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 39: Father Thou Art In Heaven (4,2K)
Well, at least he did the normal thing this time and announced himself! I don't think my nerves would have taken well being greeted by the Colonel first thing in the morning. I sit up straight in my chair, sending a quick email to Andrea that Olivia needs to brand the VIP list names in her brain instead of telling me that "some man wants to see me", and that if she doesn't do so, she will be relegated into working as a pencil sharpener for the rest of her life.
When the door opens, I feel in power and in my element, unlike the last time. After all, this is my office, and I am on my turf. The Colonel looks at me, his eyes going to the cameras so briefly that I wonder if it isn't a glimpse of my imagination. But then he walks to me and sits on the chair in front of me as if he had done so all his life, a satisfied smirk on his lips as he lets me know,
"I don't have much time, and I assume you don't either, so I'll cut straight to the chase. Annie said that she wanted us to meet … officially."
I nod, my best poker face on as all I can think about is the fact that I would have been perfectly fine to not meet this man ever again. I'm only complying because it's something Ana wants to do.
The Colonel keeps his eyes steady on me, probably trying to dissect my soul with his eyes before he asks, "How about dinner tonight? Is that working well into your schedule?"
Not really, but I'll just reschedule Martha. To be fair, besides his impending doom, I don't have much to tell Martha this week. Just a lot of stress due to work, and the sudden appearance of the Colonel yesterday night.
"Yes. It's perfect," I smoothly lie and he simply nods, his eyes going to my desk before looking back at me. And I can't help but notice that Ana and he look absolutely nothing alike. They have some common mannerisms, but that means nothing. Elliott and I act the same way on certain things.
"Good. I'll let her know about that. Now, I wanted to see you beforehand because I know Annie. She won't let me alone with you for even five seconds."
I do my best to hide my discomfort and swallow thickly. I'm pretty sure I know what he's going to say. After all, he's had this conversation with Elliott. Still, I did not expect him to play dumb with me,
"What is going on between you two?"
What is he playing at? Is he really trying to tell me that Ana never told him anything about me? Not even whilst she spent a whole hour with him yesterday night? Yeah, right! If he's trying to see where my loyalty lies, I'm going to make it very clear to him that it is and always will be with Ana,
"If your daughter hasn't told you about this, I'm not going to put a foot in my mouth and betray her. If you have questions, ask her, she knows I have nothing to hide when it comes to her."
For a brief second, his eyebrow challenges me and I feel like he knows my deepest secrets. But then, he lets a satisfied smirk plaster his face and clears his throat, slightly changing his stance and suddenly making himself more imposing and intimidating,
"I'm only going to tell you this once, Grey. So listen carefully.
I'm not here to tell you not to hurt her. I could, but I know my daughter and Annie can be quite vindictive and dangerous when she wants. It's your business if you decide to hurt her because it's your life she'll turn into a living hell. And I don't even need to remind you how easily I can get to you unseen. You're a smart man, I won't insult your intelligence.
I'm not even going to go down that cliché of telling you that whatever you do to her, I'll do to you. Especially since this goes deeper than I'd like to think about.
I will just tell you this one simple thing. Annie is the most important thing in my life. No matter what happened, she is the apple of my eyes and always will be. Her wellbeing and happiness have always been and always will be paramount to me. So I'm not even telling you, I'm asking you …
Don't disappoint her."
Okay, what am I even supposed to say to this? The man just laid out his heart to me, letting me know how much his daughter means to him, and I have nothing to say. Yes, I love Ana. Yes, I see myself greying with her by my side. Yes, I want to marry that girl. But … somehow it feels off to tell her father all of this when I have barely told her. I mean, sure we have had our words of love, but nothing more. I'm not even sure if she's ready yet to move in with me.
But before I can even think of saying something sane and normal, the Colonel gets up, straightening his jacket as he lets me know, "That's all I had to say. I didn't come here to talk. Just to get this off my chest. You don't have to respond anything. Because if you do end up hurting my little girl, I don't think you should add broken promises to your list of grievances."
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I have to say that this surprise visit from the Colonel left me less wary than it found me. Probably because I can relate to the guy, and I know that I would have acted the same if I had a daughter. Carrick probably did the same thing to any of Mia's boyfriends. And Elliott had had a similar visit.
Which makes me curious about the relationship between Kate and Ana's father. Kate did joke yesterday that he was her favourite Dad. And they are having lunch together today. Has the Colonel taken Kate under his wings after all the misdoings that Eamon has done to his own family? And has Kate been in such desperate need of a decent father figure that she accepted the Colonel so quickly?
Because I still can't get over the fact that the Steeles abdicate are so close after just four years. Elliott compared it to Ana's and my relationship, but it's not the same. We have a romantic relationship. I don't know … it just feels odd that they got so attached so quickly. But then again, that's how it happened between Gia and Elliott, and look at them. I wonder how she's doing. It's been a while since I've seen her.
Just before her lunch break is over, I receive a text from Ana, which, of course, makes me smile like an idiot. I wanted to text her ever since her Dad left, but I didn't want to write anything that could let her know that I have received a visit from her father. And given how good Ana is at reading between the lines, even the ones without context in a test message …
So I have let my father know yesterday night that official introductions were long overdue, and he has just gotten back to me today. He told me that he wanted to have dinner tonight, but I told him no. Is tomorrow good for you? ~ Ana
Why would she do that?! I mean, she knows how I feel about her Dad. She should know that whatever he'd say I'd go with it.
Why did you tell him no for tonight? I'm good with it. ~ Christian
Oh? Don't you see your therapist on Monday nights? ~ Ana
Scratch anything I said, this girl is perfect. I mean, I only told her once that I was seeing a therapist on Mondays, and yet she remembered that and tried to not get in the way of my schedule. As I said, this woman is perfect.
Still, I already asked Andrea to reschedule and to make reservations. And I'm pretty sure the Colonel told Ana tonight after having cleared that with me. I don't want him to think I asked Ana to change the date afterwards. Let's stick to what we said.
No, this week I'm going tomorrow night. So tonight is perfect for me. I'll ask Andrea to make reservations at the Mile High. ~ Christian
Oh, okay. I'll let him know. Though can we do this at my place? Or yours if you're more comfortable? ~ Ana
Why? Babe, it better not be about money. Because first, no matter the place, I'll pay. Especially with your father around. Second, I own the Mile High. So I don't think they give us a bill after we've eaten. ~ Christian
Yeah yeah, I know. You're Mr MoneyBag. Don't worry, I know. But, I just know that Dad would rather have the intimacy of a home for this one time at least. Plus, Dad is more impressed by a good home-cooked meal than by a fancy restaurant. Especially if you've caught the fish yourself. ~ Ana
What more does he need to tell me that he hasn't told me already? I'm almost tempted to insist on going to the Mile High. But I do want to know what's up with this family. Was Welsh right after all?
.~°~. .~°~. .~°~.
So we've decided to have dinner at my place. Ana swore that she didn't mind cooking, but I told her I'd rather have a few moments alone with her before her Dad comes in. Plus, I'd rather have him in my home, on my turf. Of course, I didn't tell Ana this. I know she'd have rolled her eyes and talked about this marshmallow nonsense yet again.
So I went to pick her up at her work with Taylor when she finished work. When we get home, I take her to the TV room (that became sort of our room), and I cuddle with her, burying my face in her neck and enjoying this moment since I know I won't be able to do so until the Colonel leaves. At least, she promised to stay with me tonight.
"Just relax, Christian. My Dad is not going to kill you," she gently says, her fingers lost in my hair. I look up, putting on my best poker face and retort,
"I am relaxed."
She raises an eyebrow at me, challenging my lie, but I stay steadfast on that. As if I am going to admit to Ana that her father freaks me out. She smirks, apparently reading right through me and she says,
"My Dad likes to pretend that he's the Terminator when in reality, he's more like Whinny the Pooh. He's sweet, and nice, and … a marshmallow."
I repress an eye roll and keep to myself that of course, she thinks the world of her Dad because he is all those things to her. It's obvious that he loves his daughter and I have no doubts that he's always only shown that 'sweet' side of him to Ana. That doesn't mean that we, the rest of the world, get to see it as well.
She pecks my lips and rests her forehead against mine as she adds, "It will be alright, Christian. Just be yourself. If you got me to fall in love with you, what makes you think that Dad won't like you. Just … maybe try to be a teensy bit less … dominant."
What the fuck?! Why would she say that?! And why did she use that word? She must have read the panic in my eyes because she giggles and ceases the frown between my brows with her thumbs as she explains,
"It's just that … you like being in charge."
"Do you feel like I try to be in charge of you?" Because there is no way I'd want her to feel like I'm trying to control her.
"No! I don't think that at all. I mean, yes, sometimes you're over the top and you try to … push down your point-of-view, but I do tell you when it's not in line with what I want or who I am. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying.
It's just that … I understand that being the VEO of such a huge company has its toll on you. You're so successful because of the control you have on GEH. It became what it is because you were in command and refused to go the way some people would have wanted you to.
And there is also what happened to you as a child when you were little and couldn't control a thing. You ended up hurt in this situation, and it left sequels on you. So I understand that you need, consciously or not, to be in control.
I'm just telling you that … you don't need to lock horns with Dad. He too likes to be in control in his life … Well except in his marriage. He's more of a sub there…"
She suddenly blushes deep red, and immediately adds, "Don't tell him I said that! He's going to be so pissed I ruined this scary image he created."
She laughs and I smile with her, though my mind is miles away. So I play with a lock of her hair, thinking of what she just said. In all honesty, long before Ana, when I would go to the club, I often wondered what I was. Dom or sub?
Ana is right, I like to be in control, I like to be in charge. More than that, I like to have people relying on me. I know this is the part of the job Elliott hates the most. He likes making money, but he doesn't like that the livelihood of so many people depends on his every decision. I do.
But that's one aspect of life. What about in my sex life? I've watched both kinds of scenes and both were arousing. I like watching a man dominate a woman, play with her body and with her mind. But I have also enjoyed the way women dominated men. It was nothing like what Elena did, and much more enjoyable, at least as a viewer. And anyway, it's different with Ana … I trust her. She already knows my limits and why there are here. So maybe I could sub for her …
I shake my head, refocusing on the present moment. I shouldn't think of this now, her Dad is about to any minute. Should I actually tell Ana about the visit he paid me this morning? Is this a test on his part? But what is he testing? How much I tell Ana, or how I can keep a secret between him and me? It really feels like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.
Ana smiles at me and checks her watch s she lets me know, "We should get to the kitchen. Dad is always sharp on the dot. It's probably a military thing."
And just as she said, the elevator doors open at seven sharp, revealing the Colonel in my own home. Ana goes straight to him to hug him, and he kisses her cheek, looking around before his eyes settle on the view I have, the exact same way Ana's eyes did the first time she came over.
"I see that you got bamboozled with a nice view, Annie," he comments making his daughter chuckle, rolling her eyes as she playfully slaps his chest. Then he looks at me, from head to toe before showing me his hand, "Grey."
"Colonel," I politely respond, shaking his hand. This is the first time that he is acknowledging me as a person. I clear my throat and try to make Grace proud as I play the perfect host,
"Do you want to drink something?"
"Annie said that you didn't drink," he remarks and I quickly glance at Ana who encouragingly smiles at me. It hasn't been lost on me that she quickly came back by my side instead of staying next to her father. What can I say? This girl really cares for me.
"I don't. But I have regular guests that do and I was raised to make my guests as comfortable as possible."
"Water will be just fine," he simply says, and so we go to the dining room, Ana slipping her hand into mine and gently squeezing it. I should think of how her father probably takes this as an affront to him, but all I can think about is the fact that she is clearly showing her support to me, and I can only love her even more for that.
Gail had dressed a table for a king! I've already had a couple of business dinners here, with very private clients or investors, and the table has never been that impressive. The Colonel better be impressed! But as we sit and I pull Ana's chair for her, I have a sudden unwelcome flashback of how I had a whole different kind of meal on that very table just last Thursday. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to have the Colonel here. We should have gone to Ana's, where the incriminating flashbacks are secluded in her room.
Her face is beet red, and I'm pretty sure she's thinking of the same thing, but thank God, she quickly regains her composure as the Colonel addresses me,
"Annie told me yesterday night that you took her to Canada whilst I was away."
Well, that's news to me. I had no idea that he had been away, Ana never said anything. But I look at him instead of her. They have the same way to look at people and hold their souls hostage.
"Yes. I had some business to attend there, and since I know that she has never left the country, I thought we could use the opportunity."
"Oh, she has left the country. She just doesn't remember. She was still a babbling and drooling baby," he says, looking at her with so much love that only a fool would question his feelings for his daughter. I wonder if my parents look at me this way?
"Well, that's a sexy picture to put in his head. Me drooling and babbling. But for your information, Dad, Christian is kidnapping me and he's refusing to let me know where he's taking me."
Does she want me to die to tell him like that that I'm kidnapping her?! The Colonel looks back at me, and what starts as a small smirk quickly turns into a genuine laugh as he says,
"It must kill you not to know."
She lets out an infuriated and frustrated sound and both the Colonel and I chuckle at her helplessness. I can see that Ana's deductive skills are also something her father likes to tease her about. She crosses her arms around her chest and mumbles loud enough,
"I see … Go on, make fun. Bond over my misery. Obviously, chivalry is dead."
"It's not every day someone can keep a secret from you. Especially one that concerns you," The Colonel says as Gail comes in with the food, and I definitely feel like I'm marking points in his eyes.
Gail made a beef bourguignon, and even though I know I pay her well, I feel that after what she did tonight, Gail definitely deserves a bonus this month.
We only talk about superfluous things over dinner. Mostly balls and flying. As Ana promised, I marked points in the Colonel's eyes when she boasted that I knew how to fly a helicopter. We spent a good half hour talking about Charlie Tango and Ana even complained that with all my showing off, I never took her flying in her. But that definitely didn't fall on deaf ears. We are definitely flying somewhere this weekend.
It's in the middle of dessert that the Colonel gets his serious back as he mindlessly says, "I have seen your pictures in magazines a couple of times."
I look at him, rather surprised that he actually stumbled on those. He doesn't look like someone who reads tabloids. But then again, he adores his daughter and maybe he has an alert on her like Katie has an alert on me.
He puts his spoon down and locks his fingers beneath his chin, his brown eyes steady on me, everything in his attitude letting me know that he is deadly serious,
"Given your position in the public eye, I know that people are going to look into Annie's life. And all they are going to find is what your team found on me. Nothing more. I've made sure of that…
Now … I know you haven't made Annie sign any NDA or anything of the sort, and I will repay this trust you have in her by telling you that very few people know about me."
I wait, feeling that finally I will hear the truth about this man.
"What did you find about me when you had your team make a search on me?"
I could try to deny it, but that would be pointless. He's not asking, he's telling me that he knows. And he's just been talking about trust after a rather enjoyable evening, so it's not the moment to blow it.
"Not much really. But … my guy had some interesting theories."
"Oh?"
"He mentioned the possibility that maybe …" I clear my throat and Ana subtly squeezes my hand beneath the table to tell me to go on. "Maybe you were involved with the Black Ops … or something like that."
The Colonel smirks and takes back his fork as he nonchalantly says, "That guy is not that useless after all. And I'm not going to confirm or deny this 'theory', but I will let you know that my retirement is only official.
I asked to be stationed when Carla got pregnant and I stayed with my family as long as they needed me, as any husband and father worthy of those titles would have done. And ever since Ana finished high school … we have had this ritual.
She is the last person I see before leaving and the first person I see when I come back. And this is not something that I intend to change, even if you are in her life."
I glance at Ana who is looking at her dessert, avoiding my eyes. I understand that she didn't tell me about her father. She probably couldn't. And I understand now why she is always so excited to see him. If it means it might be the last time she sees him, or he just came back from near-death experiences, she's just happy to see him alive.
But I don't understand why she's avoiding my eye. It's not like I would stop her from seeing her father. Or that I could if I wanted to. I know the Colonel would care very little if ii tried to intervene in the relationship between him and his precious daughter. So I squeeze back her hand until she finally looks in my direction, and when she does, I smile at her.
Without saying a word or commenting on it, the Colonel watches our brief and silent exchange and when I look back at him, there is a small satisfactory smirk on his lips that is quickly replaced by his poker face.
"What about Ana's mother?" I ask, echoing what he just said. If he loves Ana that much and takes so seriously his role as a father and husband, surely he must see her as well, even though she's all the way to Georgia. I mean, Ana never even gave me her mother's name. So maybe the Colonel will tell me a bit more.
He quickly glances at Ana, a silent question in his eyes, and whatever he saw on Ana's face, it was his answer before he lets me know,
"What happens between Carla and I is only for Carla and me to know. You won't hear anything about her from me except that she is an amazing human being in and out."
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💚Your thoughts and opinions are always welcomed💚
💚Okay, what do you think of the Colonel now? Is he still a bad guy?
💚 And we had a glimpse of Carla, but VERY brief. Any thoughts?
💚 And what about Ana? Do you still think she's being awful?
💚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 💚💚💚