Chapter 25 - Ghosts From The Past

I know Taylor would never interrupt a meeting without very good reason.

“If I might have a word, Mr. Grey,” he says quietly, as he enters the conference room at the hotel where I’m in a meeting to discuss some business opportunities here in Georgia. When I see the look on his face, I can tell instantly it’s not good news. His jaw is clenched, his fists are clenched, and his whole body is radiating tension. So I excuse myself, and we make our way out into the corridor for some privacy.

“What’s going on? Has something happened to Miss Steele?” My first thought is that the surveillance team has reported some sort of a problem.

“No, sir. I just took a call from Gail… Mrs. Jones. She was calling from the Harborview Medical Center following an incident.”

“What do you mean an incident? What kind of a fucking incident? Has she had an accident or something?”

“No, she’s okay… but she had a visitor. An ex acquaintance of yours, sir. You recall Leila Williams?”

“Yes. What about her?”

“Well, apparently she somehow managed to gain access to your apartment earlier today, she just turned up unannounced. Gail was the only person there at the time.” I see Taylor’s expression harden. 

“Miss Williams wanted to see you, insisted that she had to talk to you. Gail tried to explain that you weren’t there, but she wouldn’t believe her. Then Miss Williams starts screaming and shouting, wanting to know why her Master’s  found someone else, that she would do anything for him…”

“I get the picture,” I snap.

“So then she produces a razor blade and starts slashing her wrists. Gail managed to restrain her and get the blade from her, even though she could have been fucking injured herself.” I can see Taylor is really struggling to control his feelings, and I totally get that he feels protective towards Gail. “Sorry sir, it’s just… well, I blame myself. This woman should not have been able to gain access to the apartment, and Gail should not have been put at risk like that.”

“No, indeed, but we’ll get to the bottom of all that shit later. What happened after Gail got the blade from her?”

“She did some emergency first aid and then got her to the hospital. It seems the cuts weren’t actually that deep, luckily. They’re arranging for a shrink to see her now. But she’s still asking for you, sir.”

“What the hell is the matter with the woman? I haven't seen her for what… must be getting on for three years now, so what on earth has brought this on? But never mind that, how’s Gail? Are you sure she’s alright? She’s definitely not injured at all?”

“She’s okay, just a bit shaken up. She’s staying at the hospital to try and keep the girl calm, but she says she’s still acting really weird.”

“Call Hilton Head. We’re heading back as soon as they can ready the plane,” I bark at Taylor, and I can see he’s relieved we’re returning immediately. Of course he wants to see Gail. I want to make sure she really is okay too.

So this day that started out as one of the best of my life when I took Ana soaring, has now become one of the worst.

~~~

Miss Leila Williams. 

I remember her very clearly. She started out as pretty much the perfect submissive for me. Naturally she was the usual pretty, slightly built, pale skinned, brown haired type of young woman that I always select for my submissive, but she had these huge, bourbon colored brown eyes that made her stand out.

And I remember querying something at her selection interview.

“You don’t seem to have marked anything down as either a soft or hard limit – is that an oversight on your part?” If it was, then she’d just ruled herself out – I don't appreciate sloppiness, or my time being wasted.

“No, Sir. I’ll do anything – anything at all that would please you, Sir,” she whispered, looking down at the floor and not at me, as was to be expected of a good sub.

I stared at her – everyone had something they drew the line at, surely?

“How long have you been subbing?” I asked. She was only twenty one and maybe she didn’t really understand what she was potentially letting herself in for, although Elena had checked her out before setting up the interview, and had assured me that she came highly recommended by her previous Dom.

“Three years, Sir. I just like… I like to be pushed hard, very hard, to discover the limits of what I can take. And I’ve been told that you… well, you are the type of Master who is capable of that. If it pleases you, Sir.”

Well, well. I thought this could certainly be an interesting arrangement. And so began the first three months of our contracted agreement.

And in the beginning, everything worked out excellently. Leila followed the rules to the letter. And as she’d promised, she would do anything I asked of her. So I had a very interesting and enjoyable time acting out all sorts of new demanding scenes with a totally compliant submissive. I was particularly into rope suspension at the time, which calls for patience from my sub because it’s time consuming to set up, but she willingly agreed to it. 

I really enjoyed having her completely helpless, bound and suspended upside down so I could fuck her mouth at will.  And she was into anal sex, she’d prepare for days to be ready for me to take my pleasure in her ass. The list was endless, it seemed. Whatever new kinky shit I dreamed up, she’d happily go along with.

She kept herself very supple and fit, so she had lots of energy to keep up with my very demanding needs that inevitably built up by the weekend. She seemed perfect in every way, and quickly earned the privilege of calling me Master. Her first three months contract was extended for another three months.

But here’s the thing; because I enjoy punishing my subs, it is necessary for them to break the rules or disobey me once in a while, at least in some minor way, which Leila never did in the beginning. And I only really get off on giving a genuine punishment caning or whipping that I can see is deserved, according to my criteria, but I had to find excuses with Leila, and that took the edge off my pleasure. 

She pleaded with me to just whip her anyway, but that’s not how it works. Then it’s just basically topping from the bottom, because the sub is setting the agenda, and that’s not how I do things.

I began to suspect that Leila was being manipulative, trying to inveigle her way into my life. I thought her game plan was to start off doing everything Sir demanded without question, thereby making herself indispensable in catering to his very singular tastes, then move in on him to become more involved in his life. 

She loved staying at my apartment, and completely redecorated her room to make it her own. That was fine – I always tell my subs they can do that if they wish. It’s easy enough to get it repainted in a neutral white when they leave.  But it went further than that with Leila.

In hindsight, all the signs were there, little insidious changes she instigated that on their own weren’t too alarming. I discovered that she’d downloaded some of her choice of music onto my iPod, which I let go at the time as it seemed harmless. Leila re-arranged the kitchen cupboards, which was not part of her duties, and upset Gail. During the week, she liked to spend her time painting - she was quite a talented artist. Then she brought round a couple of pieces of her work that she wanted me to hang as part of my art collection in the apartment, even though her work was not to my taste, as it was rather garish and brightly colored. 

And a couple of times I caught her snooping round my apartment in places she had no business to be – such as my study, and even my bedroom. She was quite cheeky and mischievous when she made her excuses, about how she was tidying up, or doing something special for me, but that was not part of our arrangement. 

Although it did give me reason to punish her, I felt uneasy. And then Leila started offering to come over during the week, even just turning up sometimes, saying she missed me, and wouldn’t I like to just flog and fuck her now she was here. It was clear she was becoming too attached and overstepping the mark.

She wanted more. I didn’t. So I terminated our contract.

Leila didn’t take it well. I had a number of tearful phone calls, begging me to give her another chance, but I refused, and eventually she accepted my decision after I barred her calls. Then I heard from Elena that she’d met another guy and they’d gotten married not that long after, so I assumed that was that, she was out of my life for good.

But now this, nearly three years later. What the fuck is going on? Why did this have to happen, just when things were getting good between Anastasia and me?

~~~

As we’re about to leave for the airport, Taylor gets another call from Gail.

“Shit! She fucking what? How could they let her… no it’s not your fault… yeah, we’re just about to head for the airport… I’ll let you know when we land…”

Taylor closes his eyes and takes a deep breath as I look at him expectantly.

“Miss Williams discharged herself from Harborview, before the shrink could complete his assessment of her. She asked Gail to go and get some things for her, and when she got back, she’d gone. She’s just taken off and disappeared. Nobody knows where she’s gone, and now Gail’s blaming herself.”

“Christ almighty, this is turning into a fucking nightmare! I want Welch on the case; get him to find out everything he can about Miss Williams and her possible whereabouts. Tell him to make this his top priority; I want her found so she can get some proper help before she makes another suicide attempt, maybe more successfully next time. She’s clearly become unbalanced in some way. And I can't have her turning up and making scenes all over the place,” I holler, as I run my hands through my hair in sheer frustration. 

I just don't get why Leila would turn up out of the blue now, after all this time. What the fuck has brought this about?

I try phoning Anastasia to let her know I can’t make dinner at her mom’s place tonight, but her phone is engaged.

 Who the fuck is she talking to? 

Luckily she calls me straight back, and I answer straight away.

“Anastasia.”

“Hi.”

“I have to return to Seattle. Something’s come up. I am on my way to Hilton Head now. Please apologize to your mother – I can't make dinner.”

“Nothing serious, I hope?”

“I have a situation which I have to deal with. I’ll see you Friday. I’ll send Taylor to collect you from the airport if I can't come myself.”

“Okay. I hope you sort out your situation. Have a safe flight.”

“You too, baby.”

~~~

The eight hour flight back to Seattle seems interminable. I try to figure out why the fuck Leila would be seeking me out and then attempt to slash her wrists. If she’d been truly serious about killing herself, she’d have made a better job of it. No, it seems much more like a cry for help, her seeking attention for some reason. Maybe if this had happened soon after I’d terminated our contract, then perhaps I could have understood it, but nearly three years later?  What’s changed? And I can’t help having a horrid sneaky suspicion that this has something to do with Anastasia, and the picture of us together in the newspaper.

Of course I didn't tell Ana anything about what’s happened with Leila when I phoned her. I don't want her worried or upset. I don't want crappy shit from my past spoiling what we have now. I’m hoping to get this situation resolved quickly, before Ana gets back, once we track Leila down.

I hate flying away from her, putting distance between us like this, but I know it’s for the best. Once I’ve got the situation under control, I’ll feel calmer, then we can take up where we left it before all this shit kicked off.

Despite the time that has elapsed since I was Leila's Dom, I can't help feeling guilty if my past actions have in anyway contributed to this unstable behavior of hers. The health and welfare of a sub is the prime responsibility of a Dom, and I’ve always taken that responsibility very seriously. So if Leila is ill and needs help, I still feel duty bound to ensure she gets the help she needs.

As soon as we land, I get an update on the Leila situation from Welch. It’s not good news. Her last known address has drawn a blank – she hasn’t been there for some time. He’s managed to get CCTV footage of her leaving the hospital, and in a couple of streets nearby, but then he loses her. He’s using every trick he has to find her, but so far, no leads. Shit.

Apparently the shrink at Harborview who made the initial assessment of Leila has said her actions constitute a typical cry for help, and that he doesn’t believe her to be truly at risk. That's why no one prevented her from discharging herself. 

He’s categorized her as one step from suicidal ideation, and said that most people in this category do not actually go on to commit suicide. I suppose this is somewhat reassuring to learn, but I’ll still feel a lot happier once we’ve tracked Leila down and got her the help she clearly needs.

I’m so caught up in all this that it’s not until I get a worried text from Ana asking if I’ve arrived safely that I realize I have been remiss in not letting her know, so I quickly text back and apologize. I’m not used to having people worry about me like this, but I find I like it. I find it heart-warming that Ana is thinking about me and cares about me.

Christ, I can't wait to get this situation sorted out and for Ana to come home tomorrow. I feel a dull ache in my chest when I think about her. Fuck, I miss her so much, especially after the great time we had together in Georgia. 

And I love what she said in her sleep. Makes me feel more secure, knowing that she said she wouldn’t leave me. But I’m still not going to tell her what she said, however much she tries to wheedle it out of me in her emails. And when she growls at me in her email, it puts me in mind of my own cat – my cat o’ nine tails in my playroom. Hmm that has possibilities. Intriguing thought that Ana has innocently set in motion there.

Much as I want to be at the airport to collect Anastasia myself, I’m waiting on an important call from Welch regarding a link he’s turned up to a previous shrink Leila consulted. I don’t want to discuss this while I’m in the car with Ana, so I send Taylor to collect her, knowing that once she gets back here to Escala, I’ll have her all to myself.

I am desperate to see her. I’m excited because I need her so badly, and as ever I can't wait to fuck her. But I also know that her presence here will help calm me, because I’ve been on edge ever since we got the news about Leila.

Taylor has done a complete sweep and reassessment of all security measures at the apartment, and he’s changed all the entry numbers as a precautionary measure. He is at a loss to understand how Leila could have made her way in, as the entry numbers are always changed whenever a member of staff - including a sub – leaves.

I’m concerned for Gail, but she seems fine, none the worse for her experience, and I reassure her that I don't hold her to blame for letting Leila leave. She handled a difficult situation very professionally and I'm grateful to her for keeping a calm head in a crisis.

“The poor girl, she just seemed strangely lifeless somehow. Her eyes were glazed over, and she just kept repeating, like some kind of a mantra, that she had to see you, that she’d do anything for her Master, and then she just suddenly lost it and started shouting and screaming…” she explains,  as we sit in the kitchen at Escala, Taylor with his arm protectively around her shoulders. 

Although they know that I am aware of their relationship, as true professionals they never normally show any kind of display of affection in my presence, but I understand that this is not a normal every day kind of situation Gail’s just been through.

I see a look pass between her and Taylor. I know they’re both well aware of what goes on in my playroom, but I would still rather it wasn’t a topic that we openly discussed.

“You were lucky not to have been injured by that fucking razor blade you wrested from her,” Jason practically growls at her, as he tightens his grip on her shoulder.

“Oh Jason, stop with the fussing,” she insists. “I knew what I was doing, and I knew she didn’t really mean to do any harm. It was just a cry for help, I'm sure.”

But I’m with Taylor here – I know how I’d feel if it had been Ana dealing with a crazy woman alone in the apartment.

“The sooner we find her, the sooner she’ll get that help. Let’s hope Welch turns up something a bit more promising before too much longer.” I tell them grimly.

~~~

“No trace…okay…Yes.” Shit, I’d really hoped this situation would have been sorted out by the time Ana returned, but it seems we’re still no nearer to tracking Leila down. Dead end, after dead end, is all Welch has come up with so far. How can she have just disappeared like this?

Anastasia. I sense her presence before I see her, as a bolt of electricity shoots through me. I turn around, and there she is. And suddenly my world is a much better place. She looks beautiful, standing there in a sexy short skirt, showing off her great legs and newly acquired suntan from the Georgia sunshine.

“Keep me informed,” I snap at Welch, as I terminate the call.

I can't get over to Ana fast enough, as I shrug off my grey suit jacket and undo my tie. I wrap my arms around her and pull her tightly against me. Fuck, she feels so good. I pull her pony tail to tilt her head up so I can kiss her, kiss her really thoroughly and deeply. There is no finesse to my kiss, just raw, desperate need, but she matches me with her response.

 Clearly she needs this just as much as I do, as she moans and tightly knots her fingers in my hair in the way that I love, because it shows she wants to possess me too. Our tongues enact an erotic dance together, and we both understand that we need to let our bodies enact this passionate dance too, without delay, now.

“I’m so glad you’re back. Shower with me – now,” I command her breathlessly. Let’s start afresh, wash all this shit away, relax together under some calming water. I grab her hand and lead her to my bathroom.

“I like your skirt. It’s very short. You have great legs,” I tell her appreciatively. I can't take my eyes off her as I take my shoes and socks off. I drink her in, feasting my eyes after being deprived of her company for far too long, for what feels like forever. She takes her shoes off too, and then I can't wait any longer. I have to have her now, here, this minute.

I back her up against the wall, kissing her everywhere in a frenzy of need. I push her skirt up around her waist, and then run my hands up her thighs to feel her silky smooth skin.

“Are you still bleeding?” I ask.

“No,” she confirms.

“Good.”

I drop to my knees in front of her to peel off her simple cotton panties, so she’s naked from the waist down. God, she looks and smells fucking amazing, and seeing her breathless and panting with need for me sends me even crazier.

I force her legs apart to gain access to her clitoris with my tongue and mouth, circling and nibbling, sucking and teasing her relentlessly, because this is going to be really quick once I take her, so I need her to be ready. She tips her head back and groans in delight as her fingers pull at my hair. My tongue continues to work at her, lapping and swirling until I feel her body starting to twitch and quicken. My job done, I release her and grab her face with both hands, holding her firmly to kiss her, thrusting my tongue in her mouth so she can taste her own arousal. 

Now it’s time.

I undo my fly and let my rock hard erection spring free. I grab the backs of her legs and lift her up.

“Wrap your legs around me, baby,” I command, desperate to be inside her now.

She quickly complies, as she wraps her arms around my neck to support herself.

So now I thrust into her hard, sharp, and deep. She takes all of me as she groans loudly. This is what we both crave. Total immersion in each other. Me in her, her in me. Her tight, wet hotness engulfing my cock, greedily swallowing every last bit, right up to the hilt. We are as one again, as we are meant to be, as we should be. Together. No one else on the planet exists at this moment.

I grab hold of her butt cheeks so I can start moving. In and out, trying to keep it slow at first, trying to savor every exquisite stroke of her lushness. Slowly in… and then out, her silkiness sliding over me. In and then out again… soft velvet kisses for my cock. In and then out again…

But it’s impossible to remain at such a slow pace. She’s too tempting. It’s been too long, and she feels too fucking good. I can’t hold back any longer. I lose control and speed up, thrusting, pushing, pounding, but I need more, still more, I have to drive in deeper, ever deeper, harder….

Ana explodes around me as she comes, and then I let go with a final satisfyingly hard thrust deep into her, releasing loudly, groaning in ecstasy.

Fuck, that was good. Fuck, I needed that. Fuck, she needed it too.

As we come down from our amazing high, I slowly pull out of her and help her to stand again.

“You seem pleased to see me,” she murmurs with a sweet little smile.

“Yes, Miss Steele, I think my pleasure is pretty self-evident. Come – let me get you in the shower.”

We are both somewhat calmer now, and as I get undressed, we talk.

“How was your journey?”

“Fine, thank you. Thanks once again for first class. It really is a much nicer way to travel,” she smiles, then adds rather nervously, “I have some news.”

“Oh?”

“I have a job.”

I smile at her. Of course I already know about this, but I like listening to her telling me her news.

“Congratulations, Miss Steele. Now will you tell me where?” Have to play along, don't I?

“You don’t know?”

“Why would I know?” I shake my head, frowning to be convincing.

“With your stalking capabilities, I thought you might have…” Shit, she’s already starting to figure me out. Have to watch my step here, because she might be naïve, but she’s not stupid. She won’t understand that it’s all for her own good, for her protection.

“Anastasia, I wouldn’t dream of interfering in your career, unless you asked me to, of course.” I try to look wounded. I didn’t interfere with her career; she got the job all on her own. I’m just buying the company, that’s all. Stalking, control freak - yes that’d be me. But I let her get the job all on her own.

“So you have no idea of which company?”

“No. I know there are four publishing companies in Seattle – so I'm assuming it’s one of them.” Just a little white lie. It won’t hurt. And actually, I didn’t know shit about publishing houses in Seattle until last week. Turns out SIP should be a good deal. Thanks Ana.

“SIP.”

“Oh, the small one, good. Well done.” I kiss her forehead. “Clever girl. When do you start?” Monday, she starts. Maybe she’ll wonder how I know it’s the small one? Careful, Grey.

“Monday.”

“That soon eh? I’d better take advantage of you while I still can. Turn round.”

I undress her, then bury my nose in her hair, so I can breathe in her wonderful scent, her usual wonderful heady mix of innocence and sex that I can’t explain. It’s just the scent of Anastasia, and I take a deep long fix of it. It calms me like nothing else, and I imagine this must be how a heroin addict feels when he gets a fix. I'm totally addicted to Anastasia.

I have the shower water really hot for us, to expunge the detritus of recent events. As I start to carefully and thoroughly wash her delightful body, I feel her tense up.

“I have something else to tell you,” she murmurs, as I massage her shoulders.

“Oh, yes?”

“My friend José’s photography show is opening Thursday in Portland.” He’s no fucking friend. He wants into your panties. He wants what’s mine.

“Yes, what about it?” I manage to ask civilly, as I halt my washing duties.

“I said I would go. Do you want to come with me?” No, I fucking well don't want to go, and I certainly don't want Ana to go. I don’t want her anywhere near him. But hang on a minute Grey, think about it. If you try to forbid her, she’ll go anyway. Alone. So it’s best if you take her, make sure the filthy slime ball fucker doesn’t get anywhere near her, or so much as touch her.

“What time?”

“The opening is at 7:30 p.m.”

I gently kiss her ear, and exert great self-control as I quietly reply.

“Okay.” See, that wasn't so hard, was it? “Were you nervous about telling me?”

“Yes. How can you tell?”

“Anastasia, your whole body’s just relaxed.” But at least she told you. That’s a good thing. She’s being honest with you.

“Well, you just seem to be, um … on the jealous side.” Oh baby, you really have no idea how far ‘on the jealous side’ I am. On a scale of 1- 10, I probably rate about 1,000-  and that’s a conservative estimate.

“Yes, I am. And you’d do well to remember that. But thank you for asking. We’ll take Charlie Tango.” That’ll make the evening a bit more pleasurable anyhow.

I can't let her wash me when she asks if she can, but as I gently kiss her neck by way of an apology, I feel the stirrings of another erection that will need taking care of.

“Put your hands on the wall, Anastasia. I’m going to take you again,” I murmur, having already decided to have her from behind this time.

I can never have enough of her it seems. 

Authors Note - With grateful thanks to Ang for her local knowledge and unfailing support 

I don’t own any of the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters therein. They belong to E L James. I’m just borrowing them for fun and not for profit. Please refer to the Legal’s page for further details. This work is not to be copied or reproduced in any way without permission.