Chapter four

"Elena," Christian said, taking a step away from Ana. "I thought we had plans for later?"

Ana looked between Christian and this woman—Elena, and took an even further step back. She wasn't naïve enough to assume he wasn't dating, but seeing him with another woman in vivid color was still a hard pill to swallow.

"Well, Jerry told me that I didn't have to stay for the full shoot so I'd thought I stop by earlier than planned," Elena said, leaning in and kissing Christian on the cheek, making sure her blood red lipstick didn't smear against his skin.

Her gaze shifted to Ana's and then back to Christian. "Oh, I'm sorry. Are you busy right now?"

She looked back at Ana, giving her a once over. Ana could see the judgement in Elena eyes, knowing she thought Ana couldn't possibly be anything more than Christian's employee.

"Actually yes, I am." He glanced back at Ana. "Pardon my manners. Elena this is Anastasia Steele. Ana this is Elena Lincoln."

Elena held out her hand. "His girlfriend," she finished.

Ana gave her a tight smile. "Pleasure to meet you." She turned to Christian. "I'd hate to take up anymore of your time. I'll just go fetch Elsa and we'll be on our way."

Before Christian could stop her, she pulled open his office doors and disappeared inside. Elena caught his attention before he could follow her.

"Is she a new employee?" she probed.

"No. An old friend." He kept his tone cold so she wouldn't be tempted to probe anymore. But in usual Elena fashion, she disregarded his tone.

"An old friend? Why have I've never heard of her?" She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him with her cool, crystal clear blue eyes.

Christian sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Listen, Elena, can we do this later? I don't really have the time or energy to get into it with you right now."

She pursed her lips. "Well if you think I'm going to leave so you can catch up with your old friend, you must think I'm stupid."

Christian rolled his eyes and turned around, opening the door to his office with Elena right behind him.

"But why?" Christian heard Elsa ask as they entered his office.

She looked over at him, a small smile on her face and she was about to say something, but then Elena came into view and her smile disappeared. Christian caught the look Elsa gave Ana.

"Okay, let's go, Elsa. I guess we'll be seeing you soon, Christian." Ana grabbed Elsa's arm and pulled her toward the door. "It's was nice meeting you," Ana murmured as she passed Elena.

Elena gave her a tight, insincere smile and watched them leave. When the door closed behind them, she turned to Christian with a raised brow.

"An old friend here with a kid? Really? Let me guess, she came here telling you have a child after all these years, knowing that you're a billionaire now," she scoffed and walked towards hi bar and pulled a bottle of water from the mini-fridge. "Please don't tell me you've fallen for that, Christian."

She was just about to take a sip when she caught his eye. "Oh my God you have, haven't you?" She set the bottle down and started for him. "Christian, babe—"

She stopped short when a knock sounded on his door and then slowly opened. Christian stood up straight when Elsa poked her head around the door.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything I just wanted to give you something," Elsa said, giving Elena an ill-disguised look of indifference. Walking over to his desk she pulled a pen and a notecard off his desk. She looked at him for permission and when he nodded his head she wrote an address down on it. "My mom and I were staying at the Fairmont, but Grandpa and Grandma are making us stay with them. Grandma usually cooks dinner." She gave him a self-conscious shrug. "I thought I'd invite you over, you know if you wanted to come. I mean, you don't have to if—"

"I'll be there," Christian said with a smile, amused and a little touched by her flustered state.

She beamed up at him. "Great! Here's the address. We usually eat around six."

"Okay. I'll see you later."

Christian could see how her eyes lit up at his acceptance, and he felt a happiness he'd never experienced bloom in his chest.

"Okay. Bye." She waved as she walked toward the door.

"Bye."

He looked at the closed doors and was about to turn and sit in his chair when he remembered Elena was still there. She was looking at him with a dumbfounded expression.

"What?" he asked, exasperated.

"What do you mean, 'what?'" she snapped. "Did you really just accept her invitation to spend time with her and her mother and family? Knowing that we had dinner reservations tonight?"

Christian fell into his seat with a drawn out sigh. "Listen, Elena. We've had dinner before and there'll be another time we can have dinner. Stop making such a big deal about this."

Her mouth fell open. "Excuse me? Well, I'm sorry for having a problem with my boyfriend spending time with some woman from his past and her daughter." She stopped, her lips thin as she glared at him. "Was she really here to talk to you about that girl?"

"That's none of your concern," he snapped.

"But I think it is. And there's no reason for you to get snippy with me, unless you're not telling me something."

"Jesus, Elena!" he shouted and balled his fists on his desk. "You're pissing me off more than usual. What I do in my office is none of your damn business and I've told you that before. If you can't respect my privacy than maybe you should go and don't bother coming back."

He watched as her blue eyes turned into hot flames and her red lips thinned in anger. And just like a switch went off in her brain, her eyes softened, her lips went back to their natural pout and her body relaxed. She gave him a contrite smile and stood in front of his desk.

"I'm sorry, Christian. You know I don't mean to be so intrusive. I just don't want you slipping through my fingers. Please forgive me. I'll just reschedule dinner for tomorrow, it's no problem."

His expression didn't change; he was still irritated with her but gave her a sharp nod. She grinned and clapped her hands together.

"Fantastic. Well I'll let you get back to work. I know how busy you are. I'll see you later tonight?" she asked with bright eyes.

"I don't know. I'll call you," he muttered.

"Alright, babe." She came around his desk and gave him a cheek to cheek kiss, making sure she placed her body seductively against his. Christian rolled his eyes, understanding the moment she leaned in what her intentions were.

Elena pulled away from him, blowing him a kiss as she turned and headed for his office doors.

Christian watched her leave his office, not feeling guilty about having no intentions of calling her later that evening. He and Elena had a complicated relationship. He saw it more as sexual while she thought they were in a committed relationship. He never corrected her assumption because he saw no real reason to. But now he did have a reason.

He looked down at the address in his hand, observing his daughter's handwriting. He wouldn't let anyone keep him away from his daughter again.

I figured since I'm not sure when the next update will be and because some of you practically begged I wouldn't keep you waiting long ;) I hope you enjoy.

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Happy reading!