CHAPTER 12

Ana was looking around his office as he was logging on to his computer. She stood looking at the small paintings on the wall of ordinary items next to each other. They were fascinating in the detail and how well they actually went together.

He said from his desk, "Those are by a local artist called Jennifer Trouton."

Ana cocked her head with her hands behind her back and said, "It kinda raises the ordinary to extraordinary, doesn't it?"

He smiled, looking at her standing there admiring the tiny paintings in the arrangement. Her sense of observation was so much like his own when looking at the paintings. He said, "Yes, I think it does indeed."

She turned and walked over to the other side of the room and was looking at the black and white painting there. He said, "That one is by Ed Ruscha. It's called, 'Brother, Sister'."

She said, "It's mysterious and almost like a pair of ghost ships on the hazy sea at dusk, almost night." Yes, she was very observant. He wanted to test her skills.

He said, "Ana come look at this spreadsheet and financial breakdowns of this company I'm looking at, please? Tell me what you think?" He rolled away from the computer and got up to look out the window. She sat down and scooted up and started looking at all the information on it.

After a couple minutes she stood up and walked over to the couch and said, "You should dump it and move on." He was shocked and didn't expect that answer.

He asked, sitting down and looking it over, "Why?"

She said, "Because on page 12 the calculations are off. On page 6, if the stock value is lower than 4% value it's going to take too much time and money to recover any GDP losses in revenue. If your plan is of dissolutionand then incorporate the materials into your company, the offer should reflect the value minus the losses."

He looked at her and said, "You saw all that in a couple minutes?"

She smiled at him and said, "I'm a speed reader and a walking calculator. Didn't you know that by now?" She giggled. At that moment, Roz busted through the door like always.

She asked without looking up, "Christian did you look at the Foster acquisition? What do you think the risk is?"

He said, "Ask my girlfriend Anastasia, she just completely evaluated the entire portfolio in two minutes and pointed out the errors, loss and risk assessment." Roz looked up in utter shock at Christian mentioning a girlfriend. She swung her head to look at Ana sitting on the couch with her Louboutins and designer clothes. She thought she looked like a dark haired beautiful model that belonged on a catwalk not a financial genius of some sort.

Roz asked, "What did you tell him, Anastasia?"

Ana smiled and said, "I told him to look on page 12 the calculations are off. On page 6, if the stock value is lower than 4% value it's going to take too much time and money to recover any GDP losses in revenue. If your plan is of dissolutionand then incorporate the materials into your company, the offer should reflect the value minus the losses." Roz was following along in the report flipping pages and looking at the spreadsheet.

Christian said, "She spotted all that in two minutes time, I swear." Roz was shocked.

Roz asked, "Who is she and where did she come from?"

Christian said, "She owns her own company and it's worth a half a billion on its own. She started it with her father when she was twelve and has a master's degree in Accounting Forensics. She's the woman's who's backyard I crashed in and saved my life. She's been taking care of me since then trying to keep me healthy." Roz looked at her again trying to sum up the woman behind the words. Ana stood up and walked over to her.

Ana put out her hand and said, "Hi, I'm Anastasia Steele nice to meet you since Christian is a bad man and has failed to do the proper introductions. My company is Steele Financial, Inc. You'll need to know that when you go back to your office and look it up." Roz swore she was a mind reader.

Roz said, "Can you come work for us and do that everyday? It would save us so much more time if you worked here."

Ana giggled, "Your company booted out my master's degree by a disgruntled employee Christian already fired." Roz looked at Christian.

Roz said, "They booted out master's degrees? You fired them?" He nodded. "Good."

Christian said, "I'd offer her CFO if we had one."

Roz said, "Let's make the position up for her. I always thought that we could use one but needed the right type to fill the spot and needed a financial genius in it. Why don't you come to my office and look over the other six possible acquisitions?"

Christian said, "Roz, don't go stealing my girlfriend away. I'll show her the breakdowns of the companies."

Roz said, "Oh Christian, get over yourself. I'm happily married and am only borrowing her for a minute."

Ana walked over to him, leaned down and kissed his lips. She said, "I'll be right back. Don't worry, honey. I want to see more of your floor anyway. You keep your nose to the grindstone and I'll hurry back." She rubbed his back and shoulders.

He said pouting and petulantly, "Ok, but only for a little bit."

Ana giggled and said, "Quit pouting, Christian. You know what that does to me."

Christian smiled and said, "Good, you'll hurry back then." She caressed his face and walked out with Roz.

Olivia turned her head watching them walk and talk back to Roz's office like old friends laughing. Olivia wondered what made her so special other than being with a billionaire. She was probably only in it for the money. Olivia wouldn't admit to being guilty of what she was accusing her of.

Andrea hit her in the shoulder and said, "God, Olivia, get over yourself. I've asked you a question twice now. Quit staring at her. Get back to work or you'll be on the unemployment line."

Roz had Ana go over the hard copy of all the company spreadsheets and financial reports from accounting and auditing appraisals. She had finished three out of six of them making corrections as she went with a highlighter and writing notes in the margins. She had to go to the bathroom and went down the hall. She was washing her hands and just walked out.

A man with reddish blond hair and, what Ana would call, shifty eyes was leering at her as she walked out of the women's bathroom. She thought he was creepy for lingering there. He called out to her. She ignored him and continued to Roz's office. He grabbed her arm excessively hard, bruising it painfully and said, "Listen you little cock tease if you want to keep your job here you better listen when I am talking to you. She smiled at him and kicked him in the balls while bending his right thumb backwards, breaking it as he screamed. Roz, Andrea and Christian came running out of their offices.

Ana said in a deadly tone, "You put your filthy fucking hands on the the wrong little cock tease, you self serving misogynistic stupid son of a bitch! I don't fucking work here you prick! The next woman, you touch, I hope breaks your whole fucking dick off for the bruised you just gave me!" She hauled off and cold cocked the bastard. Knocking him to the floor. He looked up at her in fear. Ana rolled up her sweater dress sleeve up to see the black finger marks on her skin already showing on her left upper arm around the middle.

Christian looked at her arm, texting 911 to Taylor and said, "You're fired Jack Hyde! Guards, escort Mr Hyde off property and retain his car. We'll mail him his stuff. Better go to the hospital, Jack."

Jack screamed, "You can't do that! I've worked here for three years putting up with your shit!" The guards lifted him off the ground.

Christian said, "Oh, but I can. See this is Assault." He showed him the black marks on her arm "The tapes don't lie. You assaulted her and she retaliated to protect herself. If you don't want to be charged and sent to jail via the police, Get... The... Fuck… Off… The… Premises… Now…!"

The guards drug him to the elevator screaming, "I'll make you fucking sorry, Christian Grey. Who do you think you are?"

Christian said before the doors closed, "Your ex boss!" Christian looked at her arm and folded her in his arms kissing her neck. Everyone standing around was in shock watching him do this.

He said, "Anastasia, baby, let's go get x-rays in case it's bone bruised or cracked. We'll come back after lunch." He looked at Roz and Roz nodded back at him. He took her by the hand and led her into his office. He helped her with her coat and carried her purse and laptop case as he put on his overcoat. They walked down to the SUV and Taylor followed. He took her to the ER and found out she did indeed have a midshaft cracked humerus bone but it wouldn't need surgery. They put her in a Sarmiento brace and a sling that goes around her neck, supporting her wrist bending her arm. Taylor said he had a copy on him of the assault, if she wanted to press charges. Ana wanted to press charges and got complete copies of the records to take to the police station. They went to the SPD and filed formal charges against Jack Hyde for Assault with intent to do bodily harm. The police were dispatched right to the same hospital Ana was being treated to pick him up.

Ana went back to GEH with Christian and finished the assessment on the other three companies. Christian had her lay down on his sofa and covered her up with a fluffy blanket after feeding her lunch they brought back and a pain pill. The SPD called Christian and told him that Jack Hyde was in custody and being held for arraignment. Ana just slept away on his couch. He felt so bad that an asshole hurt her in his company and wondered if he hurt other women that worked there. He sent out an email to find out. He stated that if anyone else had been hurt by Jack Hyde to report it to the HR department.

Ana had woken up groggy and sat up on the couch. Christian had been steady working, his phone rang and he was getting upset on the phone. When he hung up.

Ana said, "Sweetheart, come sit with me on the couch." He got up and sat next to her. She moved down and had him put his head in her lap.

She said, "Tell me what's the matter?"

He said, "I sent out an email to tell all the employees that Jack Hyde has been fired and if he had accosted anyone to report it to HR. Now, by the end of the day, my fear was realized. Two women reported sexual misconduct and ten women reported sexual harassment. Why didn't they report him?" Ana had her fingers running through his hair.

Ana said, "Christian, it's a sticky thing for women to report a man harassing them. It can cause him to retaliate if he isn't removed from said reporting. It can cause a hostile work environment. A lot of women quit. I bet if you look into his section and how many women have quit in the last three years, you'll see high percentage rates. It's not your fault this has been a plague for women for decades. It is the number one highest crime to occur in the workplace and goes unreported all the time. You can't fix it if you don't know about it, my love. What happened to me isn't your fault either. So no playing Atlas again, Christian, you hear me?" He smiled up at her. She always knew the right thing to say to make him feel better.

He sat up and kissed her. He said, "I love you, Anastasia Steele."

She smiled at him, tickled under his chin with her fingers and said, "I love you too, Christian Grey."

Christian said, "You slept most of the day, Roz had your changes on the assessments, spreadsheets and reports corrected and resubmitted. She reported the errors to the department heads. Roz wants you to be the CFO. She is really your champion next to me. Will you seriously think about taking the job? We need your critique to help us with our risk assessment and financial projections."

Ana sighed and said, "You write me a proposal and I'll look it over." He got down on both knees in front of her and took her right hand kissing it.

Christian said, "Will you marry me?"

Ana gasped, "What?"

Christian said, "It's the best proposal I can offer next to the job, but if you take both we'll run the company all three of us. I love you so much, Anastasia and you know that. I really don't ever want anyone but you in my life, my bed or my company. If you marry me I'll be the happiest man alive." She had tears in her eyes studying his face. He was truly serious about it. She never loved anyone like she loved him and could love anyone else. She adored the sweet doubt and nervousness he was showing her by baring his soul to her right now. She refused to torture him any longer.

She said, "Oh Christian, you're the only man I ever have or ever will love, so completely. Of course you sweet wonderful man, I'll marry you." He sent the biggest smile and took possession of her mouth with such a powerful kiss devouring her lips. He just loved how she tasted.

He wrapped his arms around her, being careful of her arm. He was the happiest he had ever felt in his life to know that Anastasia loved him completely and wanted to belong to only him. He caressed her face and smiled like a drunken man. He was going shopping for a ring to give her on Sunday at brunch with his family. They haven't gone because he had been laid up for so long. His mother called while Anastasia was asleep. He already said yes to brunch.

He said, "Baby, we're going to brunch on Sunday at my parents home with the family. Can we announce it then?"

She rubbed her thumb across his chin and said, "Of course, Christian." She smiled at him. He kissed her thumb.

He said, "Let me finish up and we'll go home then ok?" She smiled and nodded. He kissed her and stood up going back to the desk. She stood up and tossed the blanket over the back of the couch and went to his bathroom trying to fix her hair one handed.

After a little while, they went home together and this time Christian got to take care of Ana. He took off her coat and helped her get out of her clothes. He got her in her soft nightgown and silk robe. He even put soft socks on her feet. He put on his tshirt and sweatpants. He walked her out to the kitchen and Gail said dinner would be ready in half an hour. Christian sat down with her on the couch and went and got them both a glass of wine. Ana didn't want to take a pill until later for bed. He laid back and put on the six o'clock news. Ana reclined back on Christian's chest as they relaxed on the couch. Suddenly, a news reporter came on the air.

"This is Action News 12 Team, Alissa Harris reporting. I am reporting live out in front of the King's County Jail. Elena Lincoln the former socialite that was charged with multiple felonies has been killed in custody. A fire was set inside the jail in the laundry. While busy putting out the blaze, prison guards found Elena Lincoln, who was being charged with pedophilia, dead in her isolation cell. She had apparently been beaten to death and burned painfully. Her face had a 'P' burned into the skin previously and was due to stand trial in three weeks time. Mrs Lincoln had been having trouble attaining representation due to a lack of cooperation and agreeability. At this time, the prison have no suspects about the murder. This was Alissa Harris reporting."

Anna looked up at Christian and said, "I guess you got your wish, huh?"

He smiled down at her and caressed her face and said, "Yes, a few times today."

Ana said, "Aren't you a lucky boy?"

He kissed her forehead and said, "I really am. You're the most precious thing in my life so far." He stroked her cheek and she closed her eyes, reveling in his sweet caress. Gail announced it was dinner time. Christian helped Ana up and wrapped his arm around her waist walking her to the table and pushing her chair in.

Gail came in with the food and asked, "My goodness, what happened to your arm?"

Ana said, "A man grabbed me at GEH and cracked the bone in my upper arm. I kicked him in the balls, broke his thumb and cold cocked him in the face. He was trying to be controlling and cruel because I ignored him. He thought he could intimidate me as an employee, but I taught him about women who fight back. I pressed charges at the SPD. Still I'm in Christians boat a bit for now, but I have good legs. I'm just glad it wasn't a full break or they would have had to do surgery to put a plate and screws in."

Gail said, "I'm glad you got him back for it."

Christian said, "So am I."