A/N It has been too long since I last posted. My real life has gone topsy turvy on me and I have spent the last few months in complete shock that is finally wearing off. Turns out that sometimes really good things can be just as shocking as the really bad things. Anyhow, I lost my muse for a little bit but she is back. Thank goodness! I tried to write but it was complete rubbish, just trust me on that. I pray I won't leave you hanging this long again.

Chapter 14

I awake to the light streaming into the room and the bed empty. Disappointment flows through me. I thought we had made a breakthrough when Christian came to bed last night. Evidently not. The spot he had occupied has long gone cold.

Sighing loudly I throw off the blankets and untangle myself from the sheets. My stomach growls loudly reminding me that I need to eat something. I grab a robe and wrap it tightly around me and head to the kitchen to take care of breakfast before I shower.

As I pass Christian's office my heart sinks further. The door is open, the lights are off and Christian is nowhere to be found.

I find Gail toiling around the kitchen as she usually does at this time in the morning. She places a cup of hot water in front of me. I look down to see a small plate with a spoon and a teabag already waiting for me. She is good, I have to give her that.

"Thank you." I tell her softly. I want to ask her if she knows Christians whereabouts but I know it wouldn't be appropriate. She will only tell me if he has given her permission to tell me and if he has, she will tell me without my having to ask for the information. It is frustrating.

"Of course Ms. Steele. Can I fix you anything to eat?" She asks professionally.

I raise my eyebrow at her. Is that a clue of some sort? I know I have asked her to call me Ana. "Ms. Steele? Is that a hint Mrs. Taylor?" I snap, immediately regretting my harsh tone.

Gail crinkles her brow. "Sorry Ana, old habits die hard." She explains and then offers, "I can make you a veggie omlet and toast if you would like."

"If it isn't too much trouble, that would be wonderful." I admit, sheepishly.

In her usual efficiant manner, Gail fires up the stove top and whips up a perfect omlet filled with spinich, onions, peppers, and tomato and before I know it, a place is being passed in front of me. "Here you go dear. Let me know if I can get you anything else."

"Do you know where Christian is?" I ask quickly, momentarily forgetting my filter. My eyes open wide in my embarrassment. "Never mind, I shouldn't have asked." I drop my eyes back down to my plate and focus on eating

In my field of vision I see Gail throw down her towel and come around the breakfast bar. Standing behind the stool next to me she asks permission. "Do you mind?"

With my mouth too full to answer her I wave my hand at her hoping it gives her the answer she is seeking. It must because she pull out the seat and climbs up, now sitting next to me with a cup of coffee.

"Ana, I really hope that I am not too out of line in saying this. It really isn't any of our business but I would be lying if I pretended like I don't know what goes on around here. I will always be discreet, of course. Without violating the confidence that my boss has in me, I am going to ask you to be patient with him. Woman to woman, he is crazy about you. He does things for you that he hasn't ever thought to do for anyone else. But he is also raw. His entire world has just shattered and he is trying to pick up the peices and nothing is fitting back into where they once belonged. In some ways, this will be the best thing that could have happened to him but he won't see it that way for some time yet. He is scared. Right now, he is at GEH headquarters meeting with several department heads to try to contain the damage. This is the first time he has gone to the office since the news broke the other day. Taylor said that if you are up to it he will arrange someone to bring you up to GEH so you can have lunch with Mr. Grey." Gail finishes and takes a long, slow sip of her coffee.

I try to wrap my head around her words. That is more than I would have ever hoped for and I grateful for her wisdom. If I ever questioned her affection for Christian it was just placed on full display. Yet, she hardly gave anything away. I need to bounce off my feelings off someone and I go back and forth over whether to worry Gail with it. Picking up my half drunk mug of tea I swirl as I play a game of should I or shouldn't I.

"Earth to Ana." she teases me. "Let me know what to tell Taylor. He will need a little bit of time to get everything in order for you."

I sigh. "Of course Gail. Yes, I would like to eat lunch with Christian." I confirm. "But I need some advice. I really don't know who to talk to and I am just so confused." Tears spring to my eyes and I can feel my face become hot and red as I tell her how I did my best to forget he existed for as long as I could. How surprised I was at just how happy I was to get the opportunity to see him again. How all these feelings that I have been suppressing have suddenly rushed up to the surface and I don't know how to handle it. I explained how before there were rules that I had to follow and that made things so much easier for me. I knew I wasn't allowed to fall in love with him so I didn't. Well, in hindsight I certainly developed a deep affection for him but it was easy to tell myself that I didn't love him. Now everything is murky and one wrong move and now everything has gone to shit.

Gail nods at the right times, and places her hand on my knee as I bawl my heart out to her. She is really good at the listener. But there is a limit to what she can do or say. We both know that. She gives me a motherly pat on the back and then scoots down from her chair and takes my cold cup of tea with her. I watch her competence in the kitchen as she glides from one spot to the next. Before I know it she is back with two cups of hot liquid; coffee for her, tea for me.

"Ana. One day, when you are my boss as well, you will appreciate my discretion." She tells me bluntly.

Stunned, I stare at her while my mouth bobs up and down trying to make a coherent response. Her boss one day? She really has some high expectations.

"But," she continues, "I do have some advice from my own personal experience I can share." she tells me with a gleam in her eye. "When Taylor first was hired, I couldn't stand him. He couldn't stand me much either. I thought he was just another stuffy man in a suit." she laughs as she tells me the story of how they ended up together. How they went from being advosaries to confidants to best friends. She explained how on one night their regular movie night became something hot and steamy and they haven't looked back since. "We were so worried about what Mr. Grey was going to say about it that we did hide it for a while. But he is nothing if not astute. I think he was well aware of our relationship for a while before he let us know he was on to us." She confides. "But astute or not, what is developing between you is new to him. And often new is scary, especially when you so want things to move in a certain way and when they don't..." she trails off trying to think of the perfect word. "overreactions are bound to occur."

I take a moment to ponder that. I hadn't given that perspective any thought before but it does make sense. I resolve to use lunch time to my advantage. If Christian needs to feel more secure in whatever this is, I want to help give that to him.

After thanking Gail for the breakfast and the chat and confirming the time I need to be ready to leave, I head back to the bedroom to get ready for the rest of the day. Entering the bathroom, I start the shower and get lost as the warm water flows over me. I replay the conversation I just had with Gail over in my mind. I become giddy, I can't help myself. It would make sense that he is simply scared right now. It is in that revelation that I know exactly what I need to do.

I get dressed with purpose. I start with speading a warm vanilla scented lotion that I know Christian likes. Slowly, I brush the tangles out of my long hair as I blow dry it and pull it up into a bun, leaving my neck exposed. I walk over to a drawer he dedicated to me and picked out a sexy but demure matching panty set. One that is slightly sexy, but enough coverage that it isn't slutty. I walk back into the closet and search for an outfit that will help me feel confident. I pull out a vintage floral shift dress in different shades of blues and try it on. I don't remember seeing this dress before but it does the trick. I am not at all surprised that it fits me perfectly and makes me feel beautiful and feminine and strong. Christian isn't going to know what hit him.

Glancing at the clock I see that I have just over an hour before Taylor will be here to collect me so I lug out my work computer and set up a work station in the living room. After checking in with my boss, Ms. Stewart, I quickly get lost in work. Some assignments can be downright brutal but this story has a lot of potential and I am enjoying myself as I edit.

Before I know it Taylor arrives back at the apartment. He first goes into the kitchen to collect our lunch and say hello to his girl. I am grateful for the extra time so that I can organize my work before I leave. It makes it so much easier to jump back into when I get back to it later.

The elevator ride down was a bit more comfortable this time and the ride to GEH was quick. I have seen GEH from the outside many times but I have never been welcome into the actual building before. Taylor parks the car and comes around to the backdoor to let me out.

As I climb out, Taylor grabs my arm and looks me in the eye. "Ana, today has been especially rough. I want you to stay close and if you want to leave at any time, just say the word. Got it?"

His seriousness tempers my excitement. "Got it." I affirm as I step down out of the car and wait as he grabs the lunches that Gail sent along with us. "You know I could help you carry those." I inform him knowing very well that hell will freeze over before he would think to let me help him.

"I've got it, Ana. Come on." He tells me, annoyed that I had the gumption to even offer. I had to stiffle a little laugh when he passes the burden of carrying the lunches off to the first security officer that he passes.

"Excuse me! Ma'am. Excuse me! Stop." The receptionist at the visitor desk starts yelling as I pass her. I don't slow down because Taylor didn't slow down and he told me to stay close. I turn back to look at the receptionist but see that another member of security is taking care of the situation. Taylor inserts his key into an elevator and we are again being whisked up to the top floor.

"Fear of elevators would be a deal-breaker for this job, huh?" I ask with mirth in an effort to lighten the mood a little.

It works. Taylor cracks a small smile. "I suppose it would be. Luckily for Mr. Grey, little elevators have nothing on me." As the doors open, I see Taylor straighten up and put on his serious face again. He leads me through the executive office and straight into Christian's office.

"Sir, Ms. Steele is here." Taylor tells the back of an oversized, plush, leather office chair.

I notice the chair moves slightly, but doesn't turn around. The sounds of clinking metal catch my attention and I see the same blond receptionist I noticed from getting off the elevator quickly setting up the table with our lunch. Taylor puts his hand on my shoulder. "I will be in my office next door. I will take you whenever you are ready." he reminds me and then leaves, shutting the door behind him.