I find him pacing around the flower bed; he is furiously running his hands through his hair and god that looks sexy.
"Christian? Honey talk to me" I quietly tell him.
"That bitch, how dare she treat you like that in my home, is mom ok? Did she hear what was said?" I nod.
"Fuck, oh my Ana, your face, its red and marked, oh my god are you ok? Are the babies ok? Do you need anything, what a mess" he pulls me into his arms and I rest my head on his chest, deeply inhaling his aftershave and feel instantly calmer.
We walk arm in arm back to the house but in silence. All the guests except Gramps and Nana have left and everyone has gathered in the conservatory waiting for us to return.
"Be strong honey" I tell Christian "just tell it how it was" I squeeze his hand as we sit down.
"What's going on Christian? Elliot, what do you know?" Carrick sternly comments.
"Dad, Mom, Elena approached me when I was eighteen years old and she introduced me to her 'lifestyle' but I wasn't really interested, I had college and a sort of girlfriend at the time so I avoided her, what I didn't know was she had got her claws into Christian as well. I didn't know to what extent until a few years later but I would have tried to stop him if I had known" Elliot looks sad.
"Is this true Christian?" Grace quietly asks. I feel him tense beside me so I give him a supportive squeeze of his hand.
"It's true Mom, Dad, she came to me when I had that particularly rough spell of fighting, drinking and I got expelled from school. She showed me things I had never heard of, taught me about sex and the BDSM lifestyle. I was a horny teenager and this gave me an outlet for my anger through punishment sex and just sex" he admits.
"Oh my god Elliot, Christian, neither of you thought to tell us what was happening?" Carrick questions.
"I just thought she had tried her luck and gave up when I said no. I guess I was a bit flattered and embarrassed that I had been hit on by an older woman and that she would want me" said Elliot truthfully "I had no idea that she had moved onto Christian until about five years ago"
"I thought what we were doing was normal until she took me to Pandora's Box" Christian admits "she showed me the behind the scenes action and I saw a young boy as a submissive, I knew it was wrong so I told Elena I wasn't going to be with her anymore, I bought the club and banned her and any under eighteens from coming through the doors but I kept the BDSM side alive for me and a select few who I know and trust. The reason I never brought anyone home, a 'girlfriend', is because I never stayed with one girl more than about 3 months, Elena would select suitable girls for replacements, which is until I met Ana" he turns towards me and gives me a sad but relieved smile.
"I don't know what to say Christian" his mom is softly weeping into her hankie. Carrick is sitting on the seat next to Grace with his arm around her, he looks shocked himself. Mia is just sitting with her hands in her lap, eyes to the floor as if she is in denial of what she has just heard from her brothers.
I am not sure how much Gramps and Nana heard but they seem to realise the seriousness of the situation and have not said a word.
"I am calling the police!" shouts Grace "she should be jailed for what she has done"
"Mom, no" Christian says quietly
"Why ever not?" she looks at him as if he has lost his mind "She is a paedophile and she has done this to others"
"I still have a business connection to her that I would like to break before the shit hits the fan" he admits
"You went into business with her after all that?" Mia pipes up for the first time "are you crazy?"
"She lent me one hundred thousand dollars to start GEH and in return I co-own as a silent partner, the chain of beauty salons she runs" I look at Christian and know it has taken a lot for him to divulge this to his family.
Everyone is still stunned. Gramps and Nana stand up and tell us they will leave us young 'uns to talk about this and we will see them tomorrow for Sunday dinner. We all bid them goodnight and they walk home with the housekeeper to help.
I can't help it and totally inappropriately yawn, it's almost as if everyone was waiting for the other to do or say something to break up the conversation. Grace comes over and tells me to go to bed, it's been a long day and I mustn't over do things. Everybody takes the hint, disperses and leaves Grace and Carrick to mull over the biggest revelation to rock the Grey family.
Christian flops onto the bed in our room, he looks pale and drawn. I go to the bathroom, when I return he is asleep. I slip his shoes off, pull the cover over him before snuggling up to his side and drifting off too.
"No No! I can't, I won't, leave me alone, leave me alone"
"Christian wake up, wake up" I shake him.
"What's happening?" he shakily says.
"It's ok Christian, a dream, it was a dream" I stroke his forehead, he is damp with perspiration and he is trembling.
"Oh, that was awful, I have not dreamt like that for years" he tells me.
"Elena?" I ask
"No, my birth mother" he begins "she died of a drug overdose in the house and nobody found us for three days" I gasp at the thought "I was angry, very angry with her for a long time, for making the wrong choices in life and for leaving me" he pauses "the only father I have is Carrick, I don't know who my biological father is, not sure I want to know either. I was taken to the hospital where Mom works and the rest is history as they say"
"It must have been very hard" I am not sure what else to say "thank you for sharing this with me and I am sorry"
He blows the next breath out through his lips and lies back on the pillow. I can see he is beginning to drift again so I flick the light off and go back to sleep. The rest of the night passes without incident but the morning comes around much too quickly for my liking. Christian is not next to me either. I feel extremely nauseous this morning, probably stress I tell myself.
The dining room is empty so I check the conservatory and find Kate sitting alone.
"Hey Kate, are you ok sweetie?" I feel concerned about her and I am not sure why at the moment.
"Hey honey, I'm ok, Elliot and Christian have gone for a run but I couldn't face it this morning. What happened yesterday? It all came as a bit of a surprise really, I mean I knew a few things from what you told me but not about Elliot and Elena, he never told me that she did anything wrong. I gauged from body language that Mia, Christian and Elliot didn't like her but I didn't know why"
"Christian never told me very much either and not a hint about Elliot's involvement but are you worried about what happened between Elliot and Elena?" I ask.
"No, not really, I just wish I had known before hearing it yesterday that's all" she tells me.
"I understand Kate, I really do but you two seem so made for each other, talk to him about how you feel and move on. Don't let that plastic old Barbie doll take up anymore of your thoughts, ok?" I gently tell her.
"Thank you Ana, I won't let her near us again" she smiles and wipes a small tear away "anyways are you ok this morning?"
"I am ok, nausea is bad but I am sure that's stress from yesterday, I hope it will pass soon. Christian had a nightmare as well about his biological mother and with everything yesterday playing on my mind I don't think I slept as deeply as I needed to" I share.
"Oh look at the pair of us" Kate says and we both laugh. We hear voices, Elliot and Christian have returned, sweaty, sexy and oh so very hot. I look at Kate and she looks at me and instantly know what the other is thinking and we burst into peals of laughter. They look at us as if we have gone stark raving mad but it's good to see them smile.
"Morning pumpkin" Christian leans down and kisses me "eaten breakfast yet?" I shake my head as the thought of food sends another wave of nausea over me.
"Am going to take a shower" I nod at him and smile. Elliot is saying the same to Kate and they disappear upstairs.
Grace opens the door and comes in with toast and ginger tea. I smile and begin to ask how she knows.
"I passed Christian on the stairs and he told me" she pats me on the shoulder.
"Kate dear, would you mind coming through and choosing what you would like"
"Of course Grace" Kate smiles.
Grace looks a little tired this morning and I am not surprised after all, finding out your so called best friend tried to seduce your oldest son and managed to seduce your younger son must have been a huge personal blow. It would take the wind out of anyone's sails.
Christian enters looking hot, his hair is slightly damp and he has brushed it through with his fingers. He is wearing a pair of chino's and blue t-shirt. Yum! Later Ana, Later.
"Would you like to go for a walk Ana?" Christian offers his hand.
"That would be lovely" I smile, take his hand and walk out of the conservatory toward the boathouse. We don't talk but just stroll hand in hand through the trees, I glance at Christians face, he looks more relaxed than yesterday but we both know more questions are going to be asked.
The boathouse looms and I am pleased as I feel tired and nauseous. We go inside and I sit on the sofa and put my feet up. I know that Gramps and Nana are coming over for Sunday lunch soon so I don't have long. Christian sits and pulls my legs onto his and he massages my calf muscles, ankles and feet. Oh that feels like heaven, I feel myself drifting.
"Ana, time to go pumpkin" I feel a gentle hand stroking my face, hmmm that feels nice too. I yawn, stretch and open my eyes.
"I fell asleep?" I giggle
"You did, I left it as late as I could before waking you but we must get back to the house" He pulls me to my feet and we walk back.
Gramps and Nana have arrived by the time we get to the house and lunch is ready to be served. I apologise for us being late. We all sit and the housekeeper brings lunch through on trays and everyone helps themselves. It's delicious; conversation is at a minimum while everyone eats until Gramps speaks.
"So have you decided what to do with that overdressed, caked up mess of an excuse for a woman? Never did like her, too altered" Grace chokes, Carrick clears his throat and the rest of us can't help but snigger into our sandwiches.
"Sort of Gramps, just need to work a few things out first" Christian explains.
"Good, just keep her away from this family" Gramps asks.
"Not a problem Gramps" Elliot tells him.
Everyone seems a little less awkward after that and the conversation becomes relaxed and even humorous at times.
After lunch Christian, Elliot, Kate and I pack and get ready to leave for home. We thank Grace and Carrick for their hospitality and promise to see them again soon.
Elliot is driving Kate home so Christian and I are alone in the car. I ask Christian what he is going to do about Elena but he tells me he doesn't want to discuss it tonight but will call a meeting tomorrow or Tuesday with his team to figure out the best course of action.
I smile and say something I hadn't intended to say at this moment.
"I love you Christian"
A/N: As always loved hearing from you. Please review and let me know.