And So I Ran - Complete

Chapter 10

I signed my name with a flourish, capping my fountain pen and turning to shake the hands of my new Taiwanese business partners. It had taken days of back and forth, but finally, the deal was done and to my satisfaction. As etiquette demanded, I chatted for a few minutes, politely excusing myself from a banquet dinner to celebrate the new enterprise, explaining I had a pressing commitment in Seattle.

Miss Steele. Ana. It was 4:00 pm Friday here in Taipei, which would make it about midnight in Seattle. I was going to be wrecked, but if we flew out this afternoon, I'd be able to make it back to Seattle in time for our dinner date. Initially, I'd thought I'd take Ana out, or ask Gail to cook for us at Escala, but Ana had suggested a meal at her place, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.

I enjoyed Ana's cooking. She'd cooked for me that first morning at Escala. Closing my eyes for a moment as our driver transported Taylor and me back to the hotel, I called to mind the memory of Ana in pigtails in my kitchen, cooking while she'd danced around adorably the morning after I'd made her mine. My dick twitched at the thought of it – the dancing and the claiming.

Taylor and I were standing in the elevator, on our way to pack and check out. I pulled out my phone, surprised to see a message from Ana from two hours before. I must have missed it in the final minutes of our negotiations.

Christian – an opportunity has come up for me to attend the New York Book Fair this weekend with my editor Jack. I'm leaving tomorrow morning and will be back late on Sunday. I'm sorry I won't be able to see you this weekend. Maybe Monday night? Still missing you, Ana.

"What the fuck!" I shouted, probably taking years from Taylor's life as the man snapped to attention assessing the lift car for any possible threat.

"It's Ana," I quickly explained, shoving my phone into Taylor's hand so he could read her message. "I'm going to call her right now and forbid it! I don't want her going anywhere with Jack Hyde. Besides – we have a date!"

Taylor stayed silent as I ranted, however, he didn't relinquish my phone.

"Sir? Is that a good idea? I doubt Miss Steele will welcome your interference. It could make things difficult for her at work, and it will give the impression you don't trust her."

"It's Hyde I don't trust," I growled. "All of his assistants leave within months and all for 'personal reasons.' I don't want Ana going anywhere with him. I'm going to call Roach and get him to block the trip. I might not own SIP, yet, but Roach won't want a business trip for an assistant to get in the way of our negotiations."

"It's midnight in Seattle," Taylor pointed out dryly.

"I don't give a fuck what time it is," I bellowed, as we walked down the corridor to my suite, not understanding why Taylor didn't see the importance of this, "I don't want Ana going!"

Ushering me into my suite, Taylor turned to me.

"If you go in all heavy-handed you're going to scare her or piss her off. If you're so worried, why not join Miss Steele in New York? She can't be working all weekend," he pointed out reasonably.

I stopped short. Taylor had a point. I knew part of the reason I was angry was that I needed to see Ana. Two weeks of what-ifs and wondering had exhausted me. I needed my girl.

"Book flights to New York ASAP. I want security on Ana from the moment she lands. Send Sawyer and Prescott, too. Get them to tail Ana to the airport and let us know which flight she's on. They can catch the following flight. I'd like some of our regular security on hand, just in case."