days before leaving for Rome. He states that Ana asked him to not say anything to us or that she would go alone without protection."

I growl, "Fine Taylor. Have them get the jet ready, we are going to California."

I shouldn't be taking out my frustrations on him; I wonder how the hell he puts up with me.

Before heading to the airport I decide to stop by to visit Mia and see if she will continue to watch Grey until we get back. I will make it worth her while. I knock and knock before she finally answers nearly out of breath and not bothering to invite me in.

"Took you long enough Mia and thanks for inviting me in" I chastise her.

She opens the door, "Come in brother."

Grey runs to me excitedly crying, I pick her up to love on her.

"Hey baby, I missed you." I coo to her as she licks my arms. I taught her not to lick the face.

"So Mia I was wondering if you would take care of Grey while I'm out of town for a while. I'm willing to pay a pretty penny for it?" I ask.

"Sure Christian, I love little Grey."

I hear someone cough and it is coming from her bedroom, it definitely sounded like a guy coughing.

Now in protective brother mode, "Who is here Mia?"

She shakes her head, "Chris I am in my twenties, I don't need to explain myself to you and Elliot anymore."

"Yes you do, I don't want anyone taking advantage of you. I want to meet him. What is his name?"

"Another time Christian, he is sleeping. When you get back." She states panicked.

"I'm not leaving here without a name, or I could just go ask him… You choose Mia" I demand.

"Drew Spencer" She whispers with tears streaming down her face.

Reviews are always appreciated! what do you see happening next?