CHAPTER 4

Christian hung his head and was disappointed that he couldn't have her. Christian thought, 'Ana said all the things John Flynn told me. Could it be true?' Christian went to bed thinking about everything she said to him. She was so very beautiful and her lips were so soft. A beautiful woman that will never be his.

Ana had sat in the lobby of the building and called a cab to go home. When she finally got home, Ana took a fast shower and got ready for bed. She laid in her bed thinking of what happened between Christian and herself. She was sad that he was so closed off emotionally. She figured someone damaged him to be this way. He had touch issues, emotional issues and repressed anger bottled up inside him. She felt sorry for him because he was such a handsome brilliant man with big issues. Ana rolled over and went to sleep.

—--

Three months later, Ana had several lunches with Grace. Grace suggested going to a ball fundraiser for Seattle Grace Hospital. It was February and on the second Saturday in the month. Ana bought a lovely bodycon dark purple satin dress that has all black lace appliques and it was very sultry slit up the leg to mid thigh. The dress had long lace sleeves and a scalloped lace off the shoulder neckline. Ana was fortunate to not have been scarred from Elena scratching her shoulder. She had on amethyst and diamond jewelry on, with her hair styled in a loose braid with baby's breath laying over her right shoulder.

Ana arrived at the ball being held at the Fairmont Hotel and had her car valeted. She went into the hotel and showed her invitation. Ana walked down the staircase into the banquet/ballroom.

Christian saw her coming down the stairs. He thought she was exquisite in grace and beauty. Elena was standing next to him in the crowd as she yammered on about needing more funding for her salon renovations. Christian had tuned her out completely. He watched as every man turned to look at Anastasia as she came to the bottom of the stairs. Grace saw her and went up and hugged her.

Grace said, taking her arm and leading her into the crowd, "Just so you know, Elena is here. I don't know what she wants to accomplish by being here but it's not my gala so I can't ask her to leave. She keeps hanging around Christian. He's still in business with her, I haven't asked him to terminate his business because, well it's not my place to interfere with his businesses."

Ana said, "It doesn't matter Grace, I'll be sitting with you." Grace smiled and patted her arm.

Grace said, "You're such a good friend, Ana." They walked over to Carrick and Ana said hello hugging him. Carrick introduced her to a couple business associates of his and their wives sitting at the table. Ana smiled and shook all of their hands.

Ana danced with Carrick and a few other men after the dinner service was over. Christian wasn't happy about seeing other men dancing with her. She wandered over with Grace to the silent auctions and was looking at what they had to offer. There was a Four Seasons Spa Package for two, a dinner for four at Canlis, a week's vacation on a ranch in New Mexico and more. Ana put a bid in on the spa package and told Grace that they could go together and get spoiled if she won. Grace put in for an all day cruise on a tall ship for Carrick, for his birthday in two months.

Christian approached and said, "Good evening mother, Anastasia." The ladies both turned.

Ana smiled and said, "Hello Christian. How have you been?"

He said, "Good. You look beautiful tonight."

She smiled and said, "Thank you."

Grace said, "I see Elena has occupied your attention this evening."

Christian said, "Yes, she is hard to avoid it seems. Would you dance with me, Anastasia?"

Ana said, "Ok." She knew it would piss off Elena being she was sitting both times with Christian when she came at her each time there was a confrontation. Ana gave Christian her hand and he led her out to the dance floor. They glided and moved easily with each other.

Christian said, "I'm sorry how we left things when you and I parted. I still wish to be friends with you."

Ana said, "I don't see how that could ever be possible with Elena still around and now she's standing there like a shark circling chum in the water even now. See her standing by the dance floor looking hatefully at me being with you. She attacked me both times for just sitting next to you. What do you think she will do tonight because I danced with you?"

Christian said, "I don't give a damn what she thinks."

Ana said, "That may be, but it's not you she comes after, now is it? I personally will break her nose again if I have to." He smiled at her. Christian noticed Elena glaring at them as he spun her around for two songs.

Christian kissed her hand and said, "Will you go to dinner with me Thursday night?"

Ana said, "Ok, just dinner."

Christian smiled and said, "Are you afraid to be alone with me, Miss Steele?"

Ana giggled and said, "Of course not. I… "

Elena came up to them and said, "Come with me Christian, I have someone I want you to meet."

Christian said, perturbed at her rudeness, "I will in a little while, Elena."

Elena said in her Dom voice, pulling in his sleeve, "No, now." Ana's eyebrows went up in surprise.

Christian huffed and said, "I'll call you, Anastasia." Ana nodded and walked away thinking about what kind of a hold Elena had on him. Then it hit her. His teacher! She gasped, stopped and looked at the two of them. Elena leads him to a table and talks animatedly. There was nobody to introduce him to because Elena just wanted him away from her. Ana went off to find Grace and Carrick.

Elena whispered flustered and waved her arms around, "What do you think you're doing, Christian?! You told me yourself that that girl was not like us! Didn't you learn anything?!"

Christian said in a low voice, "You can't tell me who to be friends with. I don't give a damn about your opinion on Anastasia. She's a good person. I can have her as a friend."

Elena snidely whispered, "An event coordinator, pleeze! She is a damn gold digger!"

Christian chuckled and said, "That's funny you're the only person who thinks that. She is as wealthy as I am and runs her own company. She only did the event for my parents as a favor. They knew her father. Leave me alone about this Elena." Christian walked away from her.

Ana, Grace and Carrick talked and laughed. Ana excused herself and went to the restroom. She finished, washed her hands and put on her lipstick in the mirror. Elena walked in and locked the door on the inside. Ana looked at her with an eyebrow up and was ready for anything this time.

Elena snottily said, "Well, well, well isn't it the little event coordinator coming to hobnob with the elite."

Ana said, "What do you want Elena and why lock the door? Are you afraid of witnesses?"

Elena said nastily, "I want you to leave Christian alone."

Ana asked, "Why is that exactly when he approaches me, not the other way around."

Elena said, "I don't care, I want you to leave him alone, you low class little bitch. You couldn't possibly fulfill his needs or desires."

Ana nodded and said, "Like you can?"

Elena hautily said, with her nose in the air, "Yes, as a matter of fact."

Ana asked, "So that would make you a whore too?" Elena's eyes got big. "How much money and stuff do you take from him, like his other little girls? You must make some big bank off him, don't ya? You can tell me, Elena, because you're the biggest gold digging whore of them all aren't ya?"

Elena crossed her arms in front of her, nervously glanced to the left and shifted from side to side saying, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't take money from him." Ana knew she was lying looking to the left, crossing her arms defensively and shifting from side to side. It was a definite tell.

Ana said, "You're lying. You give yourself a way. See, I'm a CFO for my company for a reason. I can spot a liar a mile away. Besides, Grace and I are the best of friends since you showed your true colors. I bet that just eats at your old chicken craw too, doesn't it? Now get the fuck away from me and let me fucking leave out of here you dirty no good old hag." Ana shoved Elena by her chest hard. She stumbled backwards and it moved her far enough out of the way, so she could unlock the door to exit. Women were lined up gathering at the bathroom and they glared at her as she stepped out.

Ana said defensively, "That old bitch in there locked the fucking door not me." Christian overheard her as he watched her march out to the tables. He then saw Elena come out angry. He knew she trapped Ana in the bathroom to confront her. He grabbed her arm and took her to a corner where nobody could hear them.

Christian demanded, "What did you say to her?" Elena looked away. He shook her and menacingly said, "You better tell me, Elena."

She smirked at him and said, "Or what?"

Christian said, "Or I'll go over there and ask Ana and I bet she will."

Elena huffed and said, "She locked the door on me and told me to stay away from you. She accused me of stealing money from you and called me terrible names."

Christian said not believing her, "Now, why would she do that I wonder?"

Elena said, patting his arm, "She's jealous of our friendship, darling. Don't you see it? She's wanting to destroy it." Christian knew Elena was lying but why? He thought, 'Why would Ana accuse her of stealing money from me? I am just going to ask Anastasia on our dinner date Thursday night. No I'll just call her one day this week.'

Christian called it a night and had Taylor drive him home. Ana was not far behind him going home also.

—--

The next day Christian called Ana because he couldn't wait until Thursday. He said, "Hello, Anastasia."

Ana said smiling, "Hi, Christian."

He asked, "I want to ask you something but I don't want to be intrusive. Elena told me you accused her of stealing from me? Did you?"

Ana said, "She lied when I asked her if she was taking money from you. Let me tell you what happened. I have nothing to hide. She came in and locked the door to the restroom. I asked her why unless she didn't want any witnesses. She told me unequivocally to stay away from you. I asked why. She said that I could not satisfy you. I asked what, like you can? She said yes. I asked her if she was a whore after your money and things in payment like your other girls. I asked her how much bank she was taking from you. She looked left, crossed her arms, shifted from side to side and said she had no idea what I'm talking about and that she doesn't take money from you. Christian, Elena has obvious tells when she lies. I also never said steal she must have added that. I called her a liar and the biggest gold digging whore of them all. I said I was the CFO of my company for a reason and can spot a liar a mile away. I pushed her out of the way so I could unlock the door and leave. That's it. Oh and if you had any common sense, Christian, I would do an in house audit and check all orders and receipts of her suppliers. When you get results, then a field audit. I will bet you a million dollars she has been skimming off you for a long while. That is, if I were you." He couldn't believe Elena would be stealing from him of all people. Ana was right that she was showing tells and it was a bit suspicious.

Christian said, "I'll think about it, Anastasia. Thanks for telling me.

Ana said, "You just come see me Christian. I'll offer advice for free next time."

Christian was grinning and asked, "Thursday night seven o'clock,?"

Ana said happily, "I'll be ready."

Christian softly said, "Have a good rest of your day."

She said, "You too." They hung up. Ana wondered if he would wise up about Elena or not.