A friend of a friend needed a roommate according to Kate, and I was thrilled. I really didn't want to return to Montesano. It's not that I didn't like it there, I loved mum and Ray. But no 21 year old wants to return home after university. Seattle was my home now.
"Are you sure this is the address?" I asked, Kate was still packing boxes. She was moving back home with her parents, even though she'd promised she wouldn't. And without another to share in the rent, I was stuck.
"Yep," she beamed at me. "It's in a gorgeous suburban area! You're so lucky!"
"Well, you're the one with the friend once removed," I piped back.
Kate shrugged at me.
"Apparently he's had rubbish luck looking for a roommate. He's not seen very often, so he doesn't want someone who'll take advantage."
I rolled my eyes.
"You told him I was boring."
"No I didn't! I've never met him!" Kate looked hurt. I shrugged an apology. "Anyway, stop looking a gift horse in the mouth. The rent is nothing on what it should be, and that's saying something. You'll finally be able to finish your book."
I nodded. I'd been working on a book since the start of college. The bonus of being an English major is all the free time for reading and writing. The downside is you become analytical of every little word. I'd wanted to write a romance, a great Austen-tacious epic of love and chivalry. Only I'd never experienced it first-hand. I'd never even been asked out on a date. I'd always just stayed at home and worked. It's a lot easier to focus on something you know you're good at when it's all you have.
"Right. That's my last box packed. Do you need a hand with your things?"
"Nope. I'm good." I smiled at her. She helped me pack the last two boxes into Wanda, my VW Beetle. Books, films, a few clothes, no make-up. I had only a quarter of the stuff Kate was taking and the same ratio in travel.
"You'll come back and visit?" I plead.
"Of course!" Kate beamed again. She was so beautiful. We hugged and then I left.
It was a long drive from the old flat to the new house, and dark by the time I finally arrived. I double checked the address on the post-it note Kate had given me. This was definitely it, but it was in no way what I expected. It wasn't a house. It was a bloody fortress. A paved drive way that seemed a mile long, and a gorgeous modern building at the end of it. Every house along the road had a metal gate to it. It was clearly an extortionate neighbourhood. From my car I googled the house for sale just a little down the road.
"3 and a half million!" I cried. "No way. I can't live here…" I don't fit in at all.
Yes you can… a little voice said inside me. The rent is do-able. He cleared your references. There's no reason not to live in this amazing, expensive and quite frankly gorgeous house.
"Well I at least owe it to myself to look…" I agreed.
I popped out the car, grabbed my bag and locked Wanda, before heading up the well maintained garden to the porch. The door was unlocked but I knocked anyway before I entered. It was dark inside, and I stacked it royally on the welcome mat.
"Ow!" I groaned, looking at my hands and knees for any excuse to complain. I was fine. It was just my pride that hurt.
"Are you ok?" asked this smooth sultry voice that seemed to come from thin air.
I looked up, and stood in front of me was the most handsome man I'd ever seen. Now, as I've explained, my experiences with men have been limited. I've not got any brothers, the guys at college were all weirdoes and apart from one unfortunate kiss with Jose, this was the first man I'd come in contact with I wanted to impress. And I'd just stacked it into his house with the same grace as Bambi on ice.
"I'm fine," I replied, taking his hand and standing up. It was unbelievably cold. The moment I was standing he let go, as if I was the one with super cold hands. "I'm Ana Steele," I continued deciding to go with an awkward wave rather than attempt a handshake.
"Christian."
"This is a lovely home you have," I tried again.
"Thank you."
"Have you lived here long?"
"A while. Care to come inside?"
A light comes on and he leads me into the living room. Everything is white. White walls, white ceilings, white wooden floors. The only colours come from the dark wooden furniture and the mosaic of paintings on the wall. It looks like someone has poured paint into shapes and then squished the canvases together at different places. Like a bizarre medley of colour.
"That's fun," I say pointing at it. Christian cocks his head, like a cat when it finds something amusing.
"I thought so," he says, not looking at the paintings.
We sit on the uncomfortable sofas opposite each other. He seems quite at ease in his grey jeans, white shirt and unruly hair. I shuffle uncontrollably until I find a way to perch without creasing the brown fabric.
"So Kate told me you were looking for a roommate? She told me it was all sorted."
"Kate? Oh! Miss Kavanagh. Yes, she was most adamant I should take you on. The last few roommates I've had have been…disappointing."
"Well maybe this time you'll be luckier," I reply.
"I don't subscribe to luck or chance, Miss Steele. I work hard and I make sure I have the right people on my team. I can't abide lazy people. Or messy people."
"You sound a like a control freak," I quip before I can stop myself. He smirks. Even his condescension is attractive.
"Oh I like to exercise control in everything Miss Steele." I flush. Is he mocking me?
"So do you mind if I ask what you do for a living?" I attempt to change the subject.
"I own Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc." I'm stunned. He's Christian Grey. The Christian Grey. The Christian Grey who was nominated for a young businessman of the year award last year; Kate interviewed him at his business offices. The Christian Grey who was in Forbes. The Christian Grey who spent millions on charities for children in foster care. And I'd called him a control freak. Oh my God…
"Oh," was all I said. I pulled a bottle of water out of my handbag and drank nervously. In an attempt to put the lid back on, I spun it too fast and it shot off onto the floor. My awkwardness continued as I leant forwards to pick it up and then spilt water all over the floor. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine. It's just water," he replied, an amused flare in his eyes.
I sit with my hands in my lap after that. Touch nothing, break nothing.
"So do you have any interests outside of work?" I try again.
"My interests are varied, Miss Steele. Very varied." For some stupid reason I flush again. "Mostly they're expensive," he adds and I'm stunned at his arrogance.
"And your family…?"
"I have two loving parents, a brother and a sister." The flare has gone a little. He looks bored. "I don't usually give interviews…"
"Oh! I'm sorry, it's just, Kate didn't tell me anything about you," I attempt to explain.
"I'm quite a private person, she probably didn't want to intrude." I want to tell him that isn't Kate's style, but something in the way he's looking at me makes me stop. "So what are your plans now you've graduated?"
I shrug, thrown by his interest. It had been, come to Seattle, find a place with Kate, find a job. But it had been six months, and now I had no job and no Kate.
"We run an excellent internship programme at the head office," he tells me. I nod at him.
"Thank you, I'll keep it in mind. I had hoped for something in Publishing. I'm working on my own book at the moment." He smiles at me.
"A romance?" He's mocking me again.
"Yes," I snap back. His smile widens.
"Well, Miss Steele, allow me to show you around." He stands and indicates towards the living room door.
"Is that it?" I burst.
"Is what it?"
"You don't want to know anything else about me? Whether I'm able to pay the rent? Whether I listen to loud and angry music at all hours of the day? I clearly don't fit in here."
"I'm a very good judge of character Miss Steele. I think you'll be a perfect fit."