Usual disclaimers, I do not own the rights to the fifty shades branding or the work of EL James it remains solely hers…
CHAPTER 26:
Ana's POV:
I woke to the sounds of the people dismantling the marquee from last night, cursing and swearing, had Kate come back for her shoes that we couldn't find? I looked out of the window wrapped in a sheet from the bed, Christian's side of the bed empty. I spotted some of my clothes on the chair and jumped in the shower and then dressed. I folded my dress and went to see where my boyfriend was. I looked at the pool and there were champagne bottles and someone's underwear floating in the pool, god they must have had one hell of a party after we left? I passed Karen and her phone was in a box of salt and she was cursing Elliot.
"I will have payback. He won't know what hit him."
"Revenge is best served cold; well that's what my Grams always said. Did you sleep well?"
"Hard not to when you're sleeping on sheets that are smoother than silk and softer than baby hair, with pillows made out of Angels breath and fluffy clouds. I swear Ana I can never sleep in my bed ever again."
"I know Christians sheets are the same. Your clothes are okay."
"Um, Mia had a lot of stylish and plain clothes; apparently she got them when she was going for job interviews. My dress was laundered and is fine; it was so pretty I thought the dickhead moron had ruined it. Anyway, Uncle Jason and Aunty Gail are, here they are leaving for their month to Bali and are here to say goodbye."
"Oh, I need to get in and see them, what with the salt?"
"Dries out the phone, this or rice works put it somewhere hot and it should dry it out."
"Good to know, your gun?"
"Ready to shoot his knackers off if he pulls that shit with me again."
"He will, he's the family practical joker, have you had breakfast?"
"I did at six this morning. I have to go back to the office and get another phone for now. See you later in the week to discuss the trip." I said goodbye and entered the kitchen area.
"Ana, you're here Christian was coming for you, what woke you?"
"The tent people, but it was fine, I had to get up."
"Here a hot water and Lady Grey tea bag, they were a joke present from Elliot, and Christian did mention you liked English Breakfast Tea, this is as near to it as I have."
"It's fine and I do drink it, love the citrus twist it has."
"Was the tree house cosy?"
"Yes, I even asked could we live in it."
"You can do, but Christians new house is just down the bay if you move there that is? Sorry he just mentioned you and he were taking the next step."
"Quick I know, it's thrown me too, but it seems…"
"Right?" We both said that together.
"I met Carrick when we were at a dinner in New York, three days later I married him at the court house and have never looked back, the Grey men when they make their mind up they do so quickly."
"I am learning that Grace. I guess this is going to be you know a learning curve for us both, I like that we get on and nothing is too fraught and we can talk about anything. This last week gave us a lot of things to talk about."
"It can only make you stronger this past week has been a revelation for me."
"Me too. I mean this time last week I was saying to Jose I was panicking about seeing him again the day after."
"The photo shoot where you had the wedding dress on?"
"Um and the day I was going to shoot him."
"He did say, still I'm glad you had second thoughts, it's nice to see my son with a goofy grin on his face. Now everyone is in the dining room. Go through and help yourself, buffet style I'm afraid." I smiled and went through. Christian was sitting eating an omelette and drinking coffee.
"Baby I was leaving you another couple of hours."
"I was up, thanks for the clothes are they from next door?"
"Yeah, I took the liberty of putting your jewels in Dad's safe here until we get a place or you know whatever?"
"I still want to look at places with you Christian."
"Good I thought you may have changed your mind?"
"Nope, I still want to move into the tree house though!"
"I know you said so a lot last night. Are you alright? We didn't get a lot of sleep last night!"
"I'm sore, sorry too much information?"
"Nope, just enough, come on Gail is in the kitchen with Jason they refuse to eat with the family, my fault really they don't know where their place is."
"Well, should we live together, it is first names and if they want shared breakfasts, but they may want alone time. Given you run Taylor ragged."
"Guilty as charged. Still a month in Bali and Australia is a good long break for them." I agreed and went to see them before they left. After they had eaten, they left with Sawyer taking them to SeaTac. I bet Christian gets withdrawal symptoms; he's had Jason with him for five years. This will be the longest they have been apart, good for Jason and Gail, not so much fun for Sawyer and I! My father was late in coming around so Christian and I went to see what the hold up was, Dad has never missed breakfast before. Getting there, there were three men looking as rough as the sandpaper in the parrot cage.
"Hello Daddy, Sam and Jose, how are you this fine morning? Grace has sent over a tray of breakfast goodies for you? You look very peaky Daddy are you alright?"
"I'm not deaf Lil girl; shush Daddy is feeling fragile this morning. Forty year old scotch can do that!"
"You polished off a bottle you should be feeling rough." Added Christian. They nodded as I asked them did they want coffee.
"Banana?"
"Yes Jose."
"Shut the fuck up, my head is ringing and Lady G is shoving her poker face at me again. Make her stop it Babe, can she not see I'm too busy dying here? Oh hell mama, mama, ma poker face poker face… Be away with you, you damned bitch."
"Ana what is Jose on about?"Christian looks confused.
"He gets so shit faced thinks he's on tour with Lady Gaga and he choreographed the moves for the Born this way tour."
"Did he?"
"No, he just wishes he did. Here you are you three, strong black and no sugar drink up the pots full. I am just going to do a whip around the house, do you want drink Christian or do you want to see my room?"
"I would like to see your room, or help you unpack!"
"Your mother and Mia did it all the other day. It was bad enough packing it all away."
"Thanks Daddy, eat something the English muffins and pastries are all freshly baked. Jose the tours over." He was poker facing again, my father and his staring at him in disbelief, "get used to it Daddies he does this every sodding time he gets hammered, his haute couture beef curtains dress, is his Halloween must have accessory…"They were clueless, wait till they see him in the dress, he's a camp walking vajayjay...
"This way, oh, I get you in my room Christian."
"If you're lucky we can make out, but I'm sure you said you were sore a little earlier?" I smiled and pulled him into my room. The whole house was different, nice different, gone were Grandma's floral curtains and chintzy fabrics and in their replace elegant drapes and blinds, Dad would be fine with them. My room 'was a throw up in a candy floss factory, the woman girl, whoever had no taste, damn it, she left her pin board and it was filled with snippets of Mr Grey!
"Did she have a crush on you, do you think? It seems all girls who shared this room did!"
"It's just the face Ana, I told you."
"You did stud. Here are my model portfolios, look through them whilst I sort out some clothes. There's about thirty all told! Lots are on those DVD'S though. Dad likes the actual photos."
"Can I have a copy of the photos on a DVD?"
"Yeah, take those in the folder, I have copies. Something to look at if we have to be apart."
"Never happening."
"I still have three big deals in the pipeline to sort out and a see in Dubai, a sultan wants me to design him a new Yacht, well bloody cruise liner if truth be told. It will have to be to house his sixty four wives and two hundred children and copious amounts of grandchildren. Sixty four I ask you?"
"One is more than enough, well for me anyway."
"How many children is enough?"
"Three, maybe four at a push."
"You want children then?"
"Yes of course I do, but not just yet. I wouldn't mind adopting either."
"Um, give a child the start in life you had?"
"Well, possibly not quite like mine Baby, but yes." Oh, so he wants children just not yet and interestingly he wants a large family? I wanted children until I lost Hope; yes, my baby had a name Hope Rose Steele. It was a hard thing to do for someone who had never lived and never would, I couldn't bury her as there wasn't anything to bury, but I mourned her lost life nether the less. I hoped she had a good journey and that Grandma Rose would guide her, it's not like I had anything to remind me of her, but the grainy ultrasound picture of a blob in my belly.
"Penny for your thoughts Ana?"
"I was just thinking that's all. This week has been really strange."
"Has it only been a week?"
"Yes, I met you a week ago today and since then I have had three killings, a kidnapping, and a poison attempt on my life and oh yes amazing sex. What will week two bring?"
"A quieter week, hopefully, what's the big deal you have going through?"
"Redevelopment of a deserted area of town in New Orleans. I have plans to rebuild homes and local businesses that can be raised up using hydraulics in case the levees burst again."
"Really? I have been asked to redevelop quite a few abandoned buildings there, help bring jobs back to the area, there's several large grants available for the taking, as long as the jobs are guaranteed for a decade, so we've have a group brainstorming and narrowing their needs down, with IT and hospitality being the way to go, then add in all the supporting industries, as well as a giant recycling plant and creating a free or low cost power supply too. Ros has been itching to do more there seeing as it's her home town, I of course want to do it too, but I have been umming and arghing about Detroit as it's where I am or where I thought I was from and that too needs help."
"Road trip?"
"It's a five hour jet trip Ana."
"Road trip air trip, do you fancy it?"
"Well, technically it will be my company then?"
"Oh, I know, but I was thinking of doing this with the money I get from selling you my company and setting it up as a charity, so I can offset building costs with taxes and things, giving me more money to do more with, then renting them out to people forced away, getting them back. What do you think? I have enough of my own money to live on, that money I want to see something come of it."
"Okay, so the four billion Ros says your company is worth, you are ploughing back into New Orleans?"
"Yes and four Billion are you frickin joking?"
"I never joke about money Miss Steele."
"But, how?"
"You invested wisely in property hotels and investment properties, most are already occupied and most are in up and coming areas of Europe and here at home."
"I wasn't aware you knew of my exploits in Europe?"
"You bought several small hotel chains and made it one large chain, adding to it all over the world AS Corp is a self-sufficient body or has the capabilities of becoming ninety percent self-sufficient. Very green and you cashed in on the green pound very nicely, the grants and government money you have been given, work for you. I am impressed, so impressed I have taken on board some of your ideas."
"I don't know what to say other than thank you."
"Thank you Anastasia and if you want we can just look at merging the companies if you want to change your mind?"
"No, I went out."
"Okay then. Can we make out on this bed?"
"Sorry, no, it rattles like a mess of screws in a tin box. I'm sure Daddy booby trapped it." I packed a few things. Christian stood laughing and then told me all of our clothes were already in the Heathman awaiting our arrival. "So where are we going now then Christian? This house is perfect for Daddy, thank you. I won't feel bad leaving him not living next door to Grace and Carrick."
"Well, I have three houses, I want to show you, one needs nothing done to it and its ready to move into, the other, well I'd like to knock it down, and build something more environmentally sound and install the latest gadgetry. The others I couldn't get the properties behind it the owners were not for selling, they may be now."
"Where are they all?"
"All by the water, one on the Sound and one just up the road facing out over there on Meydenbauer Bay, the latter is over on the Island facing this house. All have room for the Taylors to live in a separate home, all face the water so it's just a matter of which one my lady loves the most?"
"Oh, I have a penthouse off the sound, but that's way to clinical."
"Really too clinical? That's what you said of Escala."
"It was a nice place, but way to sterile, your office was the nicest room, cosy and personal."
"Mia did that."
"Mia is very good at shoving the right cushion and throw in the right place." He nodded. "Right, my car or yours?"
"Which have you got here?"
"Both and my bike."
"Bike as in peddle or as in…"
"…As in my Harley Hog." He cringed; he and my father both pulled that face. "I can get you a helmet and ride us there on that; you know feel the wind in your face?"
"And catch gnats in my teeth? I don't think turning up at million dollar homes is best done on a Harley, besides it looks like it's going to rain."
"Okay, we will go in yours."
"Thank you for that, perhaps in the summer?"
"Um, perhaps, that's a no then? Dad pulls the same face. He has done for like four years. I have scooters in London, Paris and Italy; they are the best form of transport for a jobbing model. Another year that I won't be doing the fashion weeks."
"Didn't you do them last year?"
"No, I was too messed up, I haven't booked any this year, as I said Sarah Harper has retired, my last shots were the ones at Kerry Park."
"My favourites."
"Mine too." Kisses given and received and sex on the floor was about to be had when Jose walked in. Damn the man.
"Urge, don't be bumping uglies on my watch. Our papa's are off fishing and I need a driver can I borrow one of yours Mr Christian?"
"Jose, you can't ask him that…"
"Of course, you may have Prescott for the day Ana will be with me, Sawyer and Reynolds."
"Fabulous, she has great bone structure, maybe she can work with me? I will ask her, she may snap me in two though!" He left as we went down to say goodbye. Christian and I disappeared through the hedge and joined Sawyer and Reynolds for our trip. We stopped at my place first the loft on the sound.
"Wow Baby this has amazing views, from the back over the city from the side towards home and from here the view of the sound."
"I got this for Daddy and I but when I had a look around it wasn't homey enough besides, I want a house and garden type thing, like our parents' home a family home, eventually you know?"
"Eventually, yes, but this is a cool house Ana."
"Way cool. I was thinking of offering it to Kate, she needs to get out of the block with Elliot in."
"She can go back to hers; all the mushrooms have gone now."
"I can't persuade her that they haven't, she says once they get in they stay in, hidden, waiting for a sneak attack, I hope she's wrong and they don't come back."
"The mushrooms or the subs Baby?"
"Whilst I wish we really did only have the mushrooms, yes, I meant the other brown haired girls!"
"All gone and all accounted for. Though I doubt it's going to be plain sailing Ana, what with the trial and everything. Taylor has suggested we pre-emptive their strike with one of my own and come out of the BDSM closet, in a controlled way, but I'm not sure?"
"We have a few months yet don't we?"
"Yes Baby, we do, come on let me show you the fixer-upper." He took my hand and led me down to the car, the elevator ride was exciting, and I love being so close and being kissed.
"One day I am going to make love to you in an elevator; it's always been one of my fantasies."
"Um, I have the key to this one for a while?"
"You do, press the stop button, what about the cameras?" I flicked the switch on the key fob, the gentleman owner liked his kinky sex I was told and controlled everything from the key fob. I heard the rip of fabric and the tug at my hip.
"Christian Grey, you animal, those were my good panties."
"What these things? You'll just have to be careful where you bend Baby." He held me against the wall and kissed me deeply, our tongues did the very sexual dance and his fingers went to work stroking and probing my wetness. I would scream my joy, and a kiss would silence the screams of passion.
"Christian, can you please fuck me. Fuck me now."
"Your wish is my command, spread your legs wider, yes Baby yes, now this is going to be quick I need you."
"Stop talking and fuck me hard." He smiled, biting his lip and impaled me on his dick, the sheer force of his sneak attack pushed me against the walls and my breath was pushed out with a scream. I felt like a cheap hussy fucking in the elevator, and I loved it, what was this man doing to me? "Christian I'm coming, coming Christian god help me…"
"He won't help you Baby!" He picked me up and I wrapped my hands around his neck as I clung on to him he thrust upwards into me. I came hard and suddenly I was fighting back, slamming down on his upward thrust and the pleasure of hearing our bodies collide was amazing. His balls slapped my sex hard and the rhythm and pace was frantic, screams, cries of more and harder and yes, combined with plenty of fucks and oh fucks, because my man has a potty mouth when he has hard sex I noticed! He nuzzled at my neck as he pounded into me.
"Baby come with me fucking come with me now…" I screamed an oh fuck of my own as he leant into me and shuddered and calmed I hung limp off him, and I didn't want to let go for fear of collapsing on top of him. Finally my legs sort of hung limp as he slowly put me down, using the torn panties and a handkerchief to wipe me clean. That act alone made me feel loved and cherished but my poor hu-hu felt battered and abused, she was singing a show tune and loving it, my sex was still pulsing minutes after he'd left me.
"Christian, that was…"
"Amazing… Thank you."
"I didn't think you could surprise me any more than you already have done, but wow that was amazing, yes amazing. Pass me my purse please; I have a spare pair of panties and wipes in there, I have learnt quickly to be prepared with you Grey." He laughs as I took out the black panties and put them on. "I do hope they don't notice they have changed from white to black."
"If they have, I'm firing them because that means they have watched your ass."
"Isn't that what you pay them for coveting my ass for your use only?"
"Um, that gets your ass a smack later Baby. As ever you are correct. I will have that ass soon too." I shivered. "Not yet baby it needs training."
"Um training my ass, whatever next?"
"Getting this thing going before we need to stay here longer." I flicked the switch and the elevator started again and the light came on the camera. I smiled as we got out and Christian held me tighter.
"I fucking loved that apartment." I wondered was it the apartment or the elevator ride he loved?
"This next one is already ready for occupation and is the grandeur of the three sorry, for we will look at, and I was thinking of having it as a weekend home for relaxing in."
"I thought you relaxed with them at the weekend?" My heart grew tight, they would have been here with him, not me, and I couldn't breathe.
"Relax Baby please, I meant for me alone here, I told you that life wasn't doing it for me anymore, I was changing before you fell into my life Baby, this house was my fresh start." We drove another fifteen minutes and headed to a set of large gates. Christian keyed in a number and allowed the two cars through. Really, we needed two cars; yes we did because Christian liked to drive on the weekends. He loves his Audi R8 Spyder, driving with the top down and the music playing; this is when I see Christian being himself. I swoon like one of the ladies in my Jane Austen novels. Christian is my very own Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy…
"This house is as I said ready to move into, Mia decorated it so if you don't like it and you want to live here then we can change it." We drove down the driveway and, again the wow was there, okay, this was like something out of Dynasty, the grand entrance was just that grand, that when Christian opened the doors I half expected the cast of bloody Dynasty to be duking it out on the staircase. Wow, this was nice, a grand and somewhat nice house, but no not me…
I was afraid of breaking something. Every room was nice, well set out and just that nice. The library was grand oak shelves the kitchen very opulent and heavy with oak solid wood cupboards, I'm sure Gail would love it, but this wasn't the place for me, though Christian so obviously loved it. He'd show me a view from a window and yes I wowed. We wouldn't have neighbours as he'd already flattened the two on each side and had staff quarters a pool house and garages built and the meadow, he had plans to add a stable to house a couple of horses, that was the houses saving grace, the outside.
"What do you think?" I ummed. He knew me well enough to smile and move on. "Okay, well let's see what Mia has done to the Meydenbauer Bay home shall we?"
"Um, please, this is nice, but too...?"
"Ostentatious?"
"Dynasty, please meet Kim Kardashian's and Kanye's place."
"Do I know this Kim and Kanye?"I am sure this is the crap Mia watches, its all crap though...
"I doubt it a woman, with a talent for doing absolutely nothing other than having a big butt, marrying twice for like two minutes staring a porn flick home made with a boyfriend, and yet doing that nothing but taking selfies and butt pics, still makes her millions from doing that nothing, and with more money than taste, she then meets, gets pregnant, then marries the said rapper Kanye, who is too nice for her but has much the same taste as her, none!"
"Okay, after this house we have lunch you're getting cranky." I shrugged my shoulders; yes I need food.
We drove down the coast for ten whole minutes and came to a gravel pathway and a slight hill led down to what looked like a family home with two car garage separate from the house.
"I was thinking of adding another two spaces on to that and the rooms above could be made into three or four bedrooms for security. There is also a separate four bedroom guest house for the Taylors."
"Great Gail gets her man to herself. I already like this house." I then gasped at the house, Christian wanted to knock down. I was in love with it, it was definitely not a knocker downer, yep, I have verbal diarrhoea, wow, I kept saying it as I ran from room to room, and wow.
"I gather wow is a good thing?"
"Christian you can't knock this down its beautiful. Yes, it needs some TLC, but nothing major, perhaps a bigger sundeck and an add on dining room, but there are seven bedrooms here and bathrooms, a study well two actually if you count the library, a kitchen to die for and look at that view. The only thing is that house there is an eyesore now that needs pulling down." I pointed to the glass box on the hillside.
"I like that."
"Nope, that's the only thing that I don't like, seeing that fat man there with his ass on show." He looked up and there was indeed a fat man with his afternoon wood on display. He made a phone call.
"Barney look at who owns the neighbouring property to both the Meydenbauer Bay house and the one at the Mercer Island house. He put his phone back and smiled. "The glass box could be the Taylors home. I can't see Gail allowing Jason to show his dick to the good folks of the sound." I laughed because he would seriously buy it just to give us privacy.
"It's nice this is more me it has the wow thing."
"Okay, I have one more for you to see it's the house by our parents place, it is smaller and ready to move into, but it's nearer to the parents. They could be stopping by for a cup of sugar without warning." His phone rang as I looked back at the house by the water…
"We would be near if anything is wrong with them Christian, none of them are getting any younger." He smiled and seemed to study what I'd said and smiled some more. I oh-ed, it would have to be a beautiful wow house the last one had two wows per room and one erk in the back yard, to contend with! His phone went again.
"Yes, Barney, so the Bay house is in foreclosure? Good to know, no she doesn't like the Sound House, no you can't have it, no I'm not picky, I just I don't want neighbours who get off, waving the man jewels at Miss Steele." I laughed as Christian pulled his face. "The Mercer Island house? I know it's only over the water from my mother, one is for sale and the other who? Really look through her will and see who gets it. Buy them both, Elena's will is in the safe at Escala what with everything else going on I hadn't looked through it, yes, go get it, I guess the bodies gone you freak Barney, crime scene photos really? Get a move on I want that house too. Half an hour, okay…?"
"Elena owned the house at the back of you?"
"I know. I wonder if she just bought homes to be near me for that reason or for something else?"
"I don't know Christian, but it's kind of sad she needed that way of life, but given we know they were all mad, it should be easier dealing with this?"
"I am dealing with it very well because she's gone, but we are still sweeping up her mess."
"Barney wanted to take photos I gather?"
"Yeah, he is in an online crime solving group, Scooby Doo Investigations!"
"Get him to run this through and see what they come up with, is he Shaggy? So Mercer Island next and then lunch?"
"I didn't ask, but he likes his food and snacks so possibly yes. Yes also to lunch by the marina before we go see Pappy's yard?" I kissed him again and again, talk about excited school girl…
We pulled up again to the gates, it seems the three homes shared the gate; this could be a problem if he can't get the homes on the side. We pull up and head down. Sawyer goes to check Christian's house and Reynolds the other empty properties.
"All clear Mr Grey."
"Thank you Luke, can you go help Ryan and take photos if possible, if it's a key code entry, use my birthday, if they haven't left the door open? I really should have looked at what she owned before now." I shook my head in disbelief he hadn't done so already.
"Never mind that now, I like this though its calming, even here at the entrance, is it one story?"
"Nope, go have a look see…" He opened the door and I took a tentative step in, wowsers times ten, it opened up onto an impressive white marbled entrance come lounge come music room, a very nice entry room. Your guest walks straight into the party from the door. I liked it and there was a baby grand in here already. Comfortable and relaxing couches and elegant dressings to the room wow. I already loved it, but as I went to the informal lounge the family room shared with the kitchen and wet bar, I was home, this was what I wanted, this was it without seeing the rest, the view over the lake and the bay was fantastic, it was nice, shit no, it was perfect. I went to the windows and wowed again. I was passed a tissue from the bag Christian had been left holding as I attacked the house.
"Wow is a good thing! This is the one you want isn't it?"
"Please… Pretty please with sprinkles and stuff?"
"Okay. Let me get this." I went upstairs and wowed some more five bedrooms and bathrooms and a master bedroom with a his and her side by side closet, both equal in size to the one at Escala. I wowed at the shoe racks and the bathroom oh hell that was you guessed it, another wow. "Good news, bad news Ana! I can get the empty holiday property today the agent has even sent the code for the lock box for the key, so you get to see all three! Now for the bad news, the house Elena owned… I'm not sure you're going to like this but I own it already! She left me everything, why when she hated me, she was coming to wreck my world, yet she left me everything?"
"Erm, she was bat shit crazy remember, perhaps she wrote her will on a good day, who the fuck cares?"
"Perhaps and Sawyers in it and says there is nobody in it, but it looks like they were planning to live in it at some point, but the dust is thick with no disturbance in it so it had been months since anyone was here, there is new stuff unopened all over the place, shall we go and see it?" I nodded.
"We need the windows sorting out; two of our windows are overlooked, so we need one way glass on that side."
"Anything else you'd change?"
"Nope, its perfect and one of the houses could be for Taylor, so he could have Sophie over more and the twins will need their rooms and Gail's brother and sister would want to be there with her. Then the security could take over the other house, and then we have us a compound Grey, a god dammed secure Grey Family Compound!"
"We would indeed, so I shall put the others up for sale, if my lady wants this house, it's yours…" I ran and jumped into his arms peppering his face with kisses.
"I. Love. You. Christian. Grey. Thank. You. Thank. You. Thank You…" Kisses given between each word spoken.
"Wow." He likes wow too. We headed up to the old Elena house, the gas and electricity were capped so no lights, which also meant nobody had ever lived here. Luke and Ryan said there was furniture still wrapped and it felt weird? Christian and I went to have a look see what they classed as weird? I opened the door at the top of the stairs, the name plaque reads Christina, shit it was a very cute nursery and I suddenly realise, with a sinking knot in my stomach this was the room she had set aside for Hope. I wasn't sure what to do, look around or smash the things?
"Do you think…?" Christian was holding me tightly; too tightly he was smothering me.
"…Yes Christian I think she was moving in here with Hope, please let me breath, I'm fine, really I'm fine."
"Hope?" He released me and simply looked me in the eyes, grey to blue and smiled as he kissed my head.
"That's what I called her, when I found out she was a girl."
"A pretty name." He kissed away the tears that I didn't know where falling.
"Um, it was, so what's behind the other doors, look they all have name plaques on Christian what the fuck is this, Susan, Leila, Chloe, Clare and Michelle?" We opened them to find they were all rather tastefully decorated bedrooms and though nothing was unpackaged you could tell there had been money spent on all the rooms! "Was she having all the fucking subs raise the baby? In some sort of sick, mad house shrine to the baby's Uncle Christian or crazy father Tristan?"
"I don't know Ana really I don't, but there is a DVD to watch of her spoken last will and testament, a testament to what her madness?" I ummed as his arms came in for a hug. "What do we do with the things?"
"The things haven't been used in the bedrooms, but the nursery needs getting rid of, and perhaps look at making into another security bedroom I don't want Gail in this house."
"Okay, I am sure one of the women, Mom helps could use the things, there's a closet full of clothes baby all pink, she must have known your doctor?"
"Or Michelle hacked my fucking file?" I smiled as I hugged Christian, I was over the past as much as I ever would be, and though I felt awful that she had died, I am glad Hope hadn't gone to Elena and the bunny boilers! That was the smallest gift Michelle gave me in a very sick sort of way. I wonder if they all had diaries? Bitch-Troll-Ho must have, that I definitely wanted to read why was there no room at the house for her, then I smiled, she'd expect to share Christian's home… She did some bloody planning for a crazy old chick.
"Do you want to see the other house?"
"Yes, I want to be able to show Gail her new home before she gets back I want it all ready for her, she will be well on the way to two thirds through it and well I want to get excited about their place too."
"What if we do the nursery as our gift?"
"No, no, no, no that is their thing to do, the parents do that room or Jason can, we can do Sophie's room though?"
"I love how you are so excited, so come on then Miss Steele its nearly dinner time and you have missed lunch!"
"Crap so have Luke and Ryan." I turned to apologise…
"No Ana, we always come prepared we have food for twenty four hours in the cars at all times."
"Any Twinkies?"
"No Ana we aren't allowed to put crap in our bodies!"
"Crap, how very dare you, Twinkies are heaven sent stodge wrapped up in more stodge and are so good! We will be quick." Ana ran and pressed the code in whilst I had words with Luke…
C POV:
"What do you think about the houses then and be honest Jason will want to know?"
"The beauty salon has to go, perhaps a pool room, putting instead, the gym needs beefing up and the 'equipment' room could be changed into a cinema and games night room, other than that yeah it will be good."
"Luke see to it those rooms are emptied, along with the nursery, have that room match the others, paint and furniture too, and the things you need are purchased, whilst we walk around the other house."
"Okay, Mr Grey, the same firm for the equipment room as before?"
"Yes and Ana knows what we are referring to. Thank you for the heads up it was there, she didn't need to see it, and for the record, she has never been near a playroom." I felt strange telling them she wasn't a sub like the others, but I think they knew; now I know they know!
"Seriously, it's going to be fairly easy securing it, it's secure in its own cove, the security house and Taylors house shadow the main house, your windows may want one way glass in Mr Grey and the waterfront and wooded areas want securing as we have done at your parents place, other than that it's good to go."
"Good I want my personal papers in my office all the clothes fetching from the hotel and Escala. Get the packers in tomorrow. Have the large pieces stay there, just personal effects need bringing over. Have Prescott pack Gail's things, they will be placed in their home your stuff in your home, get as much help in as you need and cleaners, get those in first thing, now Jason has a book on these things, use it and use them as references do not ring him, ring Welch to do the security..."
"Mr Grey thanks you, but I think Ana is getting impatient."
"Indeed she is, and thank you Luke, Jason said you were ready don't let him down." I dashed up the stairs to the house for the Taylors… This house was a holiday let that the owners couldn't afford, so was being sold as is, apparently nothing needed changing until Gail herself, was here it was all perfect and clean they just needed their things in. We had found our home! I repeated that aloud. "We have found our home Anastasia."
"We have indeed Christian. I want food and to see Pappy's boat yard and my new office, wow this is such a rush I feel really light headed."
"Are you okay Baby?"
"Yeah, really good so where to for lunch/dinner, then, I'm starving…?"
"There's a nice diner next to the marina, good food and a nice selection of beers and wines, Elliott's Oyster House, it has views over the sound and their catch is served fresh on the day."
"Anything to do with you Christian?"we drove to the marina and Sawyer came and opened the doors and left with the Spyder, wow boys and their toys, the Oyster place was packed, and looked really great and my stomach was rather loud...
"As it happens no, the family who own it are called Elliot and yes, he has snagged the crockery for his place. My brother is such a child."
"Oh, why am I not shocked? So what's good here?"
"Everything Ana. I'm having Fish Tacos; they are blackened salmon, with hot chipotle and avocado crème, cabbage slaw, served in a flour tortilla, with chips and salsa."
"Hmm, that sounds wonderful can I have that and a coke light please?"
"I may have a nice glass of wine, Reynolds can drive us Sawyer has some things to do, we are moving house tomorrow."
"Lord Mr Grey you work quickly, what are we mere mortals meant to do to keep up?"
"I have my ways Miss Steele, now what do you think out new home needs?"
"Us in it, and every room christening. Are you up for that Stud?"
"I like the Stud thing, but remember not in front of the staff and my mother, oh hell not even Elliot!"
"Just for we two?"
"Yes, just for us." Christian ordered and our drinks came. "Here's to our new life together, with a fresh start that has so far come complete with a few new challenges. You Anastasia, have given me a reason to be happy." I kissed her quickly...
"Aw shucks if it isn't the pretend model and her gay friend." Oh hell Lily…
Ana's POV:
I'm about to kiss the man sat opposite again when something akin to what looks like a bonafide witch heading my way, the bitch is back…
"Aw shucks if it isn't the pretend model and her gay friend." I smile and kiss Christian.
"Excuse me, I have some trash to take out, trash I have waited fifteen long years to put straight, so come on Lily outside, you want a piece of me try taking it."
"You're on and I am going to enjoy every last bitch slap I get in. Getting me thrown out of the ball got me in a shit load of trouble with my parents; and my boyfriend dumped me because he does business with the Gay Guy Grey there, so yeah, bring it on." She slapped me, I ignored her and walked out of the door, trying to be demure and lady like, but having one of the Dementor's out of the Harry Potter films chasing me, was not that elegant, what possessed me? That's right all those years they tormented me, all the times she made fun of my clothes, my family and the years just thinking of her being near Christian, when I was in Portland… She grabbed my hair and I freed myself, taking it out of the restaurant and out by the dumpsters.
"Running away from me Skank will get you nowhere, do you hear me Steele you skank?"
"From where I am standing, you are the skank, wearing something that I can only presume you stole from the costume cupboard at Universal Studios? Last time I saw that it was on the screen whilst watching Harry Potter; did all the coven steal one?"
"Bitch."
"Really is that all you've got?" She flew at me screeching wailing like the same said Dementor, nope no soul sucking phew I'm safe. I put my best foot sideways and did a Jose comment, hand movements too..." Oh no she didan't…" I did I let her run into the dumpster. "Get up Lily call it a day, you stink of shrimp, or have you not done any personal grooming in a while?" She flew at me again, this time I side stepped grabbed her hair as she passed and threw her to the floor. "Enough Lily I can do this all night." She winded herself in the epic throw down and I walked away, I heard Reynolds shout for me to duck right. I ducked and smacked the lump of wood from her hands, now she's pulling the tigers tail too hard and I'm outta the cage and baying for blood. Her face was a picture, when I hit her shoulder and sent her flying. I looked around and spotted the perfect place to put out the rubbish, She came at me again and I actually caught her arm turned it upper back and marched her to the fish place next door and sent her into the chum bath ready to fill the days bate buckets, a fitting epitaph for the smelly skank to end up swimming with the fishes or more the point their dear departed heads and guts. The crowd clapped as I took a bow.
"The show is over and thanks for watching; now Mr Grey where were we before that Dementor interrupted us?"
"Very classy Anastasia, you are a top model and you were scrapping like a... Like a common street walker Anastasia."
"Hey you, I will have you know there is nothing street walker about these clothes, this is a Carolina Herrera and these shoes are Jimmy Choo's so you best apologise or I'm stopping home tonight alone! Do you know how many times I turned the other cheek living next door to your parents and being belittled by her and Mia? No you wouldn't because I didn't come close to being on your radar back then, I had days where my lunch was thrown over the floor, uniforms ripped and hair pulled and well I had enough, I never once hit her not once and I only self-defended tonight. So if it's all the same to you I would just like to go back to my father's house, before I say something to spoil tonight, I did not start this she did, I just finished it." He looked at me and around the room, typical worried I had rocked the fucking apple cart.
"Ana I was only saying you could have and should have ignored her."
"No, you said it, I looked like a street walker and if anyone should know it's you." I got up and ran to the toilets. Great we had a row in the first week too, fuck… I didn't need this not after this shitty week. I headed out the back door and got a taxi home. Shit, my damn bag is there, bummer. I had twenty dollars, which was enough to Kate's house, detour… I hadn't even got there when Christian's cars pulled up front and back of the taxi. WTF…
"Ana are you crazy?"
"Seems I may be, I thought I'd left you eating fish? What the hell and how the hell did you track me, you have my phone and bag…"
"We tracked the chip you have in all the shoes you have…" I paffed.
"You son of a bitch…"
"Ana do you know how many morons are out there stalking you?"
"Dunno, but I'm looking at the richest one…"
"Ana I was worried about you. I have never had a woman fight in my presence before and to be honest with you I didn't know how to handle it?"
"So, you calling me a hooker was okay then?"
"No, but they are the only women I have ever seen doing that, you know whilst out with Elliot?"
"You haven't lived until you have seen a woman cage fight then… Which I think I need to get back into. This isn't going to work Christian. I'm a grown assed business woman who doesn't need all this protection. I need to be me, I need this to calm down, I need fuck I don't know what I need, but I don't need shoe trackers and over protective stalkers. I am stopping with Kate tonight."
"Ana please come back to Mom's or Ray's, we haven't checked their apartments yet." Shit, I had forgotten there was one of his bunnies stopping with Kate.
"Can you pay the nice guy you have my purse." He handed the guy a fifty, of course he did.
"Ana what does this mean?"
"This means I am tired I need sleep and we have had probably the first of many rows Christian. I didn't get much sleep and we have been here, there and everywhere all day. I'm crabby and tired and hungry. Shit, they have our food order."
"It's okay, I paid and they are delivering it to Mom's we are or were in the tree house tonight."
"Oh, okay…"
"You're still coming back with me?"
"Yeah, I need sleep though, nothing else but food and sleep."
"Okay, are we alright Ana?"
"No Christian, we are far from alright, but you stalking my every move is not cool."
"I didn't order the shoe bugs, your father did. I wanted your neck tagging."
"Oh, you did, did you? When did he do it?"
"He went to the store and saw Caroline Acton, before they were delivered to Escala. He had the shoes and your bags tagged, like the ones in your house, those were already done, he said you never leave your shoes, but you do leave phones and bags yes but never your shoes..."
"You two will be the death of me."
"Or the saviour, Ana we don't know what else is happening Baby it's not over I know it's not. All I can do is apologise for the comment and promise never to call you a hooker ever again."
"Okay apologises accepted, get me to the tree house, where will Sawyer and Reynolds sleep?"
"Back at Escala staff quarters and Green and Prescott will do the night watch. When we get to the new place, one man, one woman could handle security given we are in close proximity to each other…" We got to the tree house, ate in silence, bathed in silence, and went to bed the only thing breaking the silence?
"Ana I'm sorry I love you, sleep well Baby." I did after saying sorry my own way… Sex, shower and then I fell asleep held tightly in Christian's arms…
I just didn't want them going to sleep on an argument... pintrest. christinewoodso / images-for-fifty-falls / remove spaces between the / ... next Viva Las Vegas...