Chapter 15

Ana

I close the last drawer and feel myself sink to the floor of this frankly unnecessarily huge closet. Technically… my closet. Our closet. Me and my long-lost best friend turned billionaire boyfriend. My things living among his things for the foreseeable future.

Somehow, my landlord was unrattled by the fact that I was breaking my very young lease. He even waived the fee because I was such a 'good tenant.' I can't help but feel like a well-placed check from a well-meaning megalomaniac might have had something to do with that…

"Unpacking is tiring, huh?"

I turn my head to see the megalomaniac in question smiling at me, leaning against the doorway with his arms folded. Truthfully, it wasn't that tiring, courtesy of the movers hired and watched like a hawk by Taylor and Sawyer. My entire little apartment was packed up within a few hours, the old, worn furniture donated, and the rest of my minimal possessions delivered and unpacked by yours truly, with a little help from Gail. The event was barely a weekend in all. "Well, in closets this massive. You know how many steps I got in just putting away my socks?"

He chuckles and shakes his head, walking forward and holding a hand out to help me up. "You'll get used to it."

"I suppose I'll have to," I sigh, feigning resignation, but I giggle soon after, my acting skills nothing to write home about. "Has it sunk in for you yet? Any cold feet?"

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "If my feet do get cold, I could just steal a pair of my live-in girlfriend's socks. But no, they're perfectly warm. What about you?" he asks quietly, a hint of a strain to his voice.

"Well, you don't see me reaching for a pair either. Although I can't say it's completely sunk in yet… it stills feel like I might wake up."

He lightly pinches the top of my arm. "Still awake?"

I giggle. "Seems like it."

"Well, shall we go to bed? The bed that we now share officially?" He sounds almost giddy. It's the most adorable thing.

I skip a few steps ahead of him, dragging him along with me, towards the bathroom. The one that has my toothbrush in it. And my moisturizer. And my body wash and my shampoo. This is just too wild. "We shall, my darling."

We brush our teeth side by side, periodically glancing at each other in the mirror and giving each other frothy smiles. We even spit at the same time into our respective sinks, causing us both to start laughing. When we crawl into bed, we just stare at the ceiling, holding hands side by side. It's a Sunday night. The beginning of a new week, and at the same time, the beginning of a new chapter for us.

"Our first night together," Christian breathes, so quietly I'm not sure I was meant to hear it.

"Feels like it's been a long time coming…" I whisper back.

"Something like a decade," he replies with a hint of humor. He rolls over and hovers above me, our eyes locked. "And I hope you know that we can't let our first night pass without officially christening this bed," he murmurs.

I feel a slow heat start to trickle through my veins. "No, that would be the height of carelessness."

He lowers his lips to mine and they part, our tongues meeting in a way that feels like relief. He reaches his hand under my shirt, playing with the string on my sleep shorts, and then… ohhh…

My eyes are closed in complete bliss. His lips and tongue play with one breast, his fingers deliciously torture and tease after tossing my panties aside. He trails kisses up my neck. "I love you, my Ana," he whispers right into my ear.

"I love you," I sigh.

He slips inside…

A sharp knock on my office door wrenches me from my trip back to last night. I blink quickly and fan myself, trying to cool the blood that's rushed to my cheeks. "Come in," I call.

The receptionist peeks her head inside. "Ana, you have a nice lady at the desk asking for—hey, are you okay? You look a little flushed."

I clear my throat. "Yes… yes, I'm fine. Just a little stuffy in here. Thanks for letting me know."

She nods politely and I start to organize my things a bit before heading to the lobby to meet my guest, but the door swings open again. "Am I supposed to wait all day?" a teasing voice says.

I laugh. "Sorry. Got lost in a daydream."

Marty walks forward and folds me into a motherly hug, which I return eagerly. "Was it at least a fun one?" she asks, pulling back to look at me. I feel my cheeks heat once again. "Oh, I see it was," she says suggestively.

"Stop!" I groan, realizing I'm sounding not exactly unlike a teenager. Parental figures really bring out the whiner in you.

"I don't blame you, hon. Christian isn't exactly murder on the eyes."

"Let's go." I grab her hand, eager to put an end to this conversation.

The office chatter lulls as I close my door behind me. Oh, here we go again... despite Ros and Christian's disciplinary actions and adjustments to the staff, I'm still not the most popular. I catch Marty's perplexed look before dropping my eyes to the floor. In and out.

We walk to a café down the street, order some sandwiches and coffee, and take a table by the window where we can people-watch. "So… all moved in, huh?" Marty asks, taking a bite of her turkey club.

I nod, sipping my cappuccino. "Yes, ma'am. Is that why you decided to trek to Seattle?"

She smiles slyly. "I'll have you know I have a commission to drop off here. Seeing you is just a bonus. How's it feel?"

I ponder this a second, trying to find the right wording. "It feels… surreal. I keep thinking he'll change his mind, or I'll wake up, or… I don't know, it just feels too good to be true."

She lightly snorts. "Goodness, I doubt he'll change his mind. The man waited a decade for you." She pauses. "I'm glad you're back in therapy. The way you're talking makes it sound like you think you've won the lottery and he's just coasting. I'm not sure you're seeing that quite clearly."

"I guess it's a habit. I love him to death, and I just think the world of him. It's wild that he seems to be the same way with me. I just hope it lasts…" The thought of life after him for the second time sounds… ugh, don't even go there.

"You know, sometimes I still feel that way about Ray. This gets to be my life? I get this wonderful, supportive man and he came with a daughter I've come to love like my own, too? It does feel surreal. Maybe that just means that you have something worth having?"

I shrug sheepishly. "Maybe. Love you too, by the way."

She smiles. "I know. And what's this about Kate? Headed down the aisle?"

I smile at the thought of my best friend and her impending happy ending. "Yes. We're going wedding dress shopping soon. I think the plan is to get hitched as soon as possible. I have a feeling they might elope if they could, but I think Mia would have a conniption." Take away a chance for her to throw a party and feel her wrath.

"So, your best friend is going to be your sister-in-law. How small is this world?" she says airily.

I can almost hear the brakes screeching on my thoughts as I choke on my coffee. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Sister-in-law?" I cough. "She's my best friend, but we're not actually sisters."

"Well, Elliot is Christian's brother," she says, like it's obvious.

"Well, yes, but just because I live with Christian doesn't mean I'm his—" I just laugh. I can't even get the word out. It's too ridiculous.

"Ana, come on. It's not that far of a jump."

"Listen, cohabitation is one thing, but the joining of our lives in a way like that? Someone like me with someone like him? Yeah. I don't see that happening. Can you imagine how complicated it would be?"

"What do you mean, someone like you with someone like him?"

"Marty, come on. It's no secret that he's not short on… well, anything. He has the whole world and more. I have nothing to bring to a… you know." I still can't seem to get the words out. "Besides, you're one to talk. You and my dad have been together for almost a decade and you're still roommates."

She laughs lightly. "I guess it's different when you're old and washed-up like us. And I'm not sure white is my color." She looks down at her plate, but I think I catch a hint of… something signaling that it's not as lighthearted of a subject as she wants to make it out to be. Hmm. Interesting. But I don't get a chance to call her on this before her gaze meets mine again, this time with a steely look in it. "Was it just me, or what was that energy in the office… still toxic?"

I sigh. This isn't much more pleasant of a subject than the last one, though my heart rate is normalizing. I'm a lot more used to the situation at work than dodging questions about… nope, still can't say it. "It's a weird time for sure."

"I thought you were looking at new positions?"

I shrug. "I haven't ruled it out still, but I feel like I at least need to see how this move goes. It means so much to Christian. I hate to be a deserter, and I loved my job before… well, you know." The precipitating event that caused me to reunite with my person and subsequently become the office pariah.

She shakes her head. "This feels like a classic mean girls situation, babe. I hate to see you so defeated when you're clearly in an unfair position."

"I guess in their eyes, it's unfair for them. I'm unintentionally dating the boss. I don't know. I just try to keep to myself. It has to pass eventually, doesn't it?"

"Hmph," she grumbles quietly. She glances briefly into her lap, where I think I see the flash of her phone lighting up, then smiles. "Ah, that's my commission. I have to run, honey. Thanks so much for squeezing me in. But, listen… don't be afraid to walk with your head up. You got in the door because you deserve to be there, and no one can deny that. Your success predates all things Grey. Try to just remember that, huh?"

My shoulders relax, releasing tension I didn't even know I was storing. "I'll try. Love you and tell Dad I said hi."

She blows me a kiss as she throws her purse over her shoulder. "Love you, angel. I'm sure he says hi back."

We hug one last time before parting ways in opposite directions on the sidewalk. It's a rare clear fall day in Seattle. I look up at the tips of the buildings touching the blue sky as I walk. Only five more hours until I get to go home… ironically, to my new abode in the sky. Monday, Monday, Monday… I reach the lobby and trudge to my desk, but make a reasonable attempt to keep my head up. This time. For you, Marty.

The elevator opens smoothly, and I step into the foyer I now call home, kicking off my heels and letting them haphazardly skitter across the floor. I'll get those later. I sigh heavily as I walk to the kitchen, following the smell of something delicious, though I'm surprised to find no Gails, but one Christian. My mood lifts instantly. "Well, well, well. Honey, I'm home," I say playfully.

He smiles and opens his arms, which I happily walk into, wrapping mine around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss. "Welcome home, baby."

"I thought you'd still be at the office. Or did you skip work today and go to culinary school?" I ask, moving my gaze to the heavenly-looking pasta dish sitting on the stove.

He snorts a laugh. "We have Mrs. Jones to thank for that. I just thought I'd be home to greet you on our very first Monday together."

I can't contain the giggle that escapes me. He's really just too cute, it's not fair. "So, are we going to eat?"

He smiles boyishly, almost mischievously. "I have a surprise for you first." He takes my hand and leads me down the hall. Part of me hopes we're heading for the bedroom, but he takes a turn, and we stop in front of the library. He makes brief eye contact with me before pushing open the door and pulling me inside behind him.

"What's the—holy shit." I stop and my mouth drops open as I see the new addition hanging on the wall. "Shut the fuck up!" I yell excitedly. He laughs at my profanity as I run forward to get a better look.

Decorating the previously empty wall in the library is a painting of my childhood home. The one that Ray and I made into our own together after he adopted me, the one that Marty eventually moved into, and the one place I've ever really felt was home. Everywhere else has just been a pit stop. And as if I couldn't recognize those brush strokes anywhere, Marty's signature is in the corner.

That sneaky little… so she did have a commission after all. A very high-profile commission.

"So… you like it?" Christian asks almost hesitantly from behind me.

I whirl around to face him. "You are perfect."

If I didn't know better, I would say I catch a hint of a blush on his face. "I just want this to feel like home for you. I thought this might be a start."

I practically throw myself into his arms again. "I think you just might be home for me. You really think of everything."

He shrugs modestly. "I mostly think of you." The sweet moment is interrupted by a growling stomach. He laughs. "Well, right now, I'm also thinking about food."

I laugh with him. "Gosh, let's go before you faint."

"It's in your best interest, too, baby. I want to be well-fueled to tire you out tonight," he says salaciously.

Now I'm the one who's about to faint. Looks like Tuesday is going to be fraught with distracted thoughts once again… "Dinner it is, then."

A/N: Hello! Ahhhh! It's been so long. Life update: I did finish my master's at the end of April (yay!), but then I almost immediately got not one, but two job offers! Both were part-time, so I accepted both. I've been settling in to my new responsibilities and enjoying not having homework for a while and now I'm ready to devote some time to my imagination.

I do feel a tad rusty, but I'm enjoying myself and I hope you enjoyed this too. No promises on a timeframe, but I'm happy to get back at it. I hope you're all doing well, wherever this new chapter finds you! See you next time. xo