And So I Ran - Complete

Chapter 31

I was seething when Elena Lincoln came sidling over to where I stood talking with Grace and Carrick. I knew who she was even before we were introduced. The calculating, speculative manner with which she was looking at me gave it away.

"Elena?" Grace said in confusion as the two air-kissed. "I wasn't expecting you tonight?"

Dressed in a sequined gold sheath with a thigh-high split, Elena managed to look simultaneously over and under-dressed. The dress itself wasn't too bad, but Elena was probably ten years too old for it, so despite her trim figure, she was mutton dressed as lamb. Standing beside Grace, who was wearing an elegant, tastefully cut embroidered gown, the difference was marked.

"Christian invited me," she said glibly, giving me the evil eye.

"Well, that was nice of him. Have you met Anastasia?"

"No, I've not yet had the pleasure," Elena replied in a tone that was only just civil.

"Anastasia, darling, this is an old friend of the family Elena Lincoln. Elena – this is Anastasia Steele, Christian's girlfriend." Grace was almost purring with satisfaction as she said the final word. Christian had said his Mom was over the moon about him having a girlfriend, and it looks like he was right.

"Not just a friend of the family... Also a business partner," Elena said giving me an arch smile. I returned her smile, not giving her the satisfaction of knowing I'd placed her.

"Oh yes. I often forget Christian has an interest in Esclava," Grace said, picking up on Elena's rudeness and strange behavior toward me and moving to smooth it over.

"Yes. You should come down sometime, Anastasia. The team would be happy to fix up your hair, nails," she sneered, surveying my head before dropping her gaze to my neat buffed nails, "and everything else you no doubt need." There was no mistaking her rudeness this time.

"Oh Elena – she doesn't need any of that," Grace chided with a laugh that nonetheless told Elena to back off. "Look at her – she's gorgeous. I'm sure Christian likes her just the way she is."

Speaking of Christian, he was walking towards us. To the uneducated eye, he looked calm and collected, but I knew better. He was simmering with tension. He walked up to where I stood, ignoring Elena as he handed me a drink.

"Thank you, darling. I was talking with your friend Mrs. Robinson. She was telling me she's been a friend of the family for years." The corner of Christian's eyes crinkled. He got the reference. Since I wasn't prepared to stand here in a pseudo pissing contest with a pedophile, I decided to claim Christian in the most obvious way possible – I ran my hand up his chest, right into his no-go zone, and stroked him directly over his heart. Christian knew exactly what I was doing, but he seemed almost amused by it.

Grace, however, started to tear up immediately. She was an adoring mother, and with one simple action, I knew I'd shown her just how far Christian had come. She wanted nothing but the best for him, and knowing he could experience someone's loving touch meant the world to her. I wonder how she'd feel if she knew he'd already fathered a child? That I was pregnant with his baby.

Christian was trying to steer me away, citing the need to chat with Elliot and Kate about our New York trip. Finally extricating me, he apologized, and I decided that if Elena wanted a show, I'd give her one! After sharing a not-safe-for-work sort of kiss, I let Christian lead me over to Kate and Elliot. I'd have to tell Kate about the pregnancy before New York. She was too observant for her own good, and would no doubt pick up on it if I didn't tell her. But if I told Kate, then I had to tell Christian, first. I already felt terrible that Gail knew before he did – although she was the soul of discretion, so I trusted her not to spill the beans.