Chapter 35: Broken Strings
Author's Note!
As some of you have picked up on, this story is soon coming to a close. But of course, I'd start writing another portion of Ana and Christian's life. Anybody have suggestions on which part I should start writing from? Across all the books!
"Sawyer, take her back to Escala. She is not to leave, no matter how hard she tries to persuade you." Christian ordered, handing me over to Luke who had a professional face put on so artificially.
He could wait. "Christian, why can't I help?!" I had spent the last ten minutes trying to convince the man that I could assist him in slamming down the pedophile woman. Yet, Christian would keep his eyes set straight on the entrance of the hotel for his security details, dropping me occasional 'No's.
He turned an icy glare upon me. "Back to Escala."
"I feel like a child you know," I pointed a finger at him as Taylor marched up to Christian's side. "It's like you're handing me over to the other party who has custody over me."
He folded his arms, his jaw squaring. "Maybe if you stop acting like a child I'll stop treating you like one."
Taylor, obviously seeing that this would escalate into a public quarrel, decided to help ease the fire a little. "Ms Steele, Leila's still on the loose and we only have her psychiatrist's words to trust on her stability."
That sent a chill up my spine and shut me up quickly. The last time I had taken her lightly, I had ended up at the other end of her loaded gun. Noticing, Christian sighed and his anger diffused as he stepped up to my other side, stroking my back to calm me down. "Look baby, you've gotten tangled in this shit too deeply already. It makes me mad that I let her slip through everything to get to you, I will make this right."
Of course, he was referring to Elena Lincoln. But Elena was not the cause of my worry. She was just a crazy whore who was obsessed with my fiancé and would go to all lengths to prove it to him. It was Leila that gave me the creeps.
Taylor cleared his throat and Christian leaned in to plant a kiss behind my ear. "I have to go, Ana. But I'll be back."
But then it occurred to me that if Elena was behind this all, she would be trying to draw Christian's attention. What if this was all part of her big plan? If I let him confront her alone, what would she do to him?
The uncertainty spooked me and I reached for Christian's hand as he strode towards Taylor. He halted and tightened the trip, turning to me with a sympathetic smile. In that moment, he was torn between leaving me behind and taking me with him.
"You said to never let go." I whispered, spent.
He sighed. "Ana, I can't let you come with me. Shit's going to get ugly when I get that bitch in my hands." I felt my bottom lip quiver and Christian sighed harder, then brought our joined hands to my chest. "Never let go of me here, baby. Trust me."
I hated how reassuring his words were when he spoke them. Christian and his innate ability to protect me. If I came with, I would jump Elena and crucify her on a cross. That would teach her for raping the love of my life and wooing him in the present. Christian was mine. He belonged to me. "I trust you, Grey." I finally said, unwillingly. "But watch yourself."
Christian broke into a playful beam and he winked at me as he began to pull away. "Laters, baby."
Luke and I stood side by side while we watched the two suited men retreat for the exit, where the Audi was in ignition already. Looks like the rest of my day was going to be boring, just spending eons worrying about Christian and lazing about Escala.
Excuse me. My inner goddess laughed at my atrocity. You have to deal with Luke.
Of course, I was screwed. If Christian was telling the truth, which was of such a high possibility at the moment, then I had wrongfully accused and shut poor Luke out of my life. I sighed inwardly. I should have never run from Christian in the first place. The guilt slapped me in the face in agreement.
"Let's go, Ms Steele." Luke said, with no hint of friendliness. He did not even wait for me or lock eye contact with me, just walked straight on towards the other car that was parked at the front. It may seem to me that I was being ignored.
Serves you right, my inner goddess sang.
I wished she would just shut up already. She never helped anywhere and at all. Trudging, I dragged my feet after Luke, resenting the fact that we were back to square one in our relationship... Uh... Friendship... Uh... Business relations? I sighed once more.
"Thank you, Luke." I said with the sweetest smile I could muster as he opened the passenger door for me and waited while I climbed in.
"It's my job." Luke retorted and then closed the door rather harshly on me, jogging to the other side and entering the car. We began to drive off with an awkward silence.
Come on, Ana. My inner goddess sneered. It's your fault, you solve something for once on your own.
I rolled my eyes inwardly even though there was much truth in her words. "Luke, I'm sorry." No response. He kept his eyes fixed on the road and jaw tense, as if I had not said anything.
I had to try again. "It was hard for me to believe that you weren't on Christian's side. I mean come on, you work for him, it felt right that you would lie to me to protect him." Nothing. "But then it's becoming clear that he never cheated on me and though I have no absolute proof, I'm starting to believe that Christian is telling the truth and if he is then I've faulted you. And I'm sorry." I was still a ghost to Luke.
I waited for a minute or so for him to respond, assuring myself that he was just trying to concoct a nice forgiveness speech for me. However, he reached forward and turned on the radio, effectively proving my hypothesis wrong. This was going to be harder than I thought and given such raw anger that he was showing, I was even more convinced that he had nothing to do with anything.
"Luke, talk to me." I whined.
His eyes flashed at me, whipping me with fury. "Ms Steele, I think it's best if we keep this professional."
"Stop calling me Ms Steele!" I blustered, my feathers all ruffled. He refocused on the road. "Come on, Luke. We can work on this."
"NO!" He practically slapped me with his tone. I jumped. "I can't believe I gave into your hissy fit and went to try and convince you of my innocence. Hell! I did not even need to, I should've known you weren't a friend worth keeping."
My mouth hung in utter shock. Where the hell was all of this coming from? "But at the time, I could not be sure of anything!"
"That's all you ever do!" He blasted. "Excuses and more excuses! None of this is our fault. If you had just stayed instead of running, we wouldn't be in this mess but instead, Christian, Taylor and I still had to make the first move to chase after you!"
The blood gushed to my cheeks and I could not differentiate whether the emotion was anger or embarrassment. Luke was right on many different levels. This was really all my fault and if Christian was really innocent, I could see how frustrating it would be to constantly chase after someone who consistently doubted you. Once again, the resentment bit me hard.
Luke was not done thrashing me. "I wonder how Christian does it, dammit. He must really love you like crazy because if it were me, I would have left you the day you walked out on me."
My heart took the beating and my breathing faltered. Luke was really mad this time, I had never seen him explode in my life. He had always been so bubbly and carefree, teasing me at every opportunity he could get. I had lost a good friend. ""Luke, I'm sorry but can't we try again?" That was all I could ask for.
"Yeah, you're sorry. But it really showed how much you value our friendship, Ms Steele." He emphasized on the greeting, which made me annoyed.
Try to think of it from his point of view. My inner goddess was standing by Oprah Winfrey, gaining tips on how to save a friendship.
It really did show my lack of trust in Luke. He had been nothing but nice, sweet and funny. He had never given me a reason to doubt him, yet, I had just tied him with Christian and assumed the worst. I grimaced. I even turned him away when he had come to me, not even letting him argue his case. He was right, I did not deserve his friendship.
Luke parked the car in Christian's bay and leaped out, professionally opening my door for me. He observed as I stood with my head hung low and he pressed the lift button for me. We waited in sheer silence for the carriage. As I stepped in, Luke prevented the doors from closing.
He was not revealing anything. "Gail's out grocery shopping and I'll be taking a shower, unless you wish to accuse me of anything else."
I hated how sour he sounded, but I knew he was lashing out. I had no right to do what I had done to him, or Christian or Taylor. But I had still done it. So this was the consequence I had to pay for, losing a friend and thankfully, Christian was still willing to be by my side. I was a brat and that needed to change.
Luke let the lift door go and he stepped back. "Luke, thank you for coming after me." I made sure I said it loud enough for him to catch, then the doors closed and the carriage took me up the entire lonesome way.
I stepped into the warmly familiar but otherwise abandoned and cold apartment. I had to deal with my own mistakes. It pained me to know that Luke would rather stay in his side of the apartment than to sit here with me. I deserved it though.
Even though there was still no hard evidence to show that Christian did not cheat on me again, everything else reinforced it. The more I held on to it stubbornly, the more shameful I became. It was becoming exponentially embarrassing. I decided to take a shower to calm the blossoming discomfort I was feeling.
I knew that if I were to take a shower in the sub room, Christian would read off it in a very negative light. Starting for our bedroom, my thoughts began to drift towards Christian and Elena. He must have reached her by now. I wondered what kind of confrontation they would have. Maybe he would hit her. Maybe she would hit him. I winced. As if Christian would allow that. Maybe they would be two mature adults and talk it over coffee.
Yeah right. My inner goddess was dressed in her army boots once more. It's going to be world war three in there.
Picking up a fresh towel, I froze midway. A chill ran up my spine and I was made aware that I was not alone in the room. My breathing quickened as my brain began ransacking everything valuable to my situation. I tried to recall anything Ray had once taught me about self-Defence but my knowledge was like trying to flick an empty lighter on. For the third time today, I knew I was screwed.
Very slowly, I straightened myself up to face the girl in the corner of the room. It was déjà vu. Leila held the gun in her hands, aiming it directly at my heart. Everything was the same, except for the fact that she looked even more petrified and broken. Clearly, her damn shrink was a liar.
With the knowledge that I was practically alone in the apartment, I knew I had no rescue team on its way like before. Even though it was his job, my chances or striking the lottery were higher than Luke coming to check on me. I would have to figure this out on my own this time.
"Hello Anastasia Steele." The intruder's voice was shaky, vulnerable on so many different levels.
CPOV:
"Stay out here, Taylor." I instructed my faithful man as he looked just as furious as I did.
Taylor had gotten the full details on our drive here, with no doubt, if I did not get my hands around the bitch, he would gladly snap her neck for Ana. I was fully aware of my security details soft spot for my sweet girl, after all, Ana was like an impenetrable force. She was like our own source of kryptonite.
"But sir," Taylor growled.
I placed my palm on his chest in restriction, "Jason." That seemed to get his attention, his wild brown eyes flashing to mine. "I'll call you if I need you."
Without waiting for his approval, I stepped into her bedroom and closed the door behind me. I had called Elena only to find that she had returned to her home. How convenient this would be for me. "I told you you'd come running back." Her sickly sweet voice sent chills up my spine.
I shrugged them off as I turned around, squaring my shoulders and folding my arms to indicate that I was not here on friendly business. Elena was laying back on her bed in her red cocktail dress, her weight upon either wrist as she undressed me visually. I hated how she looked at me.
"I know what you've done, Elena." I snapped.
Her mouth slipped into a playful 'o', as if she was a naughty school girl getting caught. "I've been bad... Maybe you should spank me." She batted her eyelashes while running her hands up her legs. I resented the way she thought I could be aroused by her.
I laughed. It was hilarious how she was embarrassing herself like this. Elena raised an eyebrow, "The canes and whips... Or anything harsher are in the closet over there." Shaking my head, I laughed harder.
"What the hell, Christian?" Elena whined, clearly bothered by my reaction to her advances.
"You clearly can't see that I'm not aroused by you." Her gaze fell to my straight pants. "Not one bit."
That made her even more annoyed. "I could make you." With that, she parted her legs to reveal her crotchless panties.
My laughter cut off and I clenched my fists. If she had been dressed like that then clearly she had been expecting me to fu** her after lunch. It was not a harmless lunch as I had thought it would be. Ana was right to be mad, this bitch was crazy.
Elena smirked. "I told you so." She then opened her legs wider, giving me a better view.
I sighed inwardly. Compared to my beautiful Ana, she just looked like an old hag that had been used too many times in her woman part. Even if I was fully drunk, I would not touch her one bit. "Stop making a fool of yourself, bitch." I clenched my jaw. "I know it's you that's been trying to unravel my business in Asia."
She looked momentarily stunned, but then covered it with a laugh. "Where's your proof, Grey?"
"Jack Hyde confessed." I started. Before she could come up with even more excuses, I added, "And my security persona confirmed it."
She snickered, conceding. "I knew you were a smart man." As she said this, she began to bring her index finger to her entrance, stroking it. Crazy bitch was going to make my alcohol come up. "So... Punishment in the bed, the shower, the playroom or... Elsewhere?"
"Before I decide on your fu**ing punishment, I want to know why." As if fu**ing her would be on the table at all.
Her lips pulled up at the corner, "Why do you want to know?"
"Because you hurt Ana. If you don't have a valid reason for doing so, and I know you don't, I'll come at you with great force." She must have thought I was teasing her because she moaned softly at my words, beginning to start on her clitoris. I fixed my gaze upon her face.
"I did it because you would have to fall back on me." Elena stated, not playing games.
"Fall back how?" She was crazy, as if I would come to her for help in my business. I owned my business and hers.
She used two fingers now, moaning as she threw her head back. "Ana and you would drift, you would find her unapproachable and of course, you'd come to me for advice on how to salvage your relationship."
I had to admit that she was right on quite a few levels. The physical distance my business put between Ana and I had led to a significant emotional distance as well. In addition, Ana was driving me crazy with her drinking problem and I knew that eventually I would have sought the bitch out.
I heard her laugh snakily. "You know I'm right, you came to me quite a few times too."
None of that was true, she had approached me first and I had merely accepted her company over the phone. "I know you, Elena." I tapped my foot against the floor. "You always have an end goal."
"An end goal?" She tried to play coy, taking her fingers from her cunt and bringing it up to her lips. "I'm wet and ready for you, Christian."
To hell she will. "What's the end goal?"
She smiled at me seductively. "That you'll be mine. All mine."
There it was. All this time, Ana had been telling me that Elena saw me more than just a business associate. I was a fool to have told her otherwise. The thought of me defending Elena against Ana sickened me. I had to apologize to my angel when I get back, I was going to worship her body until she was too spent to cum once more.
"For now, that bitch has you. But you'll be all mine." Elena told me with confidence as she dragged her heels up onto her bed. "Come, we'll fu** before you go off. I miss the feel of you in me, it's been too long."
"You're full of yourself." I snapped. "I'm flat, my body's not even responding to you, Elena. I don't want to have sex with you."
Her gaze checked me once more and she sighed. "We'll have to fix that." Sweeping her feet off the bed, she rose and began for me.
"STAY THE FU** WHERE YOU ARE!" I hollered.
She paused, her eyes teasing. "Yes, master."
There was no time for fun and games, Ana was waiting for me back at home and I could not keep her waiting. "I've told you constantly that we're over."
"It's not possible." She cooed, licking her lips seductively. "All these years you've kept me in your life because you still want me."
"That's why..." I saw her triumphant grin. "I've decided to liquidate all your boutiques, your name is officially out of the business."
For the first time today, her face fell in disbelief. "What?" She sounded small, very small and vulnerable indeed.
"I've warned you about keeping away from us," I lifted my index and pointed it at her angrily. "So don't say I didn't."
"You can't do this." Elena whispered, looking lost and vulnerable.
It was almost enough to make me change my decision but I held on to the idea that she had hurt my baby. My baby. Nothing else mattered more than keeping my baby safe. She threatened my baby and she was going down for it. "I've already done it."
She choked at my words and began to sniffle. I knew how much the salons meant to her but she was never going to learn if I did not do this. "Christian..." She whimpered.
My heart was hardened towards her. "I'm filing papers for a restraining order for both Anastasia and myself. You're fu**ing out of our lives, bitch."
I observed with satisfaction as her eyes turned bloodshot red and tears erupted, she sank to her knees and covered her face. She was weak without power, without the power I had given her over me the past years. No more. Every part of me was to belong to Ana and every part did. I had slated this inner demon of mine.
"Farewell." I spat, swiveling on my feet and exiting the room. I had to find my baby and hold her close, knowing now that I had been so close to losing her. Again.
Time was ticking away and I knew what distance did to her adorable little mind. I could come up with a list of insecurities my angel was facing at the moment, none which were ever true and will never be. When that wedding ring is fastened onto the finger, she will then know that she is my everything. A flint of anger sparked through me, she had better be wearing her engagement ring when I got home.
"F***." Taylor cursed, momentarily I thought it was aimed at me but then realized he was on the phone. His gaze shifted to greet me and I raised my eyebrows at him. He was listening intently to his conversation as I led us both back to the car. "Sir!" Taylor called and I turned to question him. He kept his phone, shaking.
"What is it?" I had never seen and of my men so shaken up before, it was really starting to worry me.
"Welch found Leila." Taylor jerked my door open and I climbed in as he sprinted to the other side.
"That's great news!" I chimed, I could slay yet another inner demon before she got to Ana.
Taylor closed the door behind him and ignited the engine, speeding away.
"Hey! Watch the speed, Taylor." Since when did Taylor drive so recklessly? He knew how I valued safety and if he was going to be driving Ana around at this speed, I would really rather he did not drive her at all. Sawyer could take her.
"Sir," Taylor's eyes were blazing. "She's in Escala."
But Ana was in Escala too. I clenched my jaw as I came to the same destination that his mind had already landed on. "Step on it." Today was an exception. "Where's Sawyer?" I snapped.
Taylor swallowed, "He's not picking up his phone, sir."
Too late.
APOV:
"Leila, right?" I tried to pretend that this was merely just a friendly meeting.
Leila's face broke into confusion for a moment, lost. "You know about me? Master told you about me?"
Oh, so we were back to square one on the master page. Dominant and submissive. I could not wait until Christian got back, maybe he would whip her in front of me. I sighed inwardly, poor Leila was still broken as before. Maybe even more broke. "No," I told her quietly. "We met before in my apartment."
Realization tinted her eyes as the memory was rekindled and she nodded at me. The gun that was aimed at me was making me extremely uncomfortable, "Leila, could you put down the gun?" As if I would let my guard down to an critically unstable woman who now had her finger on the right places.
Like before, she shook her head. "I hold so you'll listen."
My heart pounded. She must have been planning this, she had most probably been in the apartment waiting for me to get back. All because she wanted to tell me something? An unwelcome thought crossed my mind. Was she living here?
My inner goddess practically bitch slapped me for doubting Christian once more.
As if I had not learned my lesson. It was still difficult for me to accept his explanation as the whole truth. "Talk Leila, I'm listening."
Leila's mouth quivered. "Master's upset... I've never seen him this upset and its all my fault."
She must have done something seriously wrong and knowing Christian's personality, he would keep her at arms length just to ensure my security. "Leila, if this is about forgiveness, I can ask Christian to talk to you."
"That day..." She choked and I thought she was about to cry. "At the office... I tried to apologize... I tried..." Christian's words floated into my consciousness, he had been telling the truth. "On my knees... But he wouldn't listen..." Her tears slipped down her cheek bones. "Wouldn't listen... Told me I should not be in Seattle..." Her eyes then shifted to search me. "But you understand right?"
At that moment, I felt compelled to say I did. Christian was trying to uphold his promises to me by pushing Leila away and Leila had been trying to make it right with Christian. I nodded at her.
"I never meant to hurt you." She cooed her tears harder now. "But... Master said I did... Master said I should go... So I begged him... But you..." Suddenly, her eyes met mine with a hint of... What was that?! Her tone dropped to a deadly notch. "You came in! It's your fault!"
I swallowed the lump within my throat, realizing that unstable Leila was now deadly. The sweat trickled down my forehead as I watched her fiddle with the clutch. I had to distract her. "How is it my fault, tell me."
I succeeded. "Master got angrier... Violent... At me." Her voice was almost a whisper.
I gasped. "Did he hit you?"
She shook her head and I heaved a sigh of relief, "He wouldn't talk to me... Master told me to leave... Because you left..."
I sucked in air as the fiery glint returned to her eyes and she pointed the gun directly at me once more, taking aim. "IT'S YOU! YOU MAKE MASTER UNHAPPY!" I was so screwed, my heart trying to leap out of my chest to save itself from the impending doom. "I HAVE TO KILL YOU. MASTER WILL BE HAPPY."
Hearing her words, I knew that at this kind of distance, none of Ray's trainings would come in handy. I had to surrender. Raising both hands in the air for Leila to examine, I squeezed my eyes shut and held on to the memories of Carla and Ray, then the moments Christian and I had shared together.
If I had a chance to do it all over, I would have forgiven Christian and trusted him sooner. Now all I felt was the emptiness from all the lost time springing forth from my running away from the love of my life. I should have never ran. I should have stayed and fought for our love.
A tear slipped down my cheek as I heard the loud bang.
You took my heart away; Michael Learns to Rock
Back at one ; Brian McKnight
Love Affair; Copeland
Broken Strings, James Morrison