Ice, Ana realized, was unlike any club she had ever been to. The interior was made to symbolize the name, the colors nothing but white and silver. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and from those hung crystals looking like icicles. The staff were scantily clad, but the clothes they were wearing were nothing but white and shimmering. Each bar (the six of them) were covered what looked like ice, and while it looked like the interior should be cold, it was not.
Ana found herself feeling uncomfortable in the grandiose club. She was a book-worm, an editor, an aspiring novelist... not some party-goer. The music pounded away, the dance floor already full. Ana, unsure of herself and why she had decided to come, grabbed the nearest shot glass that was being offered on a tray and downed it. It burned her throat and she coughed in response.
"Ana! Look at you, drinking already. Relax!" Kate said, grabbing her own shot glass and offering it up in a salute. After pouring it in her mouth and placing the glass back on the tray, she began to let her body move. Kate, being the blonde bombshell that she was, was already becoming the attention of men closest to them. "Oh!" She started, grabbing Ana's hand and pointing with her other. "Look!"
And there he was, Christian Grey, walking through the door way, the flashes of the cameras behind him. In a slate grey suit, he looked like something straight of GQ, making Ana feel weak at the knees. She was sure she wasn't the only one. His copper hair hadn't changed a bit, still sitting unruly on his head. The only thing that had become different about her childhood friend was his eyes, bored and unfeeling.
People immediately flooded towards him but were thwarted by two men in black suits. His bodyguards rivaled that of the President.
Ana immediately felt her mouth dry. The man before her lifted his eyes towards her, blue meeting with grey. She was sure she saw them widen before she turned and ran.
Ten years prior . . .
One week after Christian helps Elena . . .
"So where's your other half?" Kate asked, dropping her lunch tray across from Ana. She immediately opened her iced tea, drinking half of the bottle in one shot.
Ana lifted her eyes to look at Kate, not wanting to show her the hurt that was brewing deep in her heart. Ana had not heard from Christian since the day after the dance. After multiple calls, attempts to say hi in the hallway, she was giving up. She had thought over and over about the night of the dance, and remembered his words... always.
With a huff, she took a bite of her apple before her eyes fell on the copper haired boy walking into the cafeteria. He looked different, she noticed, more adult like perhaps. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Kate was watching her carefully.
"I'm going to talk to him... and he is not going to ignore me..." Ana grumbled, standing and making her way towards him. Her converse stomped against the floor in his direction, gaining the attention of other students.
He sat down at a table, pulled out a book and began to read without even giving a glance her way. Ana sat down without a word and grabbed his book, sliding it down the table. He looked up at her, his eyes blank.
"What the hell is your problem Christian?" Ana all but yelled. She slapped her hand down on the table as she spoke, rage setting deep in her bones.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Was his response, and she wanted to rip that hair right out of his head. She was too mad to notice the falter in his voice.
She felt her eyes burn, and blinked back the tears forming. "Did I do something to you? Why have you been ignoring me? I thought you said we were friends Christian... always. Remember?"
He at least had the decency to look down ashamed. "I can't be your friend anymore Ana."
Not the words she was expecting, she sputtered. "W-What? Why?"
"It's just... I'm seeing someone... and I don't think it's best that we hang out anymore."
Ana's heart dropped into her stomach... or at least that's how it felt. It wasn't as if she thought she would ever date Christian, but they belonged to one another. He kept her sane in this new town, and now he didn't want to be her friend? Because he was seeing someone?
"Oh... well... okay..."
Ana watched him for one more moment before standing. He had already lifted the book to his face, whether to read or just to ignore her.
She felt numb. She walked past Kate... and then she ran.
Present Day . . . .
In the corner she stood, her head against the wall. She spoke silently to herself as she breathed in and out. Throngs of people moved around her, a few groups stopping her area to better get to know one another. No matter the crowd, she could feel her heart beating in her ears.
"In... out..." She whispered. She felt a sheen of sweat across her skin, the result of the ongoing panic attack.
"Ma'am..." A voice spoke from behind her. She jumped, turning quickly to see one of the men in black staring at her. "My name is Jason Taylor. Mr. Grey would like to speak with you." He held out his hand to motion in the direction opposite of her.
And because she didn't know what to say, she let him lead her into a private room.
Christian Grey sat facing the glass wall that overlooked the floor of his newest venture. As with any place that he owned, it was crowded with the most elite people of Seattle. The entire thing had been proposed to him by an outside source, and as he deemed it an acceptable new business, he backed it.
At first, when he had entered the club, he assumed the night would be over quickly. He wasn't much for 'going out', especially when it had to do with business, but then he saw her.
Though she looked different, he knew exactly who it was. He had watched her grow through the rest of his years of High School, had kept an eye on her while still keeping his distance. Breaking his friendship with her had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do, but it had to be done. He needed to fix his life, and Elena helped him. She had certainly grown up in those years, going from an awkward teenager to a stunning woman.
"Sir." He heard Taylor say from behind him. He stood, turning and let his eyes fall on the beautiful woman before him. Her blue eyes were narrowed and the aura that surrounded her was full of tension. Could he blame her?
"Thank you Taylor, that will be all for now." Christian said, his eyes never leaving the brunette in front of him.
"Hello Ana. I'm very surprised to see you here. You look beautiful." He began, taking a few steps towards her. Her eyes narrowed even more, and both arms crossed over her chest pushing up her breasts.
She replied with a snarky, "You look rich."
He chuckled, rubbing his hands together and looking at his feet. He did look rich. His entire ensemble cost him over four thousand dollars, including the watch on his wrist.
"Are you having a good night?" He asked, clearing his throat, unsure of what to say.
"No. Are you?"
"Not particularly." He grinned at her and while it worked on most women, it obviously did not work on her.
"Ah. Well if that's all.." She made to turn in her steps, but he grasped her arm lightly. The unspoken words between them filled the room, and he was sure he saw her eyes tear up.
"Ana..." Christian began, but she shook her head, willing him to stop speaking. Not one for taking directions from any other person, he continued. "Ana, please. We need to talk."
Ana grumbled something unintelligibly under her breath, flopping herself in one of the chairs facing the glass. After crossing one leg over the other, she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Okay." She said, "Talk."
"When did you get such a smart mouth?" Christian asked, but when a glare was thrown his way he added a, "I apologize, that was rude of me."
Sitting in the chair next to her, Christian picked up a glass of scotch that had been sitting near him. He swished it around the glass before taking a swig.
"My first question... how have you been?"
Ana stared at the man sitting next to her. He was as gorgeous as he looked in the tabloids, but she missed the boy he used to be. Before, he had been misunderstand but overall a sweet person. Now, he spoke to her like she was more of a business venture than a friend.
How had she been. How would she answer that? She had been thinking about him for ten years, that was the answer.
"I've been fine." She replied taking a moment to examine his features to distract herself from breaking down.
"Are you living here in Seattle?" He asked, and she raised her eyebrows.
"I don't understand, did you have your bodyguard bring me in here to ask me stupid questions Christian?"
Perhaps he had never been challenged before, because he looked shocked and partially annoyed. Furrowing his brow, he looked back at the glass wall.
"No Ana. I asked him to find you because I was shocked to see you. It's been quite some time, I wasn't exactly expecting to see you. And as wonderful of a surprise as it was, I'm not really a fan of surprises." He said staring at the dance floor.
"You don't like surprises? Oh, you mean like being completely surprised that your best friend, the only person you had, just decided he couldn't be friends with you anymore?! Because he started dating someone?!" She jumped up and walked towards the door, only to have him follow her, his speed overtaking her.
Stepping in front of her, he put his hands on her shoulders. She tensed beneath his touch but looked up at him either way.
"Ana stop." He said to her as if she was a child. Her eyes narrowed at him, and while she opened her mouth for a rebuttal, he spoke. "I know it seemed wrong Anastasia, but it was something I needed at the time."
"It didn't seem wrong. It was wrong. You abandoned me. Do you know how hard it was? Knowing that I wasn't good enough for you? Then seeing you all of these years in every magazine I come across." Anger was getting the best of her, and she shook her head scoffing. "I've thought about you every day Christian... I've thought about this conversation so many times..."
She pulled away from him, and shook her head. "I need to find my friend. This was a mistake." And she walked away, leaving him standing alone the same way he left her alone.