Our food has arrived and is a good distraction. It's absolutely delicious and included, Khao Na pet, Khanom Chin Kaeng Khiao wan Kai, Kuai-tiao nam, Phat Thai, Mu Phat Phrik Khing, the number of dishes was amazing but nothing much was left by the end, then again with Elliot, Ethan and Christian it wasn't surprising. I missed the return of Taylor with apparently no news when Elliot told the cheesiest oldest joke ever but it tickled Mr Kavanagh so much he started coughing and we had to get some water to the table. Laughter is infectious and we all had a hearty chuckle after grimacing at the awful joke but it broke my tension.
After about two and a half hours at the restaurant, it is time to say farewell, lots of hugging; Kate and her Mom shed a few tears but happy tears as they both tell us. The Kavanagh's are lovely people; we thank them for their hospitality and promise to see them again soon.
The usual military style escort awaits us to go back to the hotel, gather our things and start for home. It doesn't take long to pack and we are soon heading down the freeway towards home.
Escala looms before us but we drop Kate and Elliot off first before getting home, I am more than happy to kick my shoes off and relax on the sofa for a few minutes, even travelling is making me tired now. I check the phone messages left and find one from my Mom; I take a deep breath and press play;
"Hello darling, it's just Mom, I was wondering if Christian had any preference of legal firms, Frank is having some problems and I thought of you for advice, let me know when you can. Oh I hope you are well" and then the click of the phone going down.
Nice to know you are an afterthought but oh well she asked at least. The next message is Dad.
"Hey Ana, it's Dad, I know you are away this weekend and hope you have had a lovely time but just wanted to know that you and my grandbabies are all good. Christian is well I hope. Angie's sister sadly died earlier this week so I have a funeral tomorrow but will hopefully speak to you soon. Love you" and again I hear the phone go down.
What a contrast to Mom's message, even with sad news he asks about us all first, I will phone tomorrow as I need a shower, a little snack, a foot massage if I am lucky and sleep before work tomorrow.
I waddle towards the office and peer through the door, Christian is concentrating on the screen but running his hand through his hair in that totally distracting but turns me on way.
"Hey you" I whisper as not to startle him.
"Hey pumpkin, how are you doing?" It's like he reads my mind at times.
"Oh Mom called with her usual lack of everything and Dad's partner Angie's sister died earlier in the week and he has a funeral to go to. I feel for Dad, I know it's not his relation but I know he will be upset" I explain.
"Oh baby, I'm sorry to hear that, I can arrange for some flowers to be delivered tomorrow"
"Oh I hadn't even thought about flowers but that would be appreciated, can you really sort that for tomorrow?" silly question, he's Christian Grey, of course it will happen. I walk over to his desk, kiss his lips and thank him.
"My pleasure baby, have you got your Dad's address handy?" he asks, I nod, go to my handbag for my address book and provide the address. With a few clicks of the mouse he has it done and I still have not got used to the fact he can get things done there and then which would take the rest of us days to sort.
"Sit for a moment Ana" I sit, put my feet on his legs and almost automatically he starts to massage my feet, I am transported to heaven for a moment.
"Ana, I have had communication from Samantha, she wants to talk to me but won't say what about, she sounded freaked out though. I have agreed to meet her but I am taking Sawyer with me as witness to anything she says. I just wanted to let you know" he looks concerned.
"Thank you for telling me Christian, when are you meeting her?" I probe but give a reassuring smile.
"Tuesday afternoon at a bar on the outskirts of town" he tells me.
"Ok, glad Sawyer will be there but take a tape recorder and get everything verbally" the twinkle in Christian's eye tells me it's already sorted but he wouldn't acknowledge the fact.
"Are you going to bed now?" He asks as I put my feet back on the floor.
"A snack first, just something light, shower then bed" I smile.
"Ok, I will be there as soon as baby, alright?" I nod, no point in challenging him, he obviously has things on his mind.
I walk out of the office and back to the kitchen where I help myself to a couple of slices of bread and butter which shouldn't be too bad on the indigestion front and a glass of water. I grab a packet of Christian's favourite crisps; Barbeque Ruffles and a bottle of chilled sparkling water and take them back to the office. He is talking on the phone so I just walk over and put them on his desk. He blows me a kiss and mouths 'I love you' before resuming his conversation.
I am eating my bread when the home phone rings, I pick it up without checking caller id and it's my Mom.
"Ana, is that you?" she shrills
"Yes Mom, how are you and Frank?" I question.
"Oh this is a horrible, horrible situation Frank has put us in, I need a good attorney and soon, have you checked with Christian yet?"
"No Mom, we have been away for the weekend and not long been back home" I bristle and am feeling decidedly narky but don't want to expend the energy being sarcastic back to her.
"Well could you let me know as quickly as possible?" her shrilling is getting louder.
"I will, anything else Mom? I need to shower and go to bed as I am going to work in the morning" I tell her and that was a mistake as the tirade of advice being shouted down the phone meant I had to move the ear piece away from my ear.
"You shouldn't be working Ana! He is a slave driver that man of yours. You should be at home with your feet up and resting" she shrieks.
"It's my choice Mom, I want to work because I would go stir-crazy being at home all day with nothing to do. I take it easy when I am there so don't worry" I am rapidly losing the will to talk to her anymore.
"I think it's ridiculous, you are having a baby after all; you need rest" ok so now she starts showing interest in my welfare.
"Babies" I shrill back "but I have to go Mom, I need to sleep. Talk to you soon"
"You don't ever listen to my advice Ana" she carries on
"Bye Mom" and I put the phone down without waiting for another response and that has just about finished me off. My own fault, I should have looked at the number before answering but never mind. I shower and climb into bed. Ahhhh, my bed, my comfortable bed, my pillows, everything feels familiar. I pick up the phone and dial Dad; I need some serene conversation to bring me down after chatting to Mom.
"Hello, this is Ray" come's the voice on the other end.
"Hi Dad, it's Ana"
"Hey sweetie, is everything ok?" a note of concern enters his voice.
"Apart from the conversation I just had with Mom, I am fine. I wanted to hear your voice but also to say how sorry we were to hear about Angie's sister and make sure you are both alright" I tell him.
"Oh we are ok, well Angie is upset as you would expect but I think once the funeral is over things will be a little easier" the sound of his voice is instantly soothing to me and I feel myself relaxing in to the pillows.
"If you need anything Dad, please call me-promise?"
"I will sweetie, I will. What's up with Mom? You don't have to answer if it upsets you" he knows what it does to me when I talk to her.
"Oh it's just something has happened to Frank in a legal sense and they need an attorney, she was asking who Christian would recommend" I expand "I'm not sure what for, to be honest I didn't want her shouting down the phone at me any longer"
"The same old Carla" sums up his and my feelings exactly.
"Anyways Dad, sorry I need to sleep, I wanted to hear your voice and I hope everything is ok tomorrow"
"Thank you sweetie, I will tell Angie you phoned but you sleep and look after yourself" his voice is so calm and soothing.
"I will Dad, good night"
"Goodnight Ana" and then he is gone.
I feel much happier after talking to Ray; I have so much more of a connection to him than I do Mom. It's like he understands things that most men couldn't or wouldn't, I can tell him almost anything.
Christian comes into the bedroom shortly afterwards
"You still awake baby"
"Mom called and I made the mistake of answering, then I called Dad to voice our condolences and he will pass them on to Angie" I explain.
"Ok but now sleep, it's late" he mock scolds me.
"Lay with me for a moment?" I ask, I really need a set of arms enveloping me right now.
"Of course, let me use the bathroom, be right back" he almost runs to the en-suite and very quickly he is back. I feel myself being wrapped in his love, he plants tender kisses wherever he can and gently stokes my head until I drift off to sleep.
I am woken by cursing
"Fuck is that the time" Christian flies out of bed and into the bathroom. I sleepily look over at the clock and see 8.45am. Damn that's late; I need to get going too but I wait for Christian to finish getting ready. I look at him and realise we must have fallen asleep together as he puts the clothes he was wearing yesterday in the laundry bin before selecting a suit and tie.
"Hmm you look so sexy in a suit" I feel wet just looking at him.
"Why thank you, you look pretty sexy right now too" I frown, how can a just woken up, I have been dragged through a hedge backwards look be sexy?
"Thank you" I smile. He leans over and kisses me good bye, I tell him to be careful and he is gone.
I drag myself out of bed into the bathroom and then look for something decent to wear but I am rapidly running out of things that fit again so I have no choice but to wear smart jeans with a floaty, delicate pale yellow top, chunky heeled shoes and a little make-up.
Taylor is waiting and we set off to the office. Ten o'clock is a great time to leave, hardly any traffic to speak of and with a quick stop off for my all-time favourite drink at Starbucks, I get to the office in 30 minutes still relishing my Chai Tea Latte. My PA Sophia greats me with a smile and how are you? /do you need anything? She gives me my messages and confirms my 11.30am meeting with an exciting new author. Taylor stations himself in his usual spot and I immerse myself for the next hour in catch up work.
My intercom buzzes and Sophia tells me my appointment is here. I ask her to give me five minutes to tidy my desk and retrieve the relevant scripts from my files before sending him in. I scurry, well, waddle around shuffling papers back into order, hastily shoving things into my desk drawer and find the manuscript for the person I am seeing. I sit to compose myself for a brief moment before buzzing Sophia to send him in.
A knock at the door lifts my head as a middle aged man enters the office wearing a tweed jacket, cords, boat shoes and carrying a brown brief case. Not what I was expecting but I extend my hand to him and welcome him to SIP; he shakes my hand and thanks me for making time to see him.
"I am very impressed by your work Mr Green" I compliment him.
"Thank you Miss Steele but please call me Jack" he sounds sincere but he is actually giving me the creeps.
"I would like to ask you some questions" I continue "for example, what was your inspiration for writing a love story? And why did you develop the characters in the way you did?"
He starts of by saying it was loosely based on some personal experiences as a young man and thus some of the characteristics of the characters are based on himself and those people in his life at the time. That's not uncommon from a lot of writers I have met but the next thing he says sends a chill down my spine.
"I based some of the story on you Ana. I have followed you since you started a SIP" WHAT! My brain can't quite process what he has just said. Keep calm Ana, keep calm.
"You know nothing about me Mr Green" I say as calmly as I can.
"Oh you will be surprised what I know Miss Steele" he sneers.
"TAYLOR!"
I am very sorry for the late posting on this. Had a RL crisis. However, the next chapter should be posted on Friday. We are well beyond the half-way point of this story, and I think it will probably total 75 chapters.