The car ride back to my apartment is almost silent, any questions I try to ask are merely deflected by Christian. He seems to be in such a dark mood that I'm struggling to get even a simple conversation going with him. His phone goes off so many times and only manages to make his mood worse. At least it's not your fault, my inner devil tells me. My inner angel reminds me how I made him use the word. So, it's partly my fault then. Taylor stays mute knowing when to keep his mouth shut.
We pull up outside my apartment and out of nowhere Christian leans in and takes my lips with his own. It catches me by surprise because he has been frosty with me since he saw whatever was in that envelope. Now his lips are on mine with a panty-combusting kiss as he snags my lower lip with his teeth and tugs it hard.
"Please, hurry back." He whispers to me.
"Okay." Is the only word I can manage.
I step out of the car to find my dad standing there waiting for me with his suitcase. Christian's car drives away as I glance over at him leaving. My eyes go back to my father with a "forgive me" look that I perfected as a child.
"How long have you been waiting, Daddy?" I say in my sweetest voice.
"Only twenty minutes baby girl. It's okay. Come on." He says taking his case and walking towards my car.
We're not far from the airport when my dad comes up with a way to ask the question he has been thinking about the last fifteen minutes. He has been so quiet I knew something was wrong.
"So, is everything okay in paradise?" I look at him confused.
"You and Christian. Is there something wrong?" He looks at me concerned.
"No, it's fine dad." I lie, brushing my hair behind my ear.
"Baby girl, I don't normally pick up on things like this, you can ask your mother about that, but something is wrong. Don't lie to me, I know your tells." He's caught me.
My father thinks he is a good poker, player. He normally does okay, but it helps that he is good at reading tells. That however doesn't help me, his own daughter when I try to lie to him.
"I have two good ears and strong shoulders to cry on. Come on, hit me." He smiles and I can't help but smile back. I feel like it's the first smile I have done today.
"Something is wrong with Christian. He has been acting strangely all morning. He got some envelope and flipped out." I let it out while keeping my eyes on the road.
"Maybe it was some bad news. A family member or close friend passing away." Dad offers.
"I don't think so. He got so angry." The words barely leave my mouth and my dad growls back.
"He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No, dad, and he wouldn't, I told him you have guns," I say and my dad bursts out laughing.
"Damn straight, no one messes with my baby girl. I'd give him an ass full of buckshot." He smiles and I burst out laughing with him. It feels so good to laugh.
"I'm sure, it's nothing, baby. He will tell you in his own time when he is ready." My dad offers the male perspective and I feel like it makes sense.
"Thanks, Daddy." I smile at him as we near the airport in my beloved Buick Becky.
Due to being late I don't get as long with my father as I wanted to at the airport, and once his flight is called to the gate we manage to grab a coffee in the nearby bar. I apologize to my father for not being around as much this week. He just blows it off, telling me he was glad I had found someone and how much of a great guy Christian is.
I tell him he barely knew the man to which he shoots back at me that if he can pick a classic car that my dad owned he can't be that bad. He can't wait to get home and fill my mother in on my new guy that's swept me off my feet. He does warn to call my mother and also that my mother is going to want to meet this Christian Grey.
Considering his mood today, I'm not sure I want anyone to meet him. I finally have to let my father go through check-in and to his gate. He lifts me up in a strong tight daddy hug while I have to do my best not to cry, knowing I'm going to miss him so much. Holding myself together, I wave to him until he disappears from my sight and then I head back to my car.
I'm making my way back to Harbor Drive, my hands tapping on the steering wheel. I pray that Christian is in a better mood when I return. What was with him this morning? I pull the piece of paper out of my pocket to take a closer look at it.
Why would someone take a picture of something and send it to Christian who would burn it instantly? My inner angel wants in on the idea telling me it could be blackmail. Who would blackmail Christian and why? It can't be to do with his magic. That's real. Maybe they were some kinky sex pictures from his dungeon, she hisses at me.
I hold the piece of paper, examining it closer. It looks like the corner of a newspaper, that much I'm certain. It could be to do with his wealth, or maybe he had a partner when he first became a magician and then split up.
I shake my head, all these ideas seem so far fetched. If Christian is in a better mood maybe I can find out more. My inner devil pipes up that if he is still grumpy, you could do something to put a smile on his face. The delicious dark thought tempts me and pulses in my core when there is a loud bang.
I look around in shock for the cause of the noise, but my Buick is already losing power as I slam it up hard onto the curb. Please no, god, no! Don't let this happen to me! I want to be back in Christian's arms just like how we woke up this morning before all this. I kill the engine just as I see smoke billow out from under the hood.
"This day officially sucks," I say to no one.
Throwing my head against the steering wheel in frustration I only proceed in hurting my head. As I reach up rubbing my forehead, I remember that Jose works in a garage close by, maybe they have a tow truck. So I pull my phone out and speed dial, Jose.
It's keeps ringing. Please, Jose, pick up! Finally, he answers.
"Hey, Ana good to hear from you. I'm at work, is everything okay?" His voice sounds muffled over the phone.
"Hi, Jose! Sorry to call you at work. I'm fine, my car isn't, though. Does your garage have a tow truck?" I ask him praying that I'm right.
"Sure, Ana. Shame, Becky's broke down. Where are you? I'll have Jimmy head out with the tow and bring you back here." I can clearly hear his voice now.
I just get off the phone with Jose after telling him where to find me and I find myself absently running my hand through my hair. I should ring Christian and tell him I'm... My phone starts ringing; I look at it to see it's Christian on the caller ID. Damn, is the man physic, too? I answer it. Please, be in a better mood than this morning.
"Hi, Ana, are you okay?" He asks in his sweet as chocolate voice.
"Not quite," I reply.
"Tell me what's wrong." He asks me. At least he seems more like himself.
Where do I even begin? His insane outburst this morning. The fact I just said bye to my father. Or that my car just started smoking for god knows what reason. I'll go with the last one.
"My car kinda broke down. So, I'm going to be late. Sorry." I mumble.
"Ana, don't worry about it. It's okay, I'm on my way to get you. I should be there in ten minutes. See you soon." He ends the call.
I look at my phone dumbfounded. What the...? Hold it - how the hell does he know where I am?
Ten minutes later and Christian's Mercedes pulls up. The second the car stops, the rear door opens and Christian steps out and walks over to me. His strides are those of a man of purpose. When he reaches me where I stand next to my car, he takes hold of me and kisses me as I melt into his arms. I grip his arms tightly as I release myself to him.
There is a loud noise and I pull back from the kiss to see a tow truck pulling up in front of my car. Jimmy leans his head out of the window.
"Please, tell me it's not the Mercedes that broke down?" He says laughing.
(Now with Ana's dad back on his way to Chicago and her beloved car broken down. She is at the mercy of Christian. He seems concerned by her. His behaviour is only adding to her questions. At least Jose seems to be coming to the rescue. Now we have four chapters remaining.
We are closing in on the end of the first part of this trilogy. I hope everyone is enjoying this story I have created for you. Please do leave me a review on your thoughts and how your feeling back this story.
Also with fifty shades darker so close to release at the cinemas I'm sure your all wanting more to read so very soon you can dive into part 2 completed and then join me as I'm writing part 3 for more passion, more action, reveals questions and more of what you have enjoyed in part 1.
Feel free to follow and favourite my story or myself as an author and see what comes next. Thank you. SJamesW.)