Chapter 8

The next day they headed to work. Ana looked at Christian, "You look sick? Is it that hard going back to work? It was your idea to take off the week." Christian messed up and he knew it. "I'm good, just tired." The work day dragged for Christian and flew by for Ana. "Umm no dinner date tonight? What's going on with you?" Christian shut his computer down. "Let's go."

They pulled up at Hard Rock. Ana smiled, "Interesting choice, haven't been here before." Ana didn't know what was wrong but she knew this wasn't Christian. "Let me have a spicy shrimp appetizer." Ana waited for the waiter to walk away. "Ok Christian, I'm going to give you a chance. What's wrong?" Christian was about to tell her and yank her out of the restaurant. "I…"

Then everything stopped, "Anastasia!" Ana's eyes changed and Christian didn't see her bright blue eyes, only dark. Ana turned around and saw her mother sitting next to her. "I'm so glad you answered my text. It's been too long." The waiter came and grabbed the drink order. Carla ordered alcohol, "I'll have the hurricane." Ana grabbed her phone, but Christian deleted the text. She still hadn't spoken. "So, who are you?"

Christian extended his hand, "I'm Christian Grey. I'm Ana's boyfriend." Ana finally spoke, "Actually he's not my boyfriend, because my boyfriend would never set up a dinner with a monster like you behind my back." Ana looked at him, "Truth is mom, Christian must have texted you, because I sure as hell didn't. Since he wants to get to know you though, have a nice dinner." Ana stood up and grabbed her things, "You can keep your fucking present and I didn't get you a damn thing."

The waiter stood there, "Spicy shrimp?" Christian stood up, "Excuse me. I'll be right back." He chased Ana outside, "Ana wait!" He pulled her, "I saw her text and I wanted to see if she would be different. She didn't sound like she was a bad person. I wanted…" She was crying, "You wanted what? She didn't sound like a bad person. Really Christian and you got that from a text, which was deleted so I would never see it. I told you everything, so you wanted to see for yourself. You wanted to see if I was a liar. Fuck you Christian!"

Christian watched her walk away. He went back into the restaurant. He sat across from the woman who brought Ana so much pain. He didn't know what to expect. He believed Ana, but he was hoping that she had changed over the months.

They didn't even get through the appetizer before he had his answer. "You're her boyfriend? Looks like you need to get a hold of her. Anastasia has always been disrespectful. I tried to beat it out of her, maybe you should give it a try."

Christian couldn't believe what he was hearing. "She didn't text you back, I did. I thought maybe you actually missed her. She's never been like that in all the months I've known her, you must be the problem. You beat her?" Carla looked at him, "Look kid, someone like Anastasia doesn't deserve happiness. She fucks up everything she touches and if you stay with her, she'll do the same for you."

Christian stood up, "This was a mistake. Waiter, how much?" Carla held up her hands, "I came all the way across town for this. Christian just walked away. He didn't know what to do. He called Ana first, it rang and went to voicemail. He called again and she sent it straight to voicemail. He called Elliot because he figured Kate was with him. "Hey Christian!" Christian sighed, "Is Kate with you?" Elliot said she was. "Put me on speaker." Elliot hit the button, "What's up?" Christian took a deep breath, "I fucked up."

He explained everything and when he heard silence, he knew it was bad. Elliot told him to meet them at the condo. When they got there, Ana wasn't there. Kate was more than disappointed, but she knew Christian was struggling and she knew how he felt. "Christian, I don't know why you thought that was a good idea."

He held his head in his hands. "Christian, I've been where you are. Ana's mom is a manipulating bitch. When we first roomed together in the dorm, she dropped by and played me. She was nothing like Ana described. She talks the talk to get what she wants and if Ana saw that text, she would have known and told you about it. But Christian it's not up to you."

Christian cried, "I know. It was the holidays and she had fun with all of us and I know it must hurt. I just wanted her mother to love her." Kate sat beside him, "I know Christian and I just want my father to love me and see me. You know what you and Elliot have is very rare in this world and if we talk to you and him enough as perfect as your world seems, there are some flaws, but nothing like Ana's." They all tried to call and couldn't reach her.

Ana went for a walk down Hollywood. She knew where she was going. The gate was still open, the office light was on, and she looked up at the sign that said TNT and had a dynamite stick on it. "Hey Carrick." Carrick looked up and stood up, "Ana, what are you doing here?" Ana asked, "Why is it called TNT?" He looked at his shirt, "Theodore, Grace's dad and Trevelyan her mom's maiden name."

He saw she was crying and upset. She wouldn't talk. "Did you walk here? Sit here and drink this water. Let me close up and we'll go to the house." Ana grabbed him, "Please don't call Christian. I don't want to see him." He shut and locked everything. He sent a text to Grace, "I have Ana. Something bad must've happened and she's not talking. She only said, not to call Christian. We're on the way." Grace simply responded with, "Ok, bring her home."

Ana was quiet the entire way and Carrick didn't make her talk. Grace fed Mia and she was occupied by her phone. As soon as Ana saw Grace, she ran to her hugging and crying. Grace coddled her, "It's ok sweetheart. Come on to my room. Ana was so upset, she couldn't make heads or tails of what happened. She only knew one thing, her son messed up big.

She talked to her sweetly and ran her a warm bath. "Here are some pajamas, they're a little big so pull the string tight. Here is a comfy robe. I'm guessing you haven't eaten, so I'm going to make a sandwich and bring it up." Ana still didn't talk. "Ana remember when I said I would be your mom. Just because Christian is my son, I won't automatically take his side. Wrong is wrong."

Grace kissed her forehead and with that Ana spilled her guts. She told Grace about dinner, her mom, cursing at Christian, and what she knew of the text. Ana was hysterical, so much that Carrick came to the door at one point and Grace was fuming. She got her into the bath and went to make her something to eat.

Carrick appeared, "What's going on?" Grace rolled her eyes, "Your son is a grade A jackass." Grace told Carrick everything, "Grace, what the hell was he thinking." Grace had an idea, "It's our fault, Christian lives in fantasy sometimes. He doesn't have the experiences like you, me, or even Elliot. Even Elliot has been disappointed in a relationship." Carrick saw it, " That doesn't excuse him." Grace agreed, "I'm not excusing anything."

Grace and Carrick took Ana some food and found her sitting on her bed. "Here, I want you to eat and drink this." Ana was upset, "Christian's going to find me here." Grace laughed, "He is not going to find you here and he's certainly not going to call us looking for you." Grace had to ask, "Ana, don't tell me what I want to hear. Are you two breaking up?" Grace waited, "You would have every right. I don't know what he was thinking."

Ana sighed, "No. I don't want to break up, but I'm really upset. Christian wants to live in this perfect world and it's not. He wants to fix everything, but some things can't be fixed." Carrick heard her and decided he needed to give Christian a dose of the real world. Grace put Ana in the guest room and Ana sat up, "Crap, I have to work tomorrow."

Grace winked, "I'll call Ros. Ana, I think you should call Kate, I'm sure she's called you." Ana knew she was with Elliot, "She'll tell Elliot and he'll tell Christian, but ok you can call her." Grace sent a text, "When you are not with Elliot, call me. Ana's safe, but please don't say anything."

15 minutes later Kate called Grace, "Grace, is she ok?" Grace explained, "She is, but totally exhausted. I finally got her to sleep, so I don't want to wake her." Kate sighed, "Christian is distraught." Grace scoffed, "He should be and he better pray long and hard that he doesn't lose her over this one." Grace called Ros and asked her not to say anything only that Ana wouldn't be in all week.

The next morning Grace checked on Ana. "Hey, you're up and dressed. Ana was coughing and sneezing. Grace was a nurse, "Your face is flushed. Let me put Mia on the bus and fix you some breakfast." Ana smiled, "Ok, see you downstairs." Ana came down and looked around, "It's just us. Carrick is gone and so is Mia." Ana saw the thermometer, "I'm not sick." Grace smiled, "Ok, then this will prove it." Grace took her temperature and Ana saw the red light, "101.6 says differently.

Eat this for me. Do you like orange juice?" Ana nodded. After breakfast she was given Tylenol and Grace stroked her brown hair. "You remind me of my grandmother." Grace looked down, "Are you saying I am old?" Ana laughed, "No just loving." Grace smiled, "Ana, I'm sorry things weren't good after they passed away, but things will be better."

Ana went to sleep. Carrick left extra early and talked to Elliot when he came to the shop. He had other workers come to the Hollywood shop. "Come on son, let's pick up your naive brother and take a ride." They went to the office and found Christian a complete wreck. Carrick didn't care and lit into his ass more than ever. "Let's go, I need to show you something."

They drove and the houses got bigger and the area got richer. He pulled up to a huge gated house. Carrick hit the numbers on the keypad like he had been there all of his life. He put a single key in the door and walked into the huge house. "Dad?" Carrick looked at his sons, "Follow me."

When they came to the study, Christian saw a man sitting behind a large wooden desk. "I always knew you would come back one day." He looked up and Christian thought he looked just like dad and Elliot only older. His hair was white instead of blonde, but he had the same face. "Elliot who's that?" Elliot knew who he was and he understood what his dad was showing Christian. Elliot whispered, "That's your grandfather."

The man looked up, "Oh you brought the bastard children. What do you want, Carrick? Money? Did you finally drive that poor man's business into the ground?" Carrick stood there taking it, so Christian could see how Ana felt. "No dad, I don't want anything. The poor man's business brings in millions. I came so you could see Elliot and Christian."

He looked at them, "Carrick, you are by far my biggest disappointment and I'm sure your boys aren't any different." Christian was angry, "Fuck you old man!" Carrick knew his boys, Elliot had his and Grace's mild temperament, but Christian was different. Growing up, Carrick saw it. They kept him tame with rules and punishments, but every now and then he saw his dad in Christian. He had that cut throat attitude. He showed it when he had his YouTube Channel and when he played sports.

Carrick Sr. smiled, "So you did have one son I can appreciate. This one's got fire. He can come around anytime." Christian shook his head, "I get it dad, we can go now." Carrick and Elliot left without a word, but Christian turned back. "I'm glad my father is your biggest disappointment, because if he is, you are too. My father has a loving family who will always stand by him. You have big fucking house, die a happy man in it. Asshole!" Carrick heard every word and laughed to himself, unlike Elliot who laughed out loud, "My baby brother."

Ana stretched and woke up, "Grace?" Grace smiled, "Hey, how do you feel?" Ana stood up, "Better. I was tired. Does Christian know I'm here?" Grace sat beside her, "No." Ana grabbed her phone, "I'm going to tell him, but I still don't want to see him. Can I stay here?" Grace kissed her, "You never have to ask."

Ana hit his name, "Ana, I'm…" Ana stopped him, "Don't! I'm at your parent's house and I'm safe. I don't want to see you right now and I want you to respect that." Christian didn't have a choice and he understood, "Ok. I know you don't want to hear it, but I'm sorry and I love you." Ana didn't say it back, "Goodbye Christian."