A/N
Well friends it's coming to an end. It's one more chapter after this and it's a year later. But it will be short. And I know it's been a few months so I've made this chapter my longest. I hope you're still with me. Just a heads up it gets a little rushed at the end of this chapter but I hope you don't mind. As always any questions you have will be answered if you ask and reviews are always welcomed.
Sincerely Kayla p.s for those waiting for shades of a mistress I'm bringing that to an end to but that story line is really crazy. Thank you for reading.
Apov
My body feels sore. But I guess that's to be expected when you dance too long at a baby shower and then come home to have an insane amount of sex with your boyfriend. Home? Well, I guess I shouldn't call it home since I don't live here, although I have to say home with Christian does sound nice. I roll on to my side and admire him as he lays fast asleep. I don't touch him since I know he'll wake up and after working like a mad man and flying to Savannah every week I know this sleep is well deserved. Besides, watching Christian sleep makes me realize he's still the guy I've been friends with since high school. Yes, he has an empire and more money then sense but he snores and drools just like us regular people. I chuckle a little and he stirs in his sleep but doesn't wake up.
I climb out of bed and search for my phone to take a picture. And it sounds simple enough but the floor is covered in clothes and after a short while I find it under the bed. I have two missed calls, two voice mails and one text message. The missed calls and the voice mails are from my dad and Kate. They seem harmless enough, Ray wants me to stop by before I fly back and Kate feels the need to thank me for coming to the shower yet again. I roll my eyes exasperated. Now the text message is far more interesting. It's from Mia asking if I could come by her place to talk. I steer at my phone screen completely clueless as to what I should say. On one hand it would be nice if we could start moving forward, but on the other hand I see how much of a bitch she is and kind of want nothing to do with her. Of course I know realistically that's impossible since I'm in a relationship with her brother so I bite the bullet and tell her sure. She sends me her address and I sneak off to the guest room to take a shower in fear that my sex crazed boyfriend will surely attack me if he seen me naked in his. Thirty minutes later I'm washed, dressed and ready to go head to head with one of the most stubborn people I know. I make my way to Christians study, passing his very nice house keeper and a confused and almost scared Taylor.
"Ms. Steele, may I ask why you need to go into Mr. Grey's office?"
I brush past him looking through his desk until I come across what I'm looking for. "Taylor, I thought I asked you to call me Ana."
A smile tugs at his lips. "Well Ana, what exactly are you looking for?"
"I was looking for Christian's car keys, but it's alright I've found them."
I make my way to the elevator with Taylor close behind. "Ana, if you need a ride I could take you or at least get Luke."
"Taylor, I'm fine. I'll be back in an hour and the last time I checked I know how to drive."
I push the call button hoping that it'll get here soon.
" Does Christian at least know you'll be driving his R8?"
"No, but I'm sure you'll let him know once he's awake." the elevator dings with it's arrival. " See you later Taylor."
Despite the inner conflict of better judgement I'm sure he's having, he smiles and waves me off. In the parking garage all of Christians cars stick out like sore thumbs. I pay them no mind as I climb into his favorite and pull into the Seattle traffic.
As I swerve around the cars I admire the place I once called home. I grew up here, made friends here and fell in love here. If only I would had stayed, maybe I would be married or at least engaged. Now that I think about it I feel absolutely horrible. If I would had stayed with Adam I would most likely be married. Wow, that's someone I haven't thought of in a while. Not because I forgot about him, simply because I could never bring myself to remember how angry and broken he was the last time we spoke. Maybe I should stop by his office. Well that is if he still works there. This is non sense, what would I say? How would he react? All are questions that I have no idea how to even begin to answer. But as crazy as it seems I feel a deep seeded need to get some type of resolution.
I make my way down town and my heart pounds harder and harder as his office building comes into view. I park the R8 and give myself a once over. I look presentable enough. My hair is in a high pony tail and my navy blouse, light blue jeans and navy flats makes me look very casual.
As I walk to the front desk I'm beyond happy to see not much has changed. The small modest law firm is pretty much the same. With my nerves on edge I tell the receptionist my name and who it is I'm looking for. She tells me to head up to the tenth floor and as I do so I come face to face with a office with a plated door that reads Adam Stevens and in front of the door is another receptionist desk.
"Hello, how may I help you?" she smiles sweetly.
"Um, I'm Anastasia Steele. I don't have an appointment but I wanted to talk to Mr. Stevens."
She holds up a finger and begins to talk on her phone. " Adam, there's a Anastasia Steele here to see you and she doesn't have an appointment...No, I'm sure she said Anastasia Steele."
Before I can understand what's happening. The office door swings open and before me stands the man I once planned on spending my life with. His face gives away nothing. We steer eye to eye not saying a word.
" hi." still silence. Maybe I should have went to see Mia like I planned " I know this is probably the last thing you expected, but I just wanted to see how you were."
As if finally realizing how awkward the silence is he speaks.
"I'm good. Please, come and have a seat." I head into the office thankful that he didn't give me the silent treatment. His office is huge. I'm guessing he had a promotion since this is far bigger then the office I remember. He has pictures of family and friends all over the place and I can tell my absence in his life is well forgotten. As he takes a seat across from me, he goes silent and just studies my face.
"What is it?" I ask starting to grow uneasy at the look he's giving me.
" I'm sorry, it's just something different about you."
"Good different or bad different?"
" I'm not sure. But it's nice to see you." That is the last thing I thought he would say.
" it is?"
"Of course it is. We shared a life together once. You act as if you thought I would hate you."
"Well, I did break off our engagement."
" Yes. And I would be lying if I said I was okay afterwards. But as the year's went on I got over it. I threw myself into work and got a promotion out of it. I moved out of our place and bought a house that I'm still making adjustments to before I can truly call it home. And don't you go thinking I'm some lonely, heartbroken creep, My girlfriend and I are happily engaged and expecting a baby"
I jump up and hug him with all my might. I'm genuinely happy for him. He moved on and didn't let what I put him through keep him from happiness. To my surprise he returns my hug.
"I'm sorry. I'm just happy for you." he smiles his familiar smile and I begin to relax.
"Thank you."
"So, what's the lucky lady's name?"
If I'm not mistaken he blushes. "Well...Her name is, Kimberly"
I want to face palm myself. I know exactly who he's talking about and I've always knew she would jump at the chance to be with him if I ever left his side. "Well, well, well. I guess I was right all along."
We both double over in laughter and I'm quite sure to an on looker we look crazy. But to understand why we're laughing, you'll have to understand our life together a few years ago. You see, Kimberly was his assistant. She answered every call, mailed every envelope, checked every email and made every cup of coffee with a smile on her perfectly made up face. I would often tease Adam that she was madly in love with him and secretly plotting my death. Blinded by his love for me he just couldn't see it.
"Yeah, I guess you were. I promise you nothing happened until the engagement was over. And even then it still didn't hit me. But sure enough after months of my sulking and working until the wee hours of the morning, I realized that she was going above and beyond to reassure me I was loved. And that's why I love her with all of my heart and plan on spending the rest of our life's together to do the same."
That's Adam for you. Forever the romantic. " I wish you all the happiness, and I'm not saying that as the bitter ex girlfriend. I hope you know I mean every word."
"Thanks Ana. But enough about me? What's going on with you and Mr. Billionaire?"
I roll my eyes at his long lasting nickname for Christian. "Well, we're happy. A long distance relationship isn't ideal, but we make it work."
He looks utterly confused. "Long distance?"
"Well yeah. I live in Savannah."
"What? Why?"
Of course he doesn't know I moved and why would he? How could he? "Adam, it's a long story."
"Well, luckily I have some time."
Cpov
I'm awaken by a loud banging on my bedroom door. I reluctantly open my eyes only to find that I'm alone. Ana is no where in sight, but her clothes from last night are still sprawled across the floor so I'm guessing she hasn't left. As the banging continues I begin to grow annoyed. I climb out of bed, storming over to the door ready to rip someone's head off.
"WHAT!" I immediately regret my out burst once I find a startled Mrs. Jones.
"I'm sorry Mr. Grey. I was just worried, I've never seen you sleep this late and wanted to make sure you we're OK."
"What time is it?"
"11:00 am sir."
To a normal person this isn't late at all. But when you're me and your days start at seven I could see how this would raise concern.
"Mrs. Jones I'm fine. Could you make me breakfast, I'll be down shortly."
"Yes sir."
"And could you tell Ana I'll like to talk to her."
"Mr. Grey, Ana left a while ago."
"Left? Where did She go?" knowing Ana, she most likely went to see Ray. I just wish she would have told me I would have tagged along.
"Well, she didn't say sir. Taylor insisted on driving her but she refused." of course she did.
"If Taylor didn't drive her, who did?"
" Ana drove herself." my brow furrows in confusion. She has no car, so that can only mean she's taken one of mines. I truthfully don't care if she has one of my cars, As long as it's not the R8.
"Do you know which car she took?"
"Um, I think she has the p5 or the s8. I think that's the name."
"You mean the R8?" she nods her head. I run around my room in search of my phone. I love Ana with all my heart, but if she crashes my car I'll have a heart attack.
Apov
As I leave Adams office I feel surprisingly relieved. I know it doesn't make sense that I wanted to see my ex fiance, and I know how bad it could have went. But I just had to see him and make sure that he didn't go crazy and grow hateful from the pain I caused him. He seems to be his always happy self. As I walk to the car I text Mia and tell her I'm still coming since she's been texting me every two minutes asking me if I'm on my way. She lives close to Bellavue, so it should take me every bit of twenty minutes. I jump in the R8 and I'm startled by a loud ringing. It takes me a few seconds before I realize it's the car.
"Hello?"
"Out of all the cars you could have taken, why did it have to be my baby?" I would laugh but I can hear his silent anger.
"Christian calm down, Your car is fine. I'll bring it back to you as soon as I'm done seeing Mia." I drive through Seattle as if I never left, completely aware of my destination.
"You're not with Mia?"
"No. I'm driving there now."
"Well where were you for the last few hours?" I can feel in the pit of my stomach that he isn't going to like that I've been to see Adam, that doesn't change the fact that I have to tell him anyway.
"I stopped to see someone." Yes Ana, drag it out. That probably will make it better.
"Who did you stop to see?"
"Adam...But before you freak out, he's happily engaged and expecting a baby."
"I don't care about his happiness. Why didn't you tell me you were going to see him?" He's upset and I understand that. But I don't have to tell him every thing I do.
"I didn't tell you because you were sleep. I don't see why you're mad."
"I'm mad because I had to practically beg you to come to your bestfriends baby shower and yet you don't give a second thought about going to see your ex." a small pinge of guilt hits me.
"Ok, I get it. But you don't tell me everything you do with your ex."
"But I do, because I don't want to keep anything from you."
"If you tell me everything, why didn't I know you told Ashley about that Damn letter?" I shouldn't have brought that up. This is going to turn into a whole argument that I really don't feel like having.
"What?"
"Nothing, just forget it. I'll see you later." I end my Call and drive the small distance remaining feeling somewhat guilty. As Ethan's and Mia's house come into view I prepare myself for what's to come.
Cpov
She hung up on me, she really hung up on me. I sit in my study ready to explode. Only Ana can cause so much anger by one small action. But as I replay our conversation something isn't right. I sit and think, replaying our brief call. But once it dawns on me exactly what it is, I'm sprinting to the elevator barefoot and all. Taylor is by my side confused As I wait for the elevator, pushing the call button repeatedly.
"Sir, what's wrong."
"Ashley knows about the letter." I say in one breath. Waiting on pins and needles until the lift finally arrives.
"I'm not understanding the panic sir"
"I never told her about the letter."
Apov
Everything in me is screaming to get the hell out of there the minute I step foot into Mia and Ethan's house. Nothing seems to be on and I more then surprised to find that the door was unlocked. Nothing about this could possible be good. I stand in the doorway and call out to Mia to see if she will answer.
"Mia!...Mia are you here?" I hear something but I'm not sure what exactly. I go to grab my phone and realize I left it in the car. I turn to go back and get it when I hear Mia using a very unMia like voice at the top of the stairs.
"Ana? Ana, is that you? Are you by yourself?" I leave the door open and walk further into the house; passing a impressive foyer, decorated in paintings, photos and mirrors.
"Yeah, it's me. Are you ok?" I can almost see her at the top of the steps but it's almost like she's hiding her face.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. I was just sorting my closet. Can you come and help me? I could really use some help."
Maybe it was the tone of her voice or the fact that my heart told me something wasn't right. Because against my common sense, I climbed those stairs ready for what every was to come.
As I grew closer to the top Mia walked off to what I'm assuming is her room. I followed behind only to find Mia taking a seat on her bed. Once I'm fully in the room I see that her face is black and blue, as if it was beaten. And underneath that I see the pure terror.
"ANA, WATCH OUT" I fall to the floor with a pain shooting through my head. I try to get up and I feel a swift kick to my side. The person grabs the hand with the ring Christian gave me and tanks it off beforekicking me yet again. "STOP IT, YOU CRAZY BITCH." I curl into a ball on the floor when I see a pair of shoes walk over to Mia and hit her across the face with something before walking back over to me.
"Well, well, well. Little miss Mia wants to help her friend. How cute." that voice, I know that fucking voice. I look up to find Ashley placing my ring on her finger.
"Ashley?" she nods. "What the hell is going on." As if I said something to piss her off, she kicks me again.
"You just had to come back. I loved him and it killed me to hurt him, but it had to be done. It was suppose to be easy, but naturally you had to mess everything up."
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"You're so stupid. I don't know what he sees in you."
As I try, and I do mean try to sit up, I realize what this is about. "All this is about Christian?" she nods. " I hate to break it to you, But whatever your plan is to win him over, I'm sure beating up his little sister and his girlfriend isn't going to sit well with him."
I finally see the pistol she has in her hand, But only because it's coming straight for my face.
"If you would had stayed away, I would be his girlfriend Or maybe even his wife. But you just had to come back. I was there for him. When he had surgery; the first and second time. I went to every physical therapy appointment, doctors appointment and played secretary while he worked from home, where were you? Somewhere hiding from your past, all because your friends said some words that hurt your feelings? You're pathetic. You've been in Christian's life for years and it's always the same and it's always been the same. You love him, he loves you but you're both too afraid to admit it. So you get a boyfriend and he does something that makes you realize how much you really cared about him, but then you realize all the pain he's caused you and you run and blah, blah, blah,blah,blah. You both make me sick." While Ashley rants about how I practically ruined her life, I see Mia edging closer to her. "While you were away, Christian and I were happy. Hell, when you We're with your old boyfriend Christian and I were happy. But the second you showed him an ounce of attention, everything changed. He dumped me and ran off to aspen for Lord knows what. And when he came back he was too busy sulking over your engagement to even think about me"
"Maybe because he never really loved you." I scream out through my pain and I'm rewarded with yet another swift kick and a smack with the barrel of her gun.
"Fuck you, stupid bitch. I know he loves me, it's just hard for him to realize it with you here. So all I have to do is get rid of you, and since Mia choose today to be a friend , she'll have to go as well. And once he's grieving over the lost of his girlfriend and sister, I'll be there and in the end, he will be my happily ever after."
Just then Mia jumps from the bed and lands on Ashley, knocking her to the floor. " RUN ANA! GET HELP!"
Scared and in pain, I manage to bring myself to my feet and hurry out of the room. When I look back Mia is on top of Ashley pounding her face in. I climb down the stairs with the intention of running outside to get help but the loud sound of a gun going off stops me dead in my tracks. I feel my heart beating a mile a minute.
"Mia?...Mia!...please say something." I start to climb the stairs again when a barefooted Christian along with Taylor comes running into the house.
"Ana! What happened? Where's Mia?"
I throw myself in his arms While Taylor pulls out his gun and starts to make his way up the stairs. "Christian she needs help. I heard a gun shot."
"Stay here"
Christian takes off with Taylor and even though I feel as if I might faint, have pain shooting from my head to my toes and I'm pretty sure blood is covering the top of my head, I follow along hoping that Mia is ok.
Cpov
As I follow behind Taylor, I find myself not caring that he has his gun out or that Ana didn't listen. I just want to see my sister. My head of security burst through the door and on the far side of the room is Ashley pointing a gun directly at us.
"Mia!" Ana screams and tries to run where my little sister body lays covered in blood. Taylor out reached hand stops her, placing her behind him. I to stand behind my gun wielding, furious friend frozen by fear. She's hurt. She's dead. She isn't moving. Each statement swirls in my head causing my heart to pound. I pull my attention away from Mia's limp body and focus on Ashley. Yes, she's holding a gun and I'm sure at any minute she could fire and shoot any of us, but her hand isn't steady and that let's me know she's scared. And that's exactly how she should feel.
"Why would you do this?" she doesn't say a word, instead she grips her gun tighter."ANSWER ME." she and Ana both jump as my growl booms in the room.
"I..I..I never meant for things to turn out like this Christian. I love you and I thought that if Ana was out of the picture you could finally give your heart to me."
"Love? YOU DID THIS BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME? HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU LOVE ME WHEN YOU TRIED TO KILL ME, TWICE?"
"Like I said, it was never meant to go like this or go this far. I just wanted to be with you." She starts to cry and I'm unmoved by it.
"So you thought that this was the way to go about it?"
"You can be angry all you want Christian, but you turned me into this person. I wasn't just some random girl off the street. We shared a life together for YEARS. You came home to ME, made love ME and slept next ME FOR THREE DAMN YEARS. But none of it mattered when little miss blue eyes came around. You threw me away and acted like what we had didn't matter. So I did what I had to in order to get my life back. I nursed your wounds and mended your heart. Yet, all you could offer me was friends with benefits. Even then I was thrown away once she came back into the picture." She points the gun directly at Ana and I step in front of her. "You see Christian, you love her more then life it self. Can you honestly say you ever loved me that much?" I don't answer, instead I pin her with my cold stare. Her Brown eyes fill with tears until she's bawling. I've never seen her so, broken. That's the only way to describe her and this situation. She felt that she had to compete with someone from my past that I never really put in the past. I've always known I loved Ana. Even when I was being a grade A dick, I knew. And looking at the women who I once cared for so deeply, I can tell she knew it to.
"Ashley, put the gun down."
"No. This will be the only way you would remember me." she puts the gun to her head.
"NO!" with one pull of the trigger, she's gone.
Apov at the hospital three days later.
"Are you happy that they're finally discharging you?" I turn to my loving boyfriend as he packs the last bit of my things.
"Yeah, I'm happy to leave but I kind of don't want to leave Mia here alone." I know she won't be alone since Ethan hasn't left her stand since she came out of surgery. He was angry, scared and sad about what happened But he was just relieved that Mia was alive. We all thought she was gone, but luckily the bullet missed her heart by a few inches.
"She'll be anything but alone. Besides, I want to spend time with you before you fly back home." his demeanor changes when he talks about me going back to Savannah but after everything that just happened I don't really feel safe here.
"Christian, I thought we talked about this. I'll fly here twice a month and you'll fly to Savannah twice a month."
"I know but.." I cut him off before he talks me into staying.
"But nothing." I kiss him to soften the blow. "Now, I'll be right back."
I leave my room and make my way down the hall. I timidly knock on the door before I hear a voice granting me access.
"Hi." Mia smiles. The bruises on her face no longer hide her beauty.
"Hey. I wanted to see you before I left."
"I can't believe they discharged you and won't even let me dress myself. I'm fine, I swear."
"Sure you are." my voice drips with sarcasm. She gives me the classic Mia Grey angry stare and we both begin to laugh. Only, our laughter is short lived when Mia stops due to protest from her chest. "Are u okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Please don't get that bitch of a nurse." a bitch is right. But that's to be expected since she was friends with Ashley. I still can't believe she killed herself. Most likely I'll have nightmares about it.
"You're sure?" she nods and I can't help but think that this happened because of me. If only I stayed away from Christian none of this would've happened.
"Ana, stop it." I'm pulled from my thoughts by Mia's stern voice.
"Stop what?"
"Blaming yourself. This isn't your fault. Ashley wasn't mentally stable. She tried to kill the man she so called loved for God sakes."
"I know, it's just that when we thought" I can't bring myself to say it. Just remembering her lifeless body brings a cold grip to my heart. "When we we're all in that room, I just kept thinking I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you left this world thinking I hated you." her eyes become glossy and I'm sure a tear or two has slipped down my cheek.
"Ana, I know what happened between us was horrible but I've never stop regretting it. You're like my sister and if I had to I'll fight one of Christians crazy ex girlfriends again."
I laugh through my tears. "Hopefully it won't come to that."
"I know you're going back home but I wish you would stay. We've all missed you. And now that physco is gone you're safe."
"I know. But I have a life that I must get back to. I promised you brother I'll come back but right now, I still don't feel that safe."
She nods nods and a silence glass over us.." I love you Ana. You do know that?"
Taking back by her outburst, I almost don't know what to say. "You took a bullet for me, of course I know that." she laughs and immediately stops. "I love you to Mia."
I hug her as beat as I can. This girl has been my friend for ten years. She has been by my side at the best and worst days of my life. Okay, so we had a falling out but as she lays in this hospital bed I realize that doesn't matter. Words can be said in anger and hold no truth. Friends come and go but she is my family. Blood could never make us closer. And if I'm one hundred percent honest, I've missed her like crazy..