APOV

What is he doing here?! I have to leave. I have to convince Christian to leave. We can't stay here, is the only thought I have.

"Ana, why have you stopped dancing?"

"Christian, lets go home." I try to sound as calm and normal as I can.

"The dinner just finished, baby. I usual leave these events as soon as I can. But now that you're with me. I want to enjoy this with you."

I look over and he is walking towards us. Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!

"Please, Christian." So much for not sounding panicky.

Christian furrows his brow and nods. He leads me off the dance floor but in the same direction as him. Christian takes out his phone presumably to let Taylor know we're leaving. I grab Christian's arm, holding onto him. He puts his phone away and looks up just as we reach him.

"Good evening, Mr. Grey." He says.

"Ah. Mr. Clayton. Evening." They shake hands.

I look anywhere but at him. I notice Sawyer looking on. Shit!

"This must be the girlfriend I've heard about."

"Yes. Anastasia, this is Paul Clayton. I've recently purchased his father's hardware store to help Elliot with a construction business venture. Mr. Clayton, this is my beautiful girlfriend, Anastasia Steele."

"A pleasure Ana. Please, call me Paul." He holds his hand out for me. I can't. Shit! Christian will know something's up. Maybe I can quickly shake his hand without giving anything away.

"Anastasia?" Christian asks, after I've taken longer than usual to respond.

"I'm sorry. I'm not feeling well." I say to Christian. "Please excuse us, Paul."

I pull Christian to the exit.

I tried. Really. I tried. I tried so hard, not to say his name with disgust. And I just could not shake his hand.

We've just exited the hotel and since the event is still going on, there is nobody outside. I've never walked so fast in heels before. The nude Jimmy Choos I'm wearing, are the highest heel I've ever worn. I don't want to wait for Taylor to get the SUV so I start walking to the parking lot to find Christian's SUV. I have to get out of here! I'm pulling Christian's hand. Suddenly he stops, causing me to jerk to a stop.

"Anastasia. What is going on?" He demands.

"Nothing." I say my voice high pitched and squeaky. "I um, I'm just not feeling well. I-I have a headache." I stutter out a lie.

He narrows his eyes and tilts his head. I can tell he doesn't believe me. Shit!

"Can we just go. I want to go home, Christian." I say fast.

"Home?"

"Yes. Home. Escala."

"So, you'll move in with me?"

"Okay." I basically already am. But if this gets him distracted enough for us to leave, I'll use it to my advantage.

"Really?" He smiles his breathtaking megawatt smile. It worked! It seems I've distracted him.

"Yes. Can we go home? Now." I pull him to the car.

He stops us again. Shit!

"Anastasia, what the fuck is going on?!"

"Nothing." I say again.

Taylor has pulled the SUV up. I try to get Christian to get in, but he doesn't move. He looks to be deep in thought. When his eyes meet mine, they are full of fury and rage. Shit! He's figured it out!

"It's Paul Clayton?" He says, through clenched teeth, his jaw tight. I say nothing. "Isn't it?!" He roars, when I don't answer, causing me to jump.

I close my eyes. "Yes." I whisper.

I open my eyes when I feel his hand leave mine to see him walking back toward the hotel entrance. I run after him.

"Christian! Christian Please! Don't!"

I grab his arm to try and stop him. But it's useless, as he is so much more stronger than I. He's pulling me with him.

"Christian, please don't do this." I beg him.

He stops and turns to face me.

"He fucking hurt you, Anastasia! I'm fucking doing business with him! I shook his fucking hand!" He says furious. "Go get in the car!"

"Christian. No. Please. Come with me. Let's just leave. Let's go home." I try pulling him to the car, frantically. I can't let Christian get into trouble over this.

"No! Get in the fucking car, Anastasia! Now!"

"Please. Christian. Please. You're scaring me. Please." I beg him.

He runs his hand through his hair, taking a deep breath.

"Get into the car Anastasia." He's still angry but trying to calm himself for me.

I don't move.

"Taylor!" I jump.

Taylor gets out of the SUV. He walks over to us. He's unsure of what is going on. He probably thinks we're having a lovers quarrel.

"Keep Anastasia here."

"No!"

"Ms. Steele." Taylor says. I don't move still looking at Christian. "Ana." Taylor tries again.

"Stay here, Anastasia. I mean it."

Just before he turns around, Paul is walking toward us. Sawyer is following him. Sawyer's usually impassive face is as furious as Christian's. He knows, as well. Great!

"Good." Paul says. "You're still here. Ana forgot her-"

Christian turns around and punches Paul in his jaw, knocking him down. Paul tries to get back up. Christian starts to go after Paul. I go after Christian to stop him. Christian is on top of Paul punching him.

"No! Christian, stop!"

Christian pushes me away and off of him. I fall to the ground. I get up to try and stop him again. Taylor pulls me back around my waist. Then Taylor gets Christian off Paul. He holds him back. Sawyer gets Paul up, holding onto him.

"What the fuck, Grey!" Paul shouts. He whips his bloody mouth.

"You're a man, huh? Let me show you how men do this! Get the fuck off me, Taylor."

Taylor has figured out what is going on, as well. He lets Christian go. Christian hits Paul again harder than before while Sawyer holds him in place. He knocks Paul out cold. Sawyer drops Paul's body to the ground. Taylor and Sawyer pull him over to lean against the building. I wrap my arms around myself. I can feel the tears in my eyes.

"Your ass is mine, Clayton!" Christian hisses out to an unconscious Paul. "Stay the fuck away from her!"

He takes out his phone. "Ros. How much stock do I own in Clayton Hardware?... Sell the shares, break up the company and sell the pieces to the highest bigger... I'm aware of that... I don't give a fuck if I've just purchased... I'm going to bankrupt him... Just do it... Keep me informed." He hangs up. Runs his hand through his hair.

He's pushing buttons on his phone like crazy. Finally, he puts it away and looks at me.

"Shit!"

He runs over to me. I back away on instinct.

"Baby." He says softly. He walks slowly toward me, like I'm an injured animal.

I shake my head, my arms still around myself. I get into the back of Christian's SUV.

I sit shaking, tears silently falling. I quickly wipe my eyes. I take off my nude pumps. I pull my knees up and wrap my arms around myself. My head on my knees. I hear the SUV doors open and three doors shut. I don't look up but I know they are all in the SUV. It starts moving. I presume, Taylor is driving. I hear the leather next to me, as Christian shifts in his seat.

"Baby," He sounds hesitant. "I - I didn't mean to frighten you."

"You didn't." I lie. Still not looking at him.

It's quiet. Too quiet. After awhile I look over at Christian. I rest my cheek on my knees. He looks unsure and afraid.

"What did you do?" I ask him quietly.

"I fucked him over." He says just as quiet. I nod. "He hurt you, Anastasia. That fucker broke your jaw and four of your ribs. And you didn't press charges to protect your dad and your friend."

"I'm aware of that."

He runs his hand through his hair and sighs. "I couldn't let him get away with what he did."

"I told you to leave it, Christian. Ray and José already got him for what he did to me."

"I didn't just hit him, Ana. I ruined him. I've purchased his company for Elliot, to help him with his construction company. I'm going to crush him financially, sell his company off piece by fucking piece. I'm going to bankrupt him. This is what I do."

I know he's doing this because he cares. I take him by surprise and climb into his lap, holding onto him. He holds me. I inhaling his calming scent. He kisses my hair multiple times. I put my head on his shoulder. He puts his cheek on my head, embracing me tightly.

"I'll do anything to keep you safe, baby."

He holds me in his arms the whole way home. This is my safe haven. The only place I ever want to be. With Christian. Always.