Elliot
"You all know that the Coping Together Gala is coming up and Ana and Jose graciously decided to volunteer to work this year. If only my daughter would have done the same." Mom gives Mia a look.
"Mom, you can't seriously be mad about it. I've got Ethan now and I want to go with him. Besides, last year I dropped a dish of shrimp down Ms. Myrna's back and it took me ages to get back in her good graces again. I didn't get homemade cookies for months!" Ms. Myrna is Dad's secretary. She's old, she's mean, but she's tough. And she adores my father. She might be rough around the edges but she's loyal to a fault. And she happens to make the best homemade cookies in town.
"I rather enjoyed stuffing my mouth with them while you watched." I grin at my sister.
"See? No. I'm not doing that again."
"And why isn't Kate volunteering?" I give Kate a grin at the dinner table.
"I am. I'm volunteering my father's money." She laughs. "I've had my dress picked out since last year. I'm not going to waste it. You know you could volunteer, Elliot."
I open my mouth to retort but my mother waves her off. "No, no. My boys are the face of the charity. They have interviews and pictures and hands to shake. Besides, their money will do far more good than their volunteer work. They're far too busy."
Oh, right. I forgot about the interviews, handshakes and pictures.
"Have you chosen a date, yet, boys?"
I give my mother a confused look. Why would I take a date when I've been bound?
"I know you're concentrating on your business right now and aren't interested in a relationship, Elliot, but you know how the media is. There will be more questions and gossip if both of you show up without a date."
Christian snorts. "Like we care."
I nod. "They think Christian is gay already and I'm a playboy. They're just going to say Christian is masking his sexuality and that mine is just one of the many."
"You two have always had dates. Just do it. For me. I don't want to have to answer to gossip in our friend circle."
"You love having a date, El. You have a blast at these things. What's gotten into you?" Mia is confused. I guess she's right. I always loved having a sexy beautiful woman on my arm for photos and interviews, then enjoying drunk dancing before taking the girl home to peel her out of her skin tight dress. But, things have changed.
"You know, Mia, you're right. I've been so wrapped up in expanding my company I've put women and fun on the backburner. I'll find a spicy senorita to ask to the gala." I fake my way through it, giving Mia a wink.
"There we go! That's the Elliot I know!" Mia raises her glass, making me laugh, until I see Ana's face beside her.
She's watching me, but her eyes are devastating. She looks broken all of a sudden. I did that. I hurt her. I didn't know if she had a soft spot for me, but her reaction tells me she does. I hate that I have to hurt her.
"Too bad Ana already signed up for server duty. I would have taken her." I give her a wink, making her cheeks tinge pink.
She rolls her eyes. "If you're worried about the whole gossip thing, I'm sure you taking a 19 year old wouldn't be the smartest thing. Besides, you'd be wasting hours of flirting, because the only bed I'll be falling into after is my own, alone."
I bark out a laugh. "That's too bad. You seem like a feisty little thing."
"Gross, Elliot. Stop hitting on my friends." Mia scrunches her nose.
"Yes, Elliot. That's enough." My father gives me warning look. I know I have to cool my flirting before she wants to take things faster than I'm allowed. I just wanted to make her feel better; feel special. I hope that I succeeded, but her eyes are now glued to the tea she's holding in her hands.
XxXxXx
Ana has been on her feet for hours now and she's done her best to dodge our table, keeping her eyes off of it. Instead, we've had to deal with Bozo, but I can't deny that I'm enjoying his use of 'sir' and 'Mr. Grey'. I can see his jaw flexing and teeth gritting when he has to say it and my smile only gets wider each time.
I find myself scanning the crowd, constantly looking for her though. I've got our friend and contractor, Gia, by my side in a floor length fiery red dress that fits her like a glove and sky high shoes to match, but she still doesn't compare to my mate who is in a pressed white button down with a black tie and black pencil skirt that rests a couple inches above her stocking covered knees. Her hair is up in a bun and a few short pieces have fallen in short curls in the back. She's adorable. Her dimples flash and her eyes light up as she smiles at who she speaks with and it makes me miss her. I want her by my side.
I see Linc, Elena's ex-husband, reach up to place a hand on Ana's back, but it hangs desperately low to a place that isn't his. I sit up from my place where I was relaxing, but Christian's standing before I can even push my chair out.
"I've got it."
I see the look on his face. He already hates Linc as it is and right now, he looks like he could kill him.
I take a sip of my whiskey while I watch him make his way over, a hand gripping Linc's shoulder while his other hand pulls Linc's hand off of her back by the wrist. With a nod, Christian dismisses Ana and I grin when I see him lean down to Linc's chair as he's seated, Linc wincing a little. Christian must have a nice hold on his shoulder. Hopefully it'll leave a mark. With a subtle nod from Linc, Christian lets go and pats his back as he walks away.
"Well?"
Christian takes his seat next to me. "I just reminded him what could happen if he didn't keep his hands off of pretty little mates that aren't his."
I snort out a laugh.
XxXxXx
"Dance with me."
"Elliot, I'm working."
"Yes, and your job is to serve. Now serve me by dancing with me."
"I could get in trouble." Ana frowns up at me, looking uncertain.
"Did you forget who the Golden Child of this Gala is?" I take the tray full of empty dishes out of her hands and place it on a banquet table next to us.
"Christian?" Her dimples wink at me.
"Very funny." I grab her and pull her towards the dance floor. "For your information, I am the Golden Child. He's Silver."
She giggles as I pull her against me and take her hand. "Noted, big guy."
I give her a wink.
The band starts playing the song I requested and I hope she listens. I hope she can take a hint. I hope she'll wait for me. Even though I can't ask her to.
Something's got a hold of me lately
No, I don't know myself anymore
Feels like the walls are all closin' in
And the devil's knockin' at my door, whoa
Out of my mind, how many times
Did I tell you I'm no good at bein' alone?
Yeah, it's takin' a toll on me, tryin' my best to keep
From tearin' the skin off my bones, don't you know
I lose control
When you're not next to me (when you're not here with me)
I'm fallin' apart right in front of you, can't you see?
I lose control
When you're not next to me, mm-hm
Yeah, you're breakin' my heart, baby
You make a mess of me...
"This is a great song. I like the bluesyness in it."
I search her face. "Teddy Swims."
Confusion. "What?"
I crack a grin. "That's the name of the artist."
"Oh." Her eyes dance around my face, searching, too. Am I that transparent? I'm stuck between wanting to be and wanting to hide it. Hiding it would be easier in the moment. But I don't want to.
"Why are you dancing with me? I mean, you've got the beautiful blonde over there that looks like she's going to rip the hair off my head right now just for touching you. I'm just-I'm just the help tonight. Surely this isn't good for your image?"
"You're my favorite person. I want to dance with you. And I don't give a shit how Gia is feeling right now. She doesn't hold a candle to you. Even in those awful black flats."
Laughing, she looks down. "They're terrible aren't they? Why would they choose it for a uniform?"
I shake my head. "Who knows. But you make them work."
"And you make this tux work." Her arm that was tucked around me comes lose and she reaches over to straighten my bowtie. "You look utterly perfect. No wonder Gia wants to claw my eyes out."
"Honestly? I feel like a gorilla in a suit."
She smiles. "Definitely a 180 from your work jeans and paint stained boots, huh?"
I nod. "I prefer my boots."
"Me, too." She gives me a bashful smile and lip bite.
This woman is going to be the death of me.
Christian
"I'm thankful that Ros' wife hates these things or I would have been stuck with someone I don't like. Ros, my COO, and also my best friend, is my date tonight and it takes so much pressure off.
"How is everything? Anything I can get you?" Anastasia pastes on her smile, but it doesn't seem to come as easy as it did earlier with other tables. I want her to feel at ease with our table.
"Ah, Ana, yes. May I please have a water? I'm parched." Ros smiles up at her and she gives her a nod.
"Of course. Anything for you, Mr. Grey?"
My stomach sours as soon as that name leaves her mouth. I immediately grab for her and haul her into my lab, shocking her. Her mouth is open in a surprised gasp and she's panting in surprise. Her eyes are wide as she stares at me.
Reaching up, I lightly press on the bottom of her chin, closing her mouth, while my other hand comes up to cup the back of her neck. I lightly massage the sides of her neck with my thumb and index finger as I lean toward her ear, speaking softly. "My name is Christian. I don't care where we are... what we're doing. Never Mr. Grey. You know me too well to use such a name. Do you understand me?"
"Ye-yes. Yes, Christian. I'm sorry." Her voice is breathy, but her shoulders relax and her eyelids lower just a fraction from the movement of my fingers on her neck. I'm thankful that her surprise has left her and she's comfortable enough to relax for me even in public.
"No reason to be, angel. I want you comfortable with me. That name coming out of your mouth is too stuffy for my liking. You can understand that, can't you?"
She wets her lips. "Yes, of course."
I give her a smile. "Good girl." Releasing her neck, I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. "Would you mind getting us some waters now, sweet girl?"
"Of course not. I'll be right back." Jumping off my lap, she goes scurrying away.
"What was that about?" Elliot looks half pissed, half annoyed with me.
"Don't you worry, brother. I was just making sure she knew she is special."
"Special?"
"Just leave it. Her and I have an understanding now." I won't have her call me what the others have. She's not them. She won't be doing anything they did. She's too sweet. Too innocent. Too pure. I don't want the sweetness of her tainted by using that name.
Rolling his eyes, Elliot turns back toward his date, who's been begging for his attention half the night.
"Looks like those two are getting cozy." Ros raises an eyebrow toward Elliot and Gia.
"I'm afraid it's one-sided unfortunately. Elliot has his eyes set on someone else." I take a sip of my wine.
"You sure about that?"
Confused, I look toward them and find them liplocking while Anastasia stares from ten feet away, holding our waters. Her eyes lock with mine and they're swimming with tears. Blinking, she turns on her heel hurries back to the kitchen.
God damn it.
My anger bubbles quickly and I can feel the blood starting to pool in my face. I'm going to hurt him.
Elliot pulls away from Gia, but she tries to lean in again. "Gia, stop." He holds her upper arms. "I told you, it isn't like that for us. No means no."
Gia pouts. "But, Elliot, we used to have so much fun together."
"Things are different now."
"Different, huh? Like how?" Gia narrows her eyes and a part of me hopes she slaps him. He allowed her too long before pulling away from that kiss. It broke our mate's heart. Anastasia has cried so god damned much and we should be the last people that make her cry. At least for now.
"Gia, don't start. My personal life is-"
"It's that waitress isn't it? The awkward bug-eyed girl?"
"Enough." Elliot clenches his teeth together. "Go."
Bug-eyed? Our blue-eyed beauty is anything but buggy. Dow-eyed is more like it. My blood that was already boiling is now causing me blood pressure to rise.
"What?"
"You heard him. Take your belongings and go. I'll have Taylor take you home." Gia tries to stare me down, but I keep the eye contact, unwavering.
"Fuck you." She spits back at me. "I don't need any help getting home."
"Even better." I give her a satisfied grin as she grabs her shit and stomps away, her heels clicking angrily, making everyone stop and stare on her way out.
"Of course she has to make a scene."
I smack my brother in the arm. "She has to make a scene? How about the scene you showed Anastasia?"
"What?"
Standing, I decide I need to go look for my mate. I don't know what the hell I'm going to say to her, but I've got to make it right some how. Elliot follows me, still asking what I mean.
"What I mean is that Anastasia was coming back with our waters when she caught you two lip locking."
"Fuck. Was she upset?"
I stop him in his tracks, once we hit the hallway to the kitchen, my eyes finding Anastasia. But she isn't alone.
I hear a growl come from my brother, but I hold him steady. Mixed with the sourness of seeing my mate with someone else, a sick satisfaction of knowing my brother who upset her is seeing it, too. He's hurting because of it. He's seething because of it. And it's all his fault.
Our mate is pressed into the corner of the dark hallway by none other than Jose Rodriguez who looks to be trying to eat her face off. She doesn't seem bothered by it though. Both of her delicate little hands are gripping his shoulders like he might fade away.
"Get off her!" Elliot yells toward the two, startling them apart. Anastasia looks startled at first, but when she gets her bearings, her surprise turns into anger.
"You're not allowed back here!"
"I'll go wherever the fuck I want!"
"The hell you will! Take your brother and go back to your seats." Elliot starts for Jose, but Anastasia steps between them. "Don't you dare!"
Her small frame does little to shield my giant brother and he still manages to get in his face even with her smashed between them. "Stay away from her, Bozo. I mean it."
"Elliot, stop! I'll see whoever I want!"
"Like hell you will!"
"Why do you even care!? Didn't you have your own tongue down some blonde's throat just two minutes ago?"
Elliot stills and takes a step back. "No."
"Sure looked like it to me."
"It was a mistake."
She shoves at him. "I don't care. It's your love life. Leave mine alone and I won't mess with yours. Now go. Go back to your seats."
"Ana." Elliot sounds like he's about to cry.
"Just go, Elliot."
When he turns back towards me with his shoulders slumped and a pout on his face, it actually makes me feel bad for the guy. He looks completely defeated. She's broken his heart and I think a part of her knows.
My eyes meet hers and she looks just as broken as he does. She rights herself quickly, and turns on her heel to go back towards the kitchen.
"Christian-"
"Come on, man. We'll grab a drink at the bar."