Thanks for all the following and the lovely reviews, guys, I can't even believe that you are reading my crap! I just life is full of surprises ;)
charhamblin: So it looks like I have got her name all wrong, doesn't it? Well, I know that her name is Ros Baily in the books but I honestly hate the name and she wasn't mentioned much in the books anyway but she will be more present in my story so I decided to change her name. Can I do that? Yep, I sure can, she isn't a main character and it is my story, also my own storyline. You may find more characters out of the books and some the same names but with different POV from how Ana saw them in the books. So I think you better buckle up, dear.
sweetsub75 : I absolutely love it when I got a feedback regarding a potential hole in my story! I mean I really believe that the beauty of this site is how feedbacks improves our writing skills. Your question will be answer in the next chapter but I will let you know that I don't really plan on making Christian into a stalker! There is a line between stalker and control freak and I will try not to cross it ;)
Christian618: yep, exactly! And you will see in that chapter that Ana cares for her privacy almost as much as Christian does so it would have been a total deal breaker if he stalked her like that! Grey does background checks on people who either knows he will or people who threatens him. He is not a stalker, guys. He is fucked up alright but he is not that much of a psycho, right?!
Hettyblue: I still love you, please keep reading this story and reviewing I am liking your reviews so much!
Anyways, here is a longer chapter as requested.
APOV:
"Anastasia Steele. Where the hell have you been?"
"Dammit, Emma. You scared me to death" I gasp out in one ragged breath. I just walked into my apartment where I live supposedly alone to a clearly pissed off Emma sitting at my beloved sofa with a glass of wine in her hand. I glance at Emma for clues but she just glares at me. I roll my eyes and bend to pull off my shoes. She starts rambling but I kinda tuned her out 20 seconds ago. I take off my jacket and walk right to my bedroom only in my white dress. She blocks my way.
"Explain right NOW" She says firmly. I close my eyes and count to ten. Breathe, Ana. Breathe.
I shouldn't have given her my keys. I should have stuck to the policy where I give no one entrance to my private place.
Well, remember the day you passed out in your private place and no one had any idea? Remember when you thought you may actually die and rot in here and no one will have to notice?
I shake my head. I don't need to remember this awful day. There has been enough drama for today.
"Emma, why did I gave you my keys?" I ask calmly like I am talking to a five-year old child. For her credit she seems shocked that I would ask that.
"For emergencies" she frowns. I give her my infamous 'exactly, you stupid. How come the thought never occurred to your tiny set of brains' smile. You know the kind of smile you give someone when you think they have been so frustratingly stupid? Yeah, I do that a lot. You just called me a bitch. I can hear it. Well, I think Emma agrees with you. She totally hates that smile too. "You weren't answering your phone! I'd call that an emergency alright, Steele. And what the hell happened to your hands? "Shit, I almost forgot about the bandages!
"Kitchen accident" I wave my hands in the air.
"And the phone?" I wasn't answering my phone? I frown and feel up my jacket, nope no phone. I didn't grab a purse when I stormed out.
"I guess that would be because I don't have it on me" I shrug and move past her. Here it is, on my bed sitting innocently. That is disturbing; I am rarely separated from my phone. I open the screen lock. Whoa, twenty missed calls and five voice mails! Man, Emma must have been really worried and I have been a bitch all over again. All I cared about was my stupid privacy!
"I have been worried sick" She explains. I walk over to her and pull her into an Ana-lock bear hug. I was told that I tend to squeeze people a little too tight when I hug them. 'You are too strong for a tiny thing' Kevin, one of friends, said once.
"I know. I am so sorry" I say squeezing her tighter. "Please, please forgive me. I was being a bitch but that is no news, right? Are we okay?" it is my turn to ramble, I guess. She chuckles because that is my friend Emma for you, guys. She can't stay mad at someone for more than two minutes.
"Alright, Steele. Forgiven, now let me go so I can breathe like a normal person and not like I am giving birth" I pull away giggling. "You are not getting away this easily, though. Tell me what happen?"
"Whatever makes you think that something happened?" I raise my eyebrows.
"Because you don't have the ability of de-attaching your phone from your skin, that is why, smart-ass"
"Aha, Sarcasm. Now where have you learnt that?"
"I have been spending an awful lot of time with a snarky as hell person, you to be specific. Quit stalling, Anastasia" I narrow my eyes at her. She knows I hate it when people call me Anastasia.
"I had a fight with Jose" I say eventually rolling my eyes. Why do I have to do this? I don't want to talk about it. Emma sounds shocked for a second, well she ought to be. We are not the fluffy couple me and Jose but we rarely ever fight.
"Now, what did you do to the poor guy?" Emma says and I have to smirk at this. Jose is the kind of guy who wouldn't hurt anyone, not even if he tried. He gives you that kind of vibe, you know. it is like he has 'Good Dude' painted on his forehead or something.
"Nothing" I shrug innocently. Emma tilts her head. "I don't know, okay? I got a little mad and he got a little sick of me. That is all" I leave her and head to the bathroom, she follows.
"So, did he actually raise his voice? Yelled?" she leans against the doorframe while I wash my face. Thank god i wasn't wearing any make-up today. I would have had a total panda case by now after all the crying and drama.
"I think his voice was a tone or two higher when he muttered 'Call me when you are done being crazy'"
"I am telling you. This guy is too good for you, Ana" She says shaking her head.
"Don't I know that" I give her my best devil smile with eyebrow wiggling and all.
"So are you done?" she asks. "Being crazy, Are you done?"
"I know I am done talking about it" I sigh and she opens her mouth but I cut her off. "Emma, please, can we talk about something else?" she clamps her lips shut. Her eyes brighten and widen suddenly like she just remembered something. Oh, man, that doesn't sound good.
"We can talk about something, yeah" She looks like she can't contain the grin on her face. Yeah, doesn't sound good at all. "Guess what?"
"What?" I play along.
"Rose Stinson called. You got an interview in GEH!" Okay, now she is actually squeaking! No idea what she talking about so I gave her a questioning stare. "Oh, come on, you don't remember? Remember when I practically twisted your arm to apply to this job? We had to write my number as a back-up contact so I guess when you didn't pick up they called me" Now that rings a bell!
"You mean the internship?" a month ago I was SIP's CEO's PA for god's sake! I thought being an intern all over again would be a little stepping back.
"At GEH!" And she is back to squeaking again!
"So?"
"So this is like the one of the biggest empires in the history of America's business" My friend tends to exaggerate alright.
"It is still an internship, Emma. Don't you think it is a little walking backward?"
"Not if you actually win after the month is over and you become Grey's second in command" The name Grey rings a bell but I can't put my finger on it.
"A, that is a big IF. B, I don't even know what this company is into! I am done going for jobs that has no clear future" I took the job at SIP even though my goal isn't publishing. My other major beside business was English Literature. My unlimited goal was always to go into business, gaining some experience then hopefully eventually going on my own. When James, my boss, decided that I should be 'promoted' and become an editor, I told him that I was leaving. Just because I am really into books, doesn't mean I want to make it my job. Notice to self guys; don't make your hoppy into your job, ever! You will lose it as hoppy and having no hoppy is the worst thing I can imagine. Not that I am saying don't work a career where you love what you are doing. Nope, you should love what you are doing or you will never be awesome at it.
"Well, for A, it is totally worth the risk. B, look them up"
"Fine" I say mainly to get her off my back. "I will look them up and then think about it" I wave her off and practically push her off my apartment's door. I need some rest and silence. It has been a long day and it is still only 3 PM!
"Deal" she grins. "Take your time, you have the whole day. The interview is tomorrow 10 AM at Grey house. Wear something hot, I hear Rose is a lesbian" she winks and almost run off to her car. I am left alone in my doorway my mouth hanged open. She didn't just say tomorrow, did she?
Fuck me!
Eventually, I gather my dropping jaw and my raising temper and go inside shutting the door behind me and trying not to slam it.
Six hours later, I have had a two hours nap, fed myself a supper, consumed two cups of my beloved English tea, researched GEH for two hours. I took the bandages off my hands and they don't look that bad. I just wish that doesn't leave marks. Now I am sitting in my shorts and large shirt biting my nails and waiting for the image before me to appear. Please, don't be him. Please, don't be him…
No such luck. It is him! That beautiful creature I was drooling over this afternoon may be my future boss! He might as well be my ideal! Seriously the guy is a genius. After only seven years on the business world he has build quite the name. I knew the name rang a bell when Emma said it. I just thought –hoped- it to be a coincidence. But then I thought maybe it is his father because he is just so fucking young to have built such an empire! I feel..awed. And maybe a little jealous.
I stare at the gorgeous man on my screen. He looks much hotter in person, though. I think it is the vibe he gives, the air around him, the way he carries himself around like he owns the fucking world. So arrogant, So powerful, So sexy… What just happened? I shake my head and scold myself internally. It is one thing drooling over hot guys when I am actually seeing them, it is hormonal and stuff but fantasizing about them is a whole other thing. I have a boyfriend, Dammit. We are in a fight, yeah, be he is there nonetheless. I am kinda grateful for the door bell I hear right now. I jump of my bed and run to open the door and I am met with a sympathetic Kevin and behind him a smoldering David.
"We are here for emotional support" David says in a way of explanation waving a bottle of wine over his head.
"We heard about the fight. Are you okay? We brought ice-cream" Kevin adds and I feel like melting. They are so sweet.
"Emma?"
"Emma knows and she hasn't told me?" Kevin narrows his eyes. If it is not Emma then who told them?
"It is Jose" David answers my unspoken question. "Met him at the bar. Looked so broken, poor guy" Jose is drinking? Well, that is new! I realize I haven't let them in so I step aside and let them pass closing the door behind them. Kevin places the ice cream can on the breakfast bar and turn to me pulling me into a hug.
"Seriously guys, I am okay. Thank you. I am really fine" I say but he squeezes me one more time before letting go.
"Nuh, no. None of this 'hiding my feelings cuz I am one tough chick' bullshit. You are gonna sit down, drink your wine and eat your ice cream while we talk about our feelings like teenagers" Kevin proclaims in his most gay voice. Most of the time you can't really tell that he is gay but there is these moment when he is so stereotype gay, it is so fun to watch.
"Sir, yes, Sir" I say trying to contain my grin. He shakes his head at me and goes to grab glasses. David comes into my view and he is opening his arms for me with a sly devious grin on his face.
"Don't touch me, David" I narrow my eyes but I am half-joking. David is the unlimited player. Considering my past I wasn't comfortable befriending him at first but he has such a big pure heart. It is funny how he reminds me of 'Joey' from the TV show 'Friends'.
"Come on" he groans out throwing his arms in the air. "I am trying to be supportive here. I was even about to over comfort sex!"
"Seriously, you think I will have sex with you for comfort? It is called taking advantage, buddy"
"Do you really think I am that bad of a person?" I raise my eyebrows and can't help my smile. "I was offering oral sex, alright? All for you. I just want you to be happy. I am not doing this for me, Ana" his face is almost...almost serious. But eventually he grins.
"Stop harassing my Ana, you pig" Kevin god bless him smashes David on the back of his head.
"Ouch" He exaggerates rubbing his head. "If you like it rough, you could just ask, you know" Yep! That is David. He can't form a decent sentence without putting a sexual innuendo somewhere in it. That is of course when he is not in court. Did I forget to mention that our loved playboy is a dead serious bad-ass lawyer? You really don't want to piss him off. However I don't hesitate to kick his skinny ass whenever he harasses Kevin about his homosexuality. He used to do it a lot more when we first met but now it is just light teasing that Kevin tolerates, which is good because if he doesn't like it, I would have kept kicking David ass.
"Come on in" Kevin calls for us while pouring three glasses of what I am sure is a very expensive bottle of wine. We drop on the couch with me in the middle and the ice cream can on my lap. I take a full spoon, tasty!
"Now fess up, Steele" Kevin says sipping on his wine glass. We had the same conversation I had with Emma, ending with me deciding that I don't really want to talk. I have had enough talking with my shrink. Somehow I managed to redirect the conversation and now we are talking about the interview I have tomorrow morning.
"So you are going to meet him? Grey? Like face to face?" Kevin sounds more excited than Emma. David doubles off laughing his heart out.
"Looks like someone has a crash" David wiggles his eyebrows playfully.
"You have a crash on Grey?" I don't know why the idea bothers me. Don't even go there!
"What? No" Kevin actually blushes. "I mean he is hot obviously and there are some rumors that he is gay" I think I just lost my shit for a moment there. Say what?
"He is gay?" i say in the most neutral voice I can manage trying to hide my shock.
"Nothing is confirmed. It is just rumors" David waves it off. Well, they must not be true then. "They just assume that because he was never seen with any dates at events and galas" I try to recall the photos I saw on the internet for him, not that I could focus on anything else when his demanding highness is present but yeah he is right. No dates? Maybe he just doesn't do relationship. I wince at the thought of him being a player. I don't know how I would feel about working for him if he is a player. Especially because you find him so attractive.
"I don't even know if I should go yet"
"Of course you should go!" "Is there even a question?"my two guy friends proclaim in the same time.
"Guys, it is still an internship. There is a risk. And I don't like risks"
"Ana, look! You are one smart cookie" Whoa, David is putting on his court face. "In fact, you maybe the smartest woman I have ever met" Now that is sweet and a little sexist maybe? "Think about it. Grey is a big name even if you didn't land the job you will go out with a good reference that you can use later. It will raise your CV a notch or two higher and it is only for one month"
"Or I could totally screw up and end up with Grey blacklisting me in the whole state" Why no one thought of that possibility?
"Oh come on" Kevin gives me his 'are you fucking kidding me?' look. "You will charm the pants out or Grey. Gay or straight. You are a brilliant girl and you know it. James was almost one step away from retiring for good and giving you his place!"
I feel so overwhelmed and loved that suddenly I have the need to run out of the door. I stay still however and remember John's words 'Your friends love you, Ana. You have to learn to accept that'. I let out a deep breath and relax. That is the result of years of therapy.
"It is settled then. I will give it a shot" I sigh.
"That is my Annie" Kevin squeaks placing his hand on my shoulder and pulling me up and to my bedroom. "Let's see what you are gonna wear" We enter the bedroom followed by a grinning David.
This isn't gonna be easy.
Here it goes, liked it, hated it? No CG I know but at least we got to meet Ana's new set of buddies! What do you think of them?
PS: Emma is NOT Kate, guys! Kate may or may not appear later but Emma is a totally different person, you will see for yourself!
Next Chapter Shit will truly hit the fan for Christian. I get sad even thinking about! Brace yourselves, guys!
