Ana
"Ana, please come pick us up." Elliot begged through the phone. It was 3 am and the last thing Ana needed was a phone call from a wasted Elliot.
"Where's Wesley? Isn't he the responsible one?" Ana asked, rubbing her tired eyes in her dark bedroom. She could hear laughing on the other end of the phone. Fucking Wesley.
"He can't drive either. I would call my brother, but you know." Ana sighed and sat up in her warm bed. She knew he couldn't do that.
"Fine. I guess I'm forever in your debt for saving me from Holden anyway. I'll be there soon. Text me your location. Tell Wes that he's in trouble." Ana yawned and ended the call. Quickly, she threw on a pair of washed out cut off jean shorts and a vintage band tee before she slipped on some flats and headed out the door of her high rise apartment in Millennium Tower. Millennium Tower was full of luxury apartments and penthouses on 2nd Avenue in Downtown Seattle. She unlocked her white Range Rover in the basement parking garage with her key fob resulting in two quick 'beeps' that echoed in the crisp Seattle night's air. Ana was cruising down Fourth Ave. before taking a quick right to get to Club Vice. She pulled over at the curb by the club and looked through the dense crowd of drunk girls in tube dresses to find Elliot and Wesley. There they were; drunk as fuck.
"Elliot! Wes!" Ana spotted them leaning against the brick faced building. Elliot waved and motioned for Wesley to follow closely behind..
"Thank you so much Ana. We would have called a cab, but we drank all of the fare money." Wesley laughed loudly and burped soon after.
"Wes is supposed to be the one that keeps you in line. Not the other way around." Ana rolled her eyes.
"I'll make it up to you." Elliot smiled.
"I know you will." Ana made an effort to giggle.
Ana couldn't say no to Elliot. They had been inseparable since their freshman year together at Washington State University. Elliot had been her safe place since her upheaval from her home in Beacon Hill, Boston. Immediately after her graduation from the Holmwood Academy in Cambridge she left for Washington state. Ana knew the circumstances of her leaving home, but she missed her father. She rarely ever saw him unless he was in town for a book tour or a convention.
Ana dropped Elliot and Wesley off at Elliot's apartment which happened to be on the floor below her in Millennium Tower. It was convenient and a pain in the ass. Elliot was like a brother and he behaved like one too which made their dynamic interesting at times. Ana didn't have any siblings and Elliot had a brother he couldn't reach and a sister who lived in another country. Ana sighed after she shut the door to her apartment, leaving the outside world behind her. It was 4am and she could easily go back to sleep, but she didn't. Instead she organized her closet by seasons. Attending an all-girls school before leaving Boston, pushed her to have an edge in fashion. She never thought of herself as a label whore. She just liked pretty things and the praise didn't hurt either. When her father got big in the literary world, she started to gain more attention and it only fueled her desire to stand out fashionably. She looked at the clock after steaming her last dress and it read 9 am.
"Fuck." She thought and decided to call Elliot to see if he wanted to do breakfast at The Grove.
"Elliot, you and Wes get out of bed and have mimosas with me." Ana yelled loud enough into the phone to aggravate Elliot's probable hangover.
"That's actually not a bad idea." Elliot mumbled. "Wes, mimosas." Ana heard a moan of approval.
"I'll meet you at your door in thirty." Ana already knew what she was going to wear.
"You look hot." Elliot smiled as he opened the door for Ana.
"Thanks." She said cheerfully. She was standing there in her white sheer panel dress that showed off her long legs that looked even longer in her nude Louboutin peep toe pumps.
"Wes is almost done." Elliot checked himself out in the mirror near the door.
"He must be hurting." Ana smiled.
"We both are babe." Elliot laughed. "Hey, before Wes comes out can I ask a favor from you? Nothing big." Elliot gave his best 'pitiful' look and Ana ate it up.
"Sure." Ana eyed him curiously.
"I need you to be my date for this Coping Together Gala at my parents house tonight." Ana's eyes bulged. "I know. I know. It's last minute, but I need a date and I'm not comfortable bringing Wes around the family just yet. Especially around my lovely brother. Can you do it?" Elliot looked desperate. Damn you Elliot. Ana sighed.
"Of course. I'd love to." Ana winked and then took a seat on the warm leather couch to wait for Wes.
"Phew. Thanks. At least you'll get to actually meet my family this time. And of course THE Christian Grey." Ana didn't understand Elliot's dislike for his brother. She heard countless stories of his brother's coldhearted ways, but nothing beyond that.
"Are you going to behave yourself?" Ana asked in a motherly tone.
"Yeah, he just bothers me sometimes. After such a long time of him avoiding me it gets easier, but it's still so disappointing." Ana wished she could help him with his issues on that, but it was beyond what she was willing to do.
"It'll be fun. Let's not think about the shitty parts. They are always there anywhere you go." Ana smirked and gave Elliot a tight hug. Wes came out of the bedroom with a humored look on his face. He looked handsome in his dark fitted jeans and white button up shirt. His golden brown hair was in its typical messy look. Ana was always mesmerized by his smiling eyes.
"Did I miss something?" Wes asked with his hands in his pockets. Elliot and Ana looked at each other and then back at a blank faced Wes.
"Nope!" They said in unison. And that was that.
The Grove was usually packed for breakfast and brunch because the food was that good. It was also very private. Ana made sure that the server had the mimosas filled the entire way through breakfast. Between the bottomless mimosas and eating off each other's plates, the time disappeared.
"Guys, I'm so full and I'm so buzzed. I need a nap." Ana's brain was swimming. Elliot could see it in her eyes.
"Alright, I'll drive your car back. So irresponsible Ms. Steele." Elliot teased.
"Oh, fuck off! 'We drank our cab fare!'" Ana mocked them and laughed at herself while the boys smiled at each other.
"Alright, I got the tab. Let's go little lady." Wes was always such a gentleman.
Ana sang Top 40 the whole car ride back to Millennium Tower and Elliot yelled at God to make her stop. He parked her Range Rover in her assigned spot and they boarded the elevator.
"I'll come knocking at 5." Elliot kissed Ana on the cheek and watched her leave for her door.
"Bye guys, see you soon Elliot." Ana needed to get ready fast.
Ana walked into her closet and quickly zeroed in on a white Givenchy dress with lace and ruffles and put it to the side. Makeup and hair wasn't an issue for her. After boarding with girls most of her life and attending functions with her father, she could do the job on her own. Ana was lucky in that she didn't need makeup. Just a touch of peachy nude lipstick and she was good to go. She left her hair in long dark loose curls that rested beautifully to the side and over her left shoulder. With her simple diamond stud earrings she was good to go.
At 5 pm exactly, Elliot was standing at the other end of the door looking gorgeous in a black Tuxedo.
"You look incredible, Ana!" Elliot couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"I can say the same for you Mr. Grey" Ana smirked.
"Ready to go? The limo is waiting for us in the front." She could tell that Elliot wished Wes was coming. She couldn't make him more comfortable in his skin though.
"I'm ready. Let's get crazy." Ana hoped she could take the edge off tonight for Elliot. Drinks, dancing, whatever. Even if she had to get in between him and his brother.
The ride to Bellevue was short and sweet. The houses that lined the roads were beautiful and Ana wanted one of her own. The limo driver pulled into a long driveway lined with flowers and blooming shrubbery and brought them to an entrance way that led to the backyard. Elliot grabbed Ana's hand and escorted her through the gate that held the gala.
"Here we are!" Elliot looked around the event. It was littered with black ties and tight faces. Ana knew these kinds of people. Everything was black and white. It was opulent. The crystal, silver and imported flowers were all the finest touches to an event that made such a difference.
"How about we hang by the bar for a bit?" Ana wanted to warm herself up for the double cheek kissing and fake laughing.
"That's why I love you!" Ana and Elliot ordered their drinks and made them doubles. They both looked like two peas in a pod getting purposefully buzzed at a charity event.
"Elliot! There you are!" Ana noticed an elegant older woman with beautiful blond hair waving at them. It was Elliot's mother Grace. She had heard so much about Grace and had fallen in love with her by Elliot's stories alone.
"Mom!" Elliot hugged her. "This is Ana. Ana this is my mom, Grace." Elliot beamed.
"Ana, lovely to meet you. Elliot has been talking about you for years! I always wondered why you never came by. Welcome!" Grace was sweet.
"Thank you. Beautiful home. I love the flowers." Ana tried to keep it simple. Elliot appreciated it.
"Thank you dear. Come you two. I have seats picked out for you. Carrick would love to meet you too, Ana. He will be thrilled." Elliot looked a little spooked. The last thing he wanted was for his mom to get her hopes up with Ana. He kind of put himself in that position though.
Ana and Elliot took a seat at the table next to each other after Ana had been introduced to Carrick. He was all smiles during his conversation with Ana; making her feel welcome.
"What a wonderful turn out Grace. I was just telling our Christian here what a beautiful job you've done." Ana looked at woman who must of been in her mid-forties. She'd be pretty if she didn't look vacuum sealed. Her black plunge line dress hid nothing and if you looked closely you could see her breast implant scars. Ana shivered.
"Lovely of you to say Elena. So glad you could come. I sat you right across from Ana here. Elena this is Ana. She's Elliot's guest." Grace smiled as she showed Elena to her seat.
"Beautiful girl, Elliot. Pleasure to meet you Ana." Elena purred. This chick was weird, Ana thought.
"She sure is." Elliot winked at Ana. He never mentioned this woman before so Ana dismissed her closeness to the family.
"Oh, there he is." Elena fawned over a tall, broad shouldered man with a face that made Ana cross her legs discretely.
"Christian, you're right here next to me and Elena." Grace motioned for him to sit. Either Christian attended alone or he was with Elena. He wasn't looking at any one person at the table until he sat down and looked at his brother and then his date. Ana could have sworn she saw his lip twitch. She squeezed her legs tighter.
"Christian, this is Ana, Elliot's date." Elena was the one to do the introduction. Who was this woman? Ana watched as Elena rubbed her hand on Christian's bicep; giving it a tight squeeze.
"Pleasure." Christian said simply. Elliot's chuckle was soft, but present. Ana didn't reply. If she wasn't worth the second word then he'd get nothing. He looked a little miffed by it. By the time the guests were seated at the banquet table the courses started to come out one by one. One bite appetizers and practical finger foods. Ana knew she would go to bed hungry if they didn't stop somewhere after.
"I say we order a pizza later." Ana whispered loud enough for Christian to catch.
"Not to your satisfaction?" Christian asked. What was his game?
"It's perfectly fine. I just want to be sure I go to bed satiated." Ana smirked. Christian's eyes lit up a little.
"What do you do Ms.?" Christian asked formally.
"Steele. Call me Ana, and right now I'm a free spirit." Elliot smiled at that. She sure was.
"As in Raymond Steele?" Christian was curious.
"Yeah. The author." Ana had grown used to being lumped in with her father. Similar to Elliot being stuck in his brother's shadow
"Impressive." Christian said sincerely.
"So that's what you do? You're an author's daughter? Can't say I'm surprised." Elena asked with a smile on her face while she picked at her lamb lollipop. Was she trying to pick a fight?
"I'm a little more complicated than that." Ana shoved it right back with her tone. Christian folded his arms in amusement.
"Hmm. Complicated. Not so sure about that." Elena made Ana's jaw set.
"You know what they say about assumptions." Ana replied. Elliot chuckled.
"Oh, Christian, listen, we have ourselves a live wire." Elena coughed into her champagne flute while she laughed to herself. Fucking bitch, Ana thought. Ana fixed her eyes tightly on Elena and relaxed Elena's throat.
"Oh, excuse me." Elena excused herself after belching up the expensive champagne. All eyes were focused on her. Ana tried to hide her smile and eyed Elliot whose face was red with amusement. Christian looked appalled.
"Need a Tums Elena?" Grace asked kindly. Elliot let out a forced grunt that should have been a laugh.
"No, no. Thank you." Elena had no reason to look at Ana the way she did, but the look she sent Ana was venomous. Ana couldn't help but take it further. She focused harder on Elena's gut and let a little air out.
"Ah! Oh. My God. I'm so sorry. Excuse me!" Elena was mortified after a loud odorous warning sound came from her body. She looked around to see if anyone else had heard it. Elliot tried, but he couldn't stop himself from laughing. Ana continued to look right into Elena's eyes while she finished the job.
"Christian! It won't stop! Shield me! Napkins! Nooo!" Elliot had tears in his eyes while the table gained an audience right when Elena shit her designer gown at one of the most posh events of the season. "It won't end!" Elena stumbled on her heels, trying to hide the mess she made. Christian stared, his mouth gaping in disgust and then he looked at Ana quizzically. Ana shook out of her trance.
"Does anyone know where the hose is?" Ana called out, adding to Elena's humiliation. Elliot had it. He got out of his chair shaking in laughter and walked to the bar to get some air.
"It was a lovely time, I must be going." Elena's upper lip was covered with beads of sweat. She uncomfortably started to shuffle away, waiting for Christian to follow, but he stayed in his seat.
"Poor woman. I hope it wasn't the food." Grace tried to hide a smirk that began to form on the side of her mouth.
"Some people can't handle rich foods." Ana said as a matter-of-fact. Christian nodded with a twitch of his lip. She guessed that her bullshit didn't transcend everyone at the table.
"Afraid so. That's a good idea about the hose Ana. It fucking stinks over here." Carrick said passionately, making Ana giggle. Christian enjoyed the sound of it.
"Carrick! Language. How much have you had to drink?" Grace was mortified.
"The woman just shit by our table, Grace. I'm not allowed to use a little coarse language?" Carrick had a point.
"Dad." Christian shook his head. "There's a guest at the table." He tried to sound mannerly.
"I'm fine, really. Thank you." Ana smiled sweetly.
"Are you and my brother, together?" Grace and Carrick wondered why Christian cared to ask so bluntly, but they were curious also.
"No, we're not. Tough break for me, though. He's such a catch." Ana giggled. She didn't want to lie, but she didn't want to sell Elliot out. Grace and Carrick found her endearing.
"What did I miss?" Elliot came back with two drinks for himself and Ana. "I made them doubles by the way."
"We were just talking shit." Ana said softly for Elliot to hear, but Christian caught it and smiled. Elliot was weirded out.
"Something funny, bro?" Elliot thought maybe this was his time to connect with Christian.
"Couldn't help but enjoy a good pun." Christian fiddled with the stem of his wine glass. Ana couldn't shake the burn of his stare. She didn't know if she even wanted to.
"Elliot, want to leave early? We can rent a movie and order some pizza with Wes?" Ana wasn't sure if she should make an exit plan for Elliot. She didn't mind staying through the event, but Elliot seemed antsy to get back to the person he should have been spending the night with.
"That actually sounds like a good idea. Would you mind?" Elliot looked relieved.
"No, not at all." Ana looked at Christian's slightly furrowed brow.
"Mom, Dad, we're going to head out. Sorry to leave so early." Elliot put it simply.
"Sweetie, they haven't done the dance auction yet." Grace looked disappointed. Carrick could care less.
"Something else just as important is going on tonight and I want to make sure I'm there. I'll be home on Sunday for dinner though, I promise." Elliot made a face that resembled an eager five year old.
"Alright. Take some dessert for your friend." Grace smiled. Ana wondered if she knew.
"It was so wonderful to meet you. It's great to put faces to all of the great stories." Ana smiled and kissed Carrick on the cheek and hugged Grace delicately. Christian stood up and walked away. Ana knew he didn't owe her anything, but still, it was rude.
"Don't mind him Ana. That's just how he is." Elliot mentioned knowingly.
"Now I see what you mean."
Ana and Elliot walked through the gate that separated the backyard and the driveway. They hit the pavement, but they didn't see their limo.
"Did you ask the driver to stay?" Ana asked. They had better not be stranded, she thought.
"Yeah, of course. What the fuck?!" Elliot looked around, pissed.
"Need a ride?" Elliot looked over at Christian who stood by his black Audi SUV. A security guard waited close by.
"Um, really?" Elliot wasn't sure. Ana followed the lead.
"Yeah, I'm heading down there anyway." Christian was being too nice. Ana knew Elliot was struggling with the answer.
"Yeah, we'd appreciate it. Thanks." Ana smiled up at Elliot.
"Okay. Get in." Christian got into the back seat with ease and Ana got in gracefully. Ana was leg to leg with Christian and neither one of them made a point to move.
"Thanks for the ride. I definitely told the driver to wait. What an asshole." Elliot's face contorted in confusion and Ana saw a slight smile on Christian's face.
"Where to?" Christian asked.
"Millennium Tower. You don't know that?" Elliot thought his brother knew where he lived.
"No, Elliot. I was talking to Ana." Christian shook his head.
"I live in Millennium Tower also. That's where we're going." Ana said.
"Neighbors, huh?" Christian looked amused.
"Sure are. Borrow sugar and everything." Ana half joked. Christian smiled.
"Dude, are you okay?" Elliot asked Christian.
"Yeah, why?" He asked.
"Nothing." Elliot kept quiet the entire ride back home. He watched Christian examine Ana and take inventory of her assets. He could see that his brother was interested in his best friend and he didn't know how he felt about it.
"Here we are!" Elliot shouted through the tension filled Audi. Ana shook her head, knowing what Elliot was doing.
"Thanks for the ride Christian." Ana smirked.
"You're welcome. It was a pleasure." Christian sat there looking smug.
Ana and Elliot got out of the SUV and walked into the shiny lobby of Millennium Tower. Ana turned around and watched as the Audi drove off down 2nd Avenue. She wondered if she would ever see the elusive Christian Grey anytime soon. He must have had some kind of hold on Ana because she didn't even notice when he took her cell phone.
Christian
Christian put his pen down and rubbed his face with both of his hands. The cell phone on his desk was taunting him. He was nearing the edge of insanity. Cancelling his contract with his last submissive three weeks ago was proving to be a bad idea. He refused to use his hand over principle so he was left with heavy tension in his balls. His lack of concentration was affecting his ability to work. It almost caused him to miss a phone call he had been waiting for all day.
"Sir, I sent you the information you requested." Barney's high pitched voice sounded through the phone.
"I expect everything to be there." Christian hung up the phone. Christian eagerly opened the confidential email and skimmed through to the most important part..
Name: Anastasia Rose Steele
Relationship Status: No known relationships.
Hometown: Beacon Hill, Boston, MA
School: Holmwood Academy/Washington State University
Father: Raymond Steele; Occupation: Author
Mother: Carla May Wilks; Deceased
Address: 715 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 Apt. 23
It was good enough for him.
"Taylor! I need to get to Millennium Tower." Christian was going to pay Anastasia a visit. He was done torturing himself. After the Coping Together Gala all he could think about was Elliot's date. She was stunning with a mix of submissive and fire. Ana knew when to hold back, but that smart mouth really turned him on. Christian walked out of GEH looking like he meant business. The sultry stares had no meaning to him like always.
"It's just a pretty face." He thought to himself.
He walked alongside Taylor to the black Audi SUV that glinted fragments of the hot summer sun. He didn't even know if Ana would be home, but it was worth a try. Christian cradled Ana's cell phone in his hand, trying not to look through it. He shook his head and gave into the urge. He went immediately to her text messages. The recent ones were from Elliot. Christian rolled his eyes. A few were from a Holden. It was obviously a man who knew her well. He was harassing her to talk things through. Then there was a string of text messages from a woman named Kate.
"Girl, can't believe what you did. I thought you gave it up?" Gave what up?
"Don't tell me Reese saw that." Ana replied.
"It's not like we could help it. That guy was fucking hot!" Kate sent back. What guy?
"I'm turning off my phone now." And that's what she did, because the texts between them stopped. Christian was confused by the messages. His wheels were turning.
"We're here, sir." Taylor pulled into the parking garage of Millennium Tower and he let Christian off at the elevator.
"Wait here. I should be back soon." Christian requested. Taylor nodded and Christian boarded the elevator, hitting the button for the 24th floor. Christian looked both ways down the long hallway looking for apartment 23. The black apartment number stood out immediately from down the hall to his left. He could hear dance music. Christian walked like a man on a mission and knocked on Ana's door loudly. The music turned off and he could hear rustling around. The door opened to a glowing Ana. She was barefoot in dark skinny jeans and an old band t-shirt cut off at the bottom of her impressive chest. Christian swallowed hard.
"Christian? What are you doing here?" Ana asked nicely. Christian felt like it might have been a bad idea just showing up.
"You left your phone in the car last night. I thought you might be looking for it." Christian showed no signs of emotion when he handed the phone to her.
"Thank you! I was going to have Elliot look at your house for me. I really appreciate it." Ana smiled. Christian just stood there. "Want to come in?" Ana offered. Her smile was inviting.
"Thanks." Christian stepped inside and looked around. Ana had impressive taste. Very modern with a lot of color, textures and patterns. "Nice place." Christian commented.
"Thanks. Designing is a hobby of mine." Ana smiled while she uncorked a bottle of Prosecco. "Care for a glass?" She asked Christian. He wasn't fond of his submissives drinking, but he had to remember that he barely knew her and she wasn't a submissive. Christian smiled. Not yet anyway.
"Please." Christian trailed his finger around her furniture, taking in the essence of Ana. He looked for anything that might turn him off. That was fruitless. She was seemingly perfect. Too perfect.
"Here. Please, have a seat." Ana directed Christian to her plush white couch that faced a white brick fireplace that had a flat screen mounted above it. Flowers and photos sat atop the barn wood mantle.
"You live here alone?" The place was too big for just one person. He also needed to make absolutely sure she was single.
"Yeah. I grew old of having roommates. Plus, your brother is here often enough that it feels like I have one." She grinned and took a sip of her drink. "How'd you know where I live?" Christian hoped she wouldn't ask.
"Doorman. Wasn't difficult." He lied.
"Oh, Okay." Ana looked nervous. She began to toy with her necklace. Christian liked that he affected her.
"Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?" Christian asked out of the blue. This was new for him.
"Yeah. Sure, I'd like that." Ana tilted her head down to hide the wide grin she was showing. It was a sight to see for Christian. She might be cut out for what he had in store for her.
"Good. I should be going. How does 7 pm sound?" Christian placed his champagne flute on the kitchen counter and stood by the door. He was ready to make his exit. The smell of honey and flowers that came off of her was affecting him.
"Sure. That's perfect. I'll see you then Christian." Ana smiled while she held the door open. She watched as Christian crossed the threshold into the hallway.
"Bye Ana."
"Christian." Ana shut the door slowly until it clicked. Christian smirked and made a quick exit for home.
It was nearing 7 pm and Christian took the R8 keys from Taylor's waiting hand.
"Tell Gail I won't be needing dinner tonight." Taylor nodded and Christian took the elevator to the parking garage. His R8 sat there, waiting eagerly for the ride to Millennium Tower. Christian's thoughts wandered on his way to Ana's. Could Ana be his sub? She was certainly his type. The admission that Ana was a free spirit concerned him. There was a loss of control there. He wasn't sure that he could put up with that.
Christian's arrival at Ana's apartment was punctual and when the door opened to reveal Ana in a black Herve Leger Crisscross A Line dress. Christian's breath hitched just a little bit.
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you. You're looking very handsome." Ana smiled.
"Shall we?" Christian asked.
"Let's go." Ana walked alongside Christian to the elevator. He pressed the button for the garage and stood there absorbing the tension between each other. He caught Ana checking him out of the corner of his eye and she blushed when she realized his noticing. He loved that he affected her. The ride down seemed to last for an eternity.
It was a relief when the doors opened and they finally got into the car.
"Where are we off to?" Ana asked, settling herself in the car.
"The Mile High Club." Christian's go-to spot for anything similar to this occasion.
"Fancy." Ana half giggled while she looked out her passenger side window. Christian smiled at that. She wasn't totally aware of who he was and what he had in his portfolio.
"You could say that." Christian put his foot on the gas and wished for light traffic.
The Mile High Club was busy, as usual, and the service was quick due to his reputation. The hostess seated them at a back table to give them privacy. Christian was annoyed with the hostess that paid zero attention to hospitality and focused more of her energy on pushing her tits in Christian's face. If looks could kill, Ana's would have incinerated the hostess. It turned Christian on.
"Here's your water, sir." The hostess dragged out 'sir' a little too long. Christian wished it had come out of Ana's mouth instead.
"That's for my date." Christian overly pronounced 'date' to evaporate the lust that filled the hostess' eyes.
"Certainly." The hostess said sweetly. Ana rolled her eyes. Christian's palm twitched.
"Thanks." Ana said halfheartedly. The hostess didn't respond. Where the hell is the server? Shouldn't they be doing all of this? Christian watched Ana's gaze burn into the hostess.
"I'll be right back with your wine, sir." The hostess purred. Ana smirked as the hostess lost her footing and face planted on the marble floor. Christian looked on in shock as the hostess stood up and turned around to face him with a bruise forming on her forehead. She was mortified.
"Oh my God are you alright? That looked like it hurt." Ana feigned concern. Christian looked at Ana in wonder. Who was this girl? The hostess looked at Ana and then back to Christian. She brushed herself off and walked away.
"Well, that was unfortunate." Christian tried to hide his smirk. He knew Ana was feeling victorious based on the satisfied look present on her face.
"It's always good to watch where you're going. You hypnotized her. It really is unfair." Ana's smile grew wide. Christian shook his head.
"You're the one who's turning heads tonight, not me." It was true. Christian had been sending looks towards some of the male patrons who couldn't help themselves.
"Such a charmer." Ana said. Christian didn't know what to say to that. Throughout dinner he found himself enjoying Ana's company. It was rare for him to be engrossed in a conversation while enjoying it at the same time. Talking with Elena was purely business and nonsense he thought. Ana charmed him and it was very different than the women he associated with prior to Ana. He was used to women who knew what they wanted from him. It was purely contractual and whatever connection he had with them was based on a partnership with a main purpose of getting off. Ana was refreshing and he never thought he would think that about any woman. Now what to do about this submissive situation. He needed to get it out of the way so he could move on before the going got tough.
"I have a bit of a proposition for you." Christian watched as the server took their empty dinner plates.
"Proposition?" Ana looked nervous.
"I'd have to show you." Christian needed for Ana to see it.
"Okay. Show me what?" Ana wasn't following.
"Are you free tomorrow night for dinner at my place?" Christian asked. Two nights in a row was a little excessive considering they were just starting out.
"Sure. You're making me nervous. You're not the Ted Bundy type are you?" Ana was half serious. Christian laughed.
"No. Nothing of the sort." Except he did beat women for orgasms.
"Alright." Ana said simply.
"I should get you back. It's getting late." Ana looked a little disappointed. Christian felt it too. They slowly walked alongside each other to elevator and out to the parking garage. It was quiet until she saw the hostess that fell on her ass. She looked pissed.
"You bitch, you tripped me!" The hostess had the balls to confront Ana.
"What the fuck did you just say?" Christian was furious as he defended Ana.
"Your whore tripped me because she felt threatened!" The hostess spewed bullshit.
"Get lost." Christian shooed her away and turned back to Ana to head back to the car. Christian liked that Ana didn't bother to acknowledge the hostess and remained silent.
"Fuck that!" The hostess yelled. Ana turned around as the hostess lunged for her. Christian tried to stop her, but Ana took care of it herself. The hostess looked like she hit a brick wall and fell back on her ass.
"What the fuck?!" The hostess screeched. Ana walked over to her and looked into her eyes.
"You will get up and brush yourself off. Then you will turn around, get into your car and go home. As soon as you get home you'll look in your bathroom mirror and talk yourself into having respect for yourself and others. Your personality is shit!" Ana finished.
"Okay." The hostess stood up and did just that. Christian looked at Ana like she had three heads. His spine tingled. What the fuck did he just witness? That was a whole new kind of domination.
"What did you do to her?" Christian wasn't sure if he wanted to know.
"Just a little girl talk. Let's go." Ana pretended that nothing just happened. Christian shook his head and followed her to the car. The car ride was quiet on the way to Millennium Tower. Christian wasn't sure about what he just saw. The girl hit the air and fell over. What are you supposed to make of that?
"You saw her hit something and fall right?" Christian asked. Ana shifted in her seat.
"Yeah, it was strange. It was like she changed her mind last minute and didn't catch herself in time." Ana shrugged.
That actually made a little bit of sense. Christian shrugged it off as well. Still, something didn't sit right.
By the time he got back to Escala it was 10:30pm and the feeling in the car was still with him. He decided to do a little digging of his own on Ana. If he was expecting Ana to be his submissive he needed to know everything about her and he had a weird feeling about her at the moment. He couldn't tell if it was bad, but he was never wrong about people. Christian sat at his desk in his office and started up his laptop. He knew that Ana was from Boston and she left quickly after graduating from Holmwood Academy. He thought he'd start there.
Holmwood Academy was an elite private school for students who were extremely talented for their age. Admission was by invitation only. Weird, Christian thought. He decided to do more searching on Ana's father and where she lived. Nothing out of the ordinary, but then he found a link to a website based on Raymond Steele's book 'Between Two Worlds' and its rumored connection to Holmwood Academy. The book was about a secret modern day coven that was under attack. Christian googled coven. He googled 'moving objects with mind' and 'invisible walls'. He closed his computer and squeezed his eyes shut while he massaged his temples. He was fucking nuts. Surely Elliot would have known if anything was weird about Ana, and if he did it wouldn't be a secret anymore. Maybe he didn't know. They've known each other for five years though, he had to know something was strange; he thought. He couldn't believe he was even thinking about it, but he'd just ask her about her father's book. That's good enough, right?
"Welcome." Christian greeted Ana at the elevator. Tonight he asked Ana to be his submissive.
"Thanks. Nice place." Ana looked at his penthouse in awe.
"It's just a place to sleep." Christian half lied.
"Well, thanks for inviting me over." Christian caught her sweet scent and laughed at last night's investigation. He was definitely crazy.
"Certainly. Wine?" Christian asked.
"Red, if you have it." Ana replied. Christian opened a vintage red and poured them each a glass. He handed one over to Ana.
"Thanks. So, I hate to rush things, but this proposition of yours?" Christian was glad that she was eager to get to business.
"Right. About that. I want you to know that I would never hurt you and you can leave at any time you wish." Christian didn't see much emotion.
"Okay." Ana wanted Christian to continue.
"Follow me." Christian walked down the hall and up a flight of stairs. He stopped in front of a door that blended into the stark white walls.
"Again, you can leave at any time you want."
"Let's go Christian." Ana wanted to get the show on the road. Christian opened the door and let her in. He watched as she looked inside before entering. The suspense was killing him.
"Ana, say something."
"So you're really fucking kinky... Why am I not surprised?" Ana's response was lacking fear and disgust.
"That's it?" Christian expected more from her.
"I've seen worse. Believe me." And she had.
"Worse?" Christian was pretty intense.
"Yeah, worse."
"So you're not scared?" He asked.
"Should I be? So you want me to be your sub?" She glanced towards Christian and the look on her face made Christian's cock twitch. He needed to get her out of the room before he pounced on her. He needed her to sign the contract.
"You know about submissives?" Christian wondered how she knew so much about the lifestyle. Was she in it too?
"I'm not as innocent as you may think." Ana smirked.
"I need to show you something else." Christian motioned for her to follow. He closed the playroom door and walked to his office. He looked for the basic contract on his laptop and printed it out after filling in Ana's information.
"I need you to look through this carefully." He handed her the contract. "Study it. Ask me questions." Christian wanted her to know it inside out. Ana thumbed through it quickly.
"Christian, I don't think so." Ana shook her head.
"What do you mean?"
"This wouldn't be mutual for me and honestly, It's kind of weird." Ana threw the contract on Christian's desk.
"Excuse me?" Christian was baffled.
"Yeah. Why sign a contract in order to gain trust in someone if they're not prepared to give it to you up front anyway? It's insulting for one, and two, It's a little sad." Ana kept going. "I don't know you very well and from the things I've heard from Elliot, I shouldn't, but I can still see that you have more to offer than that." Ana grabbed her car keys off of the counter and headed for the elevator. "Christian, don't take what I said too personally. If this is what you like, go for it. But think about it; If you're contracting trust and sex, what else do you need contracts for?" Ana walked into the elevator and gave Christian a half smile.
"Ana..." Christian started, but the elevator doors shut before he could finish.
Ana
"Elliot, calm down, it was one dinner." Ana sat with Elliot on the couch in her apartment. He was upset that Ana went behind his back and had dinner with Christian.
"He may be my brother, but he isn't good for you. He's like another Holden." Ana thought about that for a moment. Christian was definitely unique.
"Don't worry, I ended it before it could go anywhere." Ana took a sip of her beer.
"Good. Now that that's out of the way. I think I'm going to bring Wes to dinner tonight at my parents. Please say you'll come to break the ice." Elliot looked petrified.
"Are you sure you want me to tag along?" Ana asked.
"My parents loved you and it will totally help. Please." Ana couldn't say no.
"Fine! You absolutely take advantage of my weakness for you." Elliot was too good looking for his own good.
"It's just a face sweetheart." Elliot winked at her.
"Get out of here." Ana pushed Elliot out of her apartment and closed the door behind her. She had a few hours before she had to get ready. She should call Kate.
"Kate, I haven't hear from you since the other night. What gives?" Ana teased.
"Steele, I'm sorry. Things are crazy here at Holmwood." Kate was an adviser at Holmwood Academy. It was a position that got passed down. Ana never questioned it.
"Good crazy or bad crazy?" Ana worried.
"A little of both. New initiates." Kate didn't have to say more.
"Any of them show the traits?" Ana asked.
"No, just you. Lucky bitch." Ana didn't feel lucky.
"Just leave me out of discussions around Mara. She finally stopped asking me to come back." Ana would get daily phone calls from the headmistress begging her to come back to the academy. Ana was one of a kind and they would have liked to use her.
"Will do. I gotta go. Enjoy dinner tonight. It's supposed to be good." Kate laughed. Ana was annoyed.
"Seriously, Kavanaugh! Enough of the divination. I don't do it to you." Kate was naturally nosy and Ana hated it.
"I can't help it!" Ana rolled her eyes.
"Bye Kate." Ana ended the call.
Elliot wouldn't quit fidgeting on the car ride to Bellevue. Ana could tell that his anxiety was getting to him. Wes didn't look any different.
"You guys need to chill. It's dinner and they're going to love you Wes. Elliot's parents are wonderful people." Ana watched as Wes' shoulders relaxed.
"I just want it to be perfect." Elliot said.
"It wont be. Just be prepared for that. Wes and I are here for you either way." Ana patted Elliot's knee.
"Thanks, Ana." Elliot smirked.
"Don't mention it." Ana shrugged.
Ana turned down Elliot's obnoxiously long driveway and pulled up in front of his beautiful tudor home.
"Here we go!" Elliot smiled and they got out of the car. Grace was waiting for them at the door with a smile on her face. She always looked so glamorous.
"Glad you all could make it!" Grace beamed. She gave Elliot and Ana a hug and kiss on the cheek. Then she looked at Wes and her grin grew extra wide.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Wesley." Wes put on his best smile.
"Wesley, very handsome." Ana giggled at Grace.
"Thank you." Wesley stammered. Grace invited them inside and Carrick met them in the living room.
"Dad, you know Ana."
"Ana, so good to see you again!" Carrick gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Dad, this is Wesley." Elliot flashed his perfectly white teeth.
"Wesley, good to meet you. Welcome." Carrick gave Wes a manly hand shake. Wes took what he could get.
"Dinner should be ready soon. How about a drink?" Carrick offered.
"Please!" Ana quickly responded. Carrick chuckled.
"Very well then." Carrick had Gretchen fetch drinks for the four of them and that's when Christian walked through the door. With Elena.
Elliot spit his drink back into his glass when he saw Elena standing close by to Christian.
"What the fuck?" Elliot said under his breath.
"Who's that?" Wes asked with a tone.
"Elena, my brother's work friend, or something. She's the one I was telling you about." Elliot was about to start a bout of laughter.
"Oh my God! That's her?" Wes chuckled. Ana gave her a good look. She didn't see anything she liked. She hated to do it, but she read into her. Submissives, Christian on his knees and a business deal gone bad. It flowed through Ana in small clips that resembled GIFs.
"Ana." Elena greeted her plainly.
"Elena, hope you're feeling better." Elliot elbowed Ana to quit because he couldn't hold his pending outburst.
"So kind of you to say." Elena matched her. Elena couldn't bother to say 'hello' to Elliot or Wes. Wes rolled his eyes. Christian locked eyes with Ana, but Ana looked away.
"Dinner, everyone!" Grace called everyone in. Ana sat next to Elliot who sat next to Wes. Unfortunately for Ana, she sat across from Christian and Elena.
"Wes, did you go to school with Elliot and Ana?" Carrick asked.
"I did. We all met freshman year. I lived across the hall from Elliot." Wes said.
"That must have been nice." Grace added.
"It was. Elliot, Ana and I were pretty inseparable." Ana smiled at Wes' comment.
"Ana with two good looking men. Must have been difficult to hide your tendencies." Elena made a dig and another assumption. What was wrong with her? Grace cleared her throat; obviously uncomfortable.
"Well, I am a woman of the 21st century. It's not like I'm in need of diapers or anything." Elliot choked on his food. Christian's brow shot up. Carrick look satisfied. Ana could tell that Carrick disliked Elena also.
"That's another way of putting it." Elena shoveled a forkful of mashed potatoes passed her inflated lips. Ana rolled her eyes, getting a rise out of Christian.
"How are the Salons, Elena?" Grace tried to reel in the conversation into safer waters. Ana concentrated on Elena. She'll get her to open up.
"The salons are coming along brilliantly. Of course I have Christian to thank for that. He has always been such a big help. Ever since he was fifteen and I was fucking him in my dungeon." Elena covered her mouth just as she realized what she had said. Everyone's eyes grew wide. Christian got up, threw his napkin down on the table, and left.
"Christian!" Grace shouted and then turned to face Elena. "How could you?!"
"Grace, he wanted it! He practically forced me!" Ana shook her head at that lie. She already told half the truth, so Ana stayed out of it. Her job was done.
"Bullshit!" Christian yelled from the entrance of the dining room. "This is fucked!" Christian opened the front door and left. Ana got up from the table to go after him. She felt guilty.
"Christian!" Ana called for him at the top of the stairs. "Stop!" Ana ran to the R8 that was parked behind her Range Rover.
"Did you do that?!" Christian accused Ana.
"What are you talking about?" Ana asked.
"Did you force her to say that?" He was asking honestly.
"What are you asking?"
"Ever since I met you weird things have been happening around me. Elena relieved herself in front of everyone after a heated comment she made to you. The hostess that flirted with me at the Mile High Club tripped on nothing and then walked into an invisible wall and fell backwards. Now Elena is rude to you and she confesses to one of our deepest darkest secrets. Who are you?" Christian wanted answers. Ana couldn't have been in a worse position.
"I can't, Christian." Ana couldn't risk it.
"I think I already know, but I can't bring myself to say it. It would only confirm the theory that I'm crazy." Christian looked like he was troubled in thought.
"I don't know what to tell you Christian. Why are you so hellbent on finding out?" Ana wasn't doing anything wrong. She was defending herself and doing right by Christian. Even if it didn't look that way.
"Because you do something to me and I know you're not forcing it. I want to know everything about you. What you said to me at Escala was a slap in the face, but I got it loud and clear. I'm fifty shades of fucked up Ana, but I don't know any different." Christian sighed.
"Christian." That was all Ana could say at the moment.
A/N: This story is different, I know... :D Here's a little preview:
-Lots of messing around with Elena. It feels so good!
-Ana is Ana, but with a whole other side to her. Christian is Christian. ;)
-Lemons spread throughout.
-Revenge, love, new friendships, drama, and of course family.
-AND, yes, things are approached a little differently in this story, but there will still be plenty of "normalcy"; if you could even call it that in a FSOG Fanfic. :P
Hope you continue to read. :) Thanks for reviewing. They're such a boost!