A/N: I always forget to say this but this is the right time to do it. Thank you so much for your reviews and PM's. Thank you so much for follow and favorite this little attempt of mine at writing. I only got support from you and that's awesome considering how shitty I'm in updating. Being a grown up sucks and sadly my first ever job is taking all of my time. Also, I posted a ONE-SHOT story that I did for the glittery challenge, if you want to go and read it that would be great! Again I'm amazed by all the good wishes you write in the reviews, thank you. I will try my best in reciprocate and keep updating. Love you guys!
All characters belong to E.L. James
CHAPTER 4: GRADUATION
This is weird. Right?
Of course, it is! This is monumentally weird as in taken from a scene of a X-File's episode or that series Kate used to watch, Fringe.
This is fucked up and I'm in the middle.
My Real-Christian aka Henry is standing in front of Faux-Christian. Both men are assessing each other without uttering a single word. I see Faux-Christian looking at Henry as if he is trying to remember where does he know him?
Does he know him?
I look at my husband and find him looking at me expectantly.
Huh? What does he want?
He frowns at me and then sighs.
"Hi, my name is Henry Bradley" He extends his hand to greet Faux-Christian but he just stares at it.
Shoot! He wanted me to introduce him.
But what do I say? Honey I would love you to meet the guy who stole your life because the idiot of your wife made a stupid wish. I can't say that.
"Where are my manners?" I slap my forehead. "Christian I would like you to meet Henry Bradley, he is a new author we are trying to convince to publish with SIP" I tell Faux-Christian. He probably is going to find out anyway because he bought the damn company. After a moment, he finally shakes Henry's hand.
"Nice to meet you" He mutters.
"Henry, he is Christian Grey" I tell Henry and look at his lovely face for any sign of recognition at the name but nothing. That hurts. The next thing comes out of my mouth innocently. "He is just a friend who gave me a ride to work"
Well not so innocently. I had to explain out of guilt so Henry would not think any of what Faux-Christian and I were doing and even though I don't dare to look at him, I can feel the whole at the side of my head Faux-Christian is doing with his eyes.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Grey" Henry says very cordial and pulls his hand out of his hold after an awkward shake.
Oh my God! This is so weird!
"I didn't mean to interrupt you" Henry says apologetic and looks at both of us. "I can wait inside or return in another moment" He is way too offering and he is offering...me!
NO! Fight for me! Asking him to leave! Punch him for stealing your life... ugh what am I thinking?
"No!" I almost shout. "Mr. Grey is actually leaving so we can talk inside" He came here to see me so he was looking for me again and I need to find if he has changed his mind.
"Right? Mr. Grey" I ask Faux-Christian pleading with my eyes that he goes along with me but I find hurt in his eyes, hurt and confusion. Quickly he composes himself and stares at me without any emotion.
"Right..." He says in a clipped tone. "Good bye Mr. Bradley. Miss Steele" He hisses my name and nods retrieving to his car.
I feel remorseful and a part of me wants to stop him and explain everything but I'm forcing myself to believe there is nothing between us. Soon, his car is gone.
I'm sorry.
"That was weird. Are you dating that guy?" My Real-Christian says.
"No! We aren't dating! There is nothing going on between us" I quickly explain desperately and Henry cocks his head with a smirk.
"I didn't mean to be spying on you but I saw you both arrive and I saw how he looked at you. You might be not dating but he clearly wants you and you..."
"You got it wrong!" I interrupt him. "He only gave me a ride"
And save me when you weren't there.
"If you said so" He shrugs and now I'm angry.
"Why are you here?!" I snap and change the topic before he continues making wrong assumptions. It hurts and angers me that he is not jealous.
He is not Christian.
He is taken back for my tone and sighs.
"I want to talk to you about publishing my book" He looks down.
"You changed your mind?" I ask hopeful.
"Kind of" He looks at me. "It's more like a... compromise"
Compromise? Compromise!
My head repeats the word that sound so familiar if only it was familiar to him.
"Do you know what it means to compromise, don't you?" He adds sarcastically after I stare at him in silence for a moment.
Yes, Christian. I do. I sent you the definition by e-mail once. Don't you remember?
A goofy grin appears in my face but then he frowns so I quickly turn serious and clear my throat.
"Compromise" I repeat the word. "Yes, it sounds familiar" I smile. "We can do that, why don't we go upstairs instead of having this conversation in the middle of the street" I wave to the doors and he nods following me.
After asking to Claire if the conference room is free and she ignored me in order to bat her eyelashes at Christian, she tells me it's free so we go to the room and I excuse myself to go to my desk for a moment.
While I'm leaving my stuff at my desk and picking my notepad for my second chance with Christian... I mean Henry, Noah comes behind me startling me.
"Why is Mr. Bradley doing here?" He says and I jump squealing.
"Don't ever do that again!" I admonish him.
"Sorry but I saw you coming with Bradley" He says and looks in the direction of the conference room.
So now he is talking with me. I sigh.
"He came here to talk with me" I emphasize the last word to make abundantly clear I don't want him around the meeting. I can't help to feel a bit angry towards him after yesterday.
"I figured that as much" He smiles sadly. "Look, I actually came here to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I realize now that all you did was helping me but I not only blew my chance with Bradley but also blew our friendship. I'm sorry" When he finishes he takes a small chocolate from his pocket and gives it to me.
"To sweet your day" He smiles and he is back to the kind Noah I met at the beginning.
"I still not letting you go into that meeting" I give him more hard time.
"That's not why I do this... I thought... what I meant..." He says nervously and I bite my lip to not laugh.
"I'm kidding!" I grin and he relaxes. "Don't worry. It's cool. But I'm sorry things went sour for you yesterday. How is your daughter?" I still can't believe he has a daughter.
"She is much better" He smiles but as if remembering something he becomes suddenly uncomfortable. "I have a ton of work to do. Let's talk later" And with that he turns to walk to his desk.
I have to remember that all of us make mistakes, me more than anyone should relate to that. I will help him somehow. But first, I need to sort my own problems. When I return to the conference room, I find Henry leaning in the door frame with a smirk in his face.
"It seems you have your fair share of admirers Miss Steele"
What?!
What does he mean? What admirers? He nods behind me and when I look, I see Noah glancing at us and then returning to his stack of papers.
Does he mean Noah? That's absurd!
He must have seen us talking... I smirk when a thought occurs to me. What does he care? I know it's stupid but a part of me wishes he is jealous so instead of explaining desperately, I confront him.
"So what? Is there any problem to that?" I walk to him petulantly and he stands up straight.
"No" He chuckles nervously and looks to a side. "Let's talk already so I can get back to school" He rubs his face with his hand and enters the room.
I smirk behind him and follow him more confidently than earlier. He sits and as soon I sit in front of him, he pulls a folded paper from his coat and starts reading it.
Someone came prepared and... eager to leave
"Okay, if I agree to publish my book, it would only be under some conditions. There shouldn't be any dig into my family by the media. I don't want a book tour or magazine interviews where I should tell how my mom and I struggle in my formative years"
I knew it! This is all about his mother.
"The book would stay like it is. I don't want any modification to add some publicity or turn it into a stupid franchise and then into a movie" He glances at me. "Not in my watch! But I do would like to add a final chapter before the epilogue. All the profits would go to Coping Together..." He resumes his reading.
I listen to his demands and occasionally nod to some points so he sees I'm taking him seriously. He clearly came prepared but he must be realistic. When he finishes reading the rest of his conditions, he looks at me expecting a reply.
"Those certainly are very understandable concerns and I respect each one of them" I nod smiling at him.
"Thank you" He smiles back and it's such a beautiful sight.
"But I reject them all" I sentence and pretend to be writing something in my notepad.
"WHAT?!" He says in a high-pitched voice and I can't help to chuckle. He clears his throat. "I mean... what?!" He says more manly this time.
"You heard it" I mumble glancing at him but then resume doing my doodles.
"I thought you agree to compromise" He says the last word gritting his teeth.
Oh Christian, Christian... I mean. Oh Henry, Henry.
"That's the thing you seem to not understand. You came here with your tiny paper demanding these conditions without even talking with me in the first place"
He sighs and when he wants to talk, I lift my hand to stop him.
"Another thing you don't realize now it's that you already lost the advantage you had yesterday. Then you could have made all the demands you wanted but not now. You want to publish your novel and I'm the only one able to make it happening so I'm the one with the advantage now" I explain.
My negotiating skills had improved over the years with Christian's help. I just never thought I would be using them on this version of him.
"I could always leave..." He tells me deadpan and I decide to call his bluff.
"Well, go!" I motion to the door and lean on the back of my seat. I'm showing my best poker face but deep inside, I'm terrified.
I really hope he is bluffing.
He suddenly stands up and I panic. I'm about to start begging him to stay when he walks to the door but then he stops and curses under his breath.
"Fine" He growls returning to his chair. "But if there's something I don't like; I would bitch about it like you couldn't imagine" I sigh relieved and grin.
He agreed! I got to spend time with him.
"Alright!" I can't stop to grin goofily at him. "Before you sign the terms of agreement..." I can't explain him what we are going to do because his phone goes off in that moment.
"Crap!" He mutters and reaches for his bag to collect his phone. When he sees the screen, he frowns and looks at me a bit hesitant. "I need to take this..." He says embarrassed.
"Don't worry" I smile. "I will go grab some documents to discuss and will be back in a minute" I stand up and walk to the door. I feel like I could be jumping of excitement. My plan is in place or at least that's what I thought until...
"Hey baby! How are you?" He answers excited and my spirit is crushed when I hear those words.
I stand in the door frame paralyzed after hear him talk lovingly to the other person. I know who this person is but it hurts so much to admit it. He laughs and looks so carefree hearing whatever she is telling him. I'm used to be that other person so now it seems so wrong. I'm reminded that he belongs to someone else.
To his fiancé.
I close my eyes and leave before he finds me eavesdropping.
When I return he is finishing his call and I give him a tight smile while I sit as if telling him to send the bitch packing.
Easy Ana. You are the one after her man, you don't have the right to be jealous.
"That's a shame. I was looking forward to see you but I understand. I love you too. I have to go, bye"
Bitch! Okay I can be a little jealous.
When he hangs up, he sighs heavily and rubs his face then he looks at me a little sad.
"Long-distance relationships sucks" He mutters.
Huh? That's... interesting.
"Is something wrong?" I'm only eager to ask.
"What is not wrong should be the question. It's complicated and I don't want to bother you with my personal life. It doesn't have anything to do with the book" I nod and he looks at me as if he wants to ask me something.
"Sometimes is easier to talk to a stranger and have an unbiased opinion. That's why people pay shrinks right?" He chuckles and I can't help to smile at him.
I miss him so much.
Sometimes I only want to throw myself on his arms and for him to hold me but I can't and I'm not sure if at some point I will be able to. He is with someone else. Could I be that kind of woman who meddles in someone else's relationship? It doesn't feel right but then how else can I have my husband back?
"She is San Francisco right now" He starts talking and I hold my breath. He is going to tell me. "She is doing a PhD in Psychology so that is taking a lot of her time and tomorrow when she was supposed to come, she calls and cancels" He lifts his phone and waves it. "I'm trying to be supportive but we were supposed to get married two years ago when she did her Masters and now everything is in hold again…" He sighs deeply and puts his phone in his pocket.
Holy shit! What do I say?
"Uhmm" It's the only thing that comes out of my mouth.
Dump her! You can do better! Take me!
"Had your fiancé…?"
"Melissa" He tells me her name and now the fiancé has a name.
Don't humanize the enemy!
"Had she gave you any indication of not wanting to get married?" Really? Is that what you are asking?
"No!" He is quick in defend her. "When she is here, it's awesome! It's the distance and the fact we are postponing the wedding every year what it's taking its toll" He shakes his head. "Sorry, I'm sure you are busy and I'm wasting your time with my nonsense" He apologizes.
"Not at all" I assure him. "We are going to spend a lot of time together" Keep your cool Steele! "So it's only appropriate to get to know each other a little bit" He nods and grins as if he was expecting for me to say that.
"So this Grey guy?" He asks. "What's the deal with him?" He says slowly picking an imaginary thread of his sleeve.
"No deal. There is no deal going on. I already told you" I say annoyed.
"Is he a Grey from the Grey family of Coping Together?" He asks me and again I hold my breath only nodding.
"Are you familiar with them?" I ask when I recover from the shock.
"Yes…" He nods. "As I mentioned before that organization helped me and my mom. Because we always donate money, we have been invited to some of their events and usually the Greys are there"
"So you know Christian?" It's incredible how close he has been to his real family even though he never was adopted and it should explain why Faux-Christian was seeing him as if he remembered him from some place.
"No, I haven't met him. I don't remember ever seeing him in one of those events, but then those were small fundraisers in Spokane"
"Spokane?" I don't understand.
"Yes, I grew up there" He smiles. Whoa! He grew up here in Washington. I thought for a moment he stayed in Detroit. Did he ever live in Detroit? Maybe more things had changed. "So he is one of Dr. Grace's children. Christian Grey, huh?" He smirks at me but then realization dawns on his face. "Christian?" He says the name frowning in confusion and my heart skips a beat. Does he remember?
"Yes, Christian" I encourage him to go on.
"That was the Christian you confused me with, yesterday?" He frowns and moves his head to one side.
That's what he was thinking? Holding myself to his every word is doing nothing to my nerves.
"He doesn't look anything like me!" Is he offended? What the hell? It's not like Faux-Christian isn't handsome, on the contrary he is… very attractive and then I remember the hurt on his eyes earlier.
"Can we forget that embarrassing moment, please?" I mutter and avoid looking at him. It is not right to think about Faux-Christian in front of my real-Christian.
Out of nowhere a beeping sound interrupts this awkward moment and he glances at his watch. That awful watch is so not Christian.
"Dammit! I'm going to be late" He mutters still watching at his very old Casio watch.
I can't help it.
"Oh, was that a calendar alarm on your Apple watch?" I say sardonically and bite my lip to not laugh.
"Ha, ha! Funny!" He says annoyed and I can't help giggle. "You are not the first one to mock me because of this but for your information my dad gave me this watch so it has a great value for me"
DAD?! His dad?!
"Look, I have to go or I'm going to be late for my first class" He stands up.
Crap! He is going and I'm was just starting to know him again.
"We haven't finished" I stand up afraid he is running.
"I know but this thing is not working for me" He says and pulls a paper with a pen from his bag to write something.
"What do you mean isn't working?" Oh God, is he changing his mind again? He certainly is the same mercurial guy.
"Meeting you in school day. Can we meet on the weekends? Maybe this Saturday" That's what he means! I take a deep breath relieved.
"I don't think that would be a problem" I smile at him and walk to the door with him.
"Here, this is my contact info" He hands me a paper with his e-mail address and his phone number.
"I will send you a confirmation for Saturday after I get the go ahead from my boss" I will have to send Hillary an excerpt of the novel hoping she will be fine with it so we can start.
"Let me now then" He nods and opens the door to leave.
Wait! The idea of doing an excerpt makes me remember something very important.
"Wait! Aren't you forgetting something?" I ask him and cross my arms over my chest.
He looks at me puzzled but after a moment an 'Oh' forms in his lovely mouth.
"I thought you will…" I can't finish the sentence because he is quick in hugging me taking me by surprise.
"Thank you" He says still hugging me and I'm already lost in his embrace and his smell. My Christian. I hug him back but then I regain my wits and clear my throat.
"I meant the manuscript for your novel, Henry" I mumble and he lets me go instantly.
"Oh, right!" He says eye-wide and blushes furiously. Christian blushing, oh my! "The novel, of course that was you meant, shit! Sorry…" He nervously takes the novel from his bag.
"That's okay" I say amused by his behavior. When he hands me the document, he avoids looking at me clearly embarrassed.
"I have to go…" He says still not looking at me and makes a dash out of the room.
"Bye" I say giggling.
"Yeah, bye" He waves his hand without turning around and practically runs to the stairs and I continue giggling.
If only he knew his hug was more than welcome, what's more, he is welcome to do more than hugging but the fact he is engaged to another woman rises red flags all over the place. I don't know if he is interested in me, it's clear he loves this Melissa and I don't want to be the other woman neither. I have to spend more time with him and wait. Patience is my strongest virtue. I have to wait for him and get to know him all over again. I don't know why but that gives me hope, hope that he will fall in love with me again and that we are meant to be together.
Finally, the days are starting to shine on this side.
With a renewed purpose, I go to my desk to continue with my day.
My improved spirit has clearly make me more proactive today. Not only had I finished with the reports Hillary ask me to do from two chapters of the author she is currently working with, but also, I finished doing an excerpt of Henry's novel and forwarded it to Hillary so she can check it. I hope she had checked already the one I sent her yesterday of Buran's novel so I can start working with him too. I also hope she will be fine with me working with two authors, if not I would have no other choice than dumping Buran.
Cracking my neck, I catch Noah working in his desk. He hasn't returned to look at the boxes for another story, probably he is now just focusing in keeping his job. I feel bad, with a little girl to take care of, he clearly wants this opportunity to work. Depending on what Hillary says, I might have a new editor for Buran.
A ping on my computer pulls me from my thoughts and when I see what it is, I gasp.
An e-mail from Christian. Faux-Christian!
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Graduation
Date: May 25, 2011 14:05
To: Anastasia Steele
Dear Miss Steele
Forgive this intrusion at work.
I recall you promised to give me an answer about going together to your graduation, tomorrow.
My offer to take you on my helicopter is still on. Let me know. This would also give us the opportunity to talk about recent events.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.
Recent events?
Does he mean what happened earlier? That's a discussion I'm eager to avoid but he is right, I told him I would give him an answer, he probably is waiting for me to hop in his chopper. And what's all that formality? Well, another task that I can quickly do.
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Graduation
Date: May 25, 2011 14:10
To: Christian Grey
Dear Mr. Grey
Thank you so much for your kind offer but I would have to decline.
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Hillary Stewart, Commissioning Editor, SIP
There! Quick and simple.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Graduation
Date: May 25, 2011 14:12
To: Anastasia Steele
Why?
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.
His reply is instantly and the short word sends shivers to my spine. Is he mad? What do I tell him now? Should I tell him that I just don't want to go? He probably will be badgering until I agree if I write that. If I tell him I had work to do, then he would back off. He promised not to interfere with my work.
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Graduation
Date: May 25, 2011 14:15
To: Christian Grey
Dear Mr. Grey
Again, thank you for your kind offer and I apologize for not being clear before.
There is a lot of work I have to do and as a new employee in SIP, I can't take the risk of being absent and fall behind. I hope you would understand.
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Hillary Stewart, Commissioning Editor, SIP
I wait for his reply but nothing. I don't know why I feel bad he didn't send me a reply but I shake it off. I resume reading Henry's novel to make a work-plan and after a half an hour of not response from Faux-Christian, I'm thankful he understood.
"Ana?" I'm startled by Hillary who calls me from her office's door.
"Yes?" I look at her and she smiles at me.
"Can you come in for a moment?" She tells me and returns to her office. I quickly grab my notepad with a pen and I follow her. "Please sit. There is something I need to talk to you about"
"Did I do something wrong?" Crap! Maybe this is about me taking two authors when I'm still a mere assistant.
"No!" Hillary tells me quickly and laughs. "Oh, Ana. You have been doing a wonderful job so far. Your reports on the chapters I give you were great and the excerpts you send me are brilliant…"
I blush at her praise but then she looks at her computer screen and frowns.
"You sent me two excerpts from two different authors?" She asks me and I bite my lip nervously. Is she realizing this just now? She clearly is surprised but this doesn't last long and she goes back to her smiling self. "Well, we will see that in a bit. First things first"
I gulp. What is this about?
"For the last couple of weeks, SIP has been going under a takeover from a larger company" Shit! "I've just received an e-mail from Roach telling me the terms of agreement have been signed already and that now we are owned by…" She looks at her computer. "GEH… GEH? I didn't know there was a publishing house with that name"
Because there isn't! This is uncomfortable. Should I tell her I already know about this? Probably not. It's not my fault that a billionaire had lost his mind and had bought a publishing house that he doesn't know how to run.
"So what's happening now?" I ask unsure of what would be the next step. I know what happened the last time but so many things had changed already and I'm not sure of anything anymore.
"Well, GEH has just installed a policy of cutting over-expenses" Double shit! Does that mean I'm out of job? Did Faux-Christian do this out of spite for rejecting him?
"Have I lost my job?" The burning sensation on my back has returned.
"No!" Hillary laughs. "Stop thinking the worst, would you? There isn't a more secured job in this company than yours and your fellows. You were hired for a program under GEH's umbrella so you don't have to worry about nothing. I don't think no one is going to lose their job but I'm certain that someone is not going to be happy of this new policy when he returns from New York" She smirks.
Hyde! Oh, no! I had forgot about Hyde in absolute. That's something I would need to deal with, soon.
"But what I was meaning about this new policy is that we are moving" Hillary continues.
"To where?" I gasp.
"To GEH headquarters. They are giving us a couple of floors in his building and cutting off the rent of this place" She smiles. "I don't know why but they want us to move there as soon as possible so if you have finished what I assigned you already, you can pack your things and go home. I will be seeing you on Monday at the new place"
"What?!" I shriek. "We won't be working until Monday?" I ask in disbelieve.
"If you want to come, be my guess" She laughs. "But you will only find movers"
In this moment, I know. I'm certain! But I don't want to believe it. The bastard did it! I told him I couldn't leave my work and he did this. How dare him?! He promised!
"Ana, are you okay?" Hillary brings me back from my anger.
"Yes, sorry. I just don't know what to think" I say gritting my teeth.
"I know this is irregular but you have been doing a terrific work so take it as a mini-vacation" She smiles. "Don't forget to clear your desk for your personal items before you go" She dismisses me and I gingerly stand up and walk to the door. There is no excuse now, I'm free to go to my graduation. I scowl at that thought. To hell with it! I'm not giving him the satisfaction of winning.
"Oh Ana!" Hillary calls me before I leave her office and I turn.
"About those excerpts you sent me" She looks at me. "Are you sure you can handle both?"
"Yes, Hillary" It irks me a little that she doubts my ability but it's something I have to prove myself. But this would be a great opportunity to give Noah a chance. "But if you think it would be better to get help, I can ask Noah to give me a hand" I say casually.
"And throw a bone to the competition?" She is surprised. "Well, it's your decision but Ana…" She calls me in all seriousness. "Give more priority to Bradley's novel" She says with a final nod dismissing me and I had a huge grin on my face by the time I reach my desk. Yes! My plan worked!
I get my things ready to leave since I don't have any pending for today. When I look at my screen, I see Faux-Christian's e-mails and the anger returns. How dare him? I quickly type an e-mail to give him a piece of my mind.
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: You promised!
Date: May 25, 2011 15:00
To: Christian Grey
Christian, you promised not to interfere with my work! How dare you?!
If you thought for a moment that I would agree to go with you just because you pulled this thing, you are very mistaken. I'M NOT GOING!
And now thanks to you, I would take advantage of these free days to get to know better Mr. Bradley since we are going to start working together every single day.
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Hillary Stewart, Commissioning Editor, SIP
I click on SEND before I have the chance to read it again and once the e-mail is gone, it dawns on me what I had wrote. Oh God! What have I done? Yes, I was angry but why did I have to mention Henry? Deep down, I know why. I wanted to rile him and that was the best way to do it but now he is going to be so mad. I only wish he will ignore that e-mail and forget about me at all. But once again I'm proven wrong when my phone goes off. I look at the number and it's Faux-Christian's number.
Triple crap! What do I do now?
I send him to voice mail and I feel relieved for a moment but it goes off again and I panic. I turn off my phone and sit in my chair with my head resting on my hands. This was supposed to be a good day! I look around and see everyone getting ready to leave. Nicely done, Grey! I finish packing my stuff in my purse and then finally grab Henry's novel, my real-Christian. The reason I'm going through all of this. His words of that night before this hell come back to me.
If I must go over it again just to have you at the end, I would endure it a million times.
If at the end of this chaos, he is going to be with me again then I will gladly endure this punishment. I have to be more hopeful than ever that we are meant to be together even in this fucked-up alternative reality.
When I enter the apartment, I'm greeted by loud music and as I walk through the living room, I realize the music is coming from Kate's bedroom. I know what this it. I take a deep breath and follow the noise. Whenever Kate was angry she would blast the entire apartment with loud music, that anger was usually directed to another person but knowing I'm the one she is upset with makes me remorseful. I've been a shitty friend lately and we need to solve this once and for all.
I knock at her bedroom's door but there is no reply, I don't think she will hear me with all that noise.
"Kate!" I knock again and call her. "Katherine!" I insist when she still doesn't reply. I try the knob and find it unlocked so I open the door and soon I regret it.
There in the middle of her bed, Kate is lying naked with her eyes closed, mouth slack, her legs spread wide and between them there is the head of a very much naked man, with one hand he is kneading Kate's breast and the other…
What is he doing?
"Oh God!" I mumble when I realize what he is doing and when Kate opens her eyes to find mines, hers widen.
"Ana!" She shouts pulling me out of the shock and is quick to cover herself and her companion with the comforter.
"Sorry! I didn't mean… I'm so sorry!" I blush furiously and cover my eyes before running out of her bedroom.
This is so embarrassing! Shit! She will be so mad. What do I do?
The music stops and I hear steps coming. She is probably coming to kick my ass for being a nosy creep. I need to get the hell out of here for a while. I grab my purse from the living room and run to the front door.
"Freeze!" Kate stops me from opening the door. So close! "Ana, what the hell?"
"I'm sorry, Kate. I didn't mean to sneak in like that" I try to explain without looking at her face. This is so embarrassing. "I thought you were mad at me…"
"I'm still mad at you" She clarifies.
"And that's completely understandable" I look at her to show her that I truly understand and find her with a worried expression. She is now wearing her bathrobe. "I wanted to talk with you and explain everything but it was so loud…"
"Someone needs to learn to knock before entering a room" I'm interrupted by a deep male voice. I know that voice!
Behind Kate appears Elliot wearing only his boxers. He hugs Kate from behind kissing her neck to which Kate responds with a grin and turns her head to kiss him back on the cheek. If the situation wasn't so uncomfortable right now, I will be so happy for them. Thankfully my fuck-up didn't affect them.
"I did knock your door but you had that damn music so loud you didn't hear me" I explain.
"So now it's my fault" Kate huffs annoyed.
"That's not what I meant…" I roll my eyes in exasperation.
"Hold your horses, both of you" Elliot stops us from falling into a full argument walking between Kate and me. I try to look away from this semi-naked man. "It wasn't the fault of anyone. I forgot to lock the door and the music well…" He smirks. "It was loud because we were being louder" He chuckles at the last part.
"Elliot!" Kate slaps his arm but she can't help to giggle as well.
The look they are giving each other is one so intimate that I'm blushing again. I miss the look Christian and I used to share.
"How are you?" Elliot asks me, he probably is thinking about what happened with Jose yesterday.
"I'm fine, thank you" I smile warmly. "Thank you for coming here with Christian, I don't want to think about what would had happened if you didn't arrive" Elliot smiles kindly at me and when I look at Kate, I see she is looking at me with guilt. Does she feel guilty for what happened yesterday?
Oh Katie!
"About yesterday…" Elliot muses. "When I arrived, you knew who I was right away even though we never met before, what's up with that?" He asks and my eyes widen. Shit! What do I tell him?
"Christian told me about you…" It's not a lie but it's not the entire true either.
"Cool" Elliot shrugs after a moment of inquiry and I relax. That's Elliot Grey for all of you. Such an uncomplicated man and easy to go with. "I will wait for you in the room, babe" Elliot slaps Kate's behind and she blushes.
"Okay babe" She grins at him goofily as he returns to her bedroom.
Show some dignity woman!
Once we hear the door of her bedroom being closed, we speak at the same time.
"I'm sorry…" We say at the same time.
"What are you sorry for?" I ask her because I'm sure I'm the one with the tail between my legs.
"For yesterday" Her lip tremble. "Jose got drunk and he was talking shit about you at the bar. I was so mad that I didn't pay attention and let him talk. I went to the restroom for a moment and when I returned he wasn't there and Levi was with some blonde bimbo. I didn't think much of it but when I returned to the apartment and found you unconscious… I'm sorry Ana" She sobs and I run to hug her.
"Kate, it wasn't your fault. I'm the one who had been treating you poorly, I'm sorry Katie" She nods and hugs me back. I don't know what to say to make her feel better but there was something I wanted to ask. "Is it true that you kicked Jose in the nuts?" I ask her and she chuckles breaking our hug and wiping her face with her hand.
"I should have castrate that fucker" She growls and for a moment I'm scared. "It was the least he deserved" She looks at me.
"Thank you for always taking care of me even though I don't deserve you" I tell her.
"Ughh enough with pitying yourself Ana!" The regret on her face morphs into exasperation. "You have been a wonderful friend to me over the years in college, of course I will take care of you now that you are going through this bad moment which you still don't want to tell me what is it"
Oh crap! Haven't we already made up?
"Well…" She crosses her arms over her chest. "You said you wanted to talk with me and explain everything. So what is it?" She is not going to let this go.
"So Elliot and you, huh?" I try to divert the topic of conversation.
"No, no" She rolls her eyes and pulls me to the couch. "Don't try to change the conversation! There won't be any Elliot and me until you talk"
"Don't you want to tell that to him? He might be waiting for you…" I tell her.
"Ana!" She whines.
"Okay, okay! Fine!" I sigh. "You have to promise to have an open mind" I tell her and her eyes widen. Yes, Kate! This is heavy shit.
For a moment, I contemplate in telling her everything but then she would think I'm teasing her and she might get angrier so I've been pondering into what to tell her exactly in the way here and I've decided on telling her a partial true leaving the time-traveling stuff out.
"There is this guy I've met…" I begin to tell her but she is quick on interrupt me.
"I knew it! Of course, there is a guy…" She clasps her hands. "Is it Christian?" She asks and my eyes widen. Does she know?
"How…?" I'm shocked.
"You were mumbling his name when I carried you to your bed. What happened between you? He didn't want to tell me anything and just told me you called him yesterday…"
She means Faux-Christian.
"Kate" I interrupt her and chuckle. "There is nothing going on between us" Even as I said so, there is a part of me that doesn't believe it.
"Then what is it that has you this way?" She is confused.
"There is someone else…" I say and her eyes widen, she is ready to say something but I stop her with my hand. "Let me finish" She nods. "There is this new author at SIP. We were in a relationship but now he doesn't remember me and it hurts so much" There! It is plausible, right? And it's not false either.
"I don't understand, how can he not remember you?" Of course, she wouldn't settle just with that.
"He lost his memory" There not a lie either since he has no memory of our life.
"Oh, but surely someone must have told him about you…" She scowls.
"No one knew about us, we kept our relationship a secret" Okay, that was a lie. God! I felt terrible. I hope she buy it. "And now he is with someone else" The pain must be visible in my face because Kate's demeanor change from inquisition to sympathy.
"Oh, Ana. I'm sorry" She hugs me. Did she buy it? "Maybe you should let him go" Kate tells me and I scowl at her. "I mean you can pin for him all of you want but that's not healthy and you will probably scare him off. If it meant to be, it would fall with its own weight" She smiles at me. "Meanwhile, you can try and have fun with other guys" I frown at her in confusion. "Like Christian" She grins, clearly thinking on the idea of we dating brothers.
"Ughh don't talk to me about him" I stand up from the couch and walk to the kitchen.
"Why?" She is curious. "He clearly is interested on you"
"The bastard bought SIP and is going to move it to his building only to give me free days so I can go to the graduation" I tell her and immediately regret it. Her eyes light up and she squeals.
Quadruple shit!
"Does that mean you will come? I'm leaving in a couple of hours" She tells me.
"For a moment, I was thinking about it but now, I just don't want to go to prove that he can manipulate my life as he pleases" I take a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Then don't do it for his benefit but do it for mine" She pouts and I frown at her. "I'm graduating too if you had forgotten and I'm valedictorian. I want you there…" She holds my hands and her eyes are so pleading so I give a silent nod. She smiles excited and hugs me. In that moment Elliot comes to the kitchen.
"Nice" He says and Kate and me turn to scowl at him. "Sorry, your phone was buzzing babe" He hands her the phone and she frowns at the small screen.
"It's Ray" She tells me and I frown in confusion. Why is he calling her? "Hi, Ray. Yes, she is here" She looks at me and then gives me her phone. "Your dad wants to talk to you" She smiles tightly.
"Wait! Did you call him like you said you would yesterday?" I cover the phone with my hand and ask her before she leaves. But I have my answer when she looks down. "Kate" I hiss at her.
"Oopsies!" She shrugs and runs to her bedroom pushing Elliot. "We will be leaving to Portland in a couple hours Ana, be ready" She shouts.
"Laters, Ana" Elliot shouts laughing at my expression and both left me in the kitchen alone to deal with my dad.
God bless Ray's heart; he doesn't give me any hard time. He only calls me a bit worried, apparently, Kate had only told him to call me which he did but because my phone was off he couldn't contact me. We spoke a little, I tell him about my new job and he tells me mom won't be coming to the graduation which of course, I already knew. I guess with everything going on I forgot to call my mom. When we talk about graduation, I tell him that I wasn't planning to go to which his response was 'Nonsense!'. That is like a bad word in Ray's vocabulary so I suppose Papa Ray really wants to see his daughter graduate. I don't have other choice then.
Papa Ray
My heart aches when I remember the name my children used to call my dad. I miss my children so much and in moments like this, I go to that darker place in my mind and I wonder if I ever going to see them again.
"Ana?" Kate takes me out of my dark place and I wipe a tear from my face. She looks at me with a concerned face.
"Ready to go?" I ask her with a chuckle.
"I actually was going to ask you that" She studies me for a moment and then smiles.
"Nope! I better go to get ready" I walk past her to my bedroom.
I might as well enjoy a road trip with my best friend and get over with this thing.
I knew this was a bad idea, a terrible idea, oh what an awful idea. I'm squirming under his stare. I'm sitting in a row in the sports auditorium, the place is crowded but Faux-Christian has found me and the only time he has stopped looking at me was when he gave his speech which was about helping third world countries. Not as profound as the speech Christian did. Kate did a great job as a valedictorian talking about embracing opportunities and I couldn't be prouder of my dear friend. Now I'm waiting for name to be called while avoiding Faux-Christian's eyes.
Finally, I hear my name and I make my way up to the stage. There, Faux-Christian is waiting with a cocky smile and my diploma.
"Why Miss Steele. Such a surprise to see you here" The bastard smirks when I shake his hand and he squeezes mine gently.
"Bite me!" I take my degree and walk past him. I hear someone gasp behind me but I don't care, well that's one for the records.
After one agonizing hour, the ceremony ends and the chancellor leads the faculty members out of the stage. I have avoided Faux-Christian's stare for the rest of the ceremony and now I'm looking for Ray.
"Ana!" Kate calls me from behind the stage and then walks to where I am. "Christian sent me to look for you. He wants to talk with you"
This isn't supposed to be like this.
"Kate, Ray is waiting for me" I look around and finally find my dad. He waves at me and I have never been more grateful of having him here. "Tell him you couldn't find me"
"Ana, can't you just come for a moment? He can be very insistent" Kate rolls her eyes.
"Sorry Kate, I have to go with Ray" I kiss her cheek and run to my dad. "You were great at the stage" I shout walking backwards.
"Pffff… I know" She says grinning and I disappear into the crowd.
"Can I take the cap and the gown off now, dad?" I whine.
"Wait! One more with Ethan" He takes a picture of me with Ethan's arm around me. Ray had gone crazy with the digital camera, when I introduce him to Ethan he quickly asked him to take a picture of us. "Great! I'm so proud of you Annie. Congratulations!" My dad hugs me.
"Thanks dad!" I beam. What I would do without this man?
"Yes! Congratulations Ana" Ethan hugs me again and it's so good to be surrounded of uncomplicated men. Ethan had just come from Europe and it's getting ready for his master which I already know he will succeed.
"Hi Ray" I turn when I hear Kate's voice behind us and I freeze when I see the man at her side.
Faux-Christian is staring at me intensely as if there wasn't anyone else in the place. He looks really good in a charcoal suit, white shirt and blue tie, but then, he always looks good.
"Ray, I would like you to meet Christian Grey, he is…"
Don't say Ana's boyfriend! Don't say Ana's boyfriend! I'm begging you!
"… a friend of us. Christian, this is Ana's dad, Ray" I sigh relieved.
"Nice to meet you sir" Faux-Christian greets my dad and Ray eyes him suspiciously. Ha! You couldn't charm my dad, Faux-Christian!
"Nice to meet you. Great speech you give back there" Ray smiles politely while shaking his hand.
"I'm on a tight schedule so I hope you wouldn't mind if I borrow Anastasia for a moment. There is something important I need to discuss with her" I scream NO! with my eyes to my dad but I can't blame him for not being so perceptive.
"Sure" Ray says and Faux-Christian pulls me out of the group.
He leads me out of the marquee to the back of the campus. I try to pull my hand out of his hold but he just grips it harder.
"Christian, stop!" I pull his arm harder.
He turns around and looks at me directly in the eyes. I'm captivated once again by those orbs that have the color of gold with this light.
"I'm sorry, okay?" He says and I'm thrown back by the remorse on his face. "I lost my control and I acted out of impulse but lately that is the norm when I'm around you. I'm sorry I broke my promise of not interfere in your work but I didn't think it would be such a big deal having a couple of days off" He says and runs his hand through his hair.
"I thought it wouldn't be such a big deal…" He waves his hand around.
"Big deal?!" I glare at him. "Christian, you manipulated my work and me only to accommodate your desires. How isn't that such a big deal?"
"Yes, I know Ana. Shit! I'm so sorry, truly" His eyes are pleading and I nod.
"Thank you" I reach for his arm and give it a squeeze. "And I'm sorry you still have to deal with me" I chuckle but he frowns at me. "It's better if I go back…" I step back but he holds me by the arms.
"Ana, I can't keep doing this" His eyes are so intense right now and he is holding me afraid he is going to lose me. "You must know by now how much I care about you, how much I like you" He holds me close.
"Christian… don't" I avoid looking at him and try to take a step back.
"Anastasia, I want you. I think it's more than that, I need you" He is displaying all his heart in front of me and I don't know how to react. That look in his eyes of wanting, of desire, that's the one I've been missing from Christian, my real-Christian.
"Christian, please don't do this" I plead with him and he looks sad for a moment. "I told you, I belong to someone else. I wouldn't be fair to you" I smile sadly because this is hard for me as well.
Soon, his face turns hard and he releases me. He rubs his face and narrows his eyes at me.
"Is that guy Bradley?" I can see the muscle on his jaw clenching.
I don't respond, I just only look down and hear him scoff.
"You certainly know how to pick them" He chuckles and I glare at him and his smirk.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The anger bubbling again.
"He is not the right man for you" He mutter but avoids looking directly at me.
"And you are?!" I scoff. The nerve on this man.
"Well, yeah…" He seems doubtful as if even he didn't believe it. "At least, I would be better than him" He spits out. What the hell?
"And how do you know that? What do you know?" I ask him exasperated.
"For starters, what kind of a man goes after his editor when he is about to get married, huh?" He is angry.
I gasp. How does he know? What on earth…?
"How do you know that?" I ask in disbelieve and his eyes widen.
"Did you know?" His jaw hits the floor and he looks at me as if I suddenly had changed in his eyes.
"Yes, but my question is how do you know, Christian?" I look at him and wait for his reply.
"I…" He seems uncomfortable. "I ask for a report about him. The guy looked shady…" He doesn't look at me when he says so. Probably ashamed. Ughh this guy has no boundaries!
"You know what, Christian. I'm tired of this" I sigh suddenly feeling so overwhelmed. I had enough to deal already. "I thought we could be friends but it would be better if we stay away from each other for a while" I turn to go back inside of the marquee.
"No, I'm the one tired of waiting when you clearly want me too" He walks behind me.
"That's not true" I turn and find him so close. Suddenly those words have lost its confidence. "Bye Christian" I mutter.
"Bye…" He says so low but as I walk further, he calls me. "Ana wait!"
"What now…?" I turn and I can't finish my sentence because he crashes his lips in mine.
I try to push him but he just holds me tightly, his arm around my back. Suddenly my resolve wanes and I moan into his mouth. His lips feel so soft and I forget about everything. I've been trying to convince myself he doesn't mean anything to me but in this moment, in this kiss, I'm proven wrong.
What do I do now?
A/N: Please leave a review, I know you might got tired for the long waiting so let me know if I should continue.