Fifty Shades or Not: Friends or Lovers

Ch 1: New Hires

STOP! Before you read this story have you read Fifty Shades or Not? If the answer is no, then stop reading this one as it's the sequel to it. Thanks!

It was mid summer and things certainly haven't slowed down yet for the happy couple. Ana had told Christian she had to run an errand that morning and that she'd be late getting to the office. Christian had to go and face the the members of the board explaining why his father was no longer there.

Ana had arrived at the hospital, she was there to see Lillian. She peeked into a room and saw her.

"Hey, Ana, is there something you needed?" Lillian asked.

"It's okay, I can come back another time," Ana told her leaving.

"Ana, I know why you're here. I know it's a possibility of you having HIV," she told Ana.

"Please tell me that I don't have it, please tell me I'm not going to die," Ana said to her.

Meanwhile, Christian was facing the board members and was letting them know if he was going to have a problem with them, he wanted to know now.

"I sincerely hope that I have the full support of the entire board from now on, if there are certain individuals I'm going to have a problem with, they should make themselves known right now."

"Your unfit to me, Christian," Glenn replied.

"Well, if the shoe fits, Glenn. You helped my father to undermine me. Now I can't effectively run this company…"

"He should be here to run this company. Now that he has been cleared of the false charges, he should be able to return to this company," Glen told Christian. "I'm not the only one who thinks that way."

"Well then why don't we put it to a special vote, Glenn. If there is more support for my father to run this company, I will gladly step down and you won't hear another word from me."

"That won't be necessary," another board member said.

"No, no, no, please, Mel. I can't take being second guessed anymore. Let's put to a vote by show of hand. All those in favor of my father running this company vote now." Christian counted the hands. "All those in favor of my maintaining control?" he counts again and its split. "Figures, it's a tie." Christian told them.

"Well, not for long," Grace said, as she came in further. "It looks as if I have the deciding vote."

Christian looked back at his aunt. Oh terrific! I know exactly how this will go.

Ana was at the hospital talking to Lillian about the fact she may have been exposed to the HIV virus. Lillian was telling her that they don't even know yet and wanted to talk to her about it.

"We don't know if you even have it," Lillian said to her.

"Yeah, I know. But what if I do?"

"We can deal with that. But for now we have to deal with the not knowing part of it."

"I'm not sure which part of it is worse."

"Let's talk about it."

"I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to make it to October. I barely made it up this morning, I have to put this smile on my face and make believe like everything is okay, one more day and I think I will explode."

Lillian was looking at her, she totally understood how she felt.

"I remember…"

"What? You thought that you were HIV?" Ana asked.

"No, but I had something I didn't want to find out."

"You don't have to tell me what it is…"

"No, you see, I had breast cancer a few years ago. They were able to get it all out, but every year I have to be rechecked."

"Wow. I didn't know that, I'm sorry. Are you okay, now?"

"I'm fine now, but I couldn't of said that six months ago. I was afraid to go to the doctor, I didn't want to hear the words cancer, so I avoided going as long as I could."

"That's exactly how I feel," Ana told her.

"I understand. Your thinking if you have it well it's too late and why not keep living in ignorant bliss. But, the problem is once you know that there is a chance you're sick, that problem gets bigger and bigger in your mind, and it get's worse than the reality is."

"What made you decide to go?" Ana asked.

"Guilt. And a very good friend. The cancer hasn't come back as of yet, so I'm still in remission."

"That's good, I'm happy for you." Ana replied.

"Ana, I know it's scary, but at the same time it's better if you know because the problem can become bigger if you let it."

"I know...I...just…"

"This is what your family and friends are for, that extra support to lean on. That's what Kate can do for you and what about Christian?" Lillian asked.

When Lillian asked me about Christian, I froze. How do you tell your boyfriend that you may be sick? We just got together after all that mess and now we have to deal with this?

Christian was at the office and in front of the board members. He asked them to vote on whom they wanted running the company and so far it was split, that was until Grace showed up.

"Let's go ahead and vote because I already know which way you're going to go," Christian replied, referring to his father. "What do you say, right hand my father takes control, left hand I do?" he asked.

"Not quite so fast, Christian. I think I deserve to be heard here."

"Well, I hope everyone is ready to hear all of the failing mistakes that Christian has made, and I'm sure I am the worst thing…"

"The best thing," Grace replied, shocking him.

"Excuse me?" he asked, not sure if he heard right.

"The worst thing would be to allow my brother in this company." Grace replied.

"What are you saying, Grace?" Glenn asked, obviously irritated.

"The truth, Glenn. The truth of the matter is I have watched Christian turn this company around. He has remained cool under fire, I admire and support him for that."

"Is your brother aware of this?" Glenn asked.

"Well if I know you Glenn you will find out for yourself. In the meantime how about we gather to allow Christian continue what he does best and that is remain president of Grey Enterprises!" Grace announced.

"The final vote has not been taken," Glenn spoke out.

"Oh now, Glenn, you know that's just a formality, but to make it official," she said looking back at Christian. "Right hand for your father, left for you," she said, putting out her right hand to Christian. "Congratulations!" Grace told her nephew.

Christian told everyone that the meeting was adjourned. The board members who wanted him to remain as president came and shook his hand before leaving. Christian and Grace remained in the boardroom. He certainly didn't like where all this was going. Once they all left he went to his aunt.

"Okay, what's all this going to cost me?" Christian asked, looking her in the eyes. He was all familiar with his families tactics.

Meanwhile at the hospital, Ana was talking to Lillian about the HIV virus. She was scared to death to test, because of the outcome.

"I can't tell him, I just can't. I can barely kiss him without being afraid if I will pass it on to him."

"Okay, let me give you some facts right now. If either of you have no open sores in your mouth, there is no way you can spread the HIV through normal kissing. The only way you could spread it is through by sharing of needles, unprotected sex, or through coming in contact with the HIV infected blood."

"It still scares me," Ana told her. She knew all of what Lillian told her, but, she was still scared of the situation. "I don't want to do anything to hurt him." Ana broke down and cried as Lillian held her. "What did I do to deserve this? I never hurt anyone," she said, through her tears.

"Oh sweetie...this is not something you deserve, no body deserves this. It's not a punishment, it's just an awful disease, and we don't know if you even have it yet. Ana- you need to just go out there and live your life, I know its sounds painful to do so, but this is what I did. You live your life one day at a time. There is something could help, there is a wonderful counseling program, they have the same fears as you do."

"Everyone has talked to me about, I just don't think I'm ready for that. And my family…"

"Your family would be a great comfort, you've got to turn to them, you can't shut them out. And as far as Christian, the last thing you want to do is cut yourself off from love." Ana knew then she had to tell him, but the question was how.

Back at the Grey office, Christian was wondering exactly what his aunt wanted from him. She wanted him to trust her as she wanted to be a part of the company.

"Christian, I need to feel like I'm a part of this company. I know I don't deserve it, especially after how I treated you and I'm sorry for that."

He crossed his arms and stood before her. "That's an understatement. What happened between you and my father?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean, what happened between you and my father to make you want to come to me again?"

"Okay, fine, you want the truth here it is. Your father left town. He's taken some money and left. He told me that he was tired of my attitude and needed some time to think."

"So in other words, he left you blind, only caring about himself is that it?" Christian asked.

"We had an argument. There are you happy. You know everything."

"That's a start. Okay, I could you use in the company, but I call the shots. If there is something you want to do, you clear it with me first, understand?"

"Completely and thank you."

Ana came in, interrupting his and Grace's talk. "Christian?" she said, coming in further. "I'm sorry for... I could come back," Ana said.

"No, it's okay. My aunt was just leaving," he told Ana. Grace looked back at Ana, "Good morning Ana, nice to see you," Grace said, politely.

Ana walked closer to Christian as he reached out to her, gently touching her face. "You're a sight for sore eyes." He told her while holding her hand.

"Hey, I was wondering, what would happen if we left all the calls to the switchboard?" Ana asked.

"We could leave…" he replied.

"Could we possibly do that now?" she asked.

"Yeah. Give me about thirty seconds," Christian replied, as he held her hand, bringing her with him.

Once they did, they went to his yacht to get their rollerblades. He took her to a nearby park park so they could skate. Once there, they held hands as they skated with grace in the park just enjoying being a couple. After they did that Christian suggested swimming as they were hot and sweaty.

Christian and Ana arrived on his yacht, grabbing their swimsuits as they headed to the country club began swimming and playing together in the pool by splashing each other. Ana took Lillian's advice as she wanted to live her life. She didn't want to think about the rape, Jose, or any of it. It was their time to be happy.

They had their fun and was getting out of the pool. Christian helped Anastasia by giving her his hand. He pulled her up as he pulled her closer to him. She went in for a hug as they basked in their new relationship. Although Christian was noticing that he and Ana haven't shared a kiss in a while and was wondering what was going on with that. He didn't want to move too fast for her, that's why he didn't say anything about it.

The next day it was back at the office. He was telling her how much he wanted the company to grow and was determined to make the company better than ever and something he could be proud of. He also needed to get some things from the Seattle Journal, so Ana offered to go in his place since he had a meeting that morning.

Ana arrived at the Journal, as she was getting the files that Christian had asked for. Just as she was leaving she heard this girl talking to Nick.

"Aren't you, Nick Grey? I have seen your work and wanted to see if you could take a look at my resume."

"I don't do the hiring here, sorry I can't help you," he told the lady.

"I also have my application as well."

"You will need to see someone in personnel," he suggested.

"I just came from there. The woman in charge wouldn't even give me an interview, I'm Susan Bates."

"I'm sorry Miss Bates but…"

"I really need the job," she told him not giving up. "Here's my application and resume, if you could just give it to them, I'd very much appreciate it."

Nick skimmed over it and told her it looked good, but the fact was they were not hiring at this time. He left the lady standing there while Ana walked closer to her.

"I'm sorry, I've never seen Nick act like that," Ana told her.

"Don't worry about it, I'm fine."

"Is there something I can do for you?" Ana asked.

"No, nothing at all. Believe me, this isn't my first rejection of the day," Susan said, as she turned away from Ana.

"Hey, are you okay? Do you need a kleenex?"

"Nope. I'm not crying, I hate crying," Susan replied, as her voice trembled.

"Yeah, well I do too but sometimes you just can't stop."

"You know, I want to know why the truth is kept to be so great."

"They usually say it's the best thing," Ana told her.

"Do you work here?"

No, but, I do know most of the people here."

"Here's my job application and resume."

Ana looked over it as she saw that Susan was a journalism major. "You're a journalism major, that's great! Wow first in your class and you have an award as well. That's impressive."

"You didn't read all of it," Susan told her.

"What did I miss?"

"Line eighteen, my medical history," Susan told her.

Ana was shocked when she saw her medical history, She looked up to Susan who said, "I'm HIV positive. But don't worry, you can't get it from touching me. You might want to tell that to your friend who turned me down for a job too," Susan replied, as she was walking away.

"Wait! Wait, I'm sorry," Ana told her.

"Thanks, but no offense, I hear that a lot. It won't pay my rent next month."

"No, I mean I'm really sorry about how I reacted to it."

"It's okay, I'm getting rather used to it by now."

"You don't understand...this isn't about you...it's about me."

"I'm not following," Susan said to her.

Ana pulled her away from prying people. Ana quietly whispered, "You see, I'm supposed to be tested for HIV in October."

"Oh. Ohhh boy," she replied back, looking back at Ana.

"I'm scared. I'm really scared, and I don't know what to do."

"I understand. It's been hard for me as I been pounding the concrete desperately looking for a job. No one will give me a job because of my HIV status, I'm flat broke and I need the insurance."

"Where else have you applied besides here?"

"Oh you name it I've been there. I went to papers, magazines, I even went to the tabloids."

"They all turned you down?"

"The minute I think I get the job, their eyes go down to the medical part and right away they say they have no openings."

"But that's discrimination," Ana said to her.

"I know. But I don't want to spend all my time in court, I want to work."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

"Besides that I feel fine. It might be while before I have any symptoms, years even. And I feel great."

"Okay, we're going to get you a job," Ana said to her. "Go freshen up in the bathroom and I will meet you at the elevator."

"Are you sure?" Susan asked.

"Very sure, now go," Ana told her.

"Okay, okay, give me five minutes." Susan left for the ladies room.

Just as Susan left her side, Nick came by and said hello to her. She gave him something from Christian.

"This is from, Christian," she told him, in a non friendly manner.

"Oh yeah, what is it?"

"I don't know, why don't you ask him," she snapped.

"Okay, fine I will." he replied back.

Ana stood there in front of him as he looked up and saw her staring. "Yes?"

"You know, Nick, that you and Christian have had your differences in the past, but I thought you were a good guy."

"Ana-it hasn't been a really great day for me but if there is something you'd like to say by all means say it," he told her irritated as well.

"Okay I will. I will say it, how could you turn down someone like Susan Bates?"

"Susan Bates?" He asked, not realizing who she was talking about.

"You didn't even look at her qualifications."

"Oh, you mean the girl who was here earlier." He stated.

"That is so wrong, really wrong."

"Ana, I don't know what the hell you are talking about."

"I'm talking about the fact she has HIV, maybe if you had read past eighteen you would know this. That girl will get a job at Grey Enterprises by the end of the day and you can print that." She replied, walking off in a huff.

Nick picked up her resume and read it. He read past eighteen and sure enough it showed that she tested positive for HIV. He felt bad for what happened and decided to head to Grey Enterprises. Christian was interviewing someone himself, a Jessica Martinez, he was going over her resume.

Jessica was a latino, a little older maybe in her late thirties. She was quite tall for a woman, but yet had very good clear skin. You could tell she was very shy and timid.

"Wow, I'm impressed with your resume. When can you start?" Christian asked.

"You mean, I have the job?" Jessica asked.

"Not yet, we have to have a three month probation period to see if we like each other to work well together."

"Well I hope you will be happy," Jessica replied.

"I think we will. Welcome to Grey Enterprises, Ms. Martinez," He said, shaking her hand.

"Please call me Jessica," she said back.

Ana knocked his office door as she peeked in. "Oh this is a person you definitely need to meet. This is my assistant, Anastasia Steele, this is Jessica Martinez, she will be replacing Howard in accounting," Christian said, introducing the two ladies.

"Hey, hi, its nice to meet you," Ana told her. "If you need anything just call, I'm right out there."

"So we will see you first thing in the morning," Christian told Jessica.

Christian sat in his chair as he was looking over some papers.

"I'm glad that you're in a giving mood because I have a favor to ask you."

"Oh really?" he asked, in a teasing tone. "Let me guess, you want us to play hooky again today. Normally I would but…"

"No, that's not it. Actually I have someone here for you to meet."

"Who?"

"It's a woman I met earlier, please don't be mad, but I promised her a job here." She told him.

"Ana, baby, you can't go around promising jobs to people," he replied.

"Christian, she's terrific, we could use her in public relations."

"Honey, there aren't any openings…" he tried telling her.

"But she's more than qualified and she's a great writer," Ana insisted.

"Ana- I can't create staff for the sake of creating it." He explained.

"But you're the boss you can do whatever you want," she urged.

"Look, I would love to hire my friends too, but that's not the way business works. We only have so much money budgeted for personnel."

"I thought you meant what you said this morning."

"I did."

"What was all that about Grey Enterprises being the company that you can be proud of, I mean was that all talk? Just look at her resume, read through it, you'll see, she's cream of the crop we'd be fools passing that up."

"She has very impressive credentials," he told her, looking over her resume.

"Please, you have to give her this job."

"This is very important to you isn't it?" he asked, looking back in her eyes.

"Very."

"Okay, fine. We can get her at entry level."

"That's fine, she'll take it."

"Ana, why is it so important that I give this woman a job?" he asked, curious.

"Well she has a little bit of a health problem," Ana described.

"Oh. Is it serious?"

"Why don't you ask her, she's waiting out front."

"It is that serious," he replied, leaning back in his chair, thinking.

"Why don't you read past eighteen. She's HIV positive."

"Oh," he replied. Christian had no idea how to respond.

"Does that frighten you? You won't even meet her now?"

"Ana?" he questioned.

"I know that the company image is very important to you…"

"Baby, stop putting words in my mouth," he said looking at her.

"Sorry."

"Now, I will meet with her, but the only way I will give her a job is if she's good for the company."

"Okay," she replied. "Be right back," she stated to him, as she went to talk to Susan. Christian sat back in his chair as he watched his girlfriend.

God I love that woman. The way she cares for other people just amazes me. Its one of the reasons I fell in love with her to begin with.

Ana went to talk to Susan. She told Susan she really thinks she had a shot working there. Ana told her she'd be right back. Nick arrived at Grey Enterprises and was glad to run into Susan.

"Um...hello, Susan Bates," Nick said.

"You?" she asked back.

"Yeah, I have been looking for you."

"Why? Did the guilt set in?"

"You don't understand, I don't really blame you for being angry. I never really read your application."

"I saw you read it," she explained.

"I just skimmed over it. The truth is, you caught me at a bad time. I just had a argument with my editor and publisher. I was just seeing red at that time. I wasn't paying that much attention. I never saw that part about…"

"So now you have and want to show me the kind of liberal guy you are."

"No, actually I came by to say I'm sorry. I treated you like a jerk and for that I am truly sorry."

"Does the job come with the apology?" she asked.

"I would love to be able offer you a job, as you have wonderful credentials, but I would be lying if I said I could pull that off."

"That's okay," as they shook hands. "Actually, I may have a job here."

Ana came out with Christian not far behind. "Congratulations, Susan!" Ana told her smiling.

"Oh my god! Are you kidding me? I got a job?" Susan asked again not believing it at first.

"That's great," Nick told Susan.

"I'm not sure if it's great but it's a good start," Ana replied.

"I don't know what to say. I'm speechless!" Susan replied excitedly.

"Welcome to Grey Enterprises Ms. Bates," Christian said, shaking her hand.

"Thank you, Mr. Grey, I can't tell you how much this means to me. I got a job, I got a job!" she squealed as she gave Ana a hug. "I'm so happy I'm shaking!"

"Don't worry you will be great."

"How can I ever thank you?" Susan asked Ana.

"Forget it, we're happy to have you."

"Have me where?"

"Well here."

"I mean but where, what's my job, what department?" Susan asked.

"Press and publicity," Ana answered.

"Yes where your writing skills can be used." Christian told her.

"Oh gosh, I can't believe it! You have no idea how good I feel. I do have one question though, when do I start?"

"Tomorrow? If that's okay?" Christian asked.

"Thats perfect. I will be here before the doors even open. Ana told me how nice you were, but this...I can't thank you enough."

"Christian is more than nice, he's a wonderful boss to work for."

Nick asked Susan if he could take her for a quick bite to eat. He suggested getting a burger where they could get twenty toppings if she'd like.

"Oh yes the families diner," Ana chimed in. "Order the monster burger, they're the best."

"Thanks, I just don't think I can. I need to get myself ready for work tomorrow."

"How about you guys, would you like to go grab a burger?" Nick asked, Ana and Christian.

"Sure sounds great," Ana replied.

"I don't think I should, I have a lot to do to get ready for tomorrow." Susan told them.

"Awe, come on, you gotta eat right? Join us," Ana insisted.

"Okay, sounds great," Susan replied.

Ana walked away for a moment going into Christian's office. He followed behind her saying, "I thought you wanted to go get the monster burger?" he asked, Ana.

"Well, I do. I couldn't leave without saying thank you and I love you," Ana told him, looking him in the eyes.

"I love you too. I also love that you care for someone you hardly know."

"Yeah, well, it just hit me in a certain way. Anyway we better get going," she told him.

"Just a minute," he said, pulling her in for a hug.

They got to the diner, ordered their food, chatting and eating at the same time. Nick and Christian were talking about the toys they played with when they were just little kids. Nadine saw Ray looking at the foursome.

"You can't stop thinking about that woman huh?" Nadine asked him.

A while back when Elliot and Ray went to find Cassie for the hearing, Ray ran into a woman that looked familiar to him. He could have sworn he'd seen pictures of her in one of their friends home but couldn't place who she was. He told Nadine about it which was a big mistake as she kept hounding him on it.

"No, I'm not. I was looking at Ana, look at her over there, she's laughing."

"Yeah so?" Nadine asked, she had no idea why he was worried about that. "Does that worry you?"

"It amazes me," he told her.

"Because she could be HIV positive?"

"How did you know?"

"Because we all three talked about it…" she was saying but saw the expression on his face. He was hurt because he felt he was the last to know.

"Oh, well, I should have known. I just feel that she should talk about it with us."

"Ray, this is something she has to work out on her own."

"Does Christian know?" he asked.

"I have no idea but Ray it's not up to us to tell him."

"Well she can't keep avoiding it, he has the right to know," Ray told her.

"You have to give her a chance to tell him in her own time. This is really not our business its hers. You let her tell him."

Nadine went out and asked if they needed refills. Just as she was filling up their glasses, Christian reached over and grabbed Ana's for a quick sip. She panicked as she grabbed it from him and giving him back his.

"Hey! I was about to drink that!" He bellowed.

"I know...but here's your glass," she replied, handing him his glass.

"Okay, just for the record, I don't have any killer germs," Christian told her. Ana ran out of the diner going to the alley. Susan knew exactly what was going on.

"Um...I'm sorry...I better go talk to her," he said to them.

"No, you stay here. I'll go," Susan said, as she left the guys.

"Do you have any idea what that was about?" Nick asked Christian.

"No, I don't," he sighed out.

"I guess she's not over with what happened with Jose," Nick replied.

"Some days she is some days she's not. I just don't know what to do help her anymore."

Susan went out to find her. "Ana?" she asked looking for her.

"Yeah, I'm over here," Ana told her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I don't know what's the matter with me?"

"You freaked because Christian was about to drink from your glass. But, Ana, if people got sick from sharing glasses, everyone would be sick."

"I know. But I'm afraid I'm going to give it to him some other way."

"But you don't even know if you are sick?"

"And that almost seems worst."

"No, I think having it is a lot worse."

"I'm sorry. I feel like such a jerk."

"Stop doing that, Ana. You have a right to feel this way no matter how you look at it."

"Yeah, I guess. How do you do it?"

"Same thing I'm doing right now. Enjoy life and take it one day at a time. People get the virus by having unsafe sex, sharing needles or coming in contact with the infected blood."

"I won't do that."

"Then you won't spread it if god forbid you do have it."

"How can you stand it though?"

"I cry sometimes, but it doesn't mean I'm going to give up on life."

"I haven't told Christian yet."

"Maybe now is the time."

"That's what the nurse Lillian said too."

"Are you afraid if he finds out he will leave you?"

"I'm not really sure what he is going to do."

"There's only one way to find out." Susan told her.

I know Susan and Lillian are right, I do need to tell Christian about what is going on. Surely by now he knows something is up with me. I just wished I knew for sure how he would react. I know he loves me, that isn't the question. I just don't want him to stay with me out of pity.

A/N: Hey guys sorry to end it there but the chapter was getting too long. The next chapter Christian will learn about her having to test. What do you think he will do or say?