A/N. Thank you to all who have read and followed already. please let me know what you think of the story so far, if you think i'm dragging it out too much or any other improvements you think i could make.
"Jose, how are you?" I respond after an akward silence.
"I'm okay Ana. You?"
"I'm doing great Jose, its good to finally hear from you." I mumble trying not to stir any anger in Christian who is failing miserably at trying to make himself look busy with the coffee still.
"Ana, I need to talk to you, but I don't think it should be over the phone, can you meet me somewhere?" he snaps coldly. What the heck? He asked me to call him, why the attitude.
I hesistate, not exactly the happy chatty reunion I had envisaged us having. I'm not quite sure how to respond. Eventually I just say the obvious
"are you sure everything is okay Jose?" he still sound very distant, like a aquaintence, not an old friend.
"Like I said Ana, I think i'd prefer to talk in person."
"um, o, o okay." I stutter. "when?"
"tomorrow, whenever your available, i'll be there."
" Okay, well im sure I can clear my lunchbreak, will that suit?"
"I'll meet you at your office, see you then." and he hangs up.
I am left staring at my phone in shock. What was that all about? It's not until Christian grabs my phone from my hand that I realise my mouth is still gapping open like an idiot.
"everything okay baby?" he questions looking puzzled and obviously wanting some answers.
"um, I'm not sure." is all I can manage to say back.
"Drink!" Christian demands placing the latte in front of me on the bench. " I added some hazelnut liquor, it'll warm that expression on your face up. So... what did the boy want?"
I shake my head to break my hazy thoughts and turn to Christian.
"He wants to talk to me in person, he sounded so cold and distant Christian." I whisper sadly.
"Who the fuck does he think he is making my wife feel like this, he asked YOU to call him, want me to sort him out baby?"
I cough trying to swallow my warm mouthful of coffee.
"No Christian, i'll meet him tomorrow to see what is going on, Christian he sounded like he may be in trouble or something? He didn't sound like...well like him."
"Well, the him you knew months ago may have changed Ana, it can happen to people who experience success quite quickly like he has with his photography. Do you want me to come with you when you meet him?"
"No, i'll be okay Christian, i'll take Sawyer with me, i'm sure i'm just over reacting, maybe i'm just still shaken by him contacting me to begin with."
"okay baby, but i'm only a phone call away if you change your mind okay."
"Thanks" I smile before taking another sip of my latte. It's surprisingly good for Christian coffee.
"Right enough about the boy, I forgot to ask, how was my beautiful, talented wifes day? Other than working herself too hard in the office." Christian takes my hand in his and smiles genuinely interested in how my day was.
I tell him all about the young new author that is causing quite a stir with her kinky storylines but how I think it'll be a huge success if only I can persuade one of my best editors to take her on. They are all pretty hesitant, but i've got a good feeling that after seeing my report i've put together they will be fighting to take her on. I also tell him about how one of Boyce Fox's books has been lapped up by hollywood and will be coming to the big screen which in turn has sent the sale of his book skyrocketing.
Christian is looking up in me me awe. "See baby." he says "you make a fantastic CEO, I always knew you would. You know your company is the most profiable publishing company we own." he laughs.
"It's the only publishing company we own smarty pants." I say as I smack his hand playfully.
"It's getting late now baby." he declares. "feel like skipping work and taking some ben and jerrys upstairs?" he asks suggestively. Too suggestively to decline.
"You get the icecream, i'll get the handcuffs." I squeal in delight. "Meet you upstairs sir." and make my way to the bedroom rather hastily.
**********.
We are lying side by side on our bed, sticky and trying to regain our breath.
"That was...WOW." I say with a huge grin on my face.
"We aim to please Mrs Grey."
I am positively floating on air, every care in the world has dispeared and I can think of nothing but how lucky and happy I am to be blessed with such a wonderful loving husband, amazing children, and a career I thought I could only dream about. I roll over onto my front and my husbands caressing fingers soon have me drifting off into a blissful sleep..
********.
When I wake Christians side of the bed is empty. I can smell the faint aroma of his bodywash drifting in from the bathroom so I know he is up and showered already.
I drag myself out of bed and head straight to the shower. Im in and out in a hurry and head straight to the closet to decide what i'll wear today. Eventually I settle on a fitted baby blue knee length dress, I pair it with a contrasting dark blue pencil thin belt and matching dark blue flats. I head back to the bathroom and apply a litle lip gloss and mascara. After playing around with my hair for a bit I decide just to leave it down then head downstairs to start my day. As I walk into the kitchen area I am greeted with the most beautiful but amusing sight.
Christian is at the table with phoebe tucked in one arm. she is grabbing at his face and pulling his hair as she jumps up and down excitedly while Christian is trying to eat his scrambled eggs with his
other hand and read the paper sprawled out on the table in front of him. Teddy is sitting next to him with a plate full of pancakes tugging constantly at his shirt sleeve demanding more maple syrup.
"More sauce dad, more pweease dad, more dad, pweeeeaseeee."
I can't help but laugh at the scene.
Need some help there Mr Grey?" I giggle quietly as I make my way over to them grabbing the maple syrup as I go. I head to Teddy first and squirt a little more syrup on his plate. "thats enough now Teddy, no more okay." I say as I plant a kiss on the top of his head. I then turn to face Christian who is looking at me in relief. I lean down and give him a delicate kiss before holding my arms out and reach for Phoebe. She sticks her arms out to me in response and her little legs starts pumping up and down in excitement.
"Hows my beautiful Princess this morning." I coo covering her chubby cheeks in kisses.
She responds by squealing and wriggling frantically trying to get free. Her gray eyes are darting around the room trying to look at everything at once. I walk around the table over to frame where her jolly jumper is hanging and place her in so she can occupy herself jumping for 15 minutes while I have some breakfast.
Taking a plate of pancakes and bacon back to the table I slide in on the other side of Christian where I will be closest to Phoebe and can keep an eye on her.
Glancing down at the sprawled out paper I see Christian and Teddy. The front of the business section reads:
Billionaire businessman makes generous donation to shelter.
And right below is a photo of Christian presenting an oversized cheque to the shelters owners, Teddy is right by his side with a cheeky smile on his face. I look in closer to see the amount printed on the cheque.
Two hundred thousand dollars
I can't help but melt at the generosity of my husband. Oh fifty, and you thought you didn't have a heart. I wrap my arm around Christians shoulder and move in closer to whisper in his ear.
"I love you."
He turns to me wearing his famous panty-dropping smile and gives me a quick kiss.
"I'll never get tired of hearing that." he murmours
"Good, because i'll never get sick of saying it."
Gail wanders into the kitchen looking flustered. She dumps some bags on the floor while she rushes to the coffee machine and flicks a button that sends it humming into life.
"Sorry Sir." she appologises. "My appointment ran over time, I hope you managed the children on your own." She looks genuinely appologetic.
"No need to appologise." he states back matter-of-factly. It sounds like he's almost offended that she thinks he may be incapable of caring for the children on his own for half and hour.
"Sir, I have the names of 3 potential housekeepers that i'm interested in interviewing, but i'd like you to do checks on them before I take their applications any further."
"Of course Gail." and she hands him a piece of paper which he slides straight into his shirt pocket without taking a look.
Now that I am back working full-time Gail has taken on the role of nanny, which she is quite happy to do, but it means her workload has doubled, so to make it lighter for her we have decided to hire an extra housekeeper so that Gail can concentrate on the children.
"I'd like to be there when you interveiw them, if thats okay Gail." I ask. Christian looks at me intrigued.
"Don't you trust Gails judgement?" he whispers so that only I can hear.
"Of course I do, but whoever she hires is going to be involved in Teddy and phoebes life. In one way or the other, helping with mealtime, watching them while Gails busy, whatever reason. I just want to know i'm going to at least LIKE them." I snap
"Good point baby." he murmours.
She smiles approvingly our our secret conversation, knowing how fiercely protective we both are of our children.
"I wouldn't want it any other way." She grins over at us still huddled together. "I'll take Teddy and Phoebe up to get ready for their play date with Miss Ava this morning." We finish our goodbyes to the children and she takes them both upstairs so we are left alone.
"Whats bothering you Ana?" Christian asks softly while looking into my eyes and pulling me onto his knee. I drape my arms around his neck and curl my legs up as much as possible in my dress.
"Its not your lunch date with Jose is it?" he asks before i've had a chance to respond to his first question.
"What? No! I had forgotten all about that actually, so thanks for reminding me." I look up at him through my long lashes then move myself up to kiss his perfect lips. I start slowly, longingly then gradually increase the intensity. Christian breaks away laughing.
"Mrs Grey, don't think your going to seduce your way out of telling me whats wrong, and don't tell me it's nothing because it can see it in your eyes." I pout sulkily.
"It's nothing, really, im just being silly."
"Spit it out Ana." he demands while grabbing my chin and tilting my face back towards his.
" I just feel...well, i'm feeling a little guilty that I don't spend as much time with the children as I used to that now that i'm working full-time back at the office."
"Oh Ana." He sighs and gives me a quick peck. "Your not the first mother in history to juggle a career and family." he tries to reassure me.
"I know, I just feel guilty hiring someone else to clean my house and look after the children. It should be me doing all of that. I should be the one slaving over a stove, scrubbing grass stains out of Teddys clothes and tripping over toys."
"You know you can work from home don't you?"
"Yes I know, I just never seem to get anything done here."
"You and me both these days." he smirks. "Look, why don't we both re-arrange our schedules tomorrow and we'll take the day off and spend it together?" Christian suggests.
"Really?" I ask excitedly. He nods yes. "Its a deal!, now where was I?" I murmour as my lips find his again and I tangle my fingers through his hair.
"Ahem." we are interupted by Taylor clearing his throat. We look over in unison embarrased - like two highschool students who have just been busted by their parents.
"The car is ready Sir." Taylor announces.
"Thank you Taylor, we'll be right there." Christian gives him a nod and he turns and walks out of the room.
Christan grabs both of our breifcases while I straighten out my dress then we head out to the waiting SUV. As usual Sawyer is waiting by the door to open it for me.
"Goodmoring Mrs Grey." Sawyer greets me with a smile.
"Goodmorning Sawyer." I reply as I slip into my side of the back seat. I spend the drive to the office cuddled into Christian breathing in his scent while he is busy on a business call. He puts whoever he is talking to on hold when we pull up outside of GP (Grey Publishing).
"I'm here in you need me he whispers." I know he is refering to my lunch with Jose.
"I know baby." I say and lean up to kiss him. "I'll call you."
"You better!" He demandsand I give him one last kiss then slide out of the car as Sawyer opens my door.
"After you mam." Sawyer gestures to the doors of GP and I make my way inside.