Chapter 11
We step into the elevator and Christian inserts the code, and once the door closes the atmosphere inside the cabin changes. It's suddenly charged with a raw sexual energy. The kind that always seemed to surround us and intertwine Christian and I whenever we are in an enclosed space.
I chance a quick glance at him out of the corner of my eye, and I can see the darkening of his irises as he looks down his nose at me. The energy between us is so charged, it's almost like a separate entity and I can feel my body respond to the lascivious expression now marring his beautiful features.
I shift slightly, bringing my legs tighter together and Christian smirks down at me, knowing exactly how my body is reacting towards him. No matter how much anger I might feel toward him, there simply is no denying that Christian Grey can make my own body betray me with just one look. And the worst part of it all is that he knows exactly which buttons to push for maximum effect.
I glance down at my knotted hands, refusing to make further eye contact with him because I know what I'll see and I am terrified of the consequences that could bring.
Christian reaches over to press the button, and the elevator coasts to a halt. My eyes snap up to meet his, startled that I didn't even see him move and he's standing directly in front of me. I turn my head away from him and he places a finger under my chin moving and tilting my face up to meet his. He grabs me suddenly, imprisoning me in the corner of the elevator. His one hand is on my hip pulling me against his hard body and the other hand grips a fistful of my hair at the nape of my neck tilting my head up as his lips descend on mine.
The kiss is hard and possessive as he forces his tongue between my lips and I know my lips will be swollen and bruised. My hands find purchase on his upper arms as I struggle to push him away, but it's like trying to move a brick wall for all the good it's doing me. Instead I release his arms and squeeze my hands between our bodies at his waist and start moving towards his chest. Before my hands reach the middle of his chest, Christian jumps back and away from me. He's eyes are wide and fearful as he glares at me.
Shocked at his reaction, my brain works overtime to figure out why he reacted in such a startling manner. Surely it's not because I was about to touch his chest, I've done that a thousand times before and even though it was a struggle at first, we've managed to overcome it. My blood begins to boil again. That bitch caused him to regress. It's like every positive step we've managed to overcome has been erased by his association with her! Yes, anger at the two of them is much healthier for me than feeling like my heart is splintered into a million pieces.
I reach over and punch in the combination into the keypad with a lot more force than was strictly necessary and the elevator rises with a slight jolt. When the doors open I cast a quick glance at Christian expecting to see that horror-filled look, but instead Mr Mercurial as ever is back to his usual self-assured persona.
As the elevator doors open, I practically run over Taylor in my bid to get away from Christian lest he sees my reaction, there is no way I will give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry.
"Not so fast Anastasia, you still have some explaining to do" Christian snaps from behind me.
It's almost amusing that he thinks he still has a hold over me. I glare at him from over my shoulder with my eyebrow raised "yeah right!" I snort, just loud enough for him to hear and continue on my way.
"Anastasia" Christian shouts. Oooh, he sounds mad "get back here, we're not done" I am almost expecting him to ground me or something, because honestly he sounds more like my dad than my husband right now.
I spin on my heel to face him and he stops dead in his tracks, eyes wide. "Well?" I hiss, annoyed that he thinks he can bark orders at me and I will heel to his command. "Why don't you start by telling me what the hell you're doing sneaking around with Mrs Bitch-Troll Robinson?"
Christian stares at me wide-eyed, but I can tell he has no intention of answering that particular question. I am quite frankly sick of this secrecy and only being told what he deems necessary.
"Watch you language Anastasia" Christian hisses at me. After taking a deep breath he looks me up and down and in a much softer tone "Ana, lets sit and discuss this like adults shall we? Screaming and shouting will not make for pleasant communication. I think we are both a bit wound-up, so lets take a few minutes to calm down. Shall I pour you a glass of wine?"
I stare at him slacked-jawed for a moment as I consider his words. Christian waits patiently while my brain try to connect the dots, seeing my posture relax somewhat, he lips twitch triumphantly and he gestures with his long fingered hand for me to take a seat as he practically glides to the kitchen to get the wine. Christian thinks I am oblivious to the fact that he's trying his old tactic of getting me tipsy so that I will be more compliant and easily swayed. He may have succeeded in the past but not this time around.
He enters the room with two chilled glasses and a bottle of wine, taking a seat opposite me, he fills both glasses and hand one to me. I curl my finger around it and lift towards my lips, taking a sip. Christian smiles and leans back in his seat, one hand thrown over the back, the other holding his glass on his thigh. He looks for all the world, like he's very relaxed and at ease, but his eyes tells a different tale. I can see he's anxious with barely contained anger, but dammit so am I.
"Drink up baby and then we can discuss what happened today" Seems I was right on the money. An inebriated Ana is easily manipulated. Well, sorry to burst your bubble Grey! I will not be making this easy for you. Very deliberately I place my glass on the table and settle back getting comfortable. When I glance at Fifty, he barely manages to wipe the exasperation from his face before he smirks at me and deposits his own glass beside mine on the table.
"Are you going to answer my question?" I enquire casually although I'm feeling anything but at ease.
"What question would that be Anastasia?" Christian asks with a raised brow. He's trying to bait me, but for once I don't rise to the challenge.
"If you're going to act obtuse, then there really is no point in having this conversation"
"Me? Obtuse? I haven't a clue…"
Having very little patience for whatever stalling tactics he's planned, I interrupt whatever nonsense he wanted to say.
"If this is how you want to continue acti …"
Christian holds both his hand up in surrender, interrupting me this time. "Alright Mrs Grey. You've made your point. What exactly are you angry about Anastasia? That I went to have a meal with an old friend? Maybe it's because I didn't clear it with you first, or could it be that whenever Elena's name is mentioned you see red? Which is it Anastasia?" He practically sneers my name and it's not so much anger but hurt that causes a lump to form in my throat. I swallow hard against it while mentally trying to push against the feeling of hurt and rejection; instead I choose to focus on my rage and fury. I am not in the wrong here, he is. He will not try to lay the blame at my feet, not this time around.
Sufficiently grounded, I clear my throat and look him dead in the eye. "Lets get a few misconceptions cleared up, shall we? I do not have an issue with you having lunch with "an old friend" as you so eloquently mentioned, what I do have a problem with is the two of you sneaking around. I was under the impression all ties were broken. Yet another lie – and yes, omissions count as lies. You're right about one thing though, I do see red where Elena's concerned. To put it in terms you can identify with, that bitch is a hard limit for me and you know that. So how long have you been sneaking around fucking that fake-ass bitch-troll Christian?"
Christians' stormy grey gaze hardens and I can tell he's trying very hard to contain his rage. Oops, I think I hit a nerve! "Be careful Anastasia" he says quietly – too quietly "I'm getting dangerously close to losing my patience and you wouldn't want that" and I can tell that he's barely containing himself.
"And what Christian? Are you going to beat the shit out of me?" I bait him. Judging by the astounded look on his face, I know he considers that a low blow on my part. I should feel bad but I don't. He should've stayed away from that woman. We stare at each other from across the table, each waiting for the other to crack, and he's the first to break the silence.
"What Elena and I discussed does not concern you, Anastasia" I can tell by the hard set of his jaw and his hardened dark grey stare, that he will not be swayed. "Why don't you tell me why you barged in and practically attached Elena?"
I had to school my features and count to ten after he stressed Elena's name while looking pointedly at me. My furious blush now occupying most of my face is a dead giveaway though, because I am mad as hell. And if he thinks I'm rolling over then he has another thing coming.
"I can see this is going nowhere, when you feel like explaining yourself to me – your wife, be sure to let me know Mr Grey, Sir!" I don't think I can squeeze any more sarcasm into my response if I tried.
He opens his mouth to no doubt chastise me again, but I've had it. "We're done here" and I use his brief pause to my advantage and flee the room locking myself into my bedroom. I need time to think, to process how I intend getting the answers from Christian without resorting to violence. With the way I'm feeling right this minute, it wouldn't take much.
In my bedroom, I remove my heels and decide to change into something more comfortable. Sufficiently comfortable in my tank and shorts I flop onto the bed with my iPad and browse through the library app looking for something to take my mind off of the cluster fuck my life has become.
When next my eyes opened, I was laying in my darkened room with the iPad on my chest. I must have fallen asleep. Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I scramble from the bed and into the bathroom. Washing my face and fixing my hair, I change into my jeans I realise that I missed lunch and now I'm famished, so I head down to the kitchen for something to eat.
In the kitchen, Mrs Jones is busy putting the finishing touches on a tray of food. She looks up with a smile as I enter. "Ana dear, I was just about to bring dinner to you. Would you like a glass of wine while I set another place at the table?"
I smile, Mrs Jones is so thoughtful. "It's no trouble Mrs Jones, I'll help myself to some wine" I look around and note that Mrs Jones is only setting one place at the table. She notices my wandering gaze and clarifies.
"Mr Grey has already eaten" She smiles a sad smile and continues in her task.
"Oh. Has he gone out?"
"No dear. He's in his study"
"Thanks"
I ample towards the study, not sure what, if anything I want to say or do when I get there. I just know that at some point a decision has to be made. Christian and I cannot live like this any longer. My sanity and our marriage hangs in the balance and sooner rather than later we have to either work this out of go our separate ways.
Reaching the study door, I hear Christian on the phone. "… That is none of your business Elena; I have told you before that Ana is off limits. Leave her alone" Ah, so I'm the topic of conversation.
He listens to whatever she replies, and growls loudly banging what sounds like his hand against the desk. "I said no dammit" He shouts making me jump.
"Tomorrow, ten am, my office at GEH. I want both of you there; this negotiation has gone on long enough. I want that contract signed tomorrow." Silence as he listens, "good. Goodbye"
I walk backwards, away from the door until I reach the kitchen counter. In the reflection of the glass window, I can see the haunted look marring my face.
Contract? Negotiations?
Those words keep playing in my mind over and over as dread fills my being. I know from past conversations with Christian that Elena got subs for Christian. Is that what's going on here? But, ... shit!
"Ana, dinner is ready" Mrs Jones' voice breaks through my fog-filled brain. I nod and mutter a thanks as I walk towards the table. Mechanically, I begin to eat. Not tasting or seeing what's on the fork.
"Christian will tire of this vanilla crap eventually and if you think he's going to be happy with a mousy gold-digger like you…" Elena's words from our impromptu engagement party flashes through my mind and I swallow hard. Could she have been right? Have I been fooling myself in believing that I have somehow cured him? Maybe this is for the best. I can almost see that smirk on that Bitch-Trolls face and she says 'I told you so'. Urg!
Snap out of it Steele… err Grey. I chide myself. It's time to stop the pity party and put on your big girl panties. I have to find out for myself and since Christian is so tight lipped, the only other avenue is to catch him red-handed. Right! But, how?
Damn, there's no way I can catch him. He'll be a lot more careful now after the diner incident.
Oh! But wait a second, how about Mrs Grey makes an impromptu visit to her hubby's office tomorrow at say… ten fifteen am… He'll have nowhere to hide. I almost want to rub my hands together and let loose an evil laugh.
One way or the other, I will get the closure on this troubling situation and whether my marriage is worth the fight or if it's time I admit defeat and bow out with at least some of my dignity intact.
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Coming up in the next chapter, will be the long awaited reveal... Hmmm!
Till then...