A/N: Thank you for all your support and kind words for this new story. I have six chapters finished, but I want to go back and check them once again before posting. Yes...I know...I am damn anal! I hope this next chapter really gets your thoughts going.
Now for the legal stuff: I don't own any of the FSoG characters. They are only visiting my playroom and letting me have some fun. Story line and my own characters belong to me.
Happy Reading!
Chapter 2:
After my three-day weekend, I am summoned to the GEH offices and to the inner sanctum of The Great One. As I sit in his outer offices of his assistants, I notice how white and sterile this space is. It's very uncomfortable, as much as the step-ford blonde models that serve His Royal Highness. The women are all blonde, dressed in gray or black designer suits and five-inch Louboutin stilettos. I look down at my more comfortable but simple outfit of a light blue sleeveless silk blouse and a white pencil skirt. My brunette hair that is pulled back into a messy bun is very out-of-place with all these robot women walking around on the highly polished gray marble floors. I jump when one of those blonde-bots says my name and tells me that I am now allowed to join The Great One in his office.
I walk into his office expecting him to be sitting on a throne of gold, but my boss is standing at the ceiling to floor window staring out over Seattle. I notice that he is wearing a dark navy blue suit that fits him perfectly. I know this suit probably cost more than my weekly paycheck, but it was money well spent on this fine specimen of American maleness. As I shut the door I notice that his office is as sterile as the rest of his building except for a grouping of photographs that fills the far wall. I find it fascinating since it is a grouping of everyday objects photographed well and framed perfectly in silver. I know the photographer, Deb Trouten and I smile knowing that she has been quite successful in her field. Of course, she is also successful in her personal life and I know this because I attended her wedding to one of my best friends, Jose Rodriquez who was also a professional photographer.
"They are Troutens." His very deep voice says as he turns to face me. He is not smiling and my stomach flips in worry.
"Yes, I know. Ms. Trouten is very well-known." I reply. He motions me to sit before his desk in a large leather chair the color of dark chocolate. It is so large that I look like a little girl sitting in her daddy's chair.
"You took Friday off." His voice is accusing.
"Yes, I did take a personal day which is acceptable and within the perimeters of my contract." I say in defense.
"You are a bold woman, Ms. Steele. I don't know if I appreciate that or not." He says glaring at me with those gray eyes that are as cold as ice.
"Have I done something to offend you, Mr. Grey?" I ask doing my best to restrain myself from my awful temper.
"I expect my CEO's to be working on a Friday." He spat.
"I have been working sixty plus hours a week since taking over at 3P and my staff knew where I was and had access to me if there was an emergency." I want so much to stand up and walk out of his office, but once again, I restrain myself. Why does he piss me off so much?
His eyes look over me just as he did the first time we met when he steamrolled over me while in one of his rages. I feel naked under his glaze. This was not appropriate behavior between business associates. He licked his lower lip and leaned forward. "I do have to say, you do look quite beautiful, but you have always been beautiful." I feel my face turn red with embarrassing heat. "No need to blush, Ms. Steel, you are indeed a very beautiful woman and very well accomplished." He sat back in his chair and reached for a thick file. "I have done some research on you. You are highly intelligent and ambitious which I can attest too. I have never seen anyone rise through any company as fast as you have. At first, I was concerned wondering if you were using immoral ways to reach your destination, but I see that you are used to hard work." I am shocked by what he was hinting at. Was he calling me a whore? I know that my blue eyes must be wide as saucers. "You won a full scholarship to UW but still worked at Clayton's. You have a very good work ethic. I am impressed." He closed the file. "I am curious though. There is nothing in your background check about personal relationships except that you are unmarried."
"I don't see what concern of that is yours." I said defiantly.
"Be very careful, Ms. Steele with your tone or you will find yourself over my knee."
I nearly choke. Did he just threaten me with a spanking? I have never been spanked in my life. Beaten, yes with verbal abuse but never physically abused. I come to my feet. "Mr. Grey, if you have a problem with my work please tell me, but if I am here to discuss my personal life then I must leave. I do not question your lifestyle or your personal life because it has no bearings on business."
"Oh, Ms. Steele, you are so wrong. My personal life has a great bearing on business as does yours." He stood and came around the desk to confront me. He is so tall that I have to bend my head back to look him in the eye. Even wearing four-inch heels, he towers over me. "I have need of a woman such as you in my personal life."
"If you think I am going to have an affair with you to keep my job, you can go straight to hell. I would rather go back to Clayton's than be forced into a relationship…" I am quieted by him pulling me close and up off the floor resting me on his barrel chest. Good lord, he is bulging with muscle. I can feel the power in his arms as he holds me.
"I am not asking you to just share my bed. I have need of a wife and I want you to marry me."
My mouth drops open. I can't find any words to answer his outrageous statement. Marriage? To him? He can't be serious. Man, was I wrong. He was dead serious and he was not going to take no for an answer. "Let me go." I demand trying to buy some time to get my head settled on my shoulders.
"I know that this is not how most women wish to be proposed to, however, you are not most women and I am not an ordinary man. I have need of a wife but I want one who is smart enough to have a conversation with over a meal and one that can run in the social circles that I do. You are such a woman. You are intelligent, understand business, and you are delightfully charming." He sat me in the chair behind me then he leaned against his massive walnut desk. "This will be a business agreement. I am prepared to pay you upfront five million dollars to become my wife, and five million a year that we stay married."
"Have you gone stark raving mad? I'm not for sell." I am offended by his offer. "Who in the hell do you think you are?"
"I am Christian Grey." He said in his arrogant way. "I want a wife, I need a wife at this time in my life and I want one that will not embarrass me or make demands of me. In other words, you will have your life and I will have mind. Of course, we will be discreet in all matters so not to cause each other any discomfort."
"I have no idea what in the hell you are talking about."
He gave me a smirk. "I know about you, Ms. Steele. I know that you do not like men and you spend most of your free time with Roz and Cammie."
"You think I am a lesbian?" I hotly ask. I feel my face flush.
One dark copper colored eyebrow arched in question. "Aren't you?"
"No, I am not." I answer honestly. "I don't have a problem with anyone being gay but I am heterosexual."
"You not even bisexual?" He asked realizing that he was wrong.
"Oh my God! I can't believe you are asking me these questions." I come to my feet with every intention of leaving this office and this crazy ass man! He had no right to ask me of my personal life. It had no bearing on my ability to work at 3P. I am almost to the door when I feel his large hand wrapping around my waist and pulling him close to his body.
"So, you like men? Well, this could be a problem for what I want from you, but it does make the other part of my scheme easier to attain." He turned me around easily with his strength. "I also need an heir. I want a son."
"Have you gone stark raving mad? You thought I was gay and want me to give you a child."
"There are ways to get pregnant without having sex, Ms. Steele." He leered at me with that smirk. "However, learning that you enjoy men, we can do it the old fashion way." His eyes drank me in. "Yes, I think this could be a lot of fun taming you. I can show you a world of pleasure that you have never knew existed." He tried to kiss me, but I pulled away. He easily subdued me by grabbing my hair and stabilizing my head. "I have very dark tastes, Ms. Steele, and it will be a pleasure to teach you such delights."
"Let me go." I demanded in a low voice. "Let me go, or I scream bloody murder."
He laughed at me. "Scream away, Anastasia. My office is soundproof."
Damn bastard! Without thinking about the consequences, I "kneed" him as hard as I could in the groin causing him to let me go as he doubled over holding his balls. "Don't you ever touch me, talk to me or even think about me." I pushed him for good measure and he landed on his fine ass. "I will be gone in two weeks from 3P."
"If you resign, I will sue you for breach of contract." He accused even though his balls were probably bruised and hurting. "This changes nothing. You will stay at 3P making me money hand over fist."
"Go to hell." I said through clinched teeth. I refuse to work for such a man. I would rather flip burgers at McDonald's than to be treated like this.
"You will not resign your job." He demanded still clutching his balls. To my surprise, he began to laugh. Oh, my god…this man is certifiable. He needs to be restrained and hospitalized for his own safety and the safety of others. "I have never been denied what I want nor have I ever been brought down by a little slip of girl like you." His laughter was deep. "I think I like it. You are a challenge now."
"Mr. Grey, leave me alone. I have given you my two weeks' notice." I pull open the door and leave this madness. I just had no idea that this madness would follow me home.
I took the rest of the day off and I have no idea how or when I arrived at my apartment. I only know that I was shaking when I unlocked the door and walked into my apartment. I can't remember the last time I was here. I spent some of the weekend at Roz and Cammie's, the rest with my Dad and most of the time; I sleep at the office on the sofa. I find myself in my bathroom staring at my reflection. I am still shaking. I don't know if I am mad, frustrated, or turned on! I admit that The Great One is a gorgeous man with his striking copper colored curls, his grey eyes that notice every detail and that body…that body that is fit, trim, and muscular. I hate to admit this to myself, but he does smell as good as he looks. His very manly scent could set any woman's panties on fire. But, he thought I was gay! I don't have anything against the lifestyle, but I do find men attractive. Hell, I had photos of Brad Pitt on my wall growing up and Johnny Depp is my secret little fantasy when I self-please myself at night. That's the good thing about masturbation, one night Johnny Depp is my lover and the next night it could be Henry Cavill or Matt Bomer. In my fantasies I can have as many lovers as I want and in the morning, they are gone and I don't have to fix and feed them breakfast. Not a bad situation if you ask me!
"He thought I was gay just because I don't hang all over him like most women or because I don't have a string of documented lovers. Fuck him! It's done of his business." I say to my reflection. "Marriage? Children? Five million to marry him with a five million a year bonus for each year we are married? He has to be insane! Dangerously insane!"
I squeak out a yelp when my cell phone rings. I check it and sigh in relief when I see that it's Cammie. I laugh at my own thoughts and answer on the third ring.
"Hey girl." She says in her happy way. Cammie has to be the happiest woman on the face of the earth. But, then again, she was in a loving relationship with a wonderful and strong woman. Roz would never hurt Cammie. Their love so very evident by the way they looked at each other and their gentle touches.
"So, Roz tells me that you had a meeting with The Great One. How'd it go?"
"Not so great, Cammie. I gave my two-week notice."
"What?" She exclaimed. "Why?"
"It's a long and sick story, Cams and I don't want to talk about it."
"Listen, I'm sending Juice over to get you and you will stay with Roz, me and the kids for a few days. Go pack for a few days."
I have to laugh even though my future is uncertain. Juice is Cammie's driver since she does not drive. His real name is Owen James Hughes but goes by OJ but Cammie being Cammie calls him Juice. "Cams, I won't be good company and I have to start looking for another job. I'm sure I have been blackballed in Seattle and on the West Coast. I just hope I can get to Doubleday or Trump before he does."
"I'm not taking no for an answer, Ana. Get your stuff packed and get over here. Juice will be there in fifteen minutes." She hung up on me not giving me a chance to argue. Well, hell…who knew that Cammie had such fire and determination? She is usually so easy going leaving Roz to be the dominate personality in their relationship. I sigh heavily and start to pack my overnight bag that is left on the vanity from the last overnight trip I took for business.
