Chapter 21: The Party

APOV

I stand looking at myself in the mirror. The blue cocktail dress that Caroline Acton chose for me. I think she knows what I like and what looks good on me better than I do. I better get used to this since I will be marrying Christian. Married! To Christian! There's a part of me that still can't believe what happened. We have a lot to learn about being in a relationships but like he said, we can do it together. As I'm making sure I look OK for his parents' party the sun reflects off the beautiful ring he gave me. This must have cost a fortune but I do love it and I love that I have it. I guess I should get used to his whole lifestyle. I don't think he had nights of watching bad movies and eating ramen soup for dinner because you and your friends don't have the can to go out.

He walks into the room and takes my breathe away. He looks so gorgeous in a suit. He seriously must be from another planet or heaven or something.

"Ana, you are resplendent. That color really brings out the beauty of your eyes. Baby, I have a present for you." He holds out the now familiar red box.

"Christian, you just gave me the best present ever. I don't need another one. You're going to spoil me." I kid him but it's half true. I love him without his money, I just want him.

"No, you gave me the best present ever and I want to spoil you." He opens the box and in it is a radiant diamond solitaire pendent necklace like the earrings he gave me.

"Christian, I love this. Thank you. Will you put it on me?" I don't know how he knows to pick out the right things for me. They are always beautiful but not too fancy. I would never wear a lot of gaudy jewelry like Elena does. Ugh. The thought of her makes my skin crawl. I think she's been getting on Christian's nerves. He hasn't been talking to her as much and when he does it's as if she is annoying him. I know it's wrong but I hope he stops being friends with her. She had manipulated him so much he thinks she's his only friend. I wonder how she'll act when she finds out we're engaged. The thought makes me snicker.

"Baby, one day I would like to get in your beautiful little head and know what you are thinking."

"Well, Mr. Grey, I was just thinking about how much I love you." He gives me that charming boyish smile.

"Come, we wouldn't want to be late. You may want to bring some earplugs. When Mia sees your finger she's got to scream so loud the international space station will hear it." Well, I hadn't thought about that. I don't really like being the center of attention.

"Errr… Christian, do you think maybe I should keep the ring off until we have the chance to tell your family in a more private way?"

"Not a chance baby. I want everyone to know you're mine. In fact this may be the one time I wouldn't mind the paparazzi."

"Oh my god. The paparazzi. I didn't tell Ray. What if he finds out from some gossip mag first?" That would crush him.

Christian gives me his secretive smile. "He already knows."

"He does?"

"Yes. I asked his permission to marry you before I proposed."

"That was so sweet. So my dad was the first to know?"

"Second. I told my mom but swore her to secrecy."

"How did she react?" I don't want people to think I'm marrying him for his money.

"She was elated. She really loves you. In fact, my whole family loves you." The thought of a big family makes me smile. I love Ray with all my heart but it's always been the two of us since mom left. It can be lonely.

On the drive to his parents' house I ask, "Do your parents have an anniversary party every year?"

"It started as an anniversary party when I was little but now I think it's just an excuse to have a fancy dinner party with their friends and family."

When we get to their house we are greeted at the door by his mother. "Christian, it's lovely to see you. Congratulations and I'm so happy for you." Grace whispers in his ear loud enough so only the two of us can hear. "Ana. Welcome to the family, sweet girl." Grace looks absolutely joyful and has tears of happiness in her eyes. "Your father is playing bartender at the moment, Elliot and Kate are in the great room, and Mia is...somewhere."

"Thanks Mom. It's good to see you too." Christian places his hand on my lower back to guide me inside. "Come on baby, let's get a drink." We make our way inside and to the bar.

Suddenly there is a loud, high pitched screech. "Christian! Is that an engagement ring?!" Mia is so excited as she runs up to us that she can barely contain herself. Christian gives me a look that pretty much says 'I told you so'.

"Why hello, Mia, it's good to see you as well." Christian teases Mia.

She smacks him on the arm. The only person I've seen allowed to touch him besides me. "Shut up, Christian! Ana, let me see the ring! Have you picked a date? Where are you going to get married? Can I help to plan everything?"

At this point everyone else has caught on and are gathering around us. "Mia, calm down, I've just asked her. We haven't had time to plan anything."

Christian's dad comes up and congratulates us with a kiss on the cheek for me and I pat on the back for him. "Son, you should make an announcement so you don't have to spend the whole night explaining things." He hands us each a glass of prosecco.

Christian removes a pen from his inside jacket pocket and taps it against his glass to get everyone's attention. "Good evening everyone. I'm glad to announce some very special news surrounded by family and friends." He looks down at me lovingly and gives me a sweet peck on the lips. "This amazing, intelligent, caring, and beautiful woman next to me had agreed, probably against her best judgment, to be my wife." Everyone begins to clap or say their congratulations.

Loudly from the crowd Elliot shouts, "You're welcome, bro!"

Christian laughs mirthfully, "Yes, yes I do owe it to my ever so humble brother for introducing me to Anastasia." People are coming up to us to give their felicitations. I look up and see Grace standing in the doorway of the room, tears streaming down her face. She blows me a kiss and I smile back. Then I look and see that bitch, Elena, with her face twisted in an angry scowl. I make eye contact with her and smile and she storms out of the room. Ha!

Kate comes up to me and gives me a huge hug. "Ana, it's this what you want? Are you happy?" She's looking at me deep with concern.

"Yes, I am so, so happy. I love him." Kate gives me a huge smile and pulls me into a large affectionate hug. We spend the next few minutes receiving congratulations from family and friends.

"Honey, I have to powder my nose. I'll be right back." I think all the prosecco has gotten to me.

"If you're not right back I'll come looking for you." He kisses my hand as I go to walk away.

After I'm finished in the bathroom I go to get my purse that I left in the other room. Abruptly, I hear a voice from behind me saying, "You little gold digging whore." The words are dripping with contempt, I turn around to see Elena standing there.

"Excuse me?" Surely this detestable woman isn't talking to me.

"I think you heard me. Christian is only infatuated with you. You can't give him what he wants or what he needs."

"I think you have no idea what Christian wants or needs and it's really none of your business." She can not be serious.

Elena snorts. "You are a child. You can't possibly satisfy him."

I can feel the anger creeping inside me from my toes. "I guess you would know all about children wouldn't you? You are a disgusting excuse for a human being for what you did to him."

She lets out a villainous laugh. "For what I did to him? I gave him focus and drive. I made him the successful man he is today. You can give him nothing. You can only take from him like the street urchin you are."

From the doorway I hear Christian declare, "Ana gives me everything. She has given me life. You just tried to tear me down into a hollow person so I would be what you wanted me to be. Not for me, but for you, Elena. You never had my best interests at heart. If you did, you wouldn't have kissed me that day when I was 15." How long was he standing there?

"Oh please, Christian. You loved it. You loved being with me. I taught you everything you know. Everything you do now is because of me." Is she demented?

"You taught be how to fuck, Elena. How to treat women like nothing. Like they were to be used for sex, like objects. You didn't teach me about love or compassion." Christian is so angry he is speaking through clenched teeth.

"Love? Christian, love is for fools. You fall in love and it will only hurt you. I know what can make you happy. I know what you need." Oh yeah, she is definitely of her rocker. I can do nothing but stand here listening to each other verbally eviscerate each other.

"No Elena, you don't. You're a disgusting hull of a woman who has to
pay people just to fuck you. You probably punish Isaac by making him having sex with you! He probably goes home on Sunday night and washes his body in bleach trying to wash you off of him. I should have washed you from my life a long time ago. It took falling in love with a wonderful woman, who I don't deserve but loves me anyway, for me to see that. I see now how despicable you really are."

"Get out of my house now! Get out of my life and my families' lives. You pretended to me by friend, so what? So you could prey on my child? After I would tell you my fears of Christian? You used those
against him!" Grace roars with anger the depth of it making her shake.

"Mom…"

"Shut up Christian. It's My turn to talk. You are vile. A pitiful excuse for a human being. I hope you rot in hell." Grace tells Elena, her voice exuding rancor. "I said .NOW!" Elena who now appears in shock walks past us and out the door slamming it behind her.

Grace turns to me and smiles and says gently, "Ana, angel, would you mind giving me a moment to speak with my son?" She smiling but I can see the hurt behind her eyes. It's a pain that I imagine only a mother can feel.

I swallow hard. "Of course." I don't know what else to say or do so I just walk out of the room. I really don't want to be around anyone so I go upstairs where it's quiet. I feel embarrassed about what just happened but I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I hate confrontation, or because I saw a mother hear something dreadful about her son, or because I just witnessed my love lose a long time friend. She wasn't a friend at all but Christian didn't see that and I'm sure a part of him will grieve over that loss. I sit on the steps with the thoughts inundating my mind.

"Are you OK?" Christian is kneeling in front of me. I was so absorbed in my thoughts I didn't see him come up to me. I smile at him and lovingly caress his face.

"Unquestionably, I should be the one to ask you that."

"As long as I have you, I will always be OK." He leans in and kisses me softly. "My mother on the other hand…"

"How upset is she?" I can't comprehend what she must be feeling.

"Let's just say I'm lucky there are guests here and my father has plenty of alcohol. Let's get home. I've had enough for tonight."

"Yes, let's go."