Chapter One

"C'mon Ana..."

She tried not to roll her eyes at the pleading voice of her roommate, Kate. Ana ignored her and went back to reading. Seconds later, the blonde woman was in her room donning a sequined silver mid-thigh dress and a pair of same color strappy high-heeled sandals.

"We'll be graduating soon." Kate started, sitting on the edge of her bed. "This will be the last time we're going to have this fun."

"There's no last time for you, Kate."

"Hey!" Offended, her friend swatted her. "It's not my fault that I love having fun."

Discerning she wouldn't be able to continue her reading while in her friend's presence, she closed the book. "No, it's not your fault. Actually, I like that you love fun. We just have opposite definitions of that three-letter word."

Kate pouted. "Yeah, I know. I just don't want to leave you here all alone. It's Friday night and you should be outside."

Ana was about to cut her but Kate was quick to continue, already knowing what she was about to say. "And when I said 'outside', I meant in a bar drinking the night away like a normal 21 year old college student and not outside doing an evening run, which I know what you're going to do as soon as I leave."

Ana tried not to wince at her best friend's words, she was used to her honesty anyway. This wasn't the first time Kate had tried to coax her in letting herself loose a little and 'enjoy life'. Kate Kavanagh had been her best friend since middle school, both born and grew up in Montesano, Washington. Despite how different their personalities were, they got along really well and had been like sisters since their first meeting.

While she was most of the time serious, Kate was bubbly and easygoing. Ana loved to read books. Kate loved adventures. Ana was happy to spend the entire day at home, doing chores. Kate's happiness could be find in a glass of alcohol and dancing to the music bar.

Despite feeling content with the kind of life she was living, Ana couldn't help but sense that she was missing something. Maybe her friend was right. Maybe she wasn't normal, not like the normal 21 year old Kate had just described.

"Hey, I'm sorry." The blonde woman apologized, immediately noticing her crestfallen face. "You know me, I speak without thinking."

Ana shook her head and plastered on a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "No, you're right. Enjoy your night Kate. Don't worry about me. I promise, next time I'll join you and Jose."

At her words, Kate's face brightened. "Really? Jose will be happy. You know he has a crush on you, right?"

"No, I don't." She rolled her eyes. "And please stop imagining things. Jose is a friend."

Kate pushed herself up from the bed and planted a goodbye kiss on her cheek. "I say what my eyes see, friend. Jose likes you but is too shy to act on it. Believe me."

:::

Jose likes me?

She shook her head, dismissing the question in her mind. Ana had been running around the neighborhood for thirty minutes now and was nowhere near tired. Aside from yoga, evening run was her physical exercise. Whenever able, Kate would join her but Ana was fine if she had to do it alone just like tonight.

Her best friend's words earlier that night entered her mind and her thought flew to Jose. Jose Rodriguez was a close friend. She met him when they were both freshmen and liked him instantly. He was sweet and kind. But like what she told Kate, Jose was just a friend. Ana didn't feel anything for him more than that and she didn't want to think that he liked her.

She never considered herself pretty and she was sure people find her boring. Finding out that there was someone who would take interest in her was doubtful, she made herself believe.

Only a few steps from her favorite coffee shop, Ana quickened her run so as to avoid the temptation the aromatic smell of the brewing coffee the small space was giving out from the inside. She didn't expect the shop's door opening all of a sudden and a man in a suit exiting from it. It was too late for her to slow down or stop, Ana collided with the man before she could prevent herself and the cup he was holding was pressed between them, the hot drink inside flowed out and spilled to both of their clothes.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, instantly feeling the warmth of the coffee over her sweater.

In instinct, she pried herself away from the man and expected to land on the ground on her ass but it didn't happen. She was still standing and a strong arm was wrapped around her waist, holding her up. Ana looked up and was met with the most intense bright grey eyes she had ever seen.

For a moment, she had forgotten to breathe. The man was good looking, breathtakingly handsome in fact. He was tall and lean yet muscular and broad-shouldered. His hair was dark copper. His nose was pointed perfectly. And his lips... Ana had to swallow an invisible lump down her throat as she gazed at his lips.

"Are you okay?"

Hearing his voice, her eyes darted back to his and she started feeling lost again. His grey eyes were looking at her fiercely. Remembering the accident, she tried removing herself from his grip once again and was successful this time. Ana ignored the bereft feeling that crept up in her at the loss of his touch. "Y-Your suit!" Wide-eyed, she inspected the stain on his suit.

"It's alright."

She shook her head no in dismay. The man's clothes were obviously expensive and she ruined it because of her stupidity. "I-I'm sorry. I was running so fast, I didn't expect you stepping out."

Ana felt his fingers on her chin, tilting her head up. She had no choice but gaze at him.

"It wasn't your fault. It was an accident. I didn't see you. And besides, you also got stain on your cloth." He said, eyeing the coffee mark on her sweater. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm okay."

He nodded somewhat relief. "Good."

:::

He let out an exhale as soon as she was out of his view. Closing his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose, took a few deep breaths and tried to relax on his seat.

She wasn't who he expected her to be, Christian deduced dryly.

Anastasia Rose Steele

Countless pictures of her handed to him by the people tasked to follow her every move, thick folder with every detail of information his men had gathered about the only daughter of Carla Adamson Wilks now known as Carla Wilks Steele and months of planning on how he and Anastasia were going to meet accidentally didn't warn him to the emotion she would conjure from inside of him as soon as his eyes met hers.

He was aware she had a long dark brown hair and blue eyes. He had seen enough from the images taken of her without her knowledge to know she was small and pale. But what Christian hadn't been prepared for was how her dark chestnut-colored mane complemented her flawless skin. She was slender and petite but had a beautiful body with assets that intrigued him unexpectedly. Anastasia's features were delicate, her nose was upturned and her lips were soft and full. And those eyes. He remembered how he tried to control himself to not drown on those large, powder blue eyes. They were innocent and trusting. She stared at him like it was the first time she had seen a man and he would mean no harm to her.

If only she knows...

"We're here, sir." Taylor, his bodyguard and driver of five years now, spoke from his seat.

Christian was lost in the picture of Anastasia in his mind that he didn't realize that more than two hours had passed since he left Vancouver and they had already arrived at Seattle and back to his Escala residence. He waited until Taylor exited the vehicle to open his door. A satisfied grin, thinking how successful this night was, escaped his lips but it disappeared quickly. With a serious façade, he climbed out and strode towards the elevator that would bring him to his penthouse on the 31st floor, with a silent Taylor behind him.

Part one is complete.

:::

Her eyes followed him as he climbed inside the backseat of his SUV while a man in a suit, who opened his door, rounded and boarded behind the wheel. To her surprise, the window of his seat rolled down.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you home?" He asked.

Her heart pounded loudly at the tempting thought. That was the second time he offered to escort her back to her place. And just like her previous answer, she declined. "There's no need. I live nearby." She pointed to the end of the block where the apartment she was sharing with Kate was situated. "I'm sorry again."

He smiled and she almost melted. "Don't be. It's alright. Have a goodnight."

She watched his window rolled back up after he waved a hand at her. His vehicle was gone from her sight shortly. Her shoulders fell realizing he never introduced himself to her.

The sound of the front door opening and closing pulled Ana back from her reverie.

"You're still awake?" Kate asked in surprise when she sauntered over their living room and spotted her on the couch with a cup of coffee in her hands.

"Couldn't sleep." She replied, her fingers ghosted over the mug and reveled in its warmth. It reminded her of him, the man who ignited something in her.

Ana had never felt this kind of emotion before. It was unfamiliar to her. The fast beating of her heart at the possibility of spending more time with him, the drowning feeling from the way he looked at her, the bereft emotion she had when he removed his grasp on her and the pang of disappointed when he left without telling her his name.

"Anastasia?"

Kate's fingers snapped in front her and she was brought back to reality.

"Are you alright? What happened? Did you run tonight?" The blonde woman sat next to her and questioned her while bending half of her body to remove the straps of her sandals.

"I'm fine. Nothing happened. And I ran." She opted to lie to her. Ana wasn't sure if it was right to disclose her earlier encounter with the man to her best friend. She wasn't even sure why she was feeling strange about him.

Kate glanced at her. "Are you sure? You're acting weird."

Unable to meet her gaze, Ana rose and strode towards the kitchen. "I'm sure, Kate." She replied while she began washing her cup. Glancing at the wall clock, she wondered why her friend was home when it was only midnight. "You're early."

A sneeze blew out from Kate's nose answered her question.

"That's why." Her best friend responded.

"You're sick." Ana said, stating the obvious.

"I can't be sick. I have an interview on Monday."

As the editor of their school newspaper, Kate couldn't not attend the interview that took her nine months to get. She was granted by the enigmatic CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc., a very busy person Ana was told, an interview at his headquarter in Seattle.

Looking at her friend, Ana felt pity for her. It seemed Kate had just started to have cold and she wondered if she was going to make it on Monday.

:::

"Mr. Grey will see you now, Miss Steele."

Ana heard from the beautiful blonde woman in a suit standing a few feet away from her. She stood up from her chair and clutching the bag strap over her shoulder, she followed her. Walking quietly behind the woman, Ana felt her nerves shoot up from anxiousness. She wanted to curse the cold that turned into flu and made Kate unavailable today. Ana wasn't supposed to be here, 165 miles away from Vancouver or more than two hours drive from her place. But here she was, in place of her best friend, feeling nervous for what Kate begged her to do.

The door was partially open when they reached Mr. Grey's office.

"You don't have to knock. Just go in." The woman smiled.

"Thank you."

Ana drew in a deep breath before pushing the door open. She stepped inside and was welcomed by the same grey eyes she had seen last Friday night. The same eyes that visited her dreams for the past couple of nights.

"Miss Anastasia Steele." Standing from his seat, he sauntered to her with a smile on his lips and a hand outstretched. "It's nice to see you again."

She took his hand and shook it. If he noticed her trembling palm, she was glad he didn't comment. "Mr. Christian Grey." She wanted to jump in happiness when she didn't stammer pronouncing his name.

"I was expecting Miss Katherine Kavanagh. Not that I'm not glad to see you once more." He commented, gesturing her to take a sit on one of the chairs at the right corner of his spacious office.

His last sentence made her smile as she opted to sit on the leather sofa. She watched him occupied the seat across from her. "Yes, about that. Kate... I mean Miss Kavanagh is sending her apology for not being here. She's suffering from flu and asked me to fill in for her. She's my best friend and roommate. I hope you don't mind."

He was studying her, she could tell from the way his intense eyes were focused on her. Ana brushed off its effect on her.

"That's alright, Miss Steele."

:::

"I hope you got everything you need." Christian uttered when they reached the elevator door.

Ana's interview with him had just finished. It was supposed to last for only 10 minutes but Christian, much to her shock, commanded his secretary to cancel his appointment until he got to answer Ana's questions completely. The woman he called Andrea complied without hesitation. Ana quickened her interview, not wanting to further disturb Christian's tight schedule.

As soon as they wrapped up, she hurriedly thanked and bid him goodbye. She was about to exit his office when she sensed him behind her. Christian escorted her towards the elevator and even pressed the down button for her.

She glanced at him. "Yes. Thank you for your time, Mr. Grey."

He smiled. "You're very much welcome Anastasia. Please call me Christian from now on."

Albeit hesitant, she agreed. "S-Sure."

The elevator dinged open and she stepped inside. When she turned around, she saw him looking at her.

"Anastasia." He whispered her name.

"C-Christian."

With their eyes locked on each other, they waited until the door closed.

:::