A/N: I want to give a shout out for a new friend/reader who has captured a typo for me and let me know. Thanks Bronze Goddess, you rock, AS USUAL :) For any that don't know who she is, her stuff is the sh!t! PLEASE feel free (and/or obligated) to read her story: s/9008461/1/Paging-Dr-Steele
The next day we pull up to SIP and Stevenson steps out of the driver's seat and opens the back door for me, extending a hand to help me step out of the car. I brush my hands down my pencil dress, relieving it from the wrinkles created as I sat during the ride. I had chosen something for the day that I thought would seem a bit older for me, to give me the airs of a older woman, but instead, it seems the black dress with the red kick panels made me feel more Black Widow then Wall Street. Though, if I thought about it, I was going to be hunting prey, so maybe the dress was more suitable. The black dress and I look up at the building in front of us and I grimaced.
No, there is nothing wrong with the building, but it helps me build the persona I will be wearing as I enter the building. Stevenson extends his elbow to me, and I reach for it. He quietly escorts me casually to the front door, opening it to allow me entrance, tipping his hat for me as I pass him. I smiled inside my mind, knowing that he loves to play a part sometimes too. I give him a slight nod, and he walks back to the vehicle as I enter.
"Mrs. Darqlee?" I look up slowly at the call of my married name to see a middle aged woman approach me. "I am Elizabeth Morgan." She holds her hand out to greet me, but I look down my nose at it, and then scan around the room slowly.
"I was told I would be able to look around without having a... guard dog follow me," I said very coolly my eyes slowly measuring her. My eyes hesitant at random spots on her body, allowing me a mere second or two to frown. It makes her nervous, and I know she is wondering what I have seen that was displeasing. Elizabeth lowered her hand, brushing them on her hips before nodding uncomfortably.
"Of course, of course. Yes, you may. I can be nearby to... answer any questions you may have."
"Oh, I highly doubt that," I said in a huff, raising my hand to shoo her away like she was a pesky insect. "Questions I tend to pose leave many stammering, so I have learned to observe and not ask."
"Yes. Right. Well then, I will leave you to explore then." Elizabeth was already stammering and I was quite glad I had said as much. There is just one more thing that could be said to excuse her away from me.
"Thank you, Elisa. I think I will begin to explore." I saw the woman make a move to correct me, and then she realized that if I didn't know her name, she couldn't get called to the main office.
After about fifteen minutes, I found my way to the area Jack Hyde's office was in. I paused at the water cooler, preparing a cup.
"Ana, I need you to get me summaries on these manuscripts. First chapters only is fine." I turn around, seeing Mr. Jack Hyde and the young Miss Anastasia Steele. She is a quiet beauty and very very much to my brother's tastes. Dark brown hair, pulled up into a simple chignon, large, bright blue eyes, and a small, simple "quietly elegant" figure. What seems a bit amazing is the fact that the young woman has a unique, natural beauty, and wears very little make-up. Or maybe she wears make-up to make her look more natural? Either way, it works extremely well for her, and I find I am slightly jealous. I watch Mr. Hyde for a few minutes and know instantly about him... Yeah, I don't need to be here all day to figure him out. I can tell by the way he leans over her as he talks.
I step closer to them, Ana seeing me first, Jack slowly noticing me, his eyes barely leaving Ana. At the angle he is leaning at, I could be quite sure that he just might be able to see down her blouse. Ana bristles uncomfortably, her shoulders trying to minutely move away from Jack. I've seen enough.
"Excuse me," I say, my tone cool and volume low. He looks up at me, and I catch his hand trying to "adjust" himself via his pocket. He smiles as his eye rove over my body. Suppressing a shudder, I bat my eyelashes at him.
"Yes? Hello," he says, drawing out the last "o" sound. He straightens up, and casually walks towards me. I can see Ana release a long, slow cleansing breath. "How may I help you today," he says, his words dripping with want.
"Mr..." I look around and behind him until I can see his door, which reads "Jack Hyde, Editor". "Hyde, is it?"
He smiled at me, taking a step closer to me. "Yes, that is correct." Egotistical pig. I smiled warmly back at him.
"I am here to observe and play nosy hen in the hen house today. I would like some company." My eyes watched him as he stood taller, and adjusted his belt. The political way to adjust a crotch now-a-days.
"I would be more then happy to assist you in this... endeavor," he sneered.
"Fabulous," I smiled, my eyes watching behind him as Anastasia seemed to release a held breath. If he wasn't near her, she can do her job unhindered I felt sorry for the kid and having to deal with this slime of humanity.
"Where can I show you first," he asked.
I grinned, my lips tweaking a bit more evilly and my eyes settled in his. "Oh, no. Not you. Heaven forbid I would have to stand and discuss anything more with you for another forty-five seconds. No. I think I will have Miss Steele escort me around."
His eyes turned cold, his smile evaporated. "I don't think so," he said in a harsh, low voice. "Miss Steele has gotten behind in her work, and since this is her first week, I know she doesn't know where anything is yet."
"I didn't ask your permission for her company." He glared at me through half hooded eyes. "Considering this is her first week, I highly doubt she is behind in her work. If she is, it's cause you are too lazy to do yours. No. Miss Steele will show me around."
"Oh we will see about that," he muttered as he turned, heading back to his office. I saw him get on the phone, but it didn't matter. I always get what I want.
"Miss Steele," She looked up at me, and then quickly joined me. "I need to thoroughly explore the company today," I said. She nodded quietly, and then proceeded to head out of Hyde's area. I followed her, and it wasn't long before we were far enough away from prying eyes.
During the next hour, Miss Steele showed me around, and together we learned a few things about the company, and in turn, I learned a few things about her. Very few things.
She was quiet, kept her head lowered, and her thoughts kept drifting away. Maybe Hyde was right when he said she was behind in her work. She did have intelligence, though. We discussed several books, mostly the 19th century British authors. Her demeanor changed as she talked about books shes read or is reading, and I had to smile, getting a glimpse of the girl my brother fell for. After two hours, we had seen everything we could have, and regretfully, I was going to have to let her head back to her desk.
"Anastasia, before you head back, I think there is something I should say to you." She looked up at me apprehensively and I smiled quietly, hoping to help her relax. "Listen, I know you are new here, and don't know many here yet... But I think that I should let you know, if you feel uncomfortable with someone's actions, or words... If they treat you as something other then a fellow employee, you really should report it to HR."
"He's not done... anything wrong," she said, biting her lower lip, her blue eyes looking down and to the side of us.
"No, maybe not in your eyes. How he was leaning over you, practically caging you to your desk... look, that is not only not healthy for a work environment but it's illegal."
"I will report him if it gets worse," she promised me. I am not a hundred percent sure I should put a lot of faith into that promise.
"Look, here is my card. I always have my cell phone. If you feel uncomfortable, or he's said something, or done something and you don't feel like it warrants talking to HR, you can always call me." I hand her my card, glad I keep some with me with my old married name. Best if no one knows I am a Grey, especially this girl. "If you want to just hang out and talk, too, you can. We could order pizza, grab some chick flicks and make a night of it."
She looks up at me and smiles. "That would be nice. I don't have many friends here yet."
We walk back to her office and I say my good-byes. As I leave the office, I swear I hear Jack Hyde's voice holler out for Anastasia, and I cringe. Enjoy your freedom now, mate. I can guarantee you won't have it for long.
As I leave the building, I see my limo waiting for me, Stevenson standing at the open door, ready to allow me to get in. I thank him as I get in, and sit down on the seat, Stevenson closing the door behind me. I look over to Taylor, who had been sitting patiently in the vehicle as I made my rounds of the office.
"Well," he said, watching me closely for any clue as to what I found, saw or heard.
"First, help me here, I feel stifled " I turn, letting him unbutton the top of my dress, unzipping it a quarter of the way down until I can breath and move my chest. "Damn things. I hate playing dress up. You owe me, Jason."
"I know. You can add it to the tab," he said grinning. "What did you find?"
"Tell me, does she believe all the people she meets are good at heart?" He looked at me a moment, and then a small smile formed on his lips as he nodded. "That could cause her a whole hell of a lot of problems," I said, my mind running over how it would make a security team work even harder trying to protect someone who doesn't believe evil exists in the world.
"Maybe, but Ma'am..." I look at him and shake my head, my teeth making a tsk tsk sound.
"Jason, for now, we are on level ground. Same agenda, same mission."
"Right, sorry." Taylor relaxed a hair, not much, but I have a thought that maybe now, after all these years with Christian, the man forgot how to relax. "Maybe, that part of her allowed her to see the Christian Grey that no one else sees."
I close me eyes, exhaling a long slow breath. I lean my head back and try to clear my thoughts. My skin crawled, the side effect of being near Jack Hyde. "You are probably correct on that."
