CHAPTER 6

He exhaled big and took another big slug draining his glass. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop and for Ana to get up and leave. Ana was intuitive and knew that was what he expected her to do. She looked directly into his eyes.

Ana said restrained, "She had you channel all your rage into sex and punishment, like your angst, frustration and when you feel out of control. I bet she even had you make up those contracts the way she would do it. Being attracted to women that look like your mother is one thing, but having you punish them to channel your rage, anger and disappointment of what you experienced as a child in a sexual way is another. Now you're channeling all your negative emotions into punishment you dole out from your everyday life and work too. You must understand that Elena unethically manipulated you emotionally and made you have to hide what she did to you from the world and your family. What reason would she have to make you scared of anyone finding out, Christian? Because she was a pedophile hiding what she did to you. That is how they operate or it would be above board. It has kept you from dealing with your issues and not realizing it was wrong because you have never let anyone in close enough tell you. Your shrink doesn't count. You should have researched what she was telling you and you would have discovered it was all bullshit. BDSM is not what she taught you. She taught you sadistic master/slave controlling behavior. Christian, your a sadist that gets off on tormenting someone to channel negative emotions like frustration and anger. It is wrong, and borders on psychopathology. That's not being in control of yourself can't you see that? You're acting out of control like that in an emotional outburst using what you call subs as outlets? That's why it is not real BDSM. It's not just about inflicting pain as a goal and getting off on it in order to have sex. If you couldn't be touched, bondage would have been enough. The rest was blatant manipulation of a child to be mold to be just like that old hag. She was grooming you to use you." Christian stood up and got another full glass of the bourbon. He was getting angry like in Flynn's office.

Christian said, perturbed, "You don't understand."

Ana said back at him firmly, "No, its you who does understand and you who doesn't like your behavior questioned. Your pedophile friend fucked you over the minute she brought you the that glass of lemonade into the backyard and sucked you off the next day. If she would have kept her dirty hands to herself, after a couple years you would have matured a little. Perhaps, a nice understanding girl could have changed your whole life. You could have been married by now. That's what she has stolen from you!" Christian stood up and started pacing upset. He was angry and pulling on his hair.

He snapped, "I know she's annoying and you can't stand her, but even though she crammed it down my throat, I did stop fighting and drinking."

Ana stood up, assertively facing him and said, "You're in denial and you cannot justify what she has done to you. A good kick in your ass would have done it and some regular discipline. My father could have straightened you out fast. She has tried to ruin your life and only focus on herself gaining her five businesses all because of your money. I would think, if you were a shrewd businessman, you would have an in-house audit done on her. I will bet you a million dollars right now that she has been stealing more money from you than you realize. I know it because you were conditioned to let her do any goddamn thing she wants while you turn a blind eye and never question her actions. Prove me wrong, Christian! That's why she is getting up in your face telling you what to do, when to do it and with whom because you were groomed to let her. She stole your joy and happiness. Tell me, Christian, when have you ever felt one moment of profound joy in your whole life? Your childhood was rough and sad as hell, but when have you truly ever been happy? Your money and company success doesn't count." He was getting more agitated. He smashed his glass against the wall.

He shouted roaring, "What the fuck do you want from me!"

Ana walked straight up to him, grabbed him by the lapels of his suit jacket and spun him around. She shouted with full authority, "Stop this shit, right now!" He jerked out of her hold and stepped back.

He shouted at her, "Why are you pushing me!"

Ana shouted back, "Because I am not fucking afraid of you like you have most people acting around you walking on goddamn eggshells! You damn sure better learn what I call bullshit when I see it! You have played this fucked up game since you were a child! Are you not sick of it yet?! Don't you want your independence from being demanded and fucking controlled by that fucking woman! She used you for sex, used you as a fucking whipping post, then for your money, then your social connections?! Come on, Grey, wake the fuck up! You haven't been on your own since that bitch put her first hand on you!"

Taylor was around the corner and had been listening to them shouting at each other. He heard Ana pull out both barrels calling him out on his bullshit. She was leveling him.

Christian shouted out, "I am not a victim!!!" He was enraged then he said quieter, "I'm not a victim."

Ana said in a calmer voice, "Yes, you are." He kept shaking his head looking at the floor and fell to the ground on his butt. She kicked off her heels and sat down next to him and pulled her knees up.

He was weeping in silence, because big splotches of drops were splattering his suit pants. Ana said softly to him, "You were just a little boy who needed help. Nothing was your fault. You had bad people around you."

He said in a whisper, "I hate feeling vulnerable and not in control anymore."

She said softly, taking his hand in hers and interlacing their fingers, "Yeah, but you're not going to be all alone this time. I'll help you as you face it. Sometimes you just need someone to straighten your shit out, make you see what's going on and give you the support you never got before."

He looked up at her with wet lashes and wiping tear streaks off his face. She reached up and wiped his cheeks gently. He grabbed his handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his eyes. He turned to her and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to his chest. She had to think about where to put her hands on his arm and his waist. He buried his face in her neck and sighed.

Taylor saw him calming down and retreated to the security office. To find an issue going on. Sawyer had just been watching, a black figure was sneaking into the Escala underground parking. He was watching the person moving between the vehicles in Christian's line of parked vehicles. The person ducked down in-between Christian's Spyder and Ana's McLaren. A few moments later, the person then snuck out back the same way they came. Ryan was on shift and was on his way down the service elevator to see what had been done because the person had left before he could get there. Ryan laid down on the pavement between the cars and Ana's had a GPS tracker magnet on the frame of her car and the brake line was cut leaking red fluid everywhere. Ryan took the magnetic device off with a rubber glove from his pocket. He went back up the elevator to the security office and told Taylor to report the vandalism of Miss Steele's car. Taylor said, "l will go report it to them now. Make sure to get a couple thumb drives with the recording on them one for us and one for the police." Taylor went out to the living room.

Christian and Ana had got up and were sitting on the couch together. Taylor said, "Excuse me, sir. We had a vandal enter below ground parking and cut the brake lines on Miss Steele's car and have retrieved a GPS tracker magnet on her car also. We will dust it for fingerprints."

Ana looked at Christian and said, "Elena. She's the only one who knew I might be here with you." Christian sighed and nodded.

Christian said, "Taylor, make sure all codes are changed here and she has no access to GEH properties at all unless she has an appointment at headquarters. She is going to be at my parents on Christmas for dinner, double the guards to watch the cars and in the house. I don't know what she thinks she is doing but trying to harm Ana is her last mistake. She will be audited Monday and financially disconnected Tuesday."

Ana said, "I need to go home and make a call. I'll line up a tow truck on Monday to the garage. Can you take me home to Premiere on Pine at 9th and Pine St.?"

Christian asked, "Are you dropping a dime, like you said you would do?"

Ana smiled and said, "Why yes, Christian. She's going to learn what being scared is about probably when she goes home after dinner tomorrow night." Christian nodded. Taylor thought, 'I hope she scares that bitch to death.'

Christian took Ana to the closet and helped her on with her coat. Ana said, "What time tomorrow?"

He smiled and said, "Four thirty. My mother likes to socialize a bit before dinner." He pulled her close and kissed her. Sawyer came with the keys to drive her home.

Ana said smiling as the parted, "Goodnight, Christian."

He said softly, "Goodnight, baby." Ana got on the elevator with Sawyer and smiled at him waving. The door closed.

Christian stood there for a minute and thought as he walked to his bedroom to get ready for bed, 'What a fucking rollercoaster of a night. God, she is the most beautiful woman ever. Elena is going to be a real pain in the ass tomorrow. Especially because we know she tried to kill Ana by sending whoever the fuck to cut her brake lines. I'm done. I want that audit done immediately with overtime. What a heavy conversation Ana and I had. I'm wrung out. I need to call Flynn Monday too. Ana was hard on me but I saw it and heard her. I'm going to be sorting this shit out for days. I can't wait to talk to Flynn as soon as possible.'

—--

Sawyer walked Ana to the SUV. Once they were buckled in, Sawyer said, "I read your background check. It was quite a read." Ana smirked.

She said, "What's your name? What did you learn?"

He said chuckling, "I'm Luke Sawyer. I learned that Elena is stupid as hell for pulling that shit tonight and fucking with you." Ana nodded her head.

Ana said looking out the window, "She thinks she is smarter than everyone else. I've profiled many like her, a full on narcissist. Christian is her weakness. She thinks she can get rid of me so simply and easily." She sighed and said, "I will warn her this once because then after, if she comes at me again, I'll 'lower the big boom' on her. She may need to disappear for good."

He asked curiously, "Just what did you do for the CIA? It had to be highly classified. I tried to find out more from people I know, but your files are all sealed with high clearance. No regular Analytic Methodologist would have sealed files."

She grinned at him in the mirror and said, "You silly man. I did a bit of this and that. Then a little something something. That's all I can say about it. I am proficient in M110 and MK24 sniper rifles, and almost all semi-automatic pistols. I am a trained black belt in Krav Maga, MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) and Close Combat Training. My stepfather trained me in all self-defense tactics starting at age five. I could break down and put back together a Sig Sauer P226 at six years old. It was my stepfather's side arm. I have it registered to me now. I keep my little Kel-Tec P-11 in my purse at all times or in my gun corset with an extra mag."

Sawyer said grinning, "Are you like Mrs.Smith?"

Ana said laughing, "Hell no, more like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Angelina Jolie ain't got shit on me no matter the movie." He started laughing as he pulled up to the front of the lobby.

Sawyer said smiling, "Take care, Miss Steele. Have a good evening."

She smiled and said, "You too, Sawyer." She turned and went into the lobby.

That night Ana logged onto her home laptop and ran a background check on Elena with her specialized software. She made her call on a burner phone.

She said, "Delmar, it's Steele, I need a favor…." She explained the situation, gave the details and paid for the services.

Ana got ready for bed and went to sleep after going over everything in her mind tonight. She hoped she got through to Christian and Elena is going to get a double gift tomorrow night.