St. Jude's Gala
I stand in our bedroom staring at myself in the mirror. Christian really does know how to pick a dress. The bodice is a bright white lace and beads pattern and from it falls in a cinch along my abs and then to the side and drapes open at my calf in a deep sapphire blue silk. It's gorgeous and looks terrific on me. The best part is of course is the new jewelry Christian presented me with when he gave me the dress. A diamond necklace…huge diamond necklace I should say. It must have cost a fortune. My hair is done in a fishtail braid and then spun around into a bun at the nape of my neck. My bangs coifed back in just the right way…I have to admit I look sexy. I slide on the tall rhinestone covered Gucci shoes and do a twirl.
I step into the gallery where he awaits me. He looks me up and down then clasps his hands around my body bringing me into a kiss. He suddenly grasps my wrists and pushes me against the wall where Demetrius held me...but rather that feel frightened this makes me want Christian all the more. He looks me up and down and then devours my mouth in his own. When he finally breaks away my breathing is labored my heart racing.
"Christian we have to go help the children at St. Judes." I say and chuckling he kisses me once more and then takes my hand. When we arrive at the garage he surprises me by opening the passenger door to his R8. I glance to see Taylor, Sawyer, and French climbing into the 4x4. Christian slides into the driver's seat and soon we're off. Twenty minutes later we pull up outside of a building where lights are splaying around, camera's flashing, and people waving 'Thank You' and St. Jude's signs. Christian exits the R8 and then pulls the door open for me as per usual. Giving me a hand I step from the vehicle. He slips his arm around my waist and I lean in towards him and we walk forward smiling and waving. Five minutes later after Christian and I are interviewed by lots of people we eventually make it inside. Soon were walking around together talking to lots of people. Various celebrities, Seattle socialites, and business people whom Christian knows. After an hour of this we are soon shown to our seats.
Christian holds my chair out and I sit very ladylike smiling like crazy. We're seated at the very front of the stage. Soon someone comes out and begins to thank everyone for coming to the event. It mainly consists of lots of schmoozing, until we watch a video of the small children with cancer and a few of the teens struggling through chemo. After this a girl enters the stage and immediately my heart goes out to her.
"Hello, my name is Zoe and I am 15 years old. I suffer from a rare form of cancer and with your support I am able to stay at St. Jude's Hospital. It is because of your continued support that I am alive today…my dream is to become a politician and do America some good. I hope to change the world…and create a ripple effect of the good all of you have shown me today. As the first entertainer for tonight's dinner I'll be singing to you." And with that the lights dim and soon waiters are rushing about. As I take a sip of wine her voice begins to filter through the large room and I am amazed at it. For a sick girl she exudes an amazing range and her voice doesn't falter at all. When she is finished the applause is very loud and gratuitous. This is how the evening continues for the next hour and a half as we consume our dinners. Various young people clamber on stage and perform various acts from short dramas to magic to comedy routines. After dinner a band assembles on the stage and the gala begins. Christian and I dance together for what seems like hours. When we're not dancing we are talking to others and I meet quite a large number of people.
Around midnight Christian is ready to go and I tell him I just need to make a stop by the powder room. He nods and Sawyer escorts me quickly to the restrooms. I do my business and as I prepare to leave someone calls to me, "Ana?" I turn and stare at the tall woman with long blonde hair who stands at the mirrors.
"Pardon?" I say blinking my eyes and the girl walks up to me. When she is this close I make a note that she is not a girl but a woman of middle age.
"Anastasia Steele," She says placing her hands on my shoulders and looking me up and down. "Why I never thought I would see you in such a dress…your mama sure did raise you better than I expected. I haven't seen you in seventeen years." She says and I just look at her.
"Who are you?" I ask as we leave the powder room together and I make a mental note that she didn't wash her hands.
"Well, none other than your Aunt Olivia…you can't tell me you don't remember me. I know it has been a while but really I thought I'd made an impression with your calling my 'Liv' all the time." She says and suddenly it clicks in my head. Liv? Yes, I do remember her now distinctly as one of mom's friends who I disliked very much as a child.
"Yes," I say forcing a smile astounded that mom never mentioned she has a sister. But in all honesty it's not surprising. "Aunt Olivia, it has been too long. It's actually Anastasia Grey now…" I say smiling and become slightly alarmed when she grasps me shoulders again and begins jumping up and down.
"You're married?" She says smiling like crazy and I simply nod.
"So, what brings you to this charity event?" I ask her and she smiles to me.
"My latest beau brought me along…his way of showing me society." I smile as she says this and look at her ghastly red low cut dress that makes her skin look horrid. She also has too much make-up on and I glance to Sawyer who simply stands surveying the crowd around us.
"Would you like to meet my husband?" I ask and she places a hand to her enormous bosom that over flows from the strapless number.
"Really?" She asks in amazement.
"Of course," I say and lead her back through the crowd.
"Do you have a stalker or something?" She asks gesturing to Sawyer and making me smile.
"No, Olivia, that is Sawyer he is part of my security detail." I say glancing to him. Sawyer nods curtly to Olivia and she drops her mouth in an O.
"So, who are you married to little Ana?" She asks pulling harshly on my arm nearly ripping it off.
"Christian Grey," I say and suddenly she jerks me to a stop pulling me to face her.
"The Christian Grey…meaning you're the Anastasia Grey that has been plastered all over the news lately?" She asks and I simply nod to her. She gives me an amused look. "How did you manage that…Charles says that your marriage is a ruse to cover up Mr. Grey's homosexual tendencies." She says and I look at her like she has gone insane.
"Well I can assure you that Christian is most definitely not a homosexual," I say feeling awkward just matching nympho dominant Christian with the word homosexual.
"Well, what do I know I simply date the wealthy? You know I recently divorced my fourth husband lately. How is your mother doing? I haven't spoken to her since she decided to leave Ray." Olivia says and I glance to her as we walk through the crowd. I suddenly spot Christian where we left him.
"She was fine the last time we spoke," I mumble because honestly I have no clue and remind myself I need to call her.
"Christian, this is mothers sister Olivia…Olivia please meet Christian my husband." I say introducing the two. Christian takes Olivia's proffered hand and kisses it like the good gentleman he is before slipping his arm around my waist.
"Pleased to meet you, Ms…." He says leaving the question trailing.
"Frederick…Olivia Frederick." She says smiling her gaze traveling Christian's length. "Well, it was quite nice seeing you again Ana. Please do take good care of her Christian. If you'll excuse me I have to locate Charles…Ana tell your mother to ring me." She says and with that she disappears into the crowd.
"That was very odd," I say in all honesty to Christian to which he cocks his head. "I'll tell you in the car." I say and we make our exit slipping into the R8 as the 4x4 pulls behind us. In the car I tell Christian about Olivia: what I remember of her and her odd words about him. When we arrive home all thoughts of my long lost Aunt are swept away as I am pulled into Christians arms. We play the resistance games which leads to him forcing me against a wall as he strips the dress off and I trying (not so hardly) to fight him off. Never the less it lights his fire as I beg in my British voice, "Please Mr. Grey don't ruin me…however will I find a match if you take me here and now." As he goes along though my tune changes to, "Oh, Mr. Grey take me take me now unravel me at the edges so that I may see the stars in heaven." He complies quickly and we drift into sleep I in his arms content, sated, and gloriously happy.