Tea on Tuesday at Four

Chapter 3

Elena

Once again, tea with Grace has given me insight into what is going on in Christian's mind with regard to little Ana. I am looking forward to dinner tonight with him. I intend to listen sympathetically and then make several suggestions. The primary thing that I need to do is push him into revealing all aspects of the lifestyle to her, preferably before she signs the contract. Once she knows, that should be it.

We meet at a local bistro. We always do. I am very careful to make sure that all of these meetings happen in public. I still suspect that Linc has his eye on me. He doesn't seem to care much who I fuck as long as it isn't Christian. No two ways about it. Linc has an almost unnatural obsession, bordering on vendetta, with him. It's pure jealousy, I'm sure. As long as we keep our contact public, either a local restaurant or functions for our various mutual charities there is nothing that he can do.

Christian looks wonderful as usual. I am concerned because he seems to be a little distracted and I just know that it's by her. I am hoping that since she is away, he will be in a talkative mood. After my earlier discussion with Grace, I am eager to hear his point of view. He looks as though he has recently worked out. His hair is still damp from a shower and his skin is still glowing from his exertions.

"How are you doing, Elena?" he asks as he kisses my cheek in welcome.

"I'm doing very well, Christian," I reply. "And yourself?"

He gives me that bemused look that he gets whenever he is trying to figure out some puzzle.

"I'm not entirely sure," he replies. "Did you see the picture in Sunday's paper?"

"Of you and your 'friend,'" I ask. "Yes, I did."

"What did you think of her?" he asks tentatively. He needs my approval for everything.

I consider my answer carefully. Too positive and he won't believe me, or he'll think that I am being sarcastic. But if I'm too negative, I know that he will be pissed. She is quite pretty, but she could use a few trips to one of our salons for some grooming. I decide to go with honest, but diplomatic. After all, he may be "smitten" to quote Grace, but he's not blind.

"She has a lot of potential," I say, smiling congenially.

"A lot," I emphasize, when he frowns. "It's a pity that she hasn't signed your contract yet, or has she? A trip or two Esclava would benefit her. She doesn't need a lot of work, but her hair could use some styling and I believe that a few make up tips wouldn't hurt. Have you bought her a new wardrobe yet? Considering the quality of that dress, I doubt it is hers."

I can see that Christian is amused by my observations. He has this habit of covering his mouth with his index finger. He is trying to make it look as if he is pondering my words, but I know that he is trying to conceal a smile.

"Yes," he admits. "I can see for myself that she needs some grooming. And yes, she borrowed the dress from her roommate. She presently has a certain 'coltish' charm, but she is lacking in some of the finer points, shall we say. She doesn't seem to care much for her looks, and I haven't dealt with her wardrobe yet. She is uncomfortable with the idea of me buying her clothes. But in answer to your other question, no, she hasn't signed."

"Really?"

"Well, she's gone off to Georgia, a spur of the moment decision, to visit her mother," he says. "She offered to sign, but I want her to wait until she gets back."

Now I'm interested.

"But you've finished her . . . What did you call it? Basic training?" I ask, aiming for a light tone.

I succeed, because he laughs.

"Yes, I have," he replies. "But now that she knows what it's all about, she wanted some time apart from me. She says that she can't think clearly in my presence."

"And that surprises you? So far all of her reactions have been very unpredictable," I ask playing and then change my tone. "So she ran away?"

He frowns. I know that I've hit a nerve.

"She claims that she wasn't running," he answers. "But I really have my doubts."

"About what? Whether or not she'll sign?"

"Well," he hedges. "She is still overwhelmed by my money. Oh, and she met the family on Sunday night."

"Ah, another first, and an overwhelming one at that."

"Yes," he agrees with a smile. "I found it a little awkward the way that Mom, Mia, and, to a lesser extent, Dad were falling all over her. She was so embarrassed."

"Did she meet Elliot?" I ask innocently.

"Elliot was too busy falling all over his own date," he grimaces. "Who also happens to be Ana's roommate."

"Oh," I say, reading his expression. "Do you have a problem with her?"

"Kate is a meddler and a troublemaker if I ever met one," he answers. "Thankfully, she has left for Barbados for two weeks. I got the impression that she doesn't approve of me as a date for Ana."

"Is she jealous?" I ask.

"Not likely," he snorts. "She can't get enough of Elliot. In fact, he was bragging to me on Saturday night, not when my parents could hear of course, that she is one enthusiastic lover, to put it politely."

"Meaning that she can keep up with him," I prompt.

"And then some, it would seem," he says. "She was only too happy that he planned to follow her to Barbados."

"Now you sound jealous," I comment.

"Of Elliot?" He looks incredulous.

"Of the fact that he is going away with his girlfriend," I say nonchalantly. "Why didn't you offer to go to Georgia with Ana?"

"I did," he grumbles. "But she didn't want me there. I told you. She says that I'm too complicated and she needs some space to think."

Interesting, it sounds like the earlier comment, "it was nice knowing you." I can definitely work with this!

"Oh, Christian!" I say fondly. "For a brilliant man sometimes you can be so obtuse! Can't you see that she was inviting you to come?"

"She was?"

"Of course!" I reply. "Remember when she told you about how it was nice knowing you? When you showed up at her door did she turn you away?"

"No."

"As I recall, she was pretty excited by your arrival," I add. "In fact, it was she who wanted the doubleheader."

"Now that I think about it," he says. "You're right. But I can't believe that she would be consciously manipulative like that. She's just so . . . innocent."

Not anymore, I think. But that's not the answer that he's looking for.

"Oh, I'm sure that she's not . . . manipulative, that is," I add quickly. "In fact, I would say that she is probably being honest when she says that she is confused and overwhelmed. She may have thought that she wanted some distance, but I'm willing to bet that she now regrets that she has it. I strongly suspect that she is missing you right at this moment, even a we speak."

"Yes, she is," he admits thoughtfully. "I was speaking with her on the phone before I came."

"Do you really think that she would be upset if you showed up?"

"No, I guess not," he replies uncertainly.

I realize that he is as confused as she is. This situation is really slipping out of my control. I wonder how the little girl would feel if she knew that I was throwing him into her waiting arms? If she calls me, Mrs. Robinson, then she is likely to claim some moral high ground. At any rate, I can see that criticism of her will get me nowhere. I need to keep Christian under my thumb and, if he insists on pursuing this, to get her there, as well.

And Christian certainly won't object to that. In fact, I'm sure that he would only be too happy if we became friends. He has always liked to have his cake and eat it too.

However, I still believe that sooner or later she is going to run screaming for the door. There is no way that Christian is going to settle for vanilla for the rest of his life. I have given him a taste for the exotic. He won't be able to help himself. She will try to keep up, but my gut instinct is that she will never give him that kind of control over her. And I can't see her tolerating the kind of punishment that he enjoys inflicting.

How many submissives would think twice about jumping into Christian Grey's playroom? The fact is that there is a line of brown-haired girls waiting to feel the lash of his whip. He has a reputation of not only being generous, but also an exceptional lover. His NDA certainly has never stopped his former subs from sharing stories with some of the others in the community. Some of the silly girls even call themselves the sub club.

No, I am not going to do anything to try and turn him against her. I can see that I'll get a lot farther if I encourage him to go after her. Right now I can see him considering all the possibilities and excuses for going down to Georgia. I decide to push him over the edge.

"Christian," I say kindly. "It sounds as if your best shot at getting her, is to stop dithering and follow her. I can see that you want her. Go for it."

He looks at me with gratitude.

"Elena," he replies. "I'm going to take your advice. You've always had my best interest at heart and you haven't steered me wrong yet. In fact, you're my one true friend. You're the only one that I can trust enough to talk about these things. I'll take the plane down tomorrow."

"Thank goodness," I say in relief.

"Why is that?"

"You know I wasn't going to let you go until you agreed to go to her," I say. "I'll rest easier knowing that you're taking control of things."

"Yes, I am," he says emphatically.

No, I am, I think to myself. Christian may think that he's in control of this, but when all is said and done, he's still my sub. And I do care about him in my own way. I really don't want to see him hurt and I think that this thing is headed in that direction. The sooner he's freed from whatever hold this Anastasia has on him, the better. This is all for his own good.

Grace

I just got off the phone with Christian and I can't wait to tell Mia and Carrick.

"Who was that, dear?" asks my husband, looking up from his newspaper.

"Christian," I answer. "He's going to Georgia tomorrow."

"Ooh!" cries Mia, looking up from her laptop. "I bet it's to see her."

I smile.

"He said that he has some property to look at, for one of his manufacturing sites," I reply.

"It's damn hot down there," grumbles Carrick. "However he won't have to deal with the unions like he would in the Midwest or the Northeast. Still, I suspect that it's an excuse to see Ana Steele."

"So what if it is?" I ask.

"Yeah, Dad," Mia chimes in. "I think that it's very romantic."

"Very romantic indeed," he smirks. "Maybe now that he's got a taste for it, he misses it."

"Carrick!" I say in outrage at his innuendo, glancing quickly at Mia. "You're as bad as Elliot."

He takes a quick look at her and says, "I was only joking."

"Are you sure, Dad?" she asks playfully.

"Yes," he says meaningfully, giving her his "one more word out of your mouth and you're leaving the room" look.

"Carrick, she is staying with her mother," I say, perhaps a little too prudishly.

"Who is on her . . . what is it? Fourth husband," he answers back.

Oh dear, I think. Here we go again. He is still not entirely convinced that Ana is not some kind of little gold-digger. Honestly, sometimes I think that Carrick is more protective of Christian than he is of Mia. But I won't bring that up. Last time we discussed it, he pointed out that Mia has at least been dating for the past five years.

"I, for one, am pleased that he has decided to follow her down after all," I reply. "I think that it is wonderful that he is finally serious about someone."

Carrick rolls his eyes.

"Grace," he says patiently. "We're talking about Christian, not Elliot. I wouldn't call this finally serious. It's more like he's head over heels in love with his first girlfriend."

"What's wrong with that?" asks Mia. "Maybe he's been waiting for the right girl to come along and she finally has."

"And that makes perfect sense," I agree. "He's so busy with the business that I'm sure that he has not wanted to waste his time on girls that weren't up to his standards."

Carrick snorts and goes back to his paper. I know that he does not really believe that Christian has never been with a woman before. He decided a couple of years ago that he just didn't want to deal with the hassle of the paparazzi and was being very discreet about his relationships with women. And that does make sense. After all, a man of his means has to be very careful.

However, I did take Elena's advice and tempered my enthusiasm for the girl when I just spoke to him. She's right that as they get to know each other better they may find out that they are not really all that compatible. I made it clear that I approved of his decision to go to Georgia. And I reassured him that I thought that Ana is every bit as sweet and lovely as he believes that she is.

It's so odd to see my son second-guessing himself. He never has any problems being decisive where his business is concerned. Of course, this is not business. This is love. And I hope that he has finally found it.