Disclaimer: I do not own the Fifty Shades Trilogy, I am just having a bit of fun with the characters, and making no profit.
AN: Here's the next chapter! I may have cackled a bit while writing it...I never thought I would enjoy writing Ana as much as I have! I am so glad you all are enjoying this! I know this chapter is kinda a cliffie, but, I'm already working on the next chapter! xo
"So how was the party?" Kate asked over the phone as she popped a grape in her mouth.
"It was…interesting. Turns out I wasn't gate crashing after all. Random House was bought by Grey Enterprises…that was what the party was for." Ana said as she pulled copious amounts of bobby pins from her hair.
"Fuck…let me guess, you weren't really supposed to be there, then, were you?" Kate asked
"Nope. And my fucking Boss was there." Ana said as she unzipped the slinky red dress, and kicked off her heels.
"Do you think she knew? I mean…what the actual fuck?" Kate asked, sounding pissed on her behalf.
"No, I never told Mia which publishing house I had worked for; honestly, I don't even think it had crossed her mind. She felt really bad about the whole thing, actually." Ana explained.
"I bet. What did your boss say? Are you going to get in trouble?" Kate asked
Ana sighed, "That's the really fucked up part; he sort of propositioned me. Basically, he told me to just say that I was his date if anyone asked, and then tried to get all Mister McFeely on me."
"Eww. That's a sexual harassment claim if I ever heard it. No way you'll get into trouble if he pulled shit like that. So what did you do?" Kate replied.
"I pretended I was sick, and went back to my room at the hotel, only…" Ana began but then stopped, wondering if she should say anything about Christian. On the one hand, she wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but on the other, she wanted to keep it to herself so that she could continue to pretend that the most eligible bachelor in probably the world was interested in her.
"Only what?" Kate prompted.
"Umm…"
"Ana? What are you not telling me?" Kate asked, her spidey senses telling her there was a lot more to the story here.
"Nothing really, just…Christian kissed me in the elevator." She admitted, covering her face with her hand even though no one was there to see her blush.
"What?! You kissed Christian Grey?! When…how? Details! I need details!" Kate shouted into the phone.
"Hold on, I'm going to put you on speaker while I shower – I have to be out the door in ten minutes."
"Fine, fine, just spill Goddammit!" Kate laughed.
Ana set her cell phone down on the sink making sure she could still hear Kate before she hopped in the shower.
"It just happened…we met before the party in the elevator out of sheer coincidence, and of course, since it's me, I tripped trying to step out of the elevator. He caught me, and there was just something…God, he's so intense, Kate!" Ana gushed as she lathered her hair with her new swanky shampoo she bought from Alejandro the anal-bleacher.
"And that's when he kissed you?" Kate asked.
"No! No, he was perfectly polite. Anyway, I go to my room, and only a few minutes later, there's a knock on the door; it's one of the hotel staff holding a large vase of roses. He sent me roses! I had only just met him, and bam, roses are being delivered to my door." Ana said
"Wow, you must've made quite the impression. Tell me you weren't wearing that ugly navy blue skirt."
Ana laughed, "No, I was wearing that red D&G dress Mia talked me into. Anyway, so I go to the party, and he keeps looking at me. Next thing I know, my boss shows up and gets all handsy with me. Christian comes over to see if there's a problem, and I think he really thought I was there with Jack…he seemed sort of…"
"Cock-blocked?" Kate offered chuckling.
"Maybe…Well, after he walked away, I made my excuses to jack and headed back to the elevators. As soon as I stepped inside, Christian caught the doors just before they closed, and he gave me this look like he wanted to eat me alive."
"Hot. Continue."
"So I'm doing the lip biting thing I always do that annoys the hell out of you, and next thing I know, he's got me up against the elevator wall, with his tongue in my mouth. Kate, I know I'm not the most experienced person…"
"Try no experience…" Kate chuckled.
"But I felt that kiss all the way down in my vagina. Holy shit, can that man kiss." Ana said dreamily.
"Wow, you've got it bad. So did you finally cash in your V-card?" Kate asked.
"NO! I only just met him, Kate!" Ana admonished her for even thinking it.
Kate laughed, "You have more restraint than I, just sayin. I would have climbed that like a tree."
"You 've been watching Bridesmaids again, haven't you." Ana said laughing as she finished rinsing off and turned off the water.
"Maybe. So is Prince Charming planning to see you again?" Kate asked.
"Yes, actually, I'm having dinner with him tonight." Ana admitted blushing again.
"You want my advice?" Kate asked, her tone serious.
"Yes, absolutely." Ana answered gratefully.
"Buy a shitload of condoms, and ride him like his name is Seabiscuit."
"Kate!" Ana shrieked.
"Hey, you asked. Seriously though, fuck him like his life depended on it."
"Goodbye, Kate!" Ana chuckled.
"Triple Crown, Baby!" she heard Kate shout into the phone just before she hit end.
Oh God. Would he be expecting sex on the first date?!
Ana thought about it and groaned; of course he would be, he was a guy. A guy that could have any woman he wanted.
She dressed quickly in her khakis and a navy blue top, and grabbed her freshly laundered apron from the back of her door, before stepping out of her flat on her way to Starbucks.
oOo0oOo
As soon as the clock chimed five, Ana was heading out of the door, rushing back to her flat to get ready. Thankfully, she had close to two hours to get ready before Taylor, whoever that was, would be there to pick her up.
After yet another shower, she rifled through her underwear drawer looking for the sexiest panties she owned. She held them up and stifled a groan; why, oh why, hadn't she thought to buy panties when she was out shopping with Mia? She held up what could only be described as granny panties and cringed. They were plain cotton, not some exotic silk, and they were high wasted. Hanes. She was going to have to wear Hanes Her Way on her first date with Christian Grey. For a moment, the thought of going commando crossed her mind, until she remembered that she had actually started her period just that morning.
Fantastic.
Not only was she stuck with horrid panties, she would have to worry about tampons all night to.
After dressing in one of the outfits Mia had picked out that she actually liked, a pair of dark skinny jeans with a cream knit sweater, she slipped on her riding boots. She pulled her hair into a loose braid, and applied just a bit of mascara and some sheer lip gloss.
At precisely seven sharp, her door buzzed, alerting her to Taylor's arrival. She grabbed her jacket and a small wristlet and headed downstairs.
oOo0oOo
"Miss Steele?"
She recognized the man with the ear piece from the party.
"Yes, are you Taylor?" she asked not sure whether Taylor was the man's first or last name; she hoped she wasn't being rude.
"Yes, Ma'am." He said politely with a small hint of a southern accent.
Ana blushed. It always made her feel old being called 'Ma'am', though he was only trying to be polite.
He opened the car door for her, and she slipped into the backseat of the Black Audi SUV
"Where are we going?" she leaned forward to ask once he had slipped into the driver's seat.
"To dinner, Miss Steele." Taylor answered cryptically, as he pulled away from the curb, with a small smile on his face.
A few minutes later the Audi pulled up in front of a fancy French Restaurant, Clos Maggiore, and he slipped out once again to open Ana's door for her.
"Mister Grey is awaiting you inside." He said with a smile as he helped her out of the car.
Ana couldn't help but smile as she slid out of the car and made her way nervously into the restaurant.
"Anastasia"
She heard Christian's voice from behind her as she felt his hands slide up her arms to her shoulders so that he could remove her jacket.
Ana looked around the room in awe; inside the dining room, there was a canopy of branches over the entire ceilingthat were covered in white flowers, as well as elegant fireplaces on both sides of the room. The strange thing was that the dining room was completely empty.
"Is it normally this quiet here on a Saturday night?" Ana asked curiously.
"I didn't wish for us to be disturbed." Christian admitted as the corner of his lips lifted in the ghost of a smile.
Oh my god…he rented the whole place!
"Oh…cool." Ana said awkwardly, and blushed at how stupid that sounded.
When his hand fell on the small of her back as he led her to a table set for two in the center of the room, she felt a jolt of electricity tingle along her spine that practically made her jump.
As she glanced up shyly at him, his jaw was tense, and she was sure he had felt it too.
As soon as they were seated, a waiter came over with a bottle of wine and filled both their glasses as Christian continued to gaze at her as if she were a puzzle he was intent on solving.
"So, Anastasia, tell me, how long have you been working at Random House?" Christian asked as he picked up his wine and swirled it around his glass.
What was this, a job interview?
"Oh…not long actually. I'm an intern. I am…or was…Jack Hyde's assistant editor. This was only my first week." Ana said blushing, not sure if she would still have a job come Monday.
"Some week" Christian said with a knowing grin, thinking of the merger.
"Yes, it was." Ana chuckled, "I almost turned it down, you know."
Christian furrowed his brow and tilted his head in curiosity, "Why? Random House is one on the biggest publishing houses in the world."
Ana bit her bottom lip out of habit, when she noticed his eyes darken and she quickly released it.
"Well, I was a bit intimidated. I've lived in Seattle all my life, and well this is an entirely different continent. It was a pretty big decision." Ana said as she sipped her wine.
Christian nodded and added, "Fear of the unknown."
"I suppose it was; though between my insatiable curiosity and my domineering roommate, Kate, I accepted the position and before I knew it, I was arriving at Heathrow."
The corner of Christian's lips curved up into a smirk, at her words.
"Some people say 'curiosity killed the cat'; though personally, I think a little curiosity is a good thing."
Ana raised her glass to his with a small smile, "I agree. Here's to being curious."
A moment later, their dinner arrived, as Christian had pre-ordered it. Filet Mignon with a mushroom red wine reduction, and roasted potatoes.
"So, Christian, tell me about yourself. What do you like to do for fun?" Ana asked as she cut into her steak.
"I have quite a few…hobbies." He said with a smirk as he watched here carefully.
"Such as?" she prodded.
"Curious?" he challenged raising an eyebrow at her, knowing she would say yes.
Ana bit her lip again and blushed, "Very."
His nostrils flared as he exhaled sharply, and signaled the waiter for the bill.
"Let's get out of here." He said as he stood and held out his hand to her.
She stared at it for a moment, then finished her wine in one large gulp before she stood and placed her hand in his.