A/N: I want to thank everyone for their wonderful reviews, follows, and favorites. You all rock and blow me away!

Now for the legal stuff: I do not own the characters of FSoG which are copywrited by E.L. James. I do not make any income from this story nor intend to. I do own the plot line and any original characters.

Thank you again for reading. Our story continues...

Chapter 6:

Christian stood at the window of his office at GEH and listened to Taylor give his daily report on Ryder Hamilton. The man has been in Seattle for a week and has been uneventful in his quest to obtain his former sub. Christian had to admire those two girls; they were looking out for each other. He couldn't get close to Ana either even though she worked for his father at the law offices. They went to work at the same time, watching each other's back and they were never alone. They walked with work friends when going to lunch and even to their vehicles. Ana used the money for her VW to buy another used car. She was now driving a hunter green 2010 Chevy Tahoe. Christian didn't feel that it was a safe vehicle but it was better than that old hunk of junk that she lovingly called Wanda. When he finally got her back, he would buy her an Audi SUV if she wanted one. It would be her choice.

"Mr. Hamilton is very frustrated because Miss Steele and Miss Holt seem to know his moves. I don't know what games those girls are playing, but they are damn good at it."

"Don't forget, Ana is a fucking genius. Her mind is always going."

"Yes, however, she is very innocent." Taylor added.

"Not so much anymore after I got done with her, and believe me when I say, it fucking kills me to admit that. She knows I am watching her and waiting. She's being patient and trying to wait me out. She knows my game to well."

"Then, it's time to change your game, Mr. Grey. Maybe, it's time to be vulnerable and just tell her the truth."

Christian turned to his right-hand man and smiled. "And, what is the truth?"

"That you love her and that you will wait for her to realize and understand that. You will leave her alone, call off the goon squad as she calls Sawyer and Reynolds, and just be patient."

Christian couldn't do that. He was a man of actions. He went after what he wanted and he wanted Ana back in his life, back in his bed, and back in love with him. "What if she finds someone else?"

"Christian, the girl loves you. Do you honestly think that she would take up with another guy so soon?" Taylor asked. He fought the urge to roll his eyes knowing how Christian felt about that action. "She has to feel safe with you again. Can't you give her that?"

"That is what the security detail is for." He offered.

"Christian, please. We both know you use the security detail to spy on her. You know that, she knows that, and I know that. Why do you think she has been able to avoid them so well? She knows them and how they work. As you said, she is very intelligent and she is thinking a few steps ahead of us."

"Fuck." He pushed his hand through his thick wavy copper curls. "Call them off, but keep the apartment and the cameras on. They can be transmitted over to Escala to keep an eye out for whatever Hamilton may have planned. I don't care what he does to Miss Holt, but I don't want Ana caught up in it."

"It might be best if you took a meeting with Mr. Hamilton." Taylor offered. He still had his notebook open. "He has tried unsuccessful to gain entrance into Miss Holt's apartment twice. He was run off by security and once by Miss Steele. Did you know that she has a firearm?" Christian shook his head, but he wasn't surprised. Ana's father was ex-military and he probably taught his daughter about guns. "Mr. Hamilton has also attempted to make contact through Miss Holt's employment, but was escorted from the building when Miss Holt complained about his stalking. She is now escorted to and from the building by security. Her company has threatened legal action if Mr. Hamilton came onto their property once again." Taylor took a breath. "Mr. Hamilton then attempted to purchase the company but was thwarted by your father."

"My father?"

"Yes, it seems that Ana asked for a favor."

"She is resourceful, my girl." He said proudly and with a big smile. "So, how do I tell Ana that I am backing off?"

"A well written letter." Taylor said with a nod. "Make it sincere and mean what you write. She knows the written word and will spot any treachery on your part."

"The shit I do for love." Christian moaned. "Thank you, Taylor. Is there anything else?"

"Yes, your brother will be home in three days. I understand he is pissed off because he knows that you broke Ana's heart. I am sure Miss Kavanagh will be after your balls also."

"Well, great." Christian fell into his chair. "Can we keep them from returning? The last thing I need is Kate Kavanagh putting shit into Ana's head. Miss Holt is enough of a road block."

"I could have them arrested."

"Not that severe…have the resort offer them another week on the house. Knowing my horn dog brother and the tenacious Miss Kavanagh, they will not be able to say no."

"Will a week be long enough?"

"Yeah, after that, I will just have to work around them." Christian turned on his computer and fired up his email program hoping to find anything from the love of his life. As just like yesterday, there is nothing from Ana. There is, however, more than ten emails from Elena Lincoln. He clicked on a few and they all said the same to call her that she had business to discuss of a personal nature. He knew she was trying to fix him up with another Sub. He deleted each email. "Taylor, Mrs. Lincoln is no longer admitted into Escala or GEH. She is now on the no-show, no-call list. Make sure everyone knows that. You will also have to change the codes for the Penthouse."

"Yes, sir." Taylor said, and then mumbled. "It's about damn time."

"What was that, Taylor?"

"Nothing sir, just repeating your orders as I recorded them." He snapped his notebook close. "Is there anything else, sir?"

"No, Taylor."

Ana grimaced as she checked her email account but we relieved not to find a message from Christian. She frowned though when she saw one from a "R. Hamilton". She clicked on it and read what Ryder Hamilton wanted. He wanted to take a meeting with her at her discretion. She was to determine the time, the date, and the place. Ana sent a quick reply of "no". She then sent a copy of the email to Tara.

"Ana, can you join me?" She looked up to see Carrick smiling at her. "I have a few depositions to go through and I want your critical eye to scan them for me."

"Yes, Mr. Grey. Would you like me to bring you a coffee or tea?"

"No, thank you, Miss Steele." He picked up his messages off her desk. "Give me ten minutes then please join me in my office."

Ana only smiled. She loved working for Carrick Grey. It was sad that his youngest son did not pick up his courteous habits. She guessed that Carrick never lifted a hand towards Grace. She spent enough time with Mr. and Dr. Grey to know that they loved each other very much and that their marriage was very strong. She wished every night on the first star of the evening to find such a love sometime soon.

After two hours of reading through depositions, Ana gathered the paperwork to file and the notes to be typed. "Thank you, Ana." Carrick said with a tilt of his head. "Grace and I are having a small dinner party this evening. Would you care to attend?"
Ana bit her lip and shook her head. "I don't think that will be a good idea."

"He won't be there." Carrick said knowing why she declined. "Grace is having a planning dinner for the Coping Together fundraiser that we are hosting in less than a month. This is the final meeting. I know she would like for you to be involved."

"Why?"

"Because no matter what happens with you and Christian, you changed our son for the better and we adore you. Grace and I think of you as our daughter."

Tears welled up in Ana's eyes. "Carrick, that is very sweet and kind of both of you, but I still have to decline. It would feel odd to be in his childhood home."

"He loves you." Carrick said bluntly. "I know you really don't want to hear that, but it is the truth. Christian loves you, Ana….and he is hurting."

"Mr. Grey." She started but saw his raised eyebrows. "Carrick, I still care a great deal for your son, but we are not compatible. We are just too different."

"Sometimes opposites attract." He gave his lop-sided smile that he knew drove his wife crazy. Hell, if it charmed Grace into his arms years ago, maybe it would help to get this stubborn but intelligent woman back with his son. "You know, Grace and I are very different. She is loving, caring, and patient and I, well…I'm not patient and there are times that I can be a cold and unfeeling bastard."

"Never." She said not believing him.

He laughed. "Ask my boys. Elliot and Christian were always in some kind of trouble growing up. Grace would coddle them and I believe in tough love."

"Carrick, I know you want Christian happy, but I'm not the one. What he needs in his life I am unable to do."

Carrick did not understand what she was saying. He needed to know what this need of his youngest son was. "Please expand, Ana."

"I can't." She looked down at her folded hands that were in her lap. When she looked up a few moments later, she had tears rolling down her cheeks. She was still in love with Christian even though he had hurt her. She still yearned for his touch, for the sound of his voice, and his smile. "I will always love him, Carrick, but we can't be together."

"Why?" He said softly. He was out of his chair and before her leaning on the desk edge. He could see hurt in her beautiful blue eyes. "Did he hurt you, Ana? Did he hit you?" She looked away and did not answer which was his answer. His eyes narrowed in anger. Shit! Fuck! Damn it, Christian, what in the hell are you doing hitting a lady like Anastasia? "Ana, answer me?"

"I signed a NDA, so I cannot speak of our relationship." She whispered. She could not tell Christian's father about his lifestyle choices, mainly because she didn't understand why he was in it. "Please, don't ask me anymore questions."

Carrick nodded and appreciated her dilemma and her loyalty to Christian. "Why don't you go home, Ana? It's been a long hard day."

She slowly came to her feet. She was trembling. "I do love him, but I can't be with him. Please just let this drop. Trust me when I say that this is for the best."

Carrick watched her walk out of his office. He pushed his hair back in frustration. She still loved his son, his son still loved her and for some damn reason she was running away. He saw the pain in her eyes and he knew that Christian had been abusive to this delightful girl. He went back around his desk and grabbed his cell phone. "Andrea, this is Carrick Grey…is Christian free this evening?" He wrote on a piece of paper and thanked Andrea for the information. He checked the time then called his wife. "Honey, I will be a little late this evening, but I will be attending your dinner meeting."

Carrick was waiting beside Christian's SUV when he saw his handsome son approaching him with a smile. They came face to face. "Son." Carrick said sternly.

"Father." Christian said confused by the coldness of his parent.

"I have a question for you and I want an honest answer, Christian Trevelyan-Grey." Carrick stood straight with his shoulders squared. "Did you at any time while you were in a relationship with Anastasia Steele strike, hit, or cause any bodily harm to her person?"

Christian damn near fainted!