Isobel is wearing a fitted sheath dress in a champagne satin that clings to every undulation of her fabulous figure and sets off her dark flowing locks. Her heels elongate her already long legs, elevating her eyes to the same level as Christian's lips. She is taking full advantage of that fact, standing in between Christian and her grandfather, smiling seductively at something Christian is saying and studying his lips closely from beneath her half closed eyes. Mr Seaton is watching her with a proud smile on his face. Suddenly I feel angry. He's mine.

I close the door a little more forcefully than necessary and walk confidently across the room, a self-assured smile plastered on my face. Whatever else you do Steele, don't trip and don't stumble.

Christian's face breaks into a sexy grin and he moves instinctively in my direction as soon as he sees me. As I close the distance between us, my self confidence is bolstered even further by his totally indecent scorching gaze sliding down the length of my body.

Mr Seaton's expression changes to one of confusion and surprise. Isobel is clearly much more accustomed to masking her emotions. The merest flicker of annoyance crosses her lovely face before her smile returns, wider and even more insincere than before. Ok, I'm ready to play.

"William, Isobel, may I introduce my girlfriend, Anastasia Steele. Anastasia, this is William Seaton and his grand daughter, Isobel," Christian says with a smile as he snakes an arm around my waist and pulls me close to his side.

"Pleased to meet you Mr Seaton, Isobel" I purr, tilting my head towards Christian. Right on cue, Christian drops a soft kiss on the top of my head and pulls me even closer against him. It is all the reassurance I need to mount my attack.

"Isobel, Christian tells me I owe you a debt of gratitude for standing in as his date last night". I stop briefly and check Christian's reaction before continuing. Amusement is dancing around his eyes and there is the trace of a smile on his lips. I decide to press on.

"I am so terribly shy and loathe all the attention that goes with being out in public with Christian. But if he attends a function solo he attracts all sorts of unwanted attention, don't you baby?" I murmur.

Christian nods his assent with a wry smile and a quirked eyebrow, circling my shoulder with his hand possessively. He's playing along. With some satisfaction I note Isobel's smile is beginning to look decidedly shaky.

I lean towards her and lower my voice to a more conspiratorial tone: "He absolutely cannot abide predatory females" – I give him a sideways look – "and frankly, sometimes males too circling around him at these events. But when he has a date with him, the vultures circle a little further out and he is spared the embarrassment of having to let them down. So thank you. I trust you had an enjoyable evening?"

I finish with a friendly smile. Game on.

Isobel hesitates for a beat, her lips still smiling but her eyes shining with fury. Clearly riled but desperate not to show it, her face screws up awkwardly into something between a smile and a grimace. She really doesn't look quite so pretty anymore.

"Oh Christian and I had a wonderful evening. Such a pity you missed all the fun Anastasia". I am momentarily knocked off course by her subtle dig, but I manage not to give her the satisfaction of rising to her deliberate provocation.

Christian's hand has now moved from my shoulder and he is gently stroking the bare skin on my arm with the tips of his fingers. "Oh Ana was there all night" – he looks at me closely and lifts his hand to softly stroke my face – "just not as close as I'd have liked her." His mouth twitches; "Well, not during the dinner anyway," he finishes with a suggestive grin.

I feel my face heat up as I shake my head at him in mock exasperation. Inwardly, I can't help feeling delighted that Christian has played along so convincingly.

Mr Seaton coughs to clear his throat and shifts his bulk from foot to foot looking decidedly uncomfortable. "It's lovely to meet you Miss Steele. Grey, shall we make a start?"

Christian settles me next to him at the breakfast table and they begin to discuss business. I enjoy listening to the sound of his voice as he gently yet firmly leads Seaton around to his way of thinking but that's the extent of my enjoyment. My appetite is suppressed by nervous energy and I am acutely conscious of the hostility radiating over the table from Isobel; it is painfully obvious from her barely disguised surly expression that she is quietly plotting my downfall.

Without interrupting his discussion, Christian pours hot water into a cup, swiftly swirls a tea bag through it and hands it to me with a smile. My heart turns over as I smile back at him. If only I could be this close to him all day and not have to hide my feelings. Isobel is eyeing me narrowly. Christian's instinctive gesture has provided her with more unwelcome proof of our intimacy.

"So Anastasia…you were at the dinner last night?" she asks slyly. Now Christian and her grandfather are distracted by their conversation, she has clearly decided to dispense with any pretence at politeness around me.

I can't help myself. "That's right. I was with the GEH crowd. In fact, we ran into one another last night in the ladies room. You admired my dress?"

To Isobel's credit, she shifts in her seat with embarrassment. Her face pales visibly beneath her tan as she recalls her rather premature confidence of the previous evening. I regard her steadily over the rim of my tea cup. Get out of that one.

"Yes…yes, I think I can remember you now. I'd had a few glasses of champagne by then I'm afraid." Her laugh is rather shrill and entirely false.

I arch a brow, but don't join in her laughter and it dies in the air. She picks at an invisible thread on the tablecloth, carefully avoiding my line of sight.

I watch her and inwardly sigh. Reluctantly I decide that I have now made my position as clear as I can without resorting to an undignified cat fight in the presence of Christian. Idly I wonder whether a part of him might even enjoy that little spectacle. Time to be magnanimous in your victory Steele. "So Isobel, what are your plans for the rest of today?" I ask brightly.

Her face lifts momentarily, my opening having given her the green light to boast. "We are heading out to the Caymens for Grandpa's wedding anniversary this morning for a week or so. What are your plans for today Anastasia?"

Crap, I should have anticipated that one would be reciprocated. I really don't want to go too far into that conversation and gift her the opportunity to expose me. "I'm working today". I put my tea cup down and check my wrist watch. "I'm running late, I really should run," I mutter apologetically, rising from my seat.

Christian's hand reaches over to cover mine. "I'll call Sawyer, let him know you're set".

Isobel lifts her brow quizzically. "Sawyer?" she asks.

"My body guard" I explain over my shoulder with a rueful shrug. Isobel looks murderous. Yeah, you've made a friend for life there Steele.

"Oh and Ana" – I am halted in my tracks by Christian's warm voice. I look around and catch his mischievous smirk, his grey eyes alight with amusement. "Don't forget your cell baby – it's on the table right next to our bed".

My triumphant glow is promptly extinguished the moment I reach the factory. Having completed the task set by Christian, I am now reassigned back to Mr 'Sunshine' Kaden. It is soon apparent that an evening out and a sleep have not improved Mr Kaden's cheerless demeanor one bit. I actually think he's become more unpleasant overnight.

All morning he has stalked in and out of the conference room, firing instructions at me and then disappearing again, goodness knows where.

I work as quickly and accurately as I can, checking everything thoroughly before passing it over. Despite my industriousness, he snaps and snarls at me, insisting I am working far too slowly for him and the pile of work in front of me is growing by the hour. I can't help but quietly assess the volume of work meted out to the other interns compared with mine; I'm sure I'm getting a raw deal, but whining about it won't endear me to anyone. At the same time part of me can't help but wonder whether he's right and I am too slow. Certainly each terse exchange only serves to diminish my confidence a little more.

Deep down I know my pride is hurt too. I always worked hard at school and earned good grades as my GPA testifies. I'm no genius, but I've never struggled academically either and until now I've never been accused of working slowly. I am bewildered and frustrated by his inability to deliver.

"May I take a look?" I lift my head despondently and meet the bright blue eyes of Mark Granger, one of Kaden's colleagues.

"Sure" I reply, handing him a sheaf of papers that I've prepared for Kaden. He saunters back to the other side of the room scanning through the documents and chewing the top of his pen thoughtfully. I take a deep shuddering breath. Is he going to start pulling me apart now too? Perhaps he and Kaden are preparing a case to fire me for working too slowly. A vein in my neck pulses and I feel my face flush. If they want to do that they will probably run it past Christian first. Will he demand they keep me? Or will his good business sense prevail and he agree to let me go? He said he surrounds himself with the best people – and that's clearly not you. Either way, my humiliation will be absolute and complete. Worse still, this could reflect badly on Christian's professional reputation too.

I push my chair back and stagger to my feet. Kaden has left a long list of information he wants me to compile and collate necessitating another trip around the factory floor. I grasp the opportunity to escape the confines of this conference room and use the time it takes me to reach the factory floor to consider my options. It was ridiculous to think I could try to mix business and pleasure with someone like Christian Grey. What was I thinking? I have no other options here. I have to do the right thing and resign before I create any more embarrassment. I only hope that this revelation of my professional incompetence doesn't adversely influence his wider opinion of me.

Re-entering the conference room half an hour later, I look around cautiously. Immediately I can sense that something has changed. The atmosphere feels strained somehow; nobody is talking and it is unnaturally quiet. People are sitting in the same places, but I can sense an unease in their body language. Making my way back to my seat, the clip of my heels on the floor reverberates loudly around the walls and I am aware of the burn of several pairs of eyes on me. Crap, is this to do with me? Am I about to get fired?

Mr Kaden does not even attempt to mask his hostility as he wordlessly accepts the data sheets from me. I meet his gaze with a look that does not disguise my feelings of loathing – now I have decided to resign, I am even less inclined to tolerate his blatant and unjustified rudeness.

Turning my glare away from Kaden to the table in front of me I see that Granger has returned the sheaf of papers, so I return to the columns of figures and quietly work through them.

"Is anyone going to tell me what that was all about earlier?" I ask. I am sitting with the other interns in the cafeteria trying to persuade my unwilling appetite to accept a sandwich. Since we arrived for lunch ten minutes ago we have all been unnaturally subdued and I feel it's beholden on me to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

Andy smiles benevolently. "Oh Ana, always the innocent".

I stare at him, puzzled. "They're planning to fire me aren't they?"

Dex laughs and bumps me with his shoulder. "Kaden really doesn't like you does he? I can understand why you'd think that."

"He says I'm slow. I'm doing as much as I can, but it's…relentless." I shrug and shake my head.

"That's what Granger had him about this morning. They took it into the side room, but fortunately for us they conducted their conversation at 100 decibels so we all heard the lot. Granger reckons Kaden is making unreasonable demands, that he's asking you to do unnecessary work as well. According to Granger, you've done more than any of us."

Dex plays with the catch on his soda can, carefully avoiding my eye. "He asked Kaden point blank why he has such an attitude with you, but Kaden denied he had. I saw a couple of the others exchange meaningful looks at that point. I reckon he's got a history with er… certain members of staff."

Amanda leans forward in her seat. "For 'certain members of staff' read 'female members of staff'. I've seen him checking Darcy and me out too, it's creepy. And the way he looks at Ana…Urgh!" She shakes her head and screws her nose up.

"I'll tell you what I think," she says quietly. "Kaden's an adolescent in a man's body. I figure he's attracted to Ana, but rather than, I don't know, asking her out or behaving like a grown up, he's reverted to behaving like an adolescent instead and is being nasty to try to get a reaction from her. You've got to wonder how much success he has with that approach. I mean, seriously!"

I'm still stuck on Dex's revelation. "So I'm not working slowly. Jeez, that's such a relief. I thought they were going to fire me."

Andy laughs incredulously. "That's not gonna happen now is it?"

I flash him a warning stare. "We're all in a probationary period".

He grins back at me, swigging his soda, but doesn't say any more. I quickly glance at the others – they don't seem to have noticed anything. Don't be paranoid Steele.

"You all recovered from last night then?" My heart sinks as I look up and see the same member of kitchen staff who had regaled us with gossip yesterday. Her eyes are bright and she is shifting from foot to foot, clearly desperate to tell us something.

We all smile and nod in response and she shuffles onto the bench next to Tyler, lowering her voice.

"Glad somebody did. From what we hear, Miss high-and-mighty Isobel Seaton had a disappointing night."

Darcy's eye light up and she sits up straighter in her seat. "Oh? We saw her with Mr Grey. We had no idea she was his girlfriend. That was quite a surprise".

The woman laughed gleefully. "Well that's just what she wanted everyone to think, but no, she's not his girlfriend at all. Seems your Mr Grey's real girlfriend is shy and didn't sit with him last night, although she was there someplace. From what we've heard, Issie made a bit of a spectacle of herself telling all and sundry they were together, then he goes and clears off early whilst she's preening herself in the ladies leaving her on her own. So the little madam decides to invite herself along to a breakfast meeting with him and her grandpa this morning and serves her right when she finds his girlfriend – who, by all accounts was very obviously staying with him - already there". She giggles and nods slowly. "Then, to add insult to injury, seems Mr Grey's girlfriend wasn't even concerned he'd spent the evening with her. Now she's made herself look very foolish in front of her stuck up friends and she's humiliated because Grey wasn't interested in her – used to getting her own way you see".

I groan inwardly and steadfastly avoid Andy's beady gaze. This woman's talents are wasted in a cafeteria; she ought to be newsgathering for Seattle Nooz.

Darcy's brows cross in a frown. "Wait, so Mr Grey's actual girlfriend was there last night?"

The woman nods, her lips pursed. "Yes, and what's more Isobel unwittingly spoke to her last night too – something unpleasant no doubt – not realizing she was talking to Grey's girlfriend." She sighs and her eyes drift unseeing across the table. "I'd loved to have been a fly on the wall" she murmurs.

Darcy looks irritated. I suspect she is rather less interested in hearing about what Isobel did next now. "Who is this mysterious girlfriend then? Did she get her name?"

I almost choke on my soda but manage to disguise the spluttering sound as a cough. I take a deep breath and stare at the table, trying desperately to prepare myself for the inevitable revelation.

I look up and see the woman returning Darcy's stare and looking affronted. "Well, how should I know that, it's none of my business. Only reason I happen to know about the breakfast meeting is that Mr Seaton's driver was in earlier and I couldn't help overhearing him." She rolls her shoulders and adds defensively, "He's got a very loud voice. Anyway, Issie was mad as hell with Grey and his girlfriend and she was making all sorts of demands to her grandpa, but for once he was having none of it. He was none too impressed she'd led him on last night, making him think Grey had asked her out. He went along with it and now she's made him look a bit silly in front of all his staff as well. Still, I expect a few days in the Caymen's will help to take the edge off their upset. It would for me, that's for sure."

She gets up laughing. "I'd better get on. You finished with that sweetie?" she asks whisking the empty soda can away from Dex and wandering away.

Darcy still looks puzzled. "Who the hell is she? Why wouldn't she sit with him? It makes no sense…unless" she gasps and looks at us, her eyes wide open. "She's married. He's having an affair with a married woman. It's got to be that. Why else would you want secrecy?" she nods slowly, satisfied she has come to the right conclusion.

"Now I really want to see her and know who she is – I mean, no matter how hot and rich your husband is, who wouldn't you leave for Christian Grey? That's got to be a lot of trouble for him. He deserves an easier ride than that".

"And that's you is it Darcy? You're the easy ride?" Andy asks, spluttering with laughter. I bite my lip to suppress my laughter and avert my eyes. I really don't want to rile Darcy any more.

"Fuck off Andy," says Darcy, narrowing her eyes.

"That would explain why he was so standoffish with her," says Amanda with a sigh. "Perhaps he does have a romantic soul hidden underneath that stern exterior after all," she adds wistfully.

"Yeah, perhaps he does," Andy murmurs, meeting my eye.

Back in the conference room, I am feeling a little better. Kaden's manner has not improved, he continues to bark instructions to me, but I continue to do everything he asks of me without a murmur of complaint. Other people wouldn't put up with it. I suppress a smile as I picture how ball-breaker Kavanagh would deal with him.

I ponder on the reasons for his behavior. Could Amanda be right? I've not noticed him looking at me, but then I try to avoid him as much as possible. Is it some sort of test he's putting me through? Perhaps at the end of the day he's going to crack his face with a smile and tell me it was all an act and part of my initiation as an intern. I can't see that happening somehow.

The other reason for the lifting of my mood is that Christian is now back. He has been holed up in the next room since he arrived, but he steps back into the main room regularly, casually walking past me and brushing an arm or a finger against each time he passes. Seeing the burning promise in his eyes when he looks at me, I feel like I can put up with any amount of crap from Kaden.

"Sorry to interrupt your day dream, but some of us are trying to work here and you're holding me up. Is that complete?" Kaden snarls, pointing towards the pile of papers in front of me.

I stand and walk over to Kaden, offering him the papers without a word. I have now accepted he is incapable of responding to anything I say to him in anything approaching a civil manner. He ignores the papers and looks me up and down slowly and insolently. Now he's really making me feel uncomfortable.

"Who the fuck wears a dress like that to work in a manufacturing plant? You make me sick – you've never done a day's work in your life have you? Did Daddy buy it for you? Or have you got your claws into some dickless frat boy with more money than sense?" He laughs humorlessly. "Must be your Daddy, a boyfriend would surely have invested in a bigger pair of tits".

I stare at him open mouthed. A deathly hush falls over the room. Simultaneously I hear a roar from the next room and the next moment I sense two bodies flying towards me. I take a faltering step back out of the way and see that one is Christian and the other is Taylor.

Christian hauls a spluttering Kaden into the air with his shirt collar. Taylor is immediately between the two men like a solid wall. He has one hand on each man, pulling them apart, but Christian pushes around him, his face white with anger, inches from Kaden's.

"Kaden. You fucking asshole. You. Are. Fired" Christian snarls, enunciating each word through clenched teeth. His hands release Kaden's collar and he forcibly pushes him away. Kaden stumbles backwards and lands heavily on his ass.

My hand flies up to my mouth and I gasp, fearful that the simmering violence could erupt into a full scale fight at any moment. I feel helpless and I am really worried that Christian is going to get hurt.

"W-what? I'm just breaking her in. Showing her who's in charge. I'm the best analyst you've got". Kaden's face is ashen.

Christian's voice is deceptively soft: "Then let me be clear; I am in charge". Christian draws up to his full height towering over Kaden, his expression betraying a look his seething fury. "I heard what you said Mr Kaden. I will not tolerate sexual harassment". Kaden's face withers under Christian's steely gaze. He looks like he's going to cry.

"Mr Grey – I will escort Mr Kaden from building" Taylor's tone is even but he is scowling murderously at Kaden as he forcibly hoists the still stunned Kaden from the floor and out of the room.

I take a shuddering breath and look at Christian. Right now I desperately crave the comfort and safety of his arms, but we have an audience. I can hear the sound of my own heart beating. Out of the corner of my eye I can see the horrified expressions of everyone else in the room, watching us closely. Andy looks aghast.

Christian's face is a mask, but his simmering anger is still palpable in his controlled breathing.

"Miss Steele. I can only apologize to you for Mr Kaden's unacceptable behavior. It falls far short of the standards I demand from my employees. If you wish to make a formal complaint of sexual harassment against him I would be happy to support you". Christian pointedly stares at the faces around the room and everyone immediately averts their eyes and resumes work like their lives depend on it.

I can feel tears scorching the back of my throat and my hand rises to my mouth. I blink furiously as I try to force away the tears. No, no, not here, not now. This has been a disaster.

"Please Miss Steele, this way". I follow Christian into the privacy of the side room and he closes the door.

"Oh, baby no, please don't cry, it's ok" he whispers, folding me into his arms. "Sh it's over, you're safe, I've got you" he murmurs as he rocks me gently and rests his head on mine. I take a deep breath and try to regain control of myself. I feel so embarrassed about that little scene in front of my colleagues. I'm trying to blend in for christ's sake. I look up into Christian's eyes and smile wanly. He leans down and tenderly kisses me, gently stroking my hair. I love this man so much. "I-I'm ok, I'm sorry about that, I couldn't please him".

"For fuck's sake Ana, why are you apologizing? He's a fucking asshole" Christian hisses, his whole body tense with irritation. "I wouldn't put up with that shit from anyone," his mouth twitches. "Well…ok, so the fact that he chose to behave like that to you of all people didn't exactly endear the guy to me, but that's not the point," he concedes. "You are mine; I look after what's mine," he adds softly, lifting my face towards him and kissing along my jaw and down my throat.

"How dare he insult these – they're perfect," his husky voice resonates against my check and through my body as his hands gently caress my breasts. "If he knew you were mine he would never have behaved like that". I frown and look up at him. "And that's supposed to make me change my mind is it? That's precisely what I'm afraid of Christian. I don't want people to treat me any differently. Yes that asshole was way over the line, but you would have fired him for speaking like that to anyone". I weave my fingers into his hair and gently pull his head towards me until his forehead rests on mine. "Thank you Christian," I whisper. I'm glad you were here and I'm really grateful that even with that sort of provocation, you still managed to keep your cool and respect my wishes. I love you so much".

"I love you too baby. I want to protect you from all that. I hate that assholes like that can get anywhere near you. I love having you with me all day". He quirks an eyebrow and flashes me his sexy grin. "And I really love having you all night".

"All night?" I murmur.

"He kisses me along my jaw and down my throat. "All night" he breathes.