Lies responds Lies

Christian's POV

I shake my head playfully and kiss Ana one more time before I begrudgingly walk out of my penthouse. Miss Anastasia Steele is proving to be more than I had originally thought. Of all nights my family had to have this dinner today, I should have sent Mia an overseas trip rather than purchase her a car for her graduation, this way I could stay at Escalate and speedup the process to make Ana mine.

I take some solace knowing that at least she is safe at Escalate, though some of the decisions I have made tonight, may need damage control, but it will be easier that the other issues that may come out if I hadn't lied. If only I were able to call in Sawyer for duty earlier. He was scheduled to be off tonight, and I didn't expect to have Ana at my place. It is six in the evening, and he won't be back until nine. Thank fuck for password activated security systems.

My brother's relationship with Kate makes structuring my relationship with Ana in the manner that I am accustomed and prefer that much harder. Elliot's past relationships have never lasted more than a week, and this one is at day four. I would be lying if I didn't admit I am uneasy by the fact that he is taking Kate to our family dinner tonight and then dropping her off to the Pike Market. As a result, I lied to Ana and told her that I had a work meeting and lied again to her about where Kate would be later this evening. I don't want Ana to think I didn't want to take her to my parents' because I don't want to be with her; it's just that this isn't what I usually do in relationships. They are private, concealed and exactly how I like them.

Keeping Ana away from Kate tonight will decrease the issue of not having taken Ana to dinner. By the time Ana finds out, it will be of little consequence, and if history repeats itself, then Elliot's infatuation with Miss Kavanagh will have come to a conclusion by then.

"Bellevue?" Taylor asks. He was already in the garage by the time I arrive. I know inwardly he is snickering at me, but he is hiding it brilliantly. Taylor knows that I would rather be upstairs, burying myself into the exquisite Anastasia Steele.

"Yes," I reply.

I lie back in the car chair and close my eyes. The vision of a naked Ana fills my mind, and I am flooded by scenes that I want to do with her. So beautiful. What I wouldn't give to hear her call me 'Sir' right now. Sure she referred to me as such playfully before I left, but I long to hear her say it as my submissive.

As I enter the house, and I am welcomed by my parents. "Mother, you look lovely," I kiss her check but that is the only touch we exchange. "Father," I extend my hand out and we both shake.

"Christian, I'm glad you made it. We have been waiting for you, though none as much as your sister." My father updates me, and I nod and start to count out loud. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15..."

"Christian," Mia shrieks. She races downstairs and throws her arms around me. She has been the only one ever to touch me, but I have to hold my breath and enter my detached CEO mode to handle her assault.

"Mia, it took you to the count of fifteen. You used to be able to get down those stairs by the time I had counted to nine when you left for college after Christmas. Are you getting old?" I mock.

"Funny big brother. I was putting on my makeup. If you ever would take a second actually to look at one of the zillion girls that are interested in you, you could get a girlfriend, and then you would realize that it takes a while for girls to look good," I narrow my eyes at Mia and shake my head.

"Don't be ridiculous Mia. There aren't a zillion women interested in me."

"Oh, but there is!" Mia argues with all her energy.

"Mia Trevelyan Grey, recent college graduate, there are seven billion people on the planet, of which forty-nine percent are women, so there are only three and a half million women in the world. In addition, a large portion of these women are under the age or too old, and many have never heard of me, so, therefore, clearly a zillion women are not interested in me," I educate her.

"That's it I am going to list Christian on an online dating service," Mia threatens. I shoot her my most forbidding look.

"Mia Grey, you will do no such thing, or I will show every boyfriend you have from now your pictures of when you had to wear a head strap retainer, at night, to fix your overbite," our mother scolds. I smirk at Mia, but she just sticks her tongue at me.

"Come on you two, you are both supposed to be grown up!" Our father tells us off slightly. But by this time Mia and I are smiling at each other.

"You missed me so much!" Mia comments, ever so cocky.

"Yes, I did." I admit

We enter the main room, where Elliot is sitting alone drinking a beer. I look around, and there is no sight of Katherine Kavanagh. I smile, hopeful that their relationship may have ended early. It would ensure my relationship with Ana could be kept concealed.

"Elliot, where is Kate?" My mother's question makes me want to groan loudly, but it is nothing to what I feel when she re-enters the room. My brother practically fucks here there and then with his eyes. Fuck, this is going to keep things complicated.

"My apologies, I was on a phone call." Kate apologies politely and reins my brother at his side. Shit, they are practically inseparable. "Good evening Christian."

"Katherine." I nod politely. Kate sits closely to Elliot and then commences to talk quietly into his ear. Elliot briefly looks at me and then nods several times at Kate. What are they both playing at?

We all sit down and commence to drink wine and cocktails, whilst Mia updates us all on her last few months of college and her new job. Mia has always had a talent to keep everyone all entertained and thankfully for me, distracted. I pullout my cell phone from my pocket and send Ana, a text. I need to set up a secure email address for her. I hate text messages. I have sent a few playful messages when my mother calls me to attention.

"Christian!"

"Yes Mother?"

"I asked if you would care for another glass of wine."

"Yes. Thank you."

Whilst the final preparations are being made on dinner, my brother walks out to the back of the house with me, to inspect my gift for Mia. Our parents have paid the car registration and, insurance, and Elliot is going to promise to stay out of her way when she is driving on the road, so not to end his life early.

"Christian, here," Elliot states offering me a beer. I never realized he had two in his hand when we walked out of our parents home. "I only wish we could have gotten dad out of the house. Seriously Mia and Kate have only just met, and they haven't stopped talking since they said 'Hello.' Even Mom hasn't stopped."

I nod in agreement. Mia has always wanted a sister, and my mother has been longing for Elliot or me to bring girls home. These two facts coupled with the fact that Katherine is a natural talker, means these girls may never stop talking.

"So... Ana couldn't make it tonight?" Elliot probes and smirks. Damn the noisy fucker.

"Excuse me?" I question, looking at my brother impassively.

"Christian don't try to pull all that CEO shit on me. I have known you since you were four years old and before you were the fucking-mogul. It doesn't work on me." Elliot looks arrogant as he smirks at me and takes a long drink of his beer.

"Elliot, I do not know what you are talking about," I maintain my position.

"Miss Anastasia Steele. You know hot, skinny girl, with big blue eyes that you have gotten lost in, long brown hair and skin as perfect as the morning. The first ever girl you invited to a club opening, on your yacht and then took away with you for a night." I narrow my eyes at my brother's statement, questioning how he found out that I took Ana away. I partially did it to be with her without anyone seeing us, especially any member of the media. Privacy is crucial in my relationships.

"Why would you question me about Miss Steele's availability?" I refuse to budge.

"Christian admit it now that you are interested in Ana. There is no denying it. Admit it or I will storm back into the house and announce in front of our parents and motor mouth sister, that you have been spending time with Ana. My girlfriend in there, who I don't have to remind you is Ana's best friend, will have no issue adding to the fact that you had invited them out and took her away last night. In fact, Kate will probably even inform them that Ana is at your penthouse this very minute. Oh shit, our parents are going to hound you over this until you tell them everything." Elliot looks at me as if he just won a gold medal at the Olympics.

"Lelliot! No don't even..."

"No? Are you sure little bro," Elliot is laughing now and running toward the house. I run after him and jump him, throwing him to the ground.

"Fuck! You almost knocked me out!" Elliot's howls.

"Serves you right! What about the pact we made as teenagers to tell our parent's jack-shit about our interactions with girls," I remind my dim-witted older brother.

"Hey, I never have. Even when I should have. Fuck Christian, that time I saw you with mom's friend Elena. I still get the shits when I see Elena." Elliot had the misfortune once of being sent to collect me from Elena's house one day, to go home for dinner and caught us in a compromising position. If he didn't love me as much as I know he does, we would have been done for.

"Then do not tell them about Ana also!" I request.

"So you do like her? Good work bro. She is a hot as fuck."

"I am ending it," I lie.

"What?"

"I thought I was interested in her but I'm not. Ana isn't my type. I intend to tell her as soon as she is fully healed, and she is walking around a lot better. I will be telling her tomorrow or the next day."

The reality of the matter is for my life to maintain its status quo then I have no intention of making my relationship with Ana, and any other subsequent relationships public, even to Elliot. I have just had the misfortune that my brother has fancied the best friend of my would-be submissive.

"Man that sucks! We four could have had some pretty sweet times together," Elliot evaluates.

"What for another three days?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

"Oh no. I like this one. Kate is here to stay, for a while I hope. There is something about her that gets me going. I bought her over tonight so mom can get a look at her. Kate isn't going anywhere; at least I won't be ending it anytime soon." Shit! This will make it harder to keep my relationship with Ana private, and it also means that I shouldn't have said that crap about not wanting to be with Ana now. FUCK!

"Hey, the troops are on the move. Are you ready to give Mia her graduation gift?" Elliot asks. It takes me a few minute to respond as I analyze the position I have just put myself in.

"Sure." We both walk to the door, and I tell Mia to close her eyes. Elliot covers her eyes so she can't peek.

"Can I look now?" Mia begs and pouts.

"Soon. Just keep walking." I am leading her to the side of the house and have her stop once we are in front of her surprise. "Open your eyes now."

"OMG! Is that mine? It's gorgeous. Thank you. How did you know I would want red? And you got me a sun roof? This is brilliant..." Mia goes on for a good ten minutes over car, to the point that we are all a little over her screeching!

I look over my shoulder and notice that Kate is walking back the scene that is Mia Grey. The usually composed Miss Kavanagh looks troubled and upset. Where was she just then? Elliot wraps his arm around her, and they embrace tightly. Something I will never be able to do.

As soon as dinner is over, and I have left my parents' house, my phone beeps, and thank god no one can see the image on the screen. I hold my breath and open the message.

Ana: Sir, I am waiting up for you. I hope you don't mind, but I got prepared for you.

Fuck me. The picture has Ana in a white lace thong, matching bra and holding a pair of handcuffs. Where on earth did she get them from? I couldn't care less. My pants are getting so tight that I might just combust.

"Taylor, can you speedup. I need to get home to Escalate," Taylor nods and complies but not to my satisfaction. "Taylor, I said for you to drive faster. I do not care if we get a ticket!" I look back down at the naughty photo Ana sent me and start to imagine everything I want to do to her. So Miss Steele is a tease also. I think it is time to 'correct' her behavior, paperwork or not. I grin as I send her a response.

Christian: Anastasia, you're teasing needs to be corrected. Stay on that bed, do not remove any more of garments and keep those handcuffs close. I intend to use them on you. Last night was just a warm up, tonight we really play.

Ana: Oh I am ready, Christian. But the question is, are you?

I groan in anticipation, and the remaining thirty minute drive to Escalate is painful. For some reason, the traffic is worse than usual! In the elevator up to the penthouse, I pullout my cell phone to tell Ana I am on my way up, but decide against that course of action. I intend to surprise her.

I throw my blazer off in the hallway and start to undo the buttons of my shirt. I am anxious to get changed and into my well-worn jeans and nothing else. I place four condoms in the pocket of my jeans and head upstairs to the spare room where Ana is. As I open the door to her room, my breathing escalates, and I can feel myself growing. The education of Anastasia Rose Steele starts tonight!

I look at the bed, but it's empty. I narrow my eyes and look around the room. "Ana" I call out, but there is no response. I walk into the bathroom, but it too is vacant. Where on earth is she? I know she isn't in my bedroom as I was just in there. Could she be outside the playroom? She doesn't even know where it is unless she asked Mrs. Jones or Sawyer, though it is unlikely they would have said anything. Then again, Miss Steele, not like the other women I have had. She may have sought the room out herself. I head off to the playroom and again she is not there. The door is locked, as usual. Hhhhmmm… I am in no mood to play hide and seek Miss Steele, where are you?

I check throughout the penthouse and fail to find Ana. This is beyond a joke. I contact Sawyer, who is double checking the apartment while Taylor is examining the security cameras, whilst I try unsuccessfully to phone Ana. I attempt to trace her phone, but I can't get a location. Her phone must be off. I run my hands through my hair in frustration.

Sawyer and Taylor approach me, both looking grim-faced. "Mr Grey, I have just reviewed the security cameras, and Miss Steele left the apartment before eight."

"For fucks sake! That means she left over two hours ago!" She left on her own accord, but sent me those racy text messages and photo, for what purpose?

"Sir, I found this in your study when I was looking for Miss Steele" Sawyer passes me a same note with my name on it. I turn away from them both and read the short message.

Christian, it sucks to be lied to, doesn't it? Ana.

"Taylor, be ready to leave in five minutes downstairs," I order. Angrily I head off to my room to get changed and find my annoyance grows with every step I take.

I press the buzzer to Kate and Ana's apartment. I expect Kat or Ana to answer, but instead a familiar male voice comes through.

"Elliot?"

"Yes?"

"Elliot, its Christian. Buzz me up."

A very curious Elliot opens the door for me and looks at me as if he doesn't get what I am doing. "You lost little bro?"

"Is Anastasia here?" I get straight to the point.

"I have no idea. Kate is taking a shower at the moment; I will ask her to check Ana's room once she is out. Can I get you drink? I thought you said you weren't interested in her," Elliot comments as he heads to the kitchen.

"No bother, I will check Ana's room myself," I tell him and head off to Ana's room.

"Shit Christian, you can't just go barging into a girl's bedroom!" Elliot says as he walks behind me and grabs my arm preventing me from entering the room.

"I can and will," I proclaim and open Ana's door. Once more, I fail to locate Ana.

"Christian, what's going on with you?" Elliot looks at me worried.

"Did Kate talk to Ana? Did she say anything about where Ana was going? Have you seen Ana tonight?" I ask.

"No. Kate didn't mention anything," Elliot says shaking his head. "I wasn't even coming here tonight, but I didn't want to be away from Kate as I may have to stay up in Vancouver for a couple of nights."

I commence to pace and run my hands through my hair. Elliot passes me a drink, which I drink down in record time, just as Kate walks in the room.

"Elliot, I could so use one of your massages," Kate says seductively thought then yells out and wraps her loose robe around herself when she realizes I am standing in the main room.

"Christian! What are you doing here?"

"I am trying to find Ana. She wasn't at my apartment when I got home tonight," I outline.

"So what? She doesn't have to be at your place," Kate points out.

"Ana informed me that she was at Escala, but when I got home, I found she wasn't there. I am worried about her. Tell me where Ana is now!"

"Why should I tell you?" Kate tests. I can feel Elliot eyes on me and his smirking.

"Because I care for her safety."

"Ana did ring me and told me where she is going. She said if you asked I could tell you that she has gone to see her mother. Ana will be back on Sunday morning as she starts work on Monday," Kate updates us.

I walk out the apartment and make a series of calls. I have Stephen meet us at the GEH jet. If I have to fly to Georgia, then I will and straight away.

# # # #

I knock on the door of the quaint house in Georgia. This is the address of Ana's mother and step-father, according to the background check. I knock a few more times, but no one answers. I walk around the back of the house and look in, but no one is home. I reason that they are all out and decide to return this evening, when I run into the next door neighbor.

"No one is home," the elderly woman states.

"Do you know when they will be home? I am a friend of the family," I state.

"Sunday I believe. They have gone out of state to see their daughter. I can't remember what her name is, Annie, Anabel…"

"You mean, Anastasia, or Ana as she prefers."

"Yes. That is it." The woman confirms.

"Do you know exactly where they went to meet Ana?" I probe

"They didn't say."

"Thank you," I tell her politely, though I am scathing. I head back to the hire car, where Taylor is waiting, and I immediately contact Welch.

"Welch, I need you to try and trace Miss Steele's phone again. She isn't here in Georgia. If that fails, then trace the phone of Carla Adams or Bob Adams." I order as we head back to the jet. It doesn't take him long to ring me back and inform me that he has located them. Fuck! She has had me on a wild goose chase all over America.

# # # #

My eyes locate Ana immediately. She is lying on a pool chair, dressed in a too revealing bikini. I want to go over and throw a towel over her, so no other fuckers get a look at her. She is mine.

"Enjoying the warmth?" I ask Ana, standing over her. She removes her sunglasses and gives me a malevolent smile.

"Yes I am."

"Getup. We need to address your deception. I have a suite here," I order.

"My deception? Maybe we should discuss yours first. Also, congratulations on having a room here, so do a thousand other people!" Ana hisses back.

"Anastasia, I am in no mood for your smart mouth. Do you realize how anxious I was when I returned home to find you gone, and I couldn't trace you! I was going out of my mind!"

"Sorry, but I decided to destroy that phone and cancel that number" My lips form a hard thin line into response to Ana's proud and casual explanation of why I couldn't trace her.

"Then I learn from your best friend that you have gone to visit your mother, so I go to Georgia and then discover you weren't there," I hiss.

"I spoke to my mom and we both decided to meet here. She and Bob used to live here in Vegas, and I prefer the heat here to the dry heat of Georgia."

"Getup. Now," I order.

"No," Ana responds.

"Anastasia, I have traipsed across the country looking for you. So if you would kindly get up, we are going to address you deceptions." I narrow my eyes in an attempt to intimate her, but it fails.

"Christian, you are in my sun. Move," she orders. Anger starts to take over me, and I do the only thing I feel I can right now. I reach down, grab her legs and throw her over my shoulder.

"Christian put me down now!" I chose to ignore her and tighten my grip on her legs as I head off to the elevator. "Christian, I am going to scream."

"Feel free Anastasia. I am not going to let you go until we are in my suite."

The elevator doors open and thankfully no one is else is in there. Ana gives me a pitiful smack that makes me want to laugh. I am too muscular, and she isn't strong enough. Once the elevator doors are closed. I give Ana, a sharp reply smack, which quietens her down.

"Christian that hurt."

"I know. Now please be quiet and get ready to do some explaining."

Authors Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Poor Christian has not had a good twelve hours, has he? Hope you enjoyed. Review if you wish.