By the time the elevator delivers me back to the 10th floor, my breathing has returned to normal and I'm starting to feel a little more relaxed. I'm fairly confident Andrea won't say anything – she has signed away her right to gossip with her NDA. And if I'm to look forward to regular visits, she'll be an important ally. Let's hope so anyway.
I check my watch – I have five minutes left, should be just enough time to dash to the washroom and tidy up. I'm feeling a little disheveled, my lips feels swollen and I suspect my eyes look a little too bright for someone who's supposed to have just been out for a sandwich.
I duck into the restroom and barrel straight into Darcy and Amanda. Crap. Darcy's face betrays a flash of guilt like I caught her with her fingers in the cookie jar and my face glows. They were talking about me.
I lift the corners of my mouth in a semblance of a smile. "Hey. Where did you guys end up?" I ask, figuring it's best to get in first. Darcy launches into a long and convoluted tale describing how they found a cute deli just around the corner, thanks largely it would seem to her outstanding natural talent for navigation. I smile, nod and show appreciation in what I hope are the right places as I tidy my hair and reapply a little lip gloss. At least her pre-occupation with the story stalls any further awkward questions until we head back to the training room.
"So what was the deal with your card Ana?" Amanda asks as we re-enter the room.
I shrug and hold my hands up in an 'I don't have a clue' expression. "Malfunction the guy said. It's working now." No word of a lie.
"You had to go to the twentieth floor though right – did you see him?" Her voice drops to a whisper as we find our seats. I screw my nose at her, whispering back "He was in his office". He certainly was. She commiserates with a quick smile. Darcy eyes us speculatively. I have no idea what she's thinking, but I fear it's not nice.
"The entire third, fourth and fifth floors are occupied by the finance teams and beyond that there's teams of procurement specialists, legal, property management, research and development, telecommunications, ICT, marketing, public relations and finally, security and the executives right up on the twentieth floor". Miranda's impossibly high stilettos clip away in front of us as we follow her on the grand tour around the floors of Grey House. I'm overwhelmed by the magnitude of Christian's business accomplishments as I see the hundreds upon hundreds of professional people hard at work around the building. All employed by him. Again I wonder why someone who has achieved so much is interested in me. How can I hold someone like him? The thought depresses me.
"We'll stop off briefly on the twentieth floor now. I don't expect many of you will be called upon to visit the executive offices, but you may well be required to report to the security suite at some point" Miranda trills as she calls for an elevator. Yeah, some of us more than others. I smile to myself at the thought.
Standing in the elevator I covertly watch the others. Darcy rubs her lips together and puts her hand to her throat. What is she doing? Oh, I see. She is furtively undoing the top few buttons of her shirt to reveal a little more cleavage. I narrow my eyes and turn my attention to Amanda; she's smoothing her hair and Andy is fiddling with his tie. Even the upright Miranda is discretely checking her pristine appearance in the mirrored elevator walls. Only Dex and Tyler, the other new intern, don't feel the compulsion to make some last minute enhancement to their appearance. Inwardly I roll my eyes. Jeez, what is with everyone?
As we reach the twentieth floor we are shepherded through the doorway to the side of the elevators and into another vast, bright lobby area that I haven't seen before. The security suite is large – no doubt a reflection of Christian's dubious obsession with information gathering. Behind the front desk I see legions of men and women in sharp suits checking screens. Probably invading someone's privacy – possibly mine again I think bleakly as I survey the scene in front of me.
"Hey Ana, we missed you at lunchtime. Everything ok?" I look around and realize that the rest of the group has moved over to the front desk leaving Dex and I alone. Dex is scanning my face anxiously. And he's standing far too close.
"Yeah, thanks Dex, fine. I guess I'm a little overwhelmed by all of this" I smile at him and wave ineffectually towards the sharp suits whilst simultaneously trying to put a little distance between us.
I'm rewarded with a wide grin. "that's good to know. Darcy thought…" he trails off looking confused, clearly having second thoughts about revealing whatever it was Darcy had thought. I raise my eyebrows at him quizzically, encouraging him to continue, although I'm not sure I want to know. Dex clears his throat and looks a little uncomfortable. "Er…so we were saying we should celebrate our first day with a drink tonight. There's a bar across the road looks ok. You in?"
"I have to head off tonight, but another night ok?" I smile to take the edge off the refusal. I must keep them at a distance, not only to prevent them from finding out too soon, but also so that they don't think I've held out on them. He smiles and shrugs. "Sure Ana, I'll hold you to that".
Dex falls into step beside me as we follow the others, heading out of the security suite towards the executive lobby.
I hear Christian before I see him. His voice carries clearly across the lobby sounding tight with barely suppressed anger. He is standing in the lobby glowering at Olivia, who sitting at her desk her hands tussling with a bundle of papers, her face glowing. Christian looks directly at me and his face softens for a fraction of a second before he throws Olivia a look of pure disgust, and strides towards us. My stomach clenches in fear. Crap.
"Miss Field. These are the new interns I assume?" he asks politely. Miranda gives him a simpering smile and softens her voice. "Yes Sir. May I introduce Tyler Shaw, Amanda Hartley, Andy Taylor, Darcy Pendleton, Dexter Parker and Anastasia Steele?" Christian extends his hand in a well practiced move, moving down the line to meet all of us. I am mesmerized by the sight of Christian's arm. I can see the solid muscles in his arm flex with each handshake, vividly reminding me of the way they flex as he thrusts into me. I shake my head to clear the thought - Get a grip Steele.
"Mr Grey" Darcy purrs "Delighted to meet you finally. My mother asked me to pass on her regards to Dr Trevelyan-Grey when I ran into you".
"I'll be sure to tell her to stop by your desk next time she visits so that you can do that yourself Miss Pendleton" said Christian wryly. Darcy looks embarrassed at the brush off.
He reaches me and pauses. "Miss Steele. A pleasure to see you again" he says softly, and ignoring my proffered hand, leans forward to chastely kiss my cheek, his lips softly brushing my ear. I gasp at the contact, sensing the stunned reaction of the others. "Mr Grey, Sir." My voice sounds fragile even to me. He gazes at me for a fraction too long, his expression inscrutable before turning to Miranda.
"So..what is next in the programme Miss Field?".
Miranda looks startled by the question. I suspect she's still in shock at the way he greeted me. "As you know Sir, GEH has just acquired a large manufacturing plant outside Portland and the new acquisition team will be working over there. We need the new interns to go along with the team tomorrow to learn the ropes." Unfortunate turn of phrase. I suppress an inappropriate snigger and look at the floor. I feel Christian's steely gaze return to me momentarily before he frowns and looks out of the window. It's a long drive for one day" he sounds agitated.
"It is, yes Sir. I haven't raised this with the group yet, but we were going to recommend an overnight trip in order to make the best use of time, if everyone is willing and able of course."
Dex grins broadly. "Wow, I can't speak for the rest of you guys but I'm willing and able. Sounds great, plus it will give us all the chance to do some employee bonding" he finishes cheerfully.
I can feel fury radiating from Christian even from this distance. I look up at him desperately through my eyelashes, willing him to stay calm. Why did he have to say that? Christian takes a step towards Dex. "Will it now Mr Parker?" he utters darkly.
Dex is still grinning broadly, oblivious to the rage he has invoked. Jeez, for a clever guy, he's dense.
Christian takes a deep breath. "I'm planning a trip down there myself this week" he looks directly at me "- so I expect I will see you there. Working hard" the inflection is subtle but laced with meaning and I feel my groin pulse in eager anticipation.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Andrea rise from her seat and walk through the lobby towards Christian. "Forgive me for interrupting Mr Grey, but Harvey Granger is on the line for you. Will you take the call?" She looks towards us apologetically and her eyes widen with recognition as she sees me. Shit.
Christian turns his head slowly to face her and raises a censorious eyebrow. Andrea stills and quickly recovers her composure. Ah, discrete Andrea. "I will ask Mr Granger to hold Sir" she mutters before turning on her heel and heading back to her desk.
He nods curtly to dismiss us and I trail behind the others towards the elevators.
"Bonding?" Christian whispers lasciviously, leaning in to my ear so only I could hear him. His hands grip my hips for just a moment, pressing into me from behind and then lets me go. I stand, breathless, feeling a heat spread through my whole body. I look quickly at the others, but they all have their backs to us and don't appear to have noticed a thing.
Looks like my first business trip away will be an invigorating experience I think to myself as I try to suppress my smile.