A/N: Hi All! It's been a good minute since I've posted! It can get pretty busy but I couldn't forget about my story I have to admit I was also trying to think of where I wanted to go next as I had quite a few ideas. I don't plan to take to much time in between. I'm almost to the end and I need to keep the momentum going! Thank you so much for taking the time to read as it is most appreciated! Always feel free to review and Happy Reading!
"They will not talk about my daughter! Phoebe! Why would they say this? Have you seen this man?!"
I remove my grip from my father and sit on the chair in front of his desk muffled with tears.
"Dad, please make it go away. The woman in the photos is me."
My dad turns his head so fast towards me that it feels he's snapped it in the process.
"What did you just say?"
"I'm sorry dad. It is me in those photos. I'm the lady in the blonde wig."
The look on my dad's face is heartbreaking. I can see disappointment. I never wanted to disappoint my father. My father quickly tries to rebound and seemingly hopes that what I am saying is all a lie
"Phoebe, no! No! Security would have…."
"Said something. I gave them the slip. Even Taylor. Don't be mad at them dad."
"How? Why?"
"I was angry. I was angry with Nathan. I was hurt. It's all over now. I want to move on and I want to be honest."
"Phoebe, look at these photos! Look at your face! Phoebe…please. What is this?"
"I'm sorry dad. I…..please don't be mad."
My words turn to whispers. With tears in her eyes Aspyn comes over to me and holds me close.
"Uncle Christian, I know it looks bad but you see….Gideon followed Phoebe…a lot."
I quickly turn to look at Aspyn and then my father. The anger on my father's face is evident.
"He sought you out Phoebe?"
"To an extent maybe but I…I did a stupid thing by responding to his attention. I want to move past this."
"A stupid thing? A stupid thing Phoebe? Regardless of what was happening you had to maintain a sense of decency. To everyone else you are a married woman who is now very much pregnant! Phoebe, I love you with all my heart. You know I would move the world for you but right now I need to figure out what to do next and I need to do this without you next to me. I do not want to put you under any stress."
My dad walks out the room.
"Daddy please! Say something!"
I grab onto my father's arm and he gently pulls my hand off of him.
"Go with Aspyn."
(ANA AND CHRISTIAN'S BEDROOM)
Ana sits in the middle of her and Christian's bed looking over manuscripts when she sees her husband open the door of their bedroom and slam it close.
"Baby, is everything alright."
Ana looks up at Christian's face and sees small tears forming in the corners of his eyes. Christian takes one disgruntled and disappointed look at Ana and slams his fist through the wall. Ana quickly jumps back and runs over to Christian seeing blood on his knuckles. Quickly she rushes to get a wet towel and tries to help him.
"Honey, you are scaring me. Please tell me what is going on Christian."
"Phoebe. Phoebe!"
"What's wrong with Phoebe? Is she alright? I need to go find her!"
Ana is about to leave when Christian gently takes her by the waist and pulls her into him.
"Phoebe is okay. Nothing is wrong with the baby either."
"What the hell Christian! You're starting to worry me."
Christian makes his way to the edge of their bed and runs his hands through his hair.
"A media story about Phoebe came out today. It said that Gideon Cross was having an affair with Phoebe."
"That's absurd. You can take care of that. I hate when they make up rumors about our children that aren't true."
"The woman in the photographs is Phoebe."
Ana is surprised and does a double take to see if what she heard Christian say is true.
"Christian, it, it can't be."
"Phoebe confessed that it was her. She was spending time with him because she was upset with Nathan. I could barely control my temper. The only reason I didn't fucking go off in there is because of the baby. I'm so fucking upset Ana. I don't know what to fucking do with myself. Never have I felt so uncertain that it is absolutely maddening!"
"Did Phoebe cheat on Nathan?"
"I haven't asked her the extent of the relationship."
Christian takes out his phone and dials Taylor.
"Taylor, Grey. I need you to find out Gideon Cross's location. I need to find out now. His son. Once you find out his whereabouts we are going to pay him a visit. Thank you."
"Christian! What are you doing?"
"I'm going to go talk to him."
"Christian! You know we've had a tumultuous business relationship with the Crosses. We finally are on cordial terms. Christian it wasn't Gideon himself."
"I know that but better I get to him first than Nathan."
(BACK IN CHRISTIAN'S STUDY)
"Phoebe you can't just leave."
"My father isn't answering his phone neither is my mother. He just left Aspyn! I'm sorry I made a mistake! I was overwhelmed and stupid! I need to go home. I need to talk to Nathan. I need to make him understand. I just need him to."
I take off and head towards my house. Everything is just a blur right now. Once I get into the house I throw my keys in the basket and start to head upstairs. Four steps up I hear the front door slam close and a voice call my name from behind.
"Phoebe!"
"I turn around and see Danielle standing there with tears and anger etched all over her face."
"Dani, how did you get in here?"
"Did you forget? I used to live here. Now you live here."
"I didn't know you guys were coming to Seattle so soon. I thought you were flying in next week."
"Teddy wanted to surprise your mother."
"Where is Teddy?"
"He dropped me off here. He is on his way to your parents. I figured I would catch you here at some point. We had a huge fight about it too but it was either see you or console my brother."
"You saw the stories."
"Saw the stories? I saw the pictures. Before we left home we saw an alert on his phone, about you."
"That's all fucking great."
"It was you in those pictures! It fucking was you Phoebe!"
"Dani, please, please I know your upset but I need you to calm down."
"Calm down? Phoebe! What the fuck is your problem?! Gideon Cross! Why?"
"It isn't what you think it is. I never had an affair, we hung out that time and…"
"Nathan told you to stay away from him! What did you think you were doing? You are in disguise hanging out with him! You were married the entire time and your with a man that wasn't your husband! A man that your husband very much dislikes and told you to stay away from!"
"The Evelyn thing was happening and I didn't know what to think…I had so much going on and…"
"And what Phoebe! Don't give me that Evelyn shit! I know what you went through wasn't easy. I know that Nathan made mistakes in his past however he never, never cheated on you. He always threw Evelyn to the side. I'm so disappointed in you Phoebe. I'm fucking disgusted with you! Teddy is right now trying to stop himself from going over to Gideon Cross's office which honestly if he does I am not fucking stopping him."
"Dani, I love Nathan I would never cheat on him!"
"Now it makes sense why you wouldn't answer his phone calls! From day fucking one there has been something with you and Gideon I just know it now. You were at his beach house the night Nathan went looking for you. Was Nathan not good enough for you?"
"Dani stop!"
"Don't you dare call me Dani right now! I don't even know if that really is my niece or nephew."
I start to break down. Dani had never spoken this way to me before.
"How could you imply that me and Gideon slept together? Your hurting my feelings. Please stop. It's not what you think."
"How could you? You are exactly the same as Evelyn but you just have a thicker bank account!"
The front door once again slams and startles both me and Dani.
"Leave me alone with Phoebe."
Dani runs over to Nathan putting her arms around him.
"Nate, are you okay? Look I just want to say that…"
Nathan gently eases her to the side and walks towards me.
"I don't care what you have to say Danielle. Go outside or just stay down here. Come with me Phoebe lets go upstairs."
I grab hold of Nathan's arm going up the stairs. He leads me to our bedroom and I sit on the edge of the bed.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm experiencing a lot of emotions right now."
"I saw the pictures Phoebe."
I looked up at him shocked. He came right out with it.
"I figured as much."
"I love you so much Phoebe that if you told me that it wasn't you, I would believe you but looking closely at those pictures…."
Nathan gets up from the chair he was in and walks over to me. He gently takes my face in his hands and begins to stroke my face.
"I know it was you. I know the contours of my wife's face, the curves of her body. There was no denying that it was you Phoebe."
He removes his hands from my face and walks over to the wall leaning against it. It looks as if he wants to cry but he won't.
"There were so many times he was there. He was always there. He was at your bachelorette party, then he saved you on the beach, he saved you from the paparazzi outside of your doctor's office. He was with you and you were with him in disguise. The singing, that wasn't sudden. That was something you did with him and that you enjoyed it."
"Nathan I haven't spoken to him. I never cheated on you I promise. I am sorry I was upset with Evelyn and he seemed like a good friend. I never meant to hurt you."
"But you did Phoebe. We are all our responsible for our actions. With this whole experience I've learned that lesson well. I knew you were young and I quickly learned that you never had experience with men. I was your first. You were pure and innocent and I fell madly in love with you. You completed my world, my entire being. Everything I did was for you. Was it too soon? It doesn't seem enough for you."
"Nathan, believe me when I say I love you. I love you so much. I am so sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry I lied about seeing him but I never had an affair with him. Please believe me baby."
I go to Nathan and take his face into my hands but he takes my hands off him and puts them to my side.
"Phoebe, you and I need some time to figure things out."
I felt my heart crack and then shatter into hundreds of pieces.
"What do we need to figure out? I don't feel anything for him Nathan! I promise!"
"Is the baby mine?"
I stand there stunned. Yes I fucked up by hanging around him but I would never do what he is accusing me of.
"Why would you question that? Why?"
"Because Cross is fucking kissing you passionately outside of a lounge while you are pregnant. Cross took you by the waist and led you into his car when the paparazzi came. You tried to hide who you were and went out with him. You were smiling in those pictures Phoebe, you looked so fucking happy! I'm trying so hard to not lose my patience!"
"I'm sorry Nathan what do you want me to do!?"
"I want you to think about this and what it is you really want because all that evidence makes me think that this isn't working for you anymore."
"Nathan, what about our baby?"
"You will be taken care of. I will be at every doctor's appointment however I will not live with you right now. You can choose to stay here in the house or stay with your parents but I need some time Phoebe because all of this is overwhelming."
I run over to him and throw my arms around his neck and cry into his chest. I cry and cry and beg him not to go. It almost seems as if I'm begging for my life. I don't want to lose him.
"Please, baby please. I need you to just listen to me. I love you. I love only you! Don't leave me, don't leave us! I'll do anything. I never talked to him again. I never did."
Nathan removes himself from me yet again and goes toward my purse. He opens it and takes my phone.
"What are you doing?"
Sure enough as he is scrolling Gideon's name appears on the list. He's never looked into any of my things. Ever. I look at his face and I hardly know what to say.
Nathan throws my phone on the bed.
"Goodbye Phoebe."
"Nathan, no its not what you think!"
I try to grab onto his arm but he quickly rushes away from me.
"Please Nathan! Listen to me! I've never cheated on you! Please come back!"
I'm crying, I'm begging. I've never imagined something like this happening.
Nathan quickly looks at me.
"Phoebe I need space to sort this out. I need you to just leave me alone. I'll contact you when I'm ready."
"The baby Nathan!"
"I told you. You will be taken care of. Now I have to go."
With nothing more to be said Nathan leaves out the door and Dani is right there waiting for him. They take off in Nathan's car. I go over to our bed and cry into the pillows. After what seemed like hours I pick myself up. I call Ava.
"Ava."
"Hi Phoebes. How are you? Look I heard about everything that happened. I'm very sorry."
With muffled sobs I continue to speak to my cousin.
"I'll get through this. Can I come and stay at your house?"
"Of course. Just don't stress out. It will be okay I promise."
"I hope so."
I got in my car and headed over to Ava's. My parents knew I was there and didn't say much. My Aunt Kate was very accommodating and I took one of the guest rooms. As I laid in bed Ava came over to me.
"If you need anything I'm here for you."
"I know. Thank you."
"Phoebe, I'm sorry but I'm curious. Why did you do what you did? Don't you love Nathan anymore?"
"I do, with all my heart. I was so mad at him. I kept getting these thoughts that he would get back with Evelyn. I kept thinking that since he was out there so much he would see her often and maybe rediscover that spark that they had before. When we broke up he brought her to Seattle. I watched her come in with him when I hung out with Dani. He always went back to her, always. Supposedly this boy of hers, Caden, is his son. A son! Now this whole thing with Gideon is out and I don't understand why this is happening at this point. My parents are disappointed in me, Dani hates me and I mean hates me! My brother has only texted me and Nathan….well Nathan wants me to leave him alone. His parents didn't seem to give a fuck about me either. Ava, the Gideon thing, I wasn't thinking. He's a fun guy but not in a I want him way. I felt as if I was surrounded by so many boundaries. In one day he removed all traces of those feelings. I just don't understand how everything would come crashing down. I didn't mean for this to happen! I swear I didn't!
"Calm down Phoebes."
My cousin comes over to me brush in hand and begins brushing my hair while I'm trying to control the dam that is about to break within my eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"Keep talking."
"I don't have anything else to say. I'm scared Ava. Will it be okay?"
"I hope so. I hope so for you and the baby's sake."
"I guess I'm kind of waiting for you to give me a more hopeful answer."
My cousin pauses. She stops brushing my hair and sets the brush down on the vanity. Sitting next to me she takes both of my hands into hers and holds them very tightly.
"I don't want you to stress and become upset. You have to think of yourself and the baby now. Just you two."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that this is a difficult situation. Nathan loves you but right now he is heartbroken. He just saw his wife in the tabloids kissing another man. To make matters worse a man he specifically told you to stay away from. He still will be there for your Phoebe but you need to let this storm blow over."
"So are you trying to say that this is all my fault?"
"Why did you see Gideon?"
"Because he was a friend. That's all. I just enjoyed his company, it wasn't romantic."
"Aren't you aware of the kind of reputation that this man has? You are Christian Grey's daughter and Nathan Sullivan's wife, which puts you on a pretty high pedestal! You then have the great idea to associate yourself with a man who has been drunk in public numerous times, been involved in numerous brawls, and for the cherry on top, has had sex with half the women in Seattle. He may be rich Phoebe but he has no class."
"Thank you Ava for the pep talk. You've made me feel all the better. I swear."
"I love you Phoebe but don't be a fool."
"I'm going to bed. It's been a long day."
"Have it your way Phoebe. Goodnight."
My cousin finally leaves the room and I lay there. I rub my stomach and start to feel scared, very scared. I feel as if everything in my life is falling apart. My relationship with Nathan was so perfect. In a matter of a few months my marriage takes a hard hit and I wonder if we will ever recover. Within a few minutes I see my phone flashing…Nathan!
I quickly open my text messages to reveal a message….not from my soon to be estranged husband but…..him.
Phoebe, I hope you are alright. I saw the stories. I just wanted to let you know that I don't know how this could have happened. I'm so very sorry and I will do everything in my power to make this right.
Everything in his power to make it right. Yeah right. What could he really do? I stand at the fence debating whether I want to respond. As I begin typing I believe I've answered my own question.
What could you possibly do Gideon? My family is disappointed in me and my husband believes I'm a cheater.
Really there isn't anything he could say or do. Within two minutes another message pops up in my screen.
How could your husband think so less of you?
Excuse me?! How could he not? I lied to him and to everyone! I disguised myself to hang out with YOU! He knows all about the karaoke, everything! What am I supposed to do or say to that!
Nobody really knew or seemed to care how stressed out you were. You looked like your were at the point to blow your fucking brains out! Nathan can't get his shit together in getting his first MARRIAGE annulled! Then your father has you on a leash! A leash! He always has and you want to know something…because of his tight rein on you, you never dated you never saw what else is out there for you! You're a 24 year old rich woman who is married to and knocked up by someone as controlling as your father!
How dare you that you talk that way to me!
At least I'm honest with you. I care about you Phoebe. I care enough that I try to make you forget your worries for one fucking day! You are pregnant and your husband is leaving you?
He isn't leaving me Gideon!
I'm sorry to burst your bubble princess but he is leaving you. You're pregnant and you're alone right now. The whole world is mad at you, pregnant you! Isn't this the time for people to take care of you rather than making a big deal about something that never happened? Wake up Phoebe! I'm sorry that this happened to you I truly am however I'm even more sorry that you don't realize how special you are and that you truly deserve more than that man has given you.
I throw my phone on the floor and fall back on the pillow. Taking the pillow my face into it and scream hard! This isn't fair! As I throw the pillow across the room I feel a sudden movement. I quickly grab my stomach and then again I feel it. I calm down and lay flat on the bed rubbing my hand over my stomach back and forth, back and forth until again I feel that distinct kick. I instantly shift from one emotion to another and I start to tear up. This is unbelievable. My little peanut is in there. Him or her is finally moving! Nathan isn't here to share this. Neither are my parents. What if Gideon's right? I know that it is silly to think that way considering I am a married woman sort of. What if I rushed into things to fast with Nathan? While I was planning my wedding to Nathan, Aspyn didn't hid the fact that she felt that I was moving to fast. He was my first everything and then I married him. I never sought out other men, I never dated. Really, I never dated. Gideon points out how controlling everyone in my life is..my father and mother, my brother, my cousins, my husband. I so confused. I do hate how everyone is mad at me right now but in some strange twisted way they caused this! If everyone hadn't kept everything so in the dark so much drama could have been avoided. My father, Nathan, and Teddy had hid everything from me when the situation with Rachel happened. Nathan didn't tell me about his marriage to Evelyn. Everyone was keeping me out of that situation too. Right now it is just me and my baby and no one else and it really isn't right. I don't deserve to be alone.
After a few moments of weighing my thoughts carefully I make a decision. I pick up my phone and call Gideon.
"Hey."
"Phoebe? Is everything alright?"
"As alright as it can be I suppose. What are you doing?"
"Not much. Just at home."
"Can I come over?"
"Excuse me?"
"Look I need a friend right now. Can you just be a friend."
Gideon takes a deep breath and smiles behind the line.
"How will you get over here?"
"I will drive."
I hang up with him and pull out a piece of paper and pen from my purse. I write a note to my family thanking them for the hospitality but that I needed to leave.
Its around 11:30 at night and getting out of my Aunt Kate and Uncle Elliot's house isn't difficult. They don't have the ironman security of my parent's house. As I get in my car and head his way so many thoughts are racing through my head. Why am I driving to another man's apartment at 11:30 at night? Well my husband doesn't even want to be around me so does it even matter at this point? After a good 20 minutes of driving I enter his gate and pull into his guest parking spot. I call him and he says he will be right down. I clutch the steering wheel tightly.
What are you doing Phoebe? You are a married woman!
Keep calm Phoebe. I just need to be around a different environment. I quickly get out of my car and stand by the elevator. I see the numbers light up and finally the letter G is lit. The door opens and there he is. It takes but a split second to take him in. He is wearing dark sweatpants with a hoodie.
"How are you Phoebe?"
It takes me a few seconds to rearrange my thoughts.
"I'm okay. Just okay."
He extends his hand to me.
"I won't bite."
You could never waste my time Miss Grey. I came over to see if perhaps you would like to dance.
I shake the thought of our first dance out of my head. I put my hand in his and he clasps it firmly. As we go up the elevator he still is holding my hand. He doesn't release and I don't either. We say nothing the entire elevator ride and when we arrive at his floor he leads me out and we head into his apartment. Once inside, he asks me to sit on the couch.
"So tell me Phoebe, what leads you here tonight?"
"I just was stressed out. Right now you're the only person in my universe that isn't mad at me. My father and mother are upset, my husband doesn't want to be around me, and my cousins think I'm stupid. My brother has barely even spoken to me. My best friend thinks I'm a cheater."
"Are you a cheater?"
"Excuse me? You've got to be kidding me!"
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm here because…forget it."
I quickly get back up and start making a beeline to the door. I am stupid woman.
"Phoebe wait!"
I stop dead in my tracks.
"What Gideon?! What?!"
"Please…just stay."
"Why?"
"Because I think we both don't want to be alone right now and oddly enough…you and I are all each other has in this moment."
I throw my purse off my shoulder and throw it onto the couch.
"You need to rest Phoebe. You have had a long day. It's late and being in your condition you need to."
I guess there is no turning back now. I sit back on the couch. As I lay against the pillows I begin to fall asleep. As I struggle to keep my eyes open I notice that Gideon never takes his eyes off of me. Maybe it was a good idea that I didn't drive. Maybe.
My eyes start to twitch open and I see a hint of sunlight coming through the window. I'm in bed. A huge bed. And there are voices outside. Loud voices. As soon as I rise up the door bursts open.
"Mother!"
"Phoebe?!"
I quickly back up. This wasn't the way the morning I expected. Eva, his mother, his here.
"Mrs. Cross please don't say anything."
