CARRICK POV
I now know, what I thought about Ana was wrong. I'm sitting at the kitchen table, looking at my wife's expression. Her jaw is practically on the floor. I run my hand through my hair, and continue telling her my fuck up.
"She then told me, she would sign anything Christian wanted her to sign. And that she already let him know that. She asked me to have it say she gets nothing, should their marriage end." I still can't believe she that. "She said I should speak to Christian first. I told her I had. Though, I didn't mention, he didn't want the prenup." Grace raises her brow. She stays silent, letting me continue. "She said, to let her know when it was ready for her to sign. That she was on her lunch break and had to return to work. I just assumed she quit working. She smiled, just as happy as when we started our conversation. Grace, I was so blindsided, she was shopping at a re-used store. She's marrying a wealthy man. Why on earth would she need anything fro-" I am interrupted.
"How dare you." She says eerily quietly.
When I look at her, if looks could kill, I'd be six feet under. I stay quiet.
"You went behind your son's back. You went to talk to Ana about a prenup, after Christian said, no. You made her think that's what Christian wanted. You had better hope he doesn't find out. And he will find out. It's best he finds out from you."
I run my hand through my hair. "He'll hate me, Grace."
"He will be furious." She doesn't say he wont hate me. She must know, he will. I know, he will.
Christian is known for his temper. I know he'll be furious with me. I look at Grace. She still looks so angry.
"I was just trying to help." I try to explain.
"You weren't helping. You were butting in, where you weren't wanted nor needed. I'd be surprised if they ever want to speak to you again. And if I don't get to see my grandbabies because of you..." She leaves the treat hanging. Shaking her head, glaring at me. "You had better tell Christian and Ana, what you've done. Let them know now, before it's too late. And you had better sleep in the guest room tonight and until further notice."
Fuck! She gets up and walks out, pissed.
I get my phone and call Christian. He's still not answering. Great!
CPOV
Today has been dull and boring, full of meetings. I can't wait to go home with my baby. I've had her all to myself, all week.
I can't fucking wait until our honeymoon. Non stop, Christian and Anastasia Grey. I'm taking her to Europe. I got the idea that night we talked. When I almost fucked it all up. I spoke to her in French and it distracted her, because she didn't know what I was saying. We talked about Paris. She's never been, so I'll take her there. We're going to London, Paris and then the South of France. She's always dreamed of going to Europe. I want to make all her dreams come true. She is my dream, I didn't even know I had, come true. We'll honeymoon for one month. That should give us plenty of time. Even when I think it, I know it wont be enough. I've been spoiled, these last few days. I miss her already. I look at my watch, to see how much longer until I can see her. Fuck! I've only been here four fucking hours. This is going to be a long ass fucking day.
I pull out my phone to text My Beauty.
I've had you to myself for 5 nights and 6 days. I've been back at the office only 4 hours and I'm already missing you. xx -C
Miss you, too. x -A
That's it?
Are you okay? -C
Fine. Just busy. -A
I frown at my phone. Something's wrong. I rub my chin, contemplating what it could be. I draw a blank. Nothing. What could be wrong?
My phone buzzes with an incoming call. It's my father, again. I send it to voicemail. He keeps trying to call me. I keep ignoring him. I don't want to talk about this prenup shit anymore. He needs to drop it. She's not signing one. I wont discuss this again. The subject is closed.
No prenup. Not now. Not ever.
I walk to Anastasia's desk, after work.
"Hi." I say.
"Hi." She smiles.
I can tell it's not her genuine smile. It's the smile she gave me before we were together. Her fake smile.
"What's wrong?" Tell me, baby. I internally urge her.
"Nothing."
She shuts down her computer and packs things away. She grabs her bag and other things she needs. Standing, she walks toward me. I kiss her lips softly. We walk to the elevator together. Walking towards the elevator I notice an editor in her office, looking wide-eyed in horror at us. I look at the name plate. Elizabeth Morgan. I remember the name for the future. We walk into the elevator. I can still sense, something is not right with her.
"Is work alright?" Maybe someone's bothering her. Logan?
She smiles, her fake smile. "Nothing I can't handle."
"Anastasia, what's wrong?" I know something is bothering you, baby.
"I've just been busy, with work and wedding planning. It's just been a weird day, that's all." I look at her suspiciously.
Anastasia, picks at her food, not eating. It's irritating and I know something is wrong.
"Anastasia. Baby, I wish you'd tell me what's bothering you." I push my empty plate aside and take her hand. "I know something is bothering you. Tell me."
"I'm just over thinking."
"About?" I probe her.
"I spoke to your father today. He you mentioned you want -" Taylor interrupts her.
"Excuse me, Mr. Grey. Ms. Steele. Mr. Grey and Dr. Trevelyan-Grey are on their way up."
I run my hand through my hair. Speaking of my father. He better not be coming here to continue with that prenup bullshit. I nod to Taylor.
Anastasia and I stand, to greet my parents.
-DING-
The elevator door opens. My mother looks mad. My father looks dejected. What's going on?
I look back and forth between them. Waiting for one to start explaining, what they are doing here.
"Well?" My mother prompts my father. I look at him, waiting.
"Christian. Son, I need to speak with you and I need you to hear me out. I've already spoken to your mother and I've already gotten it from her. I'm in the dog house, so to speak. And I suspect you wont be thrilled to hear what I have to say. You're mother has demanded I tell you myself."
"Tell me what?" What has he done?
"I felt I was protecting you. You need to know that. I thought I was doing the right thing."
"What did you do?" I say already irritated with him, for not spitting it out already.
"I-" He takes a deep breath. "I approached Ana about signing a prenup."
"You did what?!" I roar at him. I feel Anastasia flinch next to me. Is this what she was going to tell me?!
"She-" He tries to explain, but I don't want to fucking hear it.
"How fucking dare you!"
"I know, I-" He tries to continue.
"Wont be involved in our wedding any longer, that's for damn sure."
"Christian, please. Don't say that." Anastasia tries to calm me.
"No, Ana. I told him. TWICE! The answer is NO! It will always be no." I turn back to my father. "I told you no! Now, you approach her?! Corner her into doing something that, I don't, but you want?! I can't fucking believe, my own fucking father would go behind my back like that."
"Wait." Anastasia says, I look at her. "You told me, you spoke to Christian." She says confused at my father. What?!
I look back at my father, livid he would lie to her.
"I did speak with him. I just withheld his answer." He says.
"You lied to her?!"
"I didn't lie, I just-"
"You just manipulated her into believing I wanted her to sign?! Oh, this just gets better and fucking better." I run my hand through my hair.
"I apologize. To both you and Ana. I know what I did, going behind your back and withholding information from Ana, was wrong of me. I was honestly just trying to protect you from a rushed marriage."
"I'm twenty-fucking-eight years old. I'm not a little kid anymore. I don't need my daddy holding my fucking hand. I'm a grown ass fucking man! This is my decision! Not yours! And if I want to sign every-fucking-thing I own over to Ana right fucking now. You better fucking believe I fucking will!" I yell. I'm fucking furious!
I'm both surprised and not, that my mother isn't reprimanding me about my language.
I pull out my phone.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm calling my lawyer, my accountant, my financial fucking advisor, my banker and whoever the fuck else I need to, to add Anastasia STEELE to my businesses, to my bank accounts and any other accounts, right fucking now!"
I'm going thermo-fucking-nuclear, it's best everyone stay far, the fuck, away from me. I don't know what else I'll do right now.
"What?" Anastasia says, shocked. I put the phone to my ear, listening to it ring.
"Don't be so melodramatic, Christian. That's not needed." My father says.
I move the phone, still to my ear, but so I can shout at him. "Fuck you!"
I walk to my office.
"Good evening, Mr. Grey."
"I want a meeting first thing tomorrow morning, to add Anastasia Steele to all of my businesses and bank accounts." I say harshly, seething.
"That's not advisable, Mr. Grey-"
"I don't give a fuck!"
"Of course. All of them, sir?"
"Every. Single. Fucking. One." I growl through my teeth. I've reach my office. I open the door and slam it shut.
APOV
"...And if I want to sign every-fucking-thing I own over to Ana right fucking now. You better fucking believe I fucking will!"
He pulls out his phone.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm calling my lawyer, my accountant, my financial fucking advisor, my banker and whoever the fuck else I need to, to add Anastasia STEELE to my businesses, to my bank accounts, and to any other fucking accounts, right fucking now!"
"What?" Why?
I'm shocked he would do that. I didn't expect him to do that after we wed, but I sure as heck didn't expect him to do that before.
He puts his phone to his ear.
"Don't be so melodramatic, Christian. That's not needed." His father says.
Christian moves the phone slightly.
"Fuck you!" I can hear the venom in his tone.
He walks to his office, talking to whomever on the phone.
"I want a meeting first thing tomorrow morning, to add Anastasia Steele to all of my businesses and bank accounts... I don't give a fuck!... Every. Single. Fucking. One." He growls. He opens the door to his office and slams it shut.
He's seriously going through with it. I've only seen Christian this angry once. The night with Paul, at the charity event. He scared me that night. It frightens me when he's angry. Even if that anger is not directed towards me. I stand, starring in the direction Christian went.
"Ana." I look at Christian's father. "I am so sorry, I misjudge you. I should have listened to everyone. They all told me, time and time again, you weren't after Christian's money. I just assumed with the rush to wed that it was you're idea."
"Mr. Grey.-"
"Carrick." He corrects me.
"Mr. Grey," I continue. "I understand the need for a father to protect their child. My father is extremely overprotective of me, so I know an overprotective parent. I'll talk to Christian, on your behalf. But what you did wasn't protecting your child. You lied to me. You may not have told the whole truth but that's still a lie. You told me you spoke to Christian. You lead me to believe this is what he wanted. I couldn't understand why he wouldn't just tell me, instead of having you do it. I told you, and I told Christian, I will sign anything. I don't care what it says. I just want Christian. I want his love, his heart, not his money. You hurt me. I'm sorry but what you did wasn't right. You could have told me Christian disapproved of the prenuptial agreement. You didn't, because you knew what I would say. 'Talk to Christian.' And you knew what he would say. 'No.' I understand you believed you did this to protect your son. But, you went about it the wrong way. You're the one our relationship needs protecting from."
"I apologize. Ana, I'm so sorry. I'm truly and deeply sorry. I thought with the rushed wedding... Well, my thoughts obviously weren't correct."
"I think it's best you leave, to let Christian cool down. Perhaps we can all have lunch tomorrow?"
"I'm not sure Christian would agree to lunch."
"Leave that up to me."
"Goodnight, Ana dear." Grace hugs me. "I'm so mad at him, I could strangle him. I told him to leave it be. If we didn't have a guest bedroom, he'd be sleeping on the sofa." She whispers in my ear.
"Men." I whisper back.
We pull away from our hug, giggling.
"Goodnight, Mr. Grey." I say to Christian's father.
He sighs. "Night, Ana. Again, I'm sorry." I nod.
Taylor shows up, to see them out.
I go in search of my, very pissed off, man. I saw him go into his office, I know he'll be seething. I go into the kitchen and get a white dish towel. I knock on his office door.
"What?!" He shouts on the other side of the door.
I crack open the door, reach my hand, holding the towel, and wave it.
"It's just me. Is it safe to enter?"
I peek inside. He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. "For you it is."
I walk inside and shut the door behind me. I notice he has an auburn color liquor in a tumbler glass.
"Your parents have left."
"Good." He growls out and drinks his drink.
"Christian." I climb onto his lap. He holds my hips, I put my arms around his neck. "Don't be like that. I know your upset but he's your father."
"He lied to you. He made you believe I wanted a fucking prenup. How are you not upset?"
I shrug. "I know he did it for you. In his own way, he thought he was protecting you from a gold digger. I can't blame him for that. We've not known each other long and now we're getting married. Marriage is forever. Well, ... to me it is. I understand not everyone feels that way and you're bringing so much into our marriage. I know the prenup protects you if anything happened to our marriage. I wouldn't want anything anyway if we separated. The reminder of what we had would hurt too much."
"I will never fucking leave you, baby." I he says so sincerely.
I grab his face. "I will never fucking leave you, baby." I say right back to him.
He leans forward, I follow through and kiss his lips gently.
"Our fucking parents, huh?" He runs his hand through his hair, and places it back on my hip.
"What do you mean?"
"Your mother, my father."
I shake my head. "My mother is nothing like your father. Your father is truly remorseful. He regrets what he did. He wont do it again."
"Your mother apologized, and you didn't forgive her."
"My mother is a repeat offender. This is your father's first offense. I forgave you, when you went all Dom on me. It was the first time you really fucked up. People deserve a second chance. We're all not as perfect as we'd like to pretend we are. Some people disappoint too much and continue to fuck up. Those people don't deserve another chance, after they've had so many. Your father didn't mean any harm. Your father truly thought he was protecting you from a gold digger. I suspect, he knew of my black widow status." I joke to lighten the mood.
It works, he laughs. "Are you telling me you'll kill me after we wed."
I look around the room, dramatically. "You have cameras in here. I admit to nothing." I kiss him chastely.
"I love you, baby." He runs his hands up and down, on my hips.
"I'm gonna love you, until you hate me."
"I could never hate you."
"Good to know. Because we're having lunch with your parents tomorrow."
"No."
"Christian. He's your father. He's already taken the first step to forgiveness. He apologized. He's guilt-ridden, he honestly thought he was protecting you."
"I said no."
"Please?" He shakes his head. "For me?" I dramatically pout and bat my eyes.
He rubs his hand over his face. "This is not a good idea."
"It will be okay. You need to work through this, don't hold a grudge. And you must control your temper."
He drops his hand and looks at me, taken aback.
"Temper?" He says, like that's unheard of.
"You know you have a temper." I narrow my eyes at him, when he tries to look innocent. And I shake my head, trying not to smile.
He smirks. "Let's get you fed and in bed, before you convince me to do anything else. We have an early morning meeting tomorrow."
"We?"
"I know you heard me, earlier. I'm adding you to all my businesses and bank accounts. We're meeting my team first thing tomorrow morning, to sign the papers."
"Christian, that's a bit much. I don't need to be on your bank accounts, I have my own. And I don't even know the first thing about business. You don't need to add me any of your businesses. I didn't even expect you to do that after we got married."
"I want to. And you don't have to do anything. All you need to do is sign your name on some paperwork."
"Christian." I shake my head, not knowing what to say. I know he's dead set on doing this.
"Everything I have, is now yours. What's mine is yours. Forever." He kisses me.
The next morning, Christian wakes me extremely early for our meeting.
Taylor drove us to GEH. We go up to the 20th floor and go into a conference room, where a group of men are waiting for us.
"Morning gentlemen, this is my fiancé, Anastasia Steele. Anastasia, this is my team of lawyers, accountants, my banker, and my financial advisor."
I politely shake everyone's hand. Then I sit to Christian's right, as he sits at the head of the table. They begin explaining things and handing me things to sign. It all looks like it's in another language. I don't understand any of it. I pass the papers to Christian and he reads them over. I trust him, so I let him read them before I sign. After he's satisfied, he puts them in front of me and hands me a pen, nodding for me to sign them.
"Are you sure?" I whisper.
"Absolutely."
"Okay." I shake my head and sign my name on all the papers.
"You'll need to re-sign after the wedding with your married name. But as of now, you own everything I do."
After the team of men leave, I ask Christian. "Does this mean I can personally fire people?" I think of Elizabeth Morgan, yesterday.
Christian laughs. "Yes. " Then he frowns. "Is there something I should know about?" He cocks his head to the side.
I shake my head. "I handled it."
"Handled what?"
"I over heard a Grey Publishing employee talking about us, well me, in the ladies room. I may have threated to fire her. When she said I couldn't, I showed her who's boss, and I don't mean you."
"Who?"
"No, Christian. I've taken care of it." I pick up the paperwork and wave them. "These fancy papers state I can fire her, if she messes up again."
"Who?" He repeats his question. He's out for blood now.
"Elizabeth Morgan. But I've handled it." He clenches his jaw and nods.
We get up to leave and he kisses me passionately, grabbing my ass. Oh, how I'd love for him to take me on this conference room table, but alas I have to get to work. I pull away giggling.
"Don't forget, we're having lunch with your parents." He nods, still not happy about it.
He walks me out of the conference room. We walk to his receptionist/waiting area, where the elevator is located. I stop in front of the receptionist desk. Andrea and Olivia are seated behind it.
"Hi, Andrea." I smile at her.
"Hello, Ms. Steele." She says in front of Christian. I look up at him through my lashes. He's impassive as ever.
I reach in my bag and pull out a wedding invitation for Andrea. Mia mailed invitations out to our close family and a few friends. But she had a few extra made for me. So I could hand them out to my friends or anyone I wanted to invite, since she didn't know who I knew or wanted to invite.
"Here," I hand Andrea the invitation. "This is for you."
Andrea looks stunned in surprised silence. Christian looks confused. And Olivia looks like she's anticipating getting an invite as well.
"To your wedding?" She asks. I nod. "I'm honored."
"Anastasia, I thought we agreed, close family and friends?" Christian asks, his hand on my lower back.
"We did. But she does a lot for you and she takes care of you here. She's your... Personal Assistant." I was going to say she's his 'office wife'... but I don't think Christian would of liked it if I did.
"I get his coffee." Olivia says excitedly. I smile, my fake smile at her.
"We wont be serving coffee at the wedding."
I turn back to Christian, he looks amused. I hand him an invitation. "Here is an invitation for Ross Bailey and her wife Gwen. Could you see that she gets this?" I pull more invitations out and hand them to Christian. "Here are a few more, for you to give to whomever you want. That Welch and Barney guy? Whoever you want."
He takes the invites and escorts me to the elevator. He pushes the call button for me. It opens. We kiss and I walk in. I push the button for the 19th floor and it closes. It opens again on the 19th floor. I walk out and to my desk. I'm putting my bag away and starting up my computer, getting everything ready for my day. I'm about to get up for Mr. Logan's coffee, when I hear Elizabeth Morgan behind me.
"Good Morning, Ms. Steele. Can I get you a coffee?"
"Morning, Ms. Morgan. No, thanks. I know where the kitchen is, but thank you for the offer."
I don't even drink coffee, but if I did I can get it, or whatever I plan to drink, myself. And I know she's just trying to suck up from yesterday.
I get Mr. Logan his coffee and continue on with my day, working on manuscripts, until it's time for lunch.
CPOV
I don't know how Anastasia can be so forgiving. She forgave me, easily enough. Now, she's forgiving my father. She's a very sweet, loving girl. I'm so glad, I can call her mine. She makes me a better person. I would never have invited Andrea, my PA, to our wedding. But Anastasia is right, Andrea does do a lot of shit for me and can handle me better than any other PA I've had previously.
After Anastasia went down to the Grey Publishing floor, I head to Ros' office to give her the invitation Anastasia said was for her. Her door is open. When I knock, she looks up.
"Well, it's nice to finally see you, stranger." She sits back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Is this your new management approach? To not be in the office?"
"I was here yesterday." I say in my defense, walking in and sitting on a chair in front of her desk. I sit crossing my leg over my knee and lean back.
"I didn't see you."
"Not my problem. I was here." I lean forward and hand her the invitation. I lean back in my seat, running my finger across my bottom lip.
"What's this?" She starts to open it.
"It looks like an invitation." I state the obvious.
She stops opening it. Her hands, still in position to open the envelope, fall to her desk in exasperation. She glares at me.
"Well, no shit. Thank you, captain obvious. What's it for?" I shrug. She shakes her head and continues to open the envelope. She pulls out the invitation and reads it. "Your wedding?!" She looks up at me shocked.
I nod. "Anastasia's asked me to give this to you. She wants you there and I agree."
"Of course, I'll be there. Thank you."
I nod again. "I'll let you get on with, well, with whatever it is I pay you to do." She laughs.
I chuckle a little as I leave.
I give invitations to Barney and Welch, too. They were just as surprised as Andrea and Ros. Although Welch was impassive, I could still see his surprise. I go back to my office and write addresses on the envelopes, to mail Claude Bastille and John Flynn invitations to the wedding. I have Andrea see that they are mailed out as soon as possible.
I continue on with work until this disastrous lunch, Ana insists we have with my parents.
It's almost lunch time when my phone rings. It's my mother.
"Hello, mother."
"Hello, dear. I was just calling to see if we are meeting you and Ana for lunch. She mentioned us going to lunch together, but we didn't get a confirmation. I wasn't sure if you agreed."
"Yes. We're going to lunch. Ana insists." I run my hand through my hair.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I know you're extremely upset with your father right now, as am I, but are you sure."
"It'll be fine, mother. We'll meet you at The Mile High. See you soon."
"Okay, darling." She sound skeptical.
Anastasia and I are in the SUV, on our way to The Mile High.
"Remember," She says to me when we Taylor pulls up to the club. "control your temper. He apologized and wont continue pushing for a prenup. He deserves a second chance."
"How can you be this calm? You're the one he insulted, by insisting we sign a prenup, insinuating you're a gold digger."
"Exactly. I'm the one that should be upset. I'm not thrilled my future father in-law thinks, or thought, that of me. But I expect people to think that. It does bother me. But I don't let the anger take over me. Because you are the only one I care about, your opinion is what matters to me. I know you don't think that. The only way others will know is to see it for themselves. Your father and I haven't spent much time together for him to see the real me."
Sawyer opens her door and Taylor opens mine. I walk around taking her hand as we walk into The Club.
"Don't hold onto your anger, let it go. We all make mistakes." We walk into the elevator.
I take a deep cleansing breath to try and calm myself for Ana. The elevator opens and we walk into the clubs foyer. The hostess greets us and shows us to our table, where my parents are already waiting. We greet each other. I kiss my mother, then she hugs Ana. I nod to my father. He shakes Ana's hand, thanking her, for us having lunch with them. I pull out Ana's chair and we sit. Being The Christian Grey, we don't have to wait long to order. I know what I want, so I order.
"What would you like, baby?" I ask Ana.
"I want a juicy burger, but I still have another fitting before the wedding, so I better get a salad."
"Add chicken. You're much too thin and you didn't eat much last night."
"Okay. A chicken salad."
"That sounds good." My mother says. "I'll have the same."
After my father orders the waiter leaves us.
The tension at the table could be cut with a knife. I knew this wasn't a good idea. I run my hand through my hair.
The waiter returns with a bowl of mixed nuts for us, while we wait for our meal, then leaves.
My father starts. "I just want to say, I apologize once more for what I've done. I didn't mean any harm. I'm sure I did what any father of a wealthy man would do. I insisted on a prenup to protect my son, from a quickie wedding. I should have listened to you, son. I wont interfere any longer. I can see now what kind of girl Ana is." He smiles at her and it just pisses me off.
"I agree. I'm sure you did do what any father would do. Going behind your son's back, manipulating his fiancé, insinuating she's a gold digger."
"This marriage is so quick, son. Why would you want to marry so suddenly? That's what people are likely to think. That or suspect a pregnancy."
"I want to marry Ana quickly, because I can. I would of married her the night I proposed, if she agreed to fly to Vegas with me. I don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks." I clench my jaw and my fists.
"I'm just saying, you haven't known each other well enough, is all."
"I know her well enough" I growl out, tired of this conversation.
I feel Ana put her hand on my thigh. It instantly calms me. How does she do that? I take a deep breath and run my hand through my hair. She may of asked me to forgive him, but I'm still too upset right now to even think about forgiveness. I just wont speak to him, right now. I don't want to upset, My Ana. He's fucking lucky, she's pushing for this reconciliation.
I feel a buzz, so I check my phone. Nothing. It must of been Ana's, she's so close to me I must of felt her phone. I look at her.
"Go ahead." I say and nod, when I see she's not making a move to answer her phone.
APOV
"I'm so sorry, I don't want to be rude. But it could be something important about the wedding."
"It's alright, dear." Grace smiles at me.
I smile. "Please, excuse me a moment."
I get my phone out of my bag. It's a text from Mia.
Bridal Shower/Sleepover this weekend! It's pajama themed. Ana's Last Nightie! Hosting at my parents. -Mia
I giggle at her theme. Pajamas. How fun! Ana's last nightie. So cute! I quickly reply.
Okay. I'll be there! Thank you! -A
"It was Mia. She's throwing me a bridal shower this weekend." Grace smiles.
"Bridal shower?" Christian asks. "What is that? Code for bachelorette party?" He doesn't seem pleased. I'm not sure if it's to do with the bridal shower or his father.
"It's much more tame compared to a wild bachelorette party." I let him know.
I suspect Kate will be throwing me a bachelorette party, but I don't tell him this assumption just yet. Not with his mood.
He nods.
I can see Christian is attempting to control his temper, but he's not talking or even looking at his father. I guess it will take time. His father keeps looking at me with amazement, now in his eyes.
The waiter returns moments later with our food. We all start eating. The silence deafening.
"So, Ana." Christian father says. "Was that your wedding dress, I saw you coming out of a thrift store with yesterday?" He asks as I take a bite of my food.
"Thrift store?" Christian asks me, before I get a chance to answer. He looks confused.
"Yes. I went to a thrift store yesterday during my lunch break." I say to Christian. "And to answer your question, Mr. Grey. No. That was not my dress. A family friend is making my dress. I just like the lace on it. I plan to use the lace for something, not the dress."
"That's interesting." Grace says.
"Why did you go to a thrift store?" Christian asks me.
"Are you upset that I did? I hope I didn't embarrass you. I was looking for a frame, for that sign I showed you. I went to a craft store first, but their frames didn't have the look I wanted, so I went to a resale shop instead. I found a vintage frame there. I'll paint it and write the message on that."
"No, of course, you didn't embarrass me. Baby, I've told you before. I don't give a fuck what people think. They're going to talk either way. Whether you spend too much or not enough." He glares at his father.
He opens his mouth and I quickly kiss his lips, before he can say anything more damaging to his father. He looks at me shocked. I blush and giggle. He takes my hand and kisses it.
"You'll get use to it."
"Use to it?" What, kissing him in front of our parents?
"The money."
I push the bowl of mixed nuts toward him. "You're nuts, sir."
He picks one up. "I'm nuts about you." He puts the nut into his mouth and chews it with a smirk.
He leans over and gently kisses me again. He pulls back and we stare into each others eyes. So in love. Once again it's just the two of us, just like when we went hiking with my dad, ignoring his parents. We continue our meal and the waiter comes to remove our plates. Christian leaves a substantial tip. He stands, pulling out my chair and holding out his hand for me. I accept his hand and he helps me to stand. His parents follow us to the elevator. We all walk inside. Grace and I between our men, separating them. I can feel the tension between them. I'm sure she can, as well. The doors open and we all walk out. Outside, we all say our 'see you laters'. Christian kisses his mother's cheek and gives her a hug.
I hear her say. "You've found yourself a really great girl. I'm so happy for you."
He smiles at her. I can't hear what he says to her in return.
Christian's father gets my attention. "Ana, I want to apologize to you once again. I can't apologize enough. I'm so sorry for what I've done."
"I know." I give him a small smile.
"I see, now, what everyone else does."
I feel Christian snake his arm around my waist. I look up at him and he's glaring at his father. Well... at least I tried.
I just hope there isn't tension at our wedding.
"We'll see you later, Grace. Mr. Grey."
Christian and I get back into the SUV with Taylor driving and Sawyer in the front passenger seat. Taylor drives us back to Grey House.
Let the wedding countdown begin.
Christian puts his arm around my shoulder and kisses my head. I look up at him, grinning. He looks at me smiling his megawatt smile, because I'm smiling. He kisses me on my lips. I reach up and hold his head, deepening our kiss.
I can't wait to be this man's wife!