Chapter 35: She's A Beauty
Eva had gone back to New York City two weeks ago. The sisters spoke every day but it wasn't the same as having her around. Ana decided it was time to get back to being Ana. She decided she had taken enough time off for maternity leave and she would be back in the office by Monday fulltime. However, before that she decided she needed a spa day and the only one to have a spa day with was Kate. One call later their day was planned.
They were at a high end salon called Champagne. Kate and Ana were sitting at the pedicure stations while manicurists were working on their nails as they were served flutes of champagne. After a couple of hours of pampering that included a massage, waxing, and haircuts and styles Ana and Kate felt like new women. Ana had an inch of hair cut from her length and decided to put subtle auburn highlights through her brunette hair. She smiled when she saw her reflection in the mirror. She looked great!
Kate decided since they looked great they deserved to shop for some new clothes. Caroline Action met with them at Neiman Marcus so they could choose from the latest fashions. Ana bought three dresses with all the accessories and shoes. Kate doubled Ana with her purchases.
"I think we should go to your apartment, get dressed and go out tonight." Kate said smiling. "I haven't been out forever." She gave Ana her puppy dog eyes and Ana knew that she was going out tonight.
"Follow me over to my apartment so I can get you into the parking garage." Ana climbed into her pretty little red Mercedes and took the time to call home to tell Connie her plans and ask for security tonight at her apartment on top of the Cascades, a ritzy new apartment complex close to Grey Publishing. She bought the penthouse to have a place in town for work purposes or for times such as this, a place to change or if she needed to stay in town.
With their packages Ana and Kate took her private elevator to the penthouse. Ana loved her apartment with its beautiful hard wood floors, tall wide windows that gave a beautiful view of Seattle, and decorated in soft colors of sage and the lightest gold. She had four bedrooms all with en suites, a large gourmet eat-in kitchen, a dining room, a large great room with a massive wood burning fireplace, a nice size study, and rooms for security and a live-in maid that took care of the place.
"I really think that you should give this place to me." Kate said as she placed her clothes on Ana's bed in the master bedroom. "It would be a great place to hide away from Elliot and the kids."
"You know you can use it anytime you want." Ana replied. "No one knows that I own it. Not even Christian."
"So, is this your little sex pad?" Kate asked salaciously.
"No, this is where I stay when I need to stay in town for business."
"You could always stay over at Escala. I am sure Christian would let you shack up with him." Kate said knowingly.
"I should have never told you that we're dating." Ana unbuttoned her shirt and shrugged off her boyfriend shirt. She then wiggled out of her tight jeans as she pushed off her shoes. "It was only one time anyway. He's been gone for two weeks."
"So, it's not like an exclusive relationship. Correct?"
Ana sighed. "To tell you the truth, I don't know what the hell it is. We had a great date, some great sex, and then he took off for China. We try to talk every day but this is something that I don't want to talk about over the phone or Skype." She shrugged. "So what are you going to wear?"
"The little red dress with my new red Louboutins."
"I think I will wear this sapphire silk dress and my black Jimmy Choos." She smiled as she hung the dress in her closet to keep it wrinkle free. "Do you want to go out for dinner or order in?"
"We are hot looking mamas. We need to go out." Kate squealed in delight enjoying a little time away from the family.
Ana knew that Brady was in the apartment when he announced his arrival on the intercom system. She wondered why he was on duty when he had asked for this weekend off three weeks ago. Kate was in the master bath finishing up her makeup so Ana went to the security office. She was already dressed. She leaned on the door sill watching him as he worked.
"Hello stranger." She said smiling. "I thought you were taking the weekend off."
Brady looked up and smiled. His eyes took in everything about her with one glance. He appreciated the beautiful dress that draped over her curves showing them off to perfection. Her long legs looked even longer in those black five-inch heels. Her hair was different, with auburn highlights and shorter. "My plans were changed." He finally said remaining at the monitor bank. "Amelia left me."
"What?" Ana asked standing straight up from her leaning position on the door sill. "I don't believe it."
"She decided to move back to Dallas to be with her mother."
"I am so sorry Daniel. I really thought that you two were heading to the altar." She came on into the room. "Are you sure you want to work? I mean Kirthland can come in. He is on call this weekend."
Daniel shook his head. "It's alright. I don't have the girls this weekend. At least here I have something to do." He smiled once again. "So, what are your plans?"
"Kate and I are going out to dinner at Spall's then dancing at Mildred's." She answered as she watched him type on the keyboard. She knew he was looking at the cameras and moving them if needed. Daniel Brady was amazing at his job. "How are the girls? Are they taking this well? I know they liked Amelia a great deal."
"Heartbroken." He said lowly. He looked up here. Yes, he needed to work. He needed to keep his mind off Amelia. Ana had been correct with her altar comment. He had the ring in his desk at home. He was planning on proposing this weekend, and then Amelia dropped her bombshell last night. She was returning to Dallas to care for her mother who had been diagnosed with cancer. He did everything to change her mind, offering to bring her mother to Seattle for treatment and even offering to quit his job and go to Dallas with her. Amelia only smiled gently gave him a kiss and left his house. "Don't worry Ana, I will be alright. It only takes time, right?"
Ana silently nodded. All of a sudden and the pain that Christian had caused overcame her. She had fought it so much, trying not to let it hurt her anymore. She thought it she was over it. They had divorced. She had lived on her own proving to him and everyone that she could survive without him. She was successful on her own. She was in control of her own life. She still loved him. She was sleeping with him. "Sometimes time is not enough. Sometimes love holds you indefinitely."
"Is that what's going on with you and Grey?" He asked lowly. He watched her face as she tried to find the answer in her mind and heart. He could tell she was conflicted over her feelings. "Are you going back to him?"
"I don't think I ever left him completely. You are divorced with children. Don't you still have some kind of feelings for your ex?"
"Mostly anger." His answer was brutally honest.
"I am still angry with him, but it is fading…well at times it feels like it is fading. I do think he has changed…or is changing. Maybe he is finally growing up."
"And you feel you owe it to him to be around for this metamorphic change?"
"I owe it to me." She didn't she like the way this conversation was going. This was getting to deep and this wasn't the time. She wanted to go out with her friend and just have fun. She wanted to forget about all the drama of life. Forget Christian, Gideon, being a surrogate, business deals, and hell, even the damn weather. "So, will you be our on-foot security also, or will one of the ladies be joining us tonight?"
"I will be on-foot as well as your driver. I can handle the job."
"No doubting that." She said laughing. "I better go check on Kate. I think we will be ready in just a few minutes."
Daniel nodded as his glaze went over her once again. "I will have the SUV ready."
Dinner was a blast as the old friends caught up with each other's lives. They laughed and drank over a gourmet meal. They didn't care that photos had been taken of them as they arrived and left Spall's. Let the world know that Ana Steele Grey was back! She was going to be a young "out and about" person of the world. Seattle was her playground and tonight she was going to play!
Getting into Mildred's was easy and private since Brady had called ahead. They were taken to the back entrance and brought in through the kitchens. The dance floor was already rocking by 10 PM and Ana was ready to dance. She drug Kate out onto the dance floor which was probably the first that ever happened. They bumped and grinded to the techno beat dancing their cares away. Ana was dancing with total strangers. She was no longer self-conscious about her body. Kate had to smile. This wasn't Christian's Ana, the near submissive. This Ana was confident and in charge. "Good to see my friend back!" Kate said to herself as she danced alongside her best friend in the world.
A ping alerted Christian that something had been sent to his email. He opened the program to find a photo of Ana and Kate dancing in a club. "What the hell?" He yelled getting Taylor's attention. Christian looked at the scene. Ana was in a short sapphire dress that complimented every delicious curve of her body. She had lost all the baby weight fast. She was laughing and having the time of her life…and he was not there to enjoy it! Damn Chinese government regulations! He frowned as the dark green monster began to make its appearance. He had to control it. She is out with Kate. She will be fine….yeah, well Kate isn't known for being responsible after a few drinks….calm down raging bull…Kate is married now…and Ana is a grown woman. Besides, Mr. CEO there are no rings on her finger is there? You managed to have them stripped off her when you decided you wanted a sub. If Ana decides on a one-night stand with a total stranger, there isn't a damn thing you can do about it! You are no longer her husband. Oh fuck off! I can still worry about her. I still love her and I want to be with her for the rest of my life…well lover-boy that is not your call is it? And, if you are so damn concern why is your ass sitting in this hotel room instead of out on the dance floor showing her a good time? Don't you have enough money to last a thousand lifetimes? Why did you run off after that night at the Sound? You were scared. You were scared that you couldn't do all that you promised her. Have you really changed? You still want to control her, to keep her on your terms and not hers. That is why you ran because you knew she would not go for that. You left to keep her from knowing that you were still Mr. Control Freak! I did NOT! I left because of business. Oh yes, always business, blame the business! Ros could have done this. You took it because you needed to control something! At least I chose the business and not her…well that's true….you have a point there. So, Mr. Grey, what are you going to do now? Are you going to hide away in China or are you going back to Seattle?
"Taylor, I want to go home." Christian said. "I have done all I can do here. This shit can be done from the office." I need to go home and see Dr. Hellerman and see Ana. I need to know that I can handle all this. Can I really be the man that she wants? Damn, Gideon will tan my hide! He warned me not to play with her emotions if I wasn't sure about this. Jesus, look at her, She's a Beauty! Any sane man would want her just as she is! I need her. I want her. I don't want her to change. I need her to challenge me to keep on track! I fuckin love this woman that she has always been! I am going home…tonight!
A tall, dark, and dangerous man approached the table that Kate and Ana was sitting at. He didn't walk, but stalked like a jungle cat after its prey. Kate saw him first and she caught her breath. This man was pure sexual energy. From the tip of his black Italian shoes to the top of his blue/black hair, he promised a night of furious sex! He wore all black. The finely tailored suit, the linen shirt and silk tie: all black! Even his eyes were black. "Ladies," His deep voice seemed to be black also. If a sound could be colored, then black was the needed crayon from the box. "May I buy you a drink?"
Ana's glaze went to the Adonis who stood beside their table. She considered him for a moment. He was handsome in a dangerous way. "We buy our own drinks, but thank you." She said not affected by the power and strength that he projected. This was a man who was not denied much in his life. Just what she needed another Christian Grey or Gideon Cross! He was amused by her. He leaned over the table. She caught his scent, a blend of sandalwood and eroticism.
"Just one drink ladies?" He asked in a sultry dark and dangerous voice. "Then, I will leave your presence happy with just this modest chance encounter." He placed his large hand over his heart which Ana did not think he truly had.
"I believe I was very clear. We buy our own drinks. You offer was considered and rejected, now please run along and play with the girls who want to be played with." Ana was in her bitch CEO mode. He was dismissed. She returned her attention to Kate who was staring at her with her mouth wide open in shock.
Micah Ellington could not believe that he had just been shot down by this little brunette who fired up his loins with her dancing. He was confused. This does not happen to him. He walked away frustrated and stood at the bar watching her. His long fingers pinched his full lower lip in deep thought. He had to get her to go home with him. The moment he had seen her out of the dance floor bumping and grinding with that short blue dress, he knew that he had to possess her. Damn, she was fucking hot…and her friend was damn hot also, but he had seen the wedding rings on her finger. Micah did not do married women, but if she had been single, he was up for a threesome!
"So, who's the hot little piece of ass you're scoping out?" Denzel Fries asked his friend. He was Micah's oldest friend and his wingman. He followed his friends glaze to the table with a blonde and brunette who were laughing. "Which one?"
"The blonde is married." Micah said. "The brunette blew me off like I was yesterday's paper."
Denzel laughed. Well, this was a red letter day when Micah Ellington couldn't get a girl to drop her panties with one of his smiles and a wink. "Is she a lesbo? Who is she?"
"I have no fuckin clue. I don't need to know a woman's name to fuck her. But, this one, I am going to find out everything I can. I will be fucking her before this week is out!"
Denzel studied the brunette. He shook his head. He didn't think so. This lady was out of Ellington's league. He liked easy girls who would fuck him in an instant. This was a woman. Ellington didn't have a fuckin snowball's chance in hell to get into this woman's panties. "I think you should move on. Something tells me this one is different. She is dangerous."
"That little thing? I could break her in half." Micah said lowly. But, I would rather break her in my playroom. She would look delicious tied to the whipping bench with her pretty little ass at my pleasure. "Don't worry, Dennie." Micah laughed using his friends' childhood name. "I won't let her hurt me."