APOV
"Good Morning, Becca." I greet her when I arrive at the receptionist desk. "Wow, you changed your hair! It looks great!"
Now I wont be the only brunette.
"Thanks. I wanted to try something different." She says with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.
Okay?
The morning is going smoothly, but receptionist work is really boring. I try to control my yawn, but it's useless.
I notice a delivery man walk in with a beautiful bouquet of pink roses so I sit up straight and greet him when he arrives at the reception desk.
"Hello, welcome to GEH. May I help you?"
"Anastasia Steele." His bored voice asks.
"Um... Yes, that's me."
"Sign here, please." He trusts a clipboard toward me.
I sign my name and he hands me the beautiful bouquet. Wow! But who-
"Who are they from, Ana?" Why does that sound so bitchy?
I'm not sure, probably from my parents to congratulate me on my first job. I look through the bouquet and find the card attached.
~Anastasia-
Say Yes.
-Christian~
"Um..." Shit, what do I tell her? "Just an acquaintance." It's not a lie.
"Hump" She flips her hair and goes back to work.
What is her problem?
~..~..~
During my lunch break I head up to see Mr. I-can't-take-no-for-an-answer-Grey.
~DING~
I walk up to Andrea's desk.
"Hi, Andrea. Is he in there?" I point to his door.
"Yes. Let me just see if he's available."
I'm a little surprised she doesn't ask if I have an appointment, but he probably told her if I show up to allow me access. I wouldn't put it passed him.
"Mr. Grey," Andrea says through her phone. "I have Anastasia Steele from reception here to see you. Are you available?"
Before she can finish her sentence, he opens his door wide and smiles his gorgeous megawatt smile at me.
"Miss Steele." He purrs my name. "Please, come in."
I walk towards him so I can enter his office.
"Andrea, hold all my calls, and no interruptions." He says to her without taking his eyes off of me.
He steps to the side to allow me to walk into his office first then follows me in.
"Have a seat, Anastasia."
I sit in front of his desk as he sits behind.
"What can I do for you?" He asks with that gorgeous smile still on his face. "Have you decided?"
"Mr. Grey, I have already given you my answer multiple times. Please. I'm asking you nicely to stop bothering me."
His smile is no longer there.
"Anastasia, it's just dinner. One meal." He says frustrated. "I really don't see the big deal. You have to eat. Why can't we eat together?"
"Because, it's just not right."
"Plenty of people meet at work and become a couple. I'm just asking for one date."
"Yes, but they are more than likely co-workers not employee/employer."
He is just looking at me. His elbow is resting on his chair's armrest, his finger covering his mouth. It's very distracting.
After awhile he moves his finger and says, "You know you want to say yes, Anastasia."
"I don't date."
"Good! Neither do I."
Now I'm just confused.
"But, you're asking me out on a date?"
"It's a first for me." He laughs. "I don't do the girlfriend thing, but I want to get to know you. We can do that over dinner."
"So this is about sex?" That must be the reason behind his I don't do the girlfriend/date thing. "Trust me, Mr. Grey, you've got the wrong girl."
"What? Who said anything about sex? I thought we were talking about dinner." He asks, then in a husky voice, he continues, "Although, I wouldn't be one to say no to the sex."
His eyes darken, causing me to I shift in my seat and cross my legs, and he smirks seeing this.
"Well, you don't date. You don't do the girlfriend thing. You're obviously not gay. A man like you," I blush as I explain. "What else is there besides a playboy? You can obviously have anyone you want. Why waste your time with me?" I shake my head not understanding.
"It's complicated. And I don't waste time. I want you, Anastasia. Just dinner. No sex." He says with a smirk.
I sigh coming to the conclusion that he wont stop asking unless I say yes.
"You're not going to give up until I agree, are you?"
"I'm use to getting what I want."
"That must get pretty boring." He smirks at my response.
Oh, what the hell, you only live once, right? And it's only a date, one date.
"Okay." I agree.
"Okay?"
"Okay to dinner."
His face lights up. "Really?"
"Yes. However, I have two conditions."
"Of course."
"You don't bother me until the date."
"And your other condition Anastasia?" I have a feeling he wont comply with that condition.
"Kate and Elliot join us."
It's always good to have chaperones, right?
"What?" He says like that's ridiculous. "No!"
"Okay." I calmly get up and head to his office door to leave.
"Wait."
I stop and turn around, waiting for him to continue.
"When?"
I smile.
~..~..~
Walking out of his office and back to the elevator, so I can't go back to work, I can't believe I just agreed to have dinner with my boss!
What was I thinking?!
My phone buzzes so I check to see I have a text from an unknown number.
I look forward to having dinner with you Anastasia. -C
Of course he'd have my number. Hmmm... No email this time, Mr. Grey?
Along with Kate and Elliot, Mr. Grey. -A
Of course. -C
I'll let Kate know. -A
I guess I have no choice but to inform Elliot. -C
You do that. -A
I believe you're toying with me, Anastasia. -C
I believe that you are breaking one of my conditions, Mr. Grey. -A
I have a condition of my own. -C
We've already agreed, so you can't do that. -A
Indulge me. -C
Enlighten me then. -A
You call me Christian -C
Christian -A
On our date. Smartass -C
~DING~
I put my phone away and walk out of the elevator grinning.
~..~..~
CPOV
I'm a natural at this Hearts and Flowers bullshit!
I can't stop smiling. Anastasia has finally agreed to go to dinner with me.
It fucking sucks we have to bring my brother and her roommate, but I can work with that.
"I don't date." I wonder what she meant by that. I don't date either but surely she's not into-
~Ping!~
I have an email alert from Elena.
Shit! I forgot about her.
.
To: Christian Grey
From: Elena Lincoln
Subject: New Bottoms
Christian, darling, I'm sending you the list of all my new bottoms for you to look at.
Don't mind those that are not to your specific tastes.
Let me know if one suits your needs.
#Attachments
Yours,
Elena
Elena Lincoln, Esclava Salons
.
Well, if this doesn't work out well with Anastasia...
I open the attachments, and- Is that?
Holy Shit!
