One blessing of having security around all the time was having someone to drive me. I'd ended up deciding on a Volvo C30 to replace the Audi, but since Christian wanted it kitted out with every possible safety option, it wasn't arriving for another week. Not that I felt much like driving. I had a headache and was feeling queasy. There were only a few hours of the work day left, but I decided to call it quits. I rang Ryan who came out of the SIP security office and escorted me downstairs to the garage where we were joined by Harris.

"Thanks for this, guys," I said as I climbed into the back of the SUV. Hopefully, an hour or two at home lying in bed in the dark would make me feel better. I wanted to close my eyes as I was driven, but I had a feeling it wouldn't help my stomach, so instead, I looked out as we passed through the city. The ride was short, and in no time, we were in the lift on the way up to the penthouse. The place was blissfully silent, and all I wanted to do was rest.

Smothering a yawn, I dismissed Ryan and Harris. Christian had agreed I didn't need security once I was in the penthouse, so after promising them I was in for the rest of the evening I gave them permission to leave. Walking through to our bedroom, I kicked off my shoes, closed the blinds, so the room was dark, and climbed onto the bed. I must have been tired because I was out like a light as soon as my head touched the pillow.

I opened my eyes. I'd heard a male voice coming from the kitchen. It sounded like Christian, but I had no idea why he'd be home from work at 4:15. Getting off the bed, I slipped my shoes on and turned to the mirror to straighten my hair. If it was Christian, I wanted to look my best for him.

Stepping out into the hallway, I was surprised to see the door to the playroom open, soft light spilling from its interior. Perhaps Mrs. Jones was cleaning in there today? I hadn't seen her when I'd come in, but the apartment was huge, so she could have been in one of the other rooms or her quarters.

My shoes making no noise on the thick carpet, I walked towards the door, stopping in shock at what I saw as I peered through the doorway. There, kneeling beside the door, eyes downcast and wearing nothing but panties, was a dark-haired woman. She was thin, almost painfully so, but with her hair in a braid, and sitting back on her heels, she somehow looked comfortable and at home. As though there was nowhere else she'd rather be than kneeling on the wooden floor.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my brain befuddled.

"I'm waiting for my Master. He needs me. This is where i always wait when He calls."

"When he calls?"

"Master has needs," she explained almost cryptically. "Needs i can satisfy for Him."

From the kitchen, I heard Christian's voice, and suddenly it all became crystal clear. All his words of love and constancy were false. The whole time we'd been together, Christian had obviously still had a submissive. My early arrival home today had interrupted his booty-call!

It was all I could do not to vomit. The brunette by my feet gave me a victorious smile before lowering her eyes back to the floor, no doubt witnessing my feet retreating as they carried me down the hallway and out to where Christian stood.

"I can't believe I trusted you! Has this been going on the whole time?" I screamed.

"Ana? What's wrong?! Has what been going on?!"

"Don't LIE to me. I loved you. With everything I am. I should have known you'd be up to your old tricks the second my back was turned!"

"Ana?! I don't know what you're talking about," Christian pleaded. He tried to touch me, but I recoiled. All I could think of was his hands on her, doing the things I wouldn't let him do to me.

"FUCK YOU, Christian Grey! Or better yet – fuck the mostly naked brunette submissive currently on her knees near the doorway of your playroom!" I shouted, striding to the elevator and getting in, ignoring Christian as the doors closed. I didn't even notice I was crying until I caught my reflection in the mirrored elevator walls. I'd pressed basement from force of habit, for all the good it would do me. I'd left my handbag upstairs, and I didn't have a car here, anyway.

The lift doors opened, with an unexpected sight. José Rodriguez standing by his van, the tailgate open. I'd forgotten he was coming to install my portraits today. He lifted his eyes, and they met mine, taking in my distressed state.

"Ay mi querida Ana, ahora que te ha echo?" he murmured. I didn't know what it meant, but nonetheless, it sounded comforting.

"José?" I said, completely falling apart now there was a friendly face. "Can you please drive me somewhere? I don't have a car…"

Without saying another word, José closed the tail of his van, opening the passenger door for me.

"Let's get you out of here," he soothed. "Where do you want to go? Should I take you to your unit?"

"No. Just drive," I pleaded, wanting to be gone by the time Christian followed me downstairs. I didn't care where we went as long as it wasn't here. Besides, I knew Christian's brother Elliot was staying at the unit with Kate, and I didn't want to chance seeing him.

Firing up the engine, José drove to the garage exit. I sighed in relief as the automatic roller door lifted and he pulled out onto the street. He didn't say anything, just drove for about twenty minutes, finally pulling up in a parking lot facing the beach. It was sunny out, and there was a kiosk with some outdoor seating.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

"Not really," I said, knowing there was no way I could explain without breaking my non-disclosure agreement.

"Then let's get something to drink and enjoy the sunshine," he tempted gesturing to the kiosk.

"I didn't bring my handbag," I sniffed.

"It's ok. My treat today," José offered.

We stepped out of the van, walking to the kiosk. José looked at the menu, but I'd wanted fries the second I smelled them. Placing our order, we sat at one of the tables shaded by a beach umbrella.

"I'm really sorry about your portraits," he started. "I wasn't originally going to include them in the exhibition. But when you started dating Grey, I figured you'd bring him to the exhibition and seeing how hung up he was on you, I thought he was bound to buy one. I really needed the money for college, but I should never have taken them without your permission or offered them up for sale. I know that now."

I shrugged. I doubt Christian would want seven pictures of an ex-girlfriend on his wall, but José might as well benefit from my short-lived romance with Seattle's most eligible bachelor.

"You betrayed my trust," I explained, thinking José's crime was nowhere near as bad as Christian's. "Just promise me you won't do it again."

"That I can promise," he said with a grin.

We spent a few minutes catching up on the latest gossip, José intentionally keeping it light. Being a year behind Kate and me, José was at college for another year, so was still in touch with a lot of our other friends. Our order number was called, and José fetched it. Fries and a soda for me, a burger for him. The fries were fabulous, thick cut and chunky. I dunked each liberally in ketchup, and couldn't get them down fast enough.

"Whoa! When did you last eat? And since when did you eat ketchup? I thought you hated the stuff?"

"This morning. I was feeling queasy at lunchtime, so skipped lunch," I confessed. "And I do hate ketchup – I just had a craving for it," I said looking at the ketchup coated fry in surprise.

"Hmm – queasy and weird cravings. Not pregnant, are you?" he teased.

"Don't even joke about it," I groaned. Thank God I was on the pill!

We finished our food, and then José suggested a walk along the beach. I knew I was going to have to face Christian sometime, even if it were just to collect my handbag and personal items from Escala, but right now it was nice being in the sun chatting with my friend. We'd reached the end of the beach and were turning back toward the van when José's phone rang.

"José speaking." He listened for a moment, before turning to face me. He held the phone out. "It's Gail Jones to speak to you," he said.

Why would Gail be ringing me? Probably to do Christian's dirty work for him. No doubt she'd already packed up my things and was probably calling to let me know where I could collect them. I took the phone and walked off a little way, out of José's earshot.

"Ana? Whatever you think today was about you're wrong," she quickly said. "Mr. Grey was at home early because he wanted to make you dinner. He even practiced cooking with me yesterday morning. He was just as surprised as you to find Miss Williams there."

"So that was Leila?" I gasped, my mind playing catch-up with all Gail had just told me. Why in the hell did that not occur to me earlier?!

"Yes. Mr. Grey was able to keep her talking until Jason arrived. Jason and Dr. Flynn are with her now, and she's being admitted to a psychiatric facility. Mr. Grey is here waiting for you to return. He's going out of his mind with worry."

"Then how come he didn't call?" I growled, unsure how I felt now I knew what had happened.

"I convinced Mr. Grey to let me try," Gail said sounding a little uncomfortable. "I didn't think you'd take his call, but I hoped you'd take mine and that you'd know I wouldn't lie to you."

"So, this whole thing has been a stupid misunderstanding?" I said, bursting into tears. Now I felt horrible about the things I'd said to Christian.

"It has. Please, Ana. Just come home, and Mr. Grey will explain it all. He's desperate to see you."

"Ok," I whispered. "Tell him I'll be there soon."

I hung up and walked back to José handing him his cell.

"I am such an idiot," I said, still crying. "It's a long story, and I promise I'll tell you about it some time, but for now could you take me back to Escala?"

"Your wish is my command," José joked gallantly. "But Ana? Are you sure everything is ok? You know you can talk to me, right?"

"I do, thanks, José. And I am ok."

The trip back to Escala was quiet. I wasn't sure how Christian was going to react when he saw me. José pulled into the underground garage and back to the spot he'd occupied a few hours earlier. The vehicle had barely come to a stop when Christian came charging out of the lift, spotting the van and opening my door for me.

"Baby," he moaned as I stepped out, pulling me hard up against him and burying his face in my hair.

"I'm sorry," I whimpered, cuddling against his chest and breathing in the wonderful scent that was uniquely Christian. José took his time getting out of the van, giving us our moment of privacy together. Finally remembering my manners, I turned to him, still cuddled in Christian's arms.

"Thank you so much for this afternoon, José," I said smiling shyly.

"I'm just happy to see you smiling again," he said lightly.

"Yes. Thank you for taking care of my girl," Christian said, reaching out to shake José's hand. It wasn't friendly, but it wasn't openly antagonistic.

"Always happy to see an old mate," José said. "Did you still want me to install these pictures today? If so, I'll need to get a move on – I have a date tonight." Christian looked much happier when he heard that.

"Don't worry about it. Maintenance can put them up. Would you like to come up for a drink?" Christian offered.

"Next time," José replied, knowing Christian and I needed to talk.

Christian nodded, using his cell to call someone from the building to take the portraits.

"I'll see you later, Steele," José said as Christian and I stepped into the lift. "Nice to see you again Mr. Grey." And then the lift doors closed, and we were swept away upstairs.

"I'm sorry," I apologized again into the silence between us.

"No I'm sorry," Christian replied. "I'm sorry my fucked up past has made you run again."

"I should have given you the chance to explain…"

Christian shrugged. "I'm surprised you even took Gail's call. I'm not sure I would in the same circumstances. When I think that you were alone in the apartment with Leila..." Christian trailed off shuddering.

"I took her call because I wanted to be wrong. I wanted to believe it was anything but you cheating on me."

Christian pulled me into his arms again.

"It's you, baby. It's only ever going to be you." He pressed his lips against mine in a soft kiss. The doors to the lift opened, and we stepped out, hand in hand. "We found out where she was hiding and how she was so good at evading us. It's over, now. Let's have a bath, and I'll explain everything."