Chapter 28: Beloved

Author's note!

Okay. As I've said before, I don't have the books, so I'm not sure who Ana's colleagues are. So I'm just going to trust meggansa and name them Hannah and Elizabeth :) Here's a quick update since I'm sick and banned from school.

"I'll pick you up as usual, love of my life." Christian pressed his lips to mine as his hands scaled up and down my lower back. It was enough to make me desire him in this car. Taking notice, he pulled away with a knowing chuckle. "Off you go, don't be late."

I narrowed my eyes at him. Luke held the door open, his gaze at everywhere but at the both of us. Christian thought he had the upper hand now, but I was about to turn the tables. Making a show of biting my bottom lip, I moaned a little. "Alright, Mr Grey, leaving a woman so wet and horny for you out in the streets."

The look on his face was epic, I could tell I had stunned him well. Taylor's eyes bulged in their sockets and he dropped his head in response. Biting my lip a little harder, I batted my eye lips and added a soft and taunting "Ouchh."

Just as Christian lunged for me with both hands like claws about to grab hold of me, I jumped out of the car with an excited squeal and shut the door in his face. "Quick, Luke!" I blustered, grabbing the disillusioned man and steering him towards the cover of my office.

The moment the glass doors closed behind us, I hi-fived him with my fit of giggles. "Morning, Ana!" Came Hannah's warm greeting then paired with her concern. "What happened to your nose?!"

"Hey," I waved my fingers at her, not fully recovered from the stunt I had successfully pulled on Christian. "Boxing accident. How was your weekend?"

"I see that Christian's back so your weekend must have been fantastic and I don't even have to worry about your speedy recovery." She winked at me as the car drove away, he was probably growling at me behind those tinted windows. "Mine was great, I took my mom out to the beach."

"I love the beach!" I gushed.

"That is good to know, Steele." Came a low russet voice from behind me. Before I could turn, Jack Hyde held the lift open for me.

Luke stiffened at gave me a should-I-come-with look. I shook my head at him and stepped in after Jack. The metal doors closed, separating me from any hope of witnesses. Jack and I had been having such a great friendship lately, but most recently, he has been acting a little off.

"Ana," Jack started. "What happened to your nose?"

I tried to keep it casual. "Boxing accident."

He raised an eyebrow in question, as if uncertain if I wanted him to read deeper into my reply or not. What was that about? As if I had anything to hide from him. Why was Jack acting all weird?! "Who hit you?"

I swear he seemed to be offering me a way out of this. I was confused. "My trainer?"

"Are you sure?" He seemed worried, as if I might be in denial. Who was he expecting?!

Thankfully, the life 'dinged' at our level. As expected, Jack's gentlemanly ways got the better of him and he let me pass, lingering to hold the button for me. Letting my manners shine, I flashed him a grateful smile and walked away. Quickly.

As I approached my work area, his hand landed itself on the side of my waist. It sent shivers through my body. "Ana, you can always come to me for help."

Not so discreetly, I jumped away from him and made up for it with an apologetic smile. "Uhh... Thanks."

Pressing his lips together in a semi-smile, he nodded at me encouragingly and headed for his office.

We-irdo, my inner goddess sang.

Despite Jack's queer behavior, I soon found myself nestled into my seat with a BBM from Mr Grey.

"Anastasia Steele, what was that?!"

I laughed softly to myself as I replied him. "A taste of your own medicine, Grey."

Immediate response. "Your smart mouth needs some purifying. I might have to ask Taylor and Sawyer to leave us the car."

That hit me hard on my libido. But I wish not to provide him with the upperhand that I had barely managed to win already. So, I silenced my phone and kept it away and started on the reports that Jack wanted on his table by noon.

There was not much to do and a mere two hours later, I was done. This was why I had managed to excel in my academics for the past twenty one years, I had no men in my life to distract me. Before I could check my phone once more, I decided to please Jack by dropping off the documents personally.

With a bright grin that reflected my pride, I grabbed the freshly printed stack and filed them in their respective folders. I noticed Jack was busy on the phone, his eyebrows furrowed angrily as his mouth spun out of control. By the time I was about to knock on his door, he put his phone away.

What was Jack up to? Was whoever he was yelling over the phone at the reason for his sudden shift in behavior? I observed as he sighed and pursed his lips in deliberation.

I cleared my throat and he leaped up in surprise before regaining his composure. His face softened as he watched me. "Yes, Ana?"

I was then reminded by my pride and joy. Beaming at him, I strode over to his desk and planted my colourful files down in the center. "I am finished."

Jack chuckled heartily. "Not surprising." He reached for them and gave them a quick flip through and grunted appreciatively. "A job well done, Steele."

The colour rose in my cheeks and I looked away bashfully. Hiding my hands behind my back, my gaze swept his office clean. "Thank you."

"No, I think you deserve an early lunch." Jack cheered, clasping his hands together as he sat down on his leather chair.

My head snapped up at his suggestion and I grinned. "Really?" I felt like a golden retriever getting treats for executing tricks.

"Just be back one, Steele." Jack knew he was being generous too.

I stood rooted in my place, as if waiting for him to tell me he was kidding. Instead, he shook his head at me. "You can leave now."

I hesitated. "No strings attached?"

Jack let out a low throaty chortle. "Just leave already, Ana."

And so I did. I thanked the man graciously and headed over to my work area to gather my belongings. Would this be considered as another queer behavior of Jack Hyde's? I doubt so, he's been consistently nice to me with random spurts of overly concern behavior such as this morning.

I checked my blackberry on the way down. Christian had sent slightly more than a few text messages.

"I take your silence as consent. Can't wait to have you in the car later. To take you in it." Was his first text message, a little too visual and a little too arousing for a late morning.

Very shortly after came another one. "Ms Steeleeeeeee? It's deathly hard to silence you so I must presume Hyde's got you under the water with work. Laters, baby."

Even though he had seemingly vowed to talk to me later, half an hour later, he had sent another one. "I don't think I'll call you Ms Steele anymore, I just got a call from Mrs Collins and she refers to you as Mrs Grey. I love the ring to that, I love the ring I put on your finger. I love you. Thinking about you right now."

Just as I read the text, I subconsciously felt my engagement ring in its place. Christian had made the promise of commitment and faithfulness within this expensive piece of jewelry. I was never going to take it off. This was my reassurance, it was going to be for the rest of my life.

And another. "Mrs Grey, thinking of you in my office manifests really quite literally. Would you be interested in lying across my desk stark naked?"

That sent a shudder of arousal through me. The doors opened to a surprised Luke. He had been chatting with Hannah. "Ana, I know Hyde's been releasing you early, but this early?"

"Unbelievable right? But I've to be back after lunch break."

"Looks like Jack's cultivated quite a soft spot for you, huh." Hannah chimed a little sourly. "I doubt Christian will be happy about that."

I shrugged my shoulders. Luke stood, "So, where would you like to go?"

I read Christian's final text. "Hey baby, it sucks that I just got home from Japan and yet, I can't spend more time with you. Hate how work keeps driving us apart, if there was anyway I could be with you right now, I would. I love you." And, my mind was made up.

This was all part of my decision to become a loving and supportive wife, just like Gail was a girlfriend to Taylor. Even though Taylor had not even put a seal upon her, she was still so devoted to him in every aspect. It was heartening to watch and motivating for me.

I drove Luke to the sushi bar, where we picked up an assortment of sushi. I knew by heart, which were the favorites of my beloved fiancé. I was going to surprise him in his office with lunch and we would then work on the image he had planted in my mind.

Christian was right. I hated being apart from him when we were in the same continent. I was going to seize every moment with him before work called him out of state again. Everyone knew how crazy it drives me to be separated from him.

"Luke, why don't you come up too?" I told the man as I climbed out of the car and left it to the valet.

"And risk hearing something explicit?" His face twisted into a disgusted frame and I giggled.

"But you could have lunch with Taylor, we bought his share too." I said, pointing to the extra white bag in his hands.

Luke nodded, "I'll buzz him down, it's safer that way."

I shook my head at him in disbelief, "I'll tell your boss about your sentiments."

Luke had begun to text Taylor by the time I had gotten into the lift, watching him sink back into the lounge chair to wait for him to come down. When I got to Christian's floor, I noticed that Andrea was absent from her desk. In addition, there was barely any life in the office. Clearly, it was lunch break for Christian's staff.

I sighed and looked down at the food I had bought for him. Maybe he had gone out for lunch already.

Maybe you should have texted first, my inner goddess rolled her eyes at me.

Since I had come all the way here already, I decided to try my luck. With my head hung low, I walked towards Christian's office door. To my surprise, there were sounds coming from behind it. Christian must be on the phone! My body jerked up in excitement and delight, truly we were meant to be.

I contemplated knocking on the door, but decided that I was going to give him a full-blown surprise. Stifling a giggle, I removed the plastic bag from the food and placed it by the door. Then, I positioned the sushi platter in my arms and with a force, I flung open the door.

What I saw took my heart around its neck and strangled it. Mangling the core of my body, I was panting for air and found it hard to focus on my balance. In my daze, my fingers had slipped and the sushi slammed against the ground, spilling rice and ingredients all over the expensive carpet of Christian's office.

For all those of you who wished for drama, your wish has been granted. Be careful for what you wish for though (; Please leave a review. I'd LOVE to hear what you think Ana saw, though I doubt any of you would hit it spot on. Heehee(: