Chapter 30
APOV
The excitement over our engagement has calmed down fractionally. So now I have a shadow whose name is Sawyer. I don't mind, though, he is nice. But it's still weird to have a body guard. I wonder if I will ever get used to that.
Christian has had to implement screening of my incoming mail now because people have been sending me all sorts of things. I don't know why people have so much time or interest to focus on me. The day has flown by relatively quickly and quietly. I forgot a manuscript that I needed back at the apartment so Sawyer has offered to go and get it for me. I guess that is one nice thing about having him around.
While he's gone, Claire calls up to me. "Ana, there is someone here to see you in the lobby and Sawyer isn't here. What should I do? She says you have a mutual friend."
A mutual friend. That sounds harmless enough - plus I think Christian can tend to get a little over eager with the perceived dangers. "Send her up. I don't think there would be an issue here."
A few moments later a young, attractive woman knocks on my office door. I offer for her to come in and once I get a better look at her I know exactly who our "mutual friend" is. She must be an ex-sub of Christian's. I don't know why I didn't think this would come around to bite me right in the butt.
"Ana? Ana Steele?" The woman asks, almost afraid of how I will respond.
"Yes, who are you?"
"I'm Leila. Leila Williams, I'm a former partner of Mr. Grey's." I immediately hate the way she emphasized the word partner.
Ugh. I think I'm going to be sick. How did I think this was a good idea? "You mean you are a former submissive of his. Don't you? What can I do for you?" I try to sound slightly annoyed and busy.
"Yes. I just wanted to meet you. I wanted to meet the woman who was able to change him. So many of us wanted more than the contractual relationship with him but he always ended it with us. How did you do it?"
"I didn't do anything, Miss Williams. I was never a submissive of Christian's. That's the difference. We are in love. So, if you have no further questions, I am quite busy."
"Yes, I won't keep you. I just wanted to let you know there is a group of us who admire you for that."
What am I supposed to say to that? Thank you for being a weirdo and having feelings for my fiancée? "Have a good day, Miss Williams."
"Good bye." She puts her head back down and leaves my office. I feel like I am going to have a panic attack. I rush to the bathroom to rinse my face in some cool water to calm down. I spend a couple of minutes in the bathroom trying to make sense of what just happened.
By the time I get to my office to call Christian and let him know what happened Sawyer has returned and saw Leila leaving the building. I don't think I've been in my office for more than a few seconds when my cell phone starts ringing. It's Christian. I roll my eyes and answer his call.
"What the fuck, Ana!?" Well, this is not the welcome I was expecting.
"Yes, Christian?" I want to sound as exasperated as I am, and there's a part of me that wants to mess with him and act like I have no idea why he's calling. But, I don't have the energy so I just go for indifferent.
"What is this I hear about you allowing Leila Williams into your office?"
"It's exactly what it sounds like. I asked Sawyer to run home and get me something and while he was away she came to the lobby. Claire didn't know what to do so she called me. I didn't know who Leila is but she said we have a mutual friend. So, I didn't think she was a problem…"
"Ana…"
"No, Christian. You asked so let me finish. Had I known who she was and her relationship to you I wouldn't have agreed to see her."
"She's mentally unstable. She could have hurt you!"
"But she didn't. And what do you mean she's mentally unstable? How do you know?"
"I don't want to bother you with that. Just trust me."
"Christian, number one, I am already bothered since she came to my work. And two, if I'm going to marry you, we shouldn't keep secrets from each other. So I would appreciate it if you were honest with me."
"Can we talk about this when we get home? I really don't want to have this conversation on the phone."
"Fine. I will see you after work."
By the time 5 pm rolls around I can't concentrate, and all I think about is Christian and Leila. I have a headache and I feel nauseous.
I get into the SUV and Christian is looking at me apprehensively. "Hi."
"Hi."
"How are you?"
"I have a headache. You?"
"No headache but I am nervous that my beautiful fiancée is mad at me." When he says things like that I can't stay mad at him for long.
"I'm not mad. Your past is your past and you can't change it. But I really wish I knew everything so I'm not blindsided by one of your exes - again."
"I will tell you everything. Just not in here. OK?"
"That's fine." The rest of the ride home is silent.
We get up to the apartment and set our things down. "Are you hungry, Ana?"
I shake my head no. Is he trying to stall? "Not right now. I want to talk."
He rolls his eyes at me and in response I give him a pointed stare. "What do you want to know?" He lets out a heavy sigh and sits down on the sofa in the great room.
"Tell me about Leila. What was your relationship like? Why do you think she could be dangerous?"
"I'll start at the beginning. She was a submissive of mine. The contract ended and I assumed we both went our separate ways."
"Why did the contract end? She mentioned something about me changing you."
"She wanted more and I didn't."
"Why?"
"Why did she want more?"
"No, why didn't you?"
"I never wanted more with anyone until I met you." I blush at that statement.
"Oh." I don't understand what makes me different. I saw Leila. She looked like me. She was pretty. What is so different besides the fact that Leila was what he wants in the bedroom, well, playroom? "So, your contract ended. Why is she a danger to me?"
He sighs and it sounds like he's relenting. "While we weren't seeing each other after your graduation she came to see me. She was not in a good state of mind. Her boyfriend was killed in a car accident and she somehow associated it with me. She tried to commit suicide here in the apartment. I got her mental help but I don't know how she is. After she was admitted, I cut off contact with her."
Wow. That is quite the bombshell he just threw in my lap. "She tried to commit suicide in front of you? Did she want to hurt you?"
"I don't think so. I think she was grieving and didn't know how to deal with it."
"So why did she come and see me? I don't understand."
"I don't know. She's not even supposed to be here. She's supposed to be in Connecticut with her parents. I don't want to risk something to happening to you."
I don't even know what to say. So, Christian has an ex who had feelings for him that he did not have for her. She tries to move on when her boyfriend is killed and it sends her into a tailspin. She then tries to commit suicide in front of him. This is crazy. It's like a soap opera.
"Christian, I wish you would have told me this before. But, thank you for telling me now. There aren't any other crazy exes, are there?"
He smirks at me. "I hope not. And, I'm sorry for how I acted toward you. I was just so scared she would hurt you."
"I know you want to protect me, but keeping me in the dark about these things isn't going to help. We need to be open and honest with each other."
"Anastasia Steele, you are a remarkable woman. I don't deserve you."
"Well, don't you forget that, Grey. Now, can we eat? I'm hungry."
"Of course. Why didn't you say something?" Now Christian is laughing and seems a lot better. And we enjoy a delicious dinner with each other.
