"Her father is a Patrick Carter and her mother was Elena Lincoln"
The sound of Gail and my jaw's hitting the floor comes before the sound of hysterical laughter filling the room. The laughter is from me, Elena! A mother! I am struggling to comprehend that whilst also doing some math in my head. Phew, Niamh has no connection to Christian. I slump back in the seat, looking around at Gail whose jaw is still on the floor and even Taylor who had been told, looks amazed at hearing the revelation again.
"But what about Linc?" I manage to say.
"Well it appears that it was an extra marital affair that resulted in Candice being born but I am guessing that as she was put up for adoption that Linc didn't know about her or knew of her and insisted on the adoption. However they stayed married until she died so…" Christian lowers his eyes to the table.
"So do we know what she is after or looking for yet?" Gail asks.
"We know she was in contact with Elena for the six months preceding her death, I can only surmise that they spoke about each-other's lives, why Elena put her up for adoption? And, well I am sure they had a great deal to discuss" Christian pauses again.
"I can only conclude that perhaps blackmail is motive or revenge for Elena's death or both. Without knowing what they spoke about, Niamh is the only person who knows what she wants" Christian breathes heavily and rubs his forehead.
"So what do we do now? We can sack her for snooping around but if she wants revenge or whatever she won't stop, will she?" I ask frantically.
"I don't believe she will stop until she achieves what she came here to do but I am not going to make any decisions until Taylor and I have spoken to a whole bunch of people including the police and private investigator again" he states.
"But we have to have her in the apartment until we know what we need to do?" I sound desperate and I feel desperate, this person is a threat to my family and home.
"For now all we can do is be vigilant, do not leave anything of a private or sensitive nature where she can see or take it and she must not be alone with Ana or my children. Taylor, I want you to install more camera's in the living areas, kitchen etcetera and have them monitored at all times. I have scheduled a meeting at my office with the detective and investigator this afternoon, Taylor I want you to attend, and we will have a plan of action by this evening" Christian slumps back in his seat.
Gail and Taylor leave the room
"Are you ok honey?" I ask tentatively.
"I just wasn't expecting this, when Elena…went…I thought that chapter of my life was over and I could move on but evidently she is still managing to harass me and my family from the grave" he shakes his head.
I get up and move around the desk to where he is sitting before putting my arms around his neck and kissing the top of his head.
"Oh baby, you have no idea how good that feels" he stands up and my arms end up around his waist, he is kissing me frantically, passionately and greedily until my lips are red and slightly bruised.
"Oh baby I love you" Christian says after pulling away "but I have to get to the office"
"I know honey, love you too" I say and blow a kiss as I leave his office.
I have an instant feeling of unease as I walk through to the kitchen and see Niamh talking to Gail.
Trying to act as if nothing has changed is so hard, I want to sling her out on the sidewalk with a few choice words following but I can't so I put on a friendly face and go into the kitchen.
"I have a few errands to run this afternoon, what time is lunch Niamh?" I ask as nonchalantly as possible.
"I was aiming for 12.30pm Mrs Grey if that is acceptable?"
"That's perfect, thank you" I turn and walk out of the kitchen quickly.
I am not sure what to do this afternoon but even if I end up walking out with the twins I don't care. Gail is sending Niamh out of the apartment so Taylor can install the additional surveillance equipment. I might just go and tempt Kate out with Ashleigh for a trip to the park.
A distinctly uncomfortable lunch eaten, I hastily ready the twins to go out, Sawyer drives me over to Kate who is more than willing to stretch her legs with a walk out. Of course we have company, Sawyer and a new guy I don't recognise, I think Christian has increased security ten-fold this time. They stay far enough away to give us privacy but close enough to spring in to action should the need arise.
It's a sunny but slightly chilly afternoon, we reach the park after about fifteen minutes and stop at the coffee shop to grab a couple of Lattes before sitting on a bench close to the swings.
"So, tell me, don't keep me in suspense, what's happening?" Kate grills me.
"Well hold on to your hat but Niamh is Elena Lincoln daughter" I say and spend the next 5 minutes trying to soothe Kate who took an ill-timed drink of her latte and chokes.
"Daughter!?" Kate coughs again before recovering enough to open and shut her mouth like a fish, obviously a mass of questions are fighting their way out.
"I know, I couldn't believe it when Christian told me either" I say.
"But…but what does she want then?" Kate asks wiping her eyes from all the choking.
"We don't know Kate, Taylor is installing more camera's and Christian is talking to the police, private detective, the legal department etcetera"
"Oh my" Kate exclaims
"I feel distinctly uncomfortable at the apartment when Niamh is there, I am worried I am going to give something away" I tell Kate.
"Oh I would feel the same way too, do you think she is looking for something? Some information or pictures perhaps?"
"I just don't know, I'm not aware of any pictures but then again I am sure Christian hasn't shared every detail about his past life with me and I am sure I don't want to know everything either" I smile an anxious smile.
"I would agree with you on that one, too many skeletons and old wounds you do not want to open up again. Christian is happy with you, the twins and his life in general. Elliot has even commented that Christian seems more contented and satisfied with you" Kate tells me "Christian is fiercely protective of you Ana, probably more than you realise"
"Thank you Kate" I feel a little choked up at what she has just said. A tear escapes…
"Oh I didn't mean to upset you Ana" Kate exclaims as she grabs my hand.
"It's a happy tear, a stressed tear and it's nice to know I make him happy"
We stand up and continue walking around the park until Sawyer's voice interrupts our conversation
"Mrs Grey, Miss Kavanaugh It's getting late, I think we should return home"
I glance at my watch, see that we have been out for over 3 hours, Sawyer and Christian will of course be in contact and Christian will know exactly where I am. The children have been very good but food will be demanded soon no doubt.
"Of course Sawyer" We turn around and walk back to the car.
"Thank you Kate, once again you have been a life saver, give my love to Elliot" We arrive at Elliot and Kate's apartment, we give each other a hug before the new guy escorts her to the front door and with trepidation, we head home.
Niamh has gone home by the time I get in and it's a relief, Taylor shows me all the new camera positions and Christian has asked for us all to assemble in his office at 8pm this evening.
8pm comes around quickly; Gail and I go to Christian's office, making small talk about our respective days as we wait. Shortly afterwards Taylor and Christian walk in, I see Christian is wearing my favourite Hugo Boss single breasted black suit and silver grey tie. God he is so sexy, he and Taylor have obviously shared something amusing as Christian has thrown his head back in laughter and that heightens his sexiness tenfold but I have to remind myself we are gathered for an important reason so I try and focus my mind back to the business at hand.
Christian starts "I am going to leave a scribbled note on a pad of paper here in the office regarding a hospital appointment for myself on Thursday, the appointment is false of course, but seeing as only the four of us know about this right now, if it is leaked then the only person that will have had the opportunity to leak the information is Niamh. Taylor has instructed security to follow Niamh when she leaves the apartment for the next few days to see if we can identify who she might be talking to"
"But what is that going to prove?" I ask naively
"As per Niamh's contract, any information in this apartment is private and personal so leaking that information is a breach of contract, I can immediately dismiss her for that if nothing else transpires" Christian explains.
"Oh good so we could be rid of her sooner rather than later" I add feeling more hopeful.
"Yes in theory, but we know she is after something else, I don't want her hanging over our lives waiting for her chance to do whatever, her mother managed to almost destroy us…" his voice falters slightly.
"We need to carry on as normal, wait and see what Niamh does with the information and plan our next move from there" Taylor takes over for a moment.
"Thank you everyone" and that is Christian's signal that the meeting is now over. He looks pale and tired; I am worried this is pushing him too much again.
I step out of the shower, wrap a towel around myself and search for my hairbrush; I walk into the bedroom and find Christian sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.
"Christian, what's wrong honey? No silly question" I tut myself "what can I do to help?"
"I'm ok baby, just tired" he responds quietly.
I climb across the bed and begin massaging his shoulders and back, he groans "Oh baby you have no idea how good that feels"
I lay him down on the bed on his front, grab some moisturiser as I don't have any essential oils to hand and continue with a little more pressure, the groans and moans coming from Christian are 'good' until he goes silent and a feint snore comes from his depths.
I snuggle up to him forgetting I still haven't brushed my hair and fall asleep in a moment. I awake with a start as I'm still wrapped around Christian which is unusual as he is normally up and about way before I am.
"Christian, honey wake up" I gently shake him.
"Hmm…what…huh? What time is it baby?" he stretches his luxurious body out
"8.30am"
"Oh shit! Fuck it, late again" but he smiles before grabbing me for a morning kiss "Remember the piece of paper is being left out today"
I nod in acknowledgment and proceed to try and brush out the knots in my hair, cursing for my forgetfulness of last night.
Christian disappears out of the bedroom in a flurry, adjusting his tie as he goes and the new day begins….
A/N: Sorry it has been a while. Hoping to complete this story soon and then continue with Days of Steele.