Chapter Sixteen: Save Your Tears for Another Day.
Lyrics: Save Your Tears For Another Day ( The Weeknd), The End of the Road ( Boys II Men) & Try (Pink).
APOV
They'd come to the end of the road; that much was clear. He'd been so cruel over the phone and said some things he should have never said. He made her think he would always stay and then vanished without so much as a goddamn explanation.
Her thoughts kept circling back to how it all turned to lies, even though sometimes it felt better to never ask why.
The most logical explanation was that he was having an affair. It was a worldwide epidemic. Philandering men who abandon their wives, leaving their children destitute, often disappearing without a trace.
She just thought it would never happen to her.
Chin up, her inner goddess reminded her. At least there were no children in the mix.
"Are you ready, Mrs. Grey?" Taylor asked, poking his head through the door to her classroom, bringing her out of her reverie.
She'd stayed in the classroom well after school was dismissed, obsessing and worrying about going home to obsess some more. It had taken so much effort to hold it together for the entire school day that she was tempted to call in sick for the rest of the week.
"Taylor, you have been working for Mr. Grey for so many years now...ten years of undivided loyalty."
"Seven years, to be exact."
Ana nodded. Of course, she knew that. She was testing him.
"And you know him like no one else that's ever worked for him. Did he tell you he was planning on leaving me?"
Taylor's jaw dropped. He cleared his throat before speaking. "I believe he's about to leave for his Japan business trip."
This trip was no surprise. Christian was meeting with leaders of A-Lab, a company well-known for producing lifelike humanoid robots that could move their eyes and lips. Perhaps Christian's new lover would be there too to enjoy the show.
"That's not what I mean, Taylor, and you know it."
Taylor shifted his feet, looking visibly uncomfortable.
"Christian left me, he emptied his closet. I found some of his clothes in the broom closet. It's like he'd been planning it for a while and wanted to make sure I got the message he was leaving loud and clear."
Ana's voice faded toward the end of the last sentence, betraying her heartache and devastation.
"I need you to call Christian right now," she said in a flash of inspiration. "I need you to tell him I'm firing you."
Taylor's jaw went slack.
"Nothing personal. I want Sawyer back."
Taylor's expression was a pitiful ball of confusion. He looked so painfully uncomfortable that Ana felt sorry for him. Still, she stared at him poker-faced.
"Taylor?"
"Mrs. Grey...I'm afraid I don't understand."
"CALL HIM."
While Taylor fumbled with his phone, Ana congratulated herself for doing what needed to get done with no apologies. For the first time in the last 48 hours she felt human again.
Perhaps there was a silver lining to all this. She no longer had to abide by Christian's wishes.
She could put herself first. And the best for her right now was Sawyer.
"Mrs. Grey?"
"Yes?"
"Mr. Grey wants to speak with you privately."
Ana blinked twice. WOW. Should she feel flattered, she thought sarcastically.
"I do NOT wish to speak to him. Tell him I am not leaving this place until Sawyer gets here, AND I don't mind hanging out with the janitors."
Taylor stared blankly at her in sheer disbelief.
As tempted as she was for the chance to chew him out, she couldn't afford to get emotional at the moment. She needed to hold her ground, or she might not get it back if she didn't.
Poor Taylor stuck in this battle of wills, relayed the message to his boss the best way he could.
"He says he's leaving in an hour. He doesn't have the time to make the switch."
Doesn't have the time. Ha!
"Tell him he'd better hurry then," Ana said, her fingers flicking the pendulum on her desk. Two opposing balls, moving with equal velocity.
After much back-and-forth negotiations mediated by Taylor's diplomatic powers, Christian finally agreed to her terms. It was a small victory indeed.
...
Even though Ana enjoyed driving, this time, she asked Sawyer to drive her home instead and to make arrangements for her Model 3 to be towed.
Looking out the car window, she passively watched the world changing. There was the I-hop they dined at the day after Jose's art gallery. That was the day she decided to stay. That was the alley where he'd asked her to spend the night with him. And like a fool, she'd said Yes.
A sheen of tears dampened her eyes as her thoughts drifted to their honeymoon. The happiest week of her life, completely secluded from the world at the Velea private island in the Romantic Pool Residence. The suite was suspended above a lagoon with astounding ocean views, accessible only by boat.
How could he love her and then leave her and never say goodbye?
Dabbing her eyes, she gave herself a pep talk. Getting dumped hurt. Yes, but just because it hurt didn't mean she was gonna die.
She couldn't deny she missed him; she hated herself for that.
Her thoughts abruptly halted when she caught Sawyer's gaze through the rearview mirror. Their eyes locked for a moment too long.
Could it be?
No way.
Could this be why Christian had insisted on the switcheroo...because he thought!?
No, she chuckled to herself. Although, she was onto something here. Christian could count on Taylor to report all her activities. Whereas Sawyer could -potentially- be persuaded otherwise.
She looked down at her phone, swiftly shutting that down -whatever it was- between Sawyer and her.
...
Suddenly, her phone rang in her hand, startling her. It was Carla. She was in town and asking if they could get together for dinner. Ana's first instinct was to say no, but they happened to be driving by the Six Seven Restaurant. Dreading the thought of going home, Ana quickly accepted.
"Ana! You look terrible," Carla said as soon as they sat at a small booth.
"Well, thanks, mom."
"No, seriously. What happened? Are you ill?"
Ana sighed. This morning, she applied a heavy coat of concealer to the dark circles under her eyes. She supposed two days of poor sleep and non-stop crying were impossible to hide.
"No."
Carla narrowed her gaze and studied her for like a whole minute. "You and Christian had a fight?"
In response, Ana shrugged one shoulder and then studied the menu.
"Oh, Ana. It's okay. All couples fight. You wanna tell me about it?"
"No. Let's talk about you. What's going on with Bob?"
"I'm sure Christian mentioned they met to discuss Bob's new business idea?" Carla pursed her lips."
"Of course."
"I wish Christian hadn't been so quick to dismiss his ideas. Bob is a visionary. If none of the Greys will take him seriously, he'll have to take his business elsewhere."
"Mom, you've known Bob for exactly five minutes. How long do you think your relationship will last?"
Ana wanted to say more about Bob being a complete loser, but she didn't have the energy. She really didn't have the patience.
"Well, look who's being rude today."
Ana rolled her eyes. Suddenly wanting to hurry with this dinner, she motioned for the waiter and quickly ordered the day's special.
Carla ordered salmon and a small salad.
"Ana, do you think you're the only woman this has happened to? Men," she sighed. "Sometimes, it's a cycle of breaking up and then getting back together."
Ana blinked. How uncanny. Those had been her exact thoughts earlier today ( minus the part about the breakup cycle).
"You want my advice?" Carla asked.
"No," Ana replied dryly.
Carla ignored that.
"Next time you talk to him..."
"There won't be a next time. It's over."
The words came out with a surprising air of finality as Ana indulged in the fantasy of dining in this same restaurant with Jose, brushing past Christian and pretending she didn't care.
Carla let out a chuckle. "Oh, believe me, there will be next time."
Ana gave her a sharp look.
Carla tilted her head just so before speaking.
"You're acting as though the two of you are headed for divorce court," she shook her head disapprovingly. "Things are never that clear cut, especially in a marriage. Besides, Christian adores you. Anyone with eyes can see that."
The waitress reappeared with drinks and appetizers.
Ana grabbed a mozzarella stick, twisting it several times on her plate, and dipped it in ranch dressing. She ended up smashing it to smittherings, too disgusting to eat, so she tossed it aside.
By then, Carla had eaten two mozzarella sticks and enjoyed a piece of mahi mahi.
"I think next time you two talk, you should pretend everything is fine. Chances are right now, he's regretting being at odds with you."
Ana looked up from her plate as though she'd forgotten Carla was there.
"Wh-what?"
"You heard me. Sometimes, it's better not to sweat the small stuff."
Ana glared at her mother. This had to be the worst piece of advice ever. But, then again, what else could she possibly expect from Queen Heartbreaker?
She should have never agreed to this dinner. If she ever needed advice, she would ask Daddy, not her.
"I have to go," she said.
"Wait. They haven't even brought our meals yet."
"I lost my appetite."
"Ana. Don't do this to me, please. If you stopped blaming me for divorcing Ray for two seconds, you would see I'm only trying to help."
Ana rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. Carla had a natural talent for upsetting her.
"And I don't want your help."
Ana huffed. She wasn't used to confiding in her mother; the concept was completely foreign.
Carla shook her head, refusing to let go.
"It takes two to tango, you know," she sighed dramatically. "And this applies to every relationship."
"Well, it doesn't apply here. I didn't do anything wrong," Ana pouted. She'd done loads of soul-searching and found nothing to justify him ending things without giving her the dignity of an explanation.
Carla gave her a sad look of disbelief.
"Okay, let's leave it at that. Look, our food is here."
Right then, the waitress appeared, smiling. Everything smelled delicious. Maybe she could try eating a bit. Come to think of it, she couldn't quite remember the last time she ate.
"You've lost weight," Carla observed. "You're starting to look anorexic."
"Thank you, mother."
Carla studied Ana under her lashes while they ate. Ana took a few bites here and there but mostly pushed the food around her plate.
"Oh, My God," Carla breathed. She let go of her fork and knife and clapped her hands together. "Are you pregnant?"
"Nope," Ana replied dryly. No chance of that; she never missed her quarterly appointments.
"Oh."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Carla replied with prying eyes. "I imagine you both want to wait..."
"Mom! can you just stop talking?" Ana said, on the verge of tears.
She mustn't cry in front of Carla. She shouldn't. She should save her tears for another day.
Shortly after that, Ana left the restaurant. She mindlessly climbed in the backseat without so much as a nod to Sawyer.
"Everything alright, Mrs. Grey?" Sawyer said, making eye contact through the rearview mirror and after cutting the engine.
They had arrived at the parking garage, and Sawyer was probably wondering why she didn't appear to want to exit the vehicle.
Ana sighed hopelessly. She had the nagging feeling she'd forgotten something important.
"I think it's time for you and me to be on a first-name basis," She said, surprising him. "Please call me Ana."
Sawyer cleared his throat, uncertain.
"I'm glad to have you back," she said with a rueful smile. "Taylor is too stuck up."
Ana caught a glimpse of Sawyer's suppressed smile through the rearview mirror. He was young, she decided, much younger than Taylor; unless she was wrong and Father Time had been kind to him.
Speaking of time...
Shoot.
A glance at her phone told her today was Thursday. Usually, on Thursdays (around this time), she and Christian had dinner at Grey Manor.
She needed to call Grace ASAP.
Wait.
She ought to stop by and see her in person instead. The thought was comforting. She and Grace were close; Ana had even started calling her 'ma'. God, this whole thing was so awful. She was about to lose her place in the Grey clan just when she'd started feeling right at home. And the worst part of all would be losing Grace as her surrogate mother.
As usual, one of the maids ushered her to the sitting room. She waited there a while, a little more than normal. She was about to send Grace a text when she heard the cry of a child. She cocked her head in surprise. Did Grace have company? Weird. Usually, Thursdays were reserved for family only.
A/N:
Recurring reviewers: Many thanks for sharing your thoughts with me, your comments are my guiding light. After writing fluffy romances for 13 years, I truly stepped outside my comfort zone with this story. And I'm beyond excited like a newbie writing her first fanfic ( btw, this story was born out of sheer boredom). And now my muse is running wild and unleashed. She's done with fluffiness and is ready for full-blown angst! Hang on tight, and as always, expect the unexpected!
