CPOV

"Can I pay for the cab?" What craziness is she thinking? Of course I won't let her pay.

"Absolutely, no you cannot. You managed to sneak the pretzel in and don't think I forgot about the bread. I'm watching you." Tapping her nose with my index finger.

"Do you have to control everything?" Baby you have no idea. I ignore the question and open the door on my side. She starts to open her door. "Stop Anastasia! Don't move!" I quickly make my way around to her side to open her door.

"You are being such the gentleman. Thank you sir." She gives me the same curtsy she gave to Taylor earlier. She wants to see gentlemanly behavior; I scoop her up in my arms caring her up the stairs to her front door. She's pleading and laughing for me to put her down.

"I can't believe you just did that. Thank you for today. I had a really wonderful time. Do you want to come up?" I'm so happy she invited me to stay. There's no place on earth I'd rather be.

"Lead the way Miss. Steele."

"You owe me answers to a few more answers." I thought we were done with the 20 questions stuff. For the past hour we've been sitting on opposite ends of her couch, in our bare feet with her feet in my lap, laughing sharing our thoughts about a host of topics. When we first arrived, Ana put on some music, someone named Bruno Mars and she changed to a pair of short –shorts and a t-shirt. I'm so comfortable. I've never felt this at ease with anyone. I have managed to disclose a few things; that I speak French and play the piano; that I love to fly and that I left Harvard early but I am still watching what I say to her.

"Wow, Harvard. So you left college early, what happened?"

"It just wasn't for me. I knew I could branch out on my own and do a hell of a lot more than the text book crap they were spewing."

"Ok, you made the big leap into the real world, what do you do for work?"

"I'm in mergers and acquisitions." Really Grey? You own the damn company. "That's when…"

She cuts me off and rolls her eyes, "I know what it means. It's the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly. I passed intro to business with flying colors."

"Anastasia did you just roll your eyes at me?" Before she can answer, I wrap my legs around hers and start tickling her feet. "You know rolling your eyes at someone isn't nice." I continue to torment her. She's doing her best to pull her feet away but failing. I'm so much stronger than her. In between yells to stop and her giggles, I can't help my own laughter.

"Chr…Christian please! I'm gonna pee on myself. I won't do it again!" I release her feet and watch as she tries to catch her breath. "That wasn't right." I lift up her foot and kiss her big toe.

"You asked for it with the eye rolling and that smart mouth." She gets up and pads towards the kitchen. I give her a swat on that delectable ass of hers. "That's what you'll get next time." She sticks her tongue out at me and I have to use every ounce of self-control I have not to make her mine right there on the kitchen floor.

She returns with two glasses of ice tea and a lemon wedge. "Do you like what you do? Mergers and acquisitions, does it move you and make you happy?"

"Yes, I love it. I like taking companies that are in trouble and turning them around. I like fixing things and I have to say I'm really good at it." She's rubbing the rim of her glass a looks troubled. "Is there something wrong? You don't like M and A?"

"No, it's not that. Can I ask you a really personal question?" I nod for her to continue.

"I don't mean to pry but do you make a really good salary." How do I answer this? Say I'm CEO of one of the largest companies in the United States and make $100,000 an hour. Would that be a really good salary? I could tell her some of the truth.

"Uhm, I make a decent living. Nothing to complain about. Why?"

"Well, the really large tip at the restaurant and that car. Christian, that car! I can't imagine how much renting something like that costs. I just wanted you to know it's not necessary. You don't have to get something that extravagant, just for me."

"You didn't enjoy yourself?"

"No! That's not what I mean at all. I've had a wonderful time. I was actually nervous. I've never been in anything like that and didn't want to break anything. It was all so fancy. I just don't want you to go through a lot of hoops and honestly waste hard earned money. None of us are millionaires." I nearly spit my ice tea across the room. She's right on one thing, neither of us are millionaires.

"I think you're worth every penny I have. What if I was a wealthy man, would you have a problem with that?"

She blushes at my question. "I don't think so but why would you be here with lonely ol' me in this match box apartment? You could have any one you wanted with that devilishly grin of yours and be in a lavish penthouse somewhere spending your millions."

Leaning in closer "I like being in this match box apartment with you. Anastasia, you are beautiful never, ever doubt that." She blushes again. I don't think she's used to compliments. I lean in to softly to kiss her. "What did that last song say…you're amazing just the way you are?" She giggles. "I love that sound."

"Christian, do you have to be home…" she starts to ask but my phone starts to vibrate like crazy. After Elena's call I put the phone on vibrate. I look at the screen and it's Taylor. "Damn. I need to take this Ana. Yes?...I know…ok, fine tell her we can leave at 9pm…I'll catch a cab from here."

"Is everything ok?"

"Yes, that was an unwelcome reminder about work. Unfortunately I need to leave. I have a big meeting in the morning and need to be back in Seattle."

"Seattle? Why Seattle?"

"That's where my office is so the meeting should be there."

APOV

He doesn't live in Portland. Just wonderful! I meet someone that I want to spend more time with and he lives almost three hours away. I'm tired of this. I like him but this whole day he's been holding back. I feel like he's hiding something. If Rachel were here she'd tell me to go with my gut but when I look into those gray eyes of his, I feel powerless to do anything else. Is there a wife or girlfriend back in Seattle is that it? Why would be bother to ask me out if he knew he would have to leave. I need proper answers from him. I don't like this cat and mouse game this is turning in to. "Christian, I need to know what's going on. I'll be honest with you, I really like you and want to spend more time getting to know you but I feel like you're not being open and honest with me. I've had to drag information from you, now you're telling me you're leaving, literally leaving town. I don't want to continue like this. What's going on?"

I can see that he's stressing about what I've said. He starts pacing and running his hand through his hair like he did during that tense phone call from earlier. "Please Ana, don't walk away from me. I like you too, it's just that my life can be…complicated."

"Would you tell me why it's complicated?"

CPOV

Tell her? She wants me to tell her. I should just walk away from all of this. I don't do relationships and that's what she's asking of me; more. This woman has done something to me. I don't want to miss lead her but what she's asking is too much for me. I can't deal with this. I grab my jacket and shoes and head towards the door.

"You're leaving? Just like that?"

"It's for the best. Things are just too messy and I don't want to bring you into my world. Especially with all that you've been through and still dealing with. It wouldn't be right."

She walks over to me, taking my hand. "You can't ask me not to walk away and then you do just that. Christian, I'm a big girl and contrary to recent events, can take care of myself. Do you really want to leave?"

"No." That's the most honest thing I've said all day. "It's just that…" She puts her finger over my lips to quiet me.

"Sometimes, we need to start from the beginning to move forward. I am willing if you are." She sounds just like Flynn. Her eyes are pleading with me. I nod for her to continue. "Hi." She says putting her hand out. "I'm sorry those teenagers put you through the ringer." She pretending it's the first time we're meeting. This girl is so sweet. "My name is Anastasia Rose Steele. It's a pleasure to meet you. And you are?"

My phone starts to vibrate again. I quickly glance down and it's Taylor calling again. Taylor is a good guy. He's loyal to a fault and always does his best to do what's right. I only want Ana to know good things about me; not that there are any. For her I can be whatever she wants me to be. I take Ana's hand and kiss the top instead of the customary shake she was expecting. "Enchanté Mademoiselle Steele. Thank you for taking care of me when I wasn't able to take care of myself. It has been my sincere pleasure to meet you. " Looking at those big blue eyes of hers; I just want to hold her, protect her and make sure she's happy. For her I will try to be good…like Taylor. "My name is Christian…Christian Taylor."

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