CHAPTER 15
She was going to wait for one false move to give her the window of opportunity and take the chance. She wished she would have broken his goddamn right thumb. The right handed bastard. She knew if he got her in that car, or if he restrained her in any way, she would be at his mercy. Fucking arm. The only advantage is that he doesn't know she had a gun on her and was a marksman with it. She thought, 'Daddy always said, being she was a small woman, it put her at the advantage for underestimated timing with all assailants. Thank you daddy, I love you and wish me luck.'
There were lots of people on the sidewalks shopping and walking by. They walked up to a four door green sedan. Her mind did calculations of the trajectory of the bullet and the pedestrians in proximity to them. She didn't want innocent casualties. They went around the car into the traffic side, for him to unlock and open the passenger door. She used her higher reasoning to project ahead, that it was on a busy, two lane one-way street, with close proximity to the actual vehicles in the next lane over. It was opportune because his hand on the left was in a splint and it had to hold the gun while he unlocked the door and then switch back. She guessed her damaging him just worked to her advantage and the fuck didn't think this out fumbling around with his keys.
She stepped to the side, so she wasn't standing in front of him and he could get to the door. She deftly reached her right hand inside her pocket and unlocked the safety. She slowly moved down to the back end of the car. She quickly darted down around the trunk and ducked, shooting him straight into the chest in the heart. The shock on his face was surprising. He fell backwards onto the lane and a car squealed, putting the brakes on narrowly missing him. He lay on his back coughing and gurgling. Ana clicked on the safety on the gun and put it on the trunk top. She dialed 911. The operator answered.
Ana said, "This is Anastasia Steele. I'm at the corner of Pine Street and 1st Avenue in Seattle. I need the police and ambulance. There's been a shooting in the middle of Pine Street, hurry." She went to call Christian next, but stopped a pedestrian who was trying to get Jack's gun.
Ana took her gun and unclicked the safety shout, "Put the goddamn gun down you stupid asshole!" The young guy dropped the gun on the ground and put his hands in the air. Ana held him at gunpoint. The crowd was gathering.
Ana yelled out loudly, "Back the fuck up you stupid gawking assholes for the cops to get here!!!" Right then a cop car pulled up squealing the tires. The cops had their guns pulled and aimed at her.
She yelled out, "Take that guy there into custody! He picked up that gun and tried to take-off with it!" One cop went to the guy and cuffed him. Ana put on the safety and sat the gun on the car trunk again. The cop approached. He took the gun and checked the safety.
He said, "What happened?"
Ana said, "I was being abducted by Jack Hyde. I filed charges on him for assault. He did this to my arm and I did that to his thumb in retaliation. He made bail and had been hunting for me. He tried abducting me at gun point out in front of the bookstore around the corner. I have a CCW and slipped my gun in my coat pocket and waited for my opportunity to take him out. He has four assaults on women in three other states that he deceptively paid off to never go to court. At this time a federal judge and a women's advocacy group are looking into getting the charges reinstated. I guess that won't be necessary, but they need restitution, either way. That stupid moron over there picked up the gun as soon as I called you and was about to walk off with it and I had to pull my gun again to stop him from tampering with the evidence. I hope you charge him with it."
The cop shook his head. He said, "What a stupid ass. Yeah, we'll get the DA to charge him. Are you ok?"
She said, "Yeah, nothing a straight razor and bottle of Jack couldn't cure." The cop laughed. He got all her information after following her to her car to get her purse to give him her identification and permit. He kept her gun and had her meet him at the precinct for processing and formal statements. She called Christian and told him to get down to the precinct, she shot Jack while he was abducting her.
Needless to say, he was freaking out. He called his dad to hurry down there too. Ana sat in central processing waiting Christian barreled through the door and she stood up as he took her in his arms burying his face in her neck.
She whispered in his ear, "It's ok, Christian. Everything turned out ok. That son of a bitch is dead and I'm ok. Calm down, my love. She had her hand in his hair rubbing his scalp.
He said in her neck, "I can't go on without you, Anastasia. I would die if you were harmed or killed. I love you so much. I've waited so long for you." Carrick and Taylor stood back giving them the moment.
She said softly, "I know baby. I'm here holding you. It'll be alright, honey." He kissed her and hugged her again. He thought, 'Oh, how she soothes my soul.'
Carrick walked up kissing her temple, "Are you ok?"
She smiled and said, "I am now."
She explained everything to him, Taylor and Christian in detail. She filled out all the paperwork and did the interrogation with Carrick present and finally was released to go home. They had Jack Hyde in the county morgue extracting her slug out of his chest, she had no doubt about that. Carrick went back home. Ana, Christian and Taylor went to Escala. Christian took care of Ana. He took her coat off and walked her to the couch. Ana laid down on her side and he laid down behind her holding her in his arms. He put on the news and there it was all over the news about the shooting and the engagement ring was seen by the media. Ana just drifted off to sleep and he turned off the TV and snuggled into her neck. They both fell asleep.
—--
The next day, it was Monday and was a media circus. Christian and Ana had a hell of a time getting into work. The media had the front and rear entrance blocked and GEH security had to get them the hell out of the way of blocking entrances and causing a nuisance. They finally gave up and flew into work by helicopter with Taylor and Sawyer in tow. Sawyer started today as Ana's CPO, one day too late according to Christian. The cops were called to clear out the media from causing hazards and putting up barriers.
Ana accepted the offer and was now working officially at GEH as the new CFO as of today. Christian called a department head meeting and introduced Anastasia to the directors in charge of each department. She shook their hands. A few she could sense in her gut, were going to give her a problem. The arrogant demeanor and condescending demeanor they gave off.
Ana said at the meeting standing up, "I seem to get the impression that there is a problem with me being hired as CFO? I would like for any of you to voice your concerns freely so it can be addressed now instead of letting it bother you. You have the floor."
An older woman from the Finance department stood up and said, "It appears like you got the position because of your engagement to the CEO."
Christian said, "She applied to get into the company back last June and was unfairly passed over due to a biased personnel employee passing over all females with degrees. I fired her. I offered her this position upon her proving to Roz that she was more than skilled at it, back on September 20th. Roz agreed. She didn't accept it until now." The woman sat down.
Roz said, "I can give you written proof of the assessments and errors she has caught from all your departments unofficially?"
A snooty man stood up from the Accounting department and asked, "What are your qualifications for the position?"
Christian said, "She started her half billion dollar corporation at the age of twelve years old, graduated highschool at age fifteen and got a master's degree in Accounting Forensics in four years with a 4.2 GPA. She is a proficient mathematician. Good enough?" The man sat down.
A blonde woman from Public Relations with a shitty attitude said, "Don't you think that you only got the job because you're sleeping with the boss. Anyone fresh out of school with no job experience would never land an executive job right off the bat." Christian never could stand this bitch pushing her tits in his face and trying to touch him all the time. Jealous much?
Ana said, "What makes you think that? Because I'm young? Because I'm fresh out of school? I own a company I started from scratch that has cleared in ten years, 490 million dollars. You think I'm not qualified? You think you can do better than that yourself? I wonder just what a person has to do to be qualified according to you? I'd say I come with ten years of qualifications to run a company, so take that attitude down a notch people, because no matter what the hell you think of me, or what your opinion of me is, I will own half of this company with my husband by my side real soon. Whether you like it or not, I will be your boss with or without my fiancé in this job position alone. So, the bottom line is, do you still want to work here or do you think you should go somewhere else? I will not deal with condescending slackers or snobs thinking they're better than me. You may as well save time and walk out that door now. It will save us all the time doing the firing in the near future." The whole room gasped. Christian was never so proud. They want a fight? She just laid down the gauntlet.
A woman from the Accounts Receivables department walked out of the room slamming the door Christian noticed she was always flirting with him in the past. He just ignored her. Ana looked at the public relations bitch with her eyebrow up. Christian was waiting for it.
The bitch glared at her and said, "I think you're just a big nobody without ties to important social connections. I have a better pedigree than you do. What makes you think you're so special?"
Ana said, "I don't need social positioning to be qualified. I have more connections to much more powerful allies than your miserable pedigree."
The blonde arrogantly said, "Oh yeah, like what?"
Ana smiled and said, "From the Whitehouse, CIA, FBI, federal judges bench, NSA, DEA, IRS and the Pentagon. I could call the President of the United States and let him tell you about my eight uncle's and what he thinks of every one of them and my father, Brigadier General Raymond H. Steele. So fuck your pedigree lady." The blonde's eyes bugged out. The room was deathly quiet.
Christian chuckled and said, "Everything she just said is honest to God's truth too. Candice Wilmington, are you quitting or should I just fire you now for deliberate insubordination to a superior in this company?"
She sputtered and said, "But… but Mr Grey my family has been friends with your parents for decades. You know I have had feelings for you for years." The room gasped.
Christian said, "Be that as it may, I have never had a second thought about you, but annoyed how you try shoving your breasts in my face every time you're in a room with me. So are you walking out of the room quitting now or do I get to fire you myself for being a hateful witch that's jealous of the only woman I will ever love?" The woman started to have fake sniffles. Christian said, "You're fired and your work was mediocre at best." The woman stood up and ran out of the room.
Christian looked around the room, "Anyone else?" The room was quiet. "If not, then you best be cooperative and do your jobs efficiently, like I know you can. The CFO is over nine departments and you will bring your concerns to her and follow the chain of command. If she can not handle the issue, rest assured she will discuss it with me. Have a good day and you're all dismissed." Everyone got up and filed out the door.
Ana turned to Christian and said, "I have six candidates from the secretarial pool for my new PA, that HR sent resumes on in my email. I have to get interviews set up today. I also have to see who's up for promotion in Accounts Receivables."
Christian asked, "Will you have lunch with me at noon in my office? I'll have Andrea send someone out for it."
Ana smiled at him and said, "Ok, honey. I'll be there." He smiled adoringly at her. They both went back to their offices.
—--
After work, Christian took Ana home, undressed her and they both got in his oversized tub and washed each other's bodies. He added more hot water to relax in. They talked about things they did today at work and discussed plans to go on a mini vacation in a few weeks after Roz got her vacation finally in, because Roz was leaving next week.
Ana was so relaxed laying on Christian's chest, and asked, "When I get old and gray, I will always remember times like this with you, relaxing in the hot water and holding me." Christian kissed the side of her neck.
Ana said, "Our grandchildren will run us ragged and we'll need to remember these moments." Ana giggled as he stuck his tongue in her ear.
Christian said, "Who said we'll have kids? I may just keep you in a jet setter's lifestyle. We can travel and see all of the world with me kissing you every moment on every shore and continent." He bit her neck.
She sighed and said, "I want children, they complete you and you can teach them all the cool stuff you learned in your life. They are two parts of each of us. Little Christian and Anastasia running around stealing cookies and giggling. Asking questions about everything and the world they live in."
Christian negatively said, "Poop and diapers, screaming and temper tantrums. Frustration and anxiety. I'm not good for kids." Ana stiffened. She sat up, turned around in the water and looked at him.
Ana said, "So you're saying no children at all?"
Christian firmly said, "Yes, no children ever."
Anna stood up and stepped out of the tub. Christian just sat there staring at her as she left the water. She grabbed a towel and went to the bedroom. She got dressed quickly in a jogging outfit and put on her brace. She went into the living room and booted up her computer and started working on it at the coffee table on the living room couch.
Christian came out of the bedroom in his sweats and tshirt. He sat down next to her. He knew she was upset. He reached out to caress her shoulder and she shrugged him off. She never said a word. She had never acted like that before to him. He was confused at why she would reject his affections suddenly.
He knew the children issue must have been the problem. He just didn't want children, or to share her with anyone. They would compete for her time and affection. He would be an outsider. He also didn't like the idea of him fucking up the kids head. He didn't know how to tell her about his fears without sounding like an asshole. So he told her unequivocally no.
Ana was pissed. She never expected the children issue would cause him to refuse them all together. What if the depo vera shot failed one day. It can happen, because nothing is 100% effective but a hysterectomy. Even vasectomies and tube tying fails. She's not stupid and she wants kids. If she ever got accidentally pregnant would she have to leave him and raise it alone? Would he try to force her to get an abortion? Fuck that!
If he won't then he may not be the one to settle down with and marry. She just got her heart broken into tiny bits and he didn't even realize it. She was devastated. She couldn't marry a man and never have kids. It was a big thing for her to have a family being she was alone all her life. She would have to leave him and it made her angry he gave her a complete refusal with no negotiating. She was not going to be happy anymore, if he didn't get flexible real fast.
Ana picked up her laptop and left for her office in the library without a word. She wanted distance and was stepping back from him. She was a breath away from just up and leaving him and going back to her apartment to call off the wedding and quit GEH. Yes, it was a big fucking deal to her, for him to completely refuse her to have children.
Ana locked the library door and sat in her office chair writing out on a new document all the things she had to do to sever ties with him.