Fifty Shades Reversed

Chapter 21

The Dinner Date – Ana

A/N: I'm sorry. I know it's been waaaay too long since I've updated this story. So here it finally is, the next chapter. Not a very long one but here for all of you to (I hope) enjoy. Especially you, SmileRose.

Funny, how our relationship is so reversed. Shouldn't Christian be the one picking me up for a date? Shouldn't he be the one taking me out for dinner and not the other way around? And who pursued whom? In all honesty I'm just what everybody must assume I am, the kind of person I chide Evelyn Clairmont, CEO of Clairmont Industries Inc. of being: a fucking cougar. Shake it off, Steele! You love the man don't you? Who gives a fuck if he's six years younger and yet unemployed? You look smokin' hot in that midnight blue Prada and matching Jimmy Choos. You're going to knock him senseless and later tonight, the two of you will have a fucking good time… literally speaking of course. And you know you can hardly wait!

Go ahead, try to convince yourself all you want. You may be dressed to the nines and whatever but the fact is there's an age difference. And all the fucking in the world ain't gonna change that.

Thanks a lot you miserable hag! Why'd you have to show up anyway? I was doing fine without you. What are you trying to do, ruin my evening for me? Go. Away. Leave me alone so I can have a lovely dinner with my lover. Yes, that's right, my YOUNGER LOVER! Vamooss! Get. Out. Now!

UGH! I hate that woman! While I'm in the backseat playing with a scale, weighing my doubts vs. triumphs… not to mention vacating that horrible distraction from my brain, I find I'm oblivious to our surroundings until O'Neal informs me that we've now arrived at our destination: Christian's apartment. My concerns fade away once I see him stride out the door. Jesus, will you look at that suit, that suit is gorgeous! Probably Armani. And doesn't the guy wearing that fine fabric look magnificent in it. Yes, he takes my breath away no matter what he wears… or doesn't. (wink, wink.) That's what's most important, to me not his fucking age!

Christian, that simmering sexpot slides next to me on the seat, kisses my cheek and can't help but give me an approving once-over. "My, my, Ms. Steele, don't you look hot tonight!" Which makes me tingle all over with appreciation and that cheek, still reveling his kiss, blushes a dark pink.

"Hmm, thank you, Mr. Grey but great minds must think alike because you look fantastic! Shame to peel that suit off of you later." God, does he smells divine, too. His glorious scent is making me wet.

He growls and starts to playfully undo his tie. What a naughty little Christian I have in my view. Ooo, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

…

"Ms. Steele, this place looks spectacular."

Christian's first impression as we enter The Georgian arm in arm sums it up to a tee. "And the food is wonderful, too." Being Anastasia Steele, CEO pulls a lot of weight in establishment such as this: Means no waiting even without a reservation. But Kim took care of that tiny matter for me.

"Ah, Ms. Steele. How wonderful to see you tonight. Come, let me take you to your private table."

"Thank you, Clayton." I can just see the gears start to turn in Christian's mind. Yes, I have a private table. So what.

"I see you come here a lot." He whispers.

"Uh, yes. Like I said the food is good. And, uh, business clients like it too."

"Does that include future submissives?"

I pause, slightly embarrassed but not totally surprised by his inquiry. Clayton pulls my chair out for me and we order wine, the finest on the menu. I sit down and stare out the window gazing at the stunning view of Seattle before replying, "Yes."

"Fortunate fellows." He smirked.

Yes. Fond memories of Sean and Paul and Donald and…

I feign a smile and see the waiter is quick with the wine. Good. Ah, wonderful bouquet. I raise my glass, clink, "Here's to us Christian."

"Ah, I thought that was you, Ana."

Oh my God! That deep, Irish brogue, that husky scent! I know of only one… But what's he doing here? "Aiden?"

"Yes. And hello." He answers, with a grin that would make any woman's heart flutter, "Had to come over and see for myself if it was you or not. Glad I was right." Twirling a half-empty glass of Scotch in his left hand he looks over at Christian. "And you must be her brother. I'm Aiden. Aiden Cassidy."

Oh shit!

Christian's green-eyed monster is smoldering; waiting for me to make a correction… which I am too tongue-tied to do. To elevate the awkwardness he unwillingly decides to play along. It's with a forced smile he introduces himself. "Christian."

Jesus. Am I screwed!

"It's a joy to see siblings as close as you two. I doubt if I'd ever have gotten my older sister to take me out to dinner. You must be very proud of her, ay Christian. To be so successful at such a young age is admirable. Sure as hell surprised the pants off of me."

Oops. Those were wrong choices of words for that sexy smirking Irishman to use. Christian looks ready to pounce, to tear him limb from limb. His self-control is sure working overtime now. And I'm impressed. "Yes, yes I am. And we are. Very, close. Closer than one might even imagine. Extremely, close. In fact it's hard to separate the two of us at times we're that close. Like we are in some way connected." He smirks then asks me in dripping sarcasm, "Isn't that right Sis?"

Oh. My. God, what must Aiden be thinking! I could kill Christian right now. He didn't have to go THAT far to prove his point! My cheeks feel flushed and I find my reply is a stuttered, "O-oh yes. Close."

"Well, I'll leave the two of you top your meal. Nice to meet you Christian and Ana, I'll see you on Friday."

Aiden walks away back toward the bar and we're left in an uncomfortable silence. Those daggers my dinner partner is throwing my way feel worse than a migraine headache. Just say something will you instead of leaning against with your arms folded on the table with a perturbed look on your face that has me feeling like a folded napkin!

"Brother?" he growls, "You let that asshole think I'm your brother? Who the hell is he anyway and why didn't you correct him?"

"He's just a client, that's all. And I don't know why… I guess because I was so shocked to see him that I wasn't even thinking."

"A client? Do you fall apart over each client like that or just those that you are attracted to."

"What? What are you talking about? I'm not attracted to him!"

"Oh bullshit! I'm not stupid or blind! I saw the way you looked at him and the way he looked at you."

"Excuse me? The way we looked at each other? I have no idea what you mean. I don't see why you're so jealous over a business associate of mine. Because that is all he is to me."

"Oh, he wants more than to be just a business associate, Ana. I could tell he'd like nothing more than to take you up to his hotel bedroom and fuck you senseless until your meeting on Friday!"

"Calm down, Christian. That accusation is ludicrous. Do you realize how ridiculous you're sounding?"

"You want to know what's ridiculous? Ridiculous is when the woman you love hasn't the balls to introduce you has her boyfriend in front of 'clients'. Or maybe it's the public in general. What, are you ashamed of me? Are you too embarrassed of what people might think if they know Anastasia Steele is in a relationship with a younger man?"

I am too taken aback to responded immediately. Which just fuels his ire. Maybe he speaks the truth. Maybe you're too in denial. I'm too confused to even argue with that miserable hag. "That, is absurd, Christian. And way out of line."

"Is it? Is it really? Because I don't think so."

"I can't believe you said that. Or would even think such a thing. Oh no?

What is he doing throwing down his napkin and getting out of his seat? "I've suddenly lost my appetite."

"What? What are you doing? Where are you going?"

"Home, 'Sis'." He replies before turning to leave, "Where I belong."

"Christian, wait! Don't…" But he ignores me; keeps walking away oblivious to the sound of my voice. This, this can't be happening! The man I'm in love with and adore with all my heart, Yes, you miserable hag, I love him! just got up and left. I get up myself and follow him in hopes of convincing that man I've unintentionally insulted to the core to reconsider and return.

But I'm too late. He's already in a cab and driving away. What did I do to cause him to leave so abruptly? I've got to get him back. I've got to prove to him he's wrong. Because... I can't live without him. He's everything to me.

Oh, Christian, what have I done to you?