I woke up the next morning with a fresh mind ready to start my day. I had made myself a To-Do list before i went to bed to make sure that i had all my basis covered. First thing i needed was a job. I was initially hesitant about trying to get my job back at SIP but i loved my job and i wanted to go back there if i could. I took a deep breath and decided to call Christian. After all he was my boss's boss's boss, he could have me reinstated if he wanted to. I wouldn't get my job back if i didn't ask, so i gave him a call.

RING!

"Good Morning Anastasia" Greeted Christian

"Good morning, Christian. I need to ask you for something" I replied trying to get to the point.

"What can i do for you?" Christian hesitated "Are you asking me for your job back at SIP?"

"Yes i am" I answered "You read my mind"

"It's not hard. You need a job and i know you deeply regret leaving" Christian replied "Take the rest of the week off and I will let the know you will be starting back as fiction editor on Monday"

"Is it just that easy?" I asked "isn't there someone covering. Don't they need to be notified?"

"The job has always been yours. When you left, the staff was a both shocked and confused. They wanted answers. I told them that you were studying overseas. I can assure you that you will not feel out of place or embarrassed once you return" Christian explained.

I was not at all thrilled with what Christian had done. He lied to the staff without telling me. He wanted to avoid the embarrassment of tell everyone that i left him, it was more about him than me. He certainly wasn't doing it for my benefit. Sometimes i hated how he turned a controlling action into a unique way of "taking care of me". I needed a job right away, so my old fiction editor job would do. I was nervous about Christian making surprise appearances. He tended to be over baring. He has embarrassed me more than once during a meeting and that was when our relationship was better. If our relationship is going to work he is going to need to stop trying to control me, plain and simple.

Christian said that i could start my job on Monday but i was still nervous as hell. I wondered what everyone would say. What everyone would think. Would everyone buy Christian's story about me leaving to study overseas? I wanted to work in a place where Christian wasn't my boss but SIP was the best publishing house in Seattle. I knew that any job that i pursued would be with a smaller publishing house and the pay would be much less. Christian probably knew that too, again Christian found a way to exert his control over me. He was suffocating me, but at this point i needed his help.

I spent over an hour getting ready, trying to look presentable. I didn't want to attract more attention that i already had. I felt like i was in a trace as i drove my car to SIP for the first time in 4 months. Carefully practicing what i would say to each question that i was anticipating. I walked into the building, head held high, heels clacking with each step. I sighed deeply before entering the building, I felt like all eyes were on me as i walked to my old office at the end of the office. Not one employee said a word to me as i walked into the office. They all seemed to preoccupied to care. I closed the door taking another deep breath before completely closing the door behind me. Looking around i could see that with the exception of a few manuscripts it was just as i left it. Was this Christian's doing i wonder? I walked over to my old desk running my fingers across the surface. No dust! Someone has been at this desk recently.

"Can i get you a coffee Mrs. Grey?" Hannah asked opening the door a crack

"Sure" I answered "2 cream"

"Sure thing Mrs. Grey" Hannah replied closing the door "Just to let you know there are 3 scripts for you too read on your desk. I can book an appointment with the authors if you want to go forward"

"Yeah! Thank you Hannah" I said looking down at my desk.

"Welcome back by the way" She said before shutting the door.

After a few hours i realized that coming back to SIP wasn't as bad as i thought. i sat at my desk trying to sort out my manuscripts and projects. I spent my first day prioritizing my reading and requesting samples from authors to review. I decided that i would read them when i was at home. It was easier to concentrate that way. I found myself flowing back into my job so easily. I loved my work and i was so grateful to be back. Reading was something that i was passionate about. So few people get the chance to have a job that they love and i was one of those people. I felt so blessed. Hannah came in with my coffee 20 min later.

"Your coffee?" Hannah said opening the door a crack

"You can come in, don't be shy" I replied.

"What did you take?" Hannah asked placing the coffee on the edge of my desk.

"What?" I asked wrinkling my face in confusion.

"In school" Hannah clarified.

"Oh Yes!" I agreed "Ummmm Literature. It was a special literature class"

"Really? What class" Hannah asked curiously "I took a year in France"

"Oh! i was in Spain. It was a Spanish Literature class" I lied

"You'll have to tell me later? Sounds really interesting" Hannah said with a smile.

"Yeah sure!" I agreed "Thank you for the coffee"

I felt bad about lying, but i was more angry with Christian for putting me in this position. I was frustrated with Christian but i wasn't one to hold on to my anger. I packed up at 4 pm making sure to grab the manuscripts i wanted to read over the evening. I walked out of the building feeling the summer breeze brush against my face. I looked around the parking lot half expecting Christian to appear. My paranoia was on high alert. He was not far from my office and i knew that he would be keeping close tabs on me. I went over to my car, my heels clacking as i walked. I got into my car and checked my phone. There were several texts from Christian, my heart sank and my body filled with dread. What did he want now.

How is your first day back?

I Miss you!

Would you have dinner with me?

Christian

I will have dinner with you
Ana

7 pm?

Christian

Your place or mine

Ana

Your place.

Christian

How should i dress?

Ana

Comfortable

Christian

Comfortable? What does that mean exactly? Comfortable is my pajamas. Our relationship was very rocky so it was fair to assume that he was looking to impress me. I should probably dress like i'm going to meet the queen and see what happens. The one person that i missed and i have not spoken to in a while was my mom. I missed her but i had avoided talking to her about Christian because i didn't want her to think poorly of him. All couples have their share of problems and i felt that it would be a violation of trust for me to discuss details with friends or family. I was nervous and excited at the same time. I wonder what Christian has in store for me this time.

Christian

I had Elliot call me as soon as Kate got back home with Ana. I felt a mixture of relief and nervousness but i felt like i was ready to start working on our relationship. I wanted Ana home so badly, but i didn't want her to feel like a prisoner. I wanted a woman that i was ecstatic to see me, not one that cowered in fear. I was expecting her to call about her job at SIP. Ana was quite predictable at times. I wanted to show her that i was a team player. I had made sure that the job of fiction editor was being covered momentarily. The permanent position remained open just in case Ana came back for it. She was my wife and i bought the company because it was her dream job. There was no one else that i wanted in that position but her.

I made sure that i was going to intense therapy with Dr. Engel. I didn't want Ana waiting years for someone that she could love and trust. I felt as though i was in danger of losing her. I would do anything to prevent her from leaving again. I needed her to feel whole. She loved me like no one else. I may be the dominant in our relationship but she dominated my feelings. She was in control of me and she didn't even know it. I needed to call her, make contact. I texted her towards the end of the day. I didn't want to have dinner alone again.

How is your first day back? I miss you. Would you have dinner with me?I texted.

Yes, Your place or mine? She messaged back

I'll pick you up at 7 pm I texted back

I had a date. I felt like a teenage taking a girl out for the first time. I smiled to myself. Things were starting to look up.