Thankyou to all who read, reviewed, favourited, and followed! Your support encourages me to keep writing!
A few of you mentioned that this story is similar to a movie Indecent proposal. I had never heard of it before. Hopefully this story wont be too similar!
This story will involve a HEA. I don't want to spoil the story for those who want the HEA to remain a mystery. So, if the majority of you want to know if the HEA is between A&C or A&J then I will reveal in the next chapter.
Chapter 2
I stare at the white box sitting on top of the bed. I was almost too scared to open it and see what he had sent me. I still couldn't believe that I was going to do this. I couldn't shake the guilty, dirty feeling that I was experiencing. Yes, Jose and I needed the money, but surely there was other ways for us to get that money. Ways that didn't involve pimping me out to a rich, crazy, man. Jose insisted that this was a good idea, he was actually the one to convince me to agree to this. His reaction to the proposition shocked and surprised me.
I told Christian no at first. He didn't want to take no for an answer, he tried to convince me otherwise. He even offered to raise the amount offered, but I couldn't agree to be his date. "I am sorry, Mr. Grey, but this is insane"
"Anastasia, would you just think about this for a moment" He says "It is just business. I told you that I have no interest in ruining your marriage and I mean it" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a business card that he handed to me "Talk about it with your husband. Call that number if you change your mind, my assistant will arrange everything"
He left in his tinted, black, Audi. I was more confused than ever. I had no idea how I was meant to react to what just happened. How would Jose react? He wouldn't be happy about it, he would be furious that a man offered to take me on a date, even if that date was strictly business.
I walked inside the store to see that Jose had been watching us. He was leaning against the step ladder watching from the window. "Who was that?"
I wasn't sure whether I should tell Jose what just happened. I decided that I couldn't keep things from him. He would probably find it funny if anything. So, I told him what just happened. I tried to make it seem like a casual, funny, thing. Jose didn't take it like that at all, he was amazed by it.
"Are you serious, Ana?" He stepped forward. His dark eyes were wide as he looked at me. "This is great!" What? "Oh my god, this changes everything! Tell me you said yes. You said yes, didn't you?"
I was speechless "I…I didn't think you'd be this excited about it!"
"Ana, five-hundred-thousand-dollars is so much money. We could do so much with that amount. We wouldn't have to worry about the store. We could…we could start a family like we always talked about!" He was the happiest that I had ever seen him. Would every husband be this happy about their wife going out with another man? This was so strange.
He quickly wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up off the ground. I let out a squeal as he embraced me in a tight bear-hug. "This is going to change so much for us, Ana. You need to call Grey back, right now, and arrange this"
I didn't understand how he could be so happy about it. I think that he is more excited about it than I am. To him, this was an amazing opportunity. He wasn't jealous at all. Secretly, I would like it if he were just a little bit jealous, or even uncomfortable. That meant he cared. Instead, he was happy for me to go off and be a rich man's escort. I was starting to feel less and less like his wife, and more like his roommate.
I called the number that Christian Grey left me. His assistant answered and I left a message agreeing to go with him on Friday night. The following morning I woke up with this crisp, white, box sitting on the front step of our house. I carried it inside and into the bedroom with Jose close behind me. He followed me through our small house like a little puppy.
"Is that from Grey?"
"Yep"
"He works quickly"
I set it down onto the bed and lifted the lid of the box. I saw a square note sitting on top of purple tissue paper. On the note was Grey Enterprise Holdings. It was all very clean and professional looking. What more could I expect from Mr. Serious and Sexy. I opened the note and saw neat handwriting inside.
Anastasia, I hope this dress is a fit on you. I also sent suitable shoes for the night. Please make sure you look presentable as you will be representing me. I will send a car to pick you up Friday at 3:00pm, make sure you are ready and waiting at your home. You will be taken to a hotel in Seattle to prepare for the night. I will pick you up at 7:00pm to take you to the event. If you have any further questions then call my office.
Christian.
Was he this formal all the time?
I push past the purple tissue paper and see the dress he had sent for me. It was nothing that I would have ever chosen for myself. It was a beautiful blue, strapless gown, with black trim detail around the waist. It was minimalistic and very slimming. I put the dress aside and see the black heels he had sent with the dress. He also sent a clutch. I hope he didn't spend too much money on me…
I feel hands on my shoulder, they make me jump. I look over my shoulder to Jose "Is this the dress?"
He didn't sound like he approved. Did he think it was too revealing? I step out of his hands and turn to face him. "Yeah…do you like it?"
He looks it over with a strange look on his face "It's so…boring"
I roll my eyes "Minimalistic" I correct him as I walk to the wardrobe to look for a coat hanger. "It's meant to look that way"
Jose doesn't get it. He shakes his head "What's the fun in that? If I were Grey I'd be putting you in something super tight and short" He smiles to me. I must've made a face because he just laughed "He is paying five-hundred-thousand for a night with you, Ana. He might as well get his money's worth out of it"
That didn't make me feel any less dirty about this. What was I meant to tell my father when he asked where our new found wealth came from? Was I going to tell him that I was an escort for a night, and that my husband seemed completely okay with it. He was more than okay with it, he was actually encouraging me. I am sure that if Jose could get away with it, he'd put on a wig and a dress, and go to this event as Christian Grey's date.
"This isn't meant to be a fun night, Jose" I explain as I hang my dress in the wardrobe. It stood out against the grey, white, and black clothes "Are you sure that you're okay with me doing this? I still have time to cancel if you want me to"
With an annoyed eye roll and a frustrated sigh, he said "Yes, I want you to go! How many times do I have to tell you?" He steps forward placing his hands on my waist "You said it yourself, Ana, this is strictly business" He kisses my cheek before stepping away and walking towards the door
"I trust you, Ana"
I did not feel good about this.
The week seemed to go faster than others, maybe that was because I was dreading going out on Friday night. The night prior I barely got any sleep. In fact, I was tossing and turning all night until I took one of Jose's sleeping pills that he kept in the bathroom. The anxiety for Friday night was beginning to make me feel sick. I had to remind myself that my husband didn't care that I was going out with another man, so why should I?
Well, I was worried because that man was Christian Grey. He was intense, sexy, dominating. He looked like the kind of man that could have any woman that he dreamed of, yet he still wanted me. Not only did he want me, but he wanted to PAY for me. I didn't know much about him, I didn't know what to expect from him. He says he doesn't want to ruin my marriage, but can I trust him? I don't know, because I have barely had a five minute conversation with him!
By the time Friday came, I had chewed off all my nails from anxiety. I decided to spend the day at home to mentally prepare myself for what was about to happen. Jose went into work and was going to work late in the store. I was grateful he wasn't here. I think that would be too awkward for him to watch me leave for the "date".
The only way that I was going to relax for tonight was if I had a large glass of wine. So, that was what I did. I treated myself to using the nice glasses that my mother brought us for a wedding present. I poured myself a glass of our ten-dollar boxed wine. I put on some Adele. I relaxed in the bath tub for half an hour and tried to not think about Christian Grey…which was a hard thing to do.
At 3:00pm on the dot, a dark SUV pulled up outside my small home. I carried my overnight bag out, my dress was on the hanger, thrown over my shoulder. As I walked out the front door, I noticed my eighty year old neighbour across the road watching me. I smiled to Patsy as she watered her perfect garden. She quickly turned away and pretended that she hadn't been staring. What will the neighbours think if they find out?
"Mrs Rodriguez-"
"Ana is fine" I quickly tell the man who was opening the door to the back seat. He was a burly, broad, man with baby-blue eyes and light, shaven, hair.
"My name is Luke Sawyer, Ma'am. I will be driving you tonight. Here, let me take your things for you"
"Oh…Thankyou" I hand my bag and then my dress to the man. I awkwardly climb into the tall SUV. The seats were a soft leather. There was a champagne bottle in the arm rest, with a name that I couldn't pronounce. There was a privacy screen separating the front and the back of the car. This looked like something the President would drive around in. He must be stupidly rich.
The car ride into downtown Seattle was quiet because of the privacy screen separating me from Luke Sawyer. I was left to worry even more, and I had no more nails left to chew. What if he tries to hit on me? What if I drink too much and embarrass him? What if I do something stupid? What if everyone finds out I am married and starts calling me a slut? There was a constant stream of worried, anxious, thoughts running through my mind. The hotel that I was taken to was one that I had heard of before. It was The Fairmont. I was shown to my room by the hotel staff, and Luke Sawyer was close behind with my things. He dropped off my bags and informed me that Mr. Grey would be here at 7:00 pm. Then I was left to myself in this big, hotel, suite. There was a selection of foods laid out for me on the dining table. There was also a note.
Anastasia, I have a tab here at The Fairmont. Any expenses will be paid by me. You may order room service for yourself or take anything out of the mini-fridge. I will be meeting you at 7:00pm.
Christian.
I now understood why he had such a hard time finding a date for tonight. He was too serious!
I began to get ready for tonight in the bathroom. I started with my make-up, which consisted of two looks; casual, or fancy. I was never one of those girls who could transform their face with make-up. My college roommate had been good at that sort of thing. She actually taught me how to contour my cheekbones and give myself a smokey eye. That was what I was doing tonight. I wanted to be presentable and look as if I belonged in the elite Seattle crowd. I paired my contoured cheeks, and smoking eyes, with a light lip. After finishing my make up, I did a once over in the mirror and was shocked by my appearance. I didn't recognize myself.
I looked…fierce.
After finishing my make-up, I moved onto my hair. That was the difficult part. I wasn't sure on whether I should curl my dark, chestnut, waves, or if I should straighten them. I decided on the latter. I straightened it until it was sleek and running down my back. I had almost forgotten how long it was, and how badly it needed to be cut.
The final step was putting on my dress. It wasn't as tight as I thought it was going to be. Surprisingly, it was a comfortable fit. I sat down on the bed and put on my dark heels that would match the black detail on the dress. I walked over to the full length mirror in the bathroom and looked myself over. It had been a long time since I had dressed up. Tonight, I felt sexy in this dress. I felt as if I looked presentable enough to be on the arm of a man like Christian Grey.
At 7:00 pm I got the call from front desk that he was waiting in the lobby. I grabbed my clutch, I took a deep breath, and then I walked out to go greet my date.
Christian Grey watched the elevator doors like a hawk. He would be furious if she was late. He gave very specific instructions on when he would be here to pick her up, so she had no excuse to be late. He watched as the double doors of the elevator opened, an older couple stepped out. They spotted Christian starring at them and smiled his way. He glanced down to his watch again and saw the time. It was only 6:59. Anastasia still had time. He shouldn't be so harsh on her. She isn't his sub, she is just…a girl.
He had no idea what he was doing. He had never taken a date to an event. He never paid for the company of a woman. This was new to him. Anastasia had done something to him, and he wasn't sure how to fix it. She made him loose control and she made him easily distracted. He couldn't think about another woman. He tried to do a scene with a sub, but the whole time he was focused on what it would be like to have Anastasia Rodriguez tied up and at his will.
It wasn't like she was extraordinarily beautiful. She actually dressed like a forty year old librarian. She wore bland, loose fitting, clothes that looked like they were a decade old. Her hair looked as if hadn't been styled in months. She had been wearing it in a messy ponytail off her face when Christian met her. She wasn't a woman that Christian would stop and take notice of if he passed her on the street.
So, imagine his surprise when the elevator doors opened again and out stepped a goddess of a woman. He had to do a double take to make sure that who he was seeing was in fact Anastasia Rodriguez. The blue of her dress was making the blue in her eyes pop. The detailed black trim around her waist was showing off the figure that she hid under ill-fitting clothes. Her hair was now out of that messy ponytail and styled down her back. He could imagine himself wrapping her long hair around his wrist…
He had been wrong, she was extraordinarily beautiful.
She is also married, Christian.
"Mr. Grey"
"Anastasia, you look very beautiful. I like that dress on you" Compliments were a new thing to Christian. "Your husband is a lucky man" Anastasia smiles, it was a shy smile that she tried to hide by looking away from him. "We should go" He extended his arm to her and she reached out to wrap her hand around his bicep.
They left the hotel together. He kept glancing down to Anastasia. She looked nervous and he wondered if that had to do with tonight, or if that had to do with his presence. He had to assume that it was the former. He couldn't let himself think of her in that way.
His head of security was waiting by the SUV "Mr. Grey"
"Taylor. Mrs. Rodriguez, this is Jason Taylor. He will be our driver tonight" Christian nods to the man. He motions for Anastasia to enter the SUV next. She struggles to get in with her dress.
He had to keep reminding himself that he made a deal with Anastasia. He wouldn't ruin her marriage. He was trying his hardest to keep his gaze straight and not focus on the smell of her dark hair, or the feel of her body beside his. She was only here for the money, and nothing else. After tonight she would go home to her husband, and then move on with her life. He would need to talk to Elena tonight and arrange for her to find him a new submissive. He couldn't go on with this stupid, play-ground, crush he has on a married woman.
Nothing will ever happen between you, Christian. She is married.
What do you think will happen at the party? ;)
Remember to review and let me know what you think so far! Also, if you want me to reveal who the HEA is with.
The dress in this chapter was inspired by "Emilia Clarke in Victoria Beckham"
