Earned it

Anastasia's P.O.V.

I walked into work on Monday morning with my reports and slid them on Jack's desk, he wasn't in this morning but I still got started with my day and I went to the coffee machine the mean machine I called it, the thing hated me, it would spit at me every time I would make the coffee this morning there was a note of a new one coming in, "thank fuck" I mumbled out loud only Jerry Roach heard me. He looked up at me with a cold stare I was just reminded of Christian. "I'm Sorry" I mouthed out, knowing how the Jerry liked a swear-free zone, which meant I would have to leave the office to get Jack's coffee, not that I minded hell, it was one day of the week where I wasn't getting hot coffee spat at me. I could run to the local Starbucks, I looked into my bag the one with the envelope with the money, My Tips. I could run to the back now or leave it and just use the money for whatever. I shrugged and pushed into the overcrowded Starbucks I looked ahead and noticed my boss Jack ordering coffee I ran ahead and pulled a twenty, "It's on me today, and can I get a skinny latte for myself?" The girl smiled and took my name, as she handed back my change, Jack looked at me and smiled.

"What?" I asked.

"Who you think put the note on the coffee machine?" He asked I laughed and felt his stare on me, I looked around to find a man in an ill wearing suit. I looked at him "Christian?" He pulled back from the window and took off, as he did, I ran out after him.

"Hey wait!" I called but he kept walking, shaking his head. Jack came up beside me, carrying our coffees.

"Come on partner, if he isn't into waiting for you, why bother chasing him?" He was right then again that was the same thing I did when I met Jose. I stood there holding the door waiting for him to come back and kiss me again, "save me." His words still haunt me. I pulled away and took my latte, I told Jack about my weekend and he told me about his.

As soon as I put my head down and started working I didn't look up until it was Lunch time. I looked at Jack who was deeply engrossed with his latest manuscript the one I pushed for him to read. "Lunch today, same as before?" His thumb went up as to say yes. He didn't even hear the question, I could have told him the building was on fire and he would still be nose deep in his readings.

I pulled on my red coat, and walked out in the cold air, I walked up to the deli that was down the street from work. I felt his eyes on me even before I look I spun around waiting for him to find those eyes, these haunting eyes. Not seeing them anywhere I gave up and went inside. I came up to the counter and ordered a ham on whole wheat and a pastrami on rye. I opened the envelope and pulled out another few dollars and got us some drinks.

"Do you work around here?" His voice was cold as snow, I turned to become face to face with a chest. His chest in a white linen shirt.

"Yes," I choked. "Yes, I do."

"Ok, thanks for letting me know." He was about to turn and leave when I grabbed his ruffled black jacket. "What?"

"What is your problem with me?" I demanded. He just started at the ground as if I was scolding him, "Well? Answer me!"

Christian's P.O.V.

I saw her at the Starbucks I knew Jack was married but the way she was laughing with him made it seem she wasn't as innocent as I dreamed up in my head Saturday night, I went out and played at a local club Sunday and I got home late and I didn't sleep just twisted around in my bed and dreamed of blue eyes and her smile. I needed to clear my head it was just by chance I saw here in the Starbucks as soon as I saw her I walked away hearing her call out for me, I couldn't run back it would make me look weak so I kept my head down and kept walking. I made it to a park sat down and thought of her, I couldn't do this, not to her, my head was swimming with her and I couldn't send her my dark path of fuckupness. When I decided I wanted to go home and sleep her off knowing she would haunt me there too, I saw her exiting from a building, there I followed her, she wore a red coat, I stared at her back then ducked behind a wall so she won't see me, I looked as she turned watching her turn and turn in the snow looking for me. She soon gave up and went into the deli there I followed her in, I was a little hungry since I didn't eat breakfast, but I wanted something to take away this dull ache in my belly since Saturday night. There she was, ordering. I wanted to do that for her. I wanted to be her slave, I wanted to earn her love. I wanted it, I needed it.

I walked up behind her and asked. "Do you work in this area?" Her body stiffened as I hoped it would I wanted to make her more than stiffening up I wanted to make her shake to her core, all over my piano. She turned into me and into my chest, her nose where one of the burns lay, I didn't push her away as she answered, "Ok time to go" I thought. I pushed away, She called out to me, "What?" I didn't mean to come out as harsh as it did, but it's out now. What was my problem with her? Her blue eyes turned into clouds I didn't know what to say, she had me at disadvantage, I was the one who was having problems with her, not with her.

"I haven't slept since Saturday," I announced.

"That's a problem but it's not mine, what's your problem with me?" She demanded.

The Clerk called her for her sandwiches to which she ignored.

"I don't have a problem with you, I'm just tired and hungry and I saw you and had a second to ask you a question because I'm going back to work." Ok that last part was a lie, I hadn't set foot in my dad's law firm in years he left the whole thing to me but the Broad took over when they knew how badly I was affected by the accident I just am a trust fund baby, but I don't act like it. I have billions sitting in the accounts I could go buy a small island and drink rum filled drinks until my liver gave out, but I wanted to play in local clubs for nickels and dimes and enjoy the ride, money is money it comes and goes. She relaxed after a second then fired another question.

"So if you are going to work, what do you do?"

"I work as a lawyer." Biggest joke ever and a lie, I haven't practiced law since the accident and even then I don't think I want to practice, I just want to play. She nodded her head absorbing the information. She smiled then looked at my ill ruffled suit.

"They let you come to work like that?" She nodded to my suit and went to get her food, I went to the counter and ordered some soup and chicken club sandwich. I was hungry.

"Yes, actually I own my own practice, Grey, and Pratt law firms. I normally take days off here and there, but yeah today I decided to go in like this." I smiled as I paid for my lunch.

"Well, I have somebody waiting for me for this but do you want to go out sometime? Maybe get a meal together?" She asked.

"Yes Please!" Boy, that was quick then again I had been thinking of that kiss since Saturday, maybe I could take her out this week before Dueling pianos. She looked taken aback then smiled as if her question was going to be met with a negative answer. "Ok then! Um here let me give you my card." She went into her pause and pulled out a card one with books all over it with her number and her name where she lived. I looked at where she lived. I kept my mouth shut. "Ok see you, Christian." She turned and left the deli. I looked at the card again, waited a few seconds then jumped up and did a fist bump! "Yes, I earned her!" I saw she lived in the same building as my brother, this will be fun. The clerk called my order number and I sat down and ate my lunch. I couldn't stop staring at the card. Anastasia Steele, 1 (206) 453- 5551 email address, AnaSteele as soon as I finished lunch I ordered an uber to take me home. I pulled myself into an empty apartment, my brother whom could go on with his life goes to work as an electrical engineer. Meaning lots of early mornings and not many late nights but now I could sleep I put her card on my nightstand and pulled off my clothes and fell into a deep restful sleep.