Bleed

Chapter 2: Catalyst

Surprise, surprise: Christian didn't change into another pair of pants. That was okay, though. Ana had neither expected nor really wanted him to. She didn't want to tell him what to do; she wanted him to stop telling her what to do. She wanted autonomy.

Christian glared at her, smug in his refusal. Ana shrugged.

'Alright,' she said. 'Remember this moment.'

(***)

One week later.

It was a beautiful day. Cold, but clear. Ana was out on the balcony, enjoying the fresh air. That was when Christian appeared. His lips were pursed. Disapproval radiated from him like heat waves.

'Go inside, you're wearing next to nothing. Anyone can see you.'

Ana hadn't realised how flimsy the material of her dressing gown was and how the sunlight outlined her naked body underneath for everyone to see. Well, everyone who was out on the street early on a Sunday morning and looking up through a pair of binoculars. So, basically no one. Still, Ana suddenly felt exposed. However, Christian's commanding tone achieved the opposite of its intended effect: it made her want to stay outside despite her own misgivings.

She was feeling rather rebellious lately. Disobeying Christian was becoming almost a regular thing. Though Ana realised that it was telling that she still thought of it as 'disobeying.' Criminals disobey police officers. Children disobey parents. Dogs disobey masters. She was none of these things, yet the feeling prevailed. A feeling of doing something wrong. She hated it.

'Oh, for fuck's sake. I'm wearing a dressing gown. Quit acting like I'm naked,' Ana scoffed. The rush of adrenaline that followed was so intoxicating that it completely eclipsed the nonsensical thought that she was being bad. She was in the process of discovering how glorious it could feel to disobey Christian.

'Get inside,' Christian ordered. Ana shook her head.

'You will do as I say,' Christian hissed. His voice shook with barely contained rage.

'Stop trying to control me. I'm sick and tired of it,' Ana hissed back. Christian moved forwards as if to grab her. Ana quickly moved away from him. She felt the railing of the balcony against her back.

'I'm staying out here until I decide that I want to come in,' she informed Christian. He scowled. His face and hands were twitching.

'Ana…'

'If you touch me, if you in any way try to make me leave this spot, I will exceed your every expectation,' Ana warned. Oh God, what am I saying, she thought. Her words gave Christian pause too.

'What is that supposed to mean?' he asked.

'I'll leave,' she declared, pausing to take a deep breath. 'And I'll never come back.'

'You don't mean that. You wouldn't do that,' Christian claimed. A panicky note had crept into his voice. It was patently obvious that he did not believe himself.

'Watch me,' Ana replied. She steeled herself for the inevitable. She knew Christian: he couldn't bear it when she stood up to him. She was right. Christian's hand shot out and grabbed her arm. It made her want to cry. He did not care. He simply did not care about her or her opinions or her desires.

'Let go,' she requested, using her other arm to hold onto the railing. Whatever happened, she was not letting him take her inside. Christian smirked and tightened his grip.

'You're hurting me,' Ana pointed out.

'If you'd just listen to me, none of this would be necessary,' Christian muttered. That was when he began to pull in an attempt to drag her inside with force. His fingertips dug into her arm. The pain was sharp and intense.

'Let me go!' she shouted.

'I will never let you go,' Christian bit at her.

'Is there a problem?' Taylor asked politely, materialising out of nowhere. It was as if he knew she'd been about to call out for him.

'No,' Christian responded, immediately letting go. Ana backed away from him.

'Yes,' she said. She rubbed her arm. Bruises were already blooming on her pale skin. Taylor studied them. Ana saw something in his eyes that she had never seen there before. It would have been scary if she hadn't been sure that Taylor would never hurt her. Unlike other people.

'How can I help you, Ana?' Taylor inquired. Christian might as well have been air. Taylor didn't so much as spare him a glance.

'You can… drive me to Kate. Would you do that for me?'

'It will be my pleasure,' Taylor answered. He smiled his familiar, warm smile. Hesitantly, Ana returned his smile. She didn't even dare to look at Christian. She didn't need a visual. She was perfectly capable of imagining the expression on his face.

'You're fired,' Christian whispered. Ana almost didn't understand him; so softly did he say it. Taylor didn't respond.

'Did you hear me? You lost your job. I won't finance Sophie's schooling anymore. What do you have to say about that? How does that make you feel?' Christian ranted, triumphantly. Taylor showed a flicker of anger upon hearing Sophie's name, but otherwise he remained completely calm.

'I'm crying on the inside, sir,' he deadpanned. Ana stifled a giggle before being horrified by the inappropriateness of her reaction.

'I'm so sorry, Taylor,' she said. Taylor shook his head, as if apologies weren't needed.

'Don't worry about it. Do you want to change before we go?'

It was more of a suggestion than a question. Ana realised that she was still wearing her thin dressing gown and blushed.

'Yes. I'll change and pack a bag. I'll be quick,' she promised. Taylor nodded. Without looking at Christian, Ana hurried to her room. Behind her, she heard footsteps. Then what sounded like a very brief struggle. Then Taylor.

'It's over. A wise man would accept defeat.'