CHAPTER 56
The stunned reaction to Jose's admission is broken by a venomous outburst from the defence benches.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD! YOU FUCKING SOLD US OUT, I TOLD HYDE YOU COULDN'T BE TRUSTED YOU RUINED EVERYTHING, I SPENT YEARS FOLLOWING THAT LITTLE SHIT PLANNING TO GET FROM HIM WHAT HE FUCKING OWED ME, AND YOU FUCK IT UP BECAUSE YOU LOVE HIS FUCKING WIFE, CHRIST I KNEW I SHOULD NEVER HAVE AGREED TO WORK WITH YOU OR HYDE, BUT AT LEAST HE KNEW HOW TO KEEP TO THE FUCKING PLAN!"
Tony Garrett is on his feet his face is purple and he is spitting as he rages at Jose.
Jack sits quietly but he too is glaring at Jose.
The defence team pull Garrett down desperately trying to shut him up and stop him from dropping himself in it any further.
"Thank you Mr Rodriguez - No more questions," our lawyer says smugly and sits down.
The judge looks at the defence, who are in obvious disarray trying to control Garrett, he is eventually led out of the court room so the trial can continue. Jack is up next and we have to prove that Jack is totally sane and just a twisted son of a bitch who held a massive grudge against Christian.
The defence lawyer stands it is obvious he is just going through the motions now, and has no heart in this whatsoever.
"Mr Hyde can you tell the court where and how you first met Christian Grey?" he asks in a flat voice.
Jack nods, "I first met Grey when I was eight years old, I was in foster care in Detroit and he was brought to where I was living, he was a scared little runt frightened of his own shadow and he had this stupid blanket which he took everywhere. I didn't pay that much attention to him to be honest, but it bugged me that he got so much attention from Mrs Collier when he came, and as a result she practically ignored me, because of him I'd been pushed aside, then one day these two people came to the house and I heard them talking to Mrs Collier about adoption, I went closer and I realised that this was my chance of getting out of there, but as soon as they set eyes on him that was it, they made a bee line for him I didn't stand a chance, I tried to talk to them and tell them I would be a better choice but they didn't listen, they said that the adoption was already going through, I was furious, he stole my family, he stole my chance, then years later I saw her".
He looks straight at me and points to me, "and I wanted her, she came for an interview at SIP and I fought to get her, she wasn't really qualified enough, but I had to have her so I fought for her and I got her, then once again he showed up in the picture it became clear he wanted her as well, and once again I was pushed out so I planned my revenge, twice he took away my chance of a family of my own and happiness and I wanted him to pay".
He stops and looks at the defence lawyer who is standing with his mouth open, it is obvious that was not what he was expecting Jack to say, he throws his hands up and sits down without another word.
Our lawyer stands up, "Mr Hyde, going back to your childhood and the time you first became acquainted with Mr Grey, isn't it true you were returned to your mother a few months after Mr Grey left the foster care home?"
Jack nods, "Yes I was," he says.
"So, is not also true that you were never in a position to be adopted? Mr Grey was an orphan and when Mr and Mrs Grey explained that the adoption was already going through, that wasn't because they didn't want you, but because they had already chosen Christian and adoption proceedings were indeed, already in progress?"
"Yes I know that, I'm not stupid but it stayed with me and made me feel worthless and unwanted and when he ruined my chances with Ana, it brought back all those feelings, that I had been set aside, that I was irrelevant" he says.
"Mr Hyde, are you aware that when you were pursuing Miss Steele, Mr Grey wasn't actually in a relationship with her and it was a pure coincidence that he was pursuing the same woman as you were?"
Again Jack nods, "Yes I know, but I fucking wanted her though, and I always got the women I wanted, always - even if they didn't stay with me, none of them ever stayed with me they all left, but she was the first one who resisted from the start, she said no and it pissed me off. I knew I had to force her to want me, but she still resisted and then I find out she said yes to him - what did he have that I didn't?" he asks.
With these words I suddenly see Jack in a whole new light; he is a damaged vulnerable little boy in a man's body. He was just looking for some security in life but he went about it the wrong way, by assaulting women who he came into contact with and which in turn made them leave, which he then saw as rejection and so the cycle continued and made him more insecure, bitter and dangerous.
I had in a way stopped that cycle by refusing to even consider having anything to do with him, but that had just made him all the more determined to have me. Then because I chose to be with Christian it dredged up all Jacks old feelings of being pushed out by Christian. Jack had been taken from his mother and he had formed a relationship with Mrs Collier, he had felt pushed out when Christian had arrived and then pushed aside when Christian was adopted by Carrick and Grace. He isn't insane, but he is very broken and he needs professional psychiatric help and counselling.
I grip Christian's hand and I wonder where the lawyer is going to go with this. I watch as he thinks for a moment his face grim, then he looks up and speaks.
"Mr Hyde, in the letter Mr Rodriguez sent to Mrs Grey he states you were involved in the Charlie Tango sabotage, and all the compelling evidence we have provided seems to back up that fact, did you participate in the sabotage of Charlie Tango?" he asks.
I stare at him, surely he's not expecting Jack to simply confess and then it hits me, that is exactly what he wants him to do, he too saw Jack for what he really is and he wants him to get the help he needs.
Jack looks at our lawyer, and shrugs, "I didn't participate, I was the one who wrecked that chopper, I was the one who made it fall out of the sky, I wanted her to feel the loss".
He stops and then he thumps his hand on the stand in front of him and his voice rises and he starts to rant, "if Grey had died she would be alone she would feel how I felt when she rejected me, and chose him. I wanted her to feel how I felt, and I needed her to know how I felt. I had tried that already, when I ran her father off the road. I wanted her to know and feel what Grey took away from me - he took away Mrs Collier and the Grey's he took away the life and family I should have had so I wanted her to know. That was her punishment for rejecting me but also a warning, I wanted to show her what he did to me by doing the same to her," he stops ranting and his eyes dart erratically around the room.
"No more questions" our lawyer says quietly.
I am shocked to the core by Jack's outburst, he is confused and broken and he desperately needs help and despite everything he has done to me and my family I feel sorry for him, as in some ways he is just like Christian. He has some deep seated issues which stem from his childhood and he is just as broken as Christian, is but the difference is he just hasn't lived with and dealt with his issues as well as Christian has, and they have manifested themselves in cruel and vindictive behaviour.
It is established that Garrett won't be taking the stand, his outburst which nailed his guilt appeared to be enough and the defence team are refusing to allow him to take the stand and incriminate himself even more, so the file of photographs remains closed and private and I am actually relieved about that.
The jury go through the motions of deliberation but swiftly return with their verdicts of guilty for all three men. Garrett is sentenced to a combined thirty years for attempted murder and attempted kidnap, along with other minor charges which the prosecution managed to attach, Jack Hyde is detained in a secure state psychiatric unit indefinitely and Jose gets twelve months for his involvement and just like that its all over, it almost feels like an anti climax after having it hanging over us for over three months.
"Are you happy with the outcome?" I ask Christian as we leave the court. I think I am happy with it, if not a little stunned by it all.
Christian doesn't answer me and I look around to see what has attracted his attention and I see Jez has appeared at the court, I'm surprised to see him here, he has had a lot on his plate recently, he has been invaluable to Christian since he took over from Welch and Raul handed over the reins to him and our security is now second to none. He works well with Jason and Luke and the feedback from Christian's team which I promised would be implemented is all positive.
We have supported him as well, his mother has been responding well to the treatment which Christian set up for her and it appears that the original prognosis wasn't as grim as was first thought. As I watch him, he is in deep conversation with Jason and Luke and they keep looking towards us then after appearing to consider something Jason shakes his head and says something. Jez nods and leaves, he walks past us and Christian speaks to him as he passes.
"Hamilton, good to see you, how's your mother?" he asks.
Jez stops and I see slight colour flush his cheeks, he glances quickly at Jason and then recovers.
"She's doing well sir, thank you for asking. Congratulations on the verdict sir and if you'll excuse me I need to get back" he says, and with that he is gone.
I smile, he always seems a little embarrassed by Christian's concern with regard to his personal life.
Christian's attention comes back to me "Sorry, what did you say baby?" he asks.
"I said, are you happy with the outcome?" I repeat.
He nods, "I am" he says but doesn't say anything else and I don't push him.
He pulls me close to his side and wraps his arm protectively around me as we face the gauntlet of the media outside. Kate has prepared a statement and she stands and reads it to the assembled media, she knows how to handle them.
We don't make any comment or answer any questions and head back to Escala. Gideon and Eva accompany us and we drop them off at their apartment, we have decided to have lunch together and then they are going to fly back to New York, and we don't try to talk them out of it.
Christian and I go and change, as I am getting into some more casual clothes I feel Christian coming up behind me he lets his crutches drop to the ground and wraps his arms around me and places his hands protectively on my bump.
"We look forward now," he says quietly but firmly.
I turn in his arms and look at him carefully.
I nod but don't say anything, it's almost as if an eerie calm has settled over Christian and I'm not sure how to handle it. He presses a kiss to my head and buries his nose in my hair inhales deeply and then he continues to speak.
"All that matters to me now is you and our baby, my past has been dealt with and your past has been dealt with. It's over – finished; now we move on. We have things to look forward to, we have our own little family to consider, and our child will never ever know the pain and suffering either one of us has felt, our child will be happy, healthy and will always know that that he..."
Christian pauses for a moment before he continues, "or she" he concedes.
"Is loved, and is the centre of our world and that they have two parents who will do everything humanly possible to ensure that security and happiness".
He stops and I nod unable to say anything, due to the huge lump in my throat.
When I can eventually speak again, I whisper in his ear, "You are going to be such a wonderful father," I say quietly.
Christian responds by just pulling me closer.
I don't know how long we stand there like that, but eventually I pull away, "we are supposed to be meeting Eva and Gideon for lunch" I say.
I barely get the words out when I hear voices down the corridor and I know either Luke or Jason have let them in.
We quickly finish getting changed and head out to the great room where Gideon and Eva are lounging on the sofa waiting for us, as we approach them they both stand up, Eva hugs me and looks carefully at me.
"Everything ok?" she whispers to me as she embraces me.
I nod, "Everything is perfect" I say quietly to her.
"Good, glad to hear it" she replies with a genuinely happy smile.
We go to a nearby restaurant, and although we choose to eat in a private side room, out the way of prying eyes and press intrusion, we have a light hearted and pleasant lunch.
"So what are your plans now?" Gideon asks as we are waiting for our lunch to arrive.
I look questioningly at Christian, as I have no idea what happens next, his words from earlier immediately spring to my mind and I repeat them.
"We look forward," I say still looking at my husband as I speak his words.
Christian nods, "professionally speaking I have a number of acquisitions in the pipeline, personally well..."
He reaches for my hand and squeezes it, "I am looking forward to the weekend away with you, Ray and Victor, I want that to happen sooner rather than later and I also want to take my wife away for a short vacation, just the two of us – or should I say three of us" he says.
His hand instinctively goes to my stomach as he says that.
"With our schedules it will probably be the last chance we will get before the baby is born, how about you two?" he looks at Gideon as he asks this.
"Pretty much the same idea actually, Eva and I are flying back to New York this afternoon. I too have a number of business irons in the fire at the moment and I am eager to return to oversee their conclusion. I am going to call Victor when we get home and arrange our weekend in Aspen, and I'll get back to you. Then I am planning to take my wife to the Outer Banks house for a vacation before she reaches the point where it will be unwise for her to fly. I think we all deserve some down time to just kick back, it's been one thing or another, and it's been constant, we all deserve some peace and quiet" he says.
Christian nods in agreement, "absolutely" he says.
"It's been one long roller coaster, I must say because its been so tumultuous and because so much has happened in such a short space of time, I am sitting here unable to quite believe that it is all finally finished and behind us, and I am almost waiting for something else to happen". he adds.
Then he turns to me and grips my hand tightly and looks at me with a look of such intense love it takes my breath away.
"But I wouldn't change a single moment, as I have also experienced the best moments of my life ever this past year," I feel emotional at Christian's words and Gideon nods before replying.
"I totally agree with you" he says, "this time last year it was just me and my work, I lived for Cross industries and I was just existing, I had no idea what it was like to actually live, then you and Ana came into my life, and then I met Eva. For the first time I had real friends who were just interested in me and not my wealth, influence and connections. I may be a multi billionaire, but I have only felt a truly rich man this past year, since you three have been in my life, and now the icing on the cake so to speak is that I am going to become a father and have my own family, something I had always dreamed of, but never thought could possibly happen, but Eva accepts me the way I am and I can't describe the feelings I have, knowing that Eva loves me and is giving me my dreams, and giving me a life worth living, despite me being the total fucked up mess I am".
Christian nods "Isn't that the truth" he says.
"Before Ana - for me, it was all about GEH, making money and the material things in life, I assumed that was all I had to offer anyone, and my previous erm... sexual partners consolidated that opinion for me, as they had no problem taking everything I offered. Then Ana came into my life and turned that on its head, she showed me that, that side of things was irrelevant, she had no interest in my wealth and went as far as refusing my gifts," he pauses and shakes his head.
"I couldn't handle that, it freaked me out, I just couldn't believe anyone would be remotely interested in just me, I still can't at times and I am terrified that one day she will wake up and realise what a huge mistake she has made by putting her love and trust in me".
"Never" I whisper, and I reach over and touch Christian's face. I look at Gideon and he is once again nodding in agreement.
"Absolutely – I have exactly the same fear about Eva" he says quietly and I watch as Eva offers him the same reassurance I am currently giving Christian.
I look at Eva and her expression mirrors mine, we always underestimate the effect our presence has had on these two men, men who publicly appear so strong, arrogant and in control, two multi billionaires who between them own the equivalent to a small country's economy and who command respect from everyone they come into contact with, and yet privately are so insecure and broken. Here they are bearing their souls and their insecurities and proclaiming how much we mean to them, so intimately and honestly, it's disarming.
We finish our lunch and we accompany Gideon and Eva to the airport, Gideon and Christian talk about the weekend in Aspen and how they want it to happen soon within the next few weeks or so. After numerous hugs and kisses we watch as they climb aboard Gideon's jet.
I feel a strange emotion akin to bereavement as I watch them go, its silly, as we will all be together again soon and it is right and proper that they go, after all they have their own lives to lead, and Gideon has his empire to run but our lives have been so entwined this past year and so many links established between us which defy all probability and we have spent so much time with them, it feels as though part of me is leaving too as I watch them go.
