Chapter 15

CPOV

"Good morning, Annie." Ray says to his daughter as soon as he steps inside her hospital room while blatantly glaring at me.
Taylor informed us that Ray was with guests, meaning more than one, but the only one with him is a woman, and she's wearing dark sunglasses and a large hat indoors. That doesn't scream suspicious, so I keep my focus on her instead of Ray. The woman looks oddly familiar, even with her so-called disguise, but I can't place her.

"How are you feeling today?" Ray continues with Anastasia.

"I'm fine, dad." She tells him, eyeing the woman just as suspiciously as I am. "Who is your friend?"

"Annie, this is Ella. Ella, this is my daughter I've told you about," It's no surprise that he doesn't introduce me. I try not to let hearing that name effect me. "Ella and I have been seeing each other for a while now, Annie. She came into town last night, so I thought she could join us for breakfast this morning. What do you say?"
"It's so nice to finally meet you, darling." Ella tells Anastasia in a thick accent, removing her hat and sunglasses.

"What the fuck?!" I shout when I see who Ella really is and grab Anastasia, pulling her behind me so I am standing protectively in front of her. "Get the fuck out of this room now, Elena!"

Is this really fucking happening right now?!

How the hell can Ray be near that woman, but I'm the sick fuck here?! It's clear that Elena has gotten her claws into Anastasia's father just to get to me. It was probably her influence why he doesn't like me, and hearing Ray introduce her as Ella, she's obviously hiding her true identity from him, and using my birthmother's name is a way to get a reaction out of me. What I don't understand is, why make her presence known now? What's she planning? Well whatever it is, she wont be getting anywhere near my Ana.
"I said get the fuck out!" I bark at Elena.

Upon hearing me shouting, Taylor enters the room, which is good because I'm one second away from dragging this bitch out by her hair myself, however, two things are stopping me from doing that; one: she would get off on it, and two: Anastasia is holding me back. Anastasia knows all the details of my start into BDSM and all about Elena Lincoln's involvement. I told Anastasia everything when we got drunk for her 21st birthday, and I think it's made us closer.
A second after Taylor enters the room, another man enters, mirroring Taylor's stance.
Who the fuck is this now?

APOV

I can't believe this bitch-troll is here. Christian is blocking me, but I fear he may want to go after her himself, so I hold him to me.
No wonder my dad thinks so negatively towards Christian, the bitch-troll has been manipulating him for who knows how long, and now there's a new person in the playing field.

"Who is your other friend?" I ask when I notice the guy standing near the door next to Taylor. I know he's not one of Christian's men because he's not in the right attire, but he is standing like security.

"This is Jack Hyde, I hired him as your CPO so I can be sure of your safety, he will protect you. Hyde, this is my daughter, Anastasia Steele."

"Miss Steele, it will be my pleasure to act as your CPO."

Jack Hyde steps forward, holding out his hand to me, and tries to shake my hand, but he's blocked by Christian who wont move. There is no way Christian is going to let that guy anywhere near me, let alone shake my hand.

"Over my dead body." Christian growls in his low controlled CEO tone, I know he's really pissed off now. "You will stay the hell away
from my girl, do you hear me."

"Listen, Grey," My dad starts. "I don't trust the fact that you have one of your men with my daughter 24/7 so you can control her."
"He doesn't control me!" I argue.

"You know what, Ray, I have had enough of you." Christian tells my dad sternly. "I only have Anastasia's best interest at heart, her safety is the only thing that matters to me, and it's clear you are putting her in danger with the people you surround yourself with. There's no way in hell I will ever allow her any harm, and if that means keeping her from her own father, I'll do it."

"Excuse me," Elena continues in her fake accent. "But it's obvious you are being very controlling right now, and I think this just shows how much power you hold over little Ana here. The poor thing has no say-"

"Quit the pretending, Elena," Christian growls interrupting her. "I don't want you anywhere near Anastasia or myself!"

Elena opens her mouth to continue but Christian doesn't let her say a word.

"Taylor, get this bitch out of my sight, and do whatever is necessary to make sure she stays the fuck away."

"Now you just wait a damn minute, Grey." My dad steps in, stopping Taylor. "You have finally lost your mind if you think I will let you treat my friend in such a manner."
"I've lost my mind?" Christian repeats what my dad said like it's ridiculous, which it is. "I think it's you that has lost his mind, Ray. Your reasoning for not wanting me around your daughter is because I'm a known dominant, but here you are with the queen Domme herself."

"You're lying." He accuses Christian, and I am the one that's had enough. "You're just-"

"Stop!" I shout. "Just stop, dad, I've had just about enough of this! You're so hell-bent on tarnishing Christian in my eyes that you fail to see the real sadistic person in your life. Your so-called friend's real name is Elena Lincoln, not Ella whatever she told you, and she's the one who introduced Christian to the lifestyle, when he was 15. She's a pedophile."

Dad takes a few steps away from Elena looking rather confused.

"She's lying, darling." Elena tells my dad. "It's obvious this man has got into her head already."

"Annie, is what you are saying true, or has Grey made you say this for him?"

"Seriously?" Christian growls just as annoyed as I am right now.

"Dad, how in the world could Christian tell me to say this when he hasn't had the opportunity to say anything to me since you walked in."

"What are you doing here?" A sweet voice demands.
Everyone turns towards the door when we hear Grace. Sawyer has entered the room and is standing behind her. It's clear by Elena's expression that she wasn't expecting Grace to be here. If Elena was banking on my dad not believing Christian and I as to who she really is, there's no way she can explain Grace's reaction.
Before anyone can do or say anything Christian's mother has slapped Elena, and she tries to go back for more, only to be stopped by Sawyer.
"Let me go!" Grace shouts at Sawyer, then starts yelling at Elena, who is holding her cheek. "You sick bitch! I told you to never come near my children again!"
"Taylor, get Elena out of here!" Christian demands and Taylor finally does so, with my dad watching on in horror.
This all has to be a nightmare. I must not have woken up yet and I'm dreaming, because none of this can be real.
This is just like and episode of Jerry Springer.
"Dad, do you think Grace's reaction as a mother is fake?" I ask him. "She just walked in and has no idea what's going on."
He turns to look at Grace who is standing next to Christian now.

"You need to wake up and realize you have been used and manipulated by this evil woman." I continue. "You're are a grown man, and look what she's done to you, imagine how a 15 year old boy would feel."

"Annie... I'm truly sorry, I don't know what to say, all I can say is I was concerned."

"Where did you meet her?" It can't be a coincidence, she must have planned this.

"At a BDSM support group." He tells us. "I went there to try and learn about this lifestyle, but I couldn't stomach sitting there so I left. Ella Robinson approached me when I left and offered me her assistance. I told her about you and Grey and she said she would help me get you away from him."
"His name is Christian, dad, and not that it's any of your business, or anyone else's, but Christian and I haven't even done anything at all, let alone anything kinky." I can't believe I just said that to my dad, but he needs to drop this. Christian is not controlling or hurting me.
"So you're not his sex slave then?" He asks relieved.
"The term is submissive, dad, and no, I'm not."

Christian wraps his arm around my waist, and I'm not sure if he is trying to comfort me, or him, but it's helping to calm me.
"Maybe I jumped to my own conclusions a little bit here, but what father wouldn't, due to the circumstances and everything he's known for. Look at it from my perspective, Annie, I was worried about my daughter."

"Ray," Grace speaks up, still visibly upset. "I can truly understand how you feel, I really can coming from a parent's point of view, but my son truly adores your daughter, he cares deeply for her, more so than I have ever seen him with anyone. And I know the lifestyle Christian chooses to continue participating in is not very conventional, but I know my son, and I know he would never harm anyone like you are suggesting he would. If you needed someone to talk with about this, Carrick and I are always here. We may not know much about that lifestyle, or agree with Christian's choices sometimes, but just like your daughter, he's old enough to make any decision without parental consent."

"And I told you I was fine." I add. "You should have trusted me."

"I know." He hangs his head in defeat.

"I'm so upset with you right now," I tell my dad. "I'm so disappointed that I can't stand to look at you. I think we need some space away from each other."

"Annie, please," He begs me. "I was just trying to protect you."

"By hurting me, dad?"

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I need you to leave," I tell him sternly, not backing down, and trying to stay strong. "Take your GI Joe wannabe and get out."

My dad quietly leaves, with his guy following in defeat, and as soon as they are out of the room, I turn to face Christian and hold him tight. He holds me just as tightly, breathing a sigh of relief. I hope Christian is okay after seeing that bitch-troll again, and hearing his birthmother's given name. I can only imagine how he feels.
"Thank you." I tell Grace with my cheek pressed against Christian's chest, still wrapped in his arms.
Grace gives me a motherly smile, squeezes my arm, then leaves Christian and I to get ready so we can finally go home.

Raypov

I know my daughter is not a liar when she tells me about Ella, or Elena, or whatever she is called. I feel violated and manipulated, I thought Ella was just trying to help me with the situation. I was so blinded by getting Annie away from a known dominant that I didn't realize Ella was using me to get to Grey. Seeing his mother's reaction was the last thing I needed to realize how wrong I really was.
It breaks my heart to think I could lose my little girl over this, when all I was trying to do was help her. Knowing about Grey's sexual preferences, scared me as a parent, and then when I learned they were together as a couple, it pushed my fears even further. That woman getting into my head made matters worse.
I can't believe Ella is the woman who abused Grey at such a young age. It makes my blood run cold when I think of someone harming a child.
As soon as I'm outside, I puke my guts out in a nearby trash bin when I realize what I've done.
I wipe my mouth with my handkerchief, feeling sick to my stomach, and guilty for everything I've done and tried to do. I was so hellbent on keeping Grey away from Annie that I never gave anything a second thought. I realize I trusted Ella, or Elena, so easily that she was able to convince me that the lifestyle was worse than it is. If Grace, his mother, is accepting of this, maybe it's not so bad.

I know I have a lot to learn, and I need to give my daughter the time she needs, but I will do anything to make this up to her, I will even make peace with Grey if that's what it takes. I'll start by having a much needed conversation with Grace and Carrick Grey to get informative answers. They may not know the details of the lifestyle, but they've somehow accepted the fact that their son is a BDSM dominant.
I just hope Annie can forgive me.