All rights to the characters and the story of FSoG belong to E. L. James
(Forgive all mistakes that I am positive I missed when I re read this. My OCD tendency when it comes to proof reading and editing the chapters has disappeared.)
Happy Birthday, Mr. Grey
Wednesday, June 17th, 2015
Seattle, Washington
Ana's POV
June 17th, 2015= One of the best days of my entire life and one of the most fucked up days of my life.
I have turned my office chair toward the floor to ceiling window and am watching a heavy downpour pelt rain on the glass. These near constant periods of heavy rain are unusual in mid June and are more of a mainstay for autumn in Seattle. By midsummer, Seattleites are used to a dreary piss like rain that eventually leads to a comfortable July and August. Any other time, this messy weather would dampen my mood, although this morning, an F-5 tornado could rip Grey Publishing apart and I would sing like a canary upon the rubble.
Holding my iPad with both hands, I replay this morning's KOMO news broadcast for the fourth time. I am filled with sardonic amusement each time I hear the words coming from the reporter's mouth. A feeling of such joy it is comparable to a near orgasmic high. This fortunate turn of events and the consequences it has brought about are not of my making. They belong to one woman who unknowingly ran her mouth in front of three witnesses. Three highly intelligent witnesses that possess a patient know how and a connection who gets things done. All I can think about is the poor, poor situation that this woman has created for herself. I replay the report with a smirk of gratifying satisfaction upon my lips.
"Good morning Seattle and welcome to KOMO news. We begin our broadcast with a breaking and most disturbing story. Moments ago, the Seattle Police Department confirmed that Elena Lincoln, owner of Seattle's chain of Esclava beauty salons, was arrested late last night on multiple counts of sexual abuse of a child, possession of child pornography, as well as running a prostitution ring. The Seattle Police said that late last week an alleged victim of Lincoln came forward to press charges on her, which led to the SPD executing a search warrant on Lincoln's residence along with all three of her salons. Lincoln, also a well-known Seattle socialite, was arrested due to evidence found at each location. KOMO news received an anonymous tip that the clientele of Lincoln's escort service were strictly the most exclusive and wealthiest men in the Seattle area. The police would not comment on this and would not answer if a list of Lincoln's clientele would be released. Lincoln is currently being held on a four million dollar bond and her arraignment is set for tomorrow. Stay tuned to KOMO news for further developments of this story."
Revenge. A dish best served cold.
Never noticing my office door open, I only swivel my chair around when I hear Luke unceremoniously toss a bag of red Twizzlers on my desk. His head is soaked from the rain and he's yet to bother removing his raincoat as he casually flops down on the chair in front of my desk. Luke's expression gives nothing away, but with a raised eyebrow, he is telegraphically showing his disapproval that I am watching the broadcast another time. I cannot help but wonder if the idiot expected any less of me.
"Thank you," I mumble in a bitchy and grouchy way.
I am pissed off because he has not told me everything he knows and I am aware this fact amuses him. Since this standoff between Luke and I has been going on all morning, my intense aggravation at the thought he is torturing me, caused me to be a bitch and send him out in the rain for my favorite candy. I could not help but think he has done much worse than walk to the corner CVS.
Asshole.
Leaning back in my chair, I stare at Luke willing him to spill it, when there is a soft knock at my door. Luke stands to head over to the part of my office I designated as his area, but I motion him to stay seated. I know he did not want to appear so laid back in case it was Christian or any other member of his goon squad, but I could tell from the timid knock that it belonged to my PA, Hannah.
"Yes," I call out, still giving Luke the evil eye. The fucker.
Hannah sneaks her head around the door and tentatively smiles at me. I have not been myself since my return and my employees have had a taste of my new bipolar personality. I suppose she is preparing herself for the short tempered and bitchy Ana. I try to remind myself to reign in the bitch once I get to work, although I am having trouble to remember to do so.
"Yes, Hannah?" I smile at her. Not a fuck you fake smile, but a genuine smile.
Hannah nods at Luke and approaches me with trepidation in her eyes. Continuing to smile at her as an offer of encouragement, I suddenly feel like shit that I have possibly caused a rift in our relationship.
"Mrs. Grey, I am not privy to the reason, but security at the front entrance called to inform me that there are several members of the media outside and requested that I tell you." Hannah has always had such a kind voice.
I look directly at Luke, who raises an eyebrow at me and nods as if to say he already knows. Of course, he already fucking knows. Great job, Luke. Another thing you are keeping from me today. I bite my lower lip hard so I do not say anything inappropriate to either of them, knowing that if I bite Hannah's head off, it will be Luke's fault.
"Hannah, do you know if security found out why they're here?" I ask and begin to rub my temples.
"No, Mrs. Grey. Remember you instructed security to ignore any media or paparazzi around the building unless they became a nuisance to anyone entering or exiting the building," Hannah replies.
I smile wryly at myself at forgetting the security protocol we have in place. Seems if the world does not revolve around Ana these days, she does not seem to give a fuck.
Because Ana is busy dismantling someone's life.
"Well, I am glad they remembered the policy even if their boss didn't. Thank you, Hannah. That will be all."
I effectively dismiss her and Luke scolds me with a shake of his head. Tapping a pen on my desk as my irritation grows, I watch Luke grab and tear open the bag of Twizzlers. He offers me one before shoving one in his mouth. I have no idea why he is behaving like a petulant child and all I want to do is box his ears, as I am sure his mother did quite frequently.
"You're really going to force me to ask aren't you, Luke?" I ask him incredulously.
Luke's face breaks out into a panty-dropping grin and he crosses one of his legs over the other. "I was thinking about it," he responds, clearly amused at the bitch he has turned me into, but today, something is off about Luke.
"You knew the media was down there? Why in the hell didn't you tell me?" I snap and though he is still smiling, I see something other than amusement in his eyes.
"Ana, I was about to tell you when Hannah knocked on the door. Taylor called me while I was playing your personal Willy Wonka in the middle of a torrential downpour. Thanks for that, by the way," he replies sarcastically.
"What did Jason tell you?" I am getting so pissed at his evasiveness my cheeks are red.
"T was giving me the heads up. Your husband would have probably called you himself, but from what I heard, he was in the middle of one of his infamous office destroying fits."
Beginning to suspect a media circus being related to Elena Lincoln's arrest, now I really want Luke to quit fucking around. Standing up, I place my hands on my desk and lean forward. I suppose Luke interrupts my stance as a way to intimidate him as he laughs at me.
"Luke, this is bullshit. The media is outside, Taylor gives you the heads up that Christian is off the rails, and I take that as meaning the poor thing is upset that his child molester has been busted. Therefore, start filling me in on what is going on or I am going to murder you. I am tired, getting a headache and now I am purposely going to gross you out by telling you that my fucking pussy is hurting me this morning. Pleas…"
Luke jumps from his seat and covers his ears. A look of utter disgust on his face and I bend over laughing. Kate and I love to tease him and the best way to do so is to remind him we have vaginas.
"Fuck, Ana! That is too much fucking information! Jesus fucking Christ! Fuck!" Luke starts to pace my large office and now it is my turn to laugh at him.
"Oh, fuck you. Now sit back down and start talking. You have been on your phone all day and that means you know what is up. Please stop torturing me and put me out of my misery? Okay?"
My plea is actually heartfelt, although I do lay it on thicker than usual. I do sound the way I feel-dejected.
"Fine, I will quit fucking with you, but Ana, do not ever say shit like that to me again,' he replies, shaking his head.
I sit back down and cross my arms. I am still exhausted despite the fact that I am still only working half days. The last few days have been nothing but one meeting after the next as I try and reacquaint myself with my company and catch up with what all has gone on in my absence. I have to give Christian some credit, the temporary team he put together to run it during my absence proved themselves well. At least I do not have a million fires to put out or tons of fuck up's to fix. Luke had better start talking before I set him on fire.
"Ok, I'll start with your husband first. Grey has lost it. He knew that Lincoln cunt had something on him and now he has lost his mind thinking it is in the evidence room at the SPD."
"As we knew he would. He doesn't know when we copied everything that we kept his pictures out," I reply, my voice laden with disgust.
Because I am weak and let him off the hook again.
"The PD is trying to get the last names of all those other boys, but so far Cruella's lips are sealed. I still don't understand why she put the first and last name of Timothy Pence on that one photo and just the first names of the other kids. Maybe he was her favorite."
Luke says this nonchalantly and merely shrugs his shoulders as he takes another bite of his Twizzler.
The thought of a fourteen-year-old boy being a favorite target for a child abuser that introduces them to BDSM is abhorrent to me. It was pure luck that Elena's dumbass did write Timothy Pence's full name on those horrible pictures she had taken of him. Luckily, for us, the young man, now in his early twenties, is in therapy and dealing with what Elena did to him. He was more than willing to help put her away. All I could do was thank God that his parents already knew what the bitch had done to their child.
"Luke, to say that child must have been her favorite is downright disgusting. That sick bitch should be shot in the street," I snarl.
Luke finally takes off his raincoat, hangs it on the coat rack, and shakes his head, causing rainwater to hit me on the face. I am positive that he did it on purpose.
"Whatever. Jensen, the lawyer you hired for the Pence family let me know that this sick bitch found an idiot lawyer to take her case. Jensen doesn't know who the attorney is though."
Luke sighs deeply and pinches the bridge of his nose before he continues.
"Taylor already has Reynolds here and Ryan will be here when we leave," he reluctantly tells me.
I have no idea why that fuckwad would do that and I look at Luke as if he is crazy. This has Christian's name written all over it and that means there is an underlying reason that no one will tell me. Fuck. How damn typical of Grey and the goon squad. Let us keep Ana in the dark and she will look like the idiot Grey has made her out to be.
"What in the fuck for, Luke? That crazy security shit has not been so extreme since Christian announced our engagement. Start explaining. Now."
Luke has the audacity to laugh at me again and I throw my pen at him, barely missing his face.
"Welch has found out that a credible reporter at the Times got a tip on this story when they first executed the search warrant. Before you ask, I was NOT the tip and neither was Kate. Anyway, this reporter knew that Grey was Lincoln's business partner and started digging around once the words prostitution ring got out."
The look on Luke's face tells me he's about to tell me some heavy shit and my stomach clenches. I unconsciously slump down in my chair. This awesome day just went to shit and all I can do is nod at Luke for him to continue.
"And?" I respond impatiently and then I hear him sigh.
"This Seattle Times reporter uncovered that although Lincoln's salons are in her name, she actually doesn't own them, Grey does. He financed their start up and the salons are financially backed by GEH. He has propped her up from money that comes straight out of several off shore GEH bank accounts along with one personal bank account of Grey's. GEH has never made a profit from the salons. Grey has let Lincoln keep all profit and he doesn't get one cent from his 'investment'," he says in an almost apologetic tone of voice.
Does Washington have the death penalty?
In total shock, and laying my head in my hands, I try to wrap this unbelievable bit of information around my brain, but I just cannot fucking do it. All these years and all those lies. What a cocksucker. Just how brainwashed is Christian? My silence spurs Luke to continue although now his voice is gentle.
"That situation puts GEH, along with Grey, in a really bad light due to Lincoln's arrest and the specific charges behind it. The reporter who had their curiosity piqued and uncovered this shit has written an in depth story about why GEH and Grey would conduct business with Lincoln in such a…unconventional way. The story is going to be on the front page. So, other media outlets caught wind of the story and are asking questions as to why Grey is in a strange business arrangement with a woman who is currently in jail charged as a pedophile and a woman that peddles out prostitutes."
I scoff loudly and roll my eyes. I cannot decide if I want to laugh or cry.
"I wonder if anyone will uncover these so called prostitutes are actually submissives?" I ask him, he shrugs, and we stare at one another in silence.
"It's a possibility if one of the sluts starts talking," he replies quietly.
"I fucking hope that little factoid is revealed."
Considering that it feels like ten tons of concrete that I can no longer hold up, I lay my head on my desk. It seems that one secret uncovers another and all of these sick fucks deserve some rough justice. Rough justice that is guaranteed courtesy of a five foot three inch bookworm.
"Are you good, Ana?"
"Is what that bastard has been doing illegal? I ask him, still face down on my desk.
"No," Luke replies.
After several moments, I lift my head and look out the window. It is still pouring rain. Taking out two Twizzlers, I hand one to Luke and stick one in my mouth, although now I have a bitter taste on my tongue. The question on my mind has resurfaced, though it does not feel like regret. The feeling is numbness. The numbness only brought about by the frost from a November leaf, or the freezing lies Christian fed me, and the heart, covered in ice and unable to heal.
"I know that I asked you not to tell me what you would do with that picture, but now I want to know," I whisper.
Staring at the bookshelf behind my desk, Luke does not immediately answer. I realize that I will have no room to be angry with him no matter what he chose to do. I am the one who handed Luke the decision for him to make.
"A certain practically unrecognizable picture of a fifteen-year-old Grey?"
God, yes. Do not make me recall the other disgusting pictures of Christian that we kept.
I look back at him with a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, the one I am going to send out as this year's Christmas card," I reply dryly.
"It was placed with all of the rest of the cunt's photos and is currently evidence in the case against Lincoln," he responds and stares impassively, although I once again grab hold of an unnamed emotion in his eyes.
My expression is blank and surprisingly enough, the decision he made does not bother me. You would have to be very familiar of a young Christian and then you would still struggle to recognize him. In addition, it is blurry and it is a sideways shot of his face. I suddenly think of something and my eyes dart around my office. I bite my lower lip and run a hand through my hair.
"Will Carrick know?" I can even hear the panic in my voice.
Luke looks at me quizzically and leans forward in his seat, resting his elbows on his legs.
"Know what? he asks.
I stare at him as though he is an idiot, close my eyes, and sigh deeply.
"That the fucking picture is of Christian?" I sarcastically reply.
"Ana, we're all aware that Carrick Grey is a well known and respected attorney in Seattle, but unless he's Lincoln's attorney, he's never going to see those pictures. There's always a chance he may have the muscle to twist some arms so that he can see them, but technically, there aren't any of Grey, so don't stress over it."
"True…that is true. We also know that Carrick already knows about the sick shit Elena did to Christian. I also know him well enough that I am positive he is shitting his pants worrying that his son is about to be publically humiliated or caught up in some sordid sex story. Can you even imagine what Carrick would do if he found out that Christian is now the one wielding a cane? Shit."
Luke does not comment. I rub my eyes and reach for my purse and briefcase. Suddenly, a thought enters my mind and panic floods throughout my body.
"Grace! Oh, no! Carrick only forced Christian and Elena to tell her they had fucked for six years. Grace is not a goddamn idiot, Luke! She is going to realize that since Christian was fifteen when Elena started to molest him, that Elena may have some sort of proof of that sick relationship! Do not forget that now Grace will find out about the BDSM shit! Fuck!" I am trying to keep my voice down and bury my head in my hands again.
"Luke, do you know the saddest part about all of this? All of this heartache is what Christian spent his entire life trying to protect Grace. He has always tried to hide what he calls his 'real self' from his family. So, now the tragedy is that Christian has thrown it all up in his parent's faces. Oh, fuck, whom am I kidding? WE have thrown it all up in her face!"
Will the end justify the means, Ana?
"Fuck, Ana, I know! Every part of this is sick, it is wrong, and it is all Grey's fault. Remember that! This is never going to go public. Grey's sick lifestyle has hurt his family, along with you! All you can do is be there for his parents. We know Elliot and Mia will never find any of this shit out," he shouts at me emphatically.
Picking up a framed picture of all of us near the water behind Carrick and Grace's home, I trace each family member with an index finger. It was taken last year on the fourth of July. I am standing in front of Christian with his arms around me. He actually looks happy. As if…I made him happy. He actually looks like a man in love. As if I was the woman that he was in love with. I feel tears sting the back of my eyes.
"Look at me, Ana and put that picture down. That picture is an example of things never appearing as they look. Lose the guilt; it is all on Grey's shoulders, not yours. He has hurt his parents and you! Fuck him!"
I have never heard nor seen Luke this angry...or seen…what? Something else?
Placing the picture back, I am about to respond when my pre-paid phone rings. I figure it is Kate calling, but I look at the caller ID and it is Riley. As I reach for the phone, Luke quickly grabs it. He does not attempt to hide his anger as he rejects the call. I glare at him, incensed. The fury Luke's emitting tells me he does not give a shit how I feel and it confuses me.
Seriously confuses me.
"Ana, I told you to tell the rocket scientist to stop calling you. Tell. Him. To. Stop. Calling. You," he practically snarls at me through gritted teeth.
I shake my head as though I am trying to remove the confused look upon my face. What was that about? Averting my eyes, I feel tears welling up in my eyes and once again, I look out my window. Luke comes around my desk and squats in front of me. Without uttering a word, Luke wipes away the single tear running down my face and takes my hands into his.
Luke has held onto my hands a trillion times before, yet they have never made me feel this way.
We are now eye level, cerulean blue to a brownish tinged hazel, starting at one another. Out of nowhere, something electric is crackling through the air and my heart is stomping inside my chest. Neither of us moves nor tears away from the other's stare. My breathing stops when Luke's eyes move to my lips and linger there.
I do not understand why, but I want him to kiss me. Kiss me and my blood will stop throbbing within me. Kiss me.
I have no idea if seconds, minutes, or hours pass by as we remain this way. When I feel a familiar ache between my legs, my breath hitches, and Luke's body infinitesimally leans closer to mine. Watching his mouth, I run the tip of my tongue along my lower lip and subtly lean in to meet his lips. Luke softly places his right hand in my hair and begins to pull me toward him and as I close my eyes, his cell phone rings, causing me to jump. Luke shuts his eyes with a face full of frustration as he stands to answer the call. He walks to the other side of the room and keeps his back to me. I can tell from his side of the conversation that he is talking to Taylor.
What in the hell was that? I would have fucked him, right here, right now.
While Luke is speaking with Taylor, I do my best to calm down and get a hold of myself. This is embarrassing and I have no idea what I am supposed to say or do.
Luke ends his call. "That was Taylor. Ryan has just pulled up outside. Reynolds will ride shotgun with him and they will follow us home. Do you have everything you need?"
Luke's tone is quite harsh and he is looking everywhere but at me while he puts his raincoat back on.
"Umm…Let me get my purse and briefcase. Please, just lock the door behind us and I will tell Hannah I am leaving," I reply quickly and Luke does not answer.
Exiting Grey Publishing was a nightmare. There were at least one hundred members of the media along with the useless paparazzi. Luke and Reynolds were at both of my sides while Ryan walked in front of me. All three men were pushing people out of the way and Ryan sent one reporter to the ground. I keep my head lowered so the camera flashes do not blind me. From every direction, I hear loud and horrible questions being hurled at me. "Mrs. Grey! Why is your husband in business with a pedophile?" "Mrs. Grey! Is your husband and Mrs. Lincoln running a prostitution ring?" "Is your husband the owner of the prostitution ring?" "Mrs. Grey, why has your husband supported a pedophile for years?" "Mrs. Grey, your mother-in-law is Elena Lincoln's best friend; does she know her friend is a pedophile? "Mrs. Grey! Did Mrs. Lincoln furnish your husband prostitutes?" "Why does your husband's company own a prostitution ring?"
The questions leave me with an urge to vomit, although I would have loved to answer the one if Elena provided Christian with 'prostitutes'. God, how I would have loved to answer that question.
Once we make it to the SUV, Reynolds and Sawyer practically throw me in the back. Sawyer and Reynolds climb in and we took off. I looked out the window, silently asking myself the same questions that those reporters had asked me. I am aware that I will never know the answers.
The journey home was as awkward and uncomfortable as riding in the elevator at Grey Publishing with Luke. I was actually relieved that Reynolds was in the SUV with us. Luke and Reynolds were being inundated with phone calls the entire way home. From the sound of it, my home, well, my almost former home had been turned into some sort of command station. Knowing that both irritated and pissed me off. Although, I was not surprised. However, while I wished that was all I could think about, it was not. All I could think about was what had nearly happened in my office with Luke and what would have happened if his phone had not started to ring. I pull out my phone pretending to busy myself with it, although I just blankly stare at it and think.
Fuck.
What was that and why do I now feel that it was inevitable?
We barely made our way through the gate once we got home. The media is everywhere, just as they were at Grey Publishing. Some have the nerve to bang on the sides of our vehicle and Reynolds rolls down his window, threatening to get out and kick some ass. I hear the damn questions until we were halfway up the drive. To my dismay, there are several cars in the drive way and I see Carrick's BMW. I blow out a long breath to ready myself for the clusterfuck inside the house.
Luke rushes me in and I wish that I could tip toe past the family room. With a weird pulling sensation in my stomach, I watch as Luke, along with Reynolds disappear down the hall. The room is full of men although I recognize a few. They all stop and stare while a red eyed Grace and pissed off Carrick give me a sympathetic smile. Looking in the far right corner, I see my husband pacing like a caged lion. Christian is pulling at his hair with both hands. I briefly watch him and the only word that comes to mind is, "Good." Taylor is in the corner wearing a black suit and looking every bit of the traitor that he is. He catches my gaze and nods at me.
Dreading the fuck out it, I walk in the room and go directly to my in-laws, hug them both fiercely, and whisper that I am sorry. Grace's face is tear stained with a message that screams, "I know."
Holding me very close to her, Grace whispers, "Did you know?"
"Yes." I reply, also whispering, but not as quietly as Grace did. I really do not give a fuck who hears me.
I am so sorry, Grace.
Judas makes his way to me, gives me a perfunctory and chaste kiss on the lips, and introduces me to several men who would best be described as people who are going to try to save Christian's ass. I am on my best behavior, give them dazzling smiles, and engage each one in conversation. I speak to them while my mind is back in my office. Craving to feel Luke Sawyer's lips on my own.
Once my pretend greeting of the suits is finished and once again embracing my in-laws, I walk to the kitchen where Gail is making fresh coffee.
"Hello, Gail." I greet her in a low, but cheery voice. Praying I will not be sucked back into the vortex that is the family room.
"Hi, Mrs. Grey. Can I get you anything?" she asks and smiles at me brightly.
"No, thank you. I am just going to make myself a glass of wine and go change into some comfortable clothes. Do you know who all is in there? I had never met several of them before." I ask and gesture toward the family room with my chin.
Gail dries her hands on her apron. I notice that she has made a tray of snacks that I assume are for the mass of people who are crowded around Christian, awaiting his orders.
"Well, Mr. Grey and his parents are in there, along with Mr. Welch and Jason. I do believe the others work for Mr. Grey at GEH."
"Great…I am going to go up and change."
"Mrs. Grey, does six o'clock sound like a good time for dinner?"
"Oh, Gail, don't worry about it. I feel like ordering out. Just take the evening off. I am sure our group of visitors will be fine without you," I reply. Gail appears confused at first and then smiles as I turn away.
I retrieve my purse and briefcase from where I dropped it in the hallway and head toward the staircase. I plan locking myself in the bedroom to hide from this shit storm. Looking at the glass of wine in my hand, I say fuck it and go get the entire bottle. Gail's back is to me as I sneak back to the kitchen and grab the entire bottle.
If a day ever called for alcohol, today would be that day.
Once within the confines of my bedroom, I lock the door behind me. I go into the bathroom to run myself a bath, but I just sit on the edge of the tub, and after two glasses of wine, I grab my iPhone and call Kate.
"Hey, Ana Banana! How are you?" Kate sounds like a worried mother hen.
"Yeah…I am fine and dandy if you are referring to our happy fun time with Cruella," I say.
"What does that mean? What if I am not referring to Cruella? What happened?" Kate demands.
How does she always catch the slightest word that covertly alters a sentence?
"Oh, God, Kate! I do not even know how to say this because I haven't coherently processed it yet."
Kate does not speak for a moment and I can tell she is moving into another room. The voices of Elliot and Ava that I heard in the background begin to fade away.
"What do you mean? Processed what? What happened? Is Grey onto us? Jesus, fucking tell me and don't skip a single thing, Ana."
Katherine Grey is like a bloodhound on the hunt and every question was a raging hurricane.
"Jesus, Kate. Go take a Xanax. Well, I was giddy over Cruella being in a jail cell with Big Bertha and then I hear about the shit that is going to hit the front page of the Times in the morning, not that I care about Christian looking bad. By the way, have you heard about that?"
"Jesus fucking Christ, Ana! Of course, I have, I fucking WORK there! Now, cut to the chase and spill you guts over what you cannot coherently process!" Kate barks at me.
"Ugh! Get ready to shit your pants or go online and order me a dildo from Adam and Eve…"
Naturally, Kate cannot keep herself from interrupting. "Oh, my God! Did you fuck somebody? Who…"
I roll my eyes and pour myself another glass of wine.
"If you would shut up, I'd fucking tell you! Now, just listen! So, I am sitting in my chair and I am really upset. Well…Luke comes around my desk, kneels in the floor, and wipes tears from my face. We are practically in each other's faces, he takes my hands in his, and we stare at one another, never saying a word. Then Luke's eyes go to my mouth and he starts to lean in as though he is going to kiss me! Without thinking twice, I lean forward and our lips are millimeters apart when his goddamn cell rings!" I tell her in a mixture of a shriek and a whisper.
At first, I think our call was disconnected because Kate does not say anything, but then Katherine Grey screams louder than I have ever heard her.
Thanks, Kate. I did not need that eardrum.
"WHAT? What the fuck? He was going to kiss you? Luke Sawyer? Are you sure it wasn't going to be a kiss on your cheek? What…"
"Goddamn, Kate! I have been kissed by a man and I pretty much know how it works! The man was going to kiss me! We were sitting there and staring at one another while the room felt like an electrical storm! Shit, I wanted him to kiss me! Kate…I got, well, I got horny!"
"As in you wanted to fuck him? You wanted him? I know he is hot as hell, but…Ana, have you been making your appointments with Dr. Swann?
Katherine has officially pissed me off.
"Yes, I fucking have Kate! Are you implying that I wanted to kiss or even get laid because I am off my rocker or something? Your insinuation fucking pisses me off," I whisper and finish my glass of wine in one gulp.
"Of course, I'm not. This is just crazy. Have you ever got that vibe off Luke before?
I am shaking my head no and pouring myself another glass of wine as I answer. "Never. As in, ever!"
"Holy Jesus! How did he act on the drive home? Did you two discuss it?"
"Are you fucking crazy? Reynolds was with us on the drive home anyway." I swallow the wine in another giant gulp.
"Are you drinking something, Ana? You keep gulping and sound like a frog or some shit."
"Hell, yes, I am! I am drinking wine, although I prefer it was something stronger. Wouldn't you be drinking if some crazy shit like this happened to you? I mean, shit. We have been around one another non- stop for three fucking years and he is one of my best friends! How in the fuck did this happen?"
"Hells bells. Shit. Shit. Shit. Is he acting all weird now?" Kate asks me, sounding anxious.
I scoff at her and roll my eyes. "Duh! He is probably as mortified as I am! Kate, listen to me. If his cell hadn't interrupted us and he would have kissed me, we would have ended up on my desk fucking," I exclaim vehemently.
Kate gasps and I hear her exhale deeply.
"It felt that intense?"
"YES! Like I said, it was as if electrical currents were going off inside of me."
"Ana, you're just horny. How long has it been since you have had some dick? Seriously, just think about that," she responds.
I contemplate her theory and decide that she is probably right. Although that does not explain Luke's actions. I never picked up that he had feelings for me that were beyond the boundary of friendship.
But if he does, I sure as hell do not mind.
"Oh, and he freaked the fuck out on me when Riley called me. As in, he ordered me not to talk to him through gritted teeth."
"Really? Well, he has been warning you about that being a horrendous idea. Which, by the way, I agree with. So, what are you going to do? Are you going to bring it up?"
"Hell, no! Are you shitting me? I am going to pretend as if it never happened and act that way, too. This is just too bizarre, Kate. And to top it off, my family room is currently like the situation room at the White House."
"How do you mean? What is going on? I mean, I am positive it is about Christian, but what is happening? Who all is there?" Now, Kate has started whispering.
"Hmm…let's see. Our mother and father-in-law, Christian, who is fucking the fuck out, by the way. Mr. Welch, his security head from GEH, Taylor, and about a dozen men in expensive suits I do not recognize. Well, one man I know. He is one of Christian's lawyers. And fuck, Kate. Grace knows now."
"Shit…Oh, fuck. Are you positive?" she sounds as upset as I feel.
"She practically told me and then asked me if I knew," I reply.
"Did you tell her the truth or not?"
"The truth."
"It really is for the best. She now knows how evil her best friend is and that she molested her son. I know she is terrified that the cops found something sick about Christian, but between Christian and Carrick, she will soon find out that they do not. So, do not lay down in guilt over that. Plus, Grace loves her kids unconditionally and we both know this is not going to change a thing between her and Grey. If anything, she will feel as if she didn't protect him and love him even more," Kate tells me.
I lose myself thinking of what Kate has just said and do not say anything.
"Where the hell are you at anyway?" she asks.
"I am hiding in my bathroom, sitting on the floor and chugging an expensive bottle of wine! I am staying up here. Downstairs is full of twits figuring out damage control. Let those suits try to find a way to keep GEH from looking bad. Luke said Christian is actually going nuts over if he is featured in Elena's little collection. Everyone else thinks it is because of GEH being linked to Cruella."
Kate laughs aloud. "Poor bastard. Let him freak out. Fucker had better end up grateful we did not put his deviant shit back in Cruella's house. Did you nearly drop dead when you found out about Grey propping Cruella up with GEH's bank accounts? Even his own private bank accounts? Shit, I mean it isn't illegal. It is just like any other business deal, except of course, that he was making zero profit from it. Now, THAT looks bad and does leave questions up in the air. In addition, Grey and GEH are financially tied to a woman like Cruella. You know those so called prostitutes were most definitely subs, don't you?
"Did I just fall off a turnip truck, Kate? Of course, I know exactly what those women are. What is Elliot saying about Lincoln's arrest and the charges against her?"
"He laughed and said he had always thought that bitch was creepy, although he'd never imagine she was a sicko like that. He is worried about Grace and has tried to call her cell a few times. But since she's at your place, I assume that's why she isn't answering," she replies.
"I just feel terrible that now Grace not only knows about Elena and Christian so called relationship, but now she knows her son was practically tortured by her best friend for six fucking years." I say, although my voice is small and hurt.
"Just remember this is all on Grey, Ana. I feel like shit thinking about Grace's feelings. But look at it this way, at least now she knows the truth and Grey and Cruella can't make her look like a fool any longer."
I can only sigh and pour myself another glass of wine.
"True, true, true. You're exactly right."
"OK, it's time to change the subject. What do you think about the pictures of the house I emailed you? I think Jonathon nailed it after you described the style you wanted for the house. He is freaking out that you are going to hate it once you see it though."
"Oh, tell him that I adore it! I am so excited to actually get up there and see it in person," I reply, imagining a warm, late summer night sitting on my back deck and gazing at the stars over the lake.
"I am going back up there on Monday. I will take more pictures to email you. Is Luke still bent out of shape over securing the house or has he calmed down since you hired your own goon squad? Oh, yeah…Are any of them hot?" Kate asks me, giggling.
"Jesus. He is still worried about the lake access even with the team he chose. Luke did say that they have done a great job so far getting the house secured. And, yes, most of them are disgustingly hot." I try to sound blasé, but then we both shriek with laughter.
"You lucky bitch," Kate snorts lovingly.
"You know it, girlfriend."
"Do you want to hear about the attorney I found you? As usual, your perfect best friend exceeded your expectations."
"Definitely."
"Per your request, the firm is not local and is small, with only a handful of lawyers, who happen to be all women. The senior partner is supposed to be a shark and despite she has kept her firm small, they have an impressive reputation," Kate says.
"Kate, you failed to mention where the firm is located or which one it is," I reply, the wine is getting to my head and making me grumpy.
"You're right…It's baby brain. Okay, it is up in Vancouver and is the law firm of Darlington, Kendall, and Colter. Sarah from our WSUV days interned that legal firm at one summer. I have researched the shit out them and spoke to one of their law clerks as well. All you need now is an appointment."
"Hmm…That sounds good. I think making an appointment soon is a good idea, don't you?"
"Absolutely! Do you want me to make it?"
"Let me figure out when I can head up there first," I reply.
"Okay, listen I hate to, but I have to hang up and go feed your brother-in-law. He's already yelled at me to bring my ass back downstairs."
"I will talk to you later. Love you."
"Love you, too."
After hanging up, I finish off the bottle of wine. I am officially drunk. Making my way to where Gail keeps the towels and washrags, I grab one of each and start a bath feel lightheaded. I walk to my medicine cabinet to grab my make up remover and my eyes land on the near empty bottle of Percocet that I had been taking after my surgery. Already stupid drunk and in not thinking clearly, I snatch the bottle up and remember Grace saying alcohol and pain medication could cause a coma. I am not in search of a coma, at the very least, I just want to be completely wasted and forget this crazy day. My drunken mind tells me I can achieve that with two Percocet's. I swallow them and sink into the bathtub.
I jerk awake, shivering from the now ice cold bath water. How long have I been in here? Getting out of the tub is tremendously harder than usual, although I manage to do so without inflicting damage upon myself. Struggling to put on sweats and an oversized tee shirt is another feat I have to tackle. It must take twenty minutes just to pull up my sweatpants and who knows how long I struggled to unlock the bathroom door. I am completely fucked up. There is nothing graceful about the way I make my way to the bed and switch on the plasma TV that is mounted on the wall. Squinting at the bedside clock, I see it is nearly six o'clock and time for the news. To my ultimate delight, the leading story is once again Cruella and this time they have footage of her handcuffed and being led into the police department. I throw a pillow over my face and roll around on the bed laughing loudly.
I hear the all too familiar ping signaling that I have a text on my pre-paid phone, even though I do not have a clue as to where it could possibly be. Thinking the phone is in my purse, I fall off the bed with a loud thud that I pray does not bring half of the security team running to the bedroom. In a fleeting moment of clarity, I realize that crawling around my bedroom floor searching for my purse is not exactly normal behavior. I am now on my back, glance back up at the bed, and see my fucking purse. It was beside me the entire time. I am so comfortable lying on the floor that I close my eyes and fall asleep again.
For what seems like another hundred times, I vaguely hear several text message alerts, open my eyes, and raise my head. Whoa…head spin. I pull myself up to the bed and kneel against it to reach my purse. With a drunken grin, I successfully grab the purse strap and drag it toward me. Looking at the phone, I see that the texts are all from Luke. "Great, he probably thinks I have been ignoring him," I slur aloud to myself.
I open the first text message and make a valiant attempt to see straight enough to read it.
Delete this as soon as you read this…Grey has discovered the files you took from Escala are gone. Taylor has interrogated most the guys in security and Barney is over at Escala digging into all recorded CCTV footage.
I am reading with one eye shut, my brain is not really computing what Luke's message means and it takes me five minutes to find the delete button.
Christian…Taylor…Escala…Files…Barney…HICCUP…Oh, shit.
My unfocused vision tries to make out the second text.
Your ass had better be asleep and the reason you have not replied. T has me questioning more guys. We are in the clear. DELETE this.
Delete. Delete? Where did that button go? My head is spinning and I feel as though I am about to nod off. I forget which button opens text messages and randomly punch buttons until I find another text from Luke.
WTF? Answer me so I know you R breathing up there. I WATCHED you take that bottle of wine on the CCTV. DELETE!
Mr. Second in Command of security sure is fucking bossy. DUUUUH-LEEETE.
Giggling, my head slowly sinks onto the bed, unsteady fingers open up the last text Luke sent me.
Your presence has been requested downstairs. I am giving you fifteen minutes and then I will be coming through your door.
Undoubtedly, that text was sent fifteen minutes ago, because I hear knocking on the door, although standing up proves difficult.
"Ana. Ana? Unlock the door. Come on, I'm trying to be quiet about this."
It is Luke and he is demanding that I open the door. The very thought has me in a fit of giggles.
"Fuck this, Ana. I can hear you. Get your drunken ass up and open the goddamn door!"
Now laughing hysterically, I stumble to my feet and stagger to the door. Opening it slightly, I peer out and lock eyes with one angry Lucas Sawyer who pushes his way into the room.
"What in the hell, Ana? How the fuck are you going to let Grey and his cronies see you trashed? Go splash cold water on your face and try to wake the fuck up. Several of those fuckers downstairs want to speak with you and you are too wasted to walk! Fuck! Grey is going to love this, Ana! Goddamn!"
Luke grabs a hold of my arms and looks furious as he drags me in the bathroom. He grabs a washrag, soaks it with cold water, and wipes my face and neck with it. I laugh out loud and him
As if that is going to change how fucked up I am.
"I have never been so goddamn pissed at you, Ana. Where is that fucking phone? I have to delete those texts. Were you capable of reading any of them?" he asks in an enraged voice.
I feel myself being propelled into the bedroom and with one hand steadying me and the other making sure I deleted the text messages. Luke looks at me and shakes his head. My head is spinning and all I want to do is crawl up in a ball and go to sleep.
"Ana, the only reason I am allowing those fuckers to see you in this condition is so Grey can see what this shit has done to you. I doubt he will feel guilty, but he sure as shit will be embarrassed. As for you, keep your fucking mouth shut and I will sit you down by Dr. Trevelyan. Understand?"
I nod my head in a vehement and over exaggerated way. I think Luke is growling at me from anger and frustration.
Luke growling…
"Can you even stand by yourself without falling over?" Luke whispers in my ear.
"Think so." Fuck, his face is spinning and I suddenly feel sick to my stomach.
Shit, I am going to puke.
"Hold on to my arm and we'll go down slowly. Just try to concentrate on walking, Ana. Fuck, I am going to wring your neck for this stunt. I am going to walk you in that room exactly this way. Mother fuckers," Luke spits out.
"What time is it?" I am slurring my words.
"Jesus, you can barely talk! It is nearly eleven thirty at night. Now hold onto me tight, goddamn it!"
Luke is so angry, yet I think it is hilarious. Just the fact that my eyes are unfocused is funny to me. I have not stopped laughing since Luke walked into the bedroom.
Luke's strong grip is keeping me upright, but my legs are unsteady. For some reason, I find the lighting of the staircase to be too bright. Luke now has three heads. My double vision has turned into triple vision.
Practically holding me up, Luke walks me into the family room and I am still giggling. Suddenly, my twisted mind realizes an entire group of people are staring at me. I do not know why they are looking at me strangely, fuck; I am not the sexual deviant in the room.
Oh, shit. Did I say that aloud?
"Ana…sweetheart. Are you all right? Luke, what's wrong with her?" Grace's voice.
Christian glares at me and quickly walks over to us.
If I knew where my fingers were, I would flip him off.
"Sawyer, has Mrs. Grey been drinking?" Christian snarls.
"Sir, Dr. Trevelyan, I just found Mrs. Grey very upset. She had locked herself in the bathroom and drank an entire bottle of wine," Luke replies without emotion.
"Did you know she was up there getting hammered, Sawyer?"
God, this Christian Grey fucker is so annoying.
"No, sir, I did not."
"Oh, darling! Sit by me sweet girl," Grace whispers, her voice thick with unshed tears.
Grace gingerly sits me on the sofa beside her, and then begins to weep.
"If my wife is in this shape, this will be a complete waste of time!" Christian roars at the group of men who are dressed in expensive suits that must come with sticks up their ass.
"Son, you have just discovered that your wife is so upset from all of this that she locked herself in a bathroom, drank an entire bottle of wine and your first concern is this so called waste of time? Have you noticed that your mother is in tears again? Your behavior says a lot, Christian. Quit worrying about your own ass and let your team of dumb fucks continue in panic mode."
Ohhhhh. Carrick is pissed.
Christian has the audacity to glare at his father and Carrick gets in his face.
"Son, you're wife is so upset that she got drunk in a locked bathroom and all you say is that she has wasted your time! Why have you pulled me and your devastated mother into this shit? We are the ones in this room who has had their time wasted, Christian! We have been here for hours watching you pace like a caged lion. Like a guilty caged lion, by the way. You may be my son, but I'll knock that smirk right off your face," Carrick warns Christian in a menacing voice.
I may be cross-eyed but I see Christian's barely contained fury and the room is silent.
"Mr. Grey, all we need for your daughter-in-law to do tomorrow is to be seen out in public with her husband. GEH just needs a positive spin tomorrow and it would be to 's advantage to be seen publically unfazed by all of the questions this article has raised. Plus, we are now positive that Mrs. Lincoln did call your son for the four million dollar bail and we all know the media could find that out," Suit number one tells Carrick.
WHAT? She called him to bail her out. Did he do it?
"Along with the ridiculous question whether or not your son was a client of Elena Lincoln's," says suit number two.
That remark makes Grace grab my hand and nearly squeeze the blood from it. My blurry vision studies her face and somewhere in the back of my wine and Percocet infused brain, I realize that she knows the truth about Christian and Elena Lincoln's disgusting past. I lay my head on her shoulder and keep my eyes on Judas across the room whose pulling his hair out.
I know why you are pulling your hair out.
"That won't be a problem, Sims. I will walk all over fucking Seattle with her for all I care." Christian practically spits out.
The blur that is his black tee shirt moves around the room. The suits think this is about the Seattle Times article. They have no clue, this makes me want to laugh, and I do. All eyes land back on me as Grace pulls me closer. Shit, I am practically in her lap. All around me are loud male voices and the comforting smell of Grace's vanilla scented lotion.
My brain is so far past befuddled but I am still able to focus on what Christian said - "I will walk all over fucking Seattle with 'her' for all I care."
With her? Now, even wasted Ana knows that Christian does not really give a fuck about her, but you would think he would not be so blatant about it in front of these men AND his parents. Carrick and Grace are having their son and his pedo ex shoved down their throat just knowing that cunt asked Christian to bail her out. Suddenly, wasted Ana is enraged at both of these thoughts.
I raise my head from Grace's shoulder and point at Christian.
"YOU!" I yell at Christian while pointing at him. The entire room freezes and turns toward me. Christian's expression is a mix of surprise and anger.
"Walk with HER for all you care? I am just a 'her'"? I am attempting to calm my slurring tongue, although my attempt is futile.
"Ana, honey, let's go upstairs. You should go to sleep. It's quite late," Grace gently says.
I use a shaky arm to grab hold of the sofa's armrest and stand on the legs of Bambi.
"Anastasia, go with my mother." It is yet another demand by the deviant. Well, fuck him.
I use the strength of every muscle in my body to stand upright and keep myself from swaying. I continue pointing at the bastard and shake my head.
"No! I am not going anywhere. You refer to your wife as 'her' now days, do ya?" I laugh, only this time it is bitter. "Quit lying to these people about what you're really worried…" At least I did not slur too badly when I said that.
Christian's eyes widen with uncertainty at what his very fucked up wife might slip up and say.
"Anastasia, please, go upstairs to bed. Mother, Luke, will you help her please?" Christian's voice is as cold as ice and I blink away my double vision.
"I am staying right here, Grey. Want to know what else I am not doing? I am not going out with you tomorrow to be seen by the masses. Have all of you suits signed an NDA? Hope so."
Even though I am nearing that coma that Grace warned me about a month ago, I keep talking while I know I am embarrassing myself, and hopefully, Christian as well.
"Sawyer, get her upstairs now."
I feel a strong arm come from behind me at the exact moment our grandfather clocks informs us all that it is midnight.
Midnight, I think and rub my forehead.
Oh, yes. Midnight. June. June 18th. The day a crackwhore gave birth to Satan.
Laughing, I trip on the footrest of a chair in an attempt to get closer to another suit.
"Anastasia!" Christian roars at me.
Just like the clock striking midnight and turning Cinderella's coach into a pumpkin, the clock striking midnight has revived my motor skills. Raising my arm, I flip Christian off and watch his face darken with rage.
I have just warmed up, Grey.
"Let's get real. That fucker, there…he's not bent out of shape over this news article. He has been nuts all day because he used to fuck Elena Lincoln and he is scared she took pictures of him! That is why he has wasted everyone's time all day…he is terrified the SPD has a Polaroid of him shackled to a bed!"
My screaming announcement is drunken and slurring, but perfectly clear and understandable.
Everyone's mouth is gaping wide open and Christian is racing over to me with murder on his mind.
"Anastasia! Ana! GO upstairs! NOW!"
Christian is screaming at me now and Carrick gets between us and pushes his son away when Christian reaches around his father in an attempt to grab me.
"Make my day, Christian, rush at her again," Carrick says through gritted teeth.
"Oh…hell no, Grey! Boys, your boss fucked that plastic bitch for six years! CEO got that pussy when he was fifteen, too! To top that, boys, he liked for the pedophile to beat his ass with canes and shit…"
"ANASTASIA! SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
"You shut the fuck up, son! How dare you speak to your wife like that? I do not give a shit how drunk she is! How goddamn dare you? Do not forget she is telling the truth! I have watched you all day knowing perfectly well what was driving you out of your mind! You still stand there in selfish indignation after realizing that now your mother knows the truth. I raised a real son of a bitch, didn't I?"
Carrick's face is blood red from fury as he stands in front of his pale faced son and has pulled Christian to him by his shirt. Poor Grace is sobbing her eyes out, but she does not chastise Carrick for what he is saying or trying to intervene. Why would she? It is all true…even if a fucked up and jilted wife blew the lid off it all.
When an expressionless Christian does not say anything, Carrick shoves him backwards when he lets go of Christian's shirt. Carrick turns to me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek and helps Grace from the sofa.
"Ana, let Luke take you upstairs. Go to rest and sleep this off" Carrick says to me in a hushed tone.
"Christian, I am taking your mother home now. Do yourself a favor and stay the fuck away from me! If I find out you bail Elena Lincoln out of jail, you will both regret it. As far as Ana goes, it is in her best interest to get the fuck away from you. You have goddamn proved to me that you do not give a fuck about her," Carrick yells, blowing all of our eardrums.
I see each set of eyes follow them as they leave the house but my eyes have not left the deviant.
"Sawyer, as the man who signs your paychecks, remove my wife from this room."
Pays them for the time being, asswipe.
"Yes, sir. Mrs. Grey, please, let's go back to your room."
I grab a hold of Luke's arms with both of my hands, although I am not done screaming incoherent, but damning information about my husband.
"Remember, boys…your boss doesn't give a shit about that article. He is just afraid of being a picture boy of child sex abuse…and that he was able to take a good beating! He likes to hand out…"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, ANA!" Christian screams at me from across the room.
At this point Luke is practically dragging me from the room as I continue to scream and now that fucker Taylor is helping him.
"Mrs. Grey, please let Luke and I help you upstairs," Taylor murmurs and I nearly vomit on his shoes.
I clumsily slip at the threshold of the room and both men quickly grab and stand me back up. I am not that far from Christian now.
"Take a look at your boss, boys! He is a sexual deviant…liked to get it and now he likes to give it," I yell.
Christian once again practically runs in my direction, but Taylor jumps in between us and easily overpowers him.
Luke leans down and with his mouth over my ear tells me to shut the fuck up.
He picks me up and we are now in the hall.
"Goodnight, deviant mommy fucker! I shriek aloud, knowing they can all still hear me.
"Ana, shut the fuck up!" Luke hisses in my ear again.
Then I remember.
"Happy fucking birthday, Christian Grey!"
Yeah, it was long…This would have been uploaded Wednesday but we had a little storm down here that knocked down trees and power lines, leaving us without power, cell service and the internet, so that's what took so long for an update. I am going on vacation on the 23rd, but I will try, try, try to finish and update the next chapter before I leave.~~~Anna