And So I Ran - Complete

Chapter 44

Fuck! Of all the meetings Ana could have walked in on, it had to be todays! I could see the devastation in her eyes as she recognized Susannah, and the paperwork, for what they were. She didn't need to say it – I could see she thought I was cheating on her. And worse still, Kate was with her.

"Baby? Are you ok? You look faint?" I jumped up and closed the manila folder, concealing its offending contents, before walking to Ana who had started to sag. I thought she was going to flinch away from me, but she didn't. If anything, she looked lost and betrayed, and somehow that was worse. I gently steered her over to the seat I'd just vacated, which I immediately recognized as a mistake as it placed her directly opposite Susannah. The two women regarded one another.

"Ana? What's wrong? Do you want to go home?" Kate asked, drawing Ana's attention away from her careful scrutiny of Susannah. My eyes were begging Ana not to say anything. To give me a chance to explain. When Ana didn't answer Kate, I did.

"I don't think Ana is feeling well. I have the afternoon off, so I will take her home. Prescott? Can you take Miss Kavanagh back to work and make sure she gets lunch along the way."

It was a dismissal, and Kate knew it. She wasn't stupid – the tension was thick in the air, and Kate was like a bloodhound on the scent - she could sense discord from half a mile off.

"Ana? Is that what you want? What's going on, Christian?" Kate's eyes were flicking between Ana and Susannah, as though she knew that the presence of one had so grossly distressed the other.

None of us spoke until finally, Ana said in a resigned voice, "I'm ok. Just feeling a little lightheaded, Kate. It's been happening a bit. Christian's right - I should probably go home and rest."

"Then I'll take you now," she argued. "Christian can join you after his meeting."

"Kate, please. I just want to sit for a moment and then Christian can take me home. I'm sorry about lunch. I'll call you tonight."

Susannah went to stand and make her apologies, but I stopped her with a single look. A look that Ana, of course, noticed. Just when things could not get any worse, they did!

"Make sure you do, Ana." Kate stepped toward Ana and hugged her, whispering something in her ear. Ana nodded, and Kate gave her a final worried look before allowing Prescott to lead her from the room.

By then a server had appeared. I requested another place setting, ordering for Ana and me and gesturing for Susannah to choose something from the menu. Susannah and I had only been there a few minutes and were enjoying a glass of wine but had yet to select our meals. A place set for me, and our orders placed, the waiter disappeared leaving an extraordinarily awkward trio in his wake. I poured Ana a glass of water before making the necessary introductions.

"Ana, baby – can I introduce a... friend... Susannah Millward. Susannah, can I introduce my girlfriend, Anastasia Steele."

Ana flinched, my words confirming what she'd already guessed; that Susannah was a submissive. She stood up, tears pooling in her eyes.

"I'd say it's nice to meet you, Ms. Millward, but it isn't. I'll leave you to whatever business you have to discuss with Christian." Ana all but sneered the word business. I was fucked.

"No, Ana! It's not what you think. Please, baby. Give me a chance to explain. Once I have, if you want to go, I'll have Taylor take you anywhere you want. Please baby?!"

"Why? So you can lie to me? Tell me just enough to appease me without telling me all that's going on?! How could you do this to me? Especially right now? Is this the way it's always going to be? Me wondering when you'll be meeting up with another of your old friends? How do you expect me to trust you?"