Chapter 13: Husbands and Businesses
Author's Note!
Real sorry for this coming in late, I had an exam today and will be taking my SATs in a day, so wish me luck and keep me in your prayers! Also, do catch 'I give it one year', I'd say Guy is precisely like the less-haunted version of our Christian Grey.
"Now remember, Ana." Christian started, buttoning his shirt in place. "The spare wedding ring is in the safe." He turned around to whip me a naughty smile, "If you ever lose the one you're wearing now...the spare is sitting in my office."
Trying my best to slaughter and repress my slick tongue, I forced the most charmed smile I could. "Of course."
"If you lose them both..." Christian said in mock seriousness, "I'll just have to buy you a few more."
"THAT'S NOT NECESSARY!" I shouted, the blood rushing into my cheeks.
Christian did not even bother to keep his laughter in check, roaring as he smacked his thigh. "I have to say, sweetheart," He said in between gasping for air, "You're the only wife who wouldn't want diamonds."
I put my hands on my hips and stared him down like he was a pest, "You're the only husband who would spend a fortune on a single ring!" I swear I would be okay if he bought me rings about a karat or more each, that way I would not mind having a few more.
"That's because you haven't factored in the proportions." Christian pointed out. "A normal man's 100k is my 0.001K." He said proudly, but there was nothing I could say because he had worked hard for every single cent.
"You're very rich." I said, my lips in a straight line.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Christian's smile vanished, striding towards me as he pulled me into his chest. "I want to be rich so I can give you everything your heart desires."
"But all I desire is you." I said, nuzzling my nose into his chest and inhaling the familiar scent. "And I have you, don't I?"
He must have felt the shift in mood the same time I did, so he pulled away ever so slightly. Clasping my chin between his fingers, he tilted my face up to meet his concerned gaze. "Of course you do, Ana."
"Good."
"Are you going to be okay?" He asked, soft and weary. Christian was referring to Ethan's recent betrayal.
Ethan had known how much Elena threatened me, she was the source of so much insecurities and the seeds of doubt in my marriage. Yet, he had chosen to exploit this information that I had so trustingly shared with him. Even if he had loved me, doing so was a clear indication that he did not love me enough. He was willing to hurt me and never in my life had I ever thought Ethan had that in him. It scared me.
"Hey, hey, hey." Christian cooed, drawing me out from the sea that was my tumbled emotions. I found security in his grey eyes and held onto him tightly. "Don't brood, baby. I think the two of you just need some space for the time being."
"Try forever." I hissed, the anger directed at an absent Ethan.
Christian chuckled, "As happy as that would make me, you and Ethan apart will do you little good." Confusion spread through my mind and I stared up at him with a blank look, my eyebrows knitting together. "Baby, I get jealous because just like you need me, you depend on him too. I've told you this."
Of course he had, but I was not exactly thrilled that he was reexamining it. The annoyance in my bloodstream must have been the taste in Christian's mouth when I had tried to explain Leila's motivations. Charma was a bitch. I sighed and conceded, "But I want to depend on you more, I don't need Ethan. I need you."
His eyes tingled up with love, a light so bright that it made me smile. "I love it when you say things like that."
"I can tell." I beamed, leaning up on my tiptoes to plant one on the tip of his nose.
"Do you feel okay? I mean besides the obvious, but will you be..." His fingers caught a stray tendril of hair and tucked it behind my ear caressingly. "Okay?"
"I guess I will." I had no certain answer, pressing my palm agains his chest and reassuring myself that at least I would always be certain about one thing.
Christian sighed and kissed my forehead, "I'm not going to work today."
"What's the excuse this time, CEO?" I attempted to mock him, lifting my eyebrows in a reprimanding manner.
Christian gave me the most adorable pout I had ever seen, only Shrek's Puss in Boots could rival the level of irresistibility I was looking at now. "Because the love of my life has taken a blow to her spirits and NEEDS me by her side."
It made me smile and I caught the tip of his pout with my fingers, "Unlike this bum of a CEO," I gestured to him, " this CEO," I gesticulated to myself, "will be going for work."
"If it makes you happy, sweetheart." Christian said, completely angelic. I was just about to call his bluff when he winked at me and added, "I'll come along."
"What is this?" I giggled, "Bring your husband to work day?" The idea of bringing Christian to work was horrifying. Not because be would scrutinize my work methodology and processes, but rather, because it was symptomatic of him to scare off any potential business men who were vaguely good looking. Not to mention, he would throw all the women in my office into an infatuated daze. Maybe even the men.
It would be... Effectively, a very unproductive day.
"Oh come on, Ana." Christian pleaded, his full blown pout in perfect view and intensifying by the second. "I'm already dressed."
I knew what he was trying to do. It was really very sweet of him and I found myself beaming at my adorable husband who was distracting me from the predicament. "Will you behave?"
"I'll be good," He lifted his pinky in the air, "Pinky promise."
It warmed my heart and there was little I could do to say no. Today would be no doubt a wrestle for me to assert my presence as Mrs Grey to keep all those other women, single or not, in line. "Alright, let's go before you make me late."
"Me? Us? Late?" Christian cried, "No dear, the rest of them are simply early."
"Good morning, Mr Grey, Mrs Grey." Taylor greeted with a broad smile as we exited the bedroom. Luke was leaning against the counter, casually horsing about with a giggling Gail.
"Morning!" I chimed and Christian gave him a friendly nod.
"Shall we head off?"
"Yes, but we'll take one car today." Christian said, fumbling with his cuff links. I stepped forward to help him get them right.
"Sir?" Taylor was confused, wondering if his boss had suddenly turned Eco-friendly.
"Thank you, dear." Christian planted one on the side of my cheek. "We're going as interns to Ana's office today."
"Alright, sir." Taylor smiled and Luke straightened up, knowing today he had to be on his best behavior.
I have Luke a slight smirk behind Christian's back, mouthing, "Let's try not to get into any trouble."
"This way." Christian veered my path as I started for the lobby. "We're taking the staff lift."
"Why?" I was suddenly in distress as Christian gently coaxed me into the lift with Luke and Taylor. "Did something happen?"
Christian's lips turned into a grim line, "Nothing that you should be bothered with, sweetheart. I'll take care of it."
"Christian..." I started to grumble. "Don't make me pull out our wedding vows."
He shot me a look of mock fear and horror, "Not again!" This sacred commitment had been turned into a weapon time and time again for me to get what I wanted. "It's just the Ethan... Situation yesterday stirred up the paparazzi and news agencies."
At that moment, I wished I had not asked. A cloud of annoyance at myself sprouted through my chest."I'm really sorry."
Christian sighed, "I don't want to tell you these things because they upset you." He shifted himself so he could cuddle me into his side. He kissed my temple, which was oddly calming, "I love you, Ana."
"I love you too." I kissed him where I could reach without having to lean on my tiptoes.
If Taylor and Luke were uncomfortable, they did not voice out any complaints. It then occurred to me that maybe Christian advocated them taking a different lift precisely to save them from extreme discomfort from having to stand within our proximity. Either way, they must have gotten used to it by now.
Thankfully, my office building was unlike Escala. Escala had been crowded with reporters trying to get a glimpse of us, but they had missed the sleek black car that had slipped out from the back. They had not planted any reporters at my office. Suddenly, I was grateful that Christian had insisted coming along. I was useless under the spotlight.
"Good m-" Giselle had started to say, but upon meeting the gaze of the ever-so-distracting Christian Grey, both my receptionists lost the ability to speak.
"Good morning to you too." I tried to help them out. Christian made my attempt futile by dropping them a panty-stripping smile. I grabbed my husband by his tie and hauled him into the lift, the look of surprise painted his face as I jerked him forward to unify our lips.
I pressed him up against the metallic cold wall of the lift, not needing to see where I had to press. The lift shot up into the sky as I deepened the kiss, which Christian responded to fervently by grabbing my buttocks and grinding me against his thigh.
"Chhhhristiannn." I slurred, in partial ecstasy. He nipped my neck just as the lift 'dinged' and I stepped back, out of reach.
An amused look crossed Christian's expression and he raised his eyebrow in question. I shrugged, "Just marking my territory." Climbing out of the lift, Christian smacked my butt loudly.
"Good morning Mrs…" Claire had begun to greet but just like the receptionists, lost her words in shock at Christian's unannounced arrival.
"Ah, Claire!" Christian greeted, having never physically met my assistant. At the side where I knew he could not see, I rolled my eyes as he scrutinized every inch of my assistant. "It's great to finally meet you." He extended a courteous hand out to Claire, who visibly chose the hand with the wedding ring.
I laughed. Claire's personality was precisely why I had chosen to employ her. Readjusting her position to encompass both Christian and I, Claire folded her hands on her skirt, "Mrs. Grey, Jonathan Davis is here."
"Am I late?" I flustered, flicking my watch up to view.
"No, he's early." Claire stated.
"Jonathan Davis?" Christian questioned.
Ignoring his errant jealousies, I smiled at Claire, "Where did you put him?"
Claire nodded at me and gestured towards my office, "I hope you don't mind, the conference room is under construction at the moment and wou-"
"Claire, you know I trust every decision you make." I stopped her before she could waste her breath. "Thank you very much. Could you maybe babysit Mr Grey here while I-"
"That's hilarious," Christian's eyes were narrowed in annoyance, "We both know I'd love to meet this… Jonathan Davis."
"Right." I stated, barely offering Christian a glance, instead I focused my attention on Claire, "Shall we?"
With Christian trailing at the back, Claire and I led the way into my office. Jonathan Davis, one of the key investors in our company today, was seated casually across my office chair. Approaching him from behind, I could see his ruffled golden hair and the tea Claire had thoughtfully placed before him.
"Mr. Davis." I greeted.
His green eyes met mine as he turned and then filled with confusion as they fell on Christian. Either he was surprised that Christian was here or he was tripping over my husband's good looks. Like the gentleman he was, Davis rose to his feet and offered his hand to mine. Before I could take it, Christian beat me. Accomodating, Davis forced a smile, "I didn't know I'd be meeting you today, Christian."
"Well, my wife demands to come to work and I accompany her to find you here." At his tone, I knew that they were familiar with each other. "Pestering my woman are you?"
Davis chuckled, but it barely reached his eyes. "Who would dare to take what belongs to Christian Grey?"
From the corner of my eye, Claire gave me a look that read 'Proceed with Caution'. Whatever rivalry these two had in the past, I could not let it jeopardize my company. "Christian, this is Jonathan Davis, one of Grey Publishing's major investors."
"Major investors?" Christian clarified in a tone that could be translated into 'How had I let this slip past me?' No doubt, he was going to give me trouble for this. But I never saw the need to report anything at work to Christian even though he was technically my boss.
"Yes," I reached for their linked palms and gently broke the connection before bones could be broken. "He helped to revive the company at a time where literary prowess failed us all." I shot Davis a kind smile, which he accepted with one of his own.
"Well, I wouldn't invest 10 billion in a company I did not have faith in." Davis justified himself, emphasizing a little too much on the amount he had invested.
Christian's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance, "10 billion you say? Whatever happened to your own string of companies? Including the one you attempted to poach from me? Where would you possibly get the funds?"
Ah, so this was another one of Christian's merger and acquisition problems. I knew that bringing Christian to work was going to be a chore, but I was not expecting this. Jonathan Davis had been the perfect client to work with and had been nothing more than an angel. I would be damned if Christian forced me to drop him all together, Grey Publishing would be crippled.
Stepping up to the challenge, Davis pushed his chest out ever so slightly. "I have more money than you can imagine."
Knowing this was going to just explode in my face, I grimaced at Claire to send her a signal I knew she would receive crystal clear. "Mr Davis," Claire chimed as she took a few steps forward, "The meeting room is ready, may I lead you there?"
Jonathan Davis shot another glance, dripping with venom, at a highly irritated Christian. But upon looking at Claire and myself, his glance softened and he nodded at her, "Of course, thank you."
Waiting for both of them to leave, Christian closed the door behind them. "Christian…" I groaned, "This is why I won't bring you to work."
His back was still turned to me, "Ana, how long?"
I felt the air leave my rib cage as I grew alarmed at what Christian was implying, "How long?"
"How long has he been an investor." He clarified, his tone steady.
"Just when I seized the role as new CEO. Why?" I had no idea where Christian was heading with this.
"Have you been meeting him often?"
"Where are you going with this?!" I grew defensive, positioning my hands on my hips in question.
Christian spun on his feet to meet me head on, "Answer me, Ana."
"There's nothing going on between us, Grey. We only meet for business." How could he even begin to think anything of that sort?
Noticing the emotions playing out each other on my face, Christian shook his head at me. "Ana, I'm not questioning you're loyalty."
"It sure as hell sounds like that." I snapped.
"Ana," Christian reached for my hands, holding them tenderly in his own. "Remember the bitter fiasco with Elena over the Asian assets?" I nodded, my mind blanking out at what he was about to link Davis to. "Jonathan Davis was the man on the job."
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