Ana paced back and forth on the floor of her apartment thumbing anxiously at her lip. Tomorrow was her family reunion and to say she didn't want to go, was the understatement of the year. The sound of heels clacking against the hardwood of her penthouse was the only sound that could be heard, as her anxiety continued to skyrocket. A knock on the door startled her and she jumped a bit, freezing on the spot. She looked down at herself and shrugged looking down at herself in her skinny jeans, heels and tank top , she looked like a mess but who gave a fuck it was her home and no one could judge her for how she looked. Walking to the door she continued to let her thoughts race around the disaster that would be tomorrow. Shaking off the troubling thoughts she opened the door and rolled her eyes at the person standing on the other side.
" " she looked the man up and down, good lord was this man sex on a stick, an ass but hot ass " to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence today?" she plastered on a fake smile as she stared him down.
"Ms. Steele," the smirk that danced on his lips as he said my name was enough to make me want to roll my eyes but I withheld (with a lot of restraint.)" I can hear you pacing a hole through my ceiling" she groaned and shoved her hands through her hair in frustration.
"My apologies Christian, I'm a little stressed right now" she walked back into the penthouse and resumed her frantic pacing while Christian closed the door behind him and sat on the sofa behind her. She cocked an eyebrow at the sight of him behind her and tilted her head to the side and sitting next to him with a huff." My family reunion is tomorrow and let's just say there's some skeletons in that closet that need to stay there." She shook her head and looked up at her angry neighbor with tears in her eyes. Christian shuffled around uncomfortably next to his neighbor, the only times he ever talked to her was when they were bickering, but seeing her cry and looking so out of sorts was something that made his heart hurt for some bizarre reason.
"Anastasia, is there anything I can do to help? I know we aren't friends but surely I can help somehow." She raised her head and looked at him shaking her head slowly.
" There's nothing you can do, I have to go to this reunion, b-but." She buried her face into her hands and shuddered. Lifting her head, a little bit," my sister, god I don't know why I'm telling you this but, my sister is dating the guy that raped me in college." He opened and closed his mouth several times before he was able to get anything out.
"I am so sorry that happened to you," he reached forward and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. He sat for a moment in silence before continuing "does she know?"
Anastasia lifted her head and shook it again," No it wasn't I mean, it wasn't rape like you see on TV where its violent and bloody, I just laid there while he did his thing and didn't fight back. After he passed out I just laid there in silence and cried myself to sleep, never reported it and never confronted him about it. Afterwards I was too ashamed to tell anyone about it." She paused taking a shaky breath" I didn't tell anyone until about a year ago when I started going to therapy." She shook her head and looked at Christian "by the time I was ready to talk about it they were already dating and I couldn't do anything."
He frowned softly and wrapped an arm around her pulling her into his side, this was not what he had planned when he came to confront his neighbor about the incessant clacking back and forth for hours. Christian began to absentmindedly rub his hand up and down her arm while he thought about what to say. "without a doubt, this situation is one that you don't deserve to be in by any means, guys like that deserve to shot in the dick." He chuckled humorlessly," What are you going to do about tomorrow? Is seeing this douchecanoe going to set you back?" she laid her head on Christians shoulder and groaned.
"probably but I have to go I can't miss this" she stood up and straightened out her top before wiping her eyes," I'm sorry for dumping this on you Mr. Grey, I'm sure you didn't come up her to play therapist for a sad girl." She headed to the door and opened it swinging her arm in the direction of it. She was so incredibly embarrassed to have unloaded on her neighbor, Seattle's most elite bachelor and angry recluse.
Christian stood up with a frown on his face and walked over to the door, he paused in the doorway and turned to her tapping his fingers on his chin. " I'll go with you Anastasia, and you can lean on me if this gets to be too much for you."