AN: I would first like to say thank you to those readers who still have an interest in this story – really, I do appreciate you.

2016 was a horrible year for me and my family, from car accidents half way across the country, to sudden deaths (my grandmother was 99, so we understood how limited our time was, but somehow I think we'd thought she'd live forever – my father's death however, less than a month later was sudden.) So it's official I have no parents or grandparents, it was a very difficult time for me and in addition to my own health issues (I have my fourth infusion of chemotherapy this coming Tuesday) which are just now being resolved, I did not have it in me to write even one syllable for a very long time.

I must admit that while I haven't been inundated with nasty guest comments on my story, the few I did receive bothered me much more than I thought they would, fortunately I was able to delete those sometimes mean spirited cowards. Interestingly enough I had one reader bluem55 ( a registered reader who has written zero stories by the way) who felt he/she needed to declare that the story was no longer satisfactory and made the unsolicited declaration that he/she would be unfollowing both myself and the story, because it was boring and just like all the other stories. To Bluem55 I say…you can go have intercourse with yourself. I'm writing a love story with a HEA, I like keeping the drama at a minimum and with everything going wrong that could go wrong at the time, that were out of my control - I wanted my characters to be happy and in love. So sue me.

I also blocked one reader, because of his/her incredibly insensitive PMs – sending me question marks as a subject even, when I didn't update as quickly as I had in the past, demanding that I update my story after I shared what was going on with me and my family. I get that he/she was enjoying the story perhaps, but understand, there are real people behind these keyboards. How about a little compassion and patience? I saw this same person leave rude comments on other stories as well so I'm not unique, he/she enjoys criticizing characters or storylines, again someone who has written jack shit but has the temerity to be hypercritical of the hard work and creativity of those who do this VOLUNTARILY and out of a love for storytelling. I hope he/she gets a life or gets laid properly which ever works.

Lastly, thank you Madison0705 for continuing The Arrangement (one of my all time faves) – You inspire me.

I know it's been so long a lot of people won't remember where I left off, luckily there are only fourteen chapters thus far. I won't commit to a time frame for updates, I will say I'll do the best I possibly can.

Happy Easter and thanks for your patience and for reading.

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Chapter 14 – Boundless Energy

ElenaPOV

"What do you want!? Tell me!"

My pleas fall on deaf ears as usual, I haven't heard a voice other than my own for some time, I don't deserve to live like an animal, no one does – I never really hurt anyone, they loved it; yes, a few of the foolish ones loved me in spite of my tutelage. What can I say, I'm one hell of a woman.

"Why won't you talk to me? At…at least tell me how long I'm going to be here." I say barely above a whisper. I feel so helpless, ironically. I never thought before now that there could be a fate worse than death, I was wrong – for the first few weeks I anticipated death and the end of my misery, until I had the unavoidable epiphany that my misery was exactly the point of all of this. I don't live in fear of death I live in my thoughts, in my loneliness and despair. I know there is no respite for the pain I feel, most of it not physical – I know that there is no one who misses me, who longs to see me. There's just me…and my prisons, the prison of these walls and my thoughts.

When I married Linc he knew very little about me, about my past…my needs. He was good to me I guess, but I needed more than he could ever give me – he had women, I knew, but I never fussed much about the little things because in my mind it was a trade-off for the lifestyle I wanted to maintain. He wasn't abusive, not physically anyway – but he was neglectful. Linc travelled a lot and when he was in town he was more focused on business than he was on being a husband; from the beginning he made it clear that children were not going to be part of our marriage; no big deal since I wasn't the maternal type at all, and besides who wants to be tied down to little brats when there was plenty of travel, shopping and ladies who lunch to keep me busy.

I had come from humble means and vowed to myself when I was a child that I would never be like my mother, a woman who had been beaten and broken by life and love. She loved my father and brother, but seemed put off by me, never really bonding with me. She lived to please my father in any way she could, no matter how he disrespected and neglected her – no he was the love of her life, it was she that taught me love was truly for fools. She constantly put me down and where my brother could do no wrong it was just the opposite for me. As a result I've never really cared for women or trusted them enough to build real relationships with them, what would be the point? Oh sure I managed to eek out a social circle based on my personal need for social acceptance, but most of them were a means to an end, I had no friendships that didn't yield benefits for me. I cut off contact with my family years ago, I have no idea what became of them after I left home at seventeen. My brother was an asshole who ignored me and never protected me from bullies at home or at school, it was as if he felt he needed to compete for the attention and favor he clearly already owned, that and he just enjoyed treating me like shit. I haven't spoken to him in decades and that suits me just fine. I hope his life is shit and I hope my mother is rotting in hell.

My only real friend was Christian. Christian was always special to me, I've never been more attracted to anyone. If I could love someone, it would be Christian. It was my intention to stay away from him, but I must admit those pictures in that gossip rag vexed me, I had to get a closer look. There is nothing remarkable about her, she could never command a room or a man's attention the way I always did, she was nothing like me. Was that his point? Was this about me? Why did he tell her those awful lies about me? Why is he pretending that we meant nothing? If I ever get out of here I will help him to see reason, I know this is all her doing.

###

APOV

Christian has arranged a catered brunch for our family and friends, including Gail, Taylor and the rest of the security staff to enjoy the morning after our engagement party. He woke me to share this little tidbit after he kept me up damn near all night long screwing me into post surprise engagement oblivion. I was shocked when I stepped in front of our vanity this morning and discovered hickies trailing from my outer to my inner thighs, my obvious astonishment was met with his knowing smirk. This man is insatiable, and this woman is lucky.

After post engagement round…I cannot even remember what round, I am finally dressed and ready for brunch wearing a long flowing silk pink dress with black polka dots by Juan Carlos Obando with Gianvito Rossi leather cut out booties. I decide to wear my hair up in a high ponytail and my diamond hoop earrings.

Our families arrive right on time at around eleven, clearly still in celebratory mode from last night's festivities. With soft jazz playing through the system in the penthouse we hang out with our family engaging in comfortable conversations that at time takes on animation as the excitement abounds. Jaiden is floored by the penthouse, first asking how many people live with us. I realize how large our home must feel to a small child, but to be honest it has always felt cozy and homey to me – always filled with warmth.

Hours after we've all sampled and sipped at our leisure from the outrageously decadent buffets, RJ pulls me aside to share with me that he woke this morning to find mom sneaking back into the suite they share, still wearing her dress from last night. I of course had noticed that my parents looked extremely chummy during the party last night, but I didn't want to read much into it, lest I be disappointed.

"Mommy and Daddy wuuub each other" RJ says in a baby voice with the goofiest grin ever and we both howl with laughter.

"Ana, the two of them have been at this for a while – they're like married with benefits or some shit – they have been 'dating'…" he makes quote marks in the air "for a while now. One morning I saw dad leaving around six, they're so ridiculous, and I'm happy for them, I just need for them to get it together and face the fact that they don't want or need to be apart. I'm leaving soon and I want Jaiden to have both of them at home together, I want her to have…what we had." He says looking somewhat forlorn. "Hell the only bright spot in this is that they've learned to be quiet about it."

"Oh no RJ! tell me you haven't heard them too." I stare at him incredulous with shared sibling horror.

"Hold me." He says looking at me wide eyed mimicking terror. The two of us are in hysterics. God I've missed my little brother. I'd forgotten how funny he is.

I'm suddenly sad he'll be on the other side of the country very soon, what if he decides to practice law in D.C. or New York, oh I can't think like that – he hasn't spent one semester in undergrad and I've already got him becoming an east coaster - I need to calm down.

"I'm going to miss you so much – you have to promise to stay in touch."

"And you and Christian have to come and hang out with me in D.C. sometime. I'm going to send for Jaiden to come out when she's ready to fly to see me. Jaiden is a trip, she mini mothers me all the time, in that she tries to do for me all the time – it took me a while to get her to understand that she didn't have to do things for me so that I would care about her. Mom is amazing with her and every chance I get I take her everywhere I can with me, like you did with me, I want her to have memories of me being a good big brother, especially since I'll be away for months at a time."

"I always got the feeling you hated being dragged around with me and my friends when you were little."

"Sometimes I did hate it especially when you went to the mall with that silly Melanie – you didn't even like shopping that much, but for the most part I just wanted to be around you…we had fun, it's too bad we're just now learning about Jaiden, she's a good kid."

"I promise I will spend some quality sibling time with her while you're on the east coast. But I have a feeling that the three of them will be quite busy doing their own thing too, so I'm hoping to get some time on her busy schedule."

"Jaiden is taking Tae Kwon Do this summer and she told me she was going to ask mom if she could take piano too."

RJ decided to end his relationship with Darianne, he's not ready to settle down nor settle, and he thinks the distance will be a factor. The final straw was when it was obvious that she was none too happy that he brought Jaiden along for a movie date. She acted like a brat and it was not just a major turn off but the perfect opportunity to call it quits.

"I really want to focus on school and not a relationship, I'm not ready to settle down and she was I think more interested in being taken than she was being taken by me."

"Well what do you think of all of this. I mean Christian and all, it's important to me…"

"He's a great guy Ana, seriously. And he's deeply in love with you, so deep I think he believes you might disappear if stops staring at you." He says nudging me playfully.

"But seriously, the guy is goofy in love with you and I don't have to worry anymore about your being here in Seattle without anyone to look out for you."

"You worried about me?"

"Of course. You have always been oblivious to the effect you have on guys, hell half of my friends wouldn't even have been my friends if they weren't trying to get a peek at you. You've always been sweet and good and you deserve a guy like Christian who is going to buy you yachts and giant diamonds – he's the guy every guy wants for his sister. Hell, he even came with a brother for bitter Kate." I spit out my drink.

"Bitter Kate? Is that what you call her?" I cough.

"No Ana, that's what we all call her. Why do you think her parents named her after a Shakespeare character – they knew after just one look at her."

This is some of the meanest and funniest shit I've ever heard. Kate is my bestie, but RJ has a point.

"You're the only one that likes her, she's nasty and totally unpleasant to be around, I didn't think she was capable of smiling until this weekend and even then I thought she might just be constipated. Do you know she actually hugged me?! I thought she was going to stab me with the shrimp fork she had in her hand at the time. I like Elliot and I've never even spoken to the guy – but, any person that could turn bitter Kate sweet is alright in my book."

I can't help but laugh at RJ, but in all seriousness I too am grateful for Elliot as well as for the change in Kate.

"I guess I never really paid attention to how other people might view Kate, she's always been a good friend to me."

"Yep, and that's pretty much the only reason anybody put up with her."

"She really has changed, being with Elliot has brought out a much softer side of Kate, the fact that our business is going well is an added bonus. Kate has finally learned to relax and enjoy her life, rather than focus on what her dad and others think of her, she put an enormous amount of unnecessary pressure on herself. It's amazing what a good man can do."

I hear Christian roar with laughter from across the great room and look over at him tossing his head back laughing about something no doubt Elliot has just said to him.

CPOV

"Chris, you're getting married bro."

"I know." I say unable to hide my smile. "Ana is an amazing woman, we've decided to get married about four months from now, are you available to be my best man?"

"I think I can fit you into my schedule." He looks a little sad so I ask him what's going on.

"I don't know, I feel like I'm losing my best friend…almost. I know it's silly as hell, but everything is changing."

"I used to be your favorite person now you're tossing me aside for a stupid girl." he says pouting like a five year old. We both laugh our asses off.

While I realize that El is just joking, I know there is a sadness there because it's truly been he and I against the world for such a long time – I just have to make sure to do my part to make sure we remain as close as we've always been as we enter this new chapter in our lives.

I see Ana across the room enjoying her time with her brother and I've never been happier. I'm not only fully engaged with my family for the first time in my life, thanks to Ana, but I'm also becoming part of a larger extended family, and I'm excited, very excited. And while I know it's a ways off, I'm thrilled with idea of Ana and I becoming parents.

Love is truly in the air perhaps it's the Christian and Ana effect, I've noticed the glances between Carla and Ray during brunch and noticed they did more than the obligatory dancing required at our engagement party last night. There was never any doubt in my mind that Ray Steele would move heaven and earth to win Carla back, I mean he fucked up royally, but there's no doubt in my mind he would have never knowingly betrayed his wife and family, evidenced in the fact that he was so desperate to hide anything that could result in losing them.

"I've worked so hard at building my business – I would have never even considered six months ago that GEH could be a minor thought in my process for even one hour, yet here I am envisioning a wife and family and I couldn't be happier."

"You've made Mom so happy. I think she was ready to stage a romance intervention."

I have rented open booking on a home in St Johns for part of the honeymoon, it's called the Presidio Del Mar. We will spend the third week there. I have leased a luxury yacht for the first two weeks and it will include a European cruise with stops in London, France and Italy. The house is beautiful and fully staffed. I plan to arrange for spa services and a week of complete relaxation after two weeks in Europe dining, shopping, sightseeing and making love for hours on end – I plan to make all of Ana's dreams come true. I'm not sure how much Ana will be interested in indulging in swimming and water sports but she will have every possible activity known to man at her disposal should she choose it, nothing is off limits.

"Elliot, do you mind if I have a little chat with my future son-in-law?" Carla breaks my honeymoon daydream."

"Absolutely." Elliot says with a wink as he makes a beeline for the buffet – I smirk knowing that will never change.

"Christian, I just want say thank you for making my little girl the happiest I've ever seen her. I was beginning to believe that she was so focused on career that she might never open her heart to the possibility of love."

"I should be thanking you – without you this incredible woman wouldn't be in my life. Ana and I are a lot alike in that we both focused a lot of business, it wasn't until I met your daughter that I realized how truly lonely I had been. I want you to know that I'm a man of many flaws, but I love your daughter perfectly and in a place where only she exists and I will never let her down on purpose."

"I'm so happy for the two of you." She says tearing up.

"And I am happy for the two of you, I say nodding in Ray's direction." Carla blushes at my acknowledgement that they have grown closer and I send up a silent prayer that the thought of me will cause my wife to blush decades from now.

"Thank you, so am I." She smiles letting out a familiar giggle making me smile ear to ear as she embraces me.

APOV

Since Mom is in town and will be integral to the wedding planning I decide to gather all of the ladies around the dining room table while we're all in the same place.

Mom and I decide almost immediately on the venue The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. We will book all the spa and bridal services shutting down the venue for the entire weekend beginning Thursday for rehearsal dinner with all staff signing NDAs.

I decide right away that the guest list will be consist of no more than seventy-five guests. I want a small intimate ceremony and reception, with only close family and friends and not some media event. While our surroundings will be opulent and over the top I want to maintain the intimacy of our special day only surrounded by those who are special to us.

Mia of course will be in charge of the menu – this was the easiest decision of the day, I gave her complete autonomy, we will decide together on a baker as well as the flavors of the cake tiers.

The internet is a wonderful tool and we were able to choose our wedding photographer Joe Buissink, he has done many celebrity weddings and is amongst the best in California, very much sought after. Pelican Hill offers many bridal packages and we intend to avail ourselves to every amenity including our own wedding butler and spa services with golf and fishing excursions for the men folk. I don't ever recall being this excited.

Only the venue owners will know the name of the bridal party until the day of the event and we will already be staying at the resort so no chance of paps ruining our day looking for cheap shots for their silly rags. The cost of security will be enormous, but Christian told me I was not to fret over money, that he would only discuss finance with his dad and mine, as they insisted on contributing.

While everyone is still mingling, with some having drifted to the media and billiards rooms, I see Christian slip off towards our bedroom with a slight backwards glance in my direction.

I wait until everyone is engaged and sneak off behind him.

Walking in I don't find him and whisper – peeping in the closet I don't find him, so I walk to the bathroom and he grabs me from behind causing me to squeal as he picks me up and places me gently down on the vanity with my feet dangling.

"I've been thinking about you all day soon to be Mrs. Grey, and I've been watching you in this dress."

"Have you? This old thing?" I respond batting my lashes.

"Oh yes, and I've had some very wicked thoughts." He says reaching between my legs and ripping my thong away. My eyes never leave his.

"I've been thinking of burying myself inside your tight wet pussy all day soon to be Mrs. Grey, and I decided I couldn't wait another second." And with that he pushes himself slowly inside me, damn.

###

One month later

LMPOV

I hear her voice before I enter the room, she sounds so animated, no doubt she had the impression that there's some windfall coming her way – she has never been more wrong if that's the case. It's been years since I've seen her – her voice used to spark fear and longing deep inside me, with her in our lives my entire life was fear.

My father's funeral was on a Thursday and by the following Friday I was homeless. I tried everything in my power in the four years that Adina had been married to my father to be a good daughter, having lost my mother at such a young age I yearned for a mother's love. Youth and optimism blinded me to her true intentions, my father's loneliness and loyalty had blinded him as well, for a time anyway. Even when she made it clear that I was just my father's baggage to be managed, I just thought she wasn't used to kids and would come around so I tried harder. I had only known love and acceptance from my family and even though I was a teenager at the time I had no sense of self-preservation when it came to navigating the new politics in my own home, it never even occurred to me that I needed protection from her, in spite of how she made me feel with my father there I felt some measure of safety. I didn't want to hurt my dad so I never even told him how I was feeling, if anything I regret that most of all.

I was only seventeen, and I believed her when she said my father had left her everything and threatened me with physical harm if I ever came back. I didn't understand anything about probate courts or the law, I had become accustomed to things not going my way so I never questioned anything she said to me, besides her hatred for me told me there was no doubt she would follow through on her threats to hurt me. In this case the idea of flight had no fight, I only wanted to survive, I had lost my dad. I was all alone.

All of that seems like a lifetime ago now. I have been working harder these days, harder than I ever have, and I have never been happier. Rêveur has been open now for just over two months. I used to dream about a place like this where I could help people, so I renamed Elena's to Rêveur which is French for dreamer. My clientele has remained loyal and we still give children free haircuts, as well as the free services for women transitioning back to the workforce for various reasons on Fridays. The process for opening the school is well underway and both spaces have fully equipped workspace for the production of soaps and packaging of toiletries in what is now known as The Dignity Project. I have been able to fully staff the production of the soaps with part-time workers, most of whom either live in shelters or transitional housing. I partnered with a local soup kitchen and the clothing drive is now every other Sunday in a bazaar type setting. Mr. Grey assigned a business manager to help with the running of the salons and the allocating of funds for the charity work sponsored by Rêveur, he has been an incredible mentor and his beautiful fiancé has become my client and a frequent volunteer at our clothing drives. They are the most amazing people and I sometimes feel I need to pinch myself because I almost cannot believe this is my life.

I also found love. I met Luke after my first visit to GEH, I don't think it was coincidence that I seemed to run into him every time I would show up for my meetings with my business manager. He seemed shy at first, but eventually worked up the courage to ask me out. I had never been on a real date and he was not only a gentleman he was also extremely patient. We recently moved in together and each day has been better than the one before.

I take a deep breath and enter the conference room at GEH.

"Ms. May thank you for coming, please have a seat."

"Hold on, what is she doing here." I hear Adina say, the shock obvious in her inflection. I don't immediately look in her direction keeping my focus on Mr. Grey. Although I am not the same young girl and have no reason to feel fear – the sound of her voice chills me to the bone. I quickly regain my composure and take a seat, my attention trained on both Misters Grey.

"My name is Carrick Grey, I am an attorney and I represent Ms. May. Are you familiar with these documents?" He says getting right to the heart of things, sliding my father's will across the table to Adina.

"I don't know what the hell this is! I've never seen it before!"

"Well technically there is no written proof you've seen these documents since you refused to sign the certificate of service. Your meeting with Mr. Staten in his office, however was recorded as a matter of probate law and it clearly shows you were made aware of the provisions of your deceased husband's will, would you like to see the videotaped recording?"

For the first time since entering the room I turn to face Adina and for the first time since I met her all those years ago I see the fear I've always felt in her presence written all over her face. I watch as the color drains from her complexion.

"You told me this meeting was about my husband's estate!"

"And it is. You were in no way tricked into being here Mrs. May. Mr. May had his will modified just one month prior to his death cutting you out completely, as he had been made aware of your infidelity. He had not told you of his health issues having learned about your infidelity around the same time he found out about his heart condition." Carrick says smoothly to Adina's horror.

"Mr. May intended to leave everything to his daughter, but you made sure she was gone before she could be contacted. Because she dropped out of school and enrolled in a GED program to complete her high school diploma, she could not be contacted through her school. When the investigators attempted to contact her known friends with whom we now know she was staying, they assumed she was in danger because of your threats against her and lied about her whereabouts. You lied when you said you had no idea where she was, you reported her as a runaway and in the couple of months it took her to finish high school, you had stalled long enough that there was no trace of her."

"That's a lie! She RAN AWAY!...She was nothing but trouble from the moment…"

"Enough!" I hear in a strong, confident voice. I'm somewhat stunned looking around the room seeing all eyes trained on me and I realize that strong, confident voice is mine.

"All I ever wanted was a mother, and you..." I shake my head in concert with shaking off the thought of letting her know just how deeply she hurt me. She wanted to destroy me, to break me and I wouldn't give this sorry excuse for a woman the satisfaction of knowing she almost succeeded.

"I graduated high school while sofa surfing and depended on the kindness of others to eat, sometimes that May family pride meant I went hungry. I have always worked hard, and I have been blessed with friends who saw potential and were willing to take a chance with me." I say glancing in Mr. Grey's direction.

"You did not win." I say staring her in the eyes.

"Mrs. May, once you left your home this morning it was seized and your belongings removed. There is a truck parked in front of the building containing your belongings…" Carrick manages before he is cut off by Adina's outburst.

"Where the FUCK am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do for money?"

"That's not our concern Adina. Did you really believe you would get away with what you did to my father and to me?" I say my eyes never leaving hers. Oh I'm pissed now.

"My mother and father bought that home, it is all I have left of them and you not only denied me a home you threw me in the streets, unconcerned for my life or safety. What you did was nothing short of evil."

"Oh please, I deserved everything for putting up with that overweight idiot and his simple minded brat for as long as I did." She shot back without pause or reflection, her ire in the face of confrontation astounding considering her circumstance. I feel calm relief wash over me.

"As I was saying Mrs. May, your belongings are in the truck parked in front of GEH as we speak. And by belongings I mean those things that are yours and yours only. Also you are hereby served with a permanent restraining order to include Ms. May and all properties and businesses owned by her, as well as all of her associates." The elder Mr. Grey says sliding paperwork her way.

"Also, you are hereby served with a summons to appear before the probate court in the state of Washington to answer to the charges of probate fraud, which in totality could result in fines of upwards of five hundred thousand dollars and up to five years in jail…"

"What!?"

"Please don't interrupt Mrs. May, this is information you will need to know going forward. I suggest you consult an attorney, because failure to answer to these charges could result in a default judgement in favor of Mr. May's estate, for whom his daughter Lillian is the executor. Also, if there are any encumbrances against the property, you will be required to make restitution in full immediately, so I must reiterate you should consult an attorney."

"You fucking BITCH! I should have slit your throat while you slept!" Adina screams while lunging towards me, but before I can blink Luke has her in a half Nelson, begging for mercy as I stare her down, as my body begins to betray my anger.

"Mr. Sawyer will see you out." Carrick states finally dismissing her and she's led out screaming like a Banshee that she will get me for this. Blah blah blah.

I don't realize how badly I'm shaking until I feel Mr. Grey's hand on mine asking if I'm okay.

"Oh, no Mr. Grey…"

"Please, call me Christian."

"Christian, I…I'm fine."

"No you're not, there's no way you could be." His words cause the floodgates to open and I cry for what feels like an eternity – for all the years I didn't allow for feeling sorry for myself, for the grief I had precious little time to embrace when my father died, for the young girl who took all of the shit life could throw at her and still believed that one day she could be…fine.

"I've got you baby." I hear Luke say as Christian passes me to his protective arms.

"I may have tripped that bitch up and she may have fallen right on her face in front of the building, and I might have seen a bloody broken nose." He whispers to me, making me gasp and then giggle myself silly.