After a few songs we were told to sit down for the second auctions. They auctioned off some homes to be used for weekends. I really had to pee but I didn't want to get up. And I was still waiting for Elliot to come back. The second auction lasted about half an hour. "Isabelle come sweetie lets take a walk." We excused ourself from the table and went to the bathroom. "Stay here while I go. Don't leave the bathroom." I went into the stall. When I was finished I heard Isabelle talk to some one. When I walked out she was gone. I washed my hands and went outside to find her. I couldn't see Maynard so I was just hoping that they were together.
I walked around looking for them but had no luck. So I went to the source: Jason.
"Jason have you seen Maynard?" Jason was along the wall closest to the Grey's table. He looked at me then looked around.
"No ma'am. She's probably looking after Isabelle. You know how she likes to run around."
"Call me Lina please. That's the problem I was in the bathroom and Isabelle disappeared. I was hoping she's with Maynard." I felt horrible that I had lost her in a short three minutes. I didn't want to worry but I needed to know where she was. Jason spoke into his watch and I waited but looked around the room looking for Isabelle. And Elliot but he was not as important now.
"I can't locate them. Let me talk to someone stationed on the other side of the room. Stay here so that I won't loose you too." Seriously? He expects me to stay in one spot when my daughter is missing in a room of 300 strangers? I decide to wait exactly three minutes. If he's not back in three minutes I'm leaving this spot. I look at my phone at least five times in the first thirty seconds.
"Lina. Carolina." I look up and walk the few steps toward where Ana Grace and Mia are seated. I try to smile so they won't know something is wrong. I sit on the chair that Elliot should be at. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm much better thank you. Are ya'll enjoying yourself?" Stupid country accent that only happens when I'm nervous.
"Yes. It's a shame you couldn't sit with us though." Grace tells me.
"It's okay. I'm with Andy and she keeps me well entertained. And she entertains Isabelle which is good. My table is fine." It's not fine. I'm trying not to be mad at anyone here. Isabelle being lost is making me anxious to just sit here. I keep looking around the room biting my lip. Some one places their hand over mine.
"I'm sure Elliot is on his way back to you now. Something must have happened to keep him away from you. You should have seen how he looked at you earlier. He loves you Lina." Mia was trying to reassure me. I smiled at her and kept looking. I was trying hard not to think about where he was. I wanted to trust him. I did trust him. Something happened, that's why he's not back.
"Next time it will be you who sits with us. I'll make sure of the seating arrangements myself." Grace came to sit on the other side of me. I noticed Ana bite her lip. She was trying to say something but stopped last minute. "Honestly Mia how could you be so careless. Sitting Katherine with us. You know we have to check the guest list the week of the event. Everything else is great but if you want to work as coping together's head planner things like this cant happen. You're my daughter but this is important." Mia was about to correct her but just shut her mouth of any talk back.
"I know mother. It won't happen again. It's important to me too." Mia looked upset at being lectured by her mother.
"Actually I offered to help with the guest list Grace but I was having morning sickness. Kate was visiting so I had her do it. I didn't think she would do something like this." Grace set her mouth in a tight line.
"Well I apologize for the incident dear. The room was filled to capacity and moving seats would cause other guests to think that the same could be done to them. It just creates an entire chaotic situation."
"It's fine Grace these things happen." I looked at the time. Exactly five minutes have passed. "I have to go do something. If you see Jason Taylor let him know I have my phone please. And if Elliot asks, tell him I need to speak with him please. I don't think he'll ask but just in case. Please let him know." They agreed and I started looking for Isabelle again. "Hi sorry to interrupt I know you're having fun but Isabelle is missing can you help me look for her?" I hated interrupting Mark and Andy's night but I needed them.
"Of course. I'll go with you and Mark has his phone so if one of us finds her call the other. I'll stay with you since you look stressed." We went to the lobby of the hotel, the bathrooms, the parking lot. Everywhere no sign of her. I was seriously panicking.
"Have you called Elliot maybe he's with her." Andy said when we were walking back to the ballroom after many failed attempts.
"I haven't seen Elliot. Not since he left with Kate after the first dance." She stopped me.
"You know that's probably why that waiter spilled water on you and Isabelle." Andy said.
"What are you talking about?"
"The waiter that spilled on your dresses. He didn't on purpose. You could tell even Mark said so. He was just kind of staring at you, walking around our table. As soon as you left the auction started. So you couldn't even bid on Elliot. That's kind of genius of Kate. But what a bitch." Holy shit she was right. I saw that waiter at least a dozen times before the water incident but after I couldn't see him anymore. And she must have known that I would bid on Elliot. That fucking bitch. She planned this whole thing out. And I didn't even notice
"Wait so you boyfriend is with his ex and you're not worried?" She was looking at me like I'm crazy.
"Yes he is. And I trust him okay. I... He loves me. I don't have time for this now I need to find Isabelle. Can we talk about that later. If you want to stay here and gossip about Elliot and that bitch then do that but I'm trying to find a fucking missing kid. I'm worried about Isabelle."
"Lina I'm not trying to gossip but that seems sketchy. They've been gone for at least an hour. Just call him. He may have her and we may be worried about nothing."
"It's not nothing Andrea! My five-year old is missing. She had a security member follow her and now the security member is not answering. No one has seen them. Her dad is off with some girl and I'm here freaking out! I just want to find her. I need to make sure she's okay. She hasn't had an episode in a few weeks but what if she has one today. Last time she ran away and jumped into the water. She couldn't even swim. I need to find her!" I was breathing hard. I sounded crazy. I calmed down and spoke like a sane person instead of yelling. "Just help me find her please." I was sounding the way I was feeling, desperate. I didn't want to call Elliot for two reasons: one I didn't want him to think that I'm checking on him and two I didn't want to tell him I lost Isabelle. If something happens to Isabelle it will be my fault. I took only three minutes and she was gone. I didn't care what Elliot thought. I dialed his number. It rang four times then went to voice mail. This time it rang eight times and still went to voice mail. "Damn it Elliot answer!" I was pacing hoping he would answer. I called about five times with no luck. "I'm going to tell Mia. Maybe she can help."
With lots of shame I walked to the table where all the Grey's, except Elliot, were laughing. "Um so I can't seem to find Isabelle do you know where she is. I went to the bathroom and when I came out she was gone. Taylor can't find Maynard either. I'm sorry. I don't want to bother you but it's been half an hour since I last saw her." Everyone stood and started looking for her. We agreed to come back to the table in 20 minutes if we hadn't found her to think of where she could be.
Twenty minutes later we were all back. I'm officially the worst parent ever. I was going to go out and look more when I saw Elliot walking with a very tired Isabelle. Maynard is following them. No Kate. "Isabelle! Where have you been. I told you not to leave. Do you know how worried I was. You can't do that again." She sleepily nodded her head and yawned. It was past eleven. This thing doesn't end until 1 am. Well I'm ready to leave. Isabelle sits on a chair and rests her head on the back. "Where was she?" I ask Elliot.
"Actually ma'am she went to the gardens in the back. She wanted me to take a picture of something and my phone fell into the pond. We stayed there for an extra twenty minutes. We were just walking back to the table when we ran into Mr. Grey and Miss Kavanagh. I apologize we should have informed you before going outside." Maynard said.
"It's fine. Just let me know next time. Thank you for watching her."
"Lina, baby, come." Elliot extends his hand to me. I grab it. I almost didn't because I was mad that he basically ditched me the entire night but the relief of finding her erases any bad emotions I had. Everyone takes a seat but Elliot pulled me to the dance floor. We start to dance.
"Is everything alright?" He nods his head but remains quiet and looking ahead. He grabs my face and stares into my eyes. Something is wrong with him. "Elliot where were you? What happened?" He shakes his head. He kisses me. His teeth pull on my bottom lip. His hands move to my head. The kiss is hot borderline inappropriate but there is so much emotion I can't stop him. I don't want him to. "Elliot what is it?"
"I don't want to lose you." He sounds so upset.
"You haven't. I'm right here. I'll always be here. As long as you want me to stay I will." I kiss him. There is a tone about his voice that makes me afraid. Afraid of what he will say or do. Of what he did. "What happened? What did you do?"
"You'll hate me." Oh what did he do. Regardless of my dislike for his words and everything going on I don't let him go. I'm afraid if I let go I'll lose him.
"That's not true. I love you. I love you so much Elliot just tell me." I don't know what he did but it scares me. Losing him scares me like nothing else. I've already had heart break I don't know if I could do it again. For some reason a tear falls from my eye. He wipes it away.
"I'm always making you cry. That all I'm good at. I just came and fucked up your life. You would be so much better without me." He's been drinking. He's not drunk but I can taste the familiar vodka flavor on his tongue.
"That's not true either. You're the best thing to happen to me. My life was horrible before you. We can work it out. Just talk to me. Don't you love me?" His fingers are pulling my hair, messing it from it's up-do. He rests his forehead against mine.
"So fucking much. All I do is think of you. I love you so much Carolina Reid." Before I say anything his lips are on mine moving at a speed that is amazing. He is so passionate and loving. I don't know if a minute or an hour pass by but I can't remove myself from him.
"Elliot." Someone is calling him. That voice is damn annoying. We stop and look at where the noise is coming from. Seriously it's fucking Kate. She gives Elliot a nod. He nods and kissed me one last time hard before letting me go. He says I love you then starts to walk away.
"Elliot where are you going?" I say when he looks at me. I grab his hand. "Why are you leaving with her?" He shakes his head clearing his head. "Elliot talk to me."
He presses his lips to my forehead. "I love YOU. Remember that." He pulls his arm out of my reach and follows Kate out. She holds his arm, looks back at me smiling triumphantly. Rejection and betrayal are the only words I can use to describe what I'm feeling. He didn't even look back. I stood in the middle of the dance floor with my hair done, in an overly expensive, revealing dress trying to impress my boyfriend. What does he do? Abandons me all night, and leaves with an ex girlfriend. I tried to breathe slowly so I wouldn't burst out in tears.
I walk back to Isabelle ready to take her home when I notice Elliot's family and my friends starring at me. Everyone is speechless. I wake Isabelle up from the chair where she is sleeping. "Isabelle, sweetie come let's go to sleep."
"Go home?" She mumbles standing up.
"Not tonight you and me are gonna sleep in a hotel room upstairs. It's gonna be fun." I try to be enthusiastic for her sake but everyone can tell it's an act.
"Okay. Daddy is coming too?" I can't lie to her. I can't even lie for my own sake.
"No sweetie it's just us. We can have a girl sleep over. I'll even put on a movie for you." My throat is constricting with all the emotion.
"Did daddy go with that lady?" I ignore her. "Why didn't he dance with me?" I guess I wasn't the only one whose feeling were hurt by Elliot tonight.
"He was a little busy talking to other people. It's okay he still loves you. Next time. Let's go." She is stumbling but my heels are hurting my feet and make it impossible to carry her.
"I'll get her ma'am." Jason says to me picking Isabelle up. She rests on his shoulder.
"I'm going to call it a night. Thank you all for inviting me. It was a great party." It was great. Not for me but other people may have enjoyed it.
"What did Elliot say to you dear?" Grace was concerned and a little embarrassed for asking.
"Nothing... He didn't say anything."
Jason sets Isabelle on the bed and leaves but reminds me that someone will be outside should I need anything. He also makes a point to tell me that Mia and Ana are also staying at the hotel tonight. I guess he expects me to call one of them. But I don't. I don't want to talk to any one except Elliot. Well not even Elliot.
I first get Isabelle in her pajamas then let her rest. I go to the living room and look out the window. Being on the sixteenth floor has it's perks. The view was spectacular. I could see the space needle from so far away. Seattle skyline is amazing this late.
After gazing a few minutes I return to the bathroom. There was a full size mirror. My hair is still in tact and my make up is perfect. I got both done by a professional. I wanted to look nice for Elliot. I remove my shoes of and the dress being too long for me without heels, folds at the end. As I start taking the pins out of my hair I start getting angry. I reach for a face cloth to remove my makeup. How could he just leave like that? How could he leave with her?
The last week has been incredible but after today I'm questioning everything he said in the past few months. I hate to think it but what if he's cheating on me. What am I suppose to do. I'm between in a rock and a hard place. I could just break up with him but then I would never see Isabelle. Not if Kate is in the picture. Or I could just stay with him and get to see Isabelle but would I stay with him if he betrayed me like that!
I pull the straps off my shoulder and the dress slides off my body. I couldn't wear a bra because of the construction if the dress. I was really looking forward to tonight. Not just for the sex but I thought it would be nice to be out with Elliot. As I look in the mirror I start feeling sorry for myself. I was left with Elliot's daughter in a room full of strangers and his family. They even watched as he left with someone else. How do you face some one after they have seen your boyfriend abandon you for the night. He's probably sleeping with her. Touching her the way he would touch me. Maybe I was another conquest.
I get into my pajamas and get in bed. I laid in the middle of the bed. So that he won't come and think there is room for him. He won't come though. He won't come. The realization hit me. He chose her. After everything he wants her. I start to cry. Sometime after I fall asleep when all my energy is gone.
I wake up feeling horrible. I go to the bathroom and vomit. Maybe I drank too much last night. It's 11. I'm surprised Isabelle is still asleep. I'm not complaining I'll have a minute to myself. When I walk back to the room I notice Elliot's suitcase still untouched. He didn't come. I knew he wouldn't but I still had hope that he wouldn't be with her. After showering and putting some make up on to hide the puffiness of my eyes I order Isabelle and I breakfast. Chocolate chip pancakes and a spinach omelette. And some Nutella.
I walk into Isabelle's room and wake her up. After getting her showered and dressed we go to the living room to put some tv on while we wait for breakfast, or lunch I guess. After what seems like forever there is a knock at the door. It wasn't room service though.
Christian Grey is standing outside.
"Good morning." I say as enthusiastically as I can. "Would you like to come in?"
"Yes thank you. I came to see how you were both doing. Did you enjoy your stay?" I didn't know he was in charge of hospitality in the hotel.
"It was fine thank you." Awkward silence. "Is everything okay?" Maybe something is wrong with Elliot.
"Yes. I'm here for you. To talk about my idiot brothers... Choices." I nodded my head for him to continue. "I apologize for his action. We don't know what is happening with him. Something must be wrong if he ignored you the way he did. Where is my brother?"
"You don't have to apologize for his behavior. He's... Sleeping." I lied I didn't want to have anymore questions. I thought he would let yesterday's events go if I just told him Elliot came here.
"Of course. Is there anything I can do?" Why was he being so nice? I changed the subject.
"Why did you have your employee bet on Mia?" He sat up straighter.
"I don't agree with Mia's choice of men."
"Seriously? That was about Luke." He gave a nod. "You bet one hundred fifty dollars so that your sister would spend one less dance with her boyfriend. Whom she lives with."
"She can do better." What a brother. It's kinda cute.
"Because she's your sister?" He raised an eye brow. So I raised mine and smirked.
"She can do better." He repeated.
"You do realized that you're just pushing her away. You two don't get along in family dinners because you refuse to accept her boy friend. Elliot is more accepting of Luke so we see them at least once a week, not including your moms Sunday dinners." He looked angry. I don't care. "What would you have done if Mia didn't accept Ana. If she treated Ana the way you treat Luke. You want Mia to break up with Luke. Would you have left Ana?"
"That's different."
"How? He went to school, is an ex marine, he can provide for her. And he loves her. You hired him to protect your wife. Your pregnant wife why is he not good enough to protect you sister. Just think about you can't do the whole age thing. Mia is a few months younger than Ana." He looks out at the sky line. Since I have him here I might as well use him. "Christian, Isabelle's schooling was being paid for by one of your employees. We have asked the school for the name of the person but we have to wait for the name to come back. Would you happen to know who it was?" I know he's going to say no.
"No." I was right. "I have thousands of employees miss Reid, I don't track all of their financial records. However if it was being payed by a GEH employee account they won't give you the name of the person they will give you an account number. When you have the account number, give it to Welch and I will have him look the name up for you. Even if it's him." Well that was easy. I thought after a semi lecture about Mia he would tell me to fuck off.
Isabelle came into the room and stood behind me. "Does Christian scare you?" She looked at me smiling and nodded.
Christian cleared his throat. "Actually the reason I'm here is to invite you both to have breakfast with us."
"You and Ana?"
"And Mia and my parents."
"Can I go too?" Isabelle asked shyly.
He gave her a creepy smile. "You have to sit next to me." She considered it but nodded her head. "Well then I'll se you upstairs. In fifteen minutes. The food you ordered will be delivered to my room. 1901. It's the presidential suite. You can get lost. Maynard will follow you. Laters."
I wasn't sure what to think of Christian. He was really bossy. He would be nice but as soon as you showed him some kind of emption he would go back to being in bossy mode. Whatever he wasn't my problem. My problem was lost. Or at least not here. Ten minutes later our things were packeted and would be ready to take to the car when we came back after breakfast.
I thought all that would happen during breakfast was that everyone would question me on Elliot but no one mentioned it. No one even talked about yesterday. I was glad. I don't think I could lie to everyone about Eliot "sleeping" in our room.
Sometime during breakfast Elliot walked in. He was wearing the same clothes from yesterday. His shirt was wrinkled and his bow tie undone. He pulled a chair and sat next to me. I looked at him and he tried to kiss me but I turned my head before his lips touched mine. He kissed my cheek instead. Did this asshole really think that he could just come and I would be happy, that everything was okay. I looked at him and he looked back smiling. He put his arm around my chair and kissed my head. He forced my face to look at him. "I love you Lina."
"Dont touch me, Elliot." I turned my head again and balled my hands into a fist so they wouldn't shake. Everyone was looking at us in confusion.
"So what's for breakfast?" Elliot was talking to Isabelle. All of breakfast was awkward for me now. He kept trying to touch me but I pushed him away. "Don't be like this, talk to me." I ignored him. "Come on baby. I'm sorry okay." He was so casual about this.
"Sorry doesn't fix everything. I don't want to talk about it now. Not in front of your family and especially not in front of Isabelle. So stop touching me." I've never denied his touch. I've never wanted to. I really what to leave. Go home. But I don't have a home. Not really. It's Elliot's house he can easily tell me to leave and I have to. I try to eat more but I lost my appetite. The rest of the meal I sat silently. No one talked to me and I didn't talk to them. Elliot stopped bothering me.
We said out goodbyes and Elliot followed us back to our room. I still didn't talk. Once inside the room I check for any thing that I might have left behind but it was all there.
"Lina do you mind waiting so I can shower. We can head home after."
"I mind. We are leaving now. You can stay and take a cab home." I said crossing my arms.
"Lina it will only take five minutes."
"You could have done that this morning but you weren't here. So I'm leaving. Are you coming?" I wish I would have just made him take a cab. I wasn't in the mood to sit in a car with him for thirty minutes.
"Fuck! Fine lets go. Here let me get your bag."
"I can take it myself. Just get yours and Isabelle's." I was being petty but I had a right to be.
We arrived home an hour later. Traffic took a long time and checking out was a drag. The rest of the day I avoided him. I locked myself in his office doing some work and watching movies alone. I needed to be calm before we talked.
"Where were you?" I said when I walked into his bedroom that night.
"I've been here all day. You would know if you came out and talked to me."
"No yesterday. What happened?"
"Nothing happened." I laughed at that.
"What do you mean nothing happened you were with Kate all night and I don't see you until morning what happened?"
"Are you going to be one of those girlfriends who keeps track of me?" I'm not going to hit him.
"I'm not keeping track of you."
"Sounds like you are."
"It took me two hours to get ready. I did my hair for you and I wore a dress. And you just left me. Do you know how pathetic it makes me feel? That I tried to look nice for you and you leave me to hang out with your ex. Or how embarrassing it was that you left me literally on the dance floor and walked out with her. I went to this party for you and you just left me there. Your entire family and my friends saw how you just disregarded me. They all saw you walk out with her." I was shouting by the end of that.
"I didn't want to leave you but I had to talk to Kate"
"Why didn't you say something. You could have told me. I spent all night waiting for you to come back so we could spend time together. And the one hour I wasn't sitting down waiting for you I spent looking for Isabelle because I couldn't find her. I tried to call you so you could help me. Where were you then?"
"I didn't know she was lost. I would have helped-"he stuttered but I couldn't stop yelling at him.
"But you didn't because you weren't there! And I called like ten times and you didn't even answer the fucking phone. What if something had happened to her?" I was near tears now.
"Lina I'm sorry."
"Did you sleep with her?" I said quietly.
"What? No. I wouldn't do that to you. How could you think that?"
"What am I suppose to think?"
"You're suppose to trust me."
"I can't trust you if you keep things from me."
"You kept something important from me if I remember correctly." He said in spite.
"I didn't tell you because I thought you would leave me. I didn't tell you because it's hard for me to talk about that." The tears spilled.
"Lina..."
"what happened, what was so important that you had to be gone all night?"
"Lina it doesn't matter."
"It matters to me Elliot!"
"Don't worry about it. I didn't sleep with her I didn't kiss her. Nothing happened between us."
"Then why can't you tell me?" I said desperately. He was running his hand through his hair. I breathed slowly and kneeled in front of him. If yelling wasn't going to work than I should try to just be nice and he'll tell me. Hopefully.
"Because..." He stopped and looked at me.
"I love you Elliot if you didn't sleep with her than anything else we can work through." I touched his face, along his ear then moved my hand to his hair. He sighed and looked down.
"Lina, Kate said she's pregnant.