Chapter One

The Tempest

Anastasia Steele was by no means a calm women. She was the sort the that would rock her feet back and forth or pace the length of a room when nervous. The current dilemma here though, was that it wasn't particularly polite to pace during a job interview. She'd taken a dose of medication this morning, but never the less, it rather dramatically failed to quell the urges she felt. Damn anxiety attacks. Her eyes were developing that glossy haze, the sort she usually got when she was close to her breaking point. It took all the women had not to run out of the room right then and there.

She never should have come.

But no, Kate would have none of that. She was determined that her best friend find a higher paying job that gave her weekends off. It was either that or she would be subjected to whatever mind numbingly dull conscience Kate could think up. All nonsense really. She was perfectly content with her minimum wage, forty hour a week position at the local hardware store. It paid for rent well enough, with a few dollars left over for food. Sure, at the end of the day her wallet was stretched a little thin. But it was a life she knew and by god Anastasia hated change.

Change hardly if ever led to very good things.

But again. Kate would have none of that. And so once again, for the up-tenth time that month Anastasia found herself at yet another job interview,seated rather inelegantly in the waiting room of the local hospital She was hardly if even slightly qualified for the job, an assistant to a doctor no less. Here she was, her English degree all bright and shinny, fresh out of college. Dear lord. What chance did she stand? Well in Kate's defense, It wasn't really a hospital. More of an asylum, specializing in all sorts of mental problems from the bizarre to the more mainstream. Apparently it was highly recommended. Not that Anastasia would know, no, she chose to avoid places like this wholeheartedly. They gave her the creeps and frankly drove her anxiety up the wall.

Stupid Kate.

Doctor Flynn was welcoming enough, a wide smile and eyes that crinkled with merriment when he saw her.

"Did you want any coffee? Please relax. This isn't an interrogation, I just like meeting all prospective applicants."

He calmed her anxiety down spectacularly, or maybe that was just the medication working it's charm. Whatever it was Anastasia found herself with a new sense of bravery, one which caused her to risk shaking the good doctors hand.

Lord knows what this man had touched since he last washed his hands. Whatever had come over her, she would be certain it didn't happen again. Were mental disorders contagious? She sounded like an immature child. Of course they weren't contagious, schizophrenia was not like having a cold. Yes. Anastasia did know a thing or two about disorders of the mind. Next to nothing about treatment procedures, but she could at least rattle off a definition and that was good, right?

"Yes. Coffee sounds lovely."

Polite? Check. No tremors in her voice? Check. Fake smile plastered on her face? Double check. Whatever was going on it definitely had Anastasia impressed. She sounded so...confident. Not like herself in the slightest. Without the slightest wobble or falter in her step, she followed the doctor into his office.

"So, Anastasia is it? Please take a seat."

He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. Whatever can be said about Dr. Flynn, he's definitely a no nonsense, no frills, sort of man. His office was bare and vaguely unattractive. Not at all like the waiting room just a few feet from were Anastasia now sat. She watched the doctor with mild curiosity, being around him for just a few short minutes already had her anxiety calming down considerably. She could talk so, easy. Almost like magic. What was he playing at?

"So. As I'm sure you already know, I'm in need of an assistant. Nothing too rigorous would be required, just someone to run papers and such around the building or fetch me coffee."

So. in other words he wanted a receptionist. Well, that was a welcomed surprise, she stood a better chance then she thought. Being realistic, her chances were still slim. But that was better then sip zilch and nada right?

The rest of their conversation was boring, in fact the only interesting thing about the entire interview was him. He was watching her. Like a hawk. Her every move during the conversation was being monitored like she was some sort of patient. It was maddening. Driving her anxiety levels back up to critical all over again. Anastasia wanted to scream. Throw a fit. Anything to keep him from staring at her like that.

"I'd like to show you around if you don't mind. See how you handle the place, and how the patients respond to you."

It was a realistic enough request. Hardly one that should have set her internal radar off so much. But really, it left her wanting to run away and never return. How desperately she wanted a blanket and a good pair of comfy pajamas right now. Maybe even a cup of hot chocolate and a cheesy black and white romance film.

Kate would pay for this. Oh how she would pay. Revenge would be sweet, very sweet indeed.

The hospital was dull enough, uninteresting enough, and safe enough that Anastasia played around with the idea of actually working there. Most if not all of the patients were kept sedated and passive almost all the time, and with such a heavy security detail, well Anastasia for the second time that day, was beginning to relax. Dear lord what was this man doing to her and could he please respectfully stop?

Really. This was all starting to get to her head.

"Dr. I'd really like a drink of water if you have any."

There. That ought to get him off her trail. Then she could make a break for it. Get away from here and never return Kate be damned. There was a nice safe hardware store waiting for her a few blocks down the road. That was what she knew. That was her haven.

Dr. Flynn smiled for what, the fifteenth time that day? The man never stopped smiling It was rather tiring. He had to have ulterior motives. What else made sense? No one could smile that much and not want to hurt someone.

"Of course dear, just wait one moment, I'll be right back."

As unusual as it was to leave a stranger alone in a mental hospital, there was enough security around, he must have though she would be safe. Or that she wouldn't make a break for it. That was always an option. Unfortunately for him, Anastasia was already down the hall and around the corner before anyone had a chance to react. She wasn't exactly sure were she was going. Just that she needed to get away. Air maybe? A place outside sounded lovely.

It hadn't taken to long to find a door leading outside, to a small courtyard. Longer then she would have liked but not to long in the slightest, mere minutes. Breathing in deeply her anxiety evaporated, she hoped Dr. Flynn wouldn't find her. That would be embarrassing, it's not like she could say

"Yes sir. I have anxiety issues. I tend to freak out when I feel stressed. Don't mind me."

Right. Because that was completely normal. No normal people don't run outside during a job interview. Normal people can keep their head in place for longer then five minutes.

"Well girl. Then you're not exactly normal then are you."

She felt exasperated with herself. Truly and honestly upset she was apparently incapable of not running when the going gets tough.

Anastasia was so wrapped up in her thoughts she hardly noticed anything around her. She certainly didn't notice someone standing right next to her. Grey eyes watching her talk to herself. Well, in her defense, he wasn't exactly next to her, but he was still close enough she should have noticed something.

A half second later, a scream and Anastasia had her back pressed up against a wall warily watching the man now in front of her. How dare he creep up on her. How dare he. Normal people didn't do that. Normal people made their presence known. Good lord. This was an asylum. No one was fucking normal. Why on earth was she here? This wasn't a smart idea.

Kate was going down. Dramatically.

Grey eyes watched the women, no girl in front of him. She couldn't have been older then him. And therefor was like a baby to his years of experience. He hadn't meant to frighten her but really, she shouldn't be wandering around. She might run into some...unsavory creatures.

Anastasia on the other hand was about to pass out.

It was one of those awkward moments people tend to ignore later in life and claim never happened. A terrifying awkward moment.

"Hello. May I ask who you are?"

His voice was smooth, sugar coated, sort of like honey, it was all Anastasia could do not to collapse right there like a doll. Her anxiety was sky high and starting to choke her out. Her vision wavered between blurry and clear, good lord, she was most definitely at her limit. Probably had surpassed it by now. This wasn't good. Why was the medication not working?

"Anastasia."

Her voice was high pitched even to her. A squeak she could barley contain. A squeak. Really? Strong women don't squeak they challenge, they fight back. Unfortunately. Anastasia wasn't a strong women.

"Christian."

He was mocking her! The bastard! Answering with single worded replies just because she had. How dare he. Anger quickly replaced fear. She'd had enough of whoever this boy was. Didn't his mother ever teach him to treat girls nicely? Or what. Did she not beat it into his head enough? The nerve of him.

"Well. I should be going. It was nice meeting you. Good bye."

She was more then prepared to stalk off her heals digging into the grass, her sights set on the door in front of her, but apparently this Christian had other plans for her. Grabbing her wrist as she walked past him he pulled her closer towards his body.

Anastasia froze. Not a shock sort of froze. No. this was to much. People she could handle if they kept their distance. But this? This brought back memories she would rather stay dormant, memories some cheeky bastard with beautiful grey eyes had better leave alone. She was a grown up women and if she wanted to walk away then by god she was going to do it.

"Let go of me." The words came out as more of a hiss then she'd intended. But really? She didn't owe him any sort of respect. He was the one gripping her wrist.

Dr. Flynn chose that moment of all moments to come bustling into the courtyard. Really, did the man have her on radar or something?

"Oh Ana! There you are! I see you've met one of the patients. Yes. Christian is a handful. Come now, we have much to discuss. What sort of hours are you available?"

She pulled her wrist out of the boys grasp. And with as much 'bitch' as she could muster stormed up to were Dr. Flynn was standing.

"You know. I don't really think this job is for me. I'll be going home now. Thank you for your time."

Kate would be upset later. In fact. She'd be furious. But for now? Anastasia really couldn't bring herself to care.

It was some hours later that she stood in her apartment, macaroni and cheese cooking on the stove, a book in her hands. Really. The nerve of that boy, that Christian. You shouldn't touch someone if they don't want it. It was all she could do not to cry. Anastasia hated unexpected touching, it brought her back to a place and time she wasn't ready to handle just yet. She couldn't handle it just yet.

Kate would want to know how the interview went. She was due home from work any moment now. But to be frank? Anastasia just wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

All she could think about where those grey eyes, watching her so...calm, so menacingly.

She fell asleep that night, a bowl of macaroni on the bed side table and all the lights in the small apartment turned on. Kate would get that later. For now? For now Anastasia needed any sort of comfort she could get.

She dreamed that night, of grey eyes and ridiculously handsome patients at stupid hospitals that shouldn't be allowed to exist.

Really. The nerve.