I try and carry on the morning as casually as I can but when I am observing the cameras; my blood begins to boil when I see Niamh in the office snooping around the desk again. Her eyes fall on the piece of paper; I see her shift uncomfortably before pulling a pen and pad of paper out of her pocket and jot the message down. Taylor holds my arm…
"Calm down Mrs Steele, we have her; if nothing else occurs we still have her"
I nod before leaving the camera observation area. I meet Gail in the kitchen.
"I am going to take the twins to SIP for an hour or two, I have been neglecting them recently but my temp is doing a sterling job according to Christian"
"Do you need any help Ana?" Gail asks.
"I should be fine thanks Gail" I reply.
I am ready to leave after an hour; things have got a little easier with Max and Melissa or could it be I am getting used to the timings of everything?
Sawyer and my 'escort' are waiting; we make it unscathed to SIP. A warm welcome from the staff awaits us, cooing over the twins and telling me it's been too long since they had seen us, how well I am looking and Christian too.
I take the opportunity to catch up with my temp for the time that my secretary is walking the twins around in the buggy. I have to admit it felt good to be involved and useful again, once this situation with Niamh is over, perhaps another housekeeper is hired; I can come to work on a part time basis.
Two hours later I have to go, Max and Melissa are getting restless and I am getting hungry. Christian is in meetings all morning so he isn't available for lunch unfortunately.
Back at Escala Gail takes the twins and I take the opportunity to read though some papers I brought home but I am twitchy and decide to go to look through some tapes recorded earlier. Taylor is in the room, he has his feet on the desk, he hastily drops them on to the floor when he sees me before standing up and trying to tidy him-self up.
"It's ok Taylor, you need to be comfortable sitting here for all this time" I smile and he visibly relaxes.
"Thank you Mrs Steele" he smiles a rare smile.
"Anything shown up today?" I ask not really expecting what Taylor says to me…
"She found Mr Grey's safe in the office but needless to say she hasn't been able to open it" he sounds disappointed and I feel repulsed.
"She did?" I ask
Taylor nods "so at least we can be certain she is after something else" he sighs "it's just a question of what"
I mumble about how much of a bitch she is and I see Taylor smirk.
"Thank you Taylor, keep me apprised"
"Of course Mrs Grey"
I leave the room, I swear my blood pressure has risen 20 points in the last few minutes and who should I meet as I walk through the kitchen but Niamh.
"Are you ok Mrs Grey" asks Niamh.
"I'm fine thank you Niamh, what is for dinner tonight?" I can't think of anything else to say.
"Lasagne with Rosemary and Garlic Ciabatta and a 2009 Domaine La Bouissiere Vacqueyras wine" she replies.
"You know a lot about wine Niamh?" I'm curious.
"Oh, not much, just a little from my parents, I really only know about matching certain wines with certain foods, I actually don't drink it myself" she shares.
"I think we learn more than we realise from our parents" I add.
"I think you are right Mrs Grey" Niamh smiles before moving toward the bedroom, I turn and watch her walk away, I am firing daggers in her direction. How can she stand there talking to me, acting as if she is doing nothing wrong?
"Ana, are you alright?"
"Huh?... I'm fine Gail thanks, Have you spoken to Taylor this afternoon?"
"No I haven't but I was going to take him a cup of tea" she winks at me.
I turn back to my papers and before I know it Christian is tenderly kissing the nape of my neck, I hadn't heard him come into the apartment so I must have been engrossed in work.
"Hmm, you can keep doing that honey" I stretch my neck and pull my hair around to give easier access for Christian to keep going. My tension drops away immediately and I let out a little moan.
"Oh baby, now you have made me all horny so I am going to require your attention in the bedroom now" he asks before pulling me up on my feet and walking me toward the bedroom.
It's been such a long time since we made love properly, tenderly and slowly.
Christian whilst still kissing my neck he slowly peels my clothes off, each item falling to the ever growing pile, he runs his hands seductively, carefully and teasing at times before it's my turn to undress him. I trace my fingers down his spine in to the top of his buttocks, he shudders in that not quite ticklish but definitely arousing me way.
We lay together on the bed, stroking, caressing, gently pinching and re-discovering each-others bodies, the curves, contours and scars, how our skin tingles when the other lightly touches it.
I climb on top and gently rock back and forth, Christians hands run over my breasts, down to my waist, he caresses my buttocks, I lean back to give him access to my clitoris, oh boy I had forgotten how good this feels.
He flips me over and says "My turn now Mrs Grey" in a low growl that he knows turns me on.
He enters me slowly, gently sliding in and out; he leans down and kisses me, sliding his tongue in between my lips, waiting for a response. His breathing shortens and his thrusting increases until he reaches his climax, he rests down for a moment
"Shit" he whispers under his breath before he starts to thrust again, before long I reach my peak too. Christian rolls off; he is a little out of breath.
"I gotta get fit again baby" he says sadly "the last few months have really affected my fitness and stamina"
"It's ok Christian, you can get it back again" I smile a reassuring smile "Let's just cuddle up and go to sleep, ok?"
"Hmm an offer too tempting to refuse" Christian yawns, relaxes and in a flash is asleep in my arms.
The following day at breakfast and while Niamh has been sent to the shops to purchase some breakfast pancakes that Gail 'forgot' to buy yesterday.
"Ana, Christian, watch this" Gail switches on the local news and splashed across the headlines is Christian's appointment later that morning; the reporter cannot hide his excitement and is over enthusiastically talking to the screen.
Christian's face is full of anger "I guess that has confirmed our leak but we must carry on as normal" he kisses my cheek and storms out of the apartment. I just hope Niamh isn't coming in at the same time.
Gail and I look at each other in amazement, so it is her causing problems but I have an unsettling feeling that we haven't see her at her worst yet.
The television draws my attention again when the previously excited reporter announces in a disappointed voice that a spokesperson for the hospital has confirmed that Mr Grey has postponed said appointment to a later date.
Gail snaps the television off quickly when she hears Niamh returning.
"Thank you Niamh, I promised Ana pancakes this morning" Gail bluffs and fortunately I clock on to what she is saying.
"Yes, thanks Niamh I was so looking forward to them this morning" I say with a smile.
"Gail, I spoke to Kate yesterday and I would like to go out to lunch with her today, would you mind coming over to Kate and Elliot's apartment and look after Ashleigh and the twins for an hour or so?"
"Of course Ana, oh my goodness I bet she has grown since the last time I saw her" Gail smiles a genuine smile "What time?"
"We'll leave here at 11.30am" I smile back before disappearing to the bedroom for a shower.
11.30am comes and Gail and I leave Escala, drop Gail and the twins off and Kate and I head out to 'The Pink Door' restaurant, I have never been before but it comes highly recommended. I try Penn Cove Mussels and Clams in a light garlic, white vermouth, parsley and cream dressing and I am in heaven. It is so good I am totally full, Kate and I indulge in a second bottle of wine, before long we have the giggles, I have not drunk a lot since… well before I got pregnant and Kate is much the same. Elliot is due home early today so Kate and Ashleigh are covered so we continue with our afternoon.
Sadly our afternoon of wine, relaxing and catching up has to come to an end but it's a little quicker than expected when Sawyer enters the restaurant and signals we need to leave and quickly. He pays the bill while we in a tipsy way put on our jackets and collect our purses.
Outside the restaurant a small but harassing group of reporters has gathered, this can't be Niamh as only I knew where we were coming to. Sawyer mumbles 'usual protocol' which is keep quiet and don't respond to any questions fired at us.
The camera flashes are visible already; Sawyer had called for backup as about four burly but suited men are shielding us from the reporters. I am glad as I feel wobbly on my feet and Kate is the same.
"Mrs Grey, how are you?"
"Miss Kavanagh, isn't about time you married the other Mr Grey?
I see the surprise in Kate face when she hears that question but I indicate for her not to say anything. We reach the car and Sawyer half bundles me into the car and we speed away leaving the reporters in our dust. I let out a little giggle.
"What are you laughing at?" Kate asks
"I hope a photographer didn't get a shot of my arse as I got in the car" I snort before bursting in to peal's of laughter and that's enough to set Kate off. We sit in the back of the car, laughing, tears running down our cheeks, with our bodies sitting limply on the back seats with no energy left to move.
We must look horrendous, drunk, make up smeared across our faces but it does you good to laugh like that once in a while even if you do ache for a day or so afterwards.
Elliot is home and hastily puts on a pot of coffee for us.
"Good lunch date you two?" Elliot asks with a smile.
"Excellent thank you Elliot" I giggle again which sets Kate off until we can regain ourselves by which time Elliot has given us both a cup of coffee in the hope that we might sober up quickly.
I can't look at Kate because I will laugh but the time comes that we have to return to Escala. Kate, Elliot and I say our goodbyes while Sawyer and Gail sort the twins and we drive home.
"Had a good afternoon then" Gail raises her eyebrow before smiling.
"Oh the best Gail, I haven't laughed like that since…forever, it was very relaxing" I explain.
"That's good Ana; you need to relax like that occasionally"
"Oh I do but now back to reality and her and the trouble that is brewing for us again. I don't think I can take much more to be honest Gail" I confess.
"Don't worry Ana, you won't have to…"