A/n: Hey folks. Here is another installment of Saving Christian, and the final installment for Part 1. I hope you all have enjoyed, be on the lookout for Part 2. Thanks a million!
Warnings: DD/lg story.
Kinsley got off the elevator, her hands full with a coffee tray as she flashed her brilliant smile across the hallway to Taylor, who returned the smile immediately. "Hey Jason," she said to the man, holding the coffee tray towards him, "I got you a coffee."
"Thank you, Miss Brouche," he plucked one from the tray watching as she gave the secretary - another new one - a small look, "this is Jane."
"She's different," Kinsley said after a moment, she wasn't like the last four blonde, tall beauties that graced the desk. She had short, cropped, light brown hair and wore a dress nearly as short. She's trying too hard, Kinsley thought after a moment, "can you tell Grey I'm here?"
"Was he expecting you?"
"Nah, he never is."
"Mr. Grey has a very busy schedule this week, he isn't taking visitors."
Kinsley lifted a small shoulder, and nodded towards the waiting room, "I'll wait."
Taylor followed Kinsley with his eyes watching her walk over across the hallway and place herself in a seat. This is new.
Kinsley crossed her legs in the seat, balancing the drink tray across her knee, hearing Jane call Christian, only hearing the one-sided conversation. "Mr. Grey you have a visitor. I know. Okay, I'll tell the-."
Taylor stepped forward, "tell him it's Miss Brouche," he said softly, interrupting her.
Kinsley glanced over, watching Jane look at him before clearing her throat, "it's a Miss Brouche?" The other girl went quiet, her face shading a moment before she gave a quick nod and, "okay!" Kinsley looked away before Jane looked at her, and settled back in her chair. Five seconds later Christian threw his office door open, looking around, Kinsley heard Jane point her out and then she felt it. His eyes.
It had been a while, but they were the same hungry eyes she had known since the first time she met him.
"Miss Brouche," he said softly, stepping towards her.
Kinsley glanced up, grinning, "I brought coffee." She said holding out the tray, "how are you, Grey?" She added once he took the tray, giving him a brief one-armed hug.
Christian's free arm lingered around her waist and he stared at her in shock, "uh, come on in." He added, nodding towards the open door. Then he glanced at Jane, "hold my calls."
"I always seem to interrupt at the worst times," Kinsley was saying as she slipped her jacket off, laying it over the back of the nearest chair at the table.
"Just contractual things," he closed the door behind him, putting the coffee tray on the tabletop and pulling one out to hand to her, "thank you for the coffee."
"You're welcome," she took the one he handed her, walking over to the windows and glancing down as she took a sip. Christian cleared his throat after a moment, causing her to look over, "Joseph got out yesterday."
"Oh, how is he doing?" He asked softly, it had been a few weeks since they had talked at all. He had wanted to reach out but he promised space, so he'd give her space.
"Good, good," she looked up at him, smiling, "the medicine they gave him has really helped, and he learned a lot of coping strategies for his anxiety."
"I am glad Victoria."
"I got my new furniture too, I wanted that done before he got back to my place." She added, taking another drink.
"How long is he staying with you now?"
Victoria frowned, "I'm not sure, I think he'll be staying for a while. I'm a better option than the crazy lifestyle Mom and Dad offer."
"As long as you're happy," Christian said softly, taking a drink of the coffee.
"Mm," she tilted her head, running her fingers through the long silky strands, "you kicked the blonde habit?" She asked after a moment and Christian watched her nod towards the door.
"She fit the requirements," he chuckled, "I passed on the blonde hair this time."
"Did you see her dress?"
"You're doing it again."
Kinsley laughed, a real laugh, her head falling back with it as she rested her hand over her stomach, "I'm sorry," she said through her smile, "I'll keep my comments to myself, Grey."
Christian couldn't help but smile at the laugh, and pulled the chair at the table out before taking another seat, watching her come over to it and slide in, "how is work going?"
"Busy, word has gotten out and I'm a hot commodity," she winked, putting her wax paper cup down, "I have 15 clients now."
"Congratulations are in order, Miss Brouche."
"Mm," her eyes trailed over the table and if he could read her mind he thought back to the last time congratulations were in order for her. On this very table. "Are you busy this weekend Grey?"
"It is this weekend, Victoria."
"Well, fine, tomorrow?"
"Whatever part of the contracts I don't get revised today I will have to work on tomorrow. Why?"
"Tomorrow is my birthday," she glanced at him, "Andrew is planning a small get together, dinner and drinks, I'm not supposed to know but he is shit at keeping things from me." She chuckled, "so I'm supposed to act surprised."
"Are you inviting me?"
"Nah," Kinsley rolled her eyes, "just telling you so you'll be jealous you're not part of my night?" She gave him a dry look, "of course I'm inviting you!"
"What time and where?"
"Last I heard he got the Royal Suite at Park Hyatt hotel." She took a quick drink, "spa day with him, then dinner around 6 with everyone after, before going up to the room to hang out."
"Very well," he nodded.
"Is that a yes, Grey?"
"I'll try, yes, but if I have to work I am sorry in advance."
"Ah, no pressure," she waved her hand quickly and sat her empty coffee cup down. "Well, I was on my way to a meeting, Grey, just wanted to stop in and tell you everything was going okay."
"Oh," Christian stood up before she did, taking their empty coffee cups and the tray, putting them in the trash can. Kinsley took her jacket and slipped it on, smoothing it over her dress, Christian watched her closely and then followed her to the door, pulling it open.
She led the way to the elevator, wrapping her arms around him tightly once she got there glancing up at him, "have a good day, Grey, good luck with your work."
"Thank you, Miss Brouche," he gave a tight smile, smoothing the hair on her back before he pulled back, and pressed the button for the elevator. "Be careful getting to your meeting."
Kinsley smiled as the doors slid open, "I hope I see you tomorrow." Christian gave a short nod, watching the doors slide shut, and then she was out of view. He shut his eyes, sucking in a deep breath before turning around and walking into his office, slamming the door behind him so hard Jane and Taylor jumped.
Christian stared down at his phone in silence, her name was flashed across the screen, her text message taking up the whole screen with the message box. It was a long message, one he hadn't opened for two days because he knew as soon as he did she would get the read receipt. Something he was not happy about with the iPhone he had recently acquired.
But that didn't prepare him for her voice that was drifting down his hallway, and the sound of her heels on the tile floor as she chatted with Taylor, "...is he hiding from me?"
Christian glanced up at the clock it was late, nearly 10:00 pm but he figured she waited that long so she knew he was home for sure. He quickly grabbed the nearby file and opened it pretending to be working when he heard them just outside the office door.
"Thanks for the escort Jason, but I got it from here." He heard her say and something told him he was in for it when he heard the door handle without a knock. He looked up, feigning shock, that turned real when Kinsley walked through the door in an above the knee two-piece black dress, with the top half the same shade black in a sleek crop top, she had a tall pair of heels on and a face of makeup that he hadn't seen in some time.
Goddamnit.
"Are you ignoring me?" She asked the moment their eyes met, shutting the door behind her and stalking across his office. Her maroon painted lips turning in a smile, "that's rude."
"I told you I was busy with work," Christian stood up as she approached the chair and made a motion for her sit down, "Miss Brouche."
"Mm," she placed herself on the seat, and crossed her legs, before holding out her hands, "pick one."
Christian arched his eyebrow before pointing at the right hand and she turned it over opening her palm and showing him an Audi key. "You bought me a car, Christian Grey."
"You said it was your dream car," he answered evenly. "I guessed on the color, of course, but based it off your jewelry, go to makeup colors, and iPhone."
"The rose gold is beautiful," she said softly, before laying the key on his desk, "you bought me a fucking car, Christian."
"Happy Birthday," he answered just as evenly as he had before, which was a feat in and of itself because all he wanted to do was reach across the desk and grab the poor girl, to keep her all to himself.
Kinsley stared at him quietly, before leaning back in the chair, "being your friend is hard," she said after a moment, that smile he loved gracing her features.
"Did I do something wrong...?"
"I just want to crawl into your lap every time I see you."
Lap is open, he thought darkly, before glancing away, "well."
"Do you want to ride in your present, Grey?"
Oh, kill me. He nearly came unglued at the words, she did that on purpose. "I do recall how you drive, Victoria, I'll pass."
Kinsley gave a small pout and met his eyes, "fine." He sighed to himself, watching her eyes trail around his office, suddenly feeling it wasn't good enough. "How long are you avoiding me, by the way?"
"I'm not avoiding you, Victoria."
"You," she reached across the desk and grabbed his phone before he could stop her, pressing the side button so the screen turned on. She was about to make a comment about the fact her message was still there but stopped short when she saw it still said Babygirl as her contact name. She blinked at the screen and laid it back down, looking at him, "I was waiting for you for almost two hours."
"What?"
"You didn't even read the whole message?" She laughed at herself, shaking her head, "I get it."
"Get what?"
"It." She stared at him a moment longer, before pushing to her feet and grabbing the key off his desk. Christian was lost, to say the least, and hurried to his feet as she turned and walked away from him, stopping at the door and turning to look over her shoulder. "When work doesn't have you so occupied, call me?" She glanced at his desk as she said it, "until then, Grey." She gave a small wave and opened his office door, walking through it.
Christian jerked his phone off the desk, cursing his stupid fears as he went running around the desk and chasing after her. "Victoria wait!" He ran past Taylor who froze in the doorway, quickly backing up and hiding. But that was last on his list of worries as he saw Kinsley stop just before the door.
"What, Grey?"
"I'm sorry." He said quickly, holding the phone out, "I..."
"You said always." She hissed, throwing her hands up, "you said always. I could always contact you."
"I'm sorry."
"No, fuck you." She glared across the room and Christian stepped back, his eyes wide. She never talked like that before, anytime she was upset they talked it out but this... this was different. "You're just a selfish man who lives life like everyone else owes him things."
"Victoria that's not true. I... I don't think you owe me anything."
"Not now, huh?" She smirked, "not when I asked for time. Suddenly I don't owe you anything?" She shook her head, her eyes narrowed, "you of all the fucking people in the fucking world should be able to understand what the hell I was asking from you. You flew halfway across America for it!"
"Don't you dare."
"What? I can't compare how I felt to how you felt? That's all reserved for you?!"
"I lost a child and a wife, Victoria!"
"I almost lost my brother!" She yelled right back, tears in her eyes, "I needed space, I needed to gather my thoughts and you... you fucking ran with it, didn't you?"
"You said you wanted me to leave."
"I also told you it wasn't you, Grey. Multiple times."
Christian blinked in silence, well she did...
"But, no, no... we're all out to get poor Christian Grey aren't we?" He didn't register she was grabbing the door until it was open and Christian reacted without thinking, he reached out and grabbed her by the arm jerking her back into the house.
Kinsley let out a startled yell, one that had Taylor and Jonas running into the room, seeing the moment her hand came colliding with Christian's face, a look of horror across her own face and a fear-laced yell of, "don't fucking touch me!"
Christian dropped her arm immediately, his hands held out in apology, "I'm sorry Victoria, I wasn't thinking."
Kinsley had tears on her cheeks and a quiet cry escaping her lips as she wrapped her arms around herself tightly, backing away, "don't ever fucking touch me again."
"Victoria I'm so sorry..." Christian stayed still, "just come back in so we can talk."
"I don't have anything to say to you," she teetered in her heels a moment, backing up another step, then she bent down and laid the key on the ground, "I'll call a taxi."
"Victoria," he whispered, taking a step closer, "don't... don't leave like this, I'm sorry."
"I know," she whispered, "I know."
"Let's talk, please," his hands were still held out in apology, his eyes wide as he searched her, begging her to come back inside. Begging her to talk. "Or yell, you can yell all you want. Just don't leave."
Taylor cleared his throat, nodding for Jonas to follow him and they went back down the hallway.
"Please, baby," Christian begged, dropping down to his knees, "please."
Kinsley wet her lips slowly, watching him quite literally begging her to stay so they could talk. She had once told him she would pay good money to see him beg but this was not at all what she had in mind when she said that.
"I really think it's best we go our separate ways, Grey," she said quietly, clearing her throat when her voice cracked, "I think we'd be better off. I'm toxic."
"No, you're not," he whispered, "you're the furthest thing from toxic, baby."
"You know why Joseph hurt himself, Grey? Because he felt too much pressure to be like me. You know why Andrew is leaving?"
Andrew is leaving?
"I'm too hard on Tyler, even though he's a piece of shit. Guess I'm not supposed to realize that, or something. I don't know." She laughed mirthlessly, "you can't save me, Christian." She whispered, "no one can save me. I'm just this... this person that destroys everything in my life."
"I need you, you don't destroy me."
"Don't I? Daddy?" She shook her head, "I ask so much from you... for what? I ask you to change your whole lifestyle for me. I ask you for friendship and you're willing, in a way. I... what you want from me I can't give." Christian stared up at her, he was in that same place just a few years ago. He was her, wasn't he? He understood the struggle better than anyone.
"I just want you Victoria," he said honestly, "just you."
"That's what you think, but what about that night in Seattle? You didn't like me that night. You don't like the girl that calls you Grey, much, huh? And those are things that aren't going to change."
"I don't want her to change," he sighed, "when will you understand how much I just like you? Need you?" He held out his hand towards her slowly, "just you, the rest... that's all extra, but no one is quite like you Victoria. No one treats me like you and I need that. It keeps me grounded. I need the girl that comes to my house at 10 o'clock demanding reasons I wasn't there, I need the girl that tells me I'm acting like a child, I need the girl that drinks too much when she's out and makes me put my life on pause to actually have fun... I need you, Kinsley."
Kinsley let out a quiet cry, her hand sliding through his and she felt him pulling her towards him and catching her in his arms, "I need the girl that slaps me across the face when I grab her wrong." He whispered, just to her, "because that girl is strong, beautiful, demanding, honest, real, and raw."
"Grey," she breathed against his lips, shaking her head, before leaning towards him and giving him a hard kiss.