Author's note: Just a warning for those who can't handle any type of sexual violence. This chapter barley touches on it but I would hate for someone who struggles with it to be blindsided.
Separately, thank you again to all of the awesome people who comment and follow/favorite S&S. It's such a treat to 'talk' to you all.
APOV
The hot water feels good against my skin and helps to stop the itch. The bandage that I've been forced to wear is really getting on my nerves but it must be working because I feel pretty good. Well, my body feels good, my mind feels like it's been put in a blender and then thrown in the washing machine on the spin cycle.
The Red Room of Pain. The Den of Iniquity. The Pleasure Palace. The Playroom. He has an entire room dedicated to sex and I've never even seen a naked penis. I could never hold him, I have zero experience, nothing to offer that he hasn't already had. Anal beads! The man has anal beads. For me.
Despite the scalding water a shiver runs through me. Do I seem like that kind of girl? Do I give off that kind of vibe? Man did he read the signs wrong.
The 'issue' of my virginity hasn't come back up and I'm not really looking for a reason to discuss it. I know I'll have to tell him eventually since I am sleeping with Christian Grey if it's the last thing I do on this earth. But not in that room, on that bed, or on those sheets that he's shared with so many others.
Can I be with a man who wants to hit women? Can I separate out what I see as abusive, humiliating and degrading and believe that not only do these women want this, they enjoy it? Will I ever believe that my interpretation of BDSM is incorrect as he claims it is? I dry off with a vengeance, stretching my sides a bit and get dressed in my bra, underwear and jeans.
"Christian!"
He comes running in, his bare feet not making a sound and stops dead, his eyes fixated on my breasts before he remembers himself and looks up. I've got my hands over them and I'm in a bra but they're still…there.
"I need you to bandage me. Your mom just walked around and wrapped as tightly as she could stopping to use these clip things every now and then."
"Alright." He begins the task, his face scrunched up in concentration as he mutters, "You've got to tell me if you're going to be half naked, I almost had a heart attack."
I can't resist a bit of flirting, my dad is going to be here any second, how far can it go?
"You've seen a hundred sets of tits in your day, Grey. I'm sure it's no big deal."
"Oh Ana, I've not seen yours and I can assure you that yours are a very big deal." He winks, I wrinkle my nose at him and he smacks my butt playfully. "Come on, I don't want to be alone with your dad and Taylor just informed me that he's pulled into the garage."
He pulls on his socks and shoes and helps me to buckle my sandals since I can't bend but I am hell bent on not coming out of his bedroom when my dad gets here so I rush him and walk quickly to the great room just as the elevator dings.
"Annie, baby, god." His arms circle around me and hold me tightly to him and I just sob against his chest. I've held it together in front of the doctors, the cops, my friends and even to a point, Christian, but there is something about having your dad around that just brings you right back to being a small child. He's put in the time and proven to me over and over that he'll always take care of me and be there for me. He was there with Stephen and he's here now, he totally understands why this is affecting me the way it has.
"Shh, it's alright. Look at me, Annie. You are not going to go down this road, you got it kid? You'll toughen up, you'll start back up with Krav and you'll do what Christian says with regards to your safety. Am I clear?"
I'm sniffling but his fatherly affection is exactly what I need and I nod my head.
"Good. Christian, I can't express my gratitude when it comes to your protection of my daughter. I'll forever be indebted to you for this." Watching the two men in my life shake hands is weird for me and I hold my breath.
"I'm glad to be able to do it, sir. It would be a great loss to me if something were to happen to Ana. I was hoping to take you both out for dinner to discuss our options and have you weigh in." Well played, Mr. Grey. Ray gives him a curt nod and accepts the glass of iced tea that Gail has brought out.
Unsure of what my role is here I wait on Christian to make the next more. With his usual grace he motions for us to sit in the great room. Ray waits to see where I sit and when I settle on the white couch he sits next to me and takes my hand in his. Christian sits across from us and appeals to Rays military background. He's all 'yes sir' and 'no sir' and I realize that Christian Grey is nervous. I doubt Ray can sense it but I've been around Christian long enough to know that the slight hesitation in his speech and the way he wipes his palms every few minutes is not the norm.
Resisting the urge to run across and hug him I wait until we're ready to leave and slide my arm into his.
"You did great, he loves you. Relax, OK?" His boyish grin makes it impossible to not reach up and kiss him so I do quickly before Ray can see and am rewarded with a smile and a shrug.
"Yea, well, he's got no reason to not like me. Yet." And with a sexy little grin and wink he ushers me onto the waiting elevator.
Dinner was nice even though I felt like I was on somebody else's date. Within minutes of sitting down I had caught Ray up on my life and he was talking about his fishing trip and before I know it, dessert is being served and I haven't spoken since the salad.
When it's time to go both men pull out their wallets but Ray insists on paying as a 'never ending thank you' for saving me. I know it's killing Christian but I shoot him a look and he grins at me. It would embarrass Ray to no end if he hadn't paid and I'm grateful for Christian's sensitivity.
Outside Ray gets in the car and Christian walks to the passenger side with me, his hand barely holding my own.
"Thank you for inviting me tonight, It's nice to see you have someone in your life who really cares about you. Ray Steele is a stand up guy, I feel a bit better about you going back to the apartment now."
"Yea, he's pretty great. I'll call you tomorrow to check in. I'm not sure if I'll be at Grey House on Friday, it depends on what Ray's doing."
"Whatever you need to do is fine. You own the company, you make the rules."
I do not want to leave him. He's been nothing but good to me this entire time, assuring me of my safety, putting measures in place to ensure it, being emotionally available to me and physically present when I needed him most.
"I'll see you later then, thank you, so much, Christian. For everything. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all that you did for me."
"Thank you for letting me, Anastasia. I'll talk to you tomorrow, text me once you're locked in for the night and don't forget to turn on the alarm. It's temporary until the crew can get the monitoring system up and running this weekend." He turns to go and I grab at his forearm turning him towards me and kissing him soundly on the mouth. It's a fleeting kiss but it speaks volumes and the ear to ear smile he has when he shuts my door says even more.
My apartment is a bit messy, Christian's team has started running the wiring for a state of the art alarm and monitoring system and there are holes drilled in the walls and the few wall hangings we did have up have been piled on the couch. Both Ray and I are tired so I set him up in the guest room, take my pill and text Christian.
Hi, home, locked in, alarm set, tucked in, pill taken.
-Hi back. It's weird to be here without you now.-
That's sweet. It's weird to be home.
-Go to sleep, you have a busy day tomorrow-
Yes, Sir. Goodnight, Christian.
-Goodnight, Anastasia, sweet dreams-
Ray is about as taciturn as they come but we spend Thursday visiting all the sights in Seattle that the tourists do. Growing up close to here means that I've never done a lot of the things people come here to do and neither has Ray. I feel fine physically but emotionally I feel fragile and cling to my dad anytime we're in a crowd or waiting in a line. I find myself scanning faces for Jack Hyde and even though I swore I wouldn't let what happened affect me in any way, it does.
Sawyer's temporary replacement, Ryan, isn't pretending to not be security and he follows us everywhere we go, standing next to me in the crowded areas and sweeping certain places before I enter them. I'd feel like an idiot if I hadn't just been attacked and secretly, I want another man on me.
Christian checks in with me regularly but by the afternoon I can tell he's stressed about something so I back off on texting.
Ray and I are having a late lunch at the 74th Street Ale House when he drops the hammer.
"Annie, what's bothering you the most? That's what we need to focus on, take action on." The words and emotions swirl in my brain but I can't seem to pin any one of them down to explain what is screwing with my mind the most.
"I, I don't know really. I mean, besides the obvious violence and the fact that this highlights just how vulnerable I am, I don't know. I guess, in someway I'm afraid that this is going to be a theme in my life." My voice is barely a whisper but I continue even as the truth burns my throat. "Will I always be the target of someone else's rage? I mean, despite all of the work I did after...Stephen, here I am again. And more so than that, I failed myself. Years of self defense training and I all but froze."
"You froze initially because someone appeared out of nowhere and attacked you. You would have fought back eventually but yes, we need to work on your response time. That's a step we can take in the right direction. As to your question, no, baby. You will not always be a target. There have been two men in your life who have hurt you. One of them you'll never see again and the other, if he doesn't wind up dead, will spend years behind bars."
Dead?
Ray's eyes lift up and the line of his shoulders straightens when Ryan comes in with another man who stands near the back exit. Ray walks over to ask what's going on and after a minute he comes back to the table.
"Annie, let's go home. I'm tired, you're tired and there's been a development with Hyde."
Just his name sends me into a panic and my fingertips go numb but I stand nonetheless and Ray leads me out into the waiting Audi SUV where yet another man is waiting. Ryan jumps in the front and the other new guy climbs in next to me.
"Ryan what's going on?"
"They've found Hyde's car, Ms. Steele. Any other information will come from Mr. Grey himself, he'll be at the apartment shortly."
"Which apartment? This is the wrong way."
"Escala, ma'am. Someone will bring your belongings and those of your fathers there."
My stomach is churning and the rise of bile in my throat threatens to come out with each turn of the tires. I feel dizzy and hot and cold and restless and numb all at the same time but Ray reaches out and squeezes my knee to steady me.
"Let's find out what's going on before we jump to conclusions, ok?" I stupidly nod my head and breathe a sigh of relief once we're in the elevator at Escala.
Christian isn't there, Ryan assures me he'll be home shortly but I pace anyway while Ray looks around and drags me into the library when my pacing becomes frenetic. His distraction technique works because before I know it it's two hours later and Christian walks in, suit jacket missing, shirt unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, tie askew and hair everywhere. Beautiful.
He strides right over to me and hugs me, careful not to hurt me as he wraps his hands in my hair and kisses me firmly on the mouth right in front of Ray. In an instant the world rights itself and the frenzy ceases. I'm safe. He's here.
"Hi." I see stars when he pulls away and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm not even embarrassed that he did that in front of Ray.
"Hi. Sir, I'm sorry to have ruined your day but we thought it was best that Ana came back here."
"I figured as much and trust your judgment but I'm ready to know what's going on here."
"Let's sit, Taylor and Officer Collins will fill you in. Ana, do you want to stay for this or would you rather leave?" I can tell he wants me out but this is my life and I'm not going anywhere. I plant my ass on the couch next to Ray and Officer Collins begins.
"Yesterday a tail was placed on an Elizabeth Morgan, a work associate of Jack Hyde's. In following Ms. Morgan home and securing the area it was noted that the car in her garage was the same make and model of the one that Mr. Hyde used to drive here and also to escape in. Officers were called to the scene where she confirmed that he had come to her house Monday night at approximately 10pm and asked for her to keep the car."
"He was injured, his left leg was probably broken and he held his left arm to his side but she agreed to hide the car and he took off on foot."
"You can't possibly believe that he left on foot, Officer." Ray is incredulous.
"No, Sir, we don't. He's not at the location now though. We were able to search his car and what we found was quite alarming, hence the need to get you to safety, Ms. Steele. Mr. Hyde's advances towards you and subsequent attack are the culmination of a much bigger and scarier picture."
Christian is looking straight at me and nowhere else, the worry written all over his face as he takes over.
"Ana, they found rope, duct tape and ketamine in the car along with a map to a remote cabin in Idaho. His intention was to take you and" he falters, his head falling forward as he runs his hands through his hair "keep you. For as long as he could."
"And then he was going to kill me."
"We can't be sure but from the ramblings Barney was finally able to glean from his computer it appeared that he wasn't going to let anyone else have you. Baby, you have to know that you're safe. I will never let anyone take you or hurt you, ever. You have to know that!"
"I do." I speak slowly and clearly, processing the words as I say them. "So he wrote about me on his computer. What else was on it?"
Christian looks desperate, terrified even and I start to shake while Ray pulls me close.
"Tell me!"
Officer Collins steps forward and begins to speak but I'm looking at Christian who hasn't taken his eyes off of me.
"Videos of he and various women, seemingly all of them employed at one time or another by SIP. The videos are graphic and depict a specific type of sex." Oh my god, that's why he won't look away. My breath comes in short quick pants but Collins presses on despite my inability to look at him.
"While it appears that the women in the video were able to initially give consent, under duress, the progression of the acts preformed on them becomes more and more violent and degrading. All of them were bound, beaten and crying by the end."
"If they were under duress, then it wasn't consensual." Mother fucking idiot.
"You're right, Ms. Steele, my words don't reflect the severity of the situation nor do they reflect my feelings on the matter. My apologies. We know that he's injured and unable to use his cards to access money. Ms. Morgan indicated that he asked to borrow cash from her so we can assume he's running low. Eventually, and we expect soon, he'll show up and we'll be ready for him."
Christian is wringing his hands together between his knees, resting his elbows on his thighs and watching me closely. I look away.
"You're sure you're ok, Annie?" Ray is in the guest room I'm staying in to ensure that I'm in bed and not crying in the fetal position in a corner somewhere.
"I'm sure. I know I'm safe here and I can move just fine now. Go to your room, I know you're tired and my medication is kicking my butt right now. I'll see you in the morning."
"I'll look into Krav studios tomorrow ok?" I nod and smile before shutting the door.
When Officer Collins left and the rest of the security team retreated back to their office for a detailed run down, Ray, Christian and I had dinner at the table in silence. Nobody knew what to say.
Afterwards the two of them sat in with Taylor and Ryan, no doubt constructing ways to keep me safe. I didn't want to hear another word and wandered the apartment, pausing outside of the playroom before finding my way back into the library. At 9:55 Christian appeared with a glass of water and my last pill.
"Thank you, I had forgotten."
"Ana, I don't know what to say." He can barely look at me which is fine because I'm at a loss. After I take my meds I stand to go and he grabs my wrist so that I'm facing him. "Will you stay with me tonight? Please?"
"I can't, Christian, not with Ray here." His face falls but Taylor knocks just then interrupting any further conversation we may have had and I use the break to leave the room, giving Christian a sad smile.
At midnight I wake from a nightmare, sweat and fear lingering on my skin. I'm alone in a beautiful room with a man who is doing everything he can to keep me safe in the room next to me and my dad right above me but I am absolutely terrified and sobs wrack my body until I feel like I'm going to throw up. What if Sawyer hadn't been there? How did I lose my self defense training? Why did I freeze? What happens if he gets to me again?
I get out of bed and open the door to find Christian. I just want to see him and touch him and thank him over and over but he's standing right there, his huge frame blocking out the light from the hall.
"Christian!" I hug him, burying my face in his chest, the smattering of hair across his sternum scraping the over sensitized skin of my cheeks but I stay there and drink in the feeling of security as his arms wrap around me completely. "You're not like him, I don't want you to think that I feel that way. I know you're not like him."
His body shakes against mine, a sigh of relief so forceful I wonder if he's crying but when he finally pulls me away I can see that he's not.
"You have no idea how badly I needed to hear that." His eyes are downcast and filled with self-doubt and loathing. Say it again, Ana, make him believe it.
"You're not like him. You're good and kind and sweet and so so generous. You would never hurt me or anyone else."
"No, Ana, I would never ever hurt you." He kisses me on my forehead and carries me backwards to the bed, tucking the covers and pillows around me as if I were a child. I've cried more in the past three days than I have in years, the emotional strain of everything that's happened coupled with the crushing fear of what might happen has made me an exhausted basket case.
"I'm afraid." There it is, I've said it. I'm terrified of Jack, of getting hurt by Christian, of everything.
"Shhh, I've got you." He lies down next to me and pulls me close, his chest to my back while his strong arms wrap around my waist and neck, kissing my hair over and over. Cocooned in safety is the last thought I have before sleep reclaims me.
CPOV
Coming home from dinner to an empty apartment reinforced the undeniable desire I have for Ana. Not just with regards to sex, but just to be with. She brings life and joy to these walls, something I had never noticed the place lacked.
I avoided going into my bedroom for as long as I could, working for a few hours, figuring out the espresso machine that Gail just bought, perusing online for a new poster bed for the playroom and finally walking around the library, smiling at the memory of her reaction. I want that for her every day, unbridled happiness.
Finally tired and feeling a bit better after my library visit I walk in my room, strip, shower, jerk off finally, and damn if that wasn't a one minute wonder after the last few days, and get into bed. The cold sheets and sheer size of it never got a second thought from me but now that I've shared it with Ana, the space mocks me. Mrs. Jones has washed the sheets and changed them, pissing me off and disappointing me. There's no trace of Ana, nothing to prove to me that she was here or that for two blissful nights I slept well, uninterrupted and nightmare free.
Sleep does not come easy and when it does finally find me, I'm woken by the same nightmare of me and the pimp but this time, he's burning Ana too. My screaming is so bad that Taylor has to wake me, something that in all the years of his employment has only happened twice before.
Awake and embarrassed I shower and wipe the sweat and subsequently the nightmare off and then play the piano. Enya's 'Watermark' hits the right notes with me tonight, sad, lonely, melancholy but not completely destroyed. Over and over I play it until it flows through me and over me and chases out the lingering effects of my nightmare.
"Sir."
"Yes, Taylor?"
"The tail on Ms. Morgan took certain liberties today and gained visual access to the inside of her garage. He reports seeing a light colored hatchback. I'd like to inform the authorities and send over two more men to ensure that we get proprietary information in real time."
I'm on my feet within seconds, barking orders at Andrea and the new intern, Jacqueline. At the same time Taylor is on the phone instructing his team and Welch joins us in the elevator on his phone, speaking directly to the chief of police. I feel like the bases are covered and check my phone to see where Ana is. Her tracker shows her at a Starbucks near Pike Place. My girl the coffee addict.
"How close is Ryan to Ms. Steele?"
"Feet away, Sir. She's given no complaint and seems quite comfortable with his presence." Good, that's what I want since she'll never be alone again in public.
I wait in the SUV as the police question Elizabeth Morgan in her home and do a search of her property and the car. We've confirmed that it's the same car Hyde rented in Texas and while he's not in the house and his car yields no computer evidence, the trunk's contents cause me to break out in a cold sweat.
Rope. Ducktape. Blind fold. Tranquilizers.
"Get more men on Ms. Steele NOW and get her to Escala immediately." My order is unnecessary, the minute Taylor heard what was in the trunk coupled with the fact that Hyde is still missing, he called Ryan and put a plan that had already been discussed into action. Only when I hear from Ryan myself that Ana and her dad are on their way back to Escala do I relax.
After another large donation to the Police Benevolence Fund Taylor and I are granted access to the SPD digital property room where the videos that Barney extracted from the hard drive of Hyde's home computer are being analyzed. It was pure luck that the fucker didn't have time to go home before going on the run but he was pretty damn brilliant with the labyrinth he set up to protect his hard drive.
I know what's on the videos, Barney and Welch informed me as I sat in front of Elizabeth Morgan's house but to see the images is astonishing. There are five women in total and each file begins the same. A tentative make out session in which you can see Hyde speaking but can't hear him followed by rough sex. It's obvious from the film that these women were coerced and while at first they didn't fight back, by the end they were all begging for mercy. He showed none.
Frame after frame of him tying up, gagging, blindfolding and whipping these women is hard enough to watch but when he starts to use the cane hard enough so that they bleed, every one of us turns away. Logically I know this isn't comparable to what I've done, I've never had a woman bleeding, certainly never taken anyone past their tolerance level or forced them to do anything they were uncomfortable with but despite my logical assessment of the situation, I can't help but feel like I'm no better than him.
Chief Collins is speaking to me, something about heading over to Escala and needing to share with Ana the information gleaned today so that she can accurately understand the nature of this threat. I nod but I barely hear him, the noise between my ears is a high whine, the only other sound, the beat of my heart. I have to tell her this.
I find her immediately in the library and don't think twice about kissing her in front of Ray. It may be disrespectful but it also may be the last time she lets me hold her or kiss her and I'm not letting it pass me by.
I'm sitting across from her because as much as I'd like to be holding her and comforting her, I know what's coming and I want to give her space to react. It's killing me to see her afraid but it's nothing compared to when Collins tells her about the videos.
We share a silent communication.
'He does what you've done.'
'I've never hurt anyone, please, please don't hate me.'
'Should I be afraid of you too?'
'I'll never hurt you, I'll only ever take care of you.'
'What are you really capable of?'
'We aren't the same, we're not the same!' I bite my tongue to avoid yelling it out. Am I like him? Am I any better than him in reality?
She looks away and I fight the bile that rises in my throat.
Ray wants a rundown of our security and our plans going forward in light of this new evidence and I'm unwilling to miss even a minute of involvement when it comes to Ana's safety so we gather in the security office. It's standing room only as we all listen to Taylor's new protocols but I'm busy watching the security cameras that were put on per my command. I can't stand the idea of not knowing exactly where she is at every second right now. The weight of what's going on is evident in the slump of her shoulders and the way she listlessly wanders from room to room until she pauses at the playroom door.
Oh fuck, no, Ana. Don't.
Only when she walks away and hides away in the library do I tune into Taylor, demanding that he start again with his updates. At 9:50 my watch beeps to remind me about Ana's medication and I find her, alone and distracted reading, 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women.' How appropriate.
Her half smile does nothing to tamper the fear inside of me and when she turns to go I can't help but reach for her and beg her to stay with me. Please, let me love you. She denies me and though I know her reasoning is solid, I can't help but feel like it's really because I disgust her.
I can't sleep, I hardly ate and I can't stay still. The piano remains silent, having Ray here means banging away in the middle of the night isn't an option so I head to the gym and run at breakneck speed for close to an hour. My lungs are on fire and my legs feel like lead when I'm finished but the anxiety that has strangled me all day has waned.
After my shower I look at myself, really look at myself in the mirror. Am I anything like him? Could I hurt anyone, even someone I hated like that? Force myself on a woman and watch her in agony? No, I couldn't. Maybe I'm not a sadist. Maybe Flynn is right. Seeing Hyde in action, a true sadist, I finally see the distinction.
The soft muted sounds of her crying freeze me to the floor and I forgo my trip to the office so that I can stand and listen to her. Should I knock? Am I the reason she's so upset? Would she want me to go to her? The answer comes flying out the door only seconds later as a tear stained Ana runs into my arms and buries her face in my chest. My only reaction is to pull her closer and bury my face in her neck. There is no fear, no hesitation, no burning sensation as she cries against me and I desperately try not to buckle under the relief of her acceptance.
"Christian! You're not like him, I don't want you to think that I feel that way. I know you're not like him." There's an urgency to her voice that burns my heart, her words healing the cracks that I've felt my entire life. I believe her.
She's exhausted, mentally and physically, the evidence in the puffiness of her eyes and the hoarseness in her voice. If she won't sleep with me, then I'll sleep with her. I need to be with her right now and I know she needs me too. I can't hold her close enough against me and as my arms circle her and pull her closer I exhale for the first time in what feels like hours. She is here and she is safe.
"Mr. Grey, a Katherine Kavanagh is on line one for you, she referenced Ms. Steele."
I pick up the phone at lightning speed afraid of why she might be calling.
"Yes? Is Ana ok?"
"Hello to you too, Christian. She's fine."
"Hello Ms. Kavanagh, what can I help you with then?"
"I just got off the phone with Ana and she's feeling a bit…restless. Needs to get out and be reminded that she's a free woman despite what this Hyde asshole did. Mia, Heather and I are going to pick her up and take her to the spa for some old fashioned girl time but I was thinking that maybe we could go to that club tonight that you were interested in. Use it as an excuse to get her out and let her have fun like a normal 22 year old."
The idea of Ana out and about at a spa and then a dance club isn't one that sits well with me but I know her well enough to know by now that not only will she not obey if I forbid her from going, but I know that Kate is right. Ana needs to feel free.
"I can arrange a day at the spa and I'll take care of the club as well. I'm going to have security with you all day, you've been forewarned. Do NOT play around with this Kate, this guy is a serious lunatic and the guys I have protecting you are not to be toyed with."
"Geesh, Grey. Got it. Text me the details, there's four of us and I'd like to be there around 2 so that we can do lunch beforehand. I'll talk to you later, we'll be serious about protection."
"Andrea!" she runs in, tablet in hand with Jacqueline right behind her. "I need four appointments at the best spa in town, NOT Esclava. Massages, manicures, pedicures, facials. No male therapists, I don't even care if they're gay. 2pm. Call Club Review and let the manager know I'll be in later tonight with a group of people. I'll want to see the owner and will require a bit of his time."
"Yes, sir." I smile a minute later when my text alert goes off and I see Ana's name. Kate wastes no time.
Hi, when did you wake up and go?
-about 6, I ran with T and then met with Bastille-
Am I supposed to know who that is?
-I thought you knew everything, Ms. Steele-
I know you're annoying me right now.
-Touché. He's a kickboxing coach.-
Oh. I feel that much safer. Kate said we're going out today and tonight. Is that ok? I have no idea how to navigate this.
-Fine. I've texted her the information, Ryan and Prescott will join you. Prescott is a female CPO so she can accompany you to places the men can't.-
OK, thanks. I'll see you later, have a good day, Mr. Grey.
There's no new information on Hyde's whereabouts. It was determined last night that the women in the videos had all worked for him or with him at one point and shortly after the films were made, four of them quit and refused an exit interview. Welch has two men tracking them down and trying to get information from them. Once we find Hyde he'll be in jail for a while, I'm sure of that based on his attack on Ana alone but I want him there permanently. Dead would be better.
He's also sent over someone to…persuade Ms. Morgan to give up some usable information. Her lies to the police pissed me off to no end but I'll deal directly with her later, right now I want to know what she knows. What I know, is that she's one of the women on that film loop and she's the only one who didn't quit but instead moved quickly from editorial assistant to senior editor.
I'm at my limit with anxiety and assholes. Elena has called twice since I kicked Shayla out of the apartment and twice I've ignored her call and deleted her message. Fuck that bitch, If she hasn't gotten the message by now, I don't know if she ever will.
Tony Lain calls me promptly at 5p to inform me that said bitch has not provided her personal tax returns and investment portfolios to him. Andrea leaves messages with the president and the senior loan officer at Washington Mutual to have them call first thing Monday morning. Per the outline of our business contract I am an at will silent investor and therefore, if the stipulations of our agreement aren't met to my exacting standards, I can, at will, pull my financial backing. By Monday noon, Elena will be broke, looking to sell the businesses just to satisfy the banks, and fuming mad. I can't wait, that's one call I look forward to receiving.
Getting ready at Elliot's, are you sure it's safe for me to go out?
-Yes, you'll be with me and about 6 security guys, I'd never play with your safety-
OK, see you at 9 then, good luck with your dinner.
Ah yes, another boring as fuck business dinner with a boring as fuck businessman. I'm so over this shit to begin with but knowing that across town Ana is getting dolled up for a night of dancing…grinding if I have my way…is just making the tedium drag on and on and on. Shut the fuck up already. I'm about to throw a million at this douche bag just to get him shovel that dessert in his mouth so I can leave.
There are four missed calls by the time I'm finished getting dressed, all from Elliot and a surge of panic runs through me as I call him.
"Oh my god, you have got to get here now man, I can't take another minute of this girl shit. Seriously, what the fuck is taking you so long?"
"Damn it, Elliot! I thought something was wrong, why the fuck did you call me four fucking times?"
"Why? Why? Here, listen to this." In the background I can hear LL Cool J's 'Around the Way Girl' blaring in the background and laughter that can only be described as a cackle. "Hurry." He hangs up and I laugh out loud in my bedroom all by myself. I'm tempted to take my sweet time and prolong the torture but wanting to catch Ana in this playful mood is too tempting so I jump in the Spyder, much to Taylors annoyance, and make the 12 minute drive in 10 while Taylor and the security not already with the girls follows.
Elliot greets me at the door with a beer and a grin.
"Dude, you are going to like what you see. Just keep your dick in your pants until you're at home, I don't want to see any of that shit from you." I look around him but only Mia is in the living room, her bright pink dress assaulting my eyes and pissing me off.
"Fuck, Mia, you sending a message or what?"
"Oh shut up, you two are just old and boring." Her dress is about eight inches too short and about two sizes too tight but it pales in comparison to Ana's. Oh holy hell, fuck me and no.
"Hi Christian." I'm speechless while Elliot chuckles next to me with his arms crossed. The beer in my hand is bearing the brunt of my displeasure as I squeeze it tightly to try to keep my mouth shut while people are here. She breezes over to me and I automatically bend down and kiss her quickly on the mouth.
"Anastasia, what the fuck are you wearing?" Her face falls and her head whips around as everyone clears out of the room. All the better. "You cannot wear that out!"
She looks hurt and pissed, a dangerous combination in women I've recently discovered and I remain silent, waiting for her next move.
"I'm sorry, I thought you just said that I 'can't wear that out'. Surely I misheard. Now, let's try this again. Hi, Christian." She kisses me again but I'm as dumbfounded as my dick. He's ready for some attention, she's clearly ready to give it and then there's me, unwilling to let her leave the house in the 'dress'.
"Ana, you look hot at hell, hotter actually but if you think I'm going to let you leave in a dress that barely," I turn her around and take a closer look, "and I do mean barely covers your ass, you are sorely mistaken. For fucks sake, you're entire back is exposed and fuck! It's cut so fucking low you can't even wear a bra with it, you're totally exposed!" I take a quick step back when I see the flash of rage cross those bright greens.
"I don't think we've met. My name is Anastasia Rose Steele. I'm 22 and a full grown woman who makes her own rules, her own decisions, wears what she wants, when she wants and how she wants. It's so nice to meet you." And with that she turns and shakes that perfect electric blue wrapped ass across the room where she grabs a bag and snaps at some girl I don't know who's bravely made her way back in. "Let's go."
Elliot and some guy I'm assuming is his friend stand by the door as the women file out and only once they're in the cars do any of us move. Elliot breathes out and rubs the back of his neck while he shakes his head.
"Bro, I realize you're new to this whole thing but you just killed your chances of scoring tonight. Killed, murdered, bloodied and buried."
"Elliot Grey! Let's go!" Kate's demanding whine breaks through the fog and the guy next to Elliot sticks out his hand in a greeting.
"Logan Crawford, Missy's boyfriend. Get a drink or two in her and she'll be fine, I've seen Ana way more pissed off than that." I shake his hand but the look on my face is anything but friendly. Who the fuck is this guy? Who the hell is Missy? How many male friends does she have?
The girls are all piled in Taylor's SUV so I numbly get in the Spyder while Elliot and Logan climb into the Spyder I bought him for his birthday earlier this year. What the fuck just happened? The passenger door opens and a flash of blue appears before Ana folds herself in the front seat and buckles herself in. I am totally still and silent, any move on my part could prove fatal.
"I'd like to have fun tonight, Christian. Let loose, dance a bit, drink a bit, maybe even kiss a bit. I thought it'd be a nice way to start your birthday but if you're going to make me feel like shit and make me feel like a slut then I'd rather just go back to Escala. Ray'll be home by 10 anyway." She's looking straight ahead and I still haven't moved. Now what?
"Ana, I do not think you look like a slut, I'm very sorry if I made you feel that way. You look ridiculously hot, illegally hot and the awareness that every man out there is going to be looking at you and eye fucking you makes me crazy. I shouldn't have reacted the way that I did but I can't let you go out when I know every guy in there is going to try to get in your panties!"
She looks down into her lap and bites her lip but doesn't look at me. "I'm wearing this and I want you to come with us. It's up to you." Well, shit, that didn't turn out the way I wanted it to.
"Fine, you leave me with no choice but you are NOT to bend over. Hard limit, Ms. Steele!"
"Hard limit? What's that?" You mother fucking idiot.
"A hard limit in a BDSM contract is something that you won't tolerate at all. A soft limit is something you're open to exploring but reserved about. People, men or women getting a look at you in that dress bent over, hard limit for me."
She bounces in her seat and smiles. "OK. I won't bend over. You, telling me what I can and can't wear, hard limit, Grey." I should have hired her for negotiations. All I can do is grin at her and start the car, the low rumble making her eyes go wide and her lips curl up. "I do love that sound! Now go, everyone is going to be there already!"
The music is loud and just as I expected, every fucker in here is checking Ana out and most of them aren't being shy about it. I've got one arm around her waist in an attempt to hold her close enough so that she's half hidden but it doesn't help much. We're in a roped off VIP area, six bottles of Cristal and two bottles of Belvedere Vodka adorn the table and there are two waitresses waiting to get us anything we want.
Ana's had a few shots but in between I've made her drink water so she's not drunk, just a little uninhibited. I'm not at all surprised that she's a good dancer, with hips like hers there's no way she could be bad and I'm hypnotized by the way they sway to the beat. Imagine that on your cock. Shit, I shouldn't have done that. Ana's eyes go wide when I flatten my hand on the small of her back and pull her close, the feel of her body against mine giving me just enough friction to get a bit of relief.
Ethan and Jose have joined us and upon close observation, outside of telling Ana that she looked hot, they've been preoccupied with other females all night. One of them being Mia.
"What the fuck is that about?" Ethan is dancing as close as possible with my sister, singing and laughing with her in front of everyone.
"Seriously? Where have you been? They've been dating since the party two weeks ago. Shit, I've seen more of Mia in these last two weeks than I have in the last six months. She's become more annoying if you can believe that!"
"Are they sleeping together?" Elliot looks shocked that I would ask and takes a step back.
"I don't know, are you and Ana?"
"Fuck off, Elliot."
"Back at ya. Go ask her yourself Captain Inappropriate!"
"She's 21, he's 24. He's too old for her." I regret it the minute it leaves my mouth.
"Well, Kate's 22 and I'm 30. Ana's 22 and you're 28. Your point?" I just look at him, what can I say really? "Look, I don't like the idea of her hitting nasty's any more than you do but she's a grown woman. She knows how to be safe and responsible and truthfully, he's actually a pretty chill guy."
I don't like it at all but he's right. Mia is only a year younger than Ana and I seem to have no problem trying to fuck her. If Elliot's defending Ethan than maybe he really is a good guy. I watch a minute longer, sipping on my beer before walking back over to where Ana is dancing.
She's shaking her ass to Cascada's 'Miracle' and I enjoy the view until the song ends before pulling her away from some girl she was dancing with and pulling her flush against me from behind.
"You look so good out here, Ana. So fucking sexy. I didn't know you could move like this." She throws her head back against my shoulder and laughs while we start to move in synch. I've got my hands resting on those hips of hers, meeting her move for move, beat for beat. I've danced with Elena but not like this. The air is heavy and hot, thick with lust from the hundreds of people in here looking to score and I'm no different tonight. I will have her. Tonight.
"My mom told me never to trust a man who could dance." She reaches up and pulls me down by my hair, her breath is hot on my ear and shoots electricity strait to my balls. Fuck, when she moves her breasts brush up against my chest and damn if I can't stop pressing my hard on against her.
"Are you saying I can dance, Ms. Steele?" She throws her head back and I kiss her neck mid-laugh. "Because I can assure you, dancing isn't my specialty." She laughs again and pulls back to drag some girl who's been vying for her attention over.
"Missy, this is Christian Grey, our employer. Christian, Missy." Who the fuck cares?
"A pleasure, Mr. Grey, we've spoken a few times but I mostly deal with Ros or Andrea."
"It's nice to meet the other side of Steele Translations. You're doing a good job, thank you." OK, now go dance somewhere else and leave us alone. Instead the two of them start to dance together and the hostess comes over to inform me that Mr. Bradley Scott is here and ready to meet with me.
"Anastasia, I'm going to go meet with the owner, come with me." I am not leaving her alone down here with these fuckers all just waiting for me to walk away.
"If you don't mind, I'll stay right here with Missy and the rest of our group, I won't go anywhere, I'm ok, and you've got more guys here than we have people in our group!" She laughs and I grin, I'll do just about anything to keep her smiling.
"I'll be right back." Turning to Ryan I bark at him, "No one touches her or dances with her." He nods and takes a few steps so that he's closer to her. Ana rolls her eyes at him and then blows me a kiss. I do like that little move, even more so because she's the only one who's done it to me.
"If you've got no more questions, we can hit the sky walk and get a better view of the entire club. It's not for the faint of heart I warn you." He laughs while I follow him out of the office and up a narrow stairway. I'm not overly impressed with the club itself but it's easy to secure and Ana is having a good time so I'll probably buy it just so I can have a safe place for her to go.
The sky walk is narrow and wraps around the perimeter of the dance floor affording a view of everybody and everything below.
"It's a pervert's paradise up here." I fight the urge to roll my eyes and give him a smirk. He's right though, you can see down almost every woman's dress and you can see the people hidden in the dark corners who are all but having sex. As he leads me around I figure out where our group is and squint my eyes to get a closer look at the electric blue dress moving around on the dance floor. I'll be damned if he's going to catch a look at Ana's tits before I do.
What the fuck? Who the fuck is that? I can see Elliot, Ethan, Jose and Logan but there appears to be two more guys who've joined the girls on the floor. Elliot is looking around, for me no doubt, and I can see Ryan moving closer to where Ana and Mia are which is also where the two new men are.
"No fucking way." It's Matt fucking Ryan chatting up Ana, laughing at a joke she must have told and eye fucking her so blatantly that even Elliot is getting pissed. Scott is a few feet ahead, still going on about all the things he's seen up here but I don't give a shit. Not even a little one. I'm halfway down the stairs and pushing through throngs of loud, drunk assholes and when I finally get to the VIP area Ryan has gotten in between Ana and the arrogant prick who has his hand wrapped around her wrist.
"Ryan, he's a friend! Stop!" Ryan takes a step out of the way when he sees me and stands behind Ana while I round on my competition.
"Have you not figured out by now that she's with me? What kind of message do you need sent so that you get that you can't have her? Back the fuck off and go the fuck away." He doesn't move but his friend does, putting his beer on the table and taking a step closer. I would love nothing more than to hit these two.
"Oh my god, Christian! He was just saying hello for gods sake!" I don't even turn around, I'll deal with her later.
"Ana!"
I turn when he calls her name to see her walking away, pushing past our security who scamper after her. "I mean it, go the fuck away and leave her the fuck alone. She's mine." His eyebrows knit but he says nothing as far as I know because I'm already turning after Ana.
"Anastasia!" I grab her arm and pull her into a semi-private alcove but she's stiff and unwavering, her eyes glittering with anger and embarrassment.
"Are you fucking him?" I'm yelling inches from her face but back up as soon as the words leave my mouth.
Those eyes go from anger to absolute fury in a nanosecond but I don't stop there, nope, I keep going.
"Tell me, is he why you're on birth control? Did you fuck him after the Coping Together event? Did you tell him you'd be here tonight? Maybe he could get a quick fuck in while I was gone?"
Her bottom lip quivers but her hand covers it quickly, her breath catching like a hiccup in her throat. I'm shaking, furious at my own visions of Ana and that prick fucking and I swear if he comes anywhere near here right now I'll kill him bare handed.
"Well?" I want to shut up but I can't, the burn of embarrassment flaring on my cheeks but I have to know. I have to know who has taken the pleasure I know she can bring.
"You are the biggest asshole I have ever met in my entire life. I can't believe you asked me that, accused me of that." Her breath hiccups again and her hand flies back over her mouth but now she's got tears in those furious eyes. "I've never FUCKED anyone in my entire life you jerk off!"
What? I must look confused because she drops her hands and squares her shoulders even as her eyes become slits of rage. "Get it, Grey? How big of an asshole are you right now?"
My mind is going a million miles an hour. Surely she can't be a virgin. Does she mean she's never had sex outside of a loving relationship? Making love? That's what it's called.
"Are you saying you've never had sex, Ana? You've never been with a man?" She all but growls at me.
"Now you've got it you fucking asshole. How do you feel now?" Stunned. Blown away. Stupid. And as lustful as I've ever been in my entire life.
I want to answer her and beg her forgiveness but she's gone, disappearing into the crowd where she walks over to Prescott and speaks into her ear before they disappear. I'm doing what I can to follow them but Taylor stops me and tells me he's getting the car now.
"Where's Ana?" His look conveys his feelings well which is remarkable since Taylor is the most unexpressive person I know outside of myself. Yea, I know, I'm an asshole.
"Prescott is taking her to Escala now. She was adamant about going to her place but she convinced her that the security company was there finishing the install." Fuck!
"I'm going home, tell Prescott to pull over at the Starbucks on Stewart and Western, get me there in four minutes."