Chapter Twenty-Six

The Gala started precisely at seven PM and the master of ceremonies is a very funny comedian for the evening. There are a ton of fun activities for the charity gala. It's so great to be laughing so much. Our starters are being carried out and it is a lovely cold creamy shrimp soup, pared with the perfect wine. About an hour later our main course arrived and soft classical music played in the background as we all sat around talking about our up and coming wedding. Everyone is so excited about our pending nuptials. Near the end of our main course my phone vibrated in my clutch and it shows Ray's number.

(Here I got the shock of my life. I didn't even know that the Marines call Ray back to active duty and is now somewhere in Iraq already. Why haven't Ray told me? He only called to tell me when he already arrived in Iraq. Ray is there because of the Paris, 13th November bombings. Keeping these ISIS terrorists troop under control.) I excused myself and walked out of the tent and towards the house as I answered Ray's call.

'Hello.' I said as I answered and stepped through the French doors of the Grey's house.

'Miss Steele, it's General Brown.'

'What happened, sir?' I feel my whole body turn to ice. Christian came through the door and closed it behind him with Grace. I sit on the couch listening to the General.

'Ray was at the front lines and artillery fire broke out between us and ISIS troops and Ray got shot.'

'What?! When?' Now I'm in tears.

'Yesterday afternoon, near the Iraqi border were he got shot in the chest. He is in ICU here on base.'

'Thank you for letting me know General.' Christian and Grace sandwich me on the couch.

'You're welcome Ana dear.'

'General will you keep me posted on his progress please.' I asked him. I know he and Ray have been old friends for years now.

'I most certainly will. Stay strong sweet girl, Ray is a fighter he will get back on his feet again.' The General tried to give me a bit of hope.

'Yes, sir he will. He has to. He must give me away at my wedding, but I want to keep it a surprise for him when he gets back.'

'When is it maybe we can arrange something here?' The nice old General asked me.

'It's in six weeks from today sir.'

'Yes we can surely make it work. Don't worry Ana your, secrete is safe with me.'

'Thank you, sir and thank you for letting me know.'

'You're, welcome honey. Have a nice evening.'

'And the same to you, sir.' We hung up and Grace and Christian just looked at me.

'Ray got shot in the chest yesterday afternoon by ISIS troops and is in the M.E.S.H. ICU.' My first tears start to roll down my face. Christian pulled me to him. I pulled off my mask as Grace hand me a tissue to whip my tears with.

'He is getting the best care that I can't even give him Ana. I can give you my word on that. M.E.S.H. teams are the best at all the cutting edge medical skills and equipment. Ray will recover, honey.' Grace assured me.

'Thank you Grace. Your support is the one I value along with your wonderful son here and family.' Carrick came in to search for us.

'What is going on in here?' He asked walking towards us. Grace got up and pulled him to the side.

'Are you going to be alright baby?' Christian asked me, and gave my hairline a kiss.

'I don't know, I'm still in shock.' Christian took my hand and felt how cold I am.

'Jeeze Ana, your like ice.' He said and shrug out of his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. I sat forward rest my elbows on my knees and held my head in my hands. Christian got up and left to go talking to his parents.

Oh, daddy please don't die on me. Don't you dare die on me. I wrapped my arms around myself and lay on the arm rest of the couch. More of my tears ran down my face. Oh, Ray. Christian excused us from the rest of the gala. Carrick got Mia to gather our things from our table in the tent and brought it for us in the house. We said our goodbyes and we drove off. Taylor were at the wheel driving us back to Escala. Once we were in the great room I was sat down in front of the fireplace while Christian rushes about the penthouse, doing who knows what. I just sat staring at the flames. An hour later Kate and Elliot came rushing in and Kate just held me in her arms.

'So what did the doctors say?'

'Just that Ray was on the front lines on the Iraqi border when ISIS troops open fire and shot Ray in the chest and he is now in ICU.'

'He is a strong man Ana, he will pull through.' Kate hugged me again. Elliot and Christian talked as they both looked over to us on intervals.

'Thanks for coming Kate. I missed you these past few months.'

'I missed you too. I almost got to you tonight when one of my father's friends cornered me. We must have a girls evening sometime soon.'

'Yes, that would be nice. There has been one thing I was meaning to ask you, but I've been so busy at work and arranging our wedding.'

'Yes, we heard.' Kate smiled at me.

'Well, I wanted to ask you for a while now, to please be my maid of honor.'

'Oh, Ana I will be honored to be. Thank you. Let me guess you pick sweet energetic Mia to be your bride's maid.'

'Yes, a few hours ago in fact.' I smiled through my new tears.

'Come let's go make you some tea.' Kate said then she pulled me to the kitchen. We got busy around Christian's kitchen. The men wanted wine and beer and we just settled for tea. We rejoined the men in the great room. Christian sat next to me holding me to him. As Kate and I just listened to the men talk about baseball. I fell asleep on Christian's shoulder and I was later on carried to bed. I was zipped out of my dress between Kate and Christian I was tucked in after Kate whipped my make-up from my face. I was gone and was later woken by a really bad nightmare about Ray being actually killed in the line of duty. Christian cooed me awake, as I was crying in my sleep.

'Shhh... baby girl everything is alright now. It was just a bad dream.' He smoothed my bed head out of my face. He held me to him and I fell asleep as my favorite Christian scent helped me to drift into a better dream state.

By morning I was up early and I got into Christian's over-sized college football shirt and I set out to go make us some Sunday morning pancakes since Christian is still fast asleep. I was still mixing pancake batter when Elliot came walking down from upstairs in search of his jacket of last night for his cigarettes. He is only wearing pajama bottoms. He found his jacket and step out onto the balcony. Now that my best friend and future brother-in-law spend the night here I have to mix more pancake batter.

So I got to work and was almost halfway done when Christian found me in the kitchen talking to Elliot about how we met again after all these years. You know they really need to know things only the family needs to know, not all the stuff that goes on behind playroom doors. I can see Christian was getting very irritated with his brother and I intervened with actual food as Kate joined all of us and we enjoyed breakfast overlooking the greater Seattle below. After breakfast, Kate and Elliot left and we head back to bed it is, after all, Sunday and I fell asleep again with Christian watching me.

My ringing phone woke me and it was the General from Iraq. He is just giving me an update on Ray's condition and he is practically the same. I thanked the General and we hung up.

'So how is Ray?' Christian asked pulling me to him.

'He is still the same. No change yet.' Christian kissed my hair and I lay on his chest and so the morning drift on.

'You know even though most of our wedding things are already booked and paid for but we haven't picked a venue yet.' I utter hours later.

'What are you thinking sweet girl?' Christian asked smoothing my hair back so he can look at me better.

'That I really love the look over the sound at your parent's place do you think they will mind if we have the reception at their home.'

'Are you kidding me, you might have just made mother and Mia's day by having it there. I'll give them a call.' I gave his scruffy cheek a kiss. He really looks so hot in a day old beard. I rubbed the back of my fingers over his beard. He punched in the number of his mother and held his phone to his ear.

'I love your day old beard, Mr. Grey.'

'You do?'

'Yes master, it's very sexy.' He smiled at me and pulled me closer so he could kiss me. His call connects and he was talking to his mother and she was clearly overjoyed by our change in venues. As for me, on the other hand, I was up to no good. I threw my football shirt on the floor and step out of my lace thong and then just sat on my man's harden manhood and started to sway my hips so it was getting to be kind of difficult for him to concentrate with his call to his mother as I kept up the rhythm of toying. About forty minutes later he finally hung up and pinned me to our bed as he pins my hands above my head.

He clearly had enough of my slow and pure torture and really let me have it. I came around him and he presses on and upward. Over and over he went, I already came four times and he is still going. We later lay facing each other and with us laying on our side nose to nose and my legs raised to my chest he gets back to pounding on and faster. I came about two more times as we made love into the morning. We just finished when Taylor rushed into our room with Ryan and Prescott, more of Christian's security.

'Taylor, what's going on?' Christina asked sitting up in bed.

'Someone attacked one of your cars sir, Sawyer is running the surveillance footage with Welch.'

'What? When?' Christian asked looking from me to Taylor.

'This morning sir after my rounds in the garage.' Taylor let Christian know.

'Do we know who it is?' I asked covering myself with the bed sheets.

'No ma'am not yet that is what Sawyer is trying to find out. We have thoroughly inspected every inch of the penthouse sir and there are no signs of forced entry anywhere.'

'Good work Taylor. Please keep me posted on the footage.' Ryan got back into our room after checking the balcony and the fire escape. Everything is clear. So the three of them left.

After that Christian and I got in a shower and got ready for the day. While Christian is working in his study, I was also working my tail off in the TV slash library room. I was defining the e-book layouts and by mid-afternoon, I was pulled from my work and I taught Christian how to make pasta with Mrs. Jones wonderful pre-made bolognese sauce. We heat it up and sat down and ate our early dinner.

We just finished dinner when Taylor came to get Christian to go show him the footage the security team gathered for the day.

Christian pulled me behind him which was weird for me since he usually talks to Taylor alone about these sorts of things. He dragged me till I sat on his lap behind his desk in his study as we watch the computer screen as Taylor explains and tells us what we are seeing here. But the figure on the screen is rather familiar. I just can't put my finger on it.

On one of four small screens on the computer you can see the person breaking his way into the underground parking garage than with a tin of paint he threw it out on one of Christian's cars but more over the windshield so you can't really drive it. I looked at Christian as he sighs heavily and then looks so tired. I cupped his face in my hands.

'Hey, we will catch this ass. Please don't look so defeated. There is something familiar about this man though I just can't put my finger on it.'

'What do you recognize Miss Steele? Please share.'

'The way this man walks and carries himself and not to mention his body language it's of a very disturbing nature.'

'You got all that from just watching this man, ma'am?' Taylor asked surprised.

'Yes, I have.'

'Miss Steele here can read people better then any fortune teller can only dream of. Yet she's no magic user but only use her very developed senses.' Christian added with a smirk.

'Very well. What does Miss Steele observe about me then?' Taylor asked and I looked at Christian and he smirked as he nods his head at me. I got off his lap and walked around to where Taylor was standing and looked him up and down as I circle him once.

'You have been married before and you were caught off guard by a divorce when you thought all was fine. You recently found a new love judging by your fancy cologne and you love your job and take every once of data that you gather very seriously. You're a hard man to get to know but a true friend in need. Your daughter is very fond of you and you clearly are a great father.' I looked up into his eyes and they are a light hazel color.

'You have dark war secrets you don't want to share and your favorite color is powder blue. You have a real romantic fantasy you want to live out with your new love.' I added and Taylor's mouth hit the floor. I looked back at the Christian and he has his full-blown American boy smile on his handsome face.

'How did you do that ma'am? Not even with all my Marine and FBI training did I ever seen such a skill before.'

'I observe Mr. Taylor and I have to have this skill to run my own business and to read my clients to know their desires before they even do.' I answered Taylor as I sat back on Christian's lap.

'Business?' Taylor asked.

'Yes, Taylor business. It is listed under Miss Steele's profile on our system. You can go take Gail there if you want to have a good time.' Christian explained to Taylor. Then it hit me like I just walked into a brick wall. The familiar man is no... but how can he...

'I know who that man is in the video?'

'Who baby?' Christian encircle my waist with his arms while I sat on his lap.

'It's Jack Hyde.' I breathed.

'Jack Hyde ma'am are you sure?' Taylor asked.

'Yes, I've worked four months for that asshole, I will know that lazy ass swagger anywhere.'

'I'll look into it, Mr. Grey.' Taylor spoke up and was heading for the security surveillance room.

'Thanks, Taylor.' Christian turned back to me. 'So I see you observed your old boss very closely to remember that.'

'Well, how can I not the man tried to get close to me at every twist and turn. He really likes to invade someone's personal space and it is not just me. I noticed he had the nature to do it to all the woman in the office. Yet I don't know how he couldn't take a hint that all the women he interacts with basically have the same reaction towards him. At arms length and run really fast the other way. He really gave off such a super creepy vibe.'

'I'm just glad he is not your boss anymore.' Christian gave me a kiss. I gave him a kiss back. Taylor later returned while we were still in Christian's study.

'Sir. Ma'am. I had a look into Miss Steele's playhouse and Gail and I would like to make our very first appointment if Miss Steele is up for it.' Taylor blushed as he spoke to us or more me.

'Look, Taylor, there is really nothing to be embarrassed about it is perfectly normal to explore all sexual plain fields. I'll start you two off at the beginners level.'

'Thanks, Miss Steele.' I picked up Christian's desk phone and called Sue my playhouse secretary.

'Hello, Sue, Steele here. I would like to make a couples appointment for...' I held the phone to my shoulder to talk to Taylor.

'This evening ma'am, Gail and I we are both off duty.' Taylor spoke to me and Christian's mouth turned into another smirk.

'For this evening. Really? Okay, eight PM it is then. See you tonight.' I hung up and wrote on a piece of paper for Taylor with the address. I hand it to him.

'Thank you, ma'am. We'll see you at Milady's tonight.'

'Of course. I always keep my appointments.' Taylor nods his head then left the study.

'I see you're recruiting my staff as your new subs, Miss Steele. I think I will have to arm wrestle you for that one.'

'Hey. I'm not stealing anyone. This is how I use to get my clients back when I was still with Master Louise. Yet I still use it to win over newbie clients every day with my talents Mr. Grey, not everything is won over by sexy CEOs in all sorts of fancy cars and two-thousand dollar suits. Some people find the pure powers of the mind a huge turn on, Mr. Grey.'

'I have observed your powers at work before Milady and I really do know how every so-called newbie feels when they encounter you at first meeting.' He kissed me, I kissed him back.

'Oh, shoot.' I picked up Christian's desk phone again.

'What now?'

'If Jack is out and about destroying things I have to put my playhouses under high alert as well.' Sue picked up and I gave her the story with instructions to our handful of playhouse security. Here in Seattle and in Portland. We hung up and she made the calls for me to alert everyone about Jack.

'Nice Miss Steele I would have probably taken the same action if I were in your shoes. Now come let's go take a quick shower since we are going out this evening for some fun.'

'You're coming along love?' I asked him as we walked towards his bathroom.

'Yes, one of your dom's can fit me in for a teaching session while you work over my staff.'

'Oh, Mr. Grey what will I ever do with you.'

'You could marry me and well then we can disappear altogether. How does our very own Island sounds?' He joked as he bit the tip of his tongue playfully. I really do love playful Christian he really makes a rare appearance.

'It sounds too good to be true. So when can we leave?' I joked back.

'Well, my realtor is looking in on the matter and will get back to me this week.' His tone changed and it pulled my attention back to him as we step into the shower.

'You're really serious about this.'

'As a heart attack. Some fool is selling his three islands just off the coast of South America and I'm considering on buying them.'

'To do what with Mr. Grey?'

'To have our own breakaway place with a ton of privacy.'

'Okay love just tell me quickly how many times are we going to use it, if we all work all the time?' I asked folding my arms around his neck as the cascading waters of the shower fall over us.

'I haven't really thought of that? But what if we buy it now and retire there in a few years with our kids.'

'Kids?'

'You want kids one day Miss Steele?'

'I don't know, I haven't really thought about it that far in advance yet.' I admit.

'Very well we can talk about it on our honeymoon.' He smiled then kissed me.

'Honeymoon? Will you at least tell me where we are going so I can pack appropriately?' I asked as we start washing.

'Nope, that is 100% a surprise. What I can tell you is that we are going for three whole weeks.' He spoke as he washed.

'Three weeks. I have to talk to Roach about it first thing on Monday.'

'Relax I have already talked to him. He okay'ed it.'

'He... he did?' I turned to face him.

'Yeah, he did. He also told me that you guys at SIP are looking at buying a print house so you can start cutting extra costs and start running your own prints.'

'Yes, we've all been talking about it for the past month and it would really help us and our great authors in this matter. With our current client growth's we really need to look into this matter rather urgently.' I lay it out.

'We're going to have to call a meeting to talk about all this real soon then.' Christian spoke in his big boss voice.

'Good that would be great. Now let's get going.' I squeezed past Christian purposefully brushing past him on my way out of the shower. He grabbed my arm and turned me around and press me up against the wall with my arms pinned above my head to the wall. He kissed me.

'I love you, Miss Steele.'

'I love you so much more Mr. Grey it hurts.' I smiled at him.

'I don't think I could ever get tired of hearing you say that my sweet Ana.'

'I really love hearing it too. But I can't wait anymore to become Mrs. Grey.' I smiled. He kissed my forehead and we finally turned off the shower and got dried off and dressed. I got into my pencil skirt with a blouse and stocking and high heels. Christian smiled when he looked me over.

'What sexy?'

'You look like you're ready for a business meeting at Grey House.

'Will soon Milady's Steele will become Grey so in a way it will become Grey 'play' house two point oh.' I smirked at him a little.

'Are you smirking at me Milady?'

'Yes, I sure am Master Grey.' He sat on our bed and pulled me over his lap and gave me a quick delicious spanking. Then let me go. I stood up stepped in between his legs and cupped his still scruffy face in my hands.

'My wonderful and full of surprises fiancé. You're the only one with my heart in your hands please keep it safe for me.'

'I will, as long as you promise me to safeguard mine with these delicate hands.'

'You have my word, Mr. Grey. Would you like a contract to that effect or is verbal agreement doable?'

'Verbal agreement is perfectly fine Miss Steele.' After that, we drove off with Taylor and Mrs. Jones who I now know as Gail is driving behind us to my playhouse. We got there and Christian and I with Taylor and Gail walked into Milady's.

'Hi, Sue. How are things looking today?' I asked my secretary.

'Everyone is overbooked for the past week and the coming two weeks we're just as busy.'

'Good.' I glanced over the appointment book and everyone is very busy and at a basic session of three- hundred dollars, people somehow pay it with a smile and for our exclusive members, we have it at seven-hundred and fifty dollars per session. But for my dear boy Taylor, he can come here at his leisure because he keeps my fiancé safe every single day.

'Milady a Mr. Fletcher has been calling here wanting to have a session with you all the way from Portland.'

'What? I thought Cherrie is keeping him busy there? I'll give him a call once I've broken in our newbies here.' I let her know.

'Very well Milady. Shell, I get the tea room ready for you and Mr. Grey here?'

'Yes please with two extras as well I need to go over something's with them first.'

'Of course Milady.' She hands me our newbie info packet and I shown Taylor and Gail with a grinning Christian to our courtyard tea room. We all sat down with a tea tray full of teas and coffees with yummy fresh muffins on it for Taylor and Gail to drink and eat to their heart's content.

'Now, there are a few basic things you two need to know and learn on your own time. This here is your information packet it has more literature in here explaining our way of life here and how our community of discreet members move around.

'Sorry Miss Steele or is it Milady here?' Gail asked drinking her tea.

'It's Milady, Mrs. Jones. But Ana in this situation here. You wanted to ask me a question, Mrs. Jones?'

'Oh, yes. You said this is a lifestyle, what did you mean by that?'

'It means when some people enter this lifestyle like Mr. Grey and I we work our everyday lives in this world and yes there are the singular ones that come here for something so-called exotic and something extreme but they all run out of here so fast their skid marks are all still in the parking lot. So what I mean by lifestyle is that we all exercise to stay so to say sex fit at all times. We sometimes have mixer evenings here and all our community of the BDSM world come together here and we make new acquaintances either in the business sector or form new friendships and relationships. Now onward. In the BDSM world, we have sub-worlds within it. We have groups that only love the BD or Bondage and Domination part of the society and then there are others that prefer the SM or Sadistic and Masochism of the society. Then you get your groups where only singular sectors of the BDSM world work for them but most of the times it is two aspects mixed beautifully together.

When you've finished your teas I can go and show you these two groups at work. If you are both still interested after our tour then we can only start you on your beginner's session.' Taylor drank the last of his tea and looked at Gail that smiled at him. They really are so in love with each other it is so clear to see.

'Oh before I forget in the info packet are a standard BDSM contract and in the booklet, it tells you all you need to know and what everything in the contract means, their functions and their roll in the scene and heresy play. But for tonight you'll both sign only an evening Contract with an NDA once you decided to conduct a scene after the tour.' I let them quickly discuss it amongst themselves while Christian and I step away for a while letting them talk.

'That was a nice introduction Milady. I wish I had an introduction into this lifestyle like that.'

'Yeah well, we kind of thrust ourselves into this lifestyle you and I but, yet it would have been nice to have such an introduction. But we can't always have what we want. You simply have to work through it all to get to your goal.'

'True so it didn't make us fall in love with this lifestyle less.' I nod my head at his statement. 'Perhaps I'm making this too easy on my newcomers.'

'No not at all. I have been a member of your playhouse since you opened this one in Seattle and even then with all my riches I couldn't get in here without your screening process you put in place.'

'You think so? I did that to keep my staff save and also my clients.'

'Well, it has worked so far. Keep on doing what you've been doing and keep your playhouse security tight and you'll be alright love.' This is where I have to bring up my next order of business.

'Okay, Mr. Grey please sit I want to discuss something with you quickly.' We sat on the bench under the cherry blossom tree.

'What is angel face? Is something wrong?'

'No nothing is wrong. I have an idea I want to pitch to you and want to have your opinion on the matter.'

'Go ahead love.'

'I have been toying with the idea for a while now to buy the property next door and extend the playhouse to a BDSM nightclub with viewing boxes in the basement.' I lay out the plans that have been burning the back of my mind for a while now. He was silent till Taylor and Gail interrupted us.

'Milady. We would like our tour now if it is okay.' Gail spoke up.

'Sure. After our tour, I will show you to the couple's changing room where you'll change your clothes and follow my instructions exactly. Then once you are in the playroom I'll prepare for us. We will start at the very beginning where I will test your pain and pleasure levels.'

'Pain and pleasure?' Taylor asked panicking a little.

'Yes, you see in this lifestyle it is not all about using our simple toys it is the practice of the fine line between pleasure and pain. The word pain is such a dull English description really. Pain in the right amount and the right setting can be quite pleasurable without you even knowing it yourself yet your very own body gets aroused by it and on the pleasure side it can get so good that it really hurts. So you see it is purely a state of mind by the mere words pleasure and pain. Don't look so worried I'm your teacher now and if this is the route you've both chosen then I will keep being your teacher till you are ready to move on to more.' I smiled up at them.

'Please don't look so worried Milady Steele here is the very best Dominatrix in the business. And I had quite a couple of dom's in my lifetime and none of them come up to parr to Milady Steele here. You're both in the best hands here.' Christian stood up and spoke to Taylor and Gail to ease their clear nerves.

'With a vote of confidence like that from Mr. Grey, it must surely be true.' Taylor spoke up and held Gail closer to his side.

'Now let's all start your tour.' We all step back into the moaning, yelling and screaming playhouse and in between it there is a hint of my favorite classical music Vivaldi. 'Here at Milady's Seattle, we have a total of ten playrooms. I am sure you both know how Mr. Grey's playroom look at Escala since you both work for him.'

'Yes, Milady we know it.' Gail spoke up and smile slightly.

'Well, these playrooms here are a little more basic so we can change the décor in a few minutes to whatever scenario we want to live out on the fantasies and desires of our clientele.' I open the first door of an empty playroom to give them a general idea, of the order of the rooms. We moved on and I showed them our stacks of brand new toys. Each toy being used on our regular clients gets washed and stored in a filing system under the specific regular client's name and details so the toys are their own being used over and over only on them. All our new clients always – always get's new toys.