Forgive me for the longest delay. Also, be prepared, because I'm not going to tell you a good news either...

I can't promise you that I can come back to my writing schedule and produce chapters as fast I used to. I'm not abandoning anything, and I'm not leaving anyone hanging (not trying to and not intending to, at least). It's a long time, and I'm sorry, but I did warn you in my profile that I will be MIA for a long time. I'm not guaranteeing anything since I'm still at lost, but I hope there will be a time when I can come actually dedicate a part of my life to writing.

Please understand...

I would really like to say that I have already finished the next two chapters, but I'm actually not sure. It's there, but I don't think it has reached the posting level, just yet... You know what I mean? Like, they probably still need to be enhanced to be more coherent to go with the flow of the whole story...?

This, is just something that I want to get out to tell you all that I am still alive and well (that's debatable) and am still progressing with writing (this story or the other ones), but time is still very limited for me.

Anyways, please

Enjoy!

"Now, you were saying, Anastasia? About being impotent?" He panted in her ear as he pulled out of her after their latest round of steamy sex. He wasn't getting off her, but they weren't connected anymore.

A smirk slowly made its way to his face when he saw her trying to catch her breath and making no attempt to answer his question.

When she finally caught her breath, she blinked, focusing her eyes on the man that was still hovering above her. His hand stroking her cheek and massaging her scalp, the question was still echoing in her brain but she couldn't find herself to concentrate on finding an answer. Instead, she was looking for something else, and when her eyes landed on the thin, sexy lips right before her face, she knew it was what she had been craving for.

Lifting up her arms, she cupped his face in her palms and pulled him down to meet his lips, not even waiting for him to pull his hand out of her hair. The kiss was hungry, she didn't even wait for him to grant her permission and slid her tongue into his mouth, invading his space without much of a warning to him. To enjoy the unexpected attack in a better position, he turned them to their sides. His hand found his way to her core again feeling her arousal oozing out and coating his finger tip with her juice.

"Where is that smart mouth of yours, Anastasia?" He teased when she moaned as his lips attacked her neck, leaving wet trails behind.

.•*•.

Laying in bed on a Sunday morning, just a day after Saturday's family gathering.

Anastasia woke up and found herself been very tightly wrapped around in the arms of the hot billionaire. She smiled at the memories of last night. It was late when they got home, but none of them wanted to sleep. So, she had suggested they celebrate the success of dealing with the aftermath of the Houston acquisition. In other words, celebrate Grey's loss in the battle against Anastasia.

It only took Anastasia a week to get her work done. Convincing Mia to join her was easy, and pushing Christian to make a decision was even easier considering Mia's role in everything. She wouldn't be in Christian's penthouse if she didn't receive the phone call from him the Friday he got the file.

"I think our point has proven that sex won't affect any decisions that we're making, so what makes you think you can fuck me out of pushing you for that interview with KM?" She asked, laying next to him in his king sized bed in the middle of the largest master's bedroom she had ever seen in her life.

"I never said I won't do the interview." He remarked. "I'm not backing out from that." He added. "You've proven your resilience that night a week ago already. I just want to relive that night, that's all. My intentions were purely selfish and personal yesterday night."

"Since when are you separating business with pleasure?" She inquired, raising an eyebrow, turning to lay on her stomach so she could put some of her weight on her elbow.

"Since last week after we got back from my parents." He shrugged.

"Let me get one thing straight, Christian." She lifted her index finger to stop him from speaking. "You didn't get suspicious because I haven't been contacting you for a whole week? I have been in contact with Ros and meeting with her the whole week, and I'm sure that can't have escaped your sight. Then there was Mia who had gone to your office on a Tuesday afternoon asking for the position that you planned to have me in." She continued, pointing out the places where he had blatantly ignored, thinking she would be too innocent to play like she did. "Did nothing raise any red flag until you saw the report I had Mia deliver, claiming to be her work?"

"I have a feeling that you're fucking under my nose, but I never thought you'd be such a minx." He rubbed his face accompanied with a long, defeated sigh. "Ros never told me about her meetings with you."

"That's because I told her not to, threatening her to pull away my support if she even so breathed a word to you about it."

"What makes you so certain that she would work for you?"

"You refused to hire anyone else apart from me, but you haven't got me on board on your team, and it's been a week since the crisis came out, and Ros was worried out of her mind if no one came out to solve it. So, when I went to her, offering my help, in return she promise me her silence."

"Does she know that Mia is your other partner in crime?"

"No, no one knows about my entire plan. They only know their part." She smirked smugly. "I got Ros to help me because she needed me to save your company's ass. At least with Houston Airline. Then I got Mia to help because I genuinely think she should have the position just to learn and gain some marketing experience, and to save you some faces since you won't step down your high horse and offer the job to anyone else other than me."

"So, you're not an complete ass."

"No. I'm not. I may not have your best interest in mind, but I do take it into consideration when maximize my benefits."

"How kind of you." He muttered sardonically.

"You're welcome." She smiled wickedly. "I knew you'd figure out the document was from me, but I'd still like Mia to take the credit. She can transfer to work for Jack later when Jack's more stable."

"How can you be so sure about Jack's company?"

"Because I'm his economic consultant. Isn't that obvious?"

"Not to me." He muttered, but decided to let her to finish her story-telling and tell him how he had played right into her hands and lost his very first business battle to the first woman that he was more than physically attracted to.

"If you weren't so into me, I guess you'd be harder to fool, Grey." She summarized the essence of the reasons that led to the current submissive situation that Christian was in.

"You take advantage of everything, do you?" He commented.

"I take what's necessary to reach my goal." She shrugged in defense of her actions. "My goal is clear, and it is to get an interview from you. So, I'll be using everything that I can get to achieve my aim. I'm sure you do that, too."

"Yes, but I wouldn't be so manipulative."

"You use sex and intimidation. I only used their weakness. I think that is quite fair."

"And just how did you figure out that you are my weakness?"

"Perhaps your mother is just too keen to hook you with someone." She hummed innocently, keeping a straight face, but a smile was going to break out any moment if she was to make another comment.

"Out of all people, what makes her think I'm into you?"

"You should ask her that, but I'm sure it has got something to do with your unashamed staring that night at the gala."

"I wonder who else did you get on board to get me. I now know that my mom didn't just invite you to our family dinner because you're her very good friend, but because she's trying to play matchmaker."

"At least you've got something figured out."

"Wow, that's a compliment coming from you." He huffed with a roll of his eyes. "But, please, continue your story about how you cornered the CEO of GEH into granting an interview."

"You've only told me that you're going to grant permission for the interview. You only got that Houston Airline crisis suppressed not two days ago, and it's a Sunday morning just after a dinner at your parents' house."

"And, your point is?"

"My point is that, you haven't officially guaranteed the interview."

"Is that why you haven't left my side yet?"

"Now we're talking." She grinned at him.

"Then, what do you suggest we do? Since, you've got everything planned out and you've cornered me into being the puppet for you."

"I suggest we get up and get back to my apartment so I can tell Kate that I won." She got out of bed, walking around the bed only to pick up the shirt he discarded yesterday night before they went to bed. Leaving the two buttons at the top unbuttoned, she climbed back into bed next to him, just in time to stop him from speaking and continuing to finish her sentence from earlier. "And, I can take a shower. Meanwhile, you will be taking me back and will be making a call to your PR, telling them that you're going to grant an interview conducted by KM."

"Bossy little thing."

.•*•.

When Anastasia conjured up the spontaneous plan to force Christian to relent and give her the interview, she never thought Mia and Ros would be enough to pull it off. She thought Christian would be stopping her, but she knew Ros would be bought the minute she told her that she would be helping. Mia's role was mainly to gain sufficient experience for herself, so that she wouldn't be fooled that easily when she eventually start at Jack's publishing house. Christian liked her, she knew it the night they spent together. It was more than the sheer attraction on the surface. He had feelings for her, she had felt them, but she just didn't know how strong they were. It was, however, strong enough for him to tolerate her and allow him to eat out of her palm.

"I knew you'd be returning the favor once I've done what you want to save your sorry ass."

Anastasia said to him on the way back to her house. She just knew that he would have to take the interview for his own benefit and reputation. There had been a lot of underground work, such as the meetings with Ros and the Mia internship. However, her act had saved him from needing to swallow his pride and give the job away to another person that he refused just merely two weeks ago. It spared him the need to negotiate with her because he didn't want to be the first to relent and give into the deal they struck up in the first place. It also got her the interview that she wanted. As a byproduct, she got a night of hot, wild sex in his bedroom.

They got out of the car. Christian followed Ana to the door, she fished out the keys and twisted the door knob. He was right behind her. She wasn't going to lie when she wasn't expecting Kate to be up, especially since she thought her roommate would be more likely staying with Elliot after last night.

Ana gave Christian a look, reminding him the last part of their deal, which was him making a call to his PR team about accepting the interview from KM.

When Christian was making the call, she opened the door only to find two people on the couch. The smell of sex in the room instantly filled her nostrils.

"Fuck." She cussed, but her presence was already known the moment she flung the door open. "I thought you're not up. Better yet, I thought you're at Elliot's." She directed her speech to her best friend who only had her head appearing from behind the couch and the rest of her body behind it, naked.

"Why didn't you go in?" Christian joined her at the door, pushing it a little wider for him to look inside. His other hand was putting his phone away, and it almost slipped.

"Shit." Kate muttered when she saw Christian's face appearing behind Ana.

At that moment, Ana didn't know who was more embarrassed. The fact that she had just walked in on them having sex or the fact that Kate was going to interview Christian next week, and he just saw his brother with his potential interviewer.

"You know what, Kate? I'm just going to throw this in your face, and you'll just have to find a way to stomach it." Ana decided, her hand firmly grasping on the door knob as Elliot scrambled away on the floor, picking up pieces of clothing in an attempt to put it on so his brother wouldn't have too much to laugh at him about. At that proclamation, Kate stopped dressing and turned to stare at Ana in horror. "You're interviewing him." Jabbing a thumb at the guy standing behind her, she shut the door, leaving the horrorstruck face of Katherine Kavanagh imprinted in her mind.

"I don't know who's gonna be more awkward during the interview." She turned around to face Christian, who was still having a perplexed look on his face. "When did you schedule the interview?"

The door opened once again, effectively derailing his attention and making him swallow back whatever he was going to say in reply. His phone rang just in time before Kate stepped out behind Elliot who opened the door.

"Your PR?" Ana asked though she saw the caller ID that flashed on his phone screen. He nodded, stepping aside to take the call. His answers were faint in the background when Kate walked out of the apartment with Elliot looking all flushed.

"Did you enjoyed the little bit of porn, Ana?" Elliot was the first to break the silence.

"Gee, the ego you've got." Ana gagged, giving him a glare before turning to Kate.

"What interview are you talking about?" Elliot asked when he realized that Kate was still trying to recover from the embarrassment.

"I was the person that your brother and Ros were arguing over whether to hire or not." Ana answered, and that not only answered his confusion but also told him that she had overheard their conversation between him and Christian that night back at their parents' house.

"Is there anything you don't know?" Elliot chuckled, asking as a joke.

"Many." She shrugged humbly. "Christian only needed that place to be filled because his ass needs to be saved."

"And he wants you to save it, but you won't leave KM to join GEH, so Ros suggested some other person, but my bonehead brother won't have it."

"Yep." Ana nodded, impressed by how much information Christian shared with Elliot. "So, I struck up a deal with him. If he grants an interview, then I would help him get over the crisis. I asked Mia to fill up the space, but I saved his ass, so he'll be granting that interview."

"It's going to be so awkward." Kate groaned from the side, making a sound for the first time since she reappeared from behind the door after being walked in on. She was now dressed and tidied, just like Elliot, but she was still flushed from earlier's encounter.

"You've just got the worst timing, Kavanagh." Ana offered. "I got that interview for you."

"Stop rubbing the fact that I can't get through to him by nagging his team constantly, but you got it because you shared his bed. I won't sleep with him to get an interview, I'm not a businesswoman."

"Neither am I." Ana corrected. "I didn't sleep with him to get the interview, he had no choice but to grant us one. If he didn't agree to do it, his profile would look ugly. I don't know what time he's scheduled it yet, but he's talking to his PR right now."

.•*•.

"You're not going to see her the same way, Christian." Ana giggled at the thought of just how awkward it might be when the day finally came.

"That's why I've asked you to be there."

"And, you'd be distracted."

"I will be either way. You've been invading my thoughts ever since I got a taste of you."

"Flattering isn't going to work on me, Christian, and you know it."

"Yes, you play dirty. Doors can't even stop you."

"Touché, Grey." She smirked at what he was referring to. "What did PR say?"

"What about PR?"

"Weren't you on the phone with them earlier?"

"Well, yes, but I only told them that Miss Kavanagh won't be bothering them anymore because I've granted her the interview."

"Then what took you so long? I thought you'd be watching the porn-" Anastasia immediately changed the word once she saw the amused expression that was soon replaced by something else, "show that was on display just before you peeked over me."

"I was talking to Andrea to see when I can that interview fit in my schedule."

"Well, I'm sure she can fit you in if this interview is as important as you say it is." Anastasia replied, feigning nonchalant, but actually reminding him of his duty.

"I know what you're doing, Anastasia, and you have to trust me that I am a man of my words." Christian sounded a little affronted by the hidden accusation, and he just had to point it out.

"Promises, promises." Anastasia sang as he narrowed his eyes challengingly at her, but she just brushed past him and headed to the fleet of Mercedes-Benz parked in the garage of KM for executives.

Very out of place in the collection of tinted window black Mercedes were a fleet of black Audis. Anastasia couldn't help but laugh at the irony. She had a corporate car, which was a Mercedes, yet, whenever she went to GEH, she would be in an Audi. It was either KM or GEH for her.

Perhaps it was time for her to think of a middle ground…

.•*•.

"Mr Grey—" Andrea pressed down the intercom button and started to speak through it, but once Anastasia got the all clear from Taylor, ensure her that there was currently no one in the office, she said aloud into the receiver that Andrea was pressing on, completely interrupting her announcement.

"—are you gay?" Anastasia asked, giggling.

"Please just bring your journalist over, and I will answer that question for you in person more specifically." Christian replied, his voice sounded stoic but there was a hinted amusement behind it. Olivia raised an eyebrow at the exchange and shared a look with Andrea, but never commenting on anything. In spite of the obvious jealousy Olivia was showing on her face and the warning look from Andrea, Olivia remained silent other than glaring at Anastasia's back as she ushered Kate in to the office behind the receptionist desk. Pushing open the door.

"Your office is just as boring as I remembered." Anastasia commented once she entered the room.

"Are you seriously going to make that comment every time you walk into my office?" He sauntered to the door to meet her in the middle. Kate was a little fidgety, and Anastasia had to refrain herself from glancing at her best friend because she knew what was going through the blonde's head.

"Maybe, maybe not. Why? Are you offended? Or do you agree with me?" She placed a finger on her chin and looked around, pretending to analyzing his workplace.

"I will definitely let you know, explicitly and implicitly when you have offended me, Miss Steele, but right now, let me tell you something." He returned to his seat as Kate followed Anastasia's lead and took a seat next to her, taking out her notebook and recorder, setting them up in her lap.

"I wonder what is this big secret about the oh-so-private billionaire businessman." She snorted, waving her hands around dramatically.

"I'm a boring man."

"I beg to differ." Anastasia snorted again, but unable to fight off the smug smirk from her lips when she saw the smile escaping from Christian's lips that soon turned into a grin. "Well, I'm sure the boring man here has a boring life."

"Yes, of course. Meetings, meetings and meetings."

"It's always about acquisitions, isn't it?"

"No, not all the time. Mergers are also considered." He winked, and she rolled her eyes. "Also, I do remember my very own personal economist lecturing me on the concept of scarcity just not so long ago." He said, amused.

"And, what did she say?" Anastasia deadpanned.

"She? Who said anything about the gender of the person?" Christian teased, playing right into Anastasia's hand as she had already prepared a witty comeback.

"Oh, this can't possibly be the best you can come up with, Mr Grey. Boring man with a boring life does cliché things. So, unless you are gay, I'm sure you'd prefer to associate yourself with a person who is more appealing to you in more than one way. With that said, this leads to my original question that you refused to answer in front of your assistants — are. You. Gay?" Anastasia stopped to reiterate to emphasize each word as if he wouldn't understand if she just asked normally.

There was a long period of silence before Christian bursted out laughing, startling Kate who was just about to open her mouth to ask if he was ready for the interview to start. Anastasia looked slightly offended by his reaction, but remained an impassive face.

"Am I gay she asks." He continued to laugh, but when Anastasia picked up a pen from his table and hurling it at him, his face suddenly turned serious and he looked almost pissed, but when he saw Anastasia freeze and looking frightened for a second, it turned to small chuckles.

"Boring gay man." She scoffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest, and slumping back in to her seat. "No wonder you need an economist so bad."

"You're right about the last part, I do need an economist. Especially one like you."

"Get rid of that fucking smirk and prepare for your boring answers for that exclusive you promised, Grey."

"Or what?" He challenged.

"Or say goodbye to your precious economist." She taunted back, raising her chin at him and then glancing at Kate, suggesting he shift his attention away from her.

"Well, hello, Miss Kavanagh." Christian said, still amused from the exchange between him and Anastasia from earlier.

"Don't worry, Kate, he's in a good mood." Anastasia placated, but it only made Kate feel more embarrassed. "Stop what you're thinking, Katherine, he didn't see it and he won't remember it." Kate winced at the use of her full name from her best friend.

"You're dating my brother, of course sleeping with him comes with it as a package, I just really like to get that mental image out of my mind, so, please don't remind me of it. Unless you walk in on me and Ana in the act. Then you'll never live it down."

"Christian Grey!" Anastasia took another pen and hurled at him, hitting him square in the chest once again. "Shut the fuck up and stop embarrassing her." Then, turning to Kate. "I'm sorry, it's a terrible idea for me to be here. I'll wait for you outside. I don't want to distract this guy." Anastasia started to stand up.

"No, don't go, it's going to be so awkward." Kate said in a rush.

"You're going to ask him about work, not his personal life. If you're trying to get anything published about his personal life, I think you'll need me here, but you're not, so what are you worried about?" Anastasia reasoned, wavering whether to stay or leave.

"You can ask Ana about my personal life, she's very well acquainted with it."

"You're on a roll today, Grey." Anastasia sneered, flipping him the bird. Christian, on the other hand, just shrugged and turned to Kate.

"Please, begin, Miss Kavanagh, I'm ready." The professional tone of his voice put Kate at ease, she slipped into her journalist stance and proceed to talk.

When Christian answered, Anastasia tried not to smile at the way he was wording everything, she wasn't used to him using the formal tone in front of her, and she found it strange. Between him and her, they had never been formal, professional when they were doing work together, but their exchange was always playful, friendly and jokingly; though they weren't PG-rated.

As Kate ended the interview, Anastasia busted out laughing.

"Find something funny, Miss Steele?" Christian raised an entertaining eyebrow at her.

"Yes, a lot of things actually." She replied, trying to steady her breathing and mimicking his tone from earlier.

"Oh, you're earning yourself a spanking tonight." Was all he said before Kate started to snicker beside Anastasia, looking horrified at her friend.

"Who said anything about tonight? Do we have a meeting planned? Did you schedule anything with me?"

"One question at a time, Ana."

"Sure." She shrugged. "What the fuck happened to that blonde chick you said you were in business with? The daughter of some company that I can't remember the name of. You called off a meeting with Mia earlier this week to meet with her."

"Her?" He huffed. "Nothing, she's just trying to hook-up with me."

"Oh, so the Christian Grey is not so easy after all." Anastasia flaunted sarcastically. "I should be proud then, shouldn't I? Because the famous businessman wants me to warm his bed every night."

"Ana, you don't have to be dramatic about everything."

"Kate, you're all set?" Instead of answering him, she shot him a look and turned to Kate who was watching the exchange from the side looking very interested in the couple.

"Yeah." She answered, taking a brief moment to compose herself.

"Tonight's not happening, Grey." Anastasia said at the door just before she opened it.

"Maybe not, but it's only a matter of time before everyone know about us."

"In your fucking dreams." She rolled her eyes, allowing Christian to lean over her to call the elevator. "Don't even think about it. Market failure, Christian Grey, think about sustainability." She smirked before she stepped into the elevator letting him ponder on the innuendo.

.•*•.

On Saturday, per Grace and Mia's double-invitation, Anastasia followed Kate and Elliot to the Grey Manor for lunch. It was then, she heard about a family vacation for the first time.

"Wait, you left me out on all the decision making and expect me to just accept your decision?"

"Did you not like the idea of going to a beach to relax?" Grace sounded hurt and a little affronted by Anastasia's question, Christian stared at her questioningly from the side.

"Wait, let me finish." Anastasia continued. "You left me out on all the decision making and decided for me. I couldn't be more happy about it! I hate debating with others and waiting to finally settle for a destination. Of course I'm in for anything you have planned! Then again, I have to thank you for not forgetting me, since I have lesser reason to join you guys than Kate."

"Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head, Anastasia." Christian said before any of the people on the table understood Anastasia's heavily coded language.

"Why not?"

"I've taken care of it."

"I thought you're looking for something with no strings attached." She reciprocated innocently, knowing she would hit a soft spot because it was his motto for his business management style.

"Well, it's time for a change, I guess." He shrugged when Anastasia narrowed her eyes at him, but don't question further since she knew everyone else was listening to their conversation.

For the rest of the night, Anastasia was still stuck on the idea of Christian actually developing feelings for her and wanting to pursue something more with her. She was sure it would be something that she wanted, but there was something that was stopping her, she just had to figure out.

Perhaps the beach would help, since it was the environment she grew up in…

Credit to ELJ.

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