Chapter 24

Mercer Island. 10.35am, Saturday July 18th.

Andrea had left Emma with her Mom for the morning. She pressed the doorbell on a large, grey, clapperboard house in a smart neighborhood on Mercer Island. As she waited for the door to be answered she removed her sunglasses and fanned out her hair. It had been several years but she knew there would be no chance of Penny forgetting who she was. The door opened and there stood a woman as dear to her now as she had been that night when she'd given Andrea and her mom the sanctuary they needed.

"Andrea! Oh my goodness!" Penny hugged her as if her life depended on it, then stood back and looked at her. "You've grown."

Andrea laughed. "I'm thirty one. I can only have grown sideways."

"You know what I mean. Come in, come in and have some of my lemonade. I know how much you love it."

Andrea stepped into the cool, dark, house allowing her eyes time to make the adjustment. Little had changed since the last time she'd been here, which was several years ago now and Penny's house still smelled like an antique shop. She followed Penny into the kitchen which was, in contrast to the rest of the house, light and bright. The sun was shaded from the windows by a thick yellow canopy that had been pulled out from the wall of the house above the kitchen windows. Penny went to the refrigerator and pulled out a large pitcher of pink lemonade. From a cupboard she pulled out two tall glasses, added a generous quantity of ice to each and filled them both with lemonade.

"Freshly made this morning," she said, handing Andrea one of the glasses.

Andrea took a sip and was instantly eight years old again. She must get the recipe from Penny so she could make this for Emma. Some things were too good not to pass on to the next generation.

"Now, you tell me about this little baby girl of yours. Your Mom sent me a picture. How on earth did you end up giving birth in London of all places? Or is London her name? I don't know what's with girls calling their babies all kinds of odd names. I'm sure it's only a matter of time until I meet one called Twinkie."

Andrea smiled. "She's called Emma. And yes, she was born in London. She arrived a little early. Did Mom tell you what happened to my boyfriend?"

"No dear?"

"He was injured in the bombing there back in May."

"Oh. I'm so sorry. Is he OK?"

"He's getting back to full fitness, yes."

"Boyfriend?" Penny stressed and looked down the glasses on her nose. "Is there a wedding date set?"

Andrea smiled. Penny was nothing if not traditional about some things.

"There was. But I'm not sure now."

"Oh?" Penny sat on a stool at the breakfast bar and indicated for Andrea to do likewise.

"It's a little complicated. It's kind of why I'm here today." Andrea sat down.

"So tell me about the boyfriend."

"His name's Luke."

"And do you love him?"

"Oh, totally."

"And are you going to marry him?"

"Yes!"

"When?"

Andrea's face fell. "Right now, I don't know. It was supposed to be this Christmas in Europe. But our plans have kind of fallen through, so we'll need to re-think. We might just get married in Seattle instead."

"Church wedding?"

Andrea shook her head. "It's not Luke's thing."

"And what about it being your thing?"

"I don't go anymore. I don't have the time."

"You're still working for that guy who's in all the papers this morning?"

"What? He's in the papers? Why?"

"Some huge deal he's brokered? Now owns half of Southeast Asia or something?"

"Oh God, yes! It's the 18th. Venture Senkang." Andrea smacked her head with her palm. "How could I forget so quickly?"

"It's babies dear. Your brain comes out with the placenta. You'll get used to it. So you've not seen today's paper?"

"No."

Penny got up and walked out of the room, returning with the Seattle Times which she dropped on the counter in front of Andrea. There, on the front page, staring directly at her with those piercing grey eyes of his was Christian. He looked more gorgeous than any man had a right to. He was casually dressed (for him), in jeans, a white shirt and a dark jacket. The picture had been taken at the opening of a new gallery he'd gone to back in April. Ana wasn't in the picture but Andrea knew she'd been there. The informal picture was an odd choice to illustrate a major business deal, when GEH had a stock of more formal ones the Seattle Times could have used. She read the headline and the details of the takeover that they'd all worked for so long on. And then she noticed another side piece about Christian being the inaugural President of the Seattle Business Network, launching tonight. She didn't know about that and furrowed her brow at being out of the loop on the man's life. She turned to the main article inside. Yet again they'd used another informal picture of him, this time with Ana. They were very much the successful young couple. But did people really know what he was like? That he gained pleasure from inflicting pain on women? She'd seen the pieces on Jared Baker and Mark Grainger over the last couple of weeks. Was the world going to go on believing that Christian Grey really did walk on water, or was it up to her to tell them that when it came down to it, he could be a real pain in the ass for more than one reason?

"He's very handsome" commented Penny.

"Hmm." Andrea replied. It was true enough. The women at GEH who idolized him would be clipping it out of the paper or right-clicking it sand saving it to their picture folders on their computers. But they didn't know what she knew. They didn't know what was hiding in a blue photograph album in his desk drawer. And that was the reason she was here today, she needed advice from Penny.

Andrea closed the newspaper, folded it in half and pushed it back across the counter. She could still see his crotch. Even that was distracting.

Penny seemed to know that Andrea was ready to talk.

"So what can I help you with?"

"I have a situation with a girlfriend of mine." She needed to keep this strictly away from any mention of Christian and Ana. "I found out that her husband is beating her."

"How did you find out?"

"I found a photograph he took of her. I think he likes it when he sees that he's hurt her."

"Does he know that you know?"

"Not explicitly. But the last few times I've seen him, I've found it hard to be civil. You know how this presses my buttons."

"I know, Andrea. And nobody who saw you or your mother that night would ever believe that domestic violence is something we should keep quiet about. Does your friend know that you know?"

"Not yet. I want to know what to say to her. The last time I saw her she didn't look happy and I'm worried about her."

"Do you think she's in danger?"

"I don't know. What do you class as danger?"

"Your mom's situation."

"I don't really know enough about them to judge that."

"Are there any children?"

"Yes."

"OK. Does your friend have a lot of unexplained bruising? Is she calling in sick a lot or not attending things she's supposed to?"

"I…I don't think so." She would need to ask Hannah whether Ana was giving cause for concern.

"Is her husband a violent man?"

"He can be very intense at times." An image of a smiling Christian at the barbeque, giving her a flash of his vomit-inducing swim shorts was not the image of the intense Christian Grey she was looking for. She was thinking of him years ago when he never laughed, rarely smiled and always looked like he could vaporize you with a look.

Penny got up and walked over to another counter to pick up a card. She placed it in front of Andrea. "Those are my contact details. Give them to her. Let her know that there are people she can talk to. If she makes contact then I can find out whether she's in danger. We have other safe-houses if it comes to that."

"You have someone here?"

"Yes. Her name's Tracey. Odd that you should mention photographs. We've had a huge breakthrough in the last few weeks. She contacted Azurelight and brought with her a massive stack of photographs of people doing things to each other than no decent human being should ever do or see. Some of them are of her friends and she's working with us to contact them and give them the option to escape that world if they want to. It's hard to believe what some people will do for kicks." Penny took a sip of her lemonade. "In thirty years I've never seen such depravity."

"Have you had many replies?"

"One positive, and one telling us where we can roll it and shove it. It's their choice, they say."

"But you're in contact with one? That's good."

"Yes. I'm meeting her again shortly. Her name's Faye. She's married with a baby on the way. She wasn't what I was expecting."

"What were you expecting?"

"A victim. A hopeless case. But she's not like that at all. She's smart and simply ended up taking a path that ended in a blind alley." Penny took a sip of lemonade. "Have you told Luke about what happened to you?"

Andrea shook her head. "No. I really don't want to pick through that. My life, as far as I'm concerned, started the night I walked into this house."

"In your little rabbit PJs."

"You remember what I was wearing?"

"Of course." Penny leaned forwards and placed her hands over Andrea's. "Hard to say this, but you always remember the really bad ones."

Andrea took a drink to cover up a lump in her throat.

"Get your friend to call me," said Penny. "You don't have to explain things to her, let me do that. Her situation is not your situation and what was right for your mom and you may not be right for anyone else. Each case is different. Now, do you have any pictures of Emma that I can see?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" Andrea whipped her iPad out of her purse.

Having caught up and had a reassuring chat, Andrea said goodbye to Penny and made a promise to bring Emma to see her. She put on her sunglasses and stepped out into the blinding sunlight once again. She hadn't gone more than a dozen steps to her car when a huge black Audi screeched to a halt alongside her. The window slid down.

"Andrea? What are you doing here?" It was Luke.

"I came to see a friend. I texted you?"

"I know, but… here?"

"Yes. What are you doing here?"

"Working."

"On Mercer Island?"

"Yes."

Andrea gave a huff of indignation. "Is this yet another secret that you can't tell me?"

"Yes. But it also seems to be a secret that you can't tell me. What are you doing with Penny Squire of Azurelight?"

Andrea didn't reply.

"Andrea? What were you doing in that house?" Luke repeated.

"What are you doing watching that house?" she countered.

"I was asked to."

"You know what it is?"

"Yes. It's a safe-house."

"Then you should know that you hanging around in this street is putting vulnerable women in danger!" She hissed.

"Andrea, I appreciate that. I'm just trying to do my job."

"And what does Mr. Grey want with a safe-hou…" She trailed off. A sudden, horrible thought gripped her. "Oh my God!" She paled. "He's going to stop her!"

"What? What are you talking about?" Luke opened the door of the car and stepped out. "Andrea, are you OK? Get in I'll take you home."

"No!" She backed away.

"Andrea."

"No! I have my car." She strode quickly away.

"Andrea!" Luke went after her, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her around. Andrea yanked it out of his grip.

"Don't you dare!" She hissed.

He looked down at her and gently smoothed the hair from her face. "Andrea, sweetheart, what's happening to you? You're going bat-shit crazy right in front of my eyes. We'll get you the best Doctor. Mr. Gr…"

She cut him off. "Mr. Grey can go fuck himself for all I care!" She glared at Luke. "I'm not going bat-shit crazy!" She hissed. "All that's happened is that I've had my eyes opened and I will not work one more day for anyone who gets their kicks from inflicting pain on women. I'm done with GEH, I'm done with him and if you don't leave his employment, I'm done with you!"

Luke was instantly serious. "What have you found out?"

Andrea did not reply.

"Andrea! I need to know what you've found out and how you found out about it." Luke was in an instant back to being the intimidating bodyguard.

She folded her arms. "What are you going to do, silence me?"

Luke folded his own arms. "What are you going to do, tell people?"

She considered that. "Yes. I think people have a right to know that he hits his wife."

"He does not hit his wife."

"Then what does he do?" she hissed. "Paint her ass with blush?"

The penny suddenly dropped for Luke. "Oh…" He said and turned away with a smile.

"It's not funny!" Andrea exploded at Luke and stomped off down the street to her car. Luke sauntered after her, more relaxed. As she fumbled for her keys in her purse he pushed himself between her and the car door.

"It isn't what you think."

Andrea didn't look up. "What do you think I think? Damn, where the fuck are they!"

"Andie, this is really nothing."

"Nothing?!" Her voice jumped an octave. "You think domestic violence is nothing?" She threw her purse down to the floor and pulled down her t-shirt and the top of her bra exposing the white circular scars on tops of her breasts. "What do you think these are chicken-pox scars?"

"You told me they were insect bites."

"Well they're not!" Andrea said, suddenly contrite and releasing her clothing.

Luke pulled her t-shirt down, slowly this time, reaching the first scar and looking at the small white circle. He didn't need to ask what they were, he knew.

"I'm sorry." He said softly.

"Penny took Mom and me in the night we left. Mom was in a bad way. She had four broken ribs."

"You never told me."

"I don't really want to talk about it. It's not a part of my life I want to remember." Andrea looked up. "What are you doing here? The truth."

"I was watching the house. Your friend sent something to a friend of Mr. Grey's. He wanted me to check it out."

"A photograph?"

"Yes. Now tell me. What did you see?"

"A photograph. In an album. In the bottom drawer of his desk at GEH."

"And you were looking because…"

"Because I'm a nosy person!" She rolled her eyes and he grinned. "It was just pictures of his kids and Ana. They were so sweet. Then all of a sudden there was this picture of some woman's red butt cheeks in there."

Luke pulled her to him and hugged her. Andrea snaked her arms around his immense body and held him tightly. He kissed the top of her head. "He doesn't beat her. But he does spank her."

Andrea pushed away from him. "That's the same thing."

"Believe me, it's not. There's a big difference."

"He's still hitting her."

"He's not. Well… not in anger."

"Oh and hitting women if you're not angry with them is fine? That's comforting to know. Not!"

"Andie, it's not like that. It's spanking. It's… arousing. Like you enjoy having me…"

Andrea smothered his mouth. "Not in the street for crying out loud!"

"Oh come on. You and me are hardly making love with the lights off. We enjoy spicing it up, what makes you think Christian and Ana don't?"

"But he hits her."

"Spanks her and perhaps she asked him to."

"It makes me feel uncomfortable."

"That's understandable." He pulled her back to him.

Andrea rested her head against Luke's chest. "He's always given me the impression that he's a very urbane man. It never occurred to me that he might do something like that."

"You mean than he doesn't know anything other than the missionary position?"

"Well…yeah." She looked up at him and Luke grinned.

"What?" She asked, her interest piqued. Luke didn't reply. "Tell me?" she pressed. "Do you, Taylor and him sit around with a couple of beers and talk about sex?"

"No."

"Then what's making you smile like you know a big huge secret, Mr. Sawyer? Tell me or I'll sit on you and tickle it out of you."

"In the street?"

"Yeah, right here in the street!"

Luke kissed her, but Andrea pulled away from him.

"Oh no you don't, mister, that's you being evasive."

She pushed him up against her car.

"Tell me." She said.

"Only if you promise to tell me the bits of your life that you haven't told me before?"

Andrea nodded. "OK. Tonight."

"You know that we have that little box under the bed?"

"Yes."

"Well, they pretty much have a room full of that stuff. And he will likely fire my ass for telling you that."

Andrea was strangely quiet.

"What's the matter?" He asked.

"I really can't work for him now."

"Why not?"

"Because… oh never mind."

"No…tell me."

"I…" Andrea went scarlet and dropped her head into her hands.

Luke smirked. "Et tu, Andrea? Et tu?"

"Oh God, don't start. Yes!" She threw back her head. "Yes, OK. I admit it. Like most of his female workforce I have a thing for him. I've had it since the day I pitched up for the interview and even though I love you completely, it's hard to ignore him. He's just… stunning! And now you tell me he's some kind of…."

"Sex-God?"

"I did not say that!"

"No, but you were thinking it." Luke grinned.

"I can't work for him. I'll be scarlet all the time."

"Like your panties."

"Yep." Andrea shrugged in defeat. She looked at him. "I suppose you'll be going?"

"Where?"

"Away from me. Because I have a… thing for my boss."

"So what? You show me a girl at GEH that doesn't have a thing for the boss. But there's nothing you or any of them can do about it."

"I know. He's completely and utterly in love with Ana."

"And he would never look twice at you."

"Huh?" Andrea looked hurt. She didn't think she was that ugly.

"He doesn't go for blondes. Thankfully, I do."

"Oh…so that's OK then." Her comment was loaded with sarcasm.

"Especially blondes with scars that I want to kiss better."

Andrea took a breath. "It's very painful for me to talk about."

"I'm here." Luke took her hands. "I'll always be here."

Andrea snuggled into him. "Thank you."

"Now are you going to stop treating Mr. Grey like he's radioactive?"

"What and blush every time I see him?"

"You've done that every day since Emma was born, I doubt he'll notice the difference. You love your job, Andie, don't give it up."

"I'll think about it."

"And he's paying for our wedding."

"Yeah… about that."

"No. I'm not having you settling for here and then wishing you'd had your dream wedding in Lapland. We're going and that's final."

Andrea raised an eyebrow. "Are you ordering me around?"

"No. I'm making you stick to what you wanted in the first place. I know you. The problems only start when you over-think things."

She sighed and nodded.

"Are you going back to your Mom's?"

"Yes."

"OK. I'll finish up here and meet you over there."

"What do you need to finish?"

"I'm sorry. I can't tell you."

Andrea groaned.

"Hey, don't blame me, blame your friend for sending photographs to people who could do without the past coming back to haunt them."

Andrea's face hardened. "Penny saved my Mom's life and gave us sanctuary when there was nowhere else to go. All she's trying to do is help other women who might find themselves trapped in the same situation."

"This was hardly the same situation. Look, we're starting all over again. I'll see you at your Mom's."

Andrea stared into his eyes. "Treat Penny with respect, Luke. Please."

"I will." He kissed her and walked back to his car.