A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
"Son of a bitch." I stop on my way to the living room and peer through the small opening by Christian's study door. He's sitting and typing at his computer like a maniac. The floor creaks beneath my feet, alerting him to my presence. "Ana?" I straighten my shoulders and ease the door open. "I knew it had to be you."
"I wasn't spying on you. I was minding my own business when I heard you cursing."
"I know you weren't. I'm sorry for my little outburst, but I couldn't help it. It seems Seattle Nooz might have broken the baby news." We had decided to finally announce the pregnancy at the end of next week, but now it seems the story is already out. I step into the office and sit down on the sofa. "Apparently one of the other customers at the baby store last night overheard us talking. They contacted and told the site what they saw and heard. There's an article."
"Considering it's a gossip site, they're probably reporting that I'm having five babies.", I say. "Read me the article."
"I don't see what good reading the article to you will do.", he replies, pushing his chair away from the desk.
"Christian, read the article."
"It's looks like Baby Grey is on the way for Christian and Anastasia Grey. The duo were spotted last night as they shopped for baby accessories at Boston Street Baby Store. A fellow customer saw Mr. Grey tenderly place his hand over his wife's burgeoning belly. With the two still newlyweds, one has to wonder if it was a shotgun wedding. We'll have more on the story as it develops." He gets out of his chair and sits down next to me. "All they have is one witness's story, but that's pretty much all it'll take before other outlets start picking it up. The way I see it is we have two options. We can sit back and let them talk all they want or we can go ahead and release our official statement."
"It's the weekend which is supposed to be a relaxing time, yet our weekend has been far from it."
"You're looking at things with rose colored glasses. Why don't you focus on the good instead of the bad? You've been offered a promotion at work.", he points out. I spent most of yesterday and today debating whether I should accept Olivia's offer of me taking her spot while takes the editor-in-chief.
"I'm grateful that Olivia thinks I can do the job, but I still don't know if I'm going to take it."
"It's your decision to make.", he smiles. "But I don't want you to stress over that decision. You're pregnant and shouldn't be having any sort of anxiety, and I feel like I haven't been helping with that."
"How do you mean?", I ask.
"Well, I'm worried that I might be putting too much pressure on you about taking Olivia's job." rest my head on his shoulders as he clasps our clasps together.
"You're not. You see things in me that I sometimes have trouble seeing."
"Then there's the Leila thing.", he murmurs. "I should've told you as soon as I found out she might be returning to Seattle. There shouldn't have been any space between finding out and telling you. We're married, and being up front with each other is a huge element that I neglected." The idea of Christian's former sub Leila returning to Seattle is upsetting, but I can't let it get to me or us.
"I wish you would've told me earlier than you did, but I shouldn't have reacted like I did. You can't control everything that happens in the world."
"If I didn't have such a fucked up past Leila wouldn't be an issue...at all."
"Christian, your past is just that, your past. It's not who you are now. If anyone should be apologizing, it's me. I let my insecurities and hormones get the best of me, and that's no excuse. You were right about me not having enough faith in myself. It's something I've struggled with over the years. Just when I think maybe I'm doing better, something happens to change it."
"Being hormonal is one of the great things in pregnancy.", he laughs. "You're intelligent, funny, sweet, and beautiful. I could go on and on all day and still not be finished praising you. Baby, you're everything I've ever wanted and so much more."
"I'm going to do my best to do better. Stress isn't good for the baby." He pulls me even closer to him, giving me the softest and most tender kiss on the top of my head. "Why don't you call and give the ok to release our baby announcement while I go and make some calls." I start to stand but feel a light tug on my hand. Christian's gazing at me with questioning eyes. "I'm going to call and tell Olivia that I'm going to take her offer."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive.", I reply. "I can do it. I am going to do it."
"Ok everyone, I need you in the conference room.", Olivia announces first thing the next morning. Kate, Audrey, and Daniel are standing by my desk with matching smiles plastered on their faces. After calling Olivia to tell her I'd take the job, I called Kate who literally squealed with delight. She spent most of the call telling me I'm the best person for the position and that she has my back. Since I'm also close with Audrey and Daniel, I called them as well although it was technically only one call seeing as Daniel was with Audrey when I called her. The two of them also voiced their support of me.
"I think I'm going to be sick.", I mutter, slowly standing up from my chair.
"It's just your nerves.", Kate says.
"You're going to be fine.", Audrey tells me. I walk into the conference room and take a seat on the left side of the table while the rest of the staff settles in. Olivia goes to the end of the table and clears her throat for everyone's full attention.
"I have an announcement to make. Effective immediately, I'm going to be the acting editor-in-chief of the magazine."
"Congratulations.", Paul Reardon, one of the reporters, says.
"Thank you. "Since I won't be able to do two jobs at once, that means someone else will be stepping into my role in this office. I thought long and hard about it and came to a conclusion which I'm very pleased with. At this time, I'd like to announce that Ana Grey is going to be the new head of the arts and entertainment department. I hope all of you give her the same amount of respect you've given me. I have the greatest amount of confidence she'll be a wonderful leader." The sound of rain hitting the windows is all that can be heard as all eyes go to me. I can do this. I can do it. I stand and smile at each and every single person in the room.
"Thank you Olivia for this opportunity which I'm pleased to have. I promise I won't let you down. As for the rest of you, I look forward for not only me moving ahead but also this entire office." What happens next erases all uncertainty. Everyone starts clapping.
"Way to go Ana!", several chant at once.
The rest of the meeting is filled with congratulations and even some hugs. It's soon only Olivia and I in the room. She gathers her papers as I walk towards her.
"I'm not going to be too far away if you need me although I don't think you will."
"I felt nauseous earlier, but now I feel like I'm going to cry." Olivia takes step back. "I'm not going to vomit on you.", I laugh. "Olivia, thank you again for this. I'm going to miss having you so close by."
"I'll be two floors up, and we'll see each other."
"I'm so happy for them.", a woman tells to the guy sitting with her at their table in Burger Barn, the restaurant where I convinced Christian to have dinner. The woman and guy both look over at our table and give a thumbs up. The Seattle Times ran the official baby statement in this morning's edition. I can now start wearing clothes that aren't so baggy and hide my stomach.
"I believe she's talking about us.", Christian smirks. I reach and grab a handful of fries from his plate and dip them in ketchup. "Not that I don't mind sharing my fries with you, but what's wrong with the ones in your plate?"
"Yours look better.", I shrug.
"Ok. Even though you mentioned having to do some work, I hope you're not planning on staying up too late tonight."
"I don't know how long I'll be, but I'm going to make sure I'm not up too late. What I don't get done tonight can be finished in the morning before I head to the office."
"I called Ethan today and once again told him how pleased we were with the wedding photos. I also asked if he'd be willing to do some pregnancy photos. I don't want anything too elaborate or any skin showing, but I'd like to capture this special time in our lives."
"I like your idea. We can show the baby the photos when he or she gets older. I'm glad you knocked me up." He steals a few of the fries from my plate while looking proud of himself.
"What can I say. It was a pleasure." His phone starts ringing from his pocket, instantly dampening the mood.
"Answer it.", I say.
"Hello.", he answers. "You're sure. Ok. Thanks." He puts the phone away. "That was my guy in New York. Leila just boarded a nonstop plane to Seattle."
"All right. She's on her way to the same city as us. It's ok. Really. It's ok."
"Ana.", he sighs.
"It's ok Christian. I'm not going to get upset or worked up over it. I have you and this baby, two things that deserve more attention than a person from the past."