My dear little broccolis💚💚💚
💚 So, this story is dedicated to two particular authors with whom I have briefly touched on those issues, and who make amazing stories. paleseptember10 & Krooela. Go check them out, you won't regret it.
💚 Fallen Angel💚
How would have Christian Grey's life turned out if the Greys had intervened when Elena tried to sink her claws into him? Would he still be the same man as we know, or someone completely different ...
‼️Rated M - {Out Of Characters/All Human/Alternate Universe}‼️
‼️Romance/Angst/Drama/Lemons‼️
‼️AS/CG/The Greys/The Steeles/Jack Hyde/Elena Lincoln‼️
💚 READ & REVIEW, DON'T BE A SILENT READER 💚
Chapter 38: Between Brother, Father & Daughter (3,0K)
The rest of the week passes in a blur, mostly because I have spent every single evening with Ana. Whether it was at her place, or mine, lit was just a bliss and I loved every single minute of it. I just love that I'm so comfortable with Ana being around me, and I love that it goes the same with Ana. It's just … wonderful.
Kate has been trying to bring my attention to the fact that tabloids once again stole pictures of Ana and me whilst we were abroad, and she seems to think that it's not normal. She claims that the US is known for going crazy over celebrities, and that other countries don't care about them so much. So there shouldn't be so many pictures of us in that article that came out.
She says that maybe someone tipped them off, the same source that it quoted in the article to say that "my family doesn't approve of Ana and only sees her as a gold digger." But I think that she has spent too much time with Ana and her trying to find conspiracies everywhere. Everyone who knows about Ana is everyone who is close to me and has been for years.
Still, Kate said that she would keep an eye on it, and I feel that even if I told her it wasn't necessary, she would still do it for Ana's sake. To be fair, in regards to this side of her work, I dint know if she's so involved because she's professional through and through, or because her best friend is also a protagonist in this relationship and she just wants to protect her as much as she can.
But anyway, today is Friday, and I left work early so I can finally settle this whole business of Ana's pictures. Andrea did a wonderful job of finding where would the idiot's venue would be, who would be producing it and if the art was just there to be exposed, or if it would be sold.
So here I am, going to the guy's venue because I know he's here for the weekend (though Ana told me that he was there with his father, staying at a hotel with him).
I get I to the galerie, and he looks up, looking surprised to see me. At least, the idiot is aware enough to know that I don't like him. And yet, as soon as the surprise is gone, it is replaced by a smirk as he tells me,
"I didn't think I'd see you anytime soon."
I don't say anything, mostly because I don't want to get in an argument with him. I know he'll go whine to Ana and I'll end up being the one in trouble afterwards. He scratches the back of his head and adds,
"I do want to say, I'm sorry about last week. I was out of line."
"Did she ask you to say that?" I ask, not convinced at all by his apology.
"Did she ask you?" He challenges right back, quirking an eyebrow up and two things happen all at once. First, it's obvious that he knows that the answer is no. Second, for a brief second, I saw Ana in his demeanour.
It doesn't last long and it's very subtle, but it impacts me enough for me to understand that he knows her well enough to know that she wouldn't do that and to unconsciously copy her mannerisms. Martha can say all she wants, I may be jealous of their relationship, but I have grounds to think that he wants in her pants.
"How is your exhibit planning going along?" I ask, not answering his question and everything in my voice and stance is rather hostile to him. He eyes me from head to toe before shrugging, apparently not very impressed or caring about my rudeness.
"It's looking good. It's all planes out and we have opening night the Monday after Ana's birthday. I'm sure she'll take you with her."
Okay, she didn't say anything about that. But then again she hasn't spoken about her friend since that disastrous night. Maybe she's realised he's into her and she doesn't know how to admit that she was wrong. But even I know that it's a bit far fetched.
"What about her pictures? Will they be in the exhibit?"
He longly looks at me, his face suddenly becoming wary, and though I haven't said anything yet about it, he knows that I want them.
"They're the centrepiece. I've been working a long time to get that perfect mix of lights and colours naturally without any photoshop."
Okay, I'm slightly taken Ana k because I thought that he retouched the pictures to make some colours pop a bit more. And even though I don't like it, I have to give credits where credit is due, that's the proof that he's a hell of a photographer. But that doesn't deter me from my mission.
"How much for the lot?"
"I'm not selling you Ana's pictures."
I knew it! He wants them for himself! He'll do his best to not sell them to anyone! It's his cycling love letter to her! How can she not see it? She's in six of his perfect pictures!
"Why not?" I insist before trying to play with the precariousness any struggling artist is in. "I'm willing to put the price and beyond. And I'll even make it public. Don't tell me it wouldn't help."
"Of course it would help. More than you'd know. But I'd never do that to Ana. I mean, read the fucking room. Couldn't you tell that she didn't like seeing her face in those pictures? Didn't you wonder why?
And now, you want to take the pictures that will be human-sized and you want to plaster them somewhere where she's going to see them regularly? Aren't you supposed to be her boyfriend and have her back?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" I growl, not liking the insinuation he's making of me not being a good boyfriend. I don't want him to start filling Ana's head with that kind of idea. It's ludicrous and I don't want Ana to see me in any other light than the one she's seeing me with right now.
"Read the fucking room, Grey. I'm not selling those pictures to you," he calmly says, crossing his arms. How much I wish I could just punch his perfect little face and break his perfect little teeth. He wouldn't even be able to fix that, broke as he is.
"But you would let some random creep buy them! How is that logic?" I argue and disgust crosses his face before he nonchalantly says,
"First of all, don't turn my art into something gross like that. I'm not making pornos, I'm making art. Second, no matter how passionate I am about what I do, Ana will always come first. No matter what. Third … don't you know your girlfriend? How can you be so oblivious? Or are you so self entered that you never took the time to compliment her obvious beauty?"
I swear, he's begging for a good bear down. No one would know. But then, he'll probably go to Ana and cry like a baby. So I just leave before I do something that could endanger my relationship with Ana. It's okay, I'll just have to wait for the exhibit and I'll buy the pictures anonymously. He won't be able to stop me then. I'm getting those pictures no matter what.
.~°~. .~°~. .~°~.
Ana spent the whole weekend with me. Or I with her, it's all the same. It's true that I have been trying to get her to spend more time at my place than at hers, so I can start subtly implementing in her this idea of moving in with me. I mean what reason, other than it's too early, can she give me? It would mean she wouldn't have to pay rent, we would be together more often, and Kate can come to visit anytime, I have more than enough room for it.
Right now, we are watching some random movie at her place, with Kate and Elliott, but I'm not paying much attention to it. First of all, it stars one of those British actors but she loves gushing about. I think I should really get into working on my best British accent. But most importantly, how can I give any attention to anything but Ana when she is locked in my arms?
And I know she doesn't mind that I'm more focused on her than on the movie, because every time I kiss her or caress her, she represses giggles and leans against me. And no matter how very well aware I am of Elliot rolling his eyes at me for our shenanigans, I don't care the least in the world.
"Maybe tonight we can go to my place after the movie," I whisper in her ear before biting the lobe. She takes a deep breath through her nose before turning her head to me, her eyes filled with lust as she retorts just as low,
"Since you've obviously missed so much of the movie already, why don't we go to your place now?"
I grin and clear my throat, thinking of a decent excuse for us to leave that Elliott wouldn't question and wiggle his eyebrows at us. But just as my brain is working a hundred miles an hour, someone knocks on the door. I frown, wondering who could that be on a Sunday evening. And when Ana gets up, I immediately follow her just in case it is some nut job.
But as soon as she opens the door I see the Colonel smiling at his daughter and Ana jumping in his arms, squealing. He chuckles, whispering something in her ear that makes her squeeze him even more, and I look away, feeling slightly embarrassed to witness such a private moment between them.
Ana turns to look at me, all smiles and she takes her keys as she lets me know, "Don't wait for me for the end of the movie. But don't leave without me."
And just like that, she's gone with her father. I go back to the living room and transmit what she told me before sitting back on the sofa, brooding over the fact that this damn military man never warns us before coming. I mean it's obvious Ana was surprised by his presence. And she wouldn't have proposed to go to my place if she knew her father was coming.
Kate doesn't seem bothered by it, but neither does Elliot. Which in itself is weird. He should question this kind of abnormal behaviour just as much as I. Especially when Ana stays a whole hour out with her dad. She only comes back when the movie is five minutes from being over. But when she finally does, she has an ecstatic smile on her face, and she slumps between Kate and me as Kate asks,
"How's my favourite Dad?"
"He's good. All able and healthy as per usual. He said he'll text you about lunch tomorrow, but he's too knackered to socialise tonight. I have to say, I'm a bit jealous. He's talking about seafood here."
Kate grins, sticking her tongue out to Ana, "That's what you get for being the favourite child. You're more than welcome to try with Eamon."
Ana grimaces, flipping the bird to Kate before she turns to me, her smile still on her lips, "Does your offer still stands? The air has suddenly become toxic around here."
"Toxic from your jealousy. Face it, Steele, I'm an amazing daughter," Kate quips, and I smile at their banter. It's obvious none of them is taking this seriously, but I think it's cute that Ana is lending her Dad like that other best friend. And at least, if I have to give one thing to the Colonel, it's that he's apparently close to Kate as well.
After joking a bit more with Kate, Ana gets up and goes to her bedroom where I follow her, though all my bravado from earlier is gone. I mean, I know her Dad is in the vicinity, and as I keep saying, I like living. And now, doing anything but a simple and chaste kiss to Ana just seems … life-threatening.
So as she closes the door to her room, I stay far from her, my hands in my pockets as I try to think of a way to say that maybe we should stay in our own different homes tonight. She turns her head to me, and sits on her bed, her face showing resolve and determination,
"This is going to be a turning point for you and for us Christian. Are you staying the night?"
I open my mouth, not sure of what to say, and not liking feeling that this is an ultimatum.
"My Dad is not a monster, Christian. He's just my Dad. But if you're going to … freeze every time he shows up, which is going to be a lot. Then … it's not going to work."
"You bolted when my Mom came to my place!" I accuse her and she shrugs, not fazed,
"No, I used to opportunity to go see my own parents. And yes, I shouldn't have left as I did, and I'm sorry for that. But since then, I've seen your folks. We just had lunch with them today."
"My parents didn't show up at your place of work out of nowhere, Ana. Don't turn this against me."
"I know. And I've already apologised for that. And I've already told my Dad that he shouldn't have done so. But that's not the problem at hand. I'm not telling you that you need to have the best relationship in the world with him. I'm telling you that our relationship and intimacy aren't going to be dictated by him. If every time I see my father you decide that we should act like freaking pilgrims, then it's not going to work."
I swallow with difficulty, feeling my head spin as I rephrase correctly what she just said, "Are you … breaking up with me?"
She rolls her eyes before tapping the bed next to her, "You're not listening to what I'm saying. The choice is yours, Christian. Now, the question is, what are you going to do?"
.~°~. .~°~. .~°~.
Obviously, I stayed with Ana for the night. I mean, yes the Colonel still makes me watch over my shoulder, but I'm much more afraid of the possibility that Ana can end things between us. And though nothing intimate actually happened, we spent a nice evening. We talked all night about her birthday plans.
Ana tried to get out of me where we were going, but I didn't even give her a single clue. Knowing her, she'd solve the mystery in the blink of an eye if I did. So I just said no to everything she said, which earned me a lot of pouting because I wasn't "playing fair".
Right now, Andrea is giving me a rundown of my day and the week to come, and when she's done, she sheepishly asks me,
"I was wondering, Mr Grey … about Olivia?"
"She's gone the minute you're back. Just hand in there two more weeks. Well, one for you."
She sighs with relief. I think Andrea despises Olivia even more than I do. After all, Olivia is supposed to help her out and Andrea ends up cleaning up her messes all the time.
"Mr Hyde said —"
"I know. He can endure her in HR. We won't need her when you come back."
She smiles and leaves, only to buzz me a minute later. Well, it's not her, it's Olivia's annoying voice, "Mr Grey, reception is informing me that there is a man insisting on seeing you."
"You know the procedure," I dismiss her, not really caring who wants to see me right now. If they didn't have an appointment and weren't vetted by my security and agenda, I'm not wasting time on them.
Andrea seems to have taken back the control of the intercom, because she lets me know, "It's a Colonel Steele, sir. Shall I add him to the list?"
Shit!
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💚Your thoughts and opinions are always welcomed💚
💚Okay, the Colonel is back! Happy? I am, haha
💚 Now, how do you feel about Jose refusing to sell the pictures to Christian?
💚 And what about Ana? Do you agree with the way she handled things?
💚Well, let me know what you thought of this chapter. What was your favourite part? What do you think will happen next?
💚 E L James owns the names of the characters from the Fifty Shades franchise, Everything else is mine (including the mistakes and grammar errors).
Love, Mina 💚💚💚