Chapter 12:
Kate and Elliot were all smiles when they were invited into Escala and Ana greeted them in the foyer. The beauty was wearing a simple pair of blue jeans and Christian's old Harvard sweatshirt. Her lovely hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with no makeup. She led them into the living room.
"So, where is ole moneybags?" Kate asked after she gave Ana a kiss. "I haven't seen you for a couple days, so I am assuming all things are good between you two."
"We are working on issues." Ana replied showing them to the sofa. Gail had arranged an array of snacks on the coffee table along with a chilled bottle of white wine. "Christian went into the office and will be back soon."
Elliot looked down at his wristwatch. "It's nearly eight o'clock. Is there a problem?"
"I only know that Roz called and said that Christian was needed back at the GEH offices."
"It's good that you are here and working things out." Elliot stated.
"We are trying." Ana smiled as she thought of the last couple of days. She and Christian talked about the issues that concerned them both. They both showed their hand, so to speak. Ana was afraid of Christian's dark secrets, and he was afraid that she would run once again. They both wanted each other. They had to learn to trust each other.
Christian sat back at his desk. This was a shit-show! Elena had been admitted into a psychiatric hospital for observation. He worried that she was revealing his dark secrets. Had she told her doctors about their relationship? The last thing he needed was for that story to be fodder for the press to sensationalize. He knew it would be a hot story! Who wouldn't run with a story of his sex life? He knew he had to get a handle on this. Ana was still at his apartment, and he wanted to get back to her. They had lost so much time, and he wasn't prepared to let anything, or anyone impede their progression.
"According to my sources, Mrs. Lincoln isn't speaking. She sits in her chair staring ahead." Roz informed him. "She can be a liability, Christian."
"You think I don't know this?" He threw his pen onto his desk and sat back. This was a fucking nightmare. "Maybe I should go to the authorities and tell them the ugly truth of our relationship."
"I think that would set us up for a shit ton of trouble. Business would suffer."
"If she starts talking…"
"We have an ace in the hole … doctor/patient confidentiality." She offered some measure of hope.
"Alright, so we just wait and see what happens." Christian came to his feet. "Ana is waiting for me. I must go."
"Tell the little hottie hello from me." Roz winked at him and laughed at his scowl.
Christian returned home to find Ana, Elliot, and Kate enjoying his wine collection. Ana met him at the elevator with a kiss and hug. A man could get used to this! He held her close, getting lost in her scent and the warmth of her body pressed against his.
"Miss me."
"Always." She whispered. She looked up at him. "Everything alright?"
"It will be." His arm went around her waist and they walked together into the apartment. Elliot welcomed him home with a handshake and a wink. Kate gave him a kiss on the cheek, being careful not to touch him. "I could use a glass of wine." He declared as they sat on the sofa.
Ana poured him a glass and handed it to him. She snuggled up next to him, enjoying being close to him. Elliot and Kate were elated to see these two back together.
"I do apologize for not being here to greet you." He offered.
"No problem, bro, your lady is a fabulous hostess." Elliot returned giving Ana a salute with his wine glass.
"There has been a development." Christian argued with himself to inform Ana about the Elena situation, but he knew that she had the right to know. If they were going to be together, he couldn't keep information from her. "Elena has been admitted into a psych ward."
Silence.
"Poor psych ward." Kate declared breaking the silence.
The room erupted in laughter.
Christian couldn't remember laughing so hard. It felt good. In days gone by, learning such information would have sent him into an abyss of fear mixed with rage. Now, it didn't seem to matter. "She had a melt down in the dayroom then demolished her cell in a fit of madness."
Kate looked at Ana with a delicate eyebrow raised in mirth. "Well, this is a good night to have a 'burn the bitch' party!' She finished off her wine with one gulp and revisited the wine bottle. "Here's to getting rid of the trash."
Ana rose her glass to the toast. "I feel sorry for anyone who must deal with her. They will need therapy after that." Christian went into another round of laughter that made Elliot smile. It was good to see Christian relaxed. Ana seemed to be a tension relief for his little brother. She then jumped up from Christian's side. "We need music, more wine, and some more food. Let's burn this bitch down!"
"Here, here." Kate agreed joining arms with Ana as they went to the kitchen to find more snacks.
Elliot took Ana's place on the sofa. He looked over his shoulder to make sure the ladies were in the kitchen and out of earshot. "Okay, what else? You had to be worried if you were required to return to the office."
"I was making sure to protect my ass and assets." Christian lowly replied. "Roz is worried that if this gets out that it could affect business. I had to make sure the paperwork was up to snuff incase the authorities come sniffing around once again."
"You were a minor, and what Dad told me; the court will protect your identity."
"Elliot, that bitch knows and supported my lifestyle. She provided the subs. If she starts talking, she can bury me."
"Christian, bdsm, is a lifestyle choice. It may not be mainstream, but it's not illegal. I don't know anyone who doesn't like a little kink! And, if she didn't talk before, what makes you think she will start now? Remember, you were underage when this situation started. She outs you; she outs herself, and she doesn't need any more evidence brought forward." Elliot whispered. "Anyway, from what you told me, all your women were of age and willing. They signed the contracts and participated of their own free will. You didn't force them."
"I'm worried about Ana. I don't want anyone thinking that she is one of them."
"Then put a ring on it and put all this to rest." Elliot recommended lowly. "As your wife, no one would dare to say a thing about her."
Wife!
The word was more than pleasant to Christian. He wanted her as his wife, but was it to soon to ask? They just reconnected. They spent the last 48 hours together, but there had been no sexual activity. They spent the weekend talking about their past, the issues that separated them in the first place, and their hopes for the future. They did sleep together which gave Christian a very restful and peaceful sleep for the first time in ages. Christian still had the ring he had made, but it was safely ensconced in his safe. After weeks of carrying it around, he decided he was pushing too hard. He didn't want to frighten Ana away. He had one chance to make things right and he didn't want to push, dominate, or force Ana into something she may not be ready for. Their conversations in the last 48 hours showed Christian that Ana was much stronger than he ever realized, and he would not be allowed to intimidate her. What he had seen as submissiveness had been her shyness within certain situations. She was like no other women he had ever met, and he liked that! She was refreshing! She made life worth living. With her, he wanted to be a better man. Ana deserved that! She deserved only the best, and he would deliver!
Kate was helping Ana search through Gail's kitchen to find more food that would be easy to prepare for the four of them. She playfully hip-checked her friend. "So, tell me, how's it really going with the golden boy?"
"It's been nice." Ana replied with a small smile. For the first time ever, she felt comfortable in Christian's home. She was not intimidated by the high-end furnishings and the million-dollar view.
"You know he had a ring made?" Ana gasped. "Elliot told me. You know that man can't keep a secret especially when under my sexual spell." Kate had to laugh at her own joke. "But, seriously, how do you feel about that? If he pops the big question, will you say yes?"
"It's too soon for that. We are just talking." Ana offered lowly.
Kate scrutinized her friend carefully. Yeah, the girl was more than tempted. "You should say yes." Kate proclaimed as she cut slices of bread to make sandwiches. "You guys are good together."
"Kate, I do have feelings for Christian, but I can't forget what he did to me and how I felt when I left Seattle. I was heartbroken and lost. He pushed me away because he couldn't … wouldn't accept my love." She was rinsing a head of lettuce but stopped as her thoughts clouded her mind with uncertainty. "What if he does it again? I can't invest so much of myself…"
"Ana, you are overthinking again. Christian loves you. It's as simple as that. Don't go looking for problems and playing the what-if game." Kate turned off the water that was still running. "Listen to me, and I am an expert on men. That man is in love with you, and he will walk through hell for you."
"What if he is hell for me? I mean look at him, Kate, he is the epitome of a rich, take-no-prisoners man. I will not be dominated over ever again."
"Then don't let him." Kate shrugged her shoulders. "You are not that young inexperienced virgin when you met. You have grown stronger. Look at you, you are beautiful, talented, and you turned down the sexiest man of earth because you knew in here," She placed her hand over her heart. "that Hank wasn't 'the one'."
Ana considered her friend's words, but she still wasn't totally confident in Christian's intentions. Was this just a play for her heart because she was the one that walked away, and his ego would not have it? Could he really walk away from a lifestyle that he practiced since he was fifteen years old? What if in a few years he decided to return to the whips and floggers?
"Let's just drop this subject. We have a burn a bitch celebration to prepare for." She went into her cooking mode. "We can have submarine sandwiches, and I found some French-onion dip and chips. Look and see if there is some fruit we can cut up for a fruit salad." Kate knew what Ana was doing. She was trying to avoid those deep bedded worries that plagued her. Kate nodded and went to the refrigerator.
