I have a fuzzy head and don't really understand the meaning behind Gail's words and to be honest I just need to drink some water, get my head down for an hour or so and then think about it.
"Annnnnaaaaaaa" a soft voice begins to wake me from my slumber.
"Oh Annnaaa, time to wake up" the voice gets a little louder and then I smell the sweet coffee being wafted under my nose "thought you could do with some coffee"
"Hmmmm" I sit up sleepily but inhaling deeply, it smells so good.
"I hear you had some fun today" Christian asks even though I am sure he got a minute by minute account from Sawyer.
I nod as well as sipping the very welcome mug of coffee; the slight banging in my head seems to be the only ill effect from our adventure today.
"Baby, I need you to come in to the office in one hour time please" Christian tells me as he gets up to leave the bedroom.
"Ok, I'm just gonna freshen up" a small wave of nausea washes over me.
"Are you sure you are ok baby?"
"Yes, just paying for my own over indulgence" I smile and swear to myself I am never going to drink again however much I am tempted and then chuckle at how often I have said that.
Christian leaves and I drench myself in warm refreshing deluge of water and come out feeling much better. I put on a pair of sweat pants and t-shirt and pull my wet hair into a ponytail, after wearing heels today my feet welcome the soft fluffiness of my slippers and I walk to the office.
The atmosphere is tense; I am the last to arrive. I sit down quickly and Christian begins to speak…
"So we know Niamh is the leak, I have also gained some useful information from my PI. It appears she has been asking around in the BDSM scene and some of the clubs that her mother and I frequented at times" his voice and eyes drop in shame but I still blame Elena for corrupting and taking advantage of his innocence. I am desperate to tell him so but I don't want to interrupt as this is obviously difficult for him.
"She has been asking specific questions regarding myself, my err….preferences, only information that few people would know. Fortunately the entire community is still very tight and no-one wants it invaded by strangers or to attract unwanted publicity" he pauses to allow a wave of embarrassment to pass before he continues.
"The reporter she has been in contact with has been 'asked' not to publish any information unless it comes from me directly otherwise…well…" Christian clears his throat and carries on…
"It doesn't appear Linc has any involvement in this, Niamh has not made contact with him via phone, e-mail or in person so it's safe to say he is not behind whatever she is doing"
"That's reassuring" I add.
"Yes somewhat" Christian replies.
"So what do we do now? I mean we have her on tape in your office with the appointment, trying the safe, and…" Christian cuts me off
"She wants to blackmail me Ana"
"Really!?" I exclaim
"I've ruined her life Ana, her mother is dead and she holds me responsible, I robbed her of time with the mother she was getting to know after many years apart. However you have been brought up by your adoptive parents there is always a nagging doubt or reason to want to find out more about your birth parents like why did you give me up?, When? Did you think about me etc. and it would take more than a few conversations to fill in the blanks"
"But you didn't DO anything, you didn't kill her!" I practically screech before hyperventilating. Gail takes my hand and tries to soothe me.
"Ana, baby stay calm, we have absolutely no way of knowing what Elena told Niamh about our past before she died, she may not have told her everything or even the truth, she could be operating on a whole package of miss-information and lies"
"So what do we do?" Gail asks on my behalf while I calm down, unfortunately my head has started to bang and a wave of nausea washes over again.
"I am going to draw her out, make her angry enough to confront me about what she wants or is trying to achieve, of course it will all be recorded, then, she can decide whether what she wants to continue the game and end up in jail or disappear as quickly as she appeared" Christian looks relieved to finally have a plan.
"The next time she goes for the…err…spare room door…and I think she will soon, Taylor is going to escort her to my office for a little chat, with Taylor as a witness and the detective will be watching from the observation room"
"But what are you going to say to her?" I ask, my head is now pounding
"I am going to play her at her own game" A smile comes across his face "So carry on as normal but things will come to a conclusion in the next few days"
Christian stands up signalling the end of the meeting and walks over too me, enveloping me in his strong arms, I melt into his chest and deeply inhale his body scent. I immediately feel calm and I relax a little before the tears fall…
"Baby, don't cry, I hate it when you cry" Christian wipes a tear from my cheek.
"I can't help it, I can't take much more of her, this, any of it, I just want you and our babies to be together, safe, to live our lives" I sob into his chest, releasing many days of anxiety and tension.
"Oh baby it will be over very soon and we will be together and safer, no more Elena Lincoln, Niamh or any shit!" his voice raise's at the end.
"I really hope so" I sob.
"I think we need to get you tucked up in bed right now" Christian suggests and I agree until I remember the twins…
"But I need to get Max and Melissa ready for bed" but Christian puts his hand up to stop me.
"I will take care of them baby and Gail will help if I get stuck, ok?"
"Ok but I need to kiss them goodnight" I insist and begin walking to the nursery.
Christian follows me, waits patiently before escorting me to our bedroom.
"Will you lay with me for just a little while? I need a cuddle" I ask
"Of course baby" he puts his arm out and I snuggle up to his body "I'm here for you always"
I drift off to sleep but wake suddenly when I sense Christian is not beside me. It's 4am and I suspect I know where he is. I wrap the duvet around myself and go to find him. The piano is being played softly, a sad haunting tune that sends chills down my spine as I listen.
"Hey baby" Christian smiles as he sees me in the doorway.
"I miss you" I say quietly.
"I have to have time to think Ana, you know this is how I relax a little"
"I know, sorry I will let you play" I turn to go
"Ana" he waits for me to turn and look at him ... "I love you"
"I love you too" I walk alone to the bedroom but much to my surprise Christian comes in a short time later and climbs in to bed, wrapping me in his strong arms once again.
I stir and find the bed empty again, the clock shows 8am, I leisurely stretch before remembering what is to come maybe today, maybe tomorrow.
I dress quickly and go for breakfast, Niamh is in the kitchen and I instantly feel nervous but I eat in haste before spending some time with Max and Melissa.
Once they having their morning nap I walk to the camera room, forgetting the detective was already in there observing the camera feed.
"Oh, I'm sorry I forgot you were going to be in here" I mumble and turn to leave.
"No problem Ma'am, you are welcome to stay, no movement yet" he replies and moves his chair over to allow another to fit.
I sit down beside the detective, my eyes glued to the screen. I see Gail go into the nursery to check on the twins. Niamh walks to our bedroom with an armful of clothes to put away. She exits about 10 minutes later empty handed, then we see her in the kitchen putting some cleaning supplies in the cupboard. I almost give up thinking nothing is going to happen when she walks back toward our bedroom but stops in front of the 'red room'. Her eyes dart side to side before she reaches into her pocket.
I catch my breath as I see her go for the door handle, the door, which of course is locked, the handle turns but doesn't open however she reaches forward and something glints. I scrunch my eyes to see what it is she is holding in her hands, my mouth opens in horror when I see she is picking the lock.
"Attention Taylor, target is hot, go go go" I jump as the detective talks in to a radio.
"Copy" is the simple answer that comes back from Taylor.
The detective indicates toward the screen and we watch and hear Taylor approaching Niamh.
"Niamh?" Taylor coughs.
She jumps a mile high; obviously she was so engrossed in breaking and entering that she hadn't heard Taylor approach.
"Oh…err… hello Mr Taylor" she pants in panic "I was just…" Taylor cuts her off
"Mr Grey would like to see you in his office…now!" his voice is stern, even I would be afraid but not as afraid as I would feel in front of Christian.
"Oh. Right…ok" she stutters.
"This way" Taylor extends his arm in Christian's direction and Niamh starts to walk slowly.
I hadn't realised Christian was still at home but of course he would have to be to sort this little bitch out!
"I have to go the office now Ma'am" the detective says, I jump slightly as I am still engrossed in the screen.
"Yes of course" but I am not moving from this spot.
I see the door open to Christian's office, Taylor 'escorts' Niamh in and a few moments later the detective enters the room.
"Please take a seat Niamh" Christian comes around the desk and indicates toward a chair in to which she promptly sits down. I hope she is quaking in her shoes right now.
Taylor and the detective sit behind her but in full view of Christian, oh she must be feeling a little intimidated but I lost any sympathy I had for her a long time ago.
"What am I doing here, Mr Grey?" her voice pipes up.
"I thought it was about time we had a little chat Niamh" he smiles but the smile is forced and cold.
"About what?" she asks innocently "Do you have a problem with my work?"
"We will come back to why you were trying to pick the lock on a room you were expressly forbidden to enter in a moment but let's firstly start with the leaking of information and appointments that only a few people in this household had access to…" Christian sits expressionless for a moment
"But that wasn't me, I did no such thing, you have got it wrong!" she shrieks.
"Ok, what about rifling through draws and closets that you had no business looking in?"
"I…confused about where things went…took time to find out" she stumbles.
"So what need would you have to search behind paintings, I can't think of any items of clothing or household objects that need putting away there, can you?" Christian's face is stony, his eyes are blazing fury but he is keeping it together.
"Perhaps that is too difficult for you to answer?...ok, how about why you have been talking to reporters? Or why you have been visiting local clubs asking about information Elena Lincoln and my-self?"