The pictures taunted Christian, a cruel reminder of what he yearned for. Of course, that was nothing new; Ana had a unique talent for unraveling his perfectly organized world. "Can't be that perfect, can it if this is all it takes." He raged at himself, grappling with a gwaning jealousy that was close to consuming him. Unfortunately, a single picture hadn't captured the interloper's face for a background check. Christian had no idea who the man was, one who had so effortlessly occupied the space he longed to claim as his, and that only inflicted further wounds.

His time with Ana had never felt so relaxed, carefree, and intimate. No, it was always fraught with tension. She had a knack for digging the knife in with her observations, shattering his carefully constructed world. The first blow had come from what he believed was his one constant. Elena, whose blatant lack of belief in him, Ana laid bare. Then, there was the realization that his control was nothing but a joke. That had broken something within him, taken a fundamental part of him, and shattered it.

After avoiding Ana for a couple of weeks, he finally reached out when he saw the pictures of her and JB. Those were innocent compared to this. Worse, he realized she hadn't bothered to call him either. This mutual silence was a stark reminder of their lack of any real relationship. If his plan was to work, he needed to slap a plaster on the wound she had inflicted and get back in the game. He needed Ana to feel bereft and crave his presence.

Their night out to Jose Rodriguez's exhibit had been something of a revelation. Surrounded by what felt like friends, he engaged in perfectly everyday conversations, yet the experience was bittersweet. For the first time, he felt a part of something larger than himself—a connection to people. However, the joy was overshadowed by an unsettling feeling that lingered in the back of his mind.

He couldn't shake the feeling that the boy's story he had heard was significant, but he couldn't quite grasp why. If he didn't cut the evening short, Ana would inevitably point out what he was missing, and he didn't have the emotional strength to face another reality that night.

In a moment of weakness, he retreated again, avoiding her presence. It was painful to acknowledge that someone else had so easily slipped into the space he had hoped to occupy in her life, even if falsely. This realization stung, igniting a mix of jealousy and regret within him. Distance from her was not going to work; he needed to endure the pain if he was to gain any momentum.

His eyes drifted to the photographs strewn about on his desk, their heads joined together in conversation. Her head was thrown back in laughter in just about every other picture. If he thought the dinner had been bad, the evening ended at Gaman, a club that opened about a year ago. They'd been ushered in as though they were celebrities. When the surveillance team finally entered the club, the pair were hidden in a VIP corner. The lack of clarity in the photos only fueled his imagination, conjuring up scenarios that tormented him.

It was painful to admit that despite his time with Ana, he'd never once hinted or moved towards asserting his romantic intentions. The sobering truth was that he had no idea what to do in that regard.

By Monday morning, the lack of knowledge was unbearable, driving him to the brink of insanity.

Ana couldn't summon the will to feign surprise when Christian turned up at the studio Monday afternoon. At least he had the decency to bring lunch. She felt exhausted; her planned quiet weekend had morphed into a weekend of tiring adventures, reminiscent of when her ex was in town, and he insisted she let her hair down.

Dinner at Canlis led to a night of dancing at a club she had invested in. The siblings who owned the club had practically rolled out the red carpet when she called to say she was coming. Clubs, in general, weren't her scene, especially if she had to venture there alone. People became ruder, bolder, and more touchy after a few drinks, invading her personal space with alarming frequency. Her patience in such places wore thin by the second.

Despite being arm in arm with Hunt, the pair was constantly hit on by people who seemed to thrive on the thrill of the chase. The atmosphere was electric, but Ana felt a mix of anxiety and annoyance. She longed for the quiet comfort of her own space, away from the prying eyes and unwanted advances. It was a chance to check on her investment, but never again, and certainly not with an uncle prone to using his fists rather than his words after a little alcohol in his system.

"Lunch, now there is an incentive to force a break." Ana gleefully snatched the bag from him, earning a chuckle in return. Despite that, she didn't miss the tightness around his eyes, the raised shoulders, and his attempt to suppress his anger. She found his anger amusing; the man with a submissive had an issue with her weekend because she was with a man he didn't know. "This is new." Ana got comfortable on the sofa. Christian, after a moment of hesitation, sat next to her, his eyes taking in every inch of her office. Whatever that was about, she didn't care to decipher.

"The rest of my day suddenly became free, and I thought, why not?" he said, his tone casual, but Ana could sense the underlying tension. She might have bought into his nonchalance if she didn't know better.

"Good for you! I wish I had the day free. I got nowhere near enough sleep this weekend. My plans to relax and catch up on some reading went out the window very quickly," she replied, taking a hearty bite of her steak sandwich and groaning in delight.

"Good, isn't it?" he said with a chuckle, his demeanor softening momentarily.

"Okay, where did you get this? It's going to become my new lunch spot," Ana declared, promptly taking another bite, savoring the moment.

"I'm afraid that is Gail's doing," he said, suddenly seeming to relax a bit more, his suit jacket unbuttoned as he threw his arm over the back of the sofa, a gesture that suggested he was trying to appear more at ease.

"Of course, it is," she muttered with an eye roll, having sampled many of Gail's culinary skills.

"What kept you up this weekend that has you wishing your day was free?" Christian asked, his tone shifting slightly. The relaxed pose he had adopted was now stiffening again. She'd brought up the weekend, giving leeway to the inquiry.

"Had family in town," she replied, her answer short and to the point. However, the way he clenched his jaw indicated he thought she was lying. She was more interested in enjoying her sandwich than elaborating on her weekend.

"Family?" he probed, positioning himself to face her more directly, his curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, we had dinner and checked on one of my investments," she mumbled.

"Certainly looked nothing like family when I saw you two at Gaman," he retorted boldly, a hint of accusation in his voice.

"You should have come and said hello," Ana replied, her amusement at his anger growing. She enjoyed the playful banter, even if it was laced with tension on his end.

"You are not denying my assertion that he looked nothing like family," he shot back, his eyes narrowing slightly. She had been deliberately obtuse, and this only served to stoke his ire.

"I said he is family; you obviously believe that to be a lie. I truly am not remotely interested in trying to convince you otherwise. I don't see the point. And even if Hunt wasn't family, as I have stated, you have no room to feel any type of way about it when you spent your weekend flogging a sub," Ana challenged, her eyes firmly glued to his, daring him to deny her words.

This he hadn't seen coming; he'd been so laser-focused on her weekend, his and the hypocritical nature of it never once crossed his mind. What room did he have to be pissed about who she spent her weekend with when he was spending his with a submissive.

"Fair point well made," he conceded, clearly taken aback by her retort. The shift in the conversation had caught him off guard. Abruptly, he stood, the frustration evident in his posture. It was clear this trip had been a waste of his time.

Yes, he had a sub, but it didn't change the fact that he was enraged she spent her weekend with another. Another, who so easily got what he was failing so thoroughly to grasp. He was no closer to making Elliot feel the pain of his words now than the day those words were uttered.

"Thanks for lunch; it was utterly delicious. What can I bribe Gail with for the recipe?" she asked, her tone lightening the mood.

He laughed a genuine sound that momentarily eased the tension. "Honestly, I have no idea," he admitted. "How about Thursday night for dinner, and you can ask her then?" he suggested a hint of hope in his voice.

"I definitely will," she replied, checking her phone and smiling at the news that Lincoln's safe was empty and her home was bugged. The thrill of the unfolding plan added a layer of excitement to her day.

"See you then," he said, turning on his heel and storming out of her office, leaving him feeling the sting of Elliot's words more now than ever.

There was something to be said for the simple pleasure of looking forward to going to Grey's so that she could quiz Gail about that delicious sandwich. The anticipation of knowing the secret to her sandwich was a delightful distraction from the chaos swirling around her life where Christian fucking Grey was concerned. Ana decided she didn't want to rush the retouching; the artwork deserved her full attention. Just as she was about to call it a day, Luke appeared, his expression clouded with concern.

"Bad news, I'm afraid," he mumbled, his voice low and serious.

Ana's heart sank slightly. "How much is he giving her?" she asked, bracing herself for the answer.

"She asked for a loan of two million dollars, and he agreed to give it to her," Luke replied, his tone grave. "Whatever else you have planned, you better have it in place soon. You've got two weeks."

"Why two weeks?" Ana looked up from her painting, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"She asked for a business loan, and he is conducting it as such. He wants it in writing, a payment plan, and legal recourse should she fail to pay it back. Her house is collateral," Luke explained.

Ana couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and sympathy. "His disdain for her is as obvious as his inability to cut the cord," she mumbled, grabbing her phone. The thought of Christian's complicated feelings toward Elena Lincoln was exhausting. In hindsight, this was a mistake on her part; she'd divested Lincoln of her money too soon. She didn't bother to call him; a text would suffice for now.

'Unfortunately, still

behind in my

retouching.

Rain-check?'