Here it is Chapter 2... many of you asked for weekly updates, which is why I have decided that starting now I will post a new chapter every Tuesday. So far, I have written everything up until chapter 15 and the story will be complete around chapter 25, so I feel confident that for once I will be able to keep my updating schedule ;-)
As you can see, I have changed the title of the story as this new title is more fitting for a full story... and of course, as you can see in the description this chapter will have a HEA, though we are headed towards some big drama and angst around chapter 3 to 7, but once we are through that part it will slowly progress into a fun story without any over the top drama...
Oh, and the Pinterest for this story will be up next Tuesday and I will post the link in the next chapter...
Elliot
I haven't seen my brother in two weeks, he has not taken my calls or answered my e-mails. It's the same with Mia and our parents and I have had it. I know he is probably drowning himself in work to get over Ana, but that doesn't mean he has to kick us out of his life. I don't even get why they broke up to begin with. He couldn't keep his hands off her and she worshipped the ground he was walking on. Now, she is barely talking and Kate and I hear her cry herself to sleep each night.
At Escala I get into the elevator, but I don't have the fucking code. I try his birthday, Mia's, mine and the birthdays of our parents but nothing works. I'm about to give up when I get an idea and scroll through my calendar until I find Ana's birthday. I type it in and smirk when the doors close and the elevator starts its ride up to the penthouse. Once I'm all the way up I step out of the elevator and find Taylor in the foyer.
"I'm sorry Mr. Grey, but your brother doesn't want visitors today." He says all business and I roll my eyes.
"Well, too fucking bad for him, because unless you are planning to remove me by force, I am going to see my brother now." I tell him and he looks pissed, but doesn't try anything to stop me when I walk towards the great room. Inside I'm surprised to find my brother sitting on the floor in front of the fire place and he is surrounded by crunched up sheets of paper, cursing up a storm as throws another paper ball onto the floor.
"What's the matter, bro?" I ask and he looks up at me with a look of annoyance on his face.
"I'm busy, fuck off, Elliot." He mutters, but I sit down on the floor too and grab one of the balls of paper and laugh when I realize that my brother is trying to write a fucking love letter to Ana.
"Trying to channel your inner Shakespeare or what?" I laugh and he snatches the unfinished letter out of my hand.
"Just shut the fuck up, Elliot. I'm trying to win her back, but Ana isn't taking my calls, she doesn't react to e-mails or texts and... fuck I can't live like this Elliot. I need her back." He says and looks utterly defeated. Shit now I do feel bad for laughing at him.
"If it's any help to you, Ana is shit too. She is trying to put on a brave face, but she is crying herself to sleep every night." I let him know and he looks at me with hope in his eyes.
"Has she talked about me?"
"No, she is avoiding to talk about you... fuck bro, what happened? I mean, you two have been happy, why did it end?"
"Hell if I know." He mutters under his breath and runs both hands through his hair.
"Elliot, I'm losing my mind here, I can't sleep, I can't eat... fuck, I don't know how to deal with those... those feelings." He says and I fight the urge to laugh.
"Sounds like a severe case of broken heart." I shrug, trying to sound nonchalant and not like I'm making fun of him.
"I don't do love... I fuck, okay? It's not love, it's just I've gotten used to her and now I can't get her out of my system." He says and my mouth pops open.
"Well fuck me, bro. If that's what you said to her, it's no wonder she has kicked you to the curb."
"Elliot, I don't do fucking love... I don't even know how to fucking love someone." He says and I shake my head sadly. Damn, his past with his birthmother really did a number on him, but I had no idea that he believes that he can't love.
"Can I ask you a few questions, bro?"
"Sure whatever." He mutters.
"Do you care about Ana... I mean is it important to you that she is happy and enjoying her life?"
"Of course, what kind of stupid ass question is that?"
"Have you ever caught yourself planning a future with Ana... say things like moving in together?"
"Yes."
"Do you miss her when she is not with you?"
"Yes, god damn it, Elliot what are you trying to say?"
"Just answer my questions. How would you feel if Ana would be with someone else?"
"I would fucking destroy every fucker who would dare to touch her, she is mine... fuck is she seeing someone else... tell me!" He demands panic written all over his face.
"No, she is not... one last thing though. Can you imagine being with someone else even if it's just for a quick fuck?" I ask and he shakes his head.
"No, I want her so much... I can't even look at other women."
"Well then, let's see Ana is the only woman you want to be with, you are jealous even thinking about her moving on, you can imagine a future with her and you care about her a lot. In my humble opinion that all points to one thing... you have it bad bro. Don't fucking fight it, I bet Ana would be back in a heartbeat if she knew that you actually see more in her than a sex toy."
"I never treated her like a toy!" he hisses clearly offended and I decide on a different tactic to get him to see the truth.
"Really, if all I want is to bang a chick I couldn't care less about her... poor Ana... the first guy she liked and all he did was to fuck her. Maybe I should show her that there's a difference between fucking and love making... she is hot a..." I don't get to finish my sentence, because Christian has grabbed me by the shirt and gets right in my face.
"She. Is. Mine!" He snarls and this time I start to laugh.
"Yeah, you don't love her... give me a break, bro. Seriously, you are capable of love and what's more so your worthy of it." I say and he steps back immediately.
"It's not true, Elliot."
"Yes, it fucking is. Christ, for what do you pay Flynn if he can't even make you see that you are loved and fully capable of loving someone back?"
"No one can love me." He mutters sadly and I had about enough.
"Well tough, because you're my brother and I love you, man. Mia freaking hero-worships you and our parents love you too. Our entire family loves you and no matter how badly you fuck up that's not going to change. Christ, why do you think we all constantly try to call you or ask you to hang out?"
"It's not love, you just have to say that because we are family." He insists and I had enough. I know he has issues and I'm sure as fuck going to get our family together for some sort of intervention, but for now I want to help him to get Ana back.
"Whatever, do you want me to help you get Ana back?" I ask and he looks at me speculatively.
"Why would you help me?"
"Let's just say I wasn't always the most amazing big brother, so that's my way of showing you that I care."
"So, what can I do to make her come back?"
"Well, what did she say when she left?"
"That I can't give her what she needs." He murmurs after a while.
"What does she want?" I ask and he seems to be fighting with himself to find the right words.
"Less rules." He finally murmurs and I gape at him.
"Excuse me?"
"Look, I need to be in control... so if I allow anyone to have a part in my life there have to be rules."
"Jesus, what if she breaks one, do you put her across your knees?" I joke, but the look on his screams that I just hit the nail on the head. I decide not to push the topic, whatever floats his boat is not my fucking business.
"If you want her back, prove to her that you are willing to change, do something she would never expect you to do."
Ana
The last two weeks have been hard. I cried myself to sleep most nights, but at the same time something within me has shifted. When I told Christian that I wouldn't sign the contract, I just told him the first things that came to my mind and seemed like good reasons for me to want to leave. Now, I know that every word was the truth.
I love him, but sometimes love, especially if it's one-sided, is just not enough. I've lost myself hoping he would change, but the sad truth is that by being his sub, I never gave him a reason to change. Instead I led him to believe that everything was fine, when at least for me, it wasn't.
Today, I'm going to have a better day, or at least that is what I'm trying to convince myself.
At work I have enough to do to occupy my thoughts, so I don't even get tempted to think about Christian. Around noon, I have to get something from the front desk and as always I end up chatting with Claire, who I really like, we are just making plans to meet for cocktails after work when her mouth drops open.
"OMG, Ana you'll never guess who is about to enter the building." She whisper-screams at me and I have a feeling I really don't want to know.
"It's Christian Grey." She says giggling like a school girl and I can feel his presence as soon as he has stepped into the building, but I keep my back turned to him.
So much for him promising me that we would never run into each other at my workplace!
I watch as Claire's eyes grow even wider and hate myself for the fact that my gaze automatically finds the floor as soon as he has stepped right in front of me.
"Hello Anastasia." He says and before I know what is happening, he has leaned in and kisses my cheek.
"Christian." I whisper in reply and force myself to look up at him. He is smiling at me and I'm sure I have a look of utter disbelieve on my face.
"I know that you broke up with me, but I can't let you go Ana. You haven't answered my calls or e-mails... so here I am. Please have lunch with me, we need to talk, baby."
Holy fuck! Did he really just say that... in front of my co-worker? Is this the same guy who whenever we went out with Kate and Elliot gave me clear instructions not to do anything that would make us appear as a couple as soon as other people are around? Maybe this is just a dream?!
"I can't, I'm meeting Kate fort lunch." I lie, but I can't do this.
"It's okay, how about dinner tonight?"
"I'm meeting with some co-workers for cocktails after work and I really don't think this is good idea, Christian."
"I will pick you up for lunch tomorrow, Ana. Here this is for you." He says and hands me a present, I can't help but giggle when I see the terrible way it is wrapped.
"That's a beautiful sound... and I do apologize for my poor wrapping skills." He says as if I am not completely mistaken he is slightly embarrassed.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He says and leans in to kiss my cheek again. Before I can tell him that I won't have lunch with him at all he is gone.
"Girl... you better not have plans to have lunch with your roommate today, because I'm taking you to lunch and you will spill about your relationship with Christian Grey." Claire exclaims.
"K." I mutter and walk like a robot towards the restrooms. I need to know what's inside the gift box, but knowing Christian, I don't want to open it where someone else can see it. He is not exactly the romantic type, so this box might as well be filled with personalized butt plugs or stuff like that.
Once I have locked myself inside a stall I open it and frown. Seriously? He gives me a copy of the freaking NDA wrapped as a gift?
For a second I'm seriously tempted to rip it and flush it down the toilet, but that's when I see the note.
Dear Anastasia,
this is my copy of the NDA, which I made you sign on our first night together. You are now in the possession of both copies and to me they are void. I trust you to keep my secret, but at the same time I don't want you to lie when people ask you about your past relationships. I am proud that you allowed me to be with you, even if our time together has been way too short for my liking.
I never felt like I was made for more than a Dom/sub relationship, but to my own surprise, it's not the moments in which you've been my sub which I now miss the most. I miss us talking, I miss your giggling, I miss you challenging me to a game of cards or pool... I even miss watching you cook or simply listen to you talk. My deepest regret is that I didn't realize what you had to offer.
Yes, you have been a very good sub... but more so you have been the most amazing girlfriend any guy could ever ask for and I didn't appreciate it enough or let you know, that for me, it wasn't just about putting up a charade in front of my family and your roommate. Those moments have been real, Anastasia.
When you came to my place, I wanted to offer you a contract without any timely constriction and I had already planned for you to move in with me full time. At the time I didn't even fully understand why I wanted that, but now I know it is because I want us to build a future together.
You said you don't want to be submissive outside the bedroom and I agree with that. Yes, I want you submissive in the playroom, but outside of it I want you to be yourself. Simply said, if you decide to give me a second chance there will be no contract. It will be just us... Ana and Christian.
Please think about it, Ana. I need you in my life and I will prove to you that I'm worthy of a second chance.
Christian
Oh my God! What the hell am I going to do now?