Author's Note:
Many people suffer from panic attacks at different times for different reasons. What you are about to read is a generalized summerization of what a panic attack feels like.
"Welcome to Grey Enterprises and Holdings, you must be Ms. Kavanagh. I'm Theresa, I'll take your coat." I finally manage to look up at the smiling, prestigious blonde as she gets up from behind the marble gray desk and steps behind me to take my jacket.
"Um…actually I'm Anastasia Steele. Ms. Kavanagh is sick today so she…sent me." I'm hoping they won't kick me out. Kate has been fighting to get an interview with this guy the whole year. Her parents would be so disappointed if she wasn't able to get this interview for their company.
"That is perfectly fine Ms. Steele. Mr. Grey has not arrived yet. When he does, I'll send you up to his office on the fifteenth floor. Go ahead and have a seat in our waiting area."
"Okay…thank you." I blindly walk over to a chair, straighten out my navy skirt, and sit. I fiddle with the tails of my floral shirt then my navy blazer. Finally I resort to folding the corners of the paper with Kate's questions on it. Why am I so nervous, I think to myself. I mean I've never been good at being interviewed; hell I almost didn't make it through my interview at SIP. But the way Kate made this guy sound, he might bite my head off for no reason at all. Oh crap, my heart is racing! Okay, let's think of something else. I look at the wall adjacent to me and study the piece of abstract art. But my heart hasn't slowed down so I look out the window at the falling rain. Water usually calms me, but this is just reminding me of someone sweating. I begin to gently rub my scar on my left wrist back and forth, trying this time to use one of the breathing techniques I learned, but even that isn't helping. Shit, this is really happening now! I…I…have to leave! I quickly stand and bolt through the doors. My feet have no stopping point as I feel the wind and rain hit my face. People have begun to stare, but I don't bother looking at them. I couldn't stand to be in there any longer, so I had to run. I feel the panic attack starting and I want to be as far away from people as possible. Suddenly, I crash into a wall of muscles and nearly fall backwards, but strong hands wrap around my center. My chest begins to tighten and the hyperventilation starts.
"Whoa, are you alright miss," the stranger's smooth voice asks. I begin to shake and I feel my face heat as I stare at his brown leather shoes. "Oh. It's alright, you're safe." His hands go up my back and begin to rub in circles, the heat making me calm down a little. My arms circle around his middle. He stiffens, but soon he holds me closer as my breathing slows down. My eyes are closed as I focus on getting my breathing back to normal, but I feel something else. Every nerve seems to be alive, almost jumping around in my skin. Normally after an attack, the only thing that feels out of place is my heartbeat, but not now. I also love the feel of his hands against my back, and I'm not too fond of getting in such proximities with a complete stranger. "Feel better," his soft voice brings me out of my thoughts. I step away from him but can only continue to look at his shoes. I miss his touch.
"Yes…um, thank you. I'm sorry I ran into you sir. I'm also sorry for holding you up from where ever you need to go." I feel my cheeks heating.
"It's alright, you don't need to apologize. You never really know when a panic attack is going to happen do you?" How did he know? I finally get the nerve to look up at him. I do and we both gasp. He has unruly copper hair that has begun to stick to his forehead from the rain. His angular jar makes it look like an artist sculpted it, completed with full, kissable lips. He has a straight nose with flaring nostrils, and I lastly notice his intense gray eyes. Damn, he's beautiful! His eyes soften and he forms a small smile. "Where were you running from?"
"Uh…um Grey Enterprises and Holdings." He takes off his suit jacket and wraps it around my shoulders, giving me enough fabric to place it over my head for coverage. "Thank you," I squeak.
"You're welcome. Why were you there?"
"I'm suppose to do an interview with Mr. Grey, but I guess…" I bite my lip and look away from his gorgeous face.
"Well I'm heading there now. I'm sure Mr. Grey will understand if you're a little late." He places his hand on the small of my back and we walk the block and a half back in silence. He opens the door for me and I see Theresa stand.
"Ms. Steele, are you alright?"
"Yes Theresa, thank you."
"Very well then, here is your paper you left behind. Good morning Mr. Grey." Mr. Grey? Oh shit.
"Good morning Theresa." He says nonchalantly as he walks up behind me again and places his hand back where it was. He guides me over to the elevators and we get in.
"Mr. Grey, I am so sorry I ran into you! I didn't even know it was you."
"It's perfectly fine Ms. Steele. Are you nervous about interviewing me?" I bite my lip again and shake my head in confirmation. "Well you have nothing to be nervous about. I thought a Ms. Kavanagh was interviewing me."
"Well she was going to, but she caught the flu." He looks at me with an arched eyebrow and a smirk playing on his lips. "Kate is my roommate." I shrug out of his jacket. "Thank you again for letting me borrow your jacket."
"Anytime Ms. Steele." As I'm handing his jacket, our fingers touch and I feel a spark that makes me jump. He must have felt it too, because he looks as startled as I do.
"Sorry, must have been static electricity." He doesn't say anything, but he has a confused look on his brow. The doors open to another reception area, where another blonde is sitting behind a desk.
"Good morning Mr. Grey, here are the calls that have come in for you. Your 9 o'clock interview has arrived downstairs," she says as she hands him notes.
"Yes and she is with me Andrea. Please direct all calls to Ros while I'm with Ms. Steele." He places his hand back to where it was and guides me over to a door. He opens it and lets me walk in first. His office is wonderful! He has a whole wall that looks out to the Seattle skyline. His desk is gray with matching armchairs in front of it, with a table in between them. I look around and see he has another door, probably a bathroom, a light gray couch is near the main door, and there are paintings hung up on the walls. "Please have a seat Ms. Steele. Would you like something to drink?" I look back at him and feel my face flush. His white dress shirt got very wet and is clinging to his chest, making his muscles easily seen. I shake my head, trying to rid it of a vision of his unclothed chest.
"Yes please, I'll take tea if you have it. If not, hot chocolate will be fine." He gives me a sideways grin before he tells his receptionist about the drinks.
"If you'll excuse me then." He walks over to his bathroom, opens the door, and steps in without closing it. Andrea comes back in with the drinks and places his on the table and hands me mine with a friendly smile. Now I'm alone with the sexy CEO. Heaven help me!
