I come round and I am lying on the couch, the apartment door is in tatters, Grace is checking my blood pressure and pulse, I feel very silly and embarrassed.
"What happened to the door and the wall?" I ask
"Taylor kicked it open when you didn't answer the door, the handle damaged the plaster work dear" says Grace gently.
Taylor looks over apologetically but he really didn't have any choice. It sounds like he is on the phone to a carpenter or someone who can come fix it quickly.
"The note! Did you see the note?" I look frantically around the floor.
"Yes dear but please try not to get upset" she almost pleads. "Taylor has given it to the police and they are sending it on to forensics to see if there are any finger prints or evidence to find out who sent this to you"
Kate arrives shortly afterwards and teases me when she says haven't I had enough drama in my life this week, we smile and I am glad she is here.
A sort of familiar voice says "knock knock" well there is no door to knock on, I chuckle to myself. I look over the back of the couch and see its Elliot.
"Hi Elliot, what are you doing here?" I smile at him.
"Hey Ana, I've come to fix or replace the door depending on how good Bruce Lee over here" referring to Taylor's kicking efforts "has wrecked the door" I laugh, Taylor flushes, I look at Kate and she is just staring, mouth open at Elliot.
"Kate, Kate!" I almost shout.
"Err yes Ana" she says turning her attention back to me.
"This is Elliot, Grace's son and Christian's brother" and "Elliot, this is my best friend and roomie, Kate" I introduce them.
"Hi Kate, nice to meet you" he smiles and I think I see Kate visibly swoon.
"Oh err yes hi Elliot, good to meet you too" Kate Kavanagh lost for words, that must be a first.
He turns to me and tells me that although he could temporarily fix the door, he thought it would be wise to install a new one with some greater security measures and I agree. He disappears out of the door.
"Oh my goodness Ana, you never told me Christian had such a, well um, gorgeous brother. Did you see that six-pack and those arms? Wow" I can see she is smitten.
"Kate Kavanagh, you fancy the pants off Elliot" I tease and she blushes a blush to rival mine.
"I do not!" she says haughtily and then beams a telling smile.
Grace is satisfied that I am ok, so she leaves us in the capable hands of Taylor and Elliot, with instructions to call her if anything changes. I hug her, thank her for coming and apologize for causing so much trouble. In the meantime Elliot has returned with a new door and is in the process of fixing the hinges. The door has two dead bolts, a spy hole and two chains. I suspect even Taylor would have trouble kicking this one down.
Kate however is fussing around Elliot, offering tea soft drinks. She is flirting outrageously too; the poor guy doesn't know what to do. I make some lunch for us all, well buttering bread with one hand is difficult so Kate helps me and it's pretty basic as well, neither of us has had the chance to go food shopping.
An hour or so later Elliot has finished the door and starts on filling the hole in the plaster. Kate is obviously smitten, I think Elliot is a nice guy and maybe they would make a great couple…maybe.
Life carries on at a slower pace than normal but no more hate mail or other incidents occur so I begin to relax a little. An x-ray of my arm shows it healing well but still requires a cast for a few more weeks but in general things are good.
The police come to the apartment one afternoon, Taylor is with them as they explain to me that the envelope and letter offered no clue as to who posted it. Whoever they were didn't leave any fingerprints or DNA from saliva so unfortunately as the officers explain; no further action can be taken unless the perpetrator strikes again. I really hope they don't. I feel a little unsettled again, I was hoping something would come from the letter but obviously they are clever at covering their tracks.
The days drift on, I work for a bit, sleep for a bit, cook and clean the best I can with one hand. Kate and I decide to stay in on Friday night, have a take away with wine and a chick flick. I have felt less confident about going out since all this happened, Kate is humoring me, I know and she is itching to take me out again. It will happen but I just need time.
We have a great evening, with half an eye on the television, a glass of wine in our hands and munching on Chinese, the news flashes up. I am just about to turn it off, when the headline shouts "Christian Grey, Billionaire and CEO of Grey Enterprises has split from his wife" the reporter continues "speculation over what caused the split is rife but no statement has been released from either party" I listen as the news reader continues spouting insignificant information about Christian, his rise in business, how he made his fortune but I find myself just staring at the screen, mouth slightly open in disbelief. I look over at Kate who has the same expression and neither of us knows what to say until suddenly Kate lets out a squeal of delight. I jump and spill some wine over my trousers.
"Ana, you know what this means don't you?" she claps her hands in delight.
"No I don't" I exclaim.
"You can get together with Christian now" she says with confidence.
"I can't Kate, it would be wrong" I say with conviction.
"What if he has done this for you?" she states. He wouldn't have done that for me surely. I don't know what to do, should I call? Send an e-mail? Or as my head is telling me, do nothing. Any attention you bring will only heighten the speculation over the 'split'. I ask Kate to keep her ear to the ground in case she hears any more information and gently remind her of the promise she made to keep the secret. She looks a little offended but now more than ever I don't want any leaks.
The following morning I dash out of bed and switch the television on to the news channel and wait for an update.
"Come on" I gesticulate towards the screen just as Kate comes out of her bedroom.
"What's the matter" she sleepily asks.
"I was hoping for an update this morning" I say eagerly and she smiles "Grab some breakfast and come wait with me" I giggle.
The familiar jingle that comes with news headlines plays and I take a sharp intake of breath.
"The main headline this morning-Christian Grey has split from his wife, speculation has continued as to who is involved or why this has occurred. Mr. Grey the renowned Seattle businessman and Billionaire is a notoriously private man, very little is known about…." Blah blah blah nothing new then.
I have to admit that the news has put a spring in my step. I can't help thinking what if he has done it for me? I can't however, find that out right now.
Kate badgers me to go clubbing tonight and I am surprised when I hear myself saying I would love to go. We put some music on, in between showering, hair drying, dressing and make up we dance around singing along with our hairbrushs as microphones. We laugh and laugh until our sides ache and we have to re-apply make-up but it's a great start to the evening.
The only downside was remembering Taylor has to come with us, I feel really sorry for him being a chauffeur, luggage carrier and protector but I am guessing he is paid handsomely for his troubles.
We end up at Pandora's Box; Kate has pestered me to come back here with her. We pull up and the queue is massive. We get out near the entrance and Taylor moves the car to the parking area. I am feeling this is going to be a waste of time, that queue will take an age to go down.
"Miss Steele, Miss Kavanagh" we both spin around to see Elliot standing there smiling "Are you going to come into the club?" he asks
"Yes we were but the queue is very long" Kate flutters at him.
"Come with me" he grabs our hands and we get free passage into the club "There are some perks to being Christian Grey's older brother" he grins.
Kate is besotted, she looks up at him dreamily and I nudge her before she actually drools.
"Come upstairs to the lounge bar" and he leads us over to the stairs. Security waves us by and we ascend the stairs. A waitress offers champagne at the top; we each take a glass and find a place to sit down. I cast a thought for Taylor but see him arrive; he refuses an alcoholic drink and opts for orange juice instead. He keeps a reasonable distance, close enough to help but far enough not to cramp our style.
Elliot spends a lot of time with us over the course of the evening, dancing and buying us drinks, he is definitely interested in Kate and she is absolutely interested in Elliot. I smile to myself as they laugh about something together, I keep my fingers crossed that some relationship develops.
I sit down for a moment to take a sip of champagne and ease my feet out of my shoes to stretch my toes, when I glance to my left at one of the private doors, my heart stops for a moment when I think I have seen Christian in that room. So what if you did see him? It is his club and he is entitled to frequent his own establishment.
Kate and Elliot come over to the table and slump down on the seats, giggling, laughing and very much enjoying each other's company. I am glad, Kate deserves some happiness, her last significant other was a complete bastard and I was truly pleased I wouldn't have to sit in the same room with him ever again.
"Elliot, is Christian here tonight?" I ask gingerly
"I believe so but not for pleasure, some trouble with a supplier I think" he tells me "why?"
"Oh, I thought I saw him in one of the private room's" I add.
I think I see Elliot flush and he looks a little awkward "I doubt that" he quickly replies "Another drink anyone?"
"My round" I say getting my purse and walking over to the bar. I order our drinks and pay when something brushes my arm; I spin around feeling slightly panicky and stop in my tracks when I see Christian standing in front of me.
"Good evening Miss Steele" that familiar look in his eye immediately sets my heart a flutter and I instinctively squeeze my thighs together.
"Good evening Mr. Grey how are you?" maybe that wasn't the best question to ask.
"I wonder if I could see you in my office for a moment" he uses his arm to direct me towards the door on the left.
"I had better tell Kate where I am in case she gets worried I have disappeared and give them the drinks" I suggest. Christian signals to a waitress to take the drinks and I look over to where Kate and Elliot are sitting and she indicates she is aware that I am going off with Christian.
He opens the door and I walk through, he shuts the door behind.
"Ana, I want to talk to you, some developments about your recent misfortune have come to my attention and I felt I ought to tell you myself" he looks serious and very sexy, I try and keep focused on what he is saying to me "I know who sent the poisonous letter to your apartment"
I stare at him for a moment, I feel glad in one respect but nervous as to who it turned out to be.
"Who was he?" I quietly ask fearing the reply.
"Not he Ana, she. It was Samantha" WHAT! But but I am lost for words and Christian looks totally gutted. I recognized the paper and envelope she used. I knew that wasn't conclusive on its own so I confronted her and she broke down and admitted she had sent it.
"Why?" is the only thing I can vocalize?
"She feared you were going to take me away from her. She seems jealous of anyone female that I have had contact with but Ana I want you to realize we never had a sexual relationship, it was purely me helping her and Sebastian after Bill died and her posing occasionally as my 'wife'. I never promised her anything more than help with Sebastian and finances. She knew I wasn't interested in anything more. We are not officially married, documents filed were faked and a hefty donation to charity for the registrar's trouble so if anyone wanted proof about the marriage, it was there. She has made me reconsider our 'relationship' with her actions; I cannot be associated with her anymore. The sad part is she has lost me with anyway" He agitatedly runs his hands through his hair.
"I wasn't expecting this Ana, she has betrayed me and I am angry and hurt" anger is emanating from him.
I stand there in silence trying to take in what he has just told me.
"What is going to stop her from revealing everything about your life?" I ask hoping that he has a solution in place.
"She signed a NDA when we first decided what we were going to do, however, and this falls to you. I need you to think carefully about this. I told her I would talk to you about not pressing charges against her for the letter and she will remain silent about everything else. Remember if she goes to jail, Sebastian would go into foster care and she could lose him altogether" he tells me.
I can't imagine what that feels like and I am not sure I want to feel responsible for sending her to jail; I know what she did was wrong but I don't want Sebastian to be without his mother.
"Oh goodness, but um how can we be sure that she wasn't responsible for my accident?" a fair question I think.
"She was at the hair dressers at the time. I have checked this and know it to be true" I believe he would have had that checked out.
"What if she hired someone to do it for her?" I am willing him to say that was not possible too.
"She swears to me that she had nothing to do with that. Look Ana, she has a lot to lose by lying. I am sorting a place for her and Sebastian to live but I am cutting ties with her, I cannot trust someone who can do that to another person" I am pleased he wants to break away.
"I am not sure what to say Christian" I am honest "this is huge and whilst I appreciate this must be difficult for you but I need a little time to think" he looks crestfallen.
"I need to know as soon as possible Ana" he walks towards me, he lifts my chin with his finger and puts his lips to mine, I respond back and gradually our kiss gets deeper and more needy.
"Ana" he says between breaths "I want us to continue what we started in the restaurant and we will still have to be careful with the press for a while but there is something else I need you to know before we go any further"
Oh no what now!
"Follow me Ana" as he pulls me towards a door in his office which I assumed to be a bathroom, "Promise me you will keep an open mind" Oh boy that doesn't sound good but I nod.
"I have certain needs, and well I engage in BD lifestyle at the club" he looks at me with fearful lust in his eyes.
Holy shit! "What exactly does that mean?" I feel exasperated. One moment I feel hopeful with Samantha out of the way we may be able to re connect and the next he is springing some kinky stuff on me.
"Well it depends on how and what you like" he starts "For example I want to tie your hands down, use a whip to arouse or heighten your senses and then fuck you senseless"
Oh boy he doesn't beat around the bush, if you pardon the pun, I am speechless, half of me wants to run, the other half is intrigued and I can feel myself getting wet and horny just thinking about what it would be like.
"Ana I will not do anything you don't want or like, you will have a safe word to use and if you use it I will stop immediately. It's all about being sensual and exploring our needs, giving pleasurable pain" he explains.
I gulp, my horniness is off the scale, I am curious and scared at the same time, and I can see a look of concern on Christian's face.
"We don't have to do anything Ana, I can wait" he says gently.
"No no, I want to try I think" I say beginning to tremble slightly.
He takes my hand and we go through the door…
A/N Sorry, yes I know another cliffie. Lemons ahead.