CPOV

Three people were on my shit list, two had been warned to stay away but the other, his location was unknown.

Elena Lincoln, I had been unsure if she still had anything to do with Ashlyn Bordoff as they didn't exactly get on when the latter subbed for me. Finding out that Ashlyn had visited her salon in the days before her removal from the campus, confirmed that they were still in touch. Elena had protested, of course, stating her innocence saying Ashlyn had only visited her as she was in need of a Dominant and it was Elena who had helped her find others before. I didn't believe a word she said.

Ashlyn had had charges brought against her for what she did at the university and if I hear of Elena Lincoln even muttering Ana's name, I would make sure the same would be brought against her, for theft. I hadn't forgotten how she had stolen money from the salons when I used to help her out with them, I had the proof just waiting to be used should she step out of line and I have a feeling it's only a matter of time until she does.

Whether working together or apart, the plan hadn't worked. Ana knew all the gory details of my time when we were parted, I kept nothing from her even though she winced when I listed the names of those who had submitted to me, none she thankfully knew, their faces neither. She did pick up on the fact that they all had similar features, long brown hair, petite. What could I tell her other than the truth, that I settled for second best at a time when all I wanted was her. I was unsure if my words upset her, or seeing those photos hurt as Ana didn't say much before she moved onto the next. Ana may have beautiful long brown hair, she may be petite but she's nothing like any of those women. She's the strongest person I know that's why Luke and I nicknamed her Boo.

When Taylor had shown us the files he kept on them, an insurance policy he told us it had been for so they knew not to speak of our time together. At the beginning when he'd first come to work for me, we'd had a conversation about those who I planned to have visit me in the apartment below, ones who would be with me for a short time. He'd told me he would make sure that they would never be able to speak of what happened between us otherwise it would not only embarrass them publicly but ruin them financially too. They'd all signed the NDA but with what he was showing us now, with photos, information, should they open their mouths and speak to the press, once what he had gained was revealed, they would never be able to show their faces or work in this city again.

I never knew my CPO could be so shrewd when it came to protecting those he was paid to work for or was it that he was also protecting a friend. The more I opened myself up to those I worked around, the mask long gone from my face, the more I knew above so many others, who I could trust. I'd always trusted Taylor, I had to otherwise it would've never worked but ever since Ana had come into my life, I listened to his advice more, trusted his judgement on how to keep her safe. Welch was another in that sense with regards to Ana, the protection, the trust but as Taylor knew all the details of my life before Ana, Welch only knew the details of who was important to me now.

"Mr Grey, Barney Rubble is here asking to see you" Andrea stated, her words bringing a smile to my lips as I heard my head of IT's protest through the intercom.

"Send him in" I laughed.

Within seconds, Barney entered my office, hands full of laptops, two, tablets, there were three of them as well as a phone or two.

"Hey boss" He greeted me.

"Hello, Barney. Are you having a garage sale and going round the offices to see what you can collect," I asked, seeing shock fill his face.

Barney was still getting used to the real me. The me who didn't shout at him constantly to get things done, the me who was patient now, realising that real results take time in what we all want to achieve.

"I'm going to ignore that and the Barney Rubble comment from her highness out there" he complained. "All this is what I've been working on, for your foundation and to aid the work Professor Lambert has been doing."

"Take a seat," I said, to which he did but only after putting the devices he'd brought with him onto my desk.

All these are what we'd manufactured over the years in our telecoms department, all selling out and used until the next model was brought out. Picking the tablet up that had been the first design that we manufactured, I was pleased to see it in perfect working order, still able to do everything that the later models can do even if it's a little slower.

"You know, no matter how old or archaic some may see them as now, I still love the products we've created" he stated.

"I know you do, your office is filled with them."

"Yes, and it's these tablets, phones, the ones that no one wants in the modern world because everyone always wants the newest things, that I've been working on. If you look at these devices now, there are a few modifications."

I picked back up the tablet that I had held before, seeing nothing out of place on the front. The back though was completely different, filled now with what looked like tiny mirrors.

"Solar," I asked him.

"Yes, you said you wanted something that would give you not only a better signal but also didn't need to rely on an electricity supply. With you wanting these devices to be sent off to the orphanage in Africa, as well as many other places on that long list you gave me, with the weather there as it is, I figured using the sun would be best."

"It's a genius idea Barney, have you managed to incorporate it into all these devices."

"I have, I even video called my mum in Miami on this, once I had completed some modifications," he said, picking up the first phone that we manufactured, which compared to the devices of today, looked like a brick.

"How did it go," I asked.

"Mum said to tell you, hello, and it's the best picture quality she's seen. I wanted to know, now we have the technology, where do we go from here as I've only been able to get a limited number of these devices back."

"Could we incorporate it into our new products?" I asked him.

"We could but it's how long they would last in a desert environment. Technology now is made to be thin, phones, tablets, everything now is made for convenience, easily breakable, easily replaceable whereas earlier models were made to last. That's why I went back to these instead of building something from scratch."

It was amusing hearing him speak about the technology of the past and that of now. He was right though with what he was talking about so we would just have to see if we can get some of our earlier devices back.

"Andrea, can you asked Maggie and Jordan to come up to my office," I asked, through the intercom.

I could see the startled look on Barney's face as he was probably wondering why I would ask others to come here. He was very particular, my head of IT was, he didn't like others coming in to interfere with his work. They wouldn't be interfering in the devices though, hopefully only bringing them in as Maggie and Jordan were who was running the T.R. Grey foundation for me.

Within minutes the two entered my office, Maggie taking the chair beside Barney while Jordan collected one from my adjoining conference room.

With all three of them sat at attention waiting for me to speak, I told them of my ideas. Those ideas being to do a phone drive, through the foundation. Asking those who had held onto, whether that's as a collector's item or inadvertently forgotten about at the bottom of a drawer, their phones, tablets and for them to send them back to be modified to help others. Most won't do that without gaining something themselves so that would be getting a discount on our new products when they come out in a few months. They want the new, we want the old, as I see it, everyone wins.

"Mr Grey, I have a more detailed background check on Ashlyn Bordoff," Welch said, entering my office just as I'd finished my lunch.

I was just washing up in my private bathroom, so I called for him to take a seat, stating I would be out in a moment.

It took me a few extra minutes to get to him because at present I held in my hand the rose I had given to Ana on a drunken night so long ago. The rose had long since died, it's once delicate petals, fragile now, brittle and although Ana had seen it and told me to throw it away, I had been reluctant to as although it represented a dark time in our lives, it had also been a reminder to how far we'd come.

"I don't need this reminder any more" I spoke to myself, holding the rose over the open bin. Knowing I had a future to look forward to and Ana was at the centre of that, I let it fall from my hand, joining the tissues, the rubbish below.

Leaving that part of my past behind, I stepped back into my office and took the papers from him.

"She had a reason for joining Professor Lambert's course" Welch stated as I started to read the extra details that had been added since her file was put together by Taylor over three years ago.

"Her family, they have a farm?"

"Yes, out in Nebraska."

"I'm sure there are colleges closer to there that teach agriculture and soil science, closer than WSU."

"There are, but there is only one that has Professor Lambert. With Barney's help, I've looked at the student list for those that are on her course, they have come from across the country, some from Canada, Mexico and even further afield just to be taught by the best."

"The other students?" I asked, knowing whatever list he's looked at, couldn't have been received through normal means. Even I wouldn't have been given access to the private information of others, no matter how much money I offered.

"Clean, a few speeding tickets here and there, we all have them though at some point. But out of all of them, there was nothing that would be a cause for alarm, from student or teacher."

"You did a background check on the other professors as well," I asked.

"You said anyone close to her on a daily basis."

That I did and I'm glad he's been thorough with his work.

He left me to read through the background check before me again as I committed to memory all the details that I read. I hoped to god that I didn't or more importantly Ana didn't have to see this woman again but if we did, I would make her life hell.

It was late afternoon when a much-needed distraction arrived in my office, one I had been waiting for all day. Ana had been in Seattle since yesterday and while I had spent the day in the office, working away, she had been out seeing the sights with Luke.

She was giggling when she entered my office, Luke laughing too at some joke that was unknown to me.

"What," I asked, as I rose from my chair, stepping around my desk so I could pull Ana into my arms.

"Just one of your staff, we shouldn't laugh," Ana replied, laughing even more.

"Who, what am I missing."

"Ros" Ana giggled.

"Oh god, what's she done. If she's tried hitting on you, I'll fire her arse" I complained, remembering how Ros had looked Ana up and down before whistling the first time they met.

"Ros has no interest in me and you know it and believe me the feelings mutual, I'm not into girls. She only does it to wind you up anyway. Besides, that's not what we're laughing at."

"What are you laughing at then," I asked, placing a kiss to her upturned lips.

"Ros, handling the press and the group of women outside, that have just followed us as we walked from the restaurant."

"Where were your CPO's," I asked.

"Right with us Christian, so calm down. We went to Chippers which is just down the street for lunch, it would've taken longer for one of them to come back and get the car to us, so we decided to walk back as we'd walked there with it being a lovely day. Ros, she was like some Army Major, barking orders for them to get off the property. The women were alright, they quickly had a photo with Luke and went on their way but the press, they looked a little worried when she threatened them with her whip."

"Ros has a whip?" I questioned.

"I have no idea" Ana laughed.

"There must be something about having a R.O.S in your name as Rose is just as scary when she's angry" Luke stated and I had to agree.

Luke left us then as he had a game this evening one Ana and I would be attending. With him out of the office and having Ana finally to myself since I had left early for a breakfast meeting when she'd been barely awake. With my lips on hers, we made up a little of the time we'd lost.

"I should leave you alone for the day more often" Ana stated breathlessly, my lips now nibbling at her neck.

"Please don't, I missed you this morning."

"I missed you too, don't forget you're the one who left" she replied.

"And tomorrow it's you who will be leaving."

"I know, back to work on Thursday. I'm just glad they granted my leave and Michael could cover my classes."

"Ana you worked through summer even though you were in Africa at the time. That's still work."

"No, that's fun. It was a pleasure to go over there, I can't wait for the next time we go back."

"I was thinking about that," I told her, pulling her onto my lap once I had sat back down in my chair.

"About what."

"How would you feel visiting Africa on our honeymoon."

"Really" she smiled.

"Yes, I was thinking we could go somewhere romantic, somewhere where it's just the two of us for miles around and then go and spend a few weeks with Dembe before coming back home again."

"I'd love that Christian" she spoke, placing a kiss upon my lips.

Unable to control my smile, I just hoped that what I was about to show her, she would love too.

"It's just an idea, one you will need to tell me if it will work or not as I'm still learning about all this," I said, giving Ana the details for the property I'd found.

"Christian, this is on the other side of Robert," she told me excitedly. "I didn't know they were selling."

"It's not on the market yet, it's supposed to be at the end of next week. I'd called all the realtors in the Vancouver area, stating what I was looking for and one of them called me back with this."

"I've been here quite a few times, they mainly deal with sheep although there is a large pond on the property that I know they hire out to those who love to fish."

"That would have to stop Ana, I don't want strangers coming onto the property. I know people visit your home because you have the farm shop but."

"No one goes around the rear of the house, imagine Barnard's reaction if they did" she added.

"Never mind having a guard dog, we'll have a guard alpaca instead" I laughed.

"Yes, and I suspect that you will want human security as well considering this farm," she said, lifting the papers up. "Is at least four times bigger than the one at home."

"It will all be sorted out before we move in, don't worry about that."

We spoke more about our wedding, the date, May 25th, the venue, her home. We spoke about everything but her dress. We now had a honeymoon destination but the precise details of where we would be going before we visited Dembe would be left to me.

….

Standing in this stadium, the feeling never got old. That feeling of pride that Luke achieved his dream, the feeling of pride also to have Ana with me.

We'd shared hot dogs just like we always did, a beer or two as well to celebrate each touchdown Luke scored. Ana who didn't drink much was tipsy if that's the best way to describe her at the moment, as she sat laughing, in between two of her friends.

"She ditched you then" Elliot teased, smiling at Kate who laughed at something Ana had said.

"No, never. It's nice to see her with her friends because either I'm monopolising her time or she's working on something or other."

"I don't think she minds giving you her time, Luke either. Kate said she was out with him today."

"How, oh the internet."

"Of course, if it's not your movements being recorded, it's Luke's. I'm glad they've stopped reporting Ana as his girl, making out like in the early days that she was sleeping with both of you, that's just gross."

"That's just the press who have nothing better to do. According to some a girl and a guy can't be best friends, spend time with each other without something going on. Anyone who sees those two together, takes a real look at them, can't deny that the only relationship they share is that of siblings. Besides Ana's mine and although I love Luke, I'd fight him tooth and nail for her affection if things had turned out that way."

"You have no worries there" he laughed. "Although I've never seen you fall out, so watching that would be entertaining, fun."

"You will have a long wait for that brother" I smiled, patting him on the shoulder before he nodded to the girl sat at Ana's other side. "Yes."

"She's nice, she was very shy, polite when Ana introduced us to her on her birthday."

"She is at first when you get to know her but as you can see once she's past that phase of nervousness, she's as loud as all the rest" I laughed when Libby shot to her feet, screaming just like Ana as Luke dropped the ball just behind the line.

Ana saw it at her birthday, how close Luke and Libby had been, how relaxed they were with each other. I saw the smiles the week after when we'd met up for dinner at the Space Needle and I'd brought Libby up in the conversation.

They were together, I didn't know if it was love yet as that's not something you come out with to your best friend. Who am I kidding, Luke would've been asking after the first date had he not known previously how I felt about Ana.

I was happy for him, for them. Libby was lovely and what put her above others, especially the bitch he was with last, was that she didn't shy away when the cameras were on them. She was proud to stand by his side, just like the beautiful one who was now stood by me, placing a kiss upon my lips.

"You taste of..."

"Alcohol" she giggled.

"No, you taste of Ana, my favourite flavour" I stated before devouring her lips, not caring who saw us now.

….

Leaving the stadium, I had Ana wrapped under my arm as we walked back towards the cars. Elliot and Kate were ahead of us, Kate sat on his back as he ran with her, her laughter reaching all of our ears. While Luke and Libby were just a few steps behind, looking back, I could see the smiles upon both of their faces, just before his lips met hers.

"We used to be like that," Ana said, bringing my focus to her.

"What do you mean, used to be," I asked.

"Well it used to be little innocent kisses, now you devour me with each one" she laughed, bringing her hand to my cheek.

"I'd like to devour you when we get home" I stated, "I know what you're wearing underneath that dress."

"Would you now, you'll have to catch me first."

With that, she took off towards the cars with me in pursuit, her steps faltered though when we were close to them, causing me to grab hold of her so I didn't knock us over. What had made Ana stop was now surrounded by our security, Ashlyn.

"What are you doing here," Ana asked her.

"I was watching the game, it is allowed you know."

"My my, where did the quiet girl go" Libby stated and from what Ana had told me previously about her, I had to agree.

"She has a voice, I was just pretending not to use it" she laughed.

"Go away," Ana told her. "Get away from the car."

"I've filed a complaint about you. You had no right to remove me from your course just because I fucked your man."

"You removed yourself from my course Ashlyn" Ana stated, calling her by her real name. "You were removed for stealing, destroying my property and for causing damage to the greenhouses and what grew within. Most of that was recorded so make your complaint, you don't have a leg to stand on."

"You made daddy mad, so angry, you're lucky he left early otherwise I'm sure he would've had some choice words for you" she laughed.

"Do I look like I'm scared. Go away little girl, go and copy someone else's style, their hair. Did you think I didn't notice how you liked to dress like me, wear your hair like me as if Christian would find you attractive" Ana spat, laughing herself at Ashlyn this time. "Go away and find someone else to play your games with because I have no time for people like you."

Ashlyn looked at each of us, a sneer on her face. Had she been here just to see the game or had she come knowing that we would be here. Knowing she was outnumbered and with the stomp of her foot like a child, she walked away heading in the direction of a small car that was parked on the other side of the lot.

"I want her followed, I want to know where she's going and I want you to pay her a visit Taylor once she gets there and remind her of the NDA, she signed years ago."

"Will do Sir" he replied, "But the cars, how will you get back."

"I'll take them," Luke said, "Sorry mate, you're going to have to ride with them," he told Ryan.

Hearing Elliot's protest that being driven by him was second best, we got into the cars, hearing the squeal of tyres as Taylor took off after Ashlyn.

"I'm sorry" I whispered in Ana's ear as Luke started to drive.

"About."

"Her."

"Christian, what's that saying, you have to kiss plenty of frogs to find a prince. Well with you, you had to navigate many trolls to find the Princess."

"No, I found my queen" I stated, kissing Ana passionately all the while Luke and Libby's laughter filled our ears.

Ana's not just my queen, my fiancée, she's the mother of my sleeping child, my world and I will do anything to protect her.

Thank you for reading. We have a time jump next chapter as Christmas approaches and Ana comes face to face with her past. Writing Christmas in spring is always weird, but it's still fun.

Until then, take care.

Caroline.