Chapter 14

Ana

Her nerves were frayed and she felt drained. Kit hadn't slept well and consequently neither had she. But it wasn't just lack of sleep making her feel exhausted. Her emotional bandwidth had been stretched too far.

Her mother had phoned voicing her concerns about Christian. "What an awful man. I should have known he was too good to be true. What did I tell you? Never trust a man who can dance."

Her father had also called, upset over what he called a "takeover" by Prescott and Osbourne, the two CPOs arranged by Taylor. He also railed against Christian, asking what she ever saw in "that billionaire piece of shit." Ana declined to answer that question; her father wouldn't appreciate hearing it had been a simple case of dickmatization.

Thank goodness for Kate. Ana knew her friend had issues of her own, mainly regrets about breaking up with Elliot, but she wasn't one to bring up her own problems, especially when Ana was dealing with so many of her own.

"You can just drop us at the door," she told Sawyer. "I'll call you when I'm finished. That way you're free to do as you like for the next hour or two."

"Sorry, ma'am," he said. "That's not how things work. The senior Mr. Grey has offices in the Third Avenue Tower. After I park in the building's garage, I'll escort you to your appointment. You must always stay near your CPO. Otherwise, what's the point of having one?"

She had to face facts. The twenty-fifth richest person on the planet was her son's father and his mugshot was currently plastered all over the news. The tabloids would love nothing more than to get a photographs of her, Kit, or better yet, mother and child together.

Sawyer walked behind Ana as she pushed the stroller. The building was fifty-five stories and the law firm of Grey & Cuthbert occupied the entire thirtieth floor. Marble, granite, and dark wood tones dominated the decor.

A young female receptionist pointed down a corridor. "Conference Room D," she said. "I'll let Mr. Grey know you've arrived."

"I'll see you to the meeting room, then wait for you in the lobby area, unless you'd like me to stay," Sawyer said.

"I'm not afraid of Christian. I don't think he can hurt me more than he already has," Ana said. "There's no reason for you to babysit us."

"Very well," he said, holding the door open wide so Ana could easily get the stroller through the door.

The meeting room was almost cozy. A round table with six chairs dominated the space. There was a credenza flanked by fiddle leaf fig trees. A large painting hung over the credenza, a contemporary image of waves. A large television monitor was mounted on the opposite wall.

Ana chose a seat along the back wall of the room, so she'd have a clear view of the door. She was grateful that they'd arrived early.

"Can I get you anything?" Sawyer asked.

"No, thank you," she told Sawyer. "I'd like to be left alone."

"I understand. You'll find me in the waiting area," he said, leaving her to the peace and quiet of the room. Kit was sleeping, but he'd soon be awake, wanting a meal.

"This meeting is all about you, little man," she whispered. "Your Auntie Kate has arranged an attorney for us. She assures me he'll be firm. You won't ever have to worry about student loans. If you want to learn to sail or draw or ice skate, the resources will be available, though I'm really hoping that your daddy will want to teach you how to do some of those things. He's very competent. And after all, he did promise to make efforts toward being a good father."

The door slowly opened.

Speak of the devil.

Christian looked impossibly handsome. He had obviously dressed so as not to garner attention, but it wasn't working. His jeans and long-sleeved tee accentuated his lean, athletic build. The Mariners cap and sunglasses couldn't hide his perfectly chiseled profile.

"Hi," he said shyly. Placing two bags on the table, he took the chair next to her, so the stroller was between them. "How are you?"

"Well. And you?" She was grateful they'd have a bit of time to chat before the meeting, so they could set aside any awkwardness.

"I'm okay." He pushed one of the bags toward her.

"It was good to get the paternity test out of the way," she said, wanting to find out how he was feeling about being Kit's father. "Now we can move forward and plan a good life for Kit."

"Yeah," he said, looking down at the carpet. "It's all about our kid now."

"I'm glad you recognize that." She could see Christian was struggling with something weighty, but per usual he gave few clues as to what his issues might be.

"Does Kit have a teddy bear?" He asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

"No. He has a little terry cloth bunny that Kate gave him, but no teddy bear."

"Good. I took the liberty of getting him a bear," he said, pushing one of the bags closer to her.

The bag was bright turquoise, festooned with multi-colored ribbons and embossed with the name of the store.

"Snapdoodle," she read aloud. "Such pretty wrapping. Do you want me to open it now?"

"As you wish," he said with a shrug.

She dug through the tissue paper, and pulled out the most adorable bear she'd ever seen.

"Oh, thank you. I love him. I know Kit will, too. You chose the perfect size." She squeezed the bear's belly, enjoying the soft, pillowy sensation. "I think he needs a name, don't you?"

"I guess so. How do you name a bear?" He asked.

"What was the name of your teddy bear? Maybe that should be our starting place," she said.

"I never had a bear," he said. "But Elliot's bear was named Skunk and Mia's bear was named Molly."

"Skunk is a strange name for a bear," she said with a laugh.

"His bear was a panda, so I think the black and white color scheme confused him. He can be quite the idiot, you know."

Ana shook her head and laughed. Christian joined her and she realized how seldom she'd heard him laugh.

"I guess Elliot has always been a goofball," she said. "Why didn't you have a bear? Didn't you want one?"

"I did want one. I just didn't know how to ask for one. This bear… To be honest, I bought him as much for myself as for Kit."

"I understand. I was just suggesting to Kit that he might learn how to ice skate. He probably won't care about skating lessons, but I want him to have what I didn't have. I think such feelings are natural."

"Cinnamon," he said.

"What?" She was confused.

"Cinnamon. The bear is reddish brown, the color of cinnamon. Maybe that's what we should call him."

He was spot on about the color.

"Cinnamon Bear. I like it." She hugged the little bear. "Hello, Cinnamon Bear. Welcome to Kit's world."

Christian smiled, clearly happy to have pleased her.

He reached into the canvas bag, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to her.

"What's this?" The envelope was sealed.

"My copy of your NDA," he said. "Burn it, tear it up, do what you will. I'm giving it back to you, acknowledging that it's not valid. I trust you not to embarrass me."

"Thank you," she said, slipping the envelope into Kit's diaper bag. She was surprised by the gesture and grateful to have at least one issue behind her. "And I trust you to keep your bargain. Ninety days, Christian, not an hour more."

"I understand. I also brought these things back to you." He proffered the canvas bag, which sagged under the weight of something heavy. "I thought you might be able to use them."

She knew what was in the bag: the phone and laptop she'd left behind in his apartment.

"Those devices were never mine. They were on loan, remember?"

"Surely you can use them," he insisted.

"I appreciate the thought, but I don't want them. Donate them to one of your causes," she said, imagining they were probably loaded with spyware.

A look of hurt flashed across his face, but he quickly recovered.

"As you wish," he said. He moved the bag to the floor, folded his arms across his chest, and turned away from her, his petulance on full display.

"When we disagree, you can't pout like a toddler. We're supposed to talk it out. We're on the same team, you know."

"What team is that?" He asked, still refusing to look at her.

His huffy act was so silly, she had to stifle a giggle.

"Team Kit. He's the reason for this meeting. But I think you must have forgotten that. You've been in the room for five minutes and haven't bothered to look at him."

"I don't hear him, so I assume he's asleep. I don't want to bother him when he's sleeping. I don't understand your expectations," he huffed.

"Ever since we met, I've been very generous," she said, trying to contain her growing impatience. "I've made excuses for you and given you every opportunity to explain yourself. I need you to grow the fuck up and accept your parental responsibilities."

"I've never had to answer to anyone. I've been alone all my life and now suddenly, overnight, I've become the father of a two-month-old. I don't know how to do this."

"We talked about this. I'll help you. Right now, just fake it 'til you make it. If it makes you feel any better, when Kit was placed in my arms, I felt a mix of overwhelming love and sheer terror. Most days I find motherhood completely intimidating. I put one foot in front of the other and do my best. I'm not expecting any more or any less from you."

"Okay." His face drooped in sadness and he rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms. She wasn't sure if the action was the result of fatigue, frustration, or a combination of the two. "But how am I supposed to be a dad with this fucking No Contact Order. You being in Montesano doesn't help."

"Once the order is lifted, everything will feel so much easier. For heaven's sake, you have multiple cars, a helicopter, a jet. If you want to see Kit, you'll be able to do it easily. I don't even have a working vehicle. I know Kate is getting tired of having to drive to Montesano to see me."

"Why do you not have a car?" His eyes went wide.

"Before I left Seattle, I used the twenty six thousand to purchase what I thought was a really nice upgrade from Wanda. It turned out to be a lemon. Two weeks ago, it broke down on my way home from the WalMart in Aberdeen. It had to be towed and it's currently sitting at Ralph's Garage in Montesano. I don't have the money for repairs and the car is taking up space on Ralph's lot."

"Let me help you out by paying for the repairs," he said. "I may be a shitty father, but I can provide for you and Kit. Please, Ana."

Before giving birth to Kit, Ana would have felt uneasy allowing him to pay her expenses. But now she had no hesitation. He'd stolen Wanda from her, forcing her to accept the red Audi, so she felt no loss of pride at him paying her repair bill.

"Thank you," she said. "I accept your kind offer." Before she could get the words out of her mouth, he had his phone out, searching the phone number for the garage.

"Found it. Ralph's on Pioneer Avenue," he said.

"That's the place. Thank you so much," she said.

"I'll be right back." He stepped out into the corridor to make the call.

The same receptionist she'd met earlier entered the room, bearing a large tray. The blended aromas of vanilla and coffee filled the air.

"Coffee, water, and pastries," the young woman said. "The raspberry cream cheese kolache is particularly good."

Ana poured herself some lemon water from a carafe and Kit began to stir. It was a few minutes past nine. He'd last nursed at eight, so he'd probably just want cuddles and play for a few minutes. Then he'd drift off again for a nap and want to feed around ten-thirty. Of course, he could be fooling her. He was growing and changing so quickly.

She picked him up and cradled him. His lids fluttered, his eyes finally focusing on her face.

"Good morning, little man. Did you have a nice nap?" He returned her smile. "Your daddy is here. He stepped out for a minute, but he'll be right back. Stay awake." She felt his bottom. "You're wet with a heavy diaper. Let's change it."

Making quick work of it, Ana spread the changing pad out onto the expensive conference table. Kit smiled and gurgled his way through the change. Just as she was finishing up the snaps on Kit's outfit, Christian returned.

"All done," he said, smiling, clearly pleased with himself. "They'll deliver the car to your dad's house as soon as they're finished."

"Thank you," she said. "Could you reach into the diaper bag and take out a plastic bag?"

"This?" He held up an old Safeway bag.

"Yes. Hold it open, please." He complied and she dropped the now contained wet diaper into the grocery bag, tying it closed. "I saw a men's restroom down the hall. Do you mind throwing this away?"

Without a word, Christian carried away the diaper.

"Your daddy didn't grumble. That's a good sign," she said. She laid Kit back in the stroller so she could use some hand sanitizer and reorganize the diaper bag.

Christian reentered the room just as she was finishing up with the bag.

"That's a lot of stuff to carry around for such a small baby." He poked around in the bag for a moment, then zipped it closed.

"Would you like to hold him?" Ana asked. "He's in a really good mood and enjoys being talked to and cuddled."

She could see Christian's initial reluctance, so she was surprised at his response.

"Yes, I think I'd like that," he said.

"Hold him like this," she said, cradling Kit's head with one hand and his body with the other. "Close to your face. Talk to him."

Christian took Kit from her and mimicked her demonstration.

"What do I say?" He appeared utterly lost.

"I thought I'd explained it before, but maybe not." The past couple of days had been an emotional blur. "You can sing to him or just talk to him about your day. C'mon, sing with me."

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine." Christian began to join in. As they sang, Kit grinned and made burbling sounds. "You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."

Ana stopped singing, but Christian continued. He had a lovely, deep voice. "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken, so I hung my head and cried."

"I didn't know the song had another verse," she said.

"That's because it's a horrible song," he said, turning from Kit to her. "No one sings the second verse. It's about unrequited love."

She knew he was talking about the two of them. He couldn't love her, so she knew all about unrequited love. Kit had just about cured her of it, allowing her to channel her romantic energy into maternal love.

"It's very sad. Going forward, let's stick to the first verse," she said.

"Fine by me," he said. "What should I do next?"

"You can hold him next to your shoulder, walk around the room, and point out things. That painting is interesting."

He repositioned the baby, and stood in front of the painting, getting close so Kit could see. "This is a study of waves, painted by Fredericka Foster. She's a native Washingtonian known for her love of water environments. This painting is one of your grandfather's most recent acquisitions. I also own one of her paintings. I'll show it to you one day."

Kit stared at the wave patterns, all in bold shades of blue, green, and gray.

"It's good to study art from close up and also from farther away," he said, slowly backing up to give Kit a different view.

The baby reached up with one hand, grasped the neckband of Christian's tee shirt, and drew it to his mouth.

"Is he hungry? If he thinks I have milk, he's about to be very disappointed," he said.

"No, hunger makes him fussy. It's a very distinctive cry," she explained. "Let me get his pacifier, so he doesn't mess up your shirt."

"I don't care about the shirt. If it makes him happy to slobber on my shirt, I'm fine with it. Was the art lesson okay?"

"It was perfect," she said. For a moment, they locked eyes and smiled, each pleased with the other. She noticed that Kit was also smiling.

"Good morning." They were interrupted by Carrick Grey and a plump middle-aged woman. "I'd like for you to meet Julia, who'll take notes and help me craft the custody and child support documents. Julia, I think you've met my son, Christian. He's holding my grandson, Kit. This is Kit's mother, Anastasia Steele."

"How do you do," Julia said, stopping to shake hands with Ana. "It's good to see you again," she said to Christian. "Now I see why Mr. Grey can't stop talking about Kit. He's absolutely precious."

Julia took a seat and opened up a laptop. Carrick sat on the other side of Christian, leaving the seat next to Ana open. She thought Christian might hand off Kit, but he held the baby close and rubbed his back. Kit closed his eyes and sucked on his tiny fist.

"I thought you had representation," Carrick said to Ana, glancing at the empty chair.

"I do, or at least that's what Kate told me. His name is Henry Skidmore. He's driving in from Spokane." Ana realized that she had no contact information for the attorney, who was a close friend of Kate's brother.

"With traffic, that's a six hour drive." Carrick eyed his watch, obviously concerned that her attorney wouldn't make the meeting.

"How do these meetings generally go?" She asked. "Is there some kind of agenda we're supposed to follow?"

"Every child support and custody meeting is different. If we can easily reach agreement and speak without rancor, we'll be out of here in no time. There's no agenda per se, but let's try to keep things civil, maybe regard it as discussion among friends. Our mutual goal is to do what's best for Kit."

"I like that," she said. "I'm sorry that Mr. Skidmore isn't here. How long should we wait?"

"My next appointment isn't for another hour. I don't want to finalize anything without him, but I suppose we can chat about generalities while we wait a few minutes longer. Let's discuss your goals. Do you plan to stay in Montesano long term?"

"I'm not sure about the long term. A lot can happen," she said, not wanting to tip her hand. As much as she wanted to move back to Seattle, she'd already catered to Christian's convenience far too much. "In the short term, it's certainly my intention to stay in Montesano with Dad."

"Good to know. What are your must-haves, your non-negotiables?"

"I'd like to get off public assistance," she said. "I suppose that's my primary goal."

"Of course," Carrick said. "By the end of this meeting, we'll absolutely meet that goal. Anything else?"

"What the actual fuck," Christian whisper shouted, as if not wanting to disturb Kit. "My kid has been on public assistance? Dammit, Ana, if you'd come to me when you first found out you were pregnant, we wouldn't have these problems."

"Settle down," Carrick told his son. "There's no room for blame. What's done is done. Let's move forward."

"Fine," Christian said through clenched jaw. He glared at Ana. "But we will discuss this later."

"Let's keep things civil," Carrick reminded his client. He turned to Ana. "Are you okay? We can reschedule this meeting if you'd like."

"I'm fine," she said. "We're here now. Let's get things settled."

"Okay, but if you change your mind, we can always reschedule." Carrick gave Christian the side eye, then poised his pen over a yellow legal pad. "Ana, do you have a number in mind for monthly child support?"

She had given it thought. She'd worked with Karyna, a divorced mother of one, at Clayton's. Karyna received a thousand dollars a month and declared it woefully insufficient. Based on that information, Ana figured two thousand might be the right figure. She knew how to stretch a dollar, but she also knew Christian had considerable monetary resources. Two thousand dollars a month would be nothing to him, so she decided to ask for a bit more.

"Well… um… maybe twenty-five hundred per month," she said.

Christian, Carrick, and even Julia, gaped at her with furrowed brows, their mouths open in disbelief.

Christian began to shake with laughter, then the other two joined in. Ana felt her face flush with embarrassment. Did they think she was asking for too much?

"I think it's an appropriate amount," she said defensively.

"It's a starting point," Carrick said.

There was a knock at the door. The laughter subsided as Julia got up to open it.

"Your mother has lost her mind," Christian whispered to a sleeping Kit.

"I heard that," Ana said, glaring at her child's father. "You're very rude."

Her attention was diverted by a voice from the doorway.

"Sorry I'm late. Got stuck behind a bad accident. I'm Henry Skidmore, but everyone calls me Hank." This was her lawyer? Kate had mentioned he was cute, but this man was more than cute. He was tall, dark, handsome, and drop dead gorgeous. He stuck out his hand. "You must be Ana. It's a pleasure."

A pleasure indeed. She was so focused on the cleft in his strong chin, that for a moment, she almost forgot she was a mom.

Hank, warm and affable, introduced himself around the table. Christian barely grunted a reply, but Julia and Carrick warmed to him. Hank took a seat next to Ana and pulled an iPad from his messenger bag.

"Is your practice primarily family law?" Carrick asked.

"I have wide interests," Hank answered. "I haven't decided on a specialty yet."

"How long have you been practicing law?" Christian pursed his lips and sneered at her lawyer. She wondered why he felt he had the right to question her attorney.

"I just got notice two days ago that I passed the Washington bar. Ana is my very first client." Hank beamed with pride. "I brought the documentation just in case any of you have questions regarding my qualifications."

Christian clenched his jaw and rolled his eyes in derision.

"Congratulations," Carrick said. "I'd be happy to give you a tour of our offices. We're currently seeking a tax specialist. You're welcome to apply."

"Thank you. I'd love a tour," Hank replied. "Catch me up. What have I missed?"

"Not much. We're going through some preliminaries about Ana's non-negotiables," Carrick said.

"I'm afraid my client and I never had a chance to discuss her case," Hank said. "It was late last night when I learned about her situation. Ethan Kavanagh is the one who arranged my representation."

Christian huffed at the mention of Ethan.

"What's your problem?" Ana asked, glaring at Christian. She recalled his jealous attitude toward José. He was displaying a similar demeanor toward Hank.

Hank the Hunk.

Christian shook his head and muttered something under his breath. Carrick flicked a look of warning in his direction.

"Should we reschedule so you two have time to confer?" Carrick asked Hank.

"What are your thoughts?" Hank asked Ana.

Hank exuded confidence and Ana already felt completely at ease with him.

"Proceed," she said, wanting to get things settled as soon as possible.

"Very well," Hank said. "What are your non-negotiables?"

"I asked for twenty-five hundred dollars per month," she said.

Hank reached his hand across, resting it on the table directly in front of her. She understood this to be a signal not to worry, that he would take care of everything.

"My client misspoke. She meant twenty-five thousand per month, retroactive to her child's birth and ending on her child's eighteenth birthday. In addition, she'd like two hundred fifty thousand dollars as compensation for the gestational term."

Ana felt dizzy. Surely she'd heard wrong. She wouldn't know what to do with so much money.

Christian nodded to Carrick. No discussion. It was then that she realized they'd laughed because she'd initially requested such a paltry amount.

"Agreed," Carrick said, looking down at his notes. "The child support will be used solely for food, clothing, housing, transportation, and work-related childcare expenses. The following expenses will also be carried by Christian Grey: health insurance premiums and all medical expenses, both insured and uninsured, as well as summer camps, travel expenses, extracurricular activities, any and all educational expenses. He will also take on the financial responsibility of Kit's security. His non-negotiables are as follows: he'll be added to the birth certificate and Kit's name amended from Steele to Grey."

Hank looked to Ana expectantly.

Recalling an earlier conversation with Carrick, she wondered if the non-negotiables were truly coming from Christian. She didn't have any strong feelings about Kit being Steele or Grey or even some hyphenated version of the two, but just out of cussed obstinance she wanted to withhold indulging any of Christian's demands. Until he told his parents the truth about Mrs. Lincoln, she wasn't yielding.

"No deal," she told Carrick. "I can't… I won't even consider those demands until Christian complies with an agreement we made. It's private, so don't ask."

Christian released a heavy sigh, but he didn't say a word. She knew he wouldn't brook argument and risk any of his secrets becoming public.

"Fine." Carrick pursed his lips and gave his son a disapproving glance. "Let's move on to custody."

Hank turned to Ana.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"Joint custody, but I will retain full physical custody," Ana said. "Visitation will be supervised, but I want proof that Christian is in treatment. The visits will be supervised by me, my father, or Kate."

"I understand why you would designate your dad," Christian said. "But I object to Katherine Kavanagh. I'm Kit's father, but she's just a friend. It feels as if she has more rights than I do."

She understood his hurt pride, but she wasn't ready to fully trust him with Kit. After all, he was the same reckless asshole who'd foregone a car seat and put her child in a box.

"Once you've proven yourself a capable parent, I'll happily lift the supervision requirement."

"Fine," he said, his voice registering resignation. "I'll continue with therapy and I'll get proof to you soon. Right now I'm not supposed to be near either of you, so it's rather frustrating to discuss visitation."

"I hope to get the No Contact Order removed soon," Carrick said. "The court allows the NCO restriction waived for the purposes of custody and support negotiations. The DA's office is aware of Christian's presence at this meeting. As soon as he leaves this office, he's not to contact you in any way until the order is lifted."

"That will be a happy day," Ana said. "The sooner Kit bonds with his father, the better."

"How would we schedule the visitation?" Christian asked. "How often? What time of the day?"

Ana's heart melted at the sight of him holding their sleeping son.

"Babies and toddlers need to see their parents frequently," she said. "So you should see him as much as possible. Daily visits would be ideal. But I understand that you have a business to run and I know you like your weekends free."

Christian scowled at her. Yes, she was referring to his subs, but she was being discreet.

"It sounds complicated," he said.

"Yes, it'll probably get very complicated," she acknowledged. "Especially in the beginning."

"This is why you should move to Seattle," he said.

"Here we go, rehashing a conversation we just had ten minutes ago. I've been more than accommodating," she argued. "I understand that you're still in shock at becoming a father, but just in case you haven't noticed, I'm the one whose life has changed the most. There's no reason why you can't move to Montesano and commute to GEH."

She glanced from Hank and Carrick. They gave her tiny smiles of approval, obviously enjoying her exchange with Christian. She used their encouragement to fuel her argument.

"And live where?" Christian snarled. "There's no suitable housing in Montesano."

She wasn't a huge fan of her hometown, but she would not stand for anyone putting it down.

"That's just flat out insulting. You're implying everyone in Montesano lives in some kind of hovel. Do you consider my father's home to be unsuitable?"

"Of course not. I meant nothing by it. I should drag Taylor in here to explain my security requirements. But security isn't my only concern. I'm used to a certain level of space and comfort, which I think might be difficult to find in Montesano. Maybe Aberdeen is a possibility."

"I'd prefer you within a ten minute drive. Aberdeen is too far afield to suit me. Babies should have their fathers nearby. I insist on Montesano."

"Insist all you want, I'm not moving," he said, his face like thunder. A vein throbbed in his temple.

Go ahead and act like a jerk, she thought. Let's see how far it gets you.

"Well, I'm not moving either, so I guess you aren't really serious about being an attentive father. I have continuously gone out of my way for you. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I've been nothing but generous since the day we met. On this I will not yield."

He sat in a state of quiet frustration. His lips pressed thin, he took a deep breath. Just when she thought he would argue with her assertion, he faced her and nodded.

"I won't move to Montesano, but once the NCO is lifted, I'll use Charlie Tango to commute daily. Let's set up a schedule," he said.

"Kit is at his best in the morning," she said. "The toughest times are evenings. You should get to know him in both settings, so I think we should alternate between mornings and evenings."

"Fine," he said.

Ana noticed that during the meeting Christian had never stopped gently rubbing Kit's back. It gave her hope that maybe one day he'd love their little boy.

"Excellent. I think everything has been covered from our end. Anything else you'd like to discuss?" Carrick asked Hank.

"I don't think so," Hank said. "But I wonder if Ana and I might use this meeting room for another fifteen minutes?"

"Are you also handling the case with her former employer?" Carrick asked. "We have an employment specialist here in case you'd care to consult."

"Thank you. That's very generous," Hank said. "But from what I've heard from Ethan, Ana's case seems to be a fairly simple one."

"Very well," Carrick said. "Julia and I will get these papers drawn up and we'll be back in a few minutes for signatures. Christian, you can use my office while you wait."

Carrick and his assistant retreated, but Christian didn't take his cue to leave the room.

"What employment issue are you having? Why am I out of the loop?" he demanded.

"It's nothing to concern you," she said. She'd had a belly full of him and his bratty attitude.

"I think you'd be surprised at how much it concerns me. I owned SIP during the time you worked there." She was floored by his stunning admission. "The personnel director, Elizabeth Morgan, said you tendered your resignation over a disagreement with management. Shortly after you left, I sold SIP to Puget Press."

"Well, this case just got infinitely more interesting," Hank said, a gleam in his eye. "Now I know exactly whom to sue on Ana's behalf."

Ana dropped her head to her hands, trying to digest what Christian had said. "What in the… Why did you own SIP?"

"Ironically, I purchased the company in an effort to prevent the very thing that happened to you. My intention was to insure you'd always have a safe place to work." Turning from Ana, he addressed Hank. "And on what grounds would you sue me?"

He's insane, Ana thought. That's it. No sane person would purchase a business for the sole purpose of keeping track of someone who'd broken things off with him.

"I don't understand you," she said. "Was ownership of SIP more of your stalking?"

"What the fuck, man," Hank said to Christian. "You stalked her?"

"You call it stalking. I call it caring," Christian said with a slight shrug. "Ana, please, tell me what happened."

"You asked what grounds I have to sue SIP," she said. "How about sexual harassment and sexual assault? Jack Hyde put his hands on me." Christian's brows shot up at the news. "How about retaliation? I complained to the owner, Jerry Roach, and he fired me for insubordination. How about wrongful termination, pregnancy discrimination, emotional distress, a hostile work environment? I have a ream of reasons to sue you and SIP. I always got my work done, even if it meant staying late, but because Roach says I was fired for cause, I don't qualify for unemployment and I can't use SIP as a reference. Basically I'm unemployable right now. I've been blacklisted."

"I'll fucking kill Hyde. What the hell… If only you'd come to me," Christian said.

"Why would I come to you? I had no idea you were my boss's boss's boss. If you'll recall, we weren't seeing each other anymore. By the way, I hear Hyde was convicted of rape and is currently serving time in prison."

"Oh, God, no, please tell me…" Christian's chin dropped so that it rested on Kit.

"He didn't get the chance to rape me. He raped some other unlucky woman," Ana said.

"I'm sorry," he said. "If there's anything I can do to help you, I will. Just say the word."

"Thank you," she said, still reeling with fury at his purchase of her place of employment.

Kit began to whimper and stir against Christian's chest.

"He's due to be fed," Ana said, reaching for the baby. "He can get pretty loud and demanding."

"Feeding him is definitely something I can't do," Christian said, passing off their fussy infant.

His comment prompted her to realize some things needed to change. Since delivery she'd spent all her time with Kit, without any need to express milk or train the baby to take a bottle. She'd have to adapt their routine, if Christian would sometimes be caring for their son.

"Excuse me," she said, covering herself with one of Kit's blankets. Both men turned their heads so she could adjust herself. The moment could have been awkward, but after giving birth nothing regarding bodily functions embarrassed her anymore. After Kit had a good latch, she said, "All set now. You can turn back around."

"Here's my card with e-mail and phone number." Hank reached around Ana to pass Christian the card. "Obviously I don't have an office, so e-mail is best. If you can please send me the dates of your SIP ownership, along with a brief statement regarding whatever the personnel director or this Roach fellow told you. I'm filing a complaint on Ana's behalf with the Washington State Employment Commission."

"I'll respond by the end of the day. I'll do anything to help Ana," Christian said.

Carrick and Julia entered the room with the custody and child support agreements. Hank carefully read through them, then passed them to Ana for signature.

As she put pen to paper, she considered how much her life had changed, not just over the past year, but especially in the past three days. She hoped life could settle into a routine and become easier, but looking across at her child's father, she had doubts.


Hello, Gentle Reader!

Because it had been two weeks since the last update, I felt duty bound to offer you a longer chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. As always, I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Many thanks to my story consultants, Carol222 and nikkistew2, for their always brilliant suggestions. This story is all the better for their input.

All the best, Paula