Apov.
No. 10. Faster than a speeding bullet, Done.
No. 9. Dinner with the stars. Done
No. 8. A big crash.
No. 7. Going like the clappers.
No. 6. Camping
No. 5.
No. 4.
No. 3.
No. 2.
No. 1.
I was looking at the photo on my phone I had taken of Jose's list. The ideas were halfway down it now and I didn't like that at all.
I knew he was getting worse no matter how he tried to hide it from me. I had stayed in bed many times long after I had woken to hear him move about the apartment, hearing him curse as he struggled to do something that was once so simple to him.
Looking away from my phone, I took a deep breath trying to steady my emotions so I didn't cry. Looking out the window, I spent a few moments watching the clouds pass by.
When I felt ready, I moved on to the next photo. It was one of Jose wearing his glasses upside-down, something, wearing them, at one point he refused to do.
"I'm not blind" he had complained to Dr Trevelyan on one of his earlier visits to the hospital. She had agreed with him explaining that sometimes the pressure from the tumour could cause blurred vision. He wore them more now, more often than not.
The photos I turned to then were of those I had taken on the roof of Grey house as we enjoyed our dinner there. Spending the evening with others had been very enjoyable and something I selfishly admit I had missed doing over the past year.
My evenings when I wasn't working usually consisted of dinner with Jose which I loved but then after he had turned in early unless Kate was there, I spent the evening alone.
Most evenings but not the past few which I had spent in New York at a publishing conference. It had been ok but many in the industry that Jack had spoken to previously never knew I existed. You would think from the way they described him speaking that he was running the company alone. Most senior editors there had an assistant or junior editor with them and all I had spoken to had been praised because of the work they do. Jack would never do that, he would just take all the credit for the work I and others did.
It was one of us all next and then a photo of Christian who looked like he'd had a custard pie to the side of his face. Unable to control my smile, a refreshing change from fending off tears, I moved on to one of the two of us Kate had taken and sent to me. We were so close, his lips nearly touching my ear. We'd had to be close to talk over the roar of the wind, that had been my excuse anyway which Kate was quick to dismiss along with the notion that a man like Christian Grey would not like a quiet bookworm like me.
Would I like to see Christian again, of course, I would but would I. We live in two completely different worlds. I'm not stupid, I know who he is especially in this city and it's constantly reported, how much he's worth. I googled him when I was looking for the tallest building, wanting to know what kind of person he was so I could judge whether he would say yes or not. Seems I didn't need to bother as it was Ros I spoke to instead. I admit I did spend an hour or two looking at his photos online though but no one needs to know that.
"Could everyone please return to your seats" the flight attendant announced as the seatbelt light came on. "We will shortly be arriving in Seattle where the weather is, once again wet."
I had to smile at her comment. It was May, it was no doubt just a passing shower to us adopted Seattleites but from the way she was talking, you would think monsoon season had descended on the city. If she wants to experience a real rainstorm, she should come back in Autumn or better yet Winter when it's accompanied by snow.
My landing was smooth, my trip through the airport easy and for once, an empty taxi was waiting just outside. Maybe this would be a good day especially as the storm that the flight attendant announced was nothing more than drizzle.
Entering my apartment, it was quiet. It was rare to have the place to myself now but with Jose, at work, I had a few moments alone to sort myself out.
Walking into my bedroom, I smiled at the vase of flowers that were on my dresser with a card leaning against the glass. Opening the card, only two words were written. Missed You.
I sat down on my bed, holding the card to my chest wishing the ache would go away. I've missed my brother so much these past few days, trying to listen during our conversations to see if when he tells me he's well it's the truth. I had received messages from my parents and his who all told me to enjoy being away and relax. Relax, that's something I've forgotten how to do.
I had dinner on when Jose and Kate arrived and was soon pulled into one of his bear hugs.
"Smells lovely, what are we having," Kate asked.
"Mac and Cheese" I announced as Jose finally let me go. "Miss you too, thank you for the flowers."
"What flowers" he teased before making his way to the cooker, with a spoon now in hand to steal a little bit.
…
"I've had an idea," Kate said after taking a sip of her wine.
"Did it hurt?" Jose teased, earning a raspberry from her.
"It was actually your idea, you mentioned the event."
"OK, no matter whose idea it was, will someone tell me" I laughed.
"The big crash" Kate replied after taking her final mouthful of dinner. Jose as always had finished his first and having not eaten anything but toast for breakfast, I was not far behind. "God I can't believe I'm saying this."
"Just tell us woman" Jose complained.
"Susannah Lincoln's wedding is this weekend. I think we should crash it."
"You're crazy" I laughed.
"It's brilliant" Jose added, rubbing his hands together gleefully.
"Remember what I said about if one of your ideas is to rob a bank, you were on your own. Going into a wedding like that will be worse, especially if we get caught."
"What's the worst that could happen," Kate asked.
"We get arrested, or worse, shown up" I protested, not wanting Jose to be subjected to something like that.
I had heard about the Lincoln's, heard that they were a breed all of their own that thought they were better than everyone else, looked down on everyone else. Everyone on the guest list would've only been invited if they had a few million in the bank.
"We can get on the grounds, we just have to sneak you into the marquee, have a dance and not forgetting, steal a slice of wedding cake" Kate laughed as if getting into the most guarded wedding of the year will be easy.
"Who do you think we are, secret agents, Jose's, James Bond. Are we going to swim in from Lake Washington and make our way across the rocky beach in front of the venue without being seen?" I asked after Kate told me where the wedding was taking place. "Are we to have our dresses under our wetsuits?" I laughed, thinking this task was getting sillier by the minute but as I soon learned, Kate had the details already planned out.
"As you know the Lincoln's love the limelight, so much so that they have invited a few select news organisations especially ours to be at the wedding. That's our cover to get Jose and his assistant on-site and if they request a backup, as a photographer into the marquee. After my family including myself received invitations to the wedding, I noticed they're not too dissimilar from the press ones we have a few spare of so a few tweaks here and there should do should someone ask for your invitation. We will have to wait though, until after the meal when the party is in full swing as it will be noticeable if everyone is sat down for the speeches and you have no seat. Also as all press have been told to dress for the occasion as well, you turning up in a long flowing gown, your make up done will not look out of place."
"Isn't that cheating on the task though if you both have already been invited?" I asked.
"Maybe but we're not the one who's going to steal the slice of cake. It's a shame really, my parents had invitations too but my mother shredded them before I could get to them as she hates the Lincoln's. We could've used them."
"Then there would be no task at all," I told her still not convinced if the rewards were worth the risk.
"Come on Ana, you know you want to come and have fun" Kate teased.
"What the hell did you do to her while I was away Jose. Where did Kate's sensible head go."
"She's learned to embrace the Jose madness" he cackled, making me laugh before a serious thought crossed my mind.
"This venue where the wedding is taking place, hundreds of people crammed together inside, breathing on each other, breathing on him," I said to Kate but I nodded to Jose.
"The wedding ceremony is being held in the country club but everything after will be in a large marquee in the grounds, set up with all sides open to enjoy the view of the water, perfect airflow."
"You've thought of everything" I stated.
"I wouldn't even suggest it if there was a chance of putting Jose at risk."
I know she was right, she loved our brother too so I was in, in trouble no doubt by the end of the night but seeing how excited Jose was about this, I couldn't say no.
….
We'd done it. We were inside the grounds of the country club, the press area for now but at least we'd gotten this far. I'd asked the other two if we could class this as done now, receiving a resounding no from them both.
Kate, despite her invitation to the wedding, had told the guard on the way into the press area that as the lead representative of her father's organisation she was making sure everyone was behaving. With the wedding ceremony and meal now over and the party in full flow most press had already left, getting a head's start on tomorrow's front covers. Jose's excuse and as his assistant, mine too was that Mr Lincoln who had come in an hour ago had asked some to stay behind to record the bride and groom leaving. The guard at the entrance though didn't know who had been asked as he was speaking to a colleague at the time.
Jose and I were waiting, waiting though for our time to join the party.
When Kate left the tent, while the guard was speaking to others, we left too and headed towards the throng of people laughing and talking on the terrace. We did encounter a guard on the way but he was too interested in Kate when she stopped to talk to him, so Jose and I were able to walk on by and blend in.
We did have invitation's for this part of the freak show but they were fake, as fake as most of the barely covered breasts on display.
"Security is shit" Jose mumbled.
"You won't be saying that if someone asks us, why we're here."
"I have an excuse" he laughed. "That was the main photographer the guard was speaking to as we left the tent. I'd heard him say to others as he was packing up that he had some kind of emergency. I'll just say he asked me to do him a favour and take professional shots from the party which he was explaining to the guard when we left he couldn't do."
"What, on your phone," I asked thinking all the proper equipment had been left with the real reporters from K.M.
"No on this," he replied showing me his hand which held one of the small digital cameras the others had been using. "I borrowed it from Jim... With technology these days though, the camera's on phones can be just as good as this. My story wouldn't be convincing though if I need to use it."
"I hope you don't" I whispered, hoping Jose hadn't heard me as he continued speaking.
"Personally though, I think the photographer just wanted out of this joint. I doubt anyone will ring him to check considering we've already passed security."
"He's not the only one who wants out of here" I grumbled, looking around.
"Oh, Ana, it's going to be fun."
"For you, yes. I've realised something a lot during this evening. If anyone is going to get in trouble by being here, it's going to be me."
"That's why it's up to you to steal, not just be handed a slice of cake and have a boogie on the dance floor."
"Boogie, what is this, the seventies" I mumbled, taking a glass of champagne off a passing tray.
"Yeah big sis, get on that dance floor and throw some shapes."
"Will you get in there" I laughed as we walked across the terrace and into the marquee.
It was heaving in here, the music so loud it felt like my chest was vibrating or was that just nerves.
I could see the cake on the other side of the room, fifteen tiers I counted and each one as ugly as the next.
The bride, the new Mrs Susannah Crewe, with the dress she wore she would fit in next to the cake.
"They haven't cut the cake yet, what do you want me to do, steal a complete tier?... Don't even answer that" I said, hearing his laughter in my ear.
We spotted Kate who must have known a quicker way inside. She had just sat down at a table after being gestured to do so by a lady whose back was to us. Deciding to make our way over to her, across the dance floor which seemed the less congested of the two routes instead of around the outside, I was nearly across when I felt someone pull hard on my hand.
With a little yelp, I spun around expecting to see the angry face of a guard. Instead, I saw grey eyes and the perfect smile that belonged to Christian Grey.
Jose who had been walking in front of me and had stopped when he heard my yelp just laughed and continued on his way to Kate and took a seat at her side.
"Fancy seeing you here, Miss Steele," he smiled, "Would you like to dance."
"I'd love to, Mr Grey," I replied before he pulled me closer.
By dancing with Christian, I'd fulfilled at least one part of the task. A task that was soon forgotten as I enjoyed being in his arms.
Christian spun me around the dance floor and I knew from the gasps and murmurs I heard that many were watching us now. When the fast song, turned to one a little slower he pulled me even closer still.
"I don't remember seeing your name on the table plan, Ana," he said, his lips so close to my ear that I felt a tingle down my spine.
"You wouldn't, I snuck in" I replied, seeing the shocked look on his face before he let out a loud laugh.
"Are you going to tell?"
"No…" he replied, smiling brightly. "Let me guess though, you being here this evening is something to do with Jose's list."
"Yes, although as they're both here in an official capacity, I'm the only one who would get in trouble. Kate's invited to the wedding, Jose as photographer, or press."
"You won't get in trouble, I assure you" Christian stated before he led me from the dance floor my hand in his and headed towards Jose and Kate.
Before we got there though, an annoyingly high pitched voice filled our ears.
"Christian, who's this" a woman asked, looking me up and down.
She must be close to the bride because she was standing by her side, an older woman I had seen in the press, the bride's mother on her other. They reminded me with the scowls on their faces of the witches from Hocus Pocus. No matter how much this woman who had called his name fluttered her eyelashes, she cast no spell over him but with the smile he gave me before he addressed them, he certainly put a spell on me.
"Leila, Susannah, Elena, this is my guest, my date, Miss Anastasia Steele. Ana, these are the Lincoln's or should I say, Susannah, is the new Mrs Crewe."
"Thank you for inviting me" I gushed, faking every emotion behind the words. "I apologise for being so late."
I could hear Jose's snort behind me which unfortunately turned the attention of the witches to him.
"And who are you," Leila asked. "Hold on, I've seen you somewhere before."
"Jose works with me," Kate said, standing up ready to go for the jugular if she started on him.
"Why is he in here then, the press was told to stay outside and only come inside when asked" the oldest hag spoke up.
For a moment I felt sick, that we'd been found out. Would they believe the story when Jose picked up the camera from the table, would they believe it if he said he'd been asked to photograph the party when he'd been sat down drinking champagne. Champagne, shit, I hope not it would mess with his meds. A shake of his head told me everything I needed to know about that drink so I could focus on those ahead.
I expected guards to come rushing over at any minute to take Jose away, which would no doubt start a brawl because there was no way Kate or I would stay still or quiet. I needn't have worried though as a very special person to us saved the day.
"Because Elena, Jose here is my guest" It was Dr Trevelyan who spoke up this time, linking her arm with my brother. I wasn't the only one shocked to hear her defend Jose, so was Christian when I heard his gasp. "As the professional Jose is having promised to photograph your wedding for The Times before I'd asked him to take my Carrick's place, he has been fulfilling that duty before joining me now. I was beginning to think you had stood me up, young man."
"Never" he laughed as the women not wanting to make a scene left us alone.
I could see Leila watching me though as I took a seat beside Christian so I happily gave her a smile
"Mother?" Christian said to Dr Trevelyan.
"Mother?" I questioned quietly. "Trevelyan."
"Dr Grace Trevelyan Grey" Christian stated earning a chuckle from the good doctor.
"It's a small world Dr Trevelyan" I laughed.
"It is that, and it's just Grace. It's lovely to see you dear especially out and about. As you already seem to know my youngest son Christian, may I introduce my daughter Mia and my eldest son Elliot."
"It's nice to meet you" I smiled genuinely, receiving smiles in return. Not like when I had met the witches before.
As Kate and Jose were already chatting away with Mia and Elliot, I realised they must have been introduced to them while I was on the dance floor.
"So what's the task this time," Grace asked excitedly, amusing Christian and his siblings.
"A big crash. We all had to get in here."
"Hold on, I'm the only one who's gatecrashed the wedding," I said, interrupting Jose.
"I know but don't forget the other parts of the task. You had to have a boogie and eat some cake."
"You helped me with the first part," I admitted to Christian. "When you asked me to dance. The second part is to steal a slice of cake which technically I can't do, the steal it part, as we're now guests."
"Shit, I didn't think of that. Christian un-invite her as your guest now" Jose laughed.
"No, I would love it if you would like to dance again though Ana, make sure that part of the task is covered."
"Of course," I laughed.
I took Christian's hand before he led me past a group of people who seemed to be comforting a crying woman. Taking a look back, I could see it was Leila who was probably telling all who listened I had stolen her man.
No matter the song, no matter how fast or slow I loved being in this man's arms. Christian had spun me around the dance floor until it felt like my feet would fall off and I could laugh no more, then Jose took his turn.
When the cake had finally been cut and a slice was placed before each of us, I reached for it hoping it tasted better than it looked.
As I picked it up, I dropped it back down again, looking to Christian who was about to get to his after putting his whisky glass down. Before he could reach it though, my hand shot out taking the cake from his plate and bringing it to my mouth, I took a bite.
I could see the amused looks on everyone's faces especially the man by my side. Swallowing the bite that I'd taken I shrugged my shoulders before putting my original cake before him, my words making everyone laugh.
"Cake stolen, task completed."
Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Christian and Ana become closer still next chapter when they finally kiss.
Until then, take care.
Caroline.