My dear little broccolis💚💚💚
💚 So, this story is dedicated to two particular authors with whom I have briefly touched on those issues, and who make amazing stories. paleseptember10 & Krooela. Go check them out, you won't regret it.
💚 Fallen Angel💚
How would have Christian Grey's life turned out if the Greys had intervened when Elena tried to sink her claws into him? Would he still be the same man as we know, or someone completely different ...
‼️Rated M - {Out Of Characters/All Human/Alternate Universe}‼️
‼️Romance/Angst/Drama/Lemons‼️
‼️AS/CG/The Greys/The Steeles/Jack Hyde/Elena Lincoln‼️
💚 READ & REVIEW, DON'T BE A SILENT READER 💚
Chapter 9: Revelation (2,4K)
Christian's Pov
I managed to book an emergency session with Martha on Tuesday, just before leaving for Portland. It does delay my departure, but I need to vent. I am still so pissed and it's been years since something so small affected me like that. I mean, it's not small, but I don't know Rose that well. We only met once, and sure, we've texted every day since then, but I shouldn't feel so angry about something happening to her.
When I get to Martha's office, she's not in yet as her secretary warned me. I wait five minutes, and Martha finally comes in, but I don't look at her. I just stay on my position, my elbows on my knees and my hands joined as I nervously bounce my right leg up and down.
Martha sits and waits for me to talk, but I don't say a word, trying to contain my rage.
"Christian … It's been years since you've needed to see me more than once a week. And now, you won't talk? What's wrong?"
"I'm … fucking pissed! And I can't do a thing about it, which pisses me off even more!"
I see from the corner of my eyes that she writes down, but I don't even care. I glance at my knuckles, bruised because I boxed without gloves until the point of exhaustion yesterday night. This is not good. I haven't lost control like that in years.
"About?"
"Rose." Is all I say. I'm pretty sure she knew before she even asked the question. She waits, and so I explain to her,
"Some fucker tried to sexually assault her Friday night!"
She writes again and asks. "Do you know what happened?"
I relate to her what Rose told me yesterday night, my fists turning white as I do so. When I finish, I let out a long breath and relax my fingers, feeling Martha's eyes on me as she asks, "Does that bring you bad memories?"
I blink, looking up. I didn't even think of that. I'm not angry because of how it can be linked to my past and the way Elena tried to make me her sex toy. I'm just angry for Rose. She said no. She clearly said the word, and the guy still tried to push it. At least, I never clearly expressed the word, even though I didn't actually want it. Rose did, and she was still coerced into trying to take it further. This is just wrong.
So I shake my head, leaning backwards and looking at the ceiling. "It's not the same. Elena was clever enough to make me believe that I gave consent. That fucker … he didn't take no for an answer. Twice." I growl.
I clench my fists before shoving them in my pockets. If only she had told me his name, I would have paid good money to get a PI to find him for me, and I would have taught that fucker some manners!
"Why are you angry, then?" Martha has the audacity to ask, and I lift my head to stare at her dumbfounded.
"It's pretty obvious, no?!"
"But it seems that Rose handled the situation just fine and that she just needed you as a friend to advise her as to what to do next. And she even seems to accept and take your advice."
I lock my jaw, throwing my head back to look at the ceiling. That's what I said I wanted, right? Her friendship. And that's what happened, right? She asked me to be her friend, and I gave her friendly advice. But still,
"She shouldn't have been in this situation, to begin with."
Just by her condescending tone, I know Martha's smiling down on me as she says, "Christian … you know better than anyone that life is anything but sweet. And it looks like Rose can take care of herself. She doesn't need you …"
God, I hate when she does that. She knows exactly what's bugging me, and yet, she's forcing me to say it out loud. I get it, it's easier to accept things when they come from your own voice than someone else's, but still.
I swallow, my eyes still on the ceiling, "I want her to need me … As a friend," I quickly add.
Martha does that little 'Mmhmm' that I love so much, and I keep staring at the blank ceiling. I have only met that girl once, why do I care what she wants or needs? I mean, yes, she became part of my daily life, and my days always brighten when she sends me a text, but that doesn't mean I should care so much about her and her wellbeing.
I let out a loud sigh and close my eyes, wondering if this whole caring thing is because I do find her attractive and I know that if I didn't have this touch issue, I would have pursued her the same way any man would.
If it wasn't for the touch issue, I probably would have been in Portland Friday night, wooing my way into her bed (in a consensual way), and she never would have had to deal with that fucker. Or maybe I'm just attracted to her, because deep down, I know I will never take it any further.
She's like a beautiful painting at the museum. I can watch, but I'll never touch. At least, I get to know the masterpiece firsthand. Who wouldn't want to befriend the Mona Lisa?
Martha speaks again, tearing me out of my wayward thoughts, "But Christian … she did go to you for help as a friend. She asked for your opinion and it seems that she's happy with what you told her. That's what friends do."
Yeah, that's what friends do. So why am I still hang up on that? Why do I feel that there is something else I could do?
"I want to beat the shit out of this fucker," I lowly whisper, mostly because I don't want to open the whole case of my anger issues. It's been under control for years. I didn't beat up anyone but the boxing bag. Let's not go down that road again.
"Would that make you feel better?"
"Yes," I admit without hesitation. So much better!
"Would that strengthen your relationship with Rose?"
This makes me look at Martha. This is the first time that she's making it about someone else, and not about me. Even when she struggled to make me realised how my self-destructive behaviour affected my family, she made me say the words, she didn't ask straight up questions like that. It's … unusual and unsettling.
And the truth is, I don't know. I don't think so. Rose seemed perfectly fine depending on herself and no one else. She's probably a fervent defender of that whole movement of 'strong independent women who needs no men in their lives'. Don't get me wrong, I admire them, but I do think that sometimes some of them take it too far. There is nothing wrong with needing someone. I did, and I turned out the better by accepting my family's and Eric's help.
"So what? I'm just supposed to do nothing?" I muse, unsettled by that idea.
"Maybe you should trust her judgement. If she said she would handle it, trust that she can. You said it yourself, Christian. You just want to be her friend."
.~°~. .~°~. .~°~.
The next day, I am at the university, ready to deliver some awe-inspiring speech that my PR got ready for me and hand out diplomas to young graduates. I did text Rose to let her know that I am in Portland for the day. I tried to be subtle about it, and not in your face, but she turned me down anyway, saying that she was spending most of the day with her father and the night with some friends. Let's just hope that the fucker isn't one of them.
Elliott has been in a mood since yesterday. We spent the night at the Heathman, though I'm pretty sure he would have rather spend the night with Miss Kavanagh. So to distract him, I asked how they met and all that shit.
Apparently, they met at a club (somehow, I'm not surprised). It was supposed and agreed to be a one-time thing until it wasn't. Elliott came back the next day, and the one after that, and so on. He spends most of his nights at her place. But the way he speaks about her, I can tell it's more than just sex. At least to him. He knows and cares a bit too much for a simple booty-call. Especially knowing Elliott and his usual policy with people.
It's odd seeing Elliott like that, but it's not bad. He just seems … smitten as Mia would say. If all goes well, I'll make sure to tease him about this.
When we get to the university, we're met with the Dean and a few members of the board and other people I don't really pay attention to. This is really to please Harvey and help my public image. Let's show the world that I care about the future in a way less subtle than investing in what could actually save our planet.
They blabber for a while, praising me for whatever amount of money I donated to their establishment, and blah and blah and fucking blah. Elliott doesn't say a word, sitting in a corner with a fucking smirk on his face. He knows how much I hate doing all of this.
This is something we all took from Carrick, to Grace's dismay. If we're going to do something good, we don't need an audience. Not that Grace isn't charitable. She's the most charitable person I know. But she believes that the best way to influence people is to show them how it's done. Hence the tons of charity events that she throws every year.
Shortly before the ceremony, the Dean proposes a tour of the place done by the year's valedictorian, and Miss Kavanagh comes in, narrowing suspicious eyes at Elliott as soon as she sees him. My brother grumbles something about needing water and disappears and I have to repress myself from laughing. Elliott is chickening out in front of Miss Kavanagh! Wait until I tell Mia.
Miss Kavanagh doesn't mention a thing and starts showing me around, and so I kill the elephant in the room. I can't leave my brother like that.
"So, it has come to my attention that you are seeing my brother," I say lightly, and I see her tense slightly before she corrects me,
"I used to. But it's in the past."
"It's not because of this offer I made you, is it?"
She turns and narrows her eyes at me. "Why did you make that offer then, Mr Grey?"
"Because you didn't seem too happy to follow the path that Eamon Kavanagh has traced for you, and I know how it feels."
"Is that what he told you to say?"
"No. To be honest, I was not aware of your relationship until Saturday night."
"Oh?" She seems surprised, and so I use the opportunity to plead for my brother's case.
"Miss Kavanagh, I propositioned you because of the tenacity I saw in your eyes, because I thought I'd try to make it easier for you, instead of doing something you don't like, and your résumé pleased my PR team since they approached you. What, or who, you do outside of work is none of my business."
She doesn't say a word, still walking me through the building, and I add for good measures, "Elliott really likes you. I'd feel terrible being the reason why you ended it with him. So if it's something else, please tell me."
.~°~. .~°~. .~°~.
I just delivered the blandest speech I have ever delivered, and now I am stuck handing out diplomas next to the Dean. Face after face, I am here, giving them their piece of paper, knowing that most of them are never going to actually use it and doing my best to not touch anyone.
Though my chest and back are where I really can't bear to be touched, the rest of my body still makes me tense. So far, only my family has touched me on my arms, and even then, they don't overdo it. We get to the S's and I glance at Elliott in the corner who rolls his eyes, as bored as I am before he grins at someone on the crowd. I assume Miss Kavanagh had a little conversation with him.
And there, I see her. Rose. I repress a smile because now I am definitely going to know her name. I just gave a diploma to a Stanford. So … Rose … Stevens? Stanley? Strider? Or are we going to skip to the T's straight away? She has a scowl of her face as if she's bothered by something, and finally, she moves toward me as the Dean calls her name … But it's not the name she gave me,
"Anastasia Steele."
.~°~. .~°~. .~°~.
💚Your thoughts and opinions are always welcomed💚
💚 So,So, finally, they meet again ... hihi ... And we have Anastasia Steele in front of Christian Grey. Remember, Christian never told her much about what he did in life.
💚 And Christian clarified things for Elliott? Do you think it worked?
💚 And a new character will be introduced next chapter? Can you guess who? If you do, you'll get a sneak peek ^^
💚Well, let me know what you thought of this chapter. What was your favourite part? What do you think will happen next?
💚 E L James owns the names of the characters from the Fifty Shades franchise, Everything else is mine (including the mistakes and grammar errors).
Love, Mina 💚💚💚