The Sacrifices We Make
Chapter 3
Ana's POV
Six Months Later
Over the last few months, I have been doing everything I can to stay healthy, short of treatment. I have changed my diet, gotten rid of processed foods, am going all organic, and I have monthly check ups with Dr. Grey, Dr. Swender, and with Dr. Greene. So far, my daughter is right on track with every milestone, and my pregnancy is progressing as it should. My cancer has not spread, which I am so very grateful for.
Luckily, my boss at Seattle Independent Publishing has been understanding of my situation and lets me telecommute most days. I kept my promise to Grace and Carrick to include them in everything that is going on but I still haven't spoken to Christian.
Over the last six months, I have tried countless times to contact Christian, but I always seem to stop at the very last moment. When I try calling I can never hit "send" on my phone to connect the call once I dial the number. I also have countless e-mails drafted to him in my personal and work "draft" box, and I never got the up nerve to send any of them. But, I know at some point in the near future I will have to face Christian.
I caress my baby bump as I look in my closet to figure out what to wear for the day. I'm going into SIP for the monthly book editors meeting. It's the one time a month I head into the office. I decide to wear a white peasant blouse and dark gray pants, hoping that I look okay as I head out for the day. As I get into my red 2017 Honda Civic, my daughter dose a somersault in me. I rub my belly and smile as I pull out of my parking spot and head toward SIP.
Christian's POV
She's been gone for the last six painful months, and for all of these months I have felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. Ana has my heart and soul and all I want is her back. Since she's been gone I have been a shell of myself. My life has become work and more work and drinking. I'm hungover most days at GEH but I try and hide it. But it's starting to affect my work, and that can't happen. So, I know I need to get my heart back in my chest and that means getting my Anastasia back by any means necessary.
After she left I realized that I did not need a submissive in my life. I need true love and that's what Ana showed me - what true love is. I just need the perfect plan to get her back. I have tried emails, texts, flowers, and gifts but nothing seems to work. She will not communicate but I will not give up, and I'm about out of ideas. But I will come up with something to get my angel back.
For now I need to focus on a business meeting about purchasing a publishing house called Seattle Independent Publishing. I am on my way to a meeting to meet the owner, a Mr. Roach, and his editorial staff to see how we need to retool the company and close this deal.
Ana's POV
I arrive at SIP and go straight to my office to get what I need for my meeting. When I hear a knock on my office door, in comes Jack Hyde, the head travel editor at SIP. To tell the truth, he creeps me out, and I avoid him whenever I can, but luck isn't on my side today. I turn from my desk to deal with this interruption to the start of my day.
"What do you want, Jack? I'm busy. I have a lot to do before the editorial meeting."
"Well, it's nice to see you too, Ana." He smirks at me in that creepy way that makes my skin crawl.
"Jack", I say it again, "What do you want? I'm busy".
"Just wanted to give you a heads up that the sale of SIP is happening and the new boss will be in the meeting."
With that, Jack turns and leaves my office, to go do whatever he does. I'm left wondering who bought SIP? I knew a sale was in the works and was curious why it was going though so quickly. Mr. Roach promised me that my job was safe and that I would always have a position at SIP. I was just worried about how I would mesh with the new operand, whoever it is. I gather what I need and head for the conference room where I grab a seat and wait for the meeting to start. As everyone files in I can feel the tension and anticipation in the air. In walks Mr. Roach and, behind him, the last person I thought I would ever see again - Christian Grey.