Since you all seem to like my new story and I had time to write some more chapters, I've decided that for now, I'll update twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. Chapters, for now, are going to be a bit short, but they'll get longer as the story progresses. As for the most asked questions I saw in the reviews... Yes, it is Gideon Cross and no, Ana never had a sexual relationship with him. They are also in no way related because then the beginning of this story would have been too close to another story of mine... As for what has happened to Ana, you'll get an idea in the following chapters but it will take up until chapter 10 before Ana comes clean to Christian...
„I don't give a fuck, she lives at Escala, get me a full check." Christian Grey screamed into the phone and then canceled the late meeting for the day got into his R8 and drove to Kate's apartment, where he hammered against the door with his fist.
„Whoa, calm down dude, I don't need you to bang a hole in my door." Kate said when she saw Christian.
„She is back." He said and Kate knew immediately whom he was talking about.
„What, where is she, where is Ana?"
„She came to my office... she is back in Seattle, she said she lives at Escala now." He said and Kate slipped some shoes on and grabbed her purse.
„Come on, Grey." She said.
„Wait, what are you doing?"
„Talk to her, believe me, and if I have to go through the entire building, I'll find her." She said and he followed her. This wasn't his M.O. but he knew Kate wouldn't wait for more information and he too needed answers. So, he drove with Kate to Escala and went to the front desk.
„Evening, Tom. Can you give me the apartment number of Anastasia Steele."
„I don't think we have a tenant under this name, Sir." The front desk guy answered.
„She moved in today or earlier this week, she is a young woman, about 5'5, brunette, blue eyes."
„Oh yes, I know... but her name isn't Steele."
„What?"
„Miss Lambert moved in this week, she lives on the fifteenth floor." He said and Christian frowned for a second and then remembered that her biological father's name was Frank Lambert. Maybe that was the reason his man couldn't find her, she changed her name to Lambert.
„The fifteenth floor you say?"
„Yes, apartment 1505. Do you want me to call her?"
„No, that will be fine. Thank you." He said and gave him 50 bucks before he headed into the elevator with Kate.
„Why would she do that... change her name... it doesn't make sense, her giving up Ray's name just doesn't make any sense." Kate murmured and they went out of the elevator and knocked at her door.
Ana knew exactly that it would be Christian when she heard the knock at her door. But what she didn't expect was that he was with Kate. She hadn't seen her best friend in four years and seeing her like this, without being prepared had tears pool in her eyes which she forced to go away by blicking a couple of times.
„Christian, Kate. Would you like to come in." She asked and led them into her open living room. Pointing to the couch to offer them a seat she went into the kitchen where she refilled her wine glass and got two more for Christian and Kate. She gave each a glass of wine and then sat down facing them.
„Where have you been Ana?"
„New York." She answered and Kate started to pace.
„Why... why would you leave like that... you never called me... you left everything behind... you've been my best friend and I didn't know if you just decided to start over or if you are dead in ditch somewhere!" Kate said as tears started to run down her face.
„I'm sorry Kate... I just... look I'm back and I'm staying... just let the past stay in the past."
„No! Because I don't understand what happened, this is not you Ana. You are not the kind of person to just leave and never look back. And then you come back and live here... dressed in designer clothes ... and that necklace you are wearing is at least 50 grand... what happened."
„The necklace was a birthday present from a friend." She said softly touching the white gold cross pendant with diamonds and sapphires which she wore almost every day... because at a time where she couldn't be with anyone in her life that she loved it had reminded her that due to a random twist of faith she wasn't alone.
„As for the apartment and my clothes. Well, I worked hard to get where I am today and I can't roll into work wearing jeans and t-shirt as I did in college when I worked at Clayton's. I'm sure you dress the part too when you interview people for the Seattle Times." Ana replied giving away that she had followed her friend's career over the past four years.
„Why have you changed your name?" Christian asked.
„Because I didn't want to be found. I had to do it, a friend offered to marry me to change my name legally, but it didn't feel right to me. So, I went with my birthfather's name."
„Why didn't you want to be found."
„It doesn't matter." She said making it clear with her voice that that was as much as she was willing to give away.
„Fine, you talked about your career so what do you do?"
„I started out as junior editor and now I will take the position as Senior chief editor at the new branch of the publishing house I have been working at."
„Which publisher?" Christian asked.
„Cross Publishing." She replied and his mouth set into a hard line.
„Cross Publishing... as in owned by Gideon Cross?" He asked sharply.
„Yes, Gideon offered me the position and I took it."
„Gideon... you are on first name basis?" Kate asked.
„Gideon is the friend I was referring to. We met four years ago when I started to work at Cross Publishing which is housed in the Crossfire Building where he too has his offices."
„Friends... Anastasia even I know that you fit his type to the t." Christian growled.
„Yes, that is true and I will not sit here and act as if his interest in me wasn't sexual in the beginning, but when he realized that I am not interested in becoming his flavor of the month and we started to talk we figured that since we like each other and I don't want to have sex with him we could try to be friends. Now we are best friends."
„But he wanted to fuck you!"
„I know, but Gideon is very strict about his sex life and private life, he separates it. So, when I told him there would be no sex, he started to really see me, respect me as a person and thereby became interested in being my friend, not my lover. Now, we are like siblings and even the thought of having sex is absurd."
„So is there someone else... are you in a relationship?" He asked swallowing hard because even though it was unrealistic, he wanted her to still be his, only his.
„No, I'm not in a relationship. I need to focus on my job and with the move I was busy as well." She answered which was at least something, but didn't reveal if she had been with someone ever since.
„Have you talked to your parents?"
„I have been in contact with my parents the entire time." She said shocking both of them.
„What is that supposed to mean, I asked both of them all the time if they have heard from you!" Christian said appalled.
„I know, I asked them not to tell you or anyone else that they know where I am. Ray and my mom even came to visit a few times." She said.
„Well, that's just great... so we just didn't mean enough to you to at least let us know you are alive!" Kate said obviously hurt.
„I had my reasons Kate... I never meant to hurt you or anyone else... I just... I did what I had to do."
„Of course you did... do you even know how scared everyone was? How many nights neither of us could sleep because we didn't know what was happening to you... if you were hurt, in need of help or dead... have you ever even bothered to think about that?" Kate said and Ana got up, she couldn't handle this any longer without breaking down.
„I said I'm sorry... take it or leave it Kate, I can't change what happened and if both of you can't move on then you need to leave, now!" She snapped.
„This isn't you, Ana." Kate said shocked about the coldness emanating from her friend.
„Yes, this is me, Kate. This is who I am now. I'm not a stupid little girl any more, I'm sorry that I'm not the person you want me to be anymore, but that girl is long gone and I would like to go to bed now."
„Fine... have it your way... just... did you know that I'm getting married in four days?"
„Yes, Christian has mentioned it."
„Well, if you by some chance find the girl you once were then tell her I would love for her to share my special day with me." Kate said and got up while Christian turned his attention on Ana.
„What happened, baby... please talk to me and I make it better." He said trying to get through to her and Ana felt tears prick her eyes again which made her even angrier.
„I'm no ones baby and I don't need anyone to make things better for me. I can do that all by myself, now please leave, both of you."
„This isn't over, Ana. I'll find out what happened to you and I will make it right. This is a promise." He said and got up to leave with Kate while Ana remained in her spot and only when she heard the front door close she allowed herself to sink to the floor and cry.
Cry for herself, for the girl she once was and for all the hurt and pain she had inflicted in the people she loved the most by being a stupid, stupid girl who thought she could take on everything that was coming her way.
„That's not my best friend, Christian. Why would she act so cold, leave us in the dark and why is she back now... it just doesn't make any sense!" Kate sobbed as Christian was driving her to his brother's place.
„I know... there is more to it and I will get to the bottom of it, Kate. She is playing a part, I can see it, she is hiding her true feelings."
„Are you sure?"
„Yes, believe me, I had this art mastered and would recognize it anywhere. She is trying to act cold and unreachable so we will leave her alone."
„Then why would she come to you? Why not just ignore all of us?" Kate murmured while blowing her nose loudly.
Christian starred out on the road, trying to collect his thoughts and think about it for a moment, but there was only one logical reason for him.
„Because the girl we knew is still in there... and she wants to be found and saved. And that's why I won't stop... I'll bring her back, Kate. I promise." He said and made a silent vow to himself that he would do just that. This time he wouldn't stop until Ana was truly home and no longer hiding...