Okay…I know I've been ignoring this story for too long. I'm sorry about that, I just got crazy inspired on writing on another of my stories.
Also, I've changed the physical description of 'the fucker' in Ana's apartment – therefore I'll include a recap of the last paragraphs in the previous chapter so you don't have to go back to see the changes. I did this because as I started writing, I got stuck and when the solution came to me I just couldn't pass on the opportunity at hand… You'll see what I'm talking about towards the end of this chapter.
And…I know it's short, but as I haven't posted in a while I thought I might as well post what I have since it might be a couple of days before I get the time to sit down and write again.
For all eyes to see – Chapter 10
Recap from last chapter:
The blonde guy in front of me has a questioning look on his face, but I'm still in shock and can't get any words out – my brain is too busy trying to piece together the little information I know about Anastasia to try and figure where this guy fits in. The info I pulled on her said she was an only child, so he can't be a brother.
"If you're looking for Kate, she doesn't get back until tomorrow." The guy informs me, with a smile too big and too bright plastered on his face.
Who is this fucker and what is he doing in Anastasia's apartment?
"I'm here for Anastasia." I inform him in my most business-like, CEO, taking-control-over-the-situation voice.
"Oh." His smile diminishes slightly and he looks over his shoulder into the apartment and then back at me. "She's a bit immobile at the moment." Another glance over his shoulder. "Hang on a second."
Before I have the opportunity to say anything further, he vanishes into the apartment and I invite myself in by stepping over the threshold. I hear both Anastasia's and the fucker's voice coming from another room, but I can't make out any words.
After a while, the voices die down and are replaced by the sound of Anastasia making her way to the door on her crutches. "Mr. Grey." She says as she enters the room.
I look over her shoulder, wondering where the fucker disappeared to and how freely I can speak.
She catches on almost immediately. "Ethan is in Kate's room uploading a set of photos to her computer." She informs me. "He can't hear us."
I nod and close the door behind me, making sure no nosy neighbors are listening in on the conversation we're about to have.
"I'm going crazy, Anastasia." I tell her honestly. "Tell me what I need to do to make this happen." I'll do fucking anything.
She looks tired as if the question I just posed has been haunting her just as much as it has me. "I don't know." She shakes her head, but stops suddenly as something lights up in her eyes and a small smile forms in the corner of her mouth. "You could start by asking me out on a date. You know, like normal people do."
"A date?" Her smile grows and I'm sure the horror in my voice is vividly reflected in my eyes.
"Yes." She nods. "You know; dinner, talking, getting to know each other. A date. Most women prefer that as a method of seduction rather than getting a contract thrown at them."
I resist the impulse to tell her that of all the women I've presented the contract to so far, she's the only one that has declined it. "I don't date." I inform her instead.
She rolls her eyes and I feel my palm twitching. "And I don't sell myself, so where does that leave us Mr. Grey?"
An exasperated sigh leaves my lips without my permission. "I really want you, Anastasia."
"I want you too." She confesses, but as I take a step closer, she puts her hand up between us to stop me. I back down before she touches me.
"I still don't want to be bought, Mr. Grey or do you prefer I call you 'Sir'?" There's a glint in her eyes and I know she's teasing me and that I shouldn't fall for it. But still, I can't remember the last time a woman teased me and it does something to my mood – it lightens it.
"Well, I think we both know what I would prefer, don't we Miss Steele?" I make sure there is enough sexual suggestion behind the words and feel myself strangely amused as she blushes. Who could have guessed – sexual implications makes the stripper blush. Interesting.
"Okay." I hear myself growl. "I'll take you out on a date." Where the hell did that come from? I don't date. Christian Grey Does. Not. Date. I sigh. But in this case…it might be worth the trouble. One date. I guess I could do that if it means I'll get her off my mind.
A smile lights up her face and I feel my lips forming into a smile as well, as if I'm her reflection in a mirror. "Well, thank you for asking me Christian." She enunciates my name distinctly, as if making a point out of using my first name. Oddly enough – I'm still smiling. "I would be most delighted to let you take me out on a date."
"So…" I bid her my arm, feeling caught-up in the light, playful mood she seems to be in. It's very contagious. "…let's go My Lady."
Suddenly the thought of a date doesn't seem all that abhorrent. I can suffer through dinner – hell, she can even have dessert if she wants to – by the end of the night; I'll have her in my playroom.
Instead of taking my arm, she pats it. "Not tonight, Christian."
She's still smiling, but my good mood seems to have disappeared completely. What the fuck does she mean 'not tonight'? "Why?" I cringe at the sound of my own voice; like a whiny child.
"Well, first of all; I'm hanging out with a friend tonight thus I'm not available for a date. Second – "
I cut her off before she can tell me about the second reason. "A friend?"The disbelief is evident in my voice as I suddenly remember the fucker that opened the door like he fucking belonged here.
"Yes." Her voice is stern, the playfulness from before is all gone. "A friend."
I feel like uttering a very unmanly 'Hmph', but luckily – I resist the urge and settle for glaring at her. "And what, pray tell, are you and this friend doing tonight as you hang out?" My voice is dripping with not-so-successfully held-back anger.
"Ethan is a close friend, nothing else." She looks completely pissed off – and hot as hell. Angry really does it for her. "And what we do while we hang out is none of your business."
"What if I want to make it my business?" She's not only declining my contract – she's turning down a date with me tonight in favor of hanging out with that fucker? Who does she think she is?
"Well…" She lets out a laugh. A fucking laugh?! "…then I'd say a couple of more dates would be needed before you are allowed to even have an opinion on who I hang or don't hang out with and what we do while hanging out."
A couple of dates? She's got to be crazy! As from nowhere, an idea that will not only deal with the fucker inside her apartment and their hanging out but will also deal with the 'not tonight' issue comes to mind.
"What if we'll make it a double-date?" The words are out of my mouth before I'm able to think my brilliant idea through.
"A double-date?"
"Yeah. Tonight." I'm suddenly excited at the outlook of making the date happen tonight. "My sister just got back from France and I'm sure she will be up for it." I sure hope she will. I'll bribe her if she isn't or drag her along by the lengths of her hair.
She looks as if she's at least thinking about it and I feel like a fucking horny teenager waiting for her answer. "Let me go ask Ethan and see what he thinks."
Yeah, go ask the fucker – and if he says no, I'll drag him along by the hair too…
As Anastasia skips away on her crutches, I take the time to text Mia.
Double-date tonight. You up for it?
She answers within a minute. Does she have the phone glued to her hand or what?
DD with U? As in – YOU on a date? You bet I am!
I sigh deeply. Maybe this wasn't the best idea I've ever had. I hadn't thought about the fact that no one in my family has ever seen me with a girl – let alone on a date. I hope Mia won't make a big deal out of it, but knowing Mia that hope is probably futile. Well, as long as she keeps the fucker occupied tonight, I'll deal with her later.
"Okay." I'm ripped from my thoughts about how to best explain this to Mia and the rest of my family whom will probably know all about it the second the fucker drops Mia off after our double-date.
"Okay?" I try to hide the smile, all thoughts about my family or explanations vanished from my mind.
Anastasia nods. "Yeah. He thought it sounded fun."
I don't care what the fucker thinks. "And you?"
The smile on her lips is shy. "I can't wait."
About an hour later, we're finally packed into my car and on our way to meet Mia at a restaurant where I managed to get us a table at the last minute thanks to the Grey name. Mia made a grumble about the hurry of it all, but I guess the curiosity got the better of her and when I threatened to exclude her from the double-date she was very compliant and promised to get to the restaurant on time.
When I pull the car up in front of the restaurant, she's already waiting for us outside, impatiently tapping her foot on the ground. She spots us as I hand my keys to the valet and comes tripping towards us on her high heels.
"Mia." I smile as I greet her. Anastasia hasn't gotten out of the car yet and I feel the need to warn her about my sister and her…intensity, so I direct Mia towards Ethan.
"This is Ethan." I point towards the fucker that has gotten out of the car on the same side as me and is now standing next to me ogling my little sister. The greatness of this idea seems to diminish by the second. "Your date."
With reluctance, I leave them to talking and introducing themselves and go to help Anastasia out of the car. I meet her half-way around the car.
"I would have helped you." I state, slightly irritated that she didn't wait for me. She could have gotten herself hurt trying to manage those crutches out of the car.
"I know, but I'm getting pretty good at handling these." She nods towards her crutches.
I'm still not happy that she didn't wait for me to help, but I shrug it off for now and place a hand in the small of her back as I guide her towards Mia and the fucker. "I have to warn you, my sister can be a bit intense."
Anastasia nods. "And I take it she's oblivious to how you usually seduce girls by throwing contracts at them?"
I hope my glare is answer enough, because we've gotten too close to my sister for me to feel comfortable discussing this.
I place a hand on Mia's shoulder. "Mia, I'd like you to meet my date." I turn her around to stop her obvious drooling over the fucker. This really was a bad idea. "Mia – this is Anastasia."
Mia squeals as she turns around. "You're a girl!" Realizing what she's said, she clasps a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry." She mumbles from behind her hand, all while shaking her head. "It's just…" She takes the hand away from her mouth and gestures wildly with it instead. "You're a girl." She repeats, shock still evident in her voice, and I roll my eyes at her drama. A really, really bad idea.
Anastasia looks immensely confused. "Is that a bad thing?"
"No." Mia starts shaking her head again. "No. My date is gorgeous and you're a girl. Everything is great."
"Shall we go inside?" I abruptly interrupt Mia's gushing over Ana being a girl. I'm starting to regret inviting her to this double-date. I should have gotten the fucker a hooker instead.