A/N: All FSOG characters are owned by E.L. James and Crossfire characters are owned by Sylvia Day. Story Plot belongs to me.

Chapter Six: A New Life

New York during the Holiday Season was magical. There seemed to be a thread of intense energy that flowed through the city. This energy kept Ana going as she moved into her new apartment and settled into her job as Vice-President of Cross Publishing, Inc. or CPI, as Gideon called it. She replaced the retiring V.P. who decided that thirty-four years in the publishing business was enough and he was ready to retire to a nice sunny tropical island with his wife. Ana, being well-trained by Rachel stepped easily into the role of V.P. She answered only to the President of CPI, Dalton Kemper and of course the CEO of Cross Industries, Gideon Cross. By Christmas she was established as a fireball of energy that knew her business and no one crossed her or questioned her decisions. She worked with editing and procuring new and exciting authors. She was even able to lure some established authors from their publishing home to sign with CPI. Gideon sat back and enjoyed his good fortune of having Anastasia Steele handed over to him on a silver platter.

Ana made friends at work and in her building. She didn't stay home crying in her hot tea over Christian Grey and leaving Seattle. Her new friends and Gideon kept her busy. She enjoyed nights out with the ladies, nice dinners with Gideon, and she enjoyed that she could get the best seats for Broadway Shows with her connections to Cross Industries. Her other love was Central Park. There she could walk or do her jogging. She also took trips to Rockefeller Center for ice skating and when she was told about The Riverdale Equestrian Center she went horseback riding when she could schedule it into her life. In New York City, Ana Steele found herself. She was a strong, independent woman who was succeeding in her career but there was one problem. Sleep did not come easy for her. She spent most of her free nights at home reading trying to avoid her bed and those horrible dreams that began to plague her when she moved. She would wake up in a cold sweat and crying. The dream was the same one every night. He was coming for her. He took her away from her home and kept her tied to a bed in a windowless room. She would awaken when she heard the sound of flogger hitting and marking her skin. Ana lived on caffeine, pure endurance and ambition to make up for her loss of sleep!

Christmas came and went and everyone's attention went the New Year's Eve. Ana flew back to Seattle for a few days to celebrate Christmas with Kate and Ray, and then went to Savannah to see her mother and Bob. She returned to New York City the day before New Year's Eve to have Gideon meet her at Kennedy. She offered her cheek to him for a friendly kiss and let him lead her to the awaiting limousine.

"Did you have a pleasant flight?" Gideon asked as they sped through New York traffic.

"Yes, I did and thank you Gideon for the use of your jet." She sat back glad to be back in her adopted hometown. She loved New York City! "It was wonderful to see Kate and Elliot and of course seeing Dad is always special. Mom and Bob were well and I think I might have her talked into visiting me in the spring."

Gideon reached over and took her hand. "You have unlimited access to the jet if you want to fly her up here."

"The perks that come with this job!" She teased. "You do treat your employees very well."

"I try." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. "Are you too tired for dinner tonight?"

"Actually, I am exhausted. However, why don't you join me for a home-cooked meal? It won't be anything fancy, but it will be good." She smiled at this dark haired, blue-eyed god that seemed to have an interest in her. He took her out for dinners and she accompanied him to industry and charity dinners, but he never tried to take her to bed even though he flirted with her. She talked to Rachel about that and was told that she had been placed in his "friends" category. Ana accepted this position since she was more interested in her career than having another relationship with a super-rich hot CEO. She didn't have the time to cater to any man's whims and from her experience with Christian Grey, these billionaires were high-maintenance.

"I tell you what, I will order food in for us then you don't have to cook. You can just relax."

"Chinese?" She asked more than interested in his idea.

"Whatever my girl wants." Gideon said with a smile. His intense blue eyes looked over her. He did consider her his girl. He had kept himself under control around her because she was still getting over Grey and getting accustomed to her new life in New York. For now, she was in

his"friends" category but he felt soon she would be more. She wouldn't go into the "fucking file" as Rachel called his fuck buddies, but she would be his girlfriend. The thought shocked him, because he had never wanted a girlfriend or relationship with any woman after his ill-fated engagement to Corrine. But, there was something special about Anastasia Steele. She made him happy with a smile. Her touch calmed his anger. She could make him laugh with her stories from her childhood thru to her life in college with the tenacious Kate Kavanagh. He also found her very beautiful and damn sexy. He was attracted to her delicate features such as her raspberry colored lips, and that pert little nose, but her eyes were amazing, blue, a sky blue that took his breath away when he stared into them. He also loved her legs when she wore those slim, tight pencil skirts with her thigh high stockings. He knew they were thigh highs because he had seen the garter straps one day when she sat down and her skirt rode to high up her thigh. He nearly combusted with want for her. Stockings and garters were his downfall! He leaned into her. "Chinese it is." His lips were so close to hers and it was tempting to capture her mouth and kiss her into next week. He backed away. "We are here."

Ana took a deep breath to steady her heart. He was almost kissing her and that frightened her. She was still more concern about her career than starting a relationship with any man including Gideon Cross. She wanted to concentrate on their business relationship. She had to prove to people that she got her position on her merits and not because she was fucking the boss. As she got out of the car she thanked the stars that he backed off. She didn't know if she could resist him. He was so handsome and Lord, he was built. She guessed him to be over six foot three and his body was smoking with broad shoulders, wide muscular chest that trimmed down to narrow hips and a firm muscular ass. When he held her for photo opportunities she had felt his thickly muscled arms. She liked how he walked with such confidence with those long legs. Everything about Gideon screamed sex and orgasm. His mouth was more than kissable, and those blue eyes lined with heavy, thick, and long eyelashes promised paradise on earth in his bed. She had to

admit to herself that she longed to lace her fingers through his long black hair and pull his face down to kiss him hungrily. She shook that thought off as he took her hand and led her into her apartment building that he happened to own. He took her keys and they gained entrance into the secure building and they both nodded at the front desk attendants as they made their way to the elevators.

"Angus will bring us our food." He offered as they rode up alone in the elevator.

"Thank you again, Gideon." She said looking ahead. She felt the electricity flowing between them. She had to smile. This was very similar to Christian. What was it about elevators and the opposite sex? She had to calm her breathing and worked to not to fidget.

Gideon looked over and down at her. She barely came to his shoulders even in heels. He fought the urge to push her against the elevator wall and ravish her with his mouth. She even smelled like heaven. She was fresh and natural from her womanly scent to her minimal makeup. Ana Steele did not need cosmetics to be pretty, she was a natural beauty.

"I have a few New Year's Eve parties to attend this year. I know it is late notice, but could you accompany me if you don't have other plans?" He asked. His hands were folded behind his back to keep him from touching her.

"I have no plans for New Year's Eve except maybe the building's party. Actually, I was going to bring home some manuscripts and watch the New Year's Rockin' Eve then head off to bed." She confessed. It sounded sad to her also.

"Ana, you are in New York City on New Year's Eve, you should be at Time's Square yelling like the crazy tourists who come to celebrate the New Year."

"I would rather watch it on TV and forego the crowds and the cold." She laughed.

"I have three parties to make an appearance at that evening, and then we can go back to my place and watch the ball drop from my balcony if you wish."

"I would like that." She said lowly.

"And, if you want, I have extra guestrooms that you can use. I promise to be a gentleman. Your honor is safe with me." Trying to sound like an honorable and chivalrous man made him want to laugh out loud. His reputation was to fuck and run. He never slept with a woman more than a couple of times in fear that they would see their physical relationship as something more. He had never had a sexual relationship in his penthouse either. He had a separate place for his nocturnal sexual activities in a hotel that he owned. "Will you stay with me, Ana?"

"Yes, Gideon, I would like to spend New Year's Eve with you."