I wake in the morning laying on my back with Ana's head and hand firmly on my chest. I'm startled at first, but it doesn't burn. It actually feels comforting.
I rub her back and kiss the top of her head. Her hair smells like apples. I've told her about some of my darkest demons and she didn't run. I hope she never leaves. I do love her. I notice her stir, "Good morning sleepyhead. "
"Mm.. good morning handsome. Oh shit, I'm on your chest. I'm so sorry." She goes to move and I stop her.
"No. It's fine. It doesn't hurt. It feels.. good.."
"Okay. I don't want you uncomfortable."
"I'm not. I'm actually very comfortable. I could wake up like this every day."
"Me too. Are you sure you're ok with us staying here. We don't want to impose."
"Nonsense. You are both very important to me. What's mine is yours and if I had it my way, it would be forever."
"Christian…"
"Shh.. don't overthink it. Let's get up and go get breakfast with Avery and start our day."
She jumps up. "Shit, I got to get to work soon. I wasn't prepared for Monday to come so quickly."
"Hey, it's understandable after the weekend you had. Where do you work?"
"SIP. I've been there 10 years. Never missed a day. I started out as an assistant but my boss tried to rape me and was fired so I got the editor's job. I love my job."
I smile knowing that technically I'm actually her boss's boss's boss.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Was your handsy boss Jack Hyde?"
"Yes, how did you?"
"I own SIP.. security contacted me regarding the incident. I didn't know who it was but I was also informed that it wasn't his first incident but that you're the only one who fought back."
"Oh my God. So you're my boss?"
"Technically, boss's bosses boss. But anything that happens between us will not affect your work. I obviously never knew who you were until you just told me so there was absolutely no favoritism."
"Well thank you for the firing Jack thing."
"You're welcome. You got lucky. Most of the victims he succeeded with attacking but he recorded it and blackmailed them and had them blackballed if they dared speak of it. I corrected it and employed each of them again and gave them lost wages."
"That's very kind of you Mr. Grey. I have to get dressed. Meet you downstairs?"
"Indeed, milady."
I come down for breakfast after getting dressed and wait at the breakfast bar waiting for my guest. I have Gail fix us all pancakes and bacon.
I see Ana come down the stairs in her work attire. She's so beautiful, she takes my breath away.
"Gail's making bacon and pancakes. Is Avery up?"
"Yes, she's getting dressed. She will be down shortly. You can take her shopping after school. I'm going out for drinks with a friend. You can message if you need me for anything. Or call. Okay?"
"Sounds like a plan. Remember what I said about security. "
"Yes, dear." She smirks.
I give her and Avery a kiss on the cheek. "Anyone wanna ride with me today? Avery, I'll pick you up from school too for that shopping. Ana, I'm looking online for a house today so we can get that started."
"Thank you Christian. Sorry, I mean I appreciate everything." She knows how I feel about all the Thank yous.
"Can I ride with you Daddy?" Avery asks.
"Yes, you sure can. Grab your stuff. We need to go." I say.
"I'll ride too. I'm ready. Can I get dropped off first. I'm not my own boss. I cannot be late." She says.
"You and your smart mouth… Let's go."
We leave and drop off Ana first and then drop Avery at school. I'm going to have to talk to Ana about switching schools. This will be a security nightmare after everyone finds out she is my daughter. "Have a good day and text me if you need anything Avery. I love you."
"Love you too Dad."
I can't believe I just had that conversation with MY daughter.
After I arrive at work, I have Andrea look into listings for family friendly homes with a view in good neighborhoods.
She basically looked at me like I was crazy but then she did as she was asked. I better email Ana about switching Avery's school to maybe Bellevue since that's where I went.
From: Christian Grey
To: Anastasia Steele
Subject: school
Anastasia,
We dropped our daughter off at school this morning and I want to know if you would consider the possibility of transferring her to a Bellevue school since more than likely that's where we will be moving. The current school is a security nightmare and after it's discovered that she's my daughter that could be a huge problem.
Let me know.
Xx
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings inc.
I almost immediately get a reply.
From: Anastasia Steele
To: Christian Grey
Subject : school
Christian,
I will accept your request but just know I loathe accepting copious amounts of your money being spent on us but since this is a part of being associated with you and the safety of Avery I can live with this. If you think you will win me over with gifts, however, I may be quite rude.
I'm a simple girl and I don't want to be 'spoiled' nor do I want our daughter spoiled. Just keep it simple. She will not become a spoiled brat. She will learn to work hard eventually.
Anastasia Steele
Commissioning Editor, SIP
Fair point, but I will spoil them both to a certain extent. I just have to be subtle.
I think about offering her lunch today but knowing her she won't so maybe tomorrow.
At 2:30, I take off for the day and pick up Avery from school for some shopping.
About 6:30 I still hadn't heard from Ana so I decide to call.
"Hello?" a man answers.
"I'm calling for Ana. I need to speak with her about her daughter." I lie. Kind of.
"She's currently unavailable but I will have her call you back." I hear what sounds like a muffled scream in the background and then he hangs up. What the fuck?! Something is wrong.
"Avery honey, I need to take you home and need you to stay with Gail until I get something taken care of."
"Okay Daddy. Be safe and bring Mommy home."
I should've asked what friend she was having dinner with. Gail meets us in the garage to get Avery. I give her a kiss on the cheek and tell her I will see her soon.
"Taylor have Ana's phone tracked. Something is wrong and contact the security that's supposed to be tailing her. Some guy answered her phone and said she was unavailable and then I heard what sounded like her muffled screams."
"Her security said she was in a bar called Fifties drinking cocktails with a Hispanic man and everything seemed fine but then she started acting drunk and the guy walked her out. She was only drinking tea. She looked like she had no idea what was going on. Security chased them but they disappeared into an alley and by the time he got there an SUV, presumably with Miss Steele inside was speeding off. We're tracking her phone now. Let's just hope he wasn't smart enough to ditch it."
We track her phone and find an SUV parked in an alley by an abandoned building. We get backup security to follow us to check it out. I peek through the windows of the abandoned warehouse to find one light on near a mattress with Ana passed out on it with something stuffed in her mouth and her wrists and ankles bound. It takes a moment before we see the Hispanic Male probably about the same age as Ana come into the room and stand over her. He then bends down over her and starts rubbing over her body.
I whisper, "Taylor, do something before he hurts her or I will hurt him and I probably won't stop once I start."
"We have to make sure he is alone. Sawyer go in the other door. I'll go in this one. You try to negotiate and I'll come in behind him. Christian, you go in through that window back there and when we have him distracted, grab Ana."
We all nod and assume our positions. Sawyer sneaks in first and makes his presence known with his gun drawn and carefully approaches the man. "Sir, I need you to release Miss Steele. The man quickly pulls a gun and pulls Ana up and holds it to her head.
"I would drop your gun or you will get her back dead. She is mine and you cannot have her. We are going to Canada and going to live happily ever. She just has been led astray and doesn't want to acknowledge her feelings for me so it was time I helped her along." This man is delusional.
"Sir, if she wanted to go, she would be conscious. Can we make a deal. If you let her go, I'll let you go. If you hurt her, you will just die in prison. What will it be?"
He hesitates. He lays Ana down and holds the gun to Sawyer who has since dropped his weapon to subdue the man. He moves closer to Sawyer. I sneak in and carry Ana out quietly and Taylor sneaks up behind the man and knocks him unconscious with the butt of his gun.
They quickly restrain him and call the police. I sit in our suv holding Ana. I untie her restraints. She is still wearing all her clothes and doesn't appear to be harmed so he didn't have time to do anythingtoo her.
She starts stirring. "Ana?"
"Christian, Jose put something in my drink. Where am I?"
"He drugged you and brought you to a warehouse. He answered your phone and I could tell something was off so we tracked your phone and found you. We believe we were able to stop him before he hurt you. Do you feel okay? EMTs should be here soon."
"I'm fine. I thought he was my friend. He started professing his love for me telling me how we could be together after a drink then everything got fuzzy so I tried to leave but he walked with me and I was too weak to stop him and I blacked out and I remember nothing else. What a fucking friend? Can my week get any damn worse? Where's Avery?"
"Avery is with Gail. I'm gonna have to insist you have a CPO from now on. Yours wasn't close enough to get to you this time. A close one wouldn't let that happen."
"Fine. I want to see the EMTs and get checked out and go home and scrub this day off."
Jose is arrested and Ana is cleared and we go home. She bathes for an extended period of time. After about 90 minutes, I go to check on her. "Ana?"
No answer. "Ana if you don't answer I'm opening the door."
Still no answer. I unlock the door and barge in. I find her passed out in the tub with tear stains on her cheeks. I grab a towel and let the water out of the tub and grab her out and wrap her up. I take her into the bedroom, dry her off and put her in a pair of my boxers and one of my t-shirts. I lay her comfortably into bed and cover her up. I change into pajamas pants and climb into bed and hold her.
I'm hoping this week gets better for my Ana. She deserves better than this.