Chapter Fourteen: The End
The next day
Hyde's POV
I feel ecstatic. Today is the day. After Jerry called me yesterday to let me know Ana would be coming to the office today, I knew this was our chance to take her. A little unexpected I must say, considering her father's accident. We are ready, we were only waiting for her first day back at SIP. Jerry informed me that she arrived this morning and that he told her assistant she would need to work late to catch up on a few things. The thought of being so close to my goal makes me smile.
Ryan meets me at an empty warehouse. I don't trust him with the plan, so I let him think I need to get into Grey Publishing to sabotage them. I'm only using him as my getaway driver. Once we get to our destination, I'll eliminate him.
It's after 6 P.M. when we arrive at the rear entrance. We circle the building and don't notice anything suspicious. I get a text from Roach telling me Ana is still in her office and that Sawyer, her CPO, is sitting just outside. The rear door is unlocked, and the cameras are on a loop, so I walk inside the building. I take the stairs and make my way up to her floor, a gun in a holster around my waist. In my hand is a syringe with enough sedative to take down her CPO. There's a knife in my right pocket. I'm also carrying a blindfold, duct tape, another syringe with a sedative, plus zip ties in the pockets of my jacket.
Once I'm on her floor, I text Roach to let him know. He is supposed to come down and help me carry her out. Standing in a corner, I watch Sawyer typing away on his phone. A few seconds pass. He glances at Ana's office and heads to the restroom. This is the moment I've been waiting for. YES! I sneak up behind him and reach the restroom just as the door closes behind him. I quickly take the syringe and stab it into his arm before he has a chance to react. He turns around and tries to grab at me, but I can see that the sedative is taking effect. His knees buckle, and he falls to the floor. I check that he is still breathing. I don't want to kill him. I want him to live and know he failed miserably at his job.
I peek out the door and make sure no one is around before heading to Ana's office. Staying low to the ground, I quietly reach the door and turn the knob very slowly. I catch a glimpse of Ana reading a manuscript. She looks a bit different, but I won't worry about that. What matters is that she's within reach. I open the door a bit more and step into the office. Reaching for my pistol, I feel something cold against my neck. Dammit! Someone has a gun to my head.
"Don't you think about it, Hyde, I won't hesitate to shoot you." The person behind me says. Right then, Ana stands and aims a gun at me. Up close, I quickly realize this woman isn't Ana. Jesus!
FUCK! I've been played like a fool! I raise my hands in surrender, and the woman pretending to be Ana takes my gun and my knife.
"Turn around." The voice behind me commands. I turn around to see Jason Taylor, Grey's head of security.
"Where is Ana?" I ask, curious as to if she was ever in the building.
Suddenly, I get hit with the butt of a gun against the side of my head.
"You don't get to ask any questions." Taylor then turns to Sawyer, the man I thought I had sedated. "Put the bag over his head and get him to the van."
"Mr. Grey sends his regards. He hopes you enjoy where he is sending you," Sawyer says, placing a black sack over my head and handcuffing me. Scared is an understatement. I curse under my breath; I can't believe our plans have been shot to pieces.
…..
Narrator POV
Roach looks out the tall windows in his office impatiently. What on earth was taking so long? Why isn't Ryan responding to his text messages? The useful idiot did well last night reporting on Grey's security detail as they waited outside the hospital all night for some action. Hyde was the one who'd blotched Operation Ray Steele by missing the mark. The 'accident' he caused was supposed to be minor. The idea was to create confusion and get Ana out of Escala, a decoy in case they knew about our real plans. But Hyde nearly killed the man. It was amateurish, for sure.
At last, a text comes in. It's Ryan.
Come down the service elevator right now, it reads.
Roach is a nervous wreck, unsure if this means there's a change of plans. Maybe Hyde has Ana already. He sends a secondary text to confirm, but there's no answer. Something is dead wrong. At this point, it would be unsafe to venture into Ana's office. There's a chance their plans could be ruined, so he's got to get out NOW. Much to his horror, his hands shake as he checks his briefcase. Does he have everything: Manuscripts, money, credit cards, and passport? Hurry! You must recheck everything! Check, Check!
He's got it? Yes, YES!
Morocco, here I come!
He'd done the research. Morocco made number one on the list of ideal getaway destinations as one of the few relatively safe countries with NO extradition laws with the U.S. Nevertheless, as extra insurance, he obtained a second passport with a different nationality in case he was later used in negotiations between the two countries or kidnapped by the CIA.
He grabs his briefcase and runs to the service elevator on the opposite side of Ana's office. He presses the button and waits an eternity. At last, he spots Claire working late, staring at him from her cubicle. FUCK! Everyone was supposed to be gone at this hour! He wants to scream at her: What the hell you're looking at?! Dammit! It's taking too long. What if the woman identifies him before he gets to leave the building? His knees began to buckle. He doesn't want any part of this! He practically runs to the other elevator. Unfortunately, he cannot exit without passing Ana's office.
His feet come to an abrupt halt. The window shades in Ana's office are wide open, and he stares like a bystander at the scene of a fatal car accident. He spots Sawyer placing a bag over a guy's head and handcuffing him. It doesn't take a genius. The man apprehended has got to be Jack Hyde.
He practically jumps out of his skin when he feels a hand tapping him on the shoulder. Even before turning his head, he already knows what it means: bad news bears!
Roach turns his head in slow motion, his eyes widening in horror to discover Christian Grey pointing a gun right at him.
"NO! Please! Don't kill me!" Roach thrusts his pleading hands forward. The horror on his face is priceless. It's as if he believed the devil himself was coming to claim his wretched soul.
"You disgusting pig," Christian spat. "Why should I have mercy on you?"
Christian points the barrel of his gun against Roach's forehead, causing him to tremble like a leaf.
Seconds pass, and Roach squeezes his eyes shut. He recoils at the popping sound the weapon makes when Christian pulls the trigger. Roach refuses to look when a stream of urine starts dripping down his pants and onto the floor. And then there is nothing but an eerie silence.
Oh, God, am I dead?
Slowly, very slowly, Roach dares to open his eyes and realizes this is NOT the afterlife. He's NOT dead; he's very much alive! His circumstances haven't changed. Christian Grey is still brandishing his gun, now at a distance. The man he plotted to destroy is about a foot away from a large urine puddle.
Roach's eyes widen in confusion. A cloud of smoke dissipates to reveal a little flag with the words BANG written on it protruding from the shiny barrel.
Christian's face suddenly breaks into a huge grin: "Gotcha!"
…...
Taylor's POV
Sitting at GEH with Sawyer and Christian, we watch a replay of the events that unfolded an hour ago. I'm glad the sedative didn't have much effect on Sawyer; aside from a bad headache, he has no symptoms. His performance in the restroom was perfect and exactly what we wanted. We knew it would be too risky for Hyde to shoot or stab Sawyer, so we expected him to use a sedative.
"It's over," Christian declares.
"You got your wish; you got your hands dirty and delivered the final blow."
"Even my shoes got splattered," he says, his gaze shifting to the puddle on the floor. "By the way, did you get the information Roach had?"
"Yes, everything is in our possession. We turned Roach over to the authorities along with the stolen manuscripts that were in the vault." I reply.
"How are we with the Hyde situation?" He asks.
"He is en route to his new accommodations even as we speak," I say with a smile, taking a sip of the scotch Christian poured just now.
"Perfect. Thank you both for an excellent job. Oh, and take the next couple of days off." Christian says, downing his glass of scotch, and turns to stare out at the Seattle skyline at night.
….
Christian POV
When I return to the hospital, I find that Ana already knows what happened, having seen Roach's arrest in the news. She's understandably upset.
"How is your father?"
"He's better. We had a nice conversation. I told him about our little Blip, and he's happy for us," she says. In the next moment, her smile turns into a frown. "You should have told me."
I bite my tongue. It serves no good purpose for me to say it was for the best.
"I don't like being kept in the dark."
"Neither do I. I know exactly how you feel. That's exactly how I felt when I learned that Roach was blackmailing you, and you never said a word."
She looks me in the eye, and I see emotions pass by as realization hits her. "We are both guilty of the same thing."
I regard her intently. "Yes, we never meant each other any harm. We both acted out of love and concern. I didn't tell you about the kidnapping plot to protect you. And you handled the Roach the best you could."
She smiles and wraps her arms around my neck.
"I wish you'd been there and seen the look on Roach's face. It was priceless," I laugh, and Ana joins me; nothing makes me happier than the sound of her laughter.
"So where is Hyde now?" She asks.
I pretend to search my mind, illustrating how that man's fate is of little consequence to me. "Ah, yes... we got him a nice tent somewhere in the Sahara desert with no wi-fi access."
Three weeks later.
I'm in the office working late. Ana is already in bed sleeping. Even though her morning sickness had eased up a bit, she was tired.
It's a little after midnight. I'm exhausted, but I must finish the project I'm working on. I move to the couch and set the laptop on my chest. I'm so focused on my work that I don't notice Fi-fi come into the room until she's by my side, pawing me.
"What do you want?" I growl.
She continues to paw me. She climbs on my chest and thoughtfully rests her head on her paws. I look into her soulful eyes, and I give in. I put my laptop away. She then starts rubbing the top of her head against my chin like a cat. I push her away somewhat playfully, but she leans into me again. It's as if she'd forgotten our little feud. She's offering me the purest form of unconditional love. She reminds me of Sam, the rescued dog my parents gave me for my birthday when I was eight. It was love at first sight. We became attached at the hip, and she slept on my bed from day one. My happiness lasted three short months. I came home from school one day to discover my beloved Sam had suffered a freak accident. After that, I swore I'd never love another dog again.
Ana is right; underneath it all is my fear of losing another four-legged creature. So, I put my arms around Fi-fi; we rub noses and make peace. You just never know what the future could bring. Life is short, especially for dogs. The best I can do is enjoy every moment with our pet as if it's our last.
Three months later
"Tada!" Ana says as she removes the blindfold from my eyes.
I stare at the dog-themed nursery in amazement, taking in every detail. I am beyond pleased. I had expected the decor to be juvenile and cartoonish. I'm pleasantly surprised to see this is what she has been working on for the last few weeks. I bailed on the theme selection early and told Ana I would be happy with whatever she chose. I had expected to walk into a Snoopy and 101 Dalmations decor. However, the dogs depicted had an artistic flair that was anything but childish.
I am drawn to a corner wall. Over a bookcase full of animal books sits a three-dimensional canvas picture of Sam. The canvas depicts her in perpetual motion, her long reddish coat blowing in the breeze. With a snowy white chest and matching white paw tips, my one-of-a-kind Chow/retriever/shepherd mix is running against the wind. Mom and Dad rescued her from the pound to show their support for adoption over breeding and reducing the number of dogs in kill shelters.
"That's the reading corner," Ana smiles. She's playing with the mobile hanging over the crib. The mobile plays a tune while four Poodles run, seemingly chasing one another.
"Well?" She cocks her head to one side. "Do you like it?"
"I do," I nod. "It was a great choice."
"Your mom gave me pictures of Sam. I was lucky the artist captured her spirit so beautifully. She looks so happy in the picture, doesn't she?"
Honestly, I'm touched that Ana put so much thought and care into the portrait. I readily agree. The canvas represents a celebration of Sam's life, and I find no room for sadness, only joy.
Fast-forward to the future, and I see myself sitting in the rocking chair with our child on my lap and a book.
Fi-fi barks as if to say enough about Sam and pay attention to me now. We exchange an amused look.
"Are you jealous, silly girl? Look, that's you," Ana tells Fi-fi, pointing to the wall behind the nursery showcasing our Poodle's painting.
Ana POV
"The best decision I ever made was marrying you," Christian tells me, his hand resting on my baby bump. Most people are surprised I'm this far along since I barely show. Last week, we got the big reveal. Teddy is the name we've chosen for our baby boy.
We had a small wedding by the sea three weeks ago. We chose La Jolla Cove in San Diego for its spectacular ocean views. We timed the wedding just when the worst of my morning sickness was over. I felt better than ever. I even started gaining a little weight.
"I thought your best decision was starting your company."
He shakes his head.
"It wasn't getting your pilot's license?"
He shakes his head. "You," he mouths. He caresses my cheek with his knuckles. "She knew how much you meant to me."
I frown. "Who?"
"Elena knew I was head over heels in love with you, so she had to try and convince me I needed the trappings of the lifestyle."
I shake my head in disbelief.
"I don't want to hear any more about your Mrs. Robinsons. I thought that subject was closed."
Christian blinks. "Wait, let me finish. It's the last time we talk about the Bitch Troll, I swear."
I exhale deeply. "Okay, but make it quick."
"The lifestyle gave me control and kept people at bay. The truth is, I suck at this relationship thing," he sheepishly confesses.
You're doing fine," I say. "You're doing great, actually!"
Christian and I have been married for a month, the happiest time of my life. Christian has been so loving and attentive. He spoils me. "Do you miss the lifestyle?" I ask. Even though we've talked about this before, I can't resist the temptation. I want to be sure he's happy.
"Yes and no."
I frown, and he traces his finger over the middle of my brow and above my nose. "You have a V here when you frown," he murmurs. "I can be the greatest jerk in the world, and yet you married me. You're still here. You were right when you told me I acted like an adolescent."
It's the first time since we got married that he mentions our big fight the night I slept in the guestroom. Oh, shit, I did say that! My subconscious glares at me. "Christian, I said some awful things."
"Hush, I deserved it. I'm not a good person, Anastasia."
Oh, my poor fifty! I take his hand in mine and look deeply into his eyes. I want him to see I STRONGLY disagree with his statement.
"I love you, Christian...and Blip will love you too. Children are programmed to love their parents unconditionally, and that's how we all come into the world. And you, Mr. Grey, are not the exception. When you were four, you still wanted your mom; you loved her."
"No," he whispers.
"Yes. You did." My tears flow freely now. "Loving her was NOT an option. I know it's painful, but Christian, forgive her. Please! Ella had demons to wrestle with, like most of us."
"She was a shitty mother."
"She was, and you loved her anyway."
Christian is stuck remembering the bad moments. If I could only get him to acknowledge the good, his viewpoint would become more balanced.
As if reading my mind, his expression softens with acceptance.
"She baked me a cake for my birthday and played cars with me," he whispers. "I used to brush her hair; she was pretty."
He caresses my face with the back of his knuckles. "You're amazing, you know that?" He tells me with a look of relief on his face. He's finally He's finally allowing himself to love his birth mother. It is a step in the right direction, the beginning of the healing process.
"You really think I can be a good enough parent?"
There, right there, is the root of all his anxieties.
"Oh, Christian, do you think for one minute that I'll let you get away with acting like a shitty father?"
He chuckles. "Probably not."
I look into his face, and I see hope. That's how I know we'll weather every storm as a couple as long as we remain committed and rely on one other.
A/N:
Dedication: In loving memory of Sam (2010-2024). Pictures of Teddy's nursery can be found on my Pinterest account: /Kz4carmelitajones/
We didn't write an epilogue the first time we posted this, but I've been thinking about it. Stay tuned.
Wishing you loads of love, money & health this new year.