We leave Grey Manor in convoy. Elliot takes the lead with us next, followed by Taylor and I guess Sawyer and Peters are already sweeping the roads on the lookout again. I tell Christian I had a lovely weekend but I can't wait to get back to his apartment. The journey home is uneventful and we wave Elliot and Kate off the freeway at their junction before heading off at the next for Escala.
Peters has been instructed to make sure Kate and Elliot don't encounter any problems in the short distance to the apartment before coming back to Escala. I feel kind of nervous as we head up to the penthouse in the elevator; I have never lived with anyone except my parents and Kate. Mrs Jones is in her usual place in the kitchen.
"Hello Mr Grey Miss Steele, did you have a nice weekend?"
"Lovely, thank you Mrs Jones" I reply.
"I have put all of the clothes away in the drawers and wardrobe, the other items I left for you to sort Miss Steele"
"Oh thanks Mrs Jones" I guess I have to get used to having someone else doing the things I have always done for myself.
Christian takes my hand and leads me to his, err our bedroom, which sounds weird in my head and shows me the closet and chest of drawers with my clothes in, toiletries are in the bathroom along with my hair brush, bands and clips. I have brought my jewellery and Christian puts it in the bedroom safe as I have some old sentimental rather than valuable pieces from my grandmother. I would be very upset if these got lost or stolen and with the security in the building I am reassured they will be safe.
It feels strange to be discussing calendars to ensure no double bookings and we confirm the 3rd August for my parents to come over. I also tell him about all of my upcoming pre-natal appointments in case he wants to attend, most of them are for blood pressure, urine and bloods test but he seems keen to come where he can postpone or move appointments.
The rest of the evening is spent chilling watching the television. I finally admit defeat to tiredness and tell Christian I am going to bed. He has some business to deal with so kisses me at the entrance to the bedroom and I watch him disappear into his office. I set my alarm for 7.30am as I want to go to work tomorrow, I have some calls to make, an author to meet and various annoying bits and pieces I want to clear before the end of the week.
The alarm wakes me, oh I feel rough this morning. Christian is nowhere to be seen, just when I could do with a back and shoulder rub too. Oh well, hit the shower, have breakfast and see how that feels. Twenty minutes later I am sat on a breakfast stool with food in front of me, Gail has put cereal, toast, fruit, tea and juice ready as she wasn't sure what I would feel like. I smile. I could get used to this. Cereal eaten. Tea drunk and a little melon have hit the spot and I feel much brighter. I call down to Taylor that I am ready to go and to meet me in the lobby but as always he is waiting to escort me from the front door.
"Good morning Miss Steele, How are you?" I wish he would call me Ana.
"Good morning Taylor, I am fine thank you, press waiting outside this morning?" I cautiously ask.
"Yes Ma'am, Sawyer and Peters are helping so we just need to get you to the car as quickly as possible" I laugh
"That is proving to be more difficult these days" Taylor smiles at me.
The elevator opens and flash, flash, flash the camera bulbs go. They call to me to answer questions
"What are you having Miss Steele? Are you living here now? When are you giving up work?" and the most cruel question comes from a male reporter "Are you sure Mr Grey is the father?"
I break away from Taylor and rush over to the waiting press and the rude reporter, and then I do something very uncharacteristic and slap him across the face shouting "How dare you?" My eyes flash with anger and I am about to hurl second slap accompanied by a lecture at him when Taylor and Sawyer both come to my side "Please Miss Steele" Taylor almost begs me to move away. In the end he hastily pulls me away to the car. I get in and burst into tears.
"Pc en route, alert MG, PR and LG to office immediately" I hear Taylor say down the phone. I know Pc is me but what are MG and the rest? Oh well I guess I will find out soon enough. Taylor hands me a tissue. I can't believe how stupid I was.
"I am sorry Taylor, I don't know what came over me except rage and I am a bit emotional at the moment" I apologise.
"It's ok Miss Steele, I am surprised you haven't vented before now, the press can be hard and cruel at times, other times they are an essential network of sources and information"
"I am sure they are useful but why do they have to ask such personal questions and how dare they practically say I am trapping Christian by being pregnant and with someone else's child!" I fume
"Please calm down Miss Steele, they are leaches, money grabbing leaches in some instances but others operate with dignity and integrity"
We pull up outside SIP and another bunch are waiting but security have been pre warned to keep them well back and although I can see and hear them, they are too far away for me to distinguish what they are asking.
A pacing anxious looking Christian is waiting in the lobby a little way back and as soon as I arrive he sweeps me into his arms.
"Are you ok baby? You look a little pale" his hand drifts to our babies.
"I'm ok, just feel a little stupid and emotional" I say
"We need to go to my office for damage control and then you are going home, ok?" he tells me and I nod. The elevator bell rings and we go up to the twentieth floor. In Christian's office are four people sitting around the large conference desk. Christian directs me to a seat and sits beside me.
"What's this about Christian?" I feel nervous
"It's Public relations and the Legal department, they want to know what happened" he tells me.
"Why?" I naively ask.
"Well baby, you slapped someone in broad daylight in front of other reporters. Now PR want to know what was said to make you react so they can release an appropriate statement if needed and legal will assess if any claim for assault is made by the reporter" Assault? That's laughable; if he had said one more cruel word he would have known the true meaning of assault.
"Oh I see, sorry" I lower my eyes.
"I wish I had been there to see it, Taylor says it was quite a show" he says quietly but he laughs and I laugh thinking about it too.
After a meeting lasting approximately an hour, they have everything they need to proceed should anything come of it but I have been told that for certain it will end up on some news channel this evening. The team including Taylor leave the office so Christian and I are alone.
"Please please could you rub my shoulders, I feel so tense" Christian obliges and after a few minutes of massaging I feel more relaxed.
"Is that better baby?" I nod, I have my eyes closed, I lean forward and ask him to go to my lower back and rub too. I am in heaven for a few minutes until the phone rings and he has to answer it.
"Grey" in his usual curt tone
"Well nothing that wasn't expected, how much?" Great, it didn't take the vulture reporter long to try and cash in on my err emotional outburst.
"Sort it" he bangs the phone down "Fucking greedy tosser"
"Sorry to have caused so much trouble" I feel teary again
"No, it's ok, we have a protocol for this, he wanted $100.000 or he was going to sue but he was reminded that everything was caught on tape including the question he asked you and that could be interpreted as inciting you in court so he settled for $5000 for his trouble"
"$5000, that's extortion. What a bastard!" I don't often swear but this was a warranted occasion.
"Don't worry, forget it now, it's over" he hugs me. My back pain is getting worse and I ask to lie down on the couch in his office.
"Oh that feels a bit better" I say but Christian looks very concerned.
"I want to get you checked Ana, I don't like that you have pain and you still look a little pale" he holds my hand
"I'm fine really, just need to rest for a moment or two" I feel sleepy again.
I hear Christian calling the medics to his office, my goodness they are going to think I am pathetic and then he is on the phone to Grace asking her advice. They arrive and check my blood pressure and sugar levels. They are both good, I tell them about my lower back pain and they ask how long it has been sore for. I wasn't worried as it only started this morning.
"Ana, Mom wants me to take you to the hospital for tests, it likely nothing but just to be sure" oh great, run the gauntlet again.
"Ok but only if I go out under my own steam, like normal" I make him promise me I can.
The medic's phone ahead to let them know of our impending arrival and what they have done today. Away we go, quietly but quickly to beat the press and to the hospital.
The ob/gyn team are waiting for me; I am examined, prodded, pulled and stuck with needles for the next ninety minutes. The ultra-sonographer is scanning too; I just want to sleep to be honest. The babies are good, growing well with each weighing approximately two and a half pounds each, heart beats are normal. Christian's face is just in awe of what he is looking at, at this point you can see very clearly the faces, structures and baby two is sucking its finger. The doctors find Protein and bacteria in my urine so they suspect a UTI brewing but that can be treated with antibiotics and because my blood pressure is normal, pre-eclampsia is not suspected at this time. Phew, I breathe a sigh of relief. I can go home shortly but must return in five days or sooner if I am worried.
Now home to sleep I tell Christian, I text Sophia and ask her to move my appointment to the end of the week and I ask her to do a couple of other jobs if she has time. He tucks me in on the sofa and both feel happy that Mrs Jones is close by in case I need anything quickly. I am sure Christian has given strict orders for everything.
The television is on but I am not really taking any notice and before long I am asleep, the next I know is Christian is gently shaking me awake for dinner. He has brought it over on a lap tray along with water and my tablet; I am really getting the VIP treatment tonight. Dinner was delicious and when I finish eating, I start making up for lost time today by starting some reading. Christian scolds me but I tell him I can't sit doing nothing for the foreseeable future and he reluctantly agrees to let me carry on.
Before he leaves I stop him
"Christian, can I ask you something?"
"Of course pumpkin, what's up?"
"I want to tell people that we are engaged" I see a look of annoyance on his face "not everyone" I am quick to add "but my family, your family, not the press or anyone else but it just doesn't feel real at the moment"
"Hmm, it's a little risky, I don't want the press to get hold of it but as long as the number of people is kept to a minimum I don't see a problem with that" a huge smile crosses my face.
"Great, thanks, I feel I can get a little excited now" I admit.
Christian smiles and winks as he turns and leaves the room.
A/N: If you like it please leave me a review :)