Chapter 26: Obey, Acquiesce, and Comply

APOV

We've been here at the apartment with the wedding planner, the bridal party, Grace, and Christian for what seems like hours. Mia thinks the wedding should be in different shades of pink with gold accents. I really don't want that.

"Mia, I think I want it to be very simple. I was thinking of more muted colors, like champagne, white, and platinum." Hopefully I don't hurt her feelings and I know she's really helping me but this is my wedding after all and Kate would kill me if she has to wear a pink fluffy dress. I go into the kitchen to get another bottle of wine for us.

Christian comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. "Baby, why do you need me here? You can plan the wedding and have whatever you want. Just tell me where to be and when and I'll be there." I know he is bored out of his skull but since he is such a control freak he needs to be here. "I know you are bored, and frankly, so am I. But, there are two reasons why you are here. One, you are a control freak and I know how you get when you don't get your way so if you are involved in the planning the better off we'll all be. Two, you need to know what we're planning so you can coordinate security with Taylor. And, Mia is your sister, so if I have to deal with it so do you."

"That was three. You said there were only two." Now he's really pouting. Lucky for him he's adorable when he does it.

"I know. The third one was a bonus." I give him a peck on the lips and walk out of the kitchen with the bottle of wine.

Now the wedding planner says we can get down to the actual ceremony. First we need to figure out the vows and readings.

"Will you be writing your own vows or using the traditional ones?"

Christian quickly says, "Traditional." At the same time I say, "We'll write our own."

Christian looks at me in disbelief. "What's wrong with the traditional vows?"

"I would prefer to have our own that mean something to us." Surely this won't be a big deal.

"But couples have been using the traditional vows for years!"

"Exactly. Not all of the things said in the traditional vows apply today."

"What doesn't apply?" OK, maybe this will be a big deal.

"For starters the word 'obey'." I give him a look to let him know I'm not backing down.

Suddenly, Grace, always the peacekeeper suggests we pick up the rest of the wedding planning on another day. Everyone heads out so it's just Christian and me.

"Ana, why don't you want to say obey?" I can't tell if he's hurt or angry but I do know by the tone of his voice it isn't good.

"Because I don't want to start off our marriage with a lie."

"What do you mean lie? Are you saying you don't want to obey me?"

"Yes. That's exactly what I am saying."

"Why don't you want to obey?"

"Because I believe we are equal partners and therefore one of us shouldn't obey the other. And, like I said, I don't want to lie and I don't plan on obeying."

Christian runs his hand through his hair. He's not used to having someone say no. "But you have to obey me."

"Why, Christian?" I don't have to do anything.

"For one, I'll be your husband and I need to protect you so you have to do what I say."

"So I'm supposed to obey you without question because of a ring on my finger? You want me to submit you? You don't need me to obey to protect me, Christian!" I am getting very, very infuriated.

"Quite frankly, Anastasia, yes you are supposed to obey me and let me do my job as your husband."

"If you wanted that then you should have kept submissives! Now, if it pleases sir, the little lady here is going to take a shower and go to bed!" I storm off to the bedroom and slam the door. I can not believe him. And what really hurts is that he thinks I am so inferior to him that he should just making all the decisions for me.

When I get out of the shower Christian is in his office. I don't say anything to him and just go to sleep. I have no idea what time he came to bed but when I wake in the morning he is already gone.

For the next two days it's the same thing: he works until I'm asleep and is gone before I wake. It's almost like living with a stranger. By the third morning I feel defeated. I miss him so much but I really can't back down on this. If I do it will set a precedent for the rest of our lives.

I go out to the kitchen for my tea. "Ana dear, I know you're upset but I really wish you'd eat something for breakfast. You didn't eat dinner last night." Gail looks at me with maternal concern.

"Thank you for your concern, I truly appreciate it. But I'm not hungry. Can I take a granola bar and a banana with me?"

Gail smiles at me and I know she's worried about me. She's become like a second mother to be in this short amount of time. "OK. But promise me you'll try to eat them."

"I promise." I take the granola bar and banana and put them in my work bag. Then I grab my tea in the travel mug and make my way to the elevator. Sawyer is already waiting for me.

By lunchtime I have a killer headache. I've had some crazy meetings already today. I just need to get out of here for a little bit. I need to get away and just have some alone time. But Sawyer is downstairs in the lobby and I know he won't allow me to go anywhere alone. Then I have a good idea. If I can slip out through the back stairway Sawyer won't even see me. Easy-peasy.

I open door to my office and the floor is basically a ghost town with most everyone at lunch. I grab my purse and make it to the back stairway without anyone seeing me. I come out the side entrance and no one is there. No body guards and no paparazzi. I head over to the cafe on the corner.

I have a great time. I order a tea and a piece of carrot cake. That has to be healthier than chocolate, right? I read one of the new manuscripts and people watch. I'm enjoying listening to the lunchtime chatter of the people around me just going about their day. They don't know who I am nor do they care. I can just blend in with the scenery. I begin to walk back and head for the side door.

Just as I get there a pretty brunette comes up to me. Her hair is long and she's thin and dressed really nice. "What do you have that I don't, Ana."

What the fuck? "Excuse me? Do I know you?" I wonder if this is one of Christian's fans. They have really been catty towards me online.

She gives me this sinister smile where just one corner of her mouth comes up. It's like she knows a joke that I'm not privy to. "You should, Ana. We have so much in common." She then hands me a business card with just a phone number on it. "Call if you want more information or just to talk."

That was just a complete Single White Female moment. I have a feeling I'm Bridget Fonda. I walk back up to my office still creeped out by that encounter. It definitely did not feel right. I better tell Christian.

From: asteele ﾧ

To: cgrey ﾧ

Subject: thought you should know

Christian, I thought you should know that I was approached by a strange woman when I was out at lunch today. She asked me what I have that she doesn't and then said she and I have a lot in common.

Does this have to do with you?

Anastasia Steele

Acting Editor

Published Fiction Division

Seattle Independent Publishing

Almost immediately after I hit send my phone is ringing. Jeez, he's fast.

"Hello?"

"What the fuck, Ana!?" I was going to be nice but now that he yelled at me like that I'm going to have some fun.

"Who is this?"

"Cut it the fuck out, Ana. You know who this is!"

What a jackass. "Kate?" I'm trying to not giggle here. I can tell he's really frustrated.

"Knock off the bullshit! Why did you leave at lunch when I told you not to?"

"Because I've been stressed out and overwhelmed and I wanted to get out and have some alone time."

"Jesus Christ, Anastasia. Are you always that selfish?"

"Christian, do you have something you need to ask or did you just call me have a bitch fit. Because if it's the latter I'm hanging up."

Christian sighs before he says anything. "I have a question or two. What did this woman look like?"

"Actually she looked like me but she had brown eyes."

"Did she say anything else other than what you wrote in the email?"

"No. Just what I wrote."

"Are you OK?"

"Figuratively, yes."

"OK. I have to go into a meeting. I'll talk to you later." He just hangs up like he does to his staff.

CPOV

Anastasia is going to be the death of me. She is so stubborn.

I buzz for Taylor to come to my office. "Andrea, get Welch on the phone right away." Taylor comes to my office so I signal for him to sit down. I put the phone on speaker.

"Mr. Grey? What can I do for you?"

"Anastasia was accosted outside of SIP today around lunch."

"Is Miss Steele all right?

"She's fine just shaken up a little."

"That's good to hear. Does she know who it is?"

"No. But she said it was a woman with brown hair who looked like her." With this information Taylor sits up in his seat.

"I see."

"I need you get the security footage from outside the side entrance of SIP and send it to me stat."

"I'll get them to you momentarily, Sir." With that I hang up the phone.

Taylor clears his throat. "Sir, may I ask why Miss Steele left the building today?"

"Apparently she needed some alone time."

"Ah, I see."

"I need you to put Sawyer on Anastasia's floor and have another CPO stationed in the lobby. Full coverage all the time so double the staff if need be." Just then my phone rings.

"Grey."

"Sir, I have the footage and am sending it to you now." Taylor comes to stand behind me so we can both see the video. We see Ana leave. Just seeing her makes me miss her. I have been a jerk to her. But I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to her. As she is coming back we see the woman who approaches her.

"God dammit! It's Leila Williams. Welch, find where she is. Give the info to Taylor. Taylor when you find her bring Leila here to see me."