I planned to tell this story all from Ana's perspective but I realise things may be explained better if I give an insight into what Christian is thinking. Sorry it's a little short!

So chapter 2 is all Christian ... ;-)

I feel my temper flaring again, waiting for Miss Katherine Kavanagh to appear. I'm in the middle of a huge deal, and now I have to suffer this. I wouldn't have agreed to this interview if she hadn't hounded me for months. In the end I agreed because it seemed easier, of course I'm regretting that decision now. I desperately need to get some relief but I am, and not for the first time, in between subs. Unlike previous times though, I dismissed the last one because I was still left wanting. I'm trying to push that thought to the back of my mind because I know it's adding to my feelings of anxiety. Then to add insult to injury, old Aster, with whom I dealing, seems to be as stubborn as I am and he doesn't seem to be taking too kindly to my current mood.

When I hear the door open I rise to meet the persistent Miss Kavanagh. The woman who appears is confident and attractive and she knows it. She's used to getting her way, and I'd guess that she thinks nothing of using her feminine charms to help. From the get go she rubs me up the wrong way. Over the next 20 minutes I am subjected to some of the dullest and most uninspiring questions I have ever heard. Then to top it off the little blonde bimbo actually has the audacity to ask me directly if I am gay. It is all I can do not to roar at her to get out. I contain my very short temper long enough to finish the interview and show her out.

This deal Aster and I are hammering out is worth a lot of money to GEH. If it falls through it'll hurt him more than it hurts me but all the same I can't throw it away. I try to calm myself as I walk back to the conference room, if I can't be more level headed I should at least let Roz take the lead.

As soon as I walk in they are ready to begin and we get straight back to it. Despite my best effort I'm still as angry as before. I can see Aster picks up on this immediately and he looks none too pleased. He seems to think he has a better bargaining position that he actually has and someone should set him straight. Over the course of the next hour I try to make that clear without telling him where to go. Finally he has had enough and excuses himself saying he need fresh air. He may have managed it better than I could but everyone around the table knows he's stormed out.

The suits he brought with him go to wait at reception and I return to my office while we wait on the old man calming down. Maybe I should have done the same thing but I doubt it would help.

After about 5 minutes I'm ready to get this finished but Aster hasn't reappeared. I really don't have the patience for this. I make a call to the conference room, "Roz, where it the cantankerous old gasbag?" I say with barely contained fury.

"I have no idea Christian but I'll send some of our people and some of his after him" she responds.

Roz probably doesn't want to risk the delay aggravating me further but after another 10 minutes he is still nowhere to be found. I leave my office, fully intending to tear strips off of the people Aster has with him but when I'm half way along the corridor the elevator opens and there he is, only he isn't alone. The woman accompanying him has long dark brown hair, she is slim and very attractive. I recognise her vaguely, I know she works for me but I don't know what she does or her name. Aster seems to be laughing at something she says as he guides her from the lift. So he is off socialising with my staff while I sit here wasting my time. I don't fucking think so. I make my way directly towards him and he turns to me still smiling at Miss 'Should Be Working for a Living Not Flirting with Some Angry Old Man'.

I can't believe my ears when he speaks to me, suggesting this woman has been discussing business with him. Who the fuck is she and what the fuck has she been doing speaking to Aster about anything. She turns to leave and I step in. "Wait here", I manage to get out without choking her. She looks slightly taken aback but looks me in the eye. I fully intend for her to explain herself but first we better put this deal to bed.

Well I'm not sure what Aster did with his missing 15 minutes but he is a lot more accepting of our terms when he returns. I am pensive as the final arrangements are made. When I speak to whatever her name is I'll try to listen rather than fly off the handle immediately. Finally, today's work is finished and arrangements are made for us to visit New York to sign the deal. Aster stands and takes his leave, I follow him out thinking I should show him civility in these last few minutes because I've hardly managed it all day. As we walk along the corridor Aster sees his new friend and begins to smile.

"Well Ms Steele, our business is finally finished" he says with a humorous tone. Ms Steele, that's the mystery woman's name.

Then Ms Steele replies, "I'm pleased for you Mr Aster but I guess that means you'll miss the other performances".

What? What the fuck is going on here?

Then Aster stops to shake her hand and says, "I was thinking of taking a trip to Los Angeles to celebrate the deal but I hear the weather is very inclement". Both of them laugh and I'm standing, looking like an idiot still thinking what the fuck!

"Grey", Aster says finally addressing me and shaking my hand. "Hold on to this one" he says with a wink then he gets in the lift and leaves. This one? This one? This one is an employee not my bloody fucking girlfriend. After a moment I turn to Ms Steele and frostily say, "My office, now".