Here Comes the Boom

Disclaimer - All the rights to the wonderful world of Fifty Shades Trilogy belongs to E.L. James. I do not own any of the characters from the trilogy. No copyright infringement intended.

A/N: So, here it is. The first chapter of the sequel. Hope you guys like it.

I know I'll probably end up empty, but I have to ask. Anyone interested in "beta-ing" for me?

Also, I would like to make an announcement. Sadly, I will not be able to update so quickly anymore. My vacation is officially over and I started my last semester of school. Lots of studying and exams waiting for me, plus I have to really start working on my thesis. I know, it's awful, but what can you do about it? Real life seems to make a habit of getting in the way, right?

I can't promise when I'll update, but I'll try my best to do it at least once a week. I'm sorry guys, I would prefer to spend my time writing, too, trust me. This week it's easier, though. So I'll probably post at my usual pace, once a day, or once every two days. Thank you for your understanding and remember I still love you all :)

Anastasia's POV

I groan and turn around, fumbling around until I manage to turn off the damn alarm. I let out a deep, long sigh. New day, new week, same old shit. I had troubles adjusting to my routine ever since he left more than a week ago. I turn my head and glance at the empty, cold side of my bed. His side. Not that he used it much, as I usually woke up with him all over me.

I push these thoughts away and get up. There's no point in dwelling on this. Nothing I can do about it. I'm angry with myself, because the truth is that I miss him. I had trouble sleeping, too. My nights were consumed with dreams of him, some of them bordering dangerously close to nightmares of his leaving. I didn't want to resort to medication again. The pills seemed to make all my demons appear in the dark of the night. They helped me get a good night sleep, sure. But they also prevented me from waking up if I were to have a nightmare.

I make myself a cup of tea and go to the bedroom to change. I put on my running gear and I grab my I-pod, exiting the apartment. A run will do me some good. My brain always seems to shut off during a run. I concentrate only on moving my muscles, only on making the next step.

Half an hour later I return to the apartment, heading straight to the shower. I'm just finishing styling my hair when the doorbell rings.

"Hey Jose" I greet my best friend, letting him in. "I'm almost ready" I holler as I return to my bedroom.

"I wanted to see if you feel like letting me drive you to work today. Maybe grab a cup of coffee or something on our way."

"You didn't have to do that. I could have taken a cab." I tell him as I return to the living room, grabbing my office bag.

He just shrugs and smiles. "What are best friends/bodyguards for?"

I roll my eyes at him and punch him in the shoulder. "Come on, I have a meeting at 9. I can't be late."

"Have you found out where we're going next? You're nearly done here, right?" he asks me as he holds the back door of the car open for me.

"Not exactly." I say to him once he positions himself in front of the steering wheel. "I guess to New York…You know you don't have to follow me everywhere, don't you?"

I see him in the rearview mirror giving me a pointed look. "You know that if it's not me, your father will just send someone else." He says, shrugging.

"I know" I grumble.

"Hey, at least I let you have 2 weeks affairs without telling your father" he snickers, giving me a wink.

I giggle a little. "I know" I say, reaching over to rub his shoulder. "Thank you for that, by the way."

He shrugs again. "What are…"

"I know, I know." I cut him off. "I just wish you'd do something you like. Like study photography and open that gallery you used to dream about."

"I am doing something I like. I take care of you. And I have enough spare time to take a ton of photos while I wait around." He says, then gets out of the car and opens the door for me.

I exit the car and take his arm, entering the coffee house. After getting our caffeine fix, we continue the ride to the office.

"The truth is…I don't know what I would do without you. I know I don't tell you enough, but I appreciate everything you've done for me." I say to him, after the car stops in front of the office building. I give him a hug when I exit the car. "I love you so much. You're like a brother to me."

He chuckles and returns the hug. "And I'm proud to call you my sister. Hey, what's with the sappy Ana today?" he teases.

"I don't know" I say, pulling back and sniffling. "I think I'm about to start my period or something."

"Ew, too much information." He says, laughing.

"Do you plan going away for lunch?" he asks me, escorting me to my office.

"Nope…but if that changes, I'll let you know."

"Mmmkay. See ya!" he says, rounding the corner to the security offices.

I sigh and enter the office, putting my office bag on a chair. I take a sip of my coffee and turn on the computer.

"Good morning, Miss Steele." Adele, my assistant greets me.

"Good morning, Adele. Any messages?"

"Yes, Mr. Rombaud called and canceled your 9 am meeting. He said he's terribly sorry, but he has to deal with a family emergency."

"Okay. That's fine." I grumble, checking my e-mail. "Anything else?"

"No, miss. That is all. Do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you, Adele."

I lean back in my chair and return her smile, as she exits my office. It seems I'll twiddle my thumbs today. I pick up the phone and dial Kate, even though it must be close to midnight in Seattle. I haven't talked with her in ages.

"Hey Steele" she answers cheerfully.

I giggle. "Hey Kavanagh. I didn't know if you were still up, but I thought I could try."

"No worries. Deadlines, you know. Watcha doin'?"

I start laughing at her antics. "Nothing much. I had some free time on my hands and I thought I should check up on you."

"Cool. I feel like we haven't talked in ages. I miss you, you know. Maybe you find time for a quick visit soon."

"We'll see. I don't know. I'm almost done here in Paris. After that, who knows?"

"That would be awesome. So…you still owe me some details regarding a certain mystery man."

"Oh…that" I gulp. I hate sharing my private life.

"Yes, that. Come on…" she whines.

"It's not much to tell. We met in a bar. We spent about two weeks together. Our time was over, so he left."

"What are you talking about?" she asks, confused.

"Well, we made a deal. He was here on business. So, we agreed to see each other until one of us has to leave. He left first."

"Who the hell are you and what have you done with the real Anastasia Steele?"

I laugh genuinely at that. "Come on, Kate…"

"No, seriously. I never saw you with a man before. And now you tell me you finally decided to live a little and as a first experience you started an affair?"

"Yes"

"Wow, he must be really hot to get your attention."

"He is, but that's not the point. He…well he was the only man I felt attracted to…"

"So I finally have evidence you're not made of stone." She replies, in her usual manner, giggling.

"Kate…" I say warningly.

"Okay, okay. So…what's his name?"

"Elliot Grey" I answer, distracted by a new e-mail.

"What?" Kate asks, sounding shocked.

"Elliot Grey I said. Why?"

A long silence passes between us and I can hear her labored breaths.

"Kate?" I ask concerned. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah…" she says, sounding nothing like herself.

"You know him?" I ask her surprised and intrigued.

"We used to date. I mean I don't even know if it's the same Elliott Grey, but…we dated a few years back."

"What?" I ask, completely shocked.

"No big deal, Steele…"

"Kate, I swear I didn't know. When did you date him?"

"It was the summer after our graduation. After you left for Europe and started working for your father. It was…uhm…we dated for about two months, but then he had to go. He had a project in Australia, so…we stayed in contact for a while, but we lost touch after a while, you know? I mentioned him to you, but you were kinda busy then, so…" she finishes. I can hear her sniffling.

"Kate, I'm so sorry. I had no idea. Believe me…" I leave out the part that his name seemed familiar, but I couldn't place him.

"It's okay. I mean, it was a long time ago…" she says, laughing pathetically.

"Kate, please…"

"Sorry Steele, I have to go. Talk to you later."

I stare at the phone for a long time. I finally put it on my desk and I bury my face in my hands. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I knew I should've done a background check on him, but I didn't want my father to find out and come here to smother me.

Shit. I let out a long breath. I don't know what to do. I have to make it up for her, somehow. But, really, what can I do? I mean I fucked the guy she dated and she sounded like she really liked him, too. God, I'm so stupid.

I bury myself in work, trying to forget about how I hurt my best friend. After an hour or so, I realize I can't concentrate.

"Adele, could you bring me something to read and a tea, please?"

"Right away, miss."

I lean my back on the chair and sigh. Adele enters the office a short while later with a cup of tea and two magazines tucked in her armpit.

"There you go, Miss Steele."

"Thank you, Adele."

I let my tea to cool off and I start flicking the magazines. They're a little outdated, but they'll do. I let myself pulled into the business world while I sip on my tea.

Suddenly, I come across an article about the Asian market and its investment opportunities. I tried making my father to invest in Asia for a while now, but he won't hear about it for some reason. I don't know why, seeing as the Asian market is doing far better than the European or American one at the moment.

I flick the page to continue reading and I choke on my tea. There, on the middle column, it's a big picture of Elliott.

I squint my eyes at the fine print underneath the picture. Christian Grey, CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings. This must be a mistake. I read the article anyway. Apparently this Christian person recently closed a deal with some Taiwanese company, earning some more billions in the process. Hmmm. The deal was closed last week, in Paris. What the fuck?

I stare at the caption a while longer, shaking my head incredulously. This is Elliott Grey. But, still, too many coincidences.

I get up from the chair all of a sudden, knocking it over in the process and leap over to where my office bag is. I dump its contents on the couch and start searching for the piece of paper frantically. Not here. I grab the bag again and search its entire pockets, finally being able to pull the paper from one dark corner.

And right there, in front of me, black on white, written in a cursive, beautiful calligraphy appears the signature on the NDA. Christian Grey.

"Fucking hell!" I holler, throwing my bag at one of the windows.

I start pacing my office, fuming, yelling at poor Adele when she comes to check on me to hold all of my calls and to not be disturbed.

I grab the magazine with his picture and I rip off the page. I crunch the paper in my fists and I throw the paper on the floor, stomping on it furiously.

How could he? How dare he? After everything I have told him? After all the time we spent together? After everything we have done?

Stupid, stupid, stupid I think to myself as I bang my head on my desk. I trusted him. I told him things I never told anybody. And he fucking lied to me?

I get up and pace again, balling my hands in fists. I refuse to let my angry tears fall down my cheeks. He does not deserve my tears.

Why would he do something like this? Wait…GEH. It's my father's biggest competitor. Was this all a ruse? Did he use me for information? I don't think so…seeing how he never asked anything about the company.

But, then? What was all about? Seduce the poor billionaire's daughter as a way to hurt my father? I don't get it. What was the plan? What were the reasons behind all this?

I rub my eyes, surely smearing my make up in the process. I don't care. I take the crumpled page and I tore it apart in a thousand little pieces. There, now I feel a little better.

I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself. My stomach is in knots, I feel bile rise in my throat and my chest hurts. I hope I don't have a fucking anxiety attack right now.

I feel used. I feel dirty. I feel betrayed.

I take random things off my desk and I swing them at the opposite wall, smashing them. Anger is good. Anger keeps the panic at bay.

I take a couple more deep breaths and I steady my heartbeats. I can feel the anxiety leaving my blood, slowly. I drop myself to the floor and I hug my knees to the chest, continuing the process.

There. I feel calmer. Steady heartbeat, regular breaths. I push my disheveled hair out of my face and I get up. I straighten my clothes and I pick up my phone.

"Miss Steele?" Matthew Riley's voice comes out of the phone, sounding shocked.

"Matt, hi. How's my favorite head of IT?" I ask in a fake, sweet voice.

"G-good miss. W-w-what c-c-can I do f-for you?" Matt stammers. Poor guy, father says he had a crush on me since he first met me. He's probably the most intelligent person I know, but he's a mess even bigger than I am at social encounters. Still, I genuinely like the guy. As one social freak to another.

"I need a favor from you. But you can't tell my father." I tell him seriously.

"I don't know, miss. I want to help you, but…" he says, apparently recovering himself once he heard the seriousness of my tone.

"Look, Matt. I'm not asking you to break into the CIA database." I pause and he chuckles. "I need some information. I assume you have the background check on Christian Grey."

"Of course, Miss. The extended version." He answers proudly.

"Good, and a complete profile based on the news clippings?"

"Yes, Miss. As he is BPG's main competitor, we monitor him and his company very closely."

"I figured. Send them to me, please."

"Of course, Miss."

"And don't mention it to my father."

"As you wish."

"Thank you, Matt. You never disappoint me."

"T-thank you, miss."

"Goodbye, Matt."

"Have a good day, Miss Steele."

I end the call and I return to my desk, taking a seat in front of my computer. I lean back, my hands up to my mouth with the fingers interlaced, trying to hide my big Chesire cat grin. Oh, Christian Grey, you danced with the wrong devil!