Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 10
"Alright Steele, man up and ready yourself for the inquisition?"
"Ready as I'll ever be Mr. Grey."
Christian and I make our way to the door with Taylor following. As I go to open the door, Christian puts his hand over mine causing me stop. He leans and kisses me.
"Okay, that's better. Let's go in," He says.
We barely make it through the door before being hit with a barrage of hugs and questions. Kate and Harper are squeezing me so tight and Christian has a death grip on my hand still.
"Alrighty then…you're killing my fucking organs. Let go you two."
"We're just so happy to see you," Harper says. Jesus, I was only gone for a day.
Keegan and Elliott shake Christian's hand and turn to me, "Hey short stuff; you must have done something right because I've never seen this asshole smiling more than he is right now," Elliott announces.
"Elliott, your brother, smiles all the time, maybe it's you," I jest.
"Chris, you're an over the top bastard, you know that?" Keegan is giving Christian a hard time but it is obvious sibling banter.
Christian slugs him in the bicep, "Fuck you, Keegan. What the fuck have you two been doing over here all day? Wait, don't answer that."
You don't have to be Sherlock fucking Holmes to know exactly what was happening here this weekend. Kate is standing in front of Elliott with his arms wrapped her waist. He looks like he's trying to cop a feel. Really, Elliott. I look over at Harper and I just know by the look on her face she was doing the deed with Keegan. God damn mother fucker!
"Why don't we sit and we can tell you about our amazing date," I say as I herd everyone into the great room.
Christian sits down and pulls me on his lap. Oh, my I like this. Keegan and Harper are sitting on the love seat while Elliott and Kate look like they just want to swallow each other.
"So…" I try to say but Kate interrupts, "Oh no, you're going to talk first, spill it bitch."
I laugh. Christian gestures for me to speak first.
"No doubt you all know we went to Vancouver. We had the best seafood at dinner; we went on a carriage ride through Stanley Park that was very romantic and we had great conversation. Then we went to our hotel; we stayed at Fairmont Pan Pacific in this kick-ass suite that was bigger than our condo. It had its own patio with a fucking koi pond…a koi pond. It was ridiculous. Then today we went to Grouse Mountain and zip lined, flew back, had burgers for dinner and came home. That's it."
"That's it. That's it," Kate is questioning because she wants to hear that we had sex. Yeah, not fucking happening so keep your pants on girly.
"Anastasia did leave out one crucial detail. Shall, I tell them or do you want to?"
He is looking at me, grinning like the cat that swallowed the canary. I have no idea what…oh for fucks sake do we have to tell them?
"Please do tell them, Christian. Since you are so amused."
"What the fuck bro, tell us," Elliott begs.
"One thing that Ana neglected to tell me was she likes to sneak into other people's rooms in the middle of the night to accost them."
Harper and Kate are laughing their asses off. Yeah, laugh it up, you whores!
"Huh?" Keegan and Elliott look back and forth because realizing they've apparently been left out of the joke.
"Okay you fuckers, I can't control it and I don't know it happens either, so let's just move on."
"Ana sleep walks," Harper states and giggles.
"So what happened?" Elliott asks.
We opened a bottle or two of wine and discussed our weekend, including the sleepwalking, but god damn I am tired. I yawn, which I cannot hide from Christian.
"I'm going to call it a night. Ana can barely keep her eyes open and she has to start her new job tomorrow," He says it like he means it, but I think there is a bit of sarcasm too.
"Plus, I know you girls want the scoop and will keep her up another hour." He laughs.
Keegan gets up as well; he and Harper go to the kitchen. Elliott and Kate are saying their goodbye so I walk Christian to the door. I stand on my tip toes trying to put my arms around his neck.
"Just a sec, I'll be right back." I run to the kitchen pantry and pull out the step stool. Keegan looks at me like I've grown a third arm and he leans around Harper to see what I'm doing. I walk back to the door and plop the step stool down and hop on.
"There. That is so much better, right?" He laughs.
"Now, this is a first. Great idea, now I won't throw my back out. We're going to need one of these with us at all times," He jokes.
"You can keep this one in your car or I could buy you one. Nah, I think I'll keep this one here and buy you one for your place." His smile is telling me that he likes that idea. Well, hell yeah, it was a great fucking idea. I'm surprised no one has ever thought of that. A bit unconventional, yes, but you got to improvise."
"So, I won't see you until the weekend, but I will call you and text you when I am in Chicago. I want to hear all about your first day at your grown-up job."
"You're a comedic genius, Grey. I will be anxiously awaiting your calls. Have a safe trip. I guess you have to be at the airport early. The TSA sucks ass and they are the slowest fucking people ever."
"Anastasia, I have my own plane so that I don't have to deal with that bullshit." What the ever loving fuck?
"Jesus age Christ, man. You must be Bill Gates rich, huh?"
Keegan and Elliott walk toward us, "You have no idea, Itty Bitty," Keegan declares and winks. I wonder if Christian's weirded out seeing me and Harper side by side because it freaks me the fuck out looking at him and Keegan.
"Ready to go dickhead? I have to be on site at five so if you're riding with me, move your fucking ass," Elliott says to Keegan and then punches Christian in the arm, "See you late fucker."
They're like five-year-olds around each other. I suppose that most little kids wouldn't call their sibling's dickhead and fucker at such a young age. I, for one, started cursing early. I blame it on my fucking aunt. She's my godmother and I love her like a mother. My actual mother, of course, hates the fact she taught me to curse.
Christian leaves me with a sensuous kiss and a smile. I close the door and can feel two sets of eyes on me. I turn around, "Why are you staring?"
They both scream at the same time, "Oh my god, Ana."
After more than an hour, I kick the two of them out of my room. I need sleep. I'm emotionally spent and physically fucking exhausted and I have to be at work at eight. I brush my teeth, pee and take out my contacts – not necessarily in that order. I climb into my bed and pull my down comforter up around me. I love this bed and I'm never getting rid of it.
Holy shit that reminds me of the new bed Kate just bought. Being the whore that she is, she brought some guy home she'd met through some friends. Of course, they were more than a tad bit drunk. I don't know the whole story but what I thought was her screaming in ecstasy was actually her waking up screaming because the dude she hooked up with had peed in the bed and she was soaking wet. She said he drank a big bottle of water before their workout…yeah horizontal fucking workout bitch, and must have passed out after they finished. I laughed my fucking ass off. She was pissed because she loved her bed like I love mine. No way she was going to sleep in a bed where a grown man peed. I never did see the guy come to think of it. He high-tailed it out of there before either Harper or I saw. Only shit like that happens to Kate. Good times I tell ya…good times.
I hear the annoying sounds coming from my alarm and I just want to throw it out the fucking window. Damn, I have to get up for work. Shit...I am not ready for this grown up job as Christian called it. Fuck my feet haven't even hit the floor and I'm already nervous. And not in a good fucking way either.
I'm sitting at the island eating my oatmeal and drinking coffee when Kate breezes in. Harper, the slacker, doesn't have to be at work until next week. That bitch has nothing to do all day and I'll bet you a million dollars she won't clean up or fix anything for dinner either. She'll fucking wait until I get home. Sorry sissy, that shit stops now. Ana the maid, chef, housekeeper and all-around Mother Goose is done. God, damn she is a lazy fuck. I don't know where she gets it from either because everyone in my family is a bunch of fucking overachievers and generally can't sit still if our lives depended on it. Unless she sprouts wings and can fly, she's going to be stuck here because I am taking the car. Kate and I talk about our upcoming day and I listen to her excitement and it's contagious. By the time, I leave for work I'm whistling the song 9 to 5.
After finding a spot in the parking garage, I find myself standing in front of the red brick, two-story building that is now my place of employment. It's a converted warehouse and the inside is modern but still has the charm of the original building. I'm fucking giddy …giddy now that's a stupid word. Giddy up little buckaroo. Really, did I just say that? Shut up Ana!
I see the somewhat uptight looking receptionist checking me out like I'm some sort of leper as I approach her oversized desk. This bitch better check herself.
"Hi, I'm Anastasia Steele. It's my first day." Maybe if I give her one of my famous fake smiles she won't be too obnoxious.
"You can take the elevator or the stairs to the second floor. You'll find Daniel in his office."
"Thanks. Have a great day," I say as sweet as sugar but deep down I'm sticking my foot up her ass.
I see Daniel bent over in front of a bookcase looking for something. I clear my throat and he pops up the like I just lit a wick and he's going to blow.
"Good morning Ana. Welcome." He is a nice guy, good looking but very married. Makes no difference because I am only interested in a grey-eyed hottie who's ass you can bounce a quarter off.
"Hi, Daniel. It's good to see you again. I am excited to be here." He takes me to my office and sits me down with a stack of paperwork to fill out.
"Here's your first-day paperwork. I know it's a lot but it is very simple stuff. I'm sure with your GPA you'll do just fine." Is he teasing or is it something else I wonder.
"Thanks, I'm sure I'll figure it out." I put my purse in my drawer and start attacking this pile of paper. When the fuck are companies going to venture into the twenty-first century and put this shit online? What a waste of freaking paper. Poor trees.
I am successful getting my paperwork completed without incident. I am now reading through a prospectus on a mid-size manufacturing company. Not sure what I'm looking for but I need to write up an opinion on the long-term viability. Time whizzed by like a cheetah chasing down its poor defenseless dinner when my desk phone buzzes. I look up and its almost lunch time.
Miss Congeniality at the front desk alerts me to a delivery I need to sign for. Hmmm, a delivery, wonder what it is. I decide to say fuck the elevator, I'm taking the stairs. Did I mention I am wearing a fucking skirt and heels again? I should know better because I hit that last fucking step and I'm down like a clown Charlie Brown. Thank fuck I didn't face plant but I did tweak my ankle. I hobble my way to where the delivery guy is and he's smirking. Yeah, laugh it up fucker. No tip for you.
I see a huge bouquet of flowers in a beautiful crystal vase. Purple is my favorite color. I'm a freak for anything purple and this arrangement looks as though every purple flower imaginable is included. I take the clipboard and sign my name. I grab my flowers and head for the elevator. Fuck those stairs.
Once I am safely back in my office, I pull out the card. Maybe my parents sent them. You know good luck on your first day kind of shit parents do. I open the card and scan to the bottom to see who signed it. I see his name and I can't a big ass smile from forming. My eyes move back to the message:
Anastasia:
Right now, your first job will seem like your life's biggest challenge. Though, decades down the line, it will become one of your life's most innocent and prized memories. I hope you are having a great start to your first day. I can't wait to hear all about it. I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you from two thousand miles away. You are more beautiful than any flower.
Love,
Christian
Wonders never cease and this man is making me fall hard…no pun intended. If he's not careful, I'm going to fall in love with him. I hear a knock on my office door…who the fuck is interrupting my Christian daydream? Oh, my boss, that's who.
"Come in Daniel. What can I do for you?" He's eyeballing my flowers.
"Those are beautiful, from your boyfriend," He inquires. It's like he has fucking ESP and knows I am keeping something from him.
"Um, I guess you could say that. He's pretty special," I beam. What the hell else am I supposed to say? No, it's from the guy I plan to lose my v-card to.
"Lucky guy."
I can't figure him out. I don't want to assume that he's coming on to me with comments like that or is he genuinely being nice. He didn't seem that way when I interviewed. Probably just me since I'm fucking hormonal and missing Christian
"I came to tell you it's tradition for management to take new hires out to lunch their first day. We've got reservations so let's get a move on."
I move to stand and pain shoots from my ankle through my foot. Holy mother of all …sonofabitch that hurts. I'm not even sure I can walk as I look down and see its swollen. Cankle doesn't even describe the swelling. It's more like a muffin top overflowing. Daniel notices that I wince and looks down at my foot.
"Wow, Ana. What the hell happened to your foot? That must hurt?"
Why yes, Officer Observant it hurts like a mother fucker, "I missed the last step when I went to sign for the delivery. I fear it's not just sprained but possibly broken."
"Okay, why don't we skip lunch and I take you to the ER instead. Seattle Grace is not far from here."
"Oh, well, shit. Sorry. This is so embarrassing. Maybe we should just to be sure." I try to stand and realize that is not happening unless I take off my shoes. I slip them off, grab my purse and I shuffle to the elevator. I'm holding on to Daniel's arm to steady myself. We get to the front door when I see a familiar blonde Gigantor. What the fuck is Sawyer doing here?
"Hi Sawyer, fancy seeing you here," I say with a touch of sarcasm.
"Miss Steele..um Ana. Are you okay?"
Daniel is looking back and forth trying to assess the situation.
"I slipped down the stairs and I think my ankle might be broken. Daniel was going to take me to Seattle Grace ER so I can have it checked out."
"Mr. O'Brien, I'll take her as I'm sure you're very busy with everything going on. Ana and I are friends so there's no need to worry." What the fuck is he playing at?
"Ana, are you sure about this? I don't mind, really," Daniel presses.
"It's fine, Daniel. Sawyer can take me and bring me back when I'm finished. Thank you for helping me make it down here. I'm really sorry about all this. It's not how I envisioned my first day." I can hardly look at him because I'm so humiliated.
"If you're sure. Don't worry about it, shit happens. Regardless of what the outcome is, take the rest of the day and we'll start fresh tomorrow, okay?"
"Thanks, Daniel. I appreciate that. See you tomorrow then. Come on Sawyer, let's get going before I hurt something else." Daniel turns and heads back into the building and Sawyer picks me up and gently puts me in a black SUV.
Sawyer gets in, buckles up and takes off for the hospital, "Would you like to explain yourself, Sawyer?"
"Ma'am?" He says stupefied.
"Don't give me that shit. What the fuck were you doing milling around in front of my work, Sawyer?" I give him a look and I can see that he's not sure what to say.
"I can explain everything. Let's get you checked out first and we'll talk." Fuck, I hate evasion and he's good at it too.
"Fine."
Fifteen minutes and a very awkward car ride later; we pull into the circle drive of Seattle Grace ER. He turns off the SUV and goes inside but quickly returns with a wheelchair. For fuck sake, really? I give him my best death stare and he reacts with a smirk.
"This is only so I don't have to carry you. They'll get you back to a room quickly and no one will be the wiser that you were in a wheelchair."
I cross my arms and pout, "Fine, but hurry will ya," I say flippantly.
We roll up to the front desk and are warmly greeted by a young nurse. She takes my information and tells me it will be just a few minutes and someone will be out to get me. It's not very busy. I don't know what I expected. It's certainly not a happening place to spend your lunch hour so I hope I can get in and out quickly. I see Sawyer rapidly texting with someone so I don't interrupt. I pull out my phone and text Harper to let her know what I did. She replies asking if she needs to call mom or dad? Seriously, Harper, I'm not fucking twelve and I did put my big girl panties on before I left this morning.
"Ana Steele," I hear my name. Yippee. Let's get this show on the road people. Sawyer pushes me toward the nurse and says he'll wait here for me. As I'm being wheeled down the corridor, I hear him answer his phone.
"Mr. Grey, Sir."