Chapter 1

CPOV

"I'm working right now. I can't just drop everything because you forgot you had a hair appointment. Fine. Yes, I will pick her up. I'll be there in five minutes. Don't thank me. I'm doing this for Sophie, not you." Taylor hangs up his phone and throws it on the seat next to him. "Sir, I'm sorry and I know this is extremely unprofessional but that was my ex-wife. It turns out she isn't able to pick our daughter up from her dance class. I'm sorry for the inconvenience but I can't let Sophie alone like that."

"Taylor, these things happen. It's not a big deal - we were just headed home anyway. We can stop on the way to pick up Sophie. After all, it has been a while since I've seen her." Talking to a little 8 year old girl sounds better right now than going to my empty apartment to work late into the night like I have been doing every Friday night for the last few weeks. I have been looking for a new submissive but no one has really interested me. I was getting bored so I thought that if I dreamed up some more extreme scenes it would help. But it didn't. I don't know what's wrong with me.

A couple minutes later Taylor is parallel parking the SUV. He gets out, "I'll just be a minute, Mr. Grey."

"I'll come with you. I could use the fresh air." I don't feel like waiting in the car.

We walk together towards Sophie and I see a little blonde-haired girl standing and talking animatedly with a brunette woman. As we get closer to Sophie, she sees us and comes running. "Daddy!"

Taylor kneels down so he is her height and gives her a big hug. "Hey Soph, let's thank your teacher for staying with you."

We walk up to the teacher and she is gorgeous. She's what you would picture a ballerina - thin and lithe with delicate features. But she has the biggest blue eyes I have ever seen. Calling them blue is too plain. They are more like ultramarine in color and are bewitching.

"Miss Ana, thank you for staying with me! This is my Daddy!" It is sweet to see Sophie so proud of her father.

"Thank you…" Taylor pauses.

"Miss Ana, Daddy…"

"Yes, thank you, Miss Ana. I'm sorry we kept you. I came as soon as I could." Taylor shakes her hand and her tiny, dainty hand makes his look gorilla-like.

"It's no worry. I didn't have any plans and Sophie is a pleasure to spend time with. She's a very good student. Are you coming to the recital? She has a solo." Ana looks down at Sophie and gives her a genuine smile. It's easy to see she cares for Sophie.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world." Taylor smiles down at his daughter.

"Mr. Grey, are you coming too?" Sophie asks me excitedly.

"I would be delighted to, Sophie. Thank you for the invitation." I look up and catch Ana's eyes and give her my million-dollar smile.

"Well, we won't keep you any longer. Thank you again, Miss Ana." Taylor says his farewell.

"Thank you, Miss Ana. See you next week!" Sophie is waving at Ana cheerfully.

"See you next week, Sophie." She then turns and locks the door to the studio and walks in the opposite direction. Maybe we should offer her a ride. It looks like she doesn't have a car here. I need to get a grip. She's just a pretty girl. She may look like my type but I doubt she can keep up with the likes of me.

In the car on the way back to Escala, Sophie excitedly chatters on about her recital dance to Taylor. And, he sounds genuinely interested.

We get back and I give Taylor the night off to spend with his daughter. Working for me is very demanding and he could definitely use the quality time with her. They head off to greet Gail in their apartment while I go in the opposite direction towards my study.

On my laptop I google the name of the dance studio where Ana teaches, Art in Motion Dance Studio. I quickly learn the owner of the studio is Helene Roland. She looks like she doesn't dance much herself and is a little too proud. But I do see her studio has won a lot of competitions. I had no idea dancing was this big of a deal. I remember Mia taking dance classes when she was younger but she didn't stick with it. I don't think she liked the discipline you need. Miss Roland trained at the Debbie Reynolds Studio in Los Angeles… blah blah blah.

Next I see Ana is the only other teacher there.

Growing up in Montesano, Miss Anastasia 'Ana' Steele started dance as a young girl and studied at the Studio West Dance Academy in Olympia. Soon dance became her passion, especially ballet, so she studied dance at the University of Washington.

After college, Ana was quickly promoted to a principal dancer with the prestigious New York City Ballet. She featured in Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Nutcracker.

We are delighted to have a talented dancer like Miss Ana here with us in Seattle.

I wonder what made Ana leave the New York City Ballet and come to Seattle. It was probably for a guy. There's no way someone like her could be single. She's stunningly beautiful and I bet her flexibility must be beneficial in the playroom - if she has a playroom. But I doubt that. The only tying-up she has done is probably her ballet slippers.

I spend the next few hours working into the early hours of the morning and did the same for most of the weekend. My life has become filled with ennui and I don't know how to fix it.

Sunday night I can't sleep as usual. But this time it isn't a nightmare but a dream - an erotic dream about the dance teacher, Ana. I haven't had a wet dream since I was a teenager. It's somewhat disconcerting.

Monday morning the meeting with my Finance and Accounting department is dull and I find myself daydreaming of Ana. What is it about this woman? I only met her that one time. I will probably never even see her again.