Chapter Thirteen: The Plan.
Ana POV
I wake with a start, momentarily disoriented. Oh, yes. I'm in the guest room. Since there are no windows, I have no idea what time it is. I've had a rough night. I woke up twice during the night feeling nauseous and spent half the night with my face in the toilet. Afterward, I place my hand on my belly; I worry Little Blip is not getting enough nutrients. Somehow, I need to get through the day.
Fi-fi greets me with licks all over my face, happy I allowed her to sleep by my pillow all night. She won't stop licking me, so I gently push her away. She moves to the edge of the bed and stares at me expectantly, tongue hanging out of her mouth, longing for my approval.
"Oh, Fi-fi," I sigh, petting her. She's just too cute.
I dig through my purse and pull out a pack of saltine crackers. They're my salvation as they mitigate that awful hollow feeling in my stomach. I need to get a handle on this morning sickness, even if it means limiting my diet to crackers and water.
I reach for my blackberry and check the time. It's a little after seven. I'm feeling better. I need to hurry, or I will be late for work.
I open the door and peek outside with Fi-fi right beside me. Taylor, Sawyer, Mrs. Jones, and Christian are all standing at the end of the hallway. Christian is issuing rapid-fire instructions. He's still wearing the clothing he slept in last night ( before coming to the guestroom, I peeked into our room and saw him sleeping in those same clothes). He looks disheveled, pale, and heart-stoppingly beautiful.
I open the door a tad more. At once, all heads turn in my direction.
"What's going on?" I ask no one in particular.
"Nothing," Christian answers. "How are you feeling this morning?"
I know he's lying; something is happening.
"I'm feeling well enough to go to the office, I say and then turn to Luke. "Sawyer, I'll be ready to leave in half an hour, "I mutter. "Could you please take Fi-fi out for her morning walk? Thanks."
Sawyer nods, and all eyes turn to Christian. A feeling of uneasiness overcomes me when he doesn't respond and merely stares at me.
"It's time for your walk. Stay," Sawyer commands. F i-fi obeys until he returns with her leash.
Mrs. Jones asks me if she can bring me breakfast, and I shake my head. "I can't eat anything right now, thank you."
"How about some tea to settle your stomach? She insists, and I say yes to that. She immediately makes a beeline for the kitchen.
"I need to talk to you," Christian says, his voice low and husky. Suddenly, the staff scatters like terrified rats from a sinking ship.
"Not right now, I'm running late."
I slide my purse strap and march toward our bedroom. I need to take a shower and wash my hair. Hopefully, I will emerge feeling better, stronger, and ready to face the freight train that is Christian Grey. I head for the bathroom, fully intending to lock the door behind me, but he sticks his foot out, preventing me from shutting the door.
"I need to take a shower," I pout. "Please move. I don't want to be late for work."
His mouth settles into a grim line. "I'm sorry, but you're NOT going anywhere, Ana."
"What?" I ask. He gazes at me intently. "Am I your prisoner now?"
The seriousness on his face fades, breaking into a mischievous smile. "Well, if that sort of thing turns you on," he murmurs, shrugging his shoulder suggestively.
My inner goddess does a breakdance, but I'm not in the mood, so ignore her. I'm furious he's calling all the shots. How dare he?
When I look into his eyes again, mercurial Christian has returned.
"I've arranged for you to work from home," he tells me. This infuriates me even further. He removes his foot from the door, his movements slow and calculated, showing me he's in control.
"Is this the way it's gonna be between us now?" I seethe. "I know I made a mistake. I asked for your forgiveness. What more do you want?"
"You're such a child. You think one word from you is all it takes."
"Me? A Child? Look who's talking!" I exclaim. I stare at his foot wedged at the door. I change tactics. "What is going on, Christian? Why is Sawyer acting like a jailer?"
"You should go back to bed," he says, and I ignore the suggestion.
"You accuse me of keeping the truth from you. And now, you're doing the same. Why are you keeping me in the dark? Are you trying to get back at me? This is not how mature relationships work! People make mistakes; they forgive each other and move on."
And with that, I head to the master bedroom. Once at the threshold, I turn around to face him. "Stop acting like a stupid adolescent!" I yell and slam the door.
….
Taylor POV
Instead of having Sawyer come to GEH to talk to Ryan, I take matters into my own hands. Ryan's apartment is not far. He's unemployed since nobody will hire him. He opens the door and almost looks relieved when he sees me.
Ryan spills the beans right away before I even ask him. He tells me that Hyde is planning on kidnapping Ana from work with Roach's help.
I cannot believe Ryan's betrayal runs so deep. Through it all, he has remained an informant for the enemy. However, it occurs to me this can work to our advantage. We can make Ryan a double agent.
"Believe me, Taylor. I don't want any part of this kidnapping plot," Ryan says. "I know you're thinking the worst of me right now. But... I'm not that kind of person; I'm not a scoundrel. Those thugs, they had this thing on me."
He then apologizes for not coming to me sooner, but that doesn't keep me from punching him in the face before I turn around and decide to leave.
On second thought, I double back and stay a while longer. Blackmail from Hyde and Roach is nothing compared to what Ryan will go through
if he doesn't cooperate.
The drive back to GEH seems to take forever. I call Sawyer to update him on what Ryan told me. He wants to strangle him for acting so shady but knows he needs to focus on keeping Ana safe. She wants to leave the apartment, but no one will let her. Gail has been keeping me updated on how Ana is doing. She's got the worst case of morning sickness. She spends half her days in the bathroom throwing up.
Pulling into my parking spot at GEH, I don't waste a second. The elevator ride to his office is quick, and I practically run into his office. Andrea says something to me, but I ignore her. This is more important than anything right now. We have an imminent threat, and we must deal with it immediately. I open the door without knocking first.
Christian is sitting at his desk reading something. He looks up at me from his chair and stands. I'm sure he sees the alarm on my face.
"Taylor, what is it?" He asks me as I close the door and motion for us to move to the couch. Once he is seated, I sit in the chair across from him.
"Sir, Sawyer had me talk to Ryan." He's going to freak out, I'm sure.
"Cut to the chase and tell me," Christian growls, and I take a deep breath and look him in the eye.
"Ryan confessed. Hyde is planning to kidnap Ana. We know where he plans on doing it, but we haven't figured out when." I quickly say.
Christian doesn't respond. He doesn't move a muscle for the longest time. At last, he stands at his desk for a full minute before moving to the window. He looks out at Seattle's skyline. His calmness is more concerning to me at the moment. I thought we would go crazy and start breaking things. His behavior makes me wonder if something has fundamentally changed between him and Ana. Then, I realize that isn't the case when he turns around and violently pushes everything off his desk, including the computer monitor.
"We're turning this around, sir."
"My own security was involved in this shit, Taylor! How the fuck could this happen?" he yells as he throws a coffee mug against the wall.
I stand and walk towards him. Over the years, I've seen him in many different states, but this is one that I've yet to see. He's overwhelmed. I know I need to act and get his attention. He may be angry with Ana, but he loves her and the baby she is carrying. He needs to focus on protecting her and catching Hyde.
I reach out to him and place a hand on his shoulder. "Mr. Grey, you need to calm down. We need to figure out how to protect Ana and catch Hyde. We know where he plans on kidnapping her. We can catch him and finish this. Let's get out of here. We can head to the gym at Escala and talk with Sawyer. It'll be alright."
...
Christian POV
As I follow Taylor out of my office, I barely hear him tell Andrea to reschedule my meetings and to have Barney install a new monitor. Right now, I'm still trying to process everything. Only this morning, I was furious with Ana. And now, I'm on edge about her safety.
I wonder who else could be involved in this mess? Elena had me in her grasp, but it was more than that. Somehow, she always knew what was going on in my life. The realization makes me sick. I call my judgment into question; I cannot believe all those years I did business with her.
I don't even realize we arrived at Escala until Taylor exits the SUV. My mind has been mulling over the latest information. Taylor informs me Sawyer brought my gym bag. We should head straight to the gym to work out and strategize. I nod and follow, operating on autopilot. The idea of a workout sounds good right now. We need to develop a plan to keep Hyde from getting Ana while making sure he gets arrested.
I cannot tell Ana what is going on; the last thing she needs is the added stress.
We make a beeline for the home gym equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including five different types of treadmills.
I nod when I see Sawyer and grab my bag to change in the locker room. I don't even notice Taylor is behind me. My mind is going over every scenario. I can't help but wonder what would've happened if Ana had gone to work this morning. I admit, I was a dick to her last night. In my defense, I was trying to keep her safe. Right now, her safety is all that matters.
I leave the locker room and join Taylor and Sawyer on the treadmill.
"Taylor, what the hell are we gonna do? Ana wants to leave the apartment." Sawyer starts off the conversation. "She has no idea why I'm refusing to take her anywhere."
"It's best she doesn't know the danger she's in. I've got an idea that will work," Taylor replies, and I pause the treadmill to give him my full attention.
"What is it, Taylor?" I ask as he and Sawyer get off of their treadmills.
"Ana goes into the office as usual, and we allow them to take her. We will have undercover security arranged in advance. I promise you Hyde won't get near her. We WILL stop him before he does," Taylor tells us.
I flat-out refuse.
"No, it's too risky. I don't want that fucker anywhere close to Ana."
"What if we use a decoy? I have someone who looks like Ana's clone."
Now, that got my attention.
"Ana's clone will be taking her place in the office. We will make sure none of the staff see her and that no one other than security knows it isn't her. I think we can pull it off. We need to route all of her calls to the penthouse," Sawyer recommends.
We stay silent for a minute as we consider his idea.
"He has a good point. There is a woman with a background in security who looks just like Ana. They share the same build. Should we bring Seattle PD in on this?" Taylor asks me, and I look at him. I give it some thought, and then it all becomes crystal clear.
"I don't want police involved. We need to take care of this internally. Also, I don't want Ana to know about any of this. She doesn't need the stress. She cannot be involved in any of this. Do you understand? I'm going to head up the elevator."
I walk out of the gym, leaving Taylor and Sawyer behind.
I need Ana. I think about how I've treated her in the last thirty hours, and I'm filled with remorse; I must make it up to her.
….
Ana POV
My blackberry buzzes, and I answer.
"Ana?"
"This is she."
"Ana, honey, it's Jose Senior."
"Mr. Rodriguez! Hi!" My scalp Prickles. It's very unusual for Jose's dad to call me.
"Honey, I'm so sorry, but your dad has been in an accident."
Oh, no, daddy! I stop breathing.
"He's at Mercy Hospital. You better get here quick."
My knees buckle. I text Christian and tell him what happened.
Christian is by my side almost instantly, and we head for the elevator. As it turned out, he was actually in the gym here at Escala. Fi-fi whimpers when she realizes I'm leaving. I firmly tell her she must stay behind.
Mercy Hospital is literally around the corner. Christian and I rush to the ER. I open the door to reveal a functional, austere waiting room. Mr. Rodriguez is waiting for us there.
"Ana!"
I turn to see Mr. Rodriguez. His arm is in a cast, and his cheek is bruised on one side. He's in a wheelchair with one of his legs in a cast as well. I wrap my arms around him.
Mr. Rodriguez and Christian shake hands. Then, Mr. Rodriguez starts telling us what happened. "We were on our way to Austoria when a stupid fucking drunk hit us."
A nurse comes to inform us my dad is out of surgery. She tells us we can see him in half an hour.
Before going in to see Ray, we say goodbye to Mr. Rodriguez, who promises to keep us in his prayers. "Stay strong, Ana. He's fit and healthy. The odds are in his favor."
Seeing my daddy in a hospital bed in the ICU brought strangled tears to my eyes. He looks so vulnerable in his large bed, surrounded by all this technology. It's a shock. There's a tub in his mouth, and various lines pass through and drip into a needle in each arm. A monitor displays his heart rate. I count the beeps and realize that the tube pulling at the right corner of his mouth leads to a ventilator.
Oh, daddy.
I remember Daddy picking me up and tossing me into the air, laughing and giggling. Daddy has always been my hero. He's always known what to do and say in every situation.
"You can go ahead and talk to him," says the petite young nurse standing by the monitors. "Even though he's in a medically induced coma, he can still hear you."
"Can I touch him? I ask, tentatively reaching for his hand. The nurse gives me a resounding yes.
"Daddy, please get better. I love you," I say, choked up. Beside me, Christian takes my hand. His touch gives me the courage to continue. "Christian is here too. We just got engaged."
I eagerly hope he'll open his eyes, smile, and congratulate us. I'm dying for him to know about Little Blip, but then, I change my mind. Daddy firmly believes first comes love, then marriage, and then the baby carriage, in that order exactly.
Christian and I sit in a quiet corner and converse. While we talk, I realize how much he and Daddy have in common. They are both fiercely loyal and possess a high degree of personal integrity.
"Anastasia," Christian murmurs. "It's gonna be okay, your dad is receiving the best care. He's gonna pull through this."
"I don't know... what if something happens to him," I wail, and Christian pulls me into his arms and shushes me. A wave of relief washes over me, just knowing he's not angry at me anymore.
Once again, he reassures me. It takes me a while, but eventually, I start believing him.
"Baby, listen. I will have to go back to the office in a few minutes. I hate leaving you like this, but there's an urgent matter I must attend to," he says, looking into my eyes. I see he's conflicted. "Will you be okay?" He asks, deeply concerned. "When was the last time you ate? I can run and get you something at the cafeteria..."
"I'm okay. I did have something at home," I tell him. He doesn't need to know I haven't been able to hold anything down. He can't fix my morning sickness; there is no magic pill.
He looks at me dubiously. "What did you eat?" He drills me.
"A bit of toast and an egg," I reply, looking away. My gaze shifts to Daddy. Christian's thumb traces small circles on the back of my hand, causing tiny quivers of pleasure to run up my arm.
"Good! Hey," he whispers, "I'm sorry about my behavior yesterday and this morning. I was a complete jerk."
"I disagree," I say, and he eyes me curiously. "You were only a junior version of a jerk," I defend him. He's amused.
A sigh escapes my lips as he wraps his arms around me. It's gonna be okay between us.
…..
Christian POV
This accident with her father couldn't have come at a worse time. I want her to know beyond any doubt that all is forgiven and that I'm sorry I overreacted.
Unfortunately, I must leave. I need to take care of a few things at the office. I'm also meeting with Taylor. Ana won't leave her father's side, so ironically, the timing is perfect for what I need to do.
Because of the urgency, Ana and I get to the hospital without security. However, Sawyer came to stay with Ana shortly after we arrived.
I ask Taylor to meet me at GEH. Walking into the building, everyone stares. My regular attire at the office does not include jeans and a polo shirt, but they will have to do. It's the most casual anyone in the office has ever seen me.
Taylor is waiting at the elevator.
"Are we set?" I ask.
"Yes, I've had Andrea call and tell Roach that Ana will be in the office tomorrow. Roach informed Andrea about a staff meeting and that he expects Ana to work late. The meeting is obviously a ploy. Luckily, Ana's double is briefed and ready. She has been briefed on the situation and is aware of the risks. Sawyer will accompany her tomorrow."
Taylor stops speaking just as the elevator stops at my floor. We don't break the silence until we're in my office with the door locked.
"Is Ryan still cooperating?" I ask Taylor.
"Yes, he is. He doesn't want this job any more than we do. He is going along with it only so we can stop them and have a man on the inside." Taylor replies.
"Good. Find Ryan a job on another planet, will you?" I urge Taylor while pouring myself a glass of scotch. "I never want to see him again after this is over."
"Already done, Sir. How is Mr. Steele?"
"Critical, but stable. The doctors expect Mr. Steele will need to undergo physical therapy to make a full recovery. I've made arrangements for a private room and the best doctors," I reply, sitting behind my desk.
"I've already got Welch getting information on the driver who hit your father-in-law. I'll have a full report by the end of the day."
"Thank you, Taylor, for everything," I say. He nods before he leaves my office.
I lean back in my chair with a smirk. Hyde and Roach are going down tomorrow. The thought makes me smile; I can hardly wait.
A/N: Happy New Year everyone!
Just posted CH 23, for the Love of Bella.