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Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot of this story.


Chapter 4

Christian's POV

Today has been the single most exciting day of my life. It didn't start off that way though. I was at work, as usual, responding to emails, making phone calls, and staring off into space.

The nightmares had come again last night. They were more vivid. More… real.

"Mr. Grey?" A sharp knock sounds across my office. Fuck.

"Enter." I call coldly. The door opens and Andrea enters.

"Sir, the interns are to take a tour of the building this morning. Miss Benson has requested that they visit between," She trails off and checks her iPad to confirm. I watch her every movement, contemplating my answer, "10:25 and 10:45. Would you like to accept or reject? Sir." She adds quickly.

Inwardly, I smirk. Andrea has been good to me for years, but I am not in the mood to meet a handful of arrogant brats from the university. "Reject." I reply almost instantaneously.

She nods. "Yes, sir."

"Anything else, Andrea?"

"Sir, Miss Bailey would like to confirm that you will be at the meeting today at 2?"

"Yes. And tell Ros I expect a full report on the shipments. That will be all." I bark.

"Yes Mr. Grey." Andrea dips her head and strides out of the room. The door shuts with a click and I sigh, feeling strangely weary.

The morning passes as I answer emails. So many emails. Shipping, ordering, purchases, individual emails to and fro, and junk. One particular email stands out to me and I click hesitantly.

The subject line reads "Apology from the WSU Staff". A grim scoff escapes my mouth as I read over the pitiful excuse of an apology from WSU for sending their tenacious Miss Kavanagh to interview me. She had crossed the line in so many ways with that interview. I replay the memory in my tortured mind.


"Have you had to sacrifice a family life for your work? And was it difficult?" Asked the tenacious Miss Kavanagh.

I stiffened. What a probing question. I can definitely see that the apple does not fall far from the tree. "No, I have a family. I have a brother and a sister, and two loving parents. I'm not quite interested in extending my family beyond that." There. That should give her obstinate head something to think about. Miss Kavanagh is a slave driver, not unlike me. I bet she doesn't have a submissive bone in her body.

Mm. Submissive. I do need another one. It's been months since Susannah, and I should probably see Elena about this. I'm jarred out of my heated thoughts by another inquiry.

"Why not?" Asks the ever-persistent Miss Kavanagh. I bristle with anger, struggling to hold it down.

"Because, Miss Kavanagh, if you have not noticed, I am a 27 year old man with an exceedingly sizeable company to run. As CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc., I am subjected to a rather stressful lifestyle. I am not looking for someone to disrupt my personal time, as I do not get a copious amount, and I am not willing to share this lifestyle with anyone." I snap. My patience is wearing thin and I am going to be late to my next meeting. Damn this infuriatingly assertive woman.

Katherine Kavanagh jots down something on her note pad and looks up at me with confident green eyes. I hold her gaze, unwilling to back down. She looks away first and I grin at myself inwardly in triumph. I keep my cool composure, impatiently waiting for her to move on.

"Are you gay, Mr. Grey?"

What the fuck?

I can feel myself toughen and my muscles become rigid. I harden my eyes as she looks up at me. My cool composure is gone and I. Have. Had it.

"Andrea!" I bark, startling the strawberry blonde before me. She gets up and the door swings open as Andrea bustles in, crisp as ever. "Please show Miss Kavanagh to the exit promptly. I have a meeting shortly, and I expect you to attend."

"Yes sir." Responds Andrea immediately.

"Mr. Grey, we haven't finished yet." Says Katherine as she looks at me collectedly. I narrow my eyes at her.

"Collect your things, Miss Kavanagh. You have overstayed your welcome here, but I suspect you will write a wonderful article." I remark sarcastically. Her eyes flare dangerously at me, but I don't give a fuck. This woman has crossed the fucking line.

"Andrea, please see to it that Miss Kavanagh's dean is informed of a decrease in funds from my end. The only branch of the university that shall receive any more donations shall be the Environmental Sciences branch. In addition, please report to the school that I will not be attending this year's commencement ceremony." That'll show her.

"Of course, Mr. Grey." Says Andrea. Her face is calm, but her eyes are panicked and curious.

I hear a sharp intake of breath, so quiet. But I hear it. I suppose it's from years of fine-tuning my body. "You can't do that." Whispers the tenacious Miss Kavanagh.

"Oh, but I can. And I have. I doubt that you are in the position to tell me what to do Miss Kavanagh. Good day." With a satisfied smirk, I turn my back to the two ladies in the room and gaze out the window, pleased with my course of action.

Katherine Kavanagh takes another sharp breath, only audible to me and I hear rustling as everything is stuffed into her overly large purse. She strides behind Andrea, and I watch from the corner of my eye.

"You are unworthy of this success and ungrateful. Someday, you'll get what is coming to you. And for the record, there will be no mention of you in this article. Good day, Mr. Grey." The door clicks shut once again. Normally, I'd have banned whoever said that to me from the building and considered taking them across my knee. But Miss Kavanagh was different.

I liked that she was offended by my response to her tiny article and I was happy with what she had lead me to. The ceremony would have been bland any way. This just gave me an excuse to skip it. This experience was actually… refreshing.

Glancing at my watch, I take a sharp breath. "Shit." I exclaim. I'm nearly late to my own meeting. I bound out the door and it slams shut.


The memory is one that I won't forget in a long while, even though it's been a week or so. For now, I try to focus on their desperate apology, but I feel like toying with them for a while. I don't respond right away, but when I do, I continue with my decision to support only the Environmental Sciences branch. They have to take up my offer because it's better than nothing. And they know that.

It's 12:45 when I look at the clock and I get up, feeling rather hungry. I stride out of my office and note that the desk is taken over by Olivia. Andrea must be on her lunch break. She's startled to see me, but gives me a quick flirtatious smile. Calm yourself, sweetheart. It's just a face. There is sooo much more underneath this fucked-upness. Nevertheless, I give her my heart-stopping patented smile and head for the elevator, not waiting or caring for her reaction.

I walk to the car and nod at Taylor who opens my door. He climbs into the driver seat after closing my door and looks at me.

"Where to, sir?"

"Jack's Fish Spot." I say sharply, checking my phone. The university has responded, accepting my offer. I grin despite myself and we're there within 10 minutes. I get out of the car and straighten my suit, waiting for my supposed date. Mother's friends are trying to set me up again. This week, it's Ruby Fallon, one of my close business associates' daughter. She's a perky blonde. Way too energetic for my tastes. Still, I owe her father a favor.

I wince as I hear her blabber from a mile away. Her driver escorts her to me and she beams. She's wearing an elegant black dress.

"Hello Christian. Shall we?" She asks animatedly. At least someone's in a fucking good mood.

"We shall." I reply. She loops her arm through mine and I stiffen at the unexpected contact. Fuck. Why are all the women in my life so dynamic?

She doesn't notice my posture as we tread in to the airy space of restaurant. We're immediately whisked away by a waiter to a private booth where an ice bucket sits waiting, with a bottle of wine inside. We sit across from one another.

"Wine?" I offer.

"Please." She responds smoothly. I pop the cork and pour some into her glass. Pinot Grigio. Not bad. She takes a sip and looks at me. "So Christian. Are you taking anyone to the benefit?"

Damn, she cuts straight to the point. "No." I respond curtly. I'm staring down at the menu, interested enough. She drops the topic, surprisingly.

"Alright. Well, have you seen Porschia recently? She has the most gorgeous hair extensions and-," Ah here it is, the blab fest of Ruby Fallon. I zone out and signal the waiter, interrupting our one-sided conversation.

"I'll have the Dungeness crab with a side of garlic fries." I remark. The waiter nods and stares pointedly at Ruby.

"And you, madam?" He questions.

"Oh, anything you have that doesn't contain gluten, soy, or wheat." She says sweetly. I raise my eyebrows at her. "Oh, it's this new diet I'm trying. It's so fabulous!" She squeals, clapping her hands. She is definitely bipolar.

"Right." The waiter takes our menus and exits hurriedly, wanting to be away from the craziness. I don't blame him. Ruby continues to blabber and I'm not listening once again. My thoughts about a deal in Taiwan are interrupted by the clearest, most beautiful sound I have ever heard. A laugh.

I turn my head in the direction of the sound and stop. My breath hitches and I feel myself harden. Wow. Haven't felt this in awhile.

A beautiful woman is laughing at something inaudible.

I stare her down, looking from her long, smooth legs to her defined waist and plump breasts. Her hands are crossed across her chest and she is wearing a curve-hugging dress. Very flattering. My friend downstairs twitches. Dammit, Grey. Her eyes open and I'm mesmerized. Transfixed. The clearest, most baby blue eyes stare out the window and long brown hair sweeps to her shoulders, curling at the edges lightly. I now have a very uncomfortable tent in my pants. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

"Excuse me a moment." I mutter, heading to the restroom. I lock the door and take a deep breath, looking in the mirror. Fucked up grey eyes stare back. Stop it Grey. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. You are not some horny 14 year old. I try to think of anything but those eyes as I calm down, mentally and physically. Straightening up, I give my tie a tug and stare. Stop. It.

I head back outside to see that our food has arrived. Surprisingly, Ruby is chatting up our waiter. I sit down and he bows his head, embarrassed.

"Enjoy the food, sir." He scurries away. Ruby has actually found something to eat and we both dig in, though through the consistent blabber, I sneak glances at the mystery girl. Who is she? Why is she doing this to me?

I stare at her company and my face immediately hardens. She's facing a blonde woman whose back is to me, but I couldn't care less. What I care about is the fact that she is fucking talking to a guy. He's her age, handsome, and carefree.

Everything I'm not. Fuck everything. Why do I feel like this? I don't even know her. My eyes roughen as I see her whisper something to him and giggle. He laughs and orders something. I growl under my breath. The emotionless pit in my stomach is boiling with anger and I imagine myself walking up and punching the fucker's nose.

"Christian? Are you okay?" Asks Ruby, exasperating as ever. I look her over with a calm gaze and she blushes. "I'll be right back." She stands up and heads to the restroom. Fine by me.

I return to intently staring at the girl for the next half an hour. Holy fuck. She's eating. I watch her full lips move and she closes her eyes and tilts her head back, letting out a moan. I can't hear it, but fuck. It does things to me. She eats so sensually. I'm gulping down some wine to moisten my raspy mouth at this point. What the fuck?

Ruby's not back, but I couldn't care less. She's probably hooking up with the waiter. It would explain why he isn't back to refill my glass of wine. The girl gets up.

Suddenly, everything slows down.

She's falling and falling and fuck.

The guy gets her. He holds her up, longer than necessary, his hand at the small of her back. I stiffen and glare daggers at him. He doesn't notice. She murmurs something to him and he murmurs back. The blonde girl seems to be telling them something. Her back is still to me. I watch intently. My stomach is suddenly swirling insanely with jealousy, anger, and hatred. The feelings are so… foreign.

They reluctantly let go of each other and the two blondes exit the restaurant first. The unidentified girl blushes scarlet and bites her lip with a shy smile before exiting the place.

Whoa. My dick is throbbing. I've never felt that attracted to anyone before. The empty void is now aching. I've forgotten about work, my nightmares, everything. My heart is beating a crazy tattoo and I know that I can never forget that moment ever again. That lip bite. I'd like to bite that lip. And her skin… so smooth. I wonder if it would change color under a plaited leather crop? Fuck. There's a tent in my pants again and I shift uncomfortably to hide it.

Ruby comes out from the restroom, looking flustered and warm. "Shall we go?" She asks breathily. Definitely hooked up. The thought kills my boner.

"Let's." With that, I hustle her out of the restaurant and nonchalantly hand her off to her driver. Before Taylor approaches me, I look around.

My mystery brunette is nowhere to be found. But I'll find her. I'll track her to the ends of the earth if I must. That's right.

Because she's mine.


Love possessive Christian. Don't worry, they'll meet soon, so hang in there! Thoughts? ~ HA