Chapter 25

CPOV

Her lips. Her soft, full warm lips. I rearrange myself in attempt to relieve the discomfort forming in my pants. The soft sounds coming out of her as I explored her mouth… I tilt my head back on the headrest and groan in frustration. I look outside the backseat window and watch the busy city of New York. The feel of her pressed against me on that wall-

"Sir, what's on the agenda for today?" Taylors voice pulls me out of my lustful daze. Jesus, you're a horny pubescent. Pull your shit together. What is on the agenda today? Why did I leave? I should've stayed. Should I turn back? I look down at my watch, it's not even noon, how the fuck am I supposed to wait until 7 tonight? Don't turn back you fool. You kissed this woman once and she's already got you obsessing over it. Over her! Remember who you are, Grey. Remember who SHE is.

I rub my face and feel the sharp stubble on my jaw, a clear indication I need a good shave. She doesn't need to shave… Her skin felt so soft… Oh my fucking Go-

"Mr Grey?." My eyes snap to Taylor. "You have the Penthouse suite booked at The Marks. Would you like to return there?" I was in such a frantic haste to get here I didn't even think of accommodation. Am I the only one seeing the red flags here? You're dragging your sorry ass back to square one with this woman. Don't do it.

"That's fine, Taylor. Take me back to my suite. I'll get a solid footing on what the agenda looks like there." He doesn't reply. I know he's pissed. Hell, even I'm a little pissed at some of the events that occurred. But I made this man's job really difficult last night… and do I care? Nope. How the fuck can I when all I care about right now is that damn woman! That damn woman that I left… I don't even know why the fuck I left?! I didn't want to leave but so much was happening, so much HAD happened, I guess I needed to clear my head. And how's that going for you? How do I even begin to process everything that went down? Last night… this morning… my God, this morning. The throbbing in my pants intensifies.

"I didn't want you to see that... you shouldn't have seen that." I shake my head as her words repeat in my head. She knows so much about me, and I'm now starting to think I don't know as much about her as I thought I did. What I do know is that I recognise the brokenness in her demeanour. Yes, that, I'm very familiar with. My mind takes me back to yesterday afternoon when I walked into her office. She looked so… defeated. I didn't know what I was expecting coming here, to be honest it definitely wasn't one of my more well thought out moments but I know I didn't expect to see her like that. And the idea that someone could be responsible for making her feel that way made my fucking blood boil. Unless it's you right? Only YOU can make her feel that way?

My phone starts vibrating, I fish it out of my pocket only to immediately hit decline when I see who's calling. No doubt that pest of a woman called Elliot and gave him an earful about how his little brother was at her best friends house. Why else would he be trying to contact me. I get a text.

Call me. Now. - E

Yeah, that'll work. I put my phone back into my pocket and sink back into the backseat. My mind once again replaying the events of this morning.

---

APOV

Price enters my study and closes the door behind him. I eye him as he slowly walks to the chair in front of my desk and sinks into it. We sit in silence for what seems like an eternity. This definitely feels like a conversation he's going to be leading. He leans forwards, his elbows resting on his knees. Guilt washes over me as he cradles his face in the palm of his hands and lets out a deep sigh. You're in trouble now girl.

He brings his face up, and I swear he looks as if he's aged a few years overnight. The guilt begins to choke me and my palms start to sweat. Aren't YOU the one who's supposed to be in charge here? Because it definitely doesn't look that way. He stares intently at the back of the photo frame on my desk. It's a photo of Ray and I when he took me for my first time at a gun range.

"You're a smart woman, Ana." He doesn't take his eyes off the frame. I feel like I shouldn't be allowed to even breathe right now. How do I respond? Do I even respond?

"You're a smart woman, who made a very stupid call last night." The words pierce my chest. How fucking dare he?! Does he know-, "Price, I-", He holds his hand up, silencing me.

"Please, let me finish." He states stoically. "What I'm about to say might be hard for you to hear, you might even want to fire me, and that's fine because quite frankly, the way you've been heading, If I can't stop you, then I don't want to work for you."

The room stands still. To say I'm stunned would be a complete understatement. Did he really just say what I think he said? I look down at my hands, curled into my lap. My vision starts to blur as I will myself not to cry. Here we fucking go with the water works. Price is the only man, second to my father whom I trust with my life. Who's been there through my best and worst days. Who knows me. I can't lose him. My mind starts to buzz, and it's not from the hangover. Did he really say those words just a moment ago?

"Ana." I hear Price's voice break through my mental fog, he sounds as if he's underwater. Yeah, lets not make a habit of drinking the way you did last night, because this is just embarrassing.

"Ana, listen to me." I've made a complete fool of myself. A fool in front of Grey and a fool in front of Price. I'm much more embarrassed about the latter.

"Ana, listen." Price's stern voice snaps me out of my misery and I look at him before looking down at my hands. I didn't even feel my nails break the skin as I stare at the indentations my nails left. I fold my arms and clear my throat.

"I can't bare the thought of anything happening to you while under my protection and care. This job? This job is my life, Ana. I wake up everyday with one purpose, and that's keeping you safe. The last few months I've stood witness to your deterioration and you know what? I blame myself for not stepping in and putting a stop to it."

I feel the cool tears hang off my jaw. Deterioration? And blame? How could he possibly blame himself for everything that's happened?

"I know you're a grown woman, I know you're my boss but you need to understand that I see you as more than the person who signs my pay checks and I can't, I won't, stand by anymore and let you dig your own grave. I refuse."

You know… speaking of blame, a certain name keeps popping up in my head… the name of person who-

"Last night was one of the most anxious nights of my life. I didn't sleep at all. I had my eyes glued to security footage. I was berating myself for not storming into your room and dragging that fucker out of there." I notice the strong clenching of his jaw.

"This man emotionally tortured you. For months. He tried to destroy you and everything you've worked your ass off to build. You took on a mission to try and save kids who might've fallen victim to the hands of his abuser. Fallen victim to a lifestyle that he actively pursues. It's destroying you and I'm not allowed to do anything about it because of a stupid contract that has my signature. I can't keep doing it, Ana." I rub my face. I'm so tired, and it's barely noon.

"Ana, do you get what I'm saying?" I clear my throat. "Price. I'm sorry about last night. I truly am, and I really hate that I put you in a jeopardising position, but nothing happened. And I can't… I can't bring myself to regret last night because something came from it. Something that felt a little like… hope. I know this sounds ridiculous and I know how much you despise Grey-"

"Despise is putting it very lightly." I ignore his retort and keep going. I can't lose Price.

"Grey helped me. He doesn't even know it but he did. I don't want to get into it because I'm still processing it all but please trust me Price, trust me and don't give up on me. I'm sorry you've had to witness what you did, but Price, I can't lose you. I can't lose you, Price, you don't understand I can't-", Price is suddenly by my side. His hand on my shoulder, why do I feel like there's not enough air all of a sudden? Price keeps whispering it's all right, it's going to be fine. My face is wet and my vision won't clear. I can't lose Price. Did you really think your actions only effected you? Are you that self centred?

I close my eyes and quiet the voice in my head. This morning has definitely been a rollercoaster of emotions and events. My brain is on overdrive. I need to stop. Stop and think.

"I'm sorry." I apologize to Price. He leans on the side of my desk and looks up at the ceiling.

"You don't have anything to apologise for, Ana." I don't let him finish. "But I am sorry. I'm sorry for being so reckless, for not listening, for becoming so consumed, but please… Price, please don't quit. I'm begging you. Me. CEO of Steele Corporation is begging you. I'll be more open, I'll be more forthcoming… you have my word."

He's looking at me intently, as if he's weighing the merit of my word. I have to admit, if this morning didn't happen… if Grey never kissed me, this conversation most likely would've gone in a completely different direction. But I have a new mission now. A mission of self discovery, and there's no way I could pursue it without Price. I'm really relying on his mission to keep me safe this time.

It's as if he can see the wheels turning in my head. "Ana, why do I feel like you're about to throw us out of a plane without a parachute?" His words couldn't hold truer meaning right now, and I know I said I'd be forthcoming, which I will, I just need a little more time to figure this out.

"Price, I really appreciate you coming to me with this. You know I value you more than just an employee. You're my right hand man. Do you agree with giving me another chance?"

His face softens. "Of course. I have to admit, I thought there was going to be more yelling from your end." He lets out a chuckle and I smile. "Well, I'm glad to hear that… because I'm having dinner with Grey tonight at 7."

And just like that his smile turns into a disgusted grimace and he heads to the door. The stiffness in his shoulders evident. He opens the door, "One more thing before I'm back on the clock and I think I've earned the right to say this." He steps outside and looks at me, hand still on the doorknob. "I really don't like that Mother Fucker. And I'll be waiting. Waiting for the first opportunity to give him what he deserves."

I let him have that. It's the least I can do. But before he goes, I ask him one more thing. "Price, the security footage-"

"Nothing happened. He was a fucking saint." The bitterness of his words doesn't go unnoticed and he closes the door behind him where I'm again left alone with my thoughts.

I turn in my chair and gaze out of the floor to ceiling window behind me. What a fucking morning. You're telling me. You nearly lost one of your most trusted people because of a man who only a couple of months ago made it his mission to destroy you.

I massage my temples and take deep breathes.

You know, Price is right about everything. And I think…. I think you know that too.

I grab the glass of water and drink every single drop.

You let that man put his hands on you and you're willing to jeopardise everything? For what? A kiss?

I close my eyes and am taken back to the memory of Grey's lips on mine. I gently run my finger over my bottom lip.

A kiss was all it took? All our hard work, the wall we worked so hard to built, completely destroyed because of this man whose intentions you're not even clear about!

"Shut up.."

No. If you go through with this, I won't be here. I won't allow you-

"Shut up!"

To put us in the hands of another abuser! WAKE THE FUCK UP AND SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

"SHUT UP!" The glass cup completely shatters as it hits the wall. My breathing laboured, I close my eyes and focus on my breaths.

I grab my phone.

Something came up with work. Can't do tonight. - A