Chapter 23:
Ana woke up alone in the massive bed in their honeymoon suite. She stretched out her legs and arms to limber up the muscles. They had another marathon love making session the night before and she was delightfully sore. She snuggled back into the bed bringing the soft blankets up to her neck and giggled. She had a sexual hangover. Snippets of Christian moving over her made her blush. He was so attentive to her every need and took her to heights of pleasure that she never knew existed.
"You look like the cat that lapped up on the cream." Christian's voice brought her out of her memories. She sat up in the bed and smiled at him.
"I think it was you lapping up all the cream last night." She replied. She licked her lips when she noticed that he stood next to the bed completely naked and in his full glory. She flipped the blankets back. "Come back to bed, husband. It's my turn to do some lapping." With an ornery grin, Christian slid in next to her and pulled her on top of himself. She could feel his cock throbbing. Her long hair spilled over her shoulders and tickled his face as she nipped at his lips. "I think we should stay in bed all day." She reached down and placed his large cock at her entrance and slowly slid down the shaft until she enveloped him. "Welcome home, sweetheart. Welcome home."
They toured through England visiting every author's home that Ana admired. The next week they were in France, then traveled into Italy. The last leg of their honeymoon was Spain. They ate exotic foods, walked along beaches, and made love whenever they felt like it. A small part of Ana never wanted to return home. She was enjoying their little romantic bubble and didn't want it to burst!
The honeymoon had to end, and they flew back to London. Christian had one business meeting that he couldn't ignore which left Ana on her own for the first time since they became husband and wife. She decided to visit her friends at Bloomfield Publishing. She was met with hugs and a few gifts. She was walking out when she saw her ex-fiancé. Hank stood just outside the door as if he was waiting for her. She hesitated at first to approach him, but she had no choice since her car was waiting for her at the curb.
"I hear congratulations are in order." Hank said lowly.
"Yes, Christian and I married a few weeks ago." Saying those words made her glow with pride and her unending love for her man.
"Well, I wish you all the happiness in the world, Ana. You deserve to be happy."
"Thank you, Hank. It's been nice to see you, but my car is waiting for me." She nodded toward the dark colored car and Taylor who stood beside it.
"Ana." He took her hand and held it. "If you ever need…"
"Goodbye, Hank." She pulled her hand away and then was swept away into the awaiting vehicle. Taylor took his place behind the wheel, and they pulled into London traffic. "I suppose you will have to tell Christian about that."
"I should, but I won't. I believe it is your place to tell him." He looked at her through the rear-view mirror.
"How did Hank know I was at Bloomfield?" Ana asked more to herself than Taylor. She took out her phone and called her husband. He took the news well, she was shocked. A year ago, Christian Grey would have gone nuclear, but today, he only laughed it off. He was secure in Ana's love and devotion and believed that Taylor would never let her be in any danger. Hank Castel was no longer considered a threat or a problem. Like the other problems they had encountered, he was in the past. Their happiness was their future.
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Kate admired her engagement ring as she sat at her desk ignoring her workload. It had been a beautiful and meaningful proposal. Elliot called her his one true love, and he couldn't live without her. When she finally said yes with happy tears running down her cheeks, a loud cheer filled the foyer. She never noticed that the Grey family and her parents were watching, listening, and waiting for her answer. She laughed when Mia danced over to her with a tablet that showed that Ana and Christian had been watching as they drove away and was celebrating with them as they traveled to the airport. Elliot high-fived his sister and went back to kissing his fiancée.
Agnes sat on the desk edge and smiled at her daughter. "Have you and Elliot decided on a date?"
"Not yet. I'm still getting used to the idea that we are really engaged." She sighed deeply. Endlessly in love was the phase to describe what she was feeling at that moment. "I always thought I would want a long engagement … but now, I don't know."
"You have time, babe. Enjoy this time together."
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This was one of the few good days that Elena Lincoln had experienced since she was declared insane. She was observant. She interacted with the guards who escorted her to the outdoor exercise area. She was not allowed contact with the other patients since she was considered dangerous, and her own safety was endangered. She sat alone feeling the sunshine upon her face. Her thoughts, for once didn't go to a certain grey eyed, ginger-haired god. She barely spoke about him in her therapy. The few times she did, her anger got the best of her, and she had to be restrained. It was best to forget! It was best to think of anything else except him!
When her time was up, she was escorted to her cell and locked in. She sat on her twin bed and stared at the wall. Her eyes followed a thin crack in the plaster. She contemplated what may have caused it. Did the former occupant of this cell ram their head into the wall?
"Mail call." A voice echoed through the hall. There was no reaction from Elena. She didn't care. She never got mail. She had no one. Every person she knew turned their back on her. Her eyes went back to that crack, mesmerized by it still. She never heard the trapdoor in her room's door open and an opened packet fell to the floor. Everything that came into this room was searched and documented. She ignored the thud it made. That crack seemed longer. She stood up to look at it closer and trace it with her long bony finger. She placed her cheek against the cool wall. The crack would be her friend. She would finally have a new friend. The packet on the floor was ignored. She had a friend.
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Xena. Her name would be Xena. A Great Dane puppy licked the face of the woman who declared she couldn't live without the sweet pup. Christian watched with glee as the woman he adored, played with newest member of their family. He hoped that this would be the first of new members. Christian was on a mission to make a baby with this woman. He was more than happy to practice as much as was needed until the deed was done. The pup was yipping about, wanting to play more with the beautiful brunette. Xena was black with one white spot in the middle of her chest. The spot resembled a ghost floating through the air with two small black spots as eyes. Ana rose to her full length and walked about with Xena following happily.
"She is a little beauty." Christian said happily. "Is she the one?"
"She is. Can we take her home today?"
"Yes, she is twelve weeks old. She is weaned." A tiny woman with blonde hair watched with glee as one of her pups won the heart of the brunette. "I will get all her papers together. As I said earlier, she is already chipped, and you and your Mrs. will have to fill out her registration papers." The woman said to Christian. "I will also include all her veterinary records. She is good with her shots for her age."
"Thank you, Mrs. Weavers. We do appreciate you letting us come so early in the morning."
The woman knew who she was dealing with and the need of an NDA before the couple would meet with her.
Ana bent down and picked up the pup who was still trying to kiss her. Xena was going to be a love hound, wanting and demanding attention. Christian was amazed how fast the two were bonding. "We will have to go to a pet store and get all the things this little lady will need such as a bed, a kennel, toys, and of course, food."
"Can she stay in our room at night? I don't want her all alone in the dark."
"The kennel can stay in our room." Christian replied. He gave the pup a pet on the head.
"We will also have to find a good trainer." Ana added.
After all the papers were signed, Christian took his two girls to a pet shop then home to their house on The Sound. Xena had a huge yard to explore and play in as well as the run of the house. Gail watched fascinated that Christian was so gentle and playful with the pup. She shook her head and looked up at Jason Taylor who stood beside her.
"What?" Taylor asked also amused at his boss.
"Ana better be careful, or Christian is going to steal her dog." Gail laughed.
"Maybe I should have gotten her sister also." Ana said from behind them. Her eyes were glued to Christian who was now on all fours playing tug with the pup. "She is a pretty little thing, with almost gold eyes. I almost chose her, but there was something about Xena that called out to me."
"She is very playful." Gail mused.
Christian was now sitting on his haunches with Xena jumping all over him trying to get some puppy kisses. Ana started to laugh. "Ummm, Taylor, will you do me a favor and go get the other black pup with the gold eyes. Mrs. Weavers will know which one."
Taylor only nodded and left to do what Mrs. Grey wanted. He would also take a trip to the pet store.
The second pup was named Zara. She, too, was black but with one white spot on her front right paw. She is a little shyer than her sister, but just as sweet. Within a few weeks, one could tell that both dogs adored Ana, but Xena would prefer Christian. She became his baby and Zara had only eyes for Ana.
Zara would sit in the library which became Ana's office at the lady's feet. As Agnes Kavanaugh had predicted, Ana's employment at Kavanaugh Media had come to an end. Christian suggested that Ana fill the top position at Grey Publishing, which was SIP. Ana was still deciding. She was hesitant to be CEO when she wanted to edit. Christian reminded her that she was the owner, and she could do want she wanted. Before making any decision, Ana wanted to read through the department reports for the last year.
Christian had transferred sole ownership of what used to be SIP to his wife as a wedding gift. Whatever she decided to do, he would support her. She took over a week to read and study the department reports and made a few inquiries of her own. She had made her decision. She would become CEO but would also edit, which was her first love. The next decision made was finding her assistant, which was easy since Ana already had one in mind, Hannah Elspeth. The woman had a five-year history with SIP/GP as an editor's assistant. She would now become an administrative assistant to the CEO, if she accepted the offer.
Christian looked at his schedule and saw that his wife had asked for an appointment. He had to smile. She was probably outside his office waiting for him, instead of walking into his office. He hit the intercom button. "Andrea, is my next appointment here?"
"Yes, Mr. Grey. Should I send them in?"
"Yes, please. Thank you, Andrea."
Within a few seconds the door opened to his grand office and his wife stepped across the threshold. Christian stood to greet her. His eyes danced in joy to see her. With a kiss, he led her to a chair in front of his desk. He knew that this was a business meeting, and she would want him to treat her as such …. except maybe for the kiss.
"Mrs. Grey, it is always a pleasure. How may I help you?" He sat at his desk.
"I have a few questions about Grey Publishing and some of the employees." She fumbled through the papers in her lap. With a quick motion, she presented an employee file for one, Elizabeth Morgan. "I was wondering why this person is still employed with GP when it is evident that she does not perform her job duties well."
"Explain." Christian picked up the file and flipped through it.
"Elizabeth Morgan, to my thinking, has destroyed and hidden personnel files pertaining to Jack Hyde." Ana presented a few more documents that supported her claim. "I found these on the server. She must not have known that the written complaints against Jack Hyde had been scanned into his personnel file. She knew that he had sexually harassed and assaulted his assistants." She presented another report. "According to employment files, Hyde had eight assistants in less than three years."
Christian read through the documents. This was the first time that he had heard of this. When he bailed SIP out of near bankruptcy, he had left Jerry Roach as CEO as well as the rest of the upper administration. When Jack Hyde was arrested for attempted sexual assault against the woman who replaced Ana, he was terminated. Christian believed that Roach was on top of the matter, and all was settled.
"You think Morgan was protecting Hyde?"
"What else could I conclude? I do not want a anyone who condones sexual assault working for me. She must go, immediately." Ana took a deep breath. "I had Barney Sullivan do a deep search into GP's servers and he found a very disturbing file hidden in the millions of files." She slid a jump drive to him. "It's not good, Christian."
"What is it?"
"Videos of Hyde raping his assistants and a few videos of him having sex with Elizabeth Morgan." She frowned. "Hyde must have hidden them among the files as well as on his laptop."
"Oh, shit." Christian's hand went through his ginger waves. "That bitch knew."
"Yeah, and it explains why she was so cold and distant with me during my interview for SIP. She was there, but Hyde did the interview."
"So, you think she knew about … "
"Yes, I do. She covered for him. Why? I can only assume that Hyde was blackmailing her to keep quiet." Ana shivered remembering how uncomfortable she had been in that interview. She almost didn't accept the job because of the man's creepy attitude, but she needed a job. She could only thank providence that her employment had been too short for Hyde to try anything with her. "So, I will be cleaning house at GP. I just wanted you to know."
"As I told you before, I will support your decisions." Christian was still bothered that this was just now coming to their attentions. Barney had some explaining to do. How did his team miss this?
"The files were buried deep, Christian. Barney said he almost missed it." She knew what he had been thinking. "There is another idea that I want to run by you."
"Go on."
"I would like to move GP into Grey House. You have room for GP on the 18th floor. It will be more secure and …" She gave him a wink and a sly smile, "we can ride to work together."
"Hmmm…. Easy access to my sexy wife, yes, I can see the benefits."
"I recommend we sell the building. It's not needed." She handed him another piece of paper. "This is the moving schedule that I developed. I'd like to do this as soon as possible."
She wanted to move in two weeks. He was impressed. She had each department's move charted. How efficient his little wife was! "You are not messing around."
"I don't let grass grow under my feet, Mr. Grey." She snickered.
"If I remember correctly, you kept me waiting."
"That was for your own good. It built character." She laughed lightly, then she got serious. "I will be visiting GP this afternoon. I'm taking over today. I've already spoken to Jerry Roach and he's all for it. He is wanting to retire and take his wife on vacations."
"Do you want me to join you?"
"Don't take this wrong, darling, but no. I want to do this on my own." Her eyes were determined. "I have to clean house and I need to do it on my way."