A/N:

Welcome back, dear readers, and thank you so much for your kind, encouraging and reassuring reviews. They really keep me going.

As for this one review, first of all, I'd like to thank you for your input, anonymous reviewer. I'm sorry that you feel this way about my fanfic. I'm afraid that we all have to deal and come to terms with the presence of Elena in all of the installments of FSOG, therefore she's part of my fanfic as well. Also I think that she still serves a purpose even though she's pure evil. So, thank you again for your review, I hope you find a fanfic that you enjoy.

Anyway, here comes my latest chapter – let me know what you think.

You know what? I was thinking a lot about Ana's and Christian's reunion in book 2/the second movie, and, to be honest, I like their movie reunion better. :(

Also, happy belated b-day, dear Mister Grey...

Have fun with the new one. x

Trial of the Senses

by

Ava LeBeau

Chapter 9 – A heart so gentle and true

Back at the office, Andrea and Ros were already waiting for me, Andrea mentioning several contracts and business letters that required my signature while Ros had news on Sherman.

I asked Olivia to bring me coffee and followed both ladies to my office, Ros going on and on about just how annoyed Ms. Sherman had been.

„Spare me the drivel, Ros.", I rasped and looked at Andrea, inquiring about my afternoon schedule.

„The team is going to celebrate the Fisher deal tonight at Fuse Bar. I think you should make an appearance, Christian. Starts at seven.", Ros mentioned before she left my office.

I nodded quietly, taking the fountain pen that Andrea handed me, flipping open the first signature folder at the very top of the pile, wondering when to fit in a quick workout, feeling tense again.

Curled up in the corner of the couch, a blanket wrapped around her, she stared at the phone in her hand when her friend returned home from work.

„Hey, you're not crying, are you?", she walked over to the kitchen, dropping her bag.

„No, I'm fine.", Leila replied, „Just tired."

Susannah returned with two glasses of red wine.

„Drink.", she chuckled and took a sip of her wine.

„You've got to cheer up, hun. I mean, you can always go back to him. You're still married, you know."

Leila took a tentative sip, the wine was warm and quite sweet.

„But I don't want to go back to Marc.", the sting of tears in her eyes was back again.

„He's your husband.", Susannah pointed out.

Leila took another sip.

Surely she wouldn't go back to Marc.

Actually she couldn't. Not after what had happened.

„You could always tell him that this was all one big... misunderstanding, yeah, a stupid mistake.", Susi nodded, visibly pleased with her reasoning, „Yes, that's what it all is."

Leila nodded.

„I mean, it was his best friend who tried to seduce you. Not the other way around, right?"

Leila bit her lower lip, her face paler than ever.

„And Marc was never really there for you. Especially when you needed him the most.", Susannah nodded again as if she was trying to convince herself, sipping her wine.

„So, you're not to blame for all this. He should be glad that you are taking him back.", she chuckled again.

Susi couldn't be further from the truth. Leila looked down at her hands, she had taken off the wedding ring a long time ago.

Actually all she had tried was to make Marc jealous in the first place. But soon enough this had completely gotten out of hand and she had found herself falling for his best friend Geoff.

They had always been like brothers, but they were also like oil and water, day and night.

She had been so enticed by Geoff's dominant behavior, his bluntness in all things.

The way he took care of everything, so unlike Marc, who had always been aloof, shy even, soft, in her eyes weak.

It had bored her after a while and that was when her thoughts had started to stray.

Thoughts had evolved into banter and banter—

'He's dead. DEAD!'

Leila squeezed her eyes shut, a sob escaping her.

There was no way back and somehow she didn't really care anyway.

She had other plans. Plans that nobody knew of.

„Hey...", Susannah pulled her into a hug. „He'll get over it. He loves you."

„I-I just want him back.", Leila sobbed and Susi hugged her tighter, kissing her hair.

„Oh, I know, sweetie.", Susannah rubbed Leila's back. „Come on, you've got to stop thinking about it. Let's go out, okay?"

Susannah got up and tried to pull Leila with her.

Fuse Bar was the latest craze in town but I was still surprised to find it that loud and crowded on a Tuesday night.

Reluctantly, despite Ros mentioning just how glad she was and how much the whole team would appreciate it that I had stopped by, I pushed my way through the crowd back towards the bar, Taylor always near me.

I bought another round for Ros' team to be served to the table.

To my surprise the barkeeper shook her head no when I held out my credit card for her and mouthed „Cash only!", so I patted the front of my jacket for my wallet when from somewhere behind a voice came,

„Uh-oh! Pinched for cash, Mister?"

Mia chuckled and drew me into a hug when I turned around.

„Christian!"

„Mia. What are you doing here?", I kissed her on the cheek, surprised to meet her here.

„Having drinks with Lily and Sean.", she pointed towards a nearby table. „You?"

„Ros asked me to join their afterwork party.", I frowned, casually throwing cash onto the bar while Mia slipped up onto a bar stool by my side.

„Can I get you something?", I asked and looked at her.

„I'll have what you have.", she grinned, waving at her best friend Lily.

I pushed my Gin Tonic towards her and ordered another one.

Mia took a quick sip, eyeing me, before she asked,

„Are you going to bring Anastasia on Saturday?"

I cleared my throat, feeling that heat creeping up the back of my neck again.

„Ana? Saturday?", I reached for my drink, trying to sound casual.

„The Charity ball. Remember?", she chuckled, taking another sip.

The damn Charity ball, I had completely forgotten about that.

„Oh. Right.", I smiled blandly, raking my fingers through my hair.

„Mum expects you to make an appearance."

Of course she did!

„So what about Ana?"

I shrugged and sipped the Gin.

„Christian!", she pressed for answers.

„I don't know.", I shrugged again, avoiding her curious gaze.

„Oh my gosh! Don't tell me you've dumped her! Mum will be so...", her eyes were wide now.

„Mia, stop it.", I cut in, none too pleased with the turn this conversation was taking.

„So you've dumped her.", she gasped and stared at me, „Why? She was perfect for you."

I sighed and glanced at my watch, not willing to have this sort of conversation with her. Not here. Not right now.

„Christian, look at me!", she grasped my arm, I grabbed her wrist and glared at her.

„Well?", I grumbled.

„Yes, you've dumped her. Why?", she repeated, not overly impressed by my vise-like grip on her wrist. She knew her brother too well.

„Not exactly.", I muttered, taking another sip of my drink, wishing I had turned down the invitation for the party.

Important business matters, my all-time favourite excuse. Too late now. Too late.

„What do you mean?", she furrowed her brow. „You like her, don't you? I mean, you wouldn't have brought her to dinner if you didn't."

I nodded quietly.

„Christian.", she groaned impatiently.

„What? It's just that I... I...", I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another, arms folded in front of my broad chest now, obviously in a tight spot now.

„You don't like her enough?", she cut in.

„Too busy actually.", I lied, to her, to myself, but who was I really kidding here?

„I'm so sorry it didn't work out. She... seemed so nice.", Mia stared at her drink for a moment.

„Hmmm, you could try again. I mean, it was only a week or so. Love takes time."

I frowned, feeling bitter, fully aware that I couldn't blame Anastasia for any of this, no matter how much I wanted to. I had broken a heart that had always been gentle and true to me.

„Mia!", I pressed forth, praying for her to stop, her prying nothing but rubbing salt into these wounds.

„Yes, it does take time. But let me guess, you don't want a relationship with anyone anyway?", my sister ignored my demand and raised her eyebrow.

„That's none of your business, Mia.", I ground out, yet I had to admit to myself that she definitely had a point there.

„But you don't want to be alone either.", Mia piped and giggled.

I glared at her, her bluntness and insight both annoying and frightening.

„D'awww. Come here, big brother!", she pulled me into a hug, pressing a big smooch onto my cheek.

'She adores you, Christian.'

I recalled what our mother had pointed out and pulled Mia closer, kissing her forehead,

„Thank you, Mia."

She pulled away and looked slightly confused.

„Are you drunk, Christian?", she chuckled and slid from the bar stool when a handsome guy pushed his way towards us, Taylor shielding me immediately but I waved my hand to stop him.

„Sean.", Mia said and smiled at her latest date.

„I gotta go, Christian.", she kissed my cheek again.

„Bye Mia.", I gave her another quick hug, suspiciously eyeing Sean, who kept his distance, noticeably impressed by Taylor, the whole scene making me grin.

Soon enough they had disappeared in the crowd.

'She was perfect for you.', Mia's statement was echoing in my head as I ordered another Gin Tonic.

When I turned around, fresh drink in my hand, I bumped into somebody.

„Sorry.", I muttered absentmindedly, freezing when I saw who it was.

Eyes wide, I grabbed her arm when she turned to leave, but before I could say a word she broke away and the growing crowd had swallowed her.

„Hey! Get back here!", I snapped, she didn't stop.

„Fuck!", I hissed, dropping the glass as I bolted towards the exit, jostling several people on my way out.

A/N:

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think. Thank you! x