The Georgetown Ball Room was packed by the time we arrived. Hundreds of people I'd never met were clamouring to meet me, shake my hand, and kiss me on the cheek. Someone even pinched my bum, but I'm pretty sure that was Christian. Not like, 100% sure. But it was just after one of his lawyers? Banker? Someone related to his funds had begun boring me to death with information on the current stock market, and how important it was that Christian went public with his business now.

The room itself was gorgeous. The bare brick walls were covered in twinkly lights which hung from the ceilings, and the Jolly Roger sign flashed like something from Vegas.

Of course, the main attraction was Mia. She looked incredible in a deep blue velvet dress, with feathers around the hem and Louboutins to match.

"I have a little surprise for you!" she cooed, as she slung her arm through mine and dragged me away from the hedge fund manager I'd been pretending to listen to.

Then I heard a voice I'd recognise anywhere. Kate was standing by the bar, drinking a Cosmo and eyeing up the girl Elliot was talking to with an expression I could only call contempt. But when she spotted me her eyes lit up, her arms went wide and she actually ran in her heels towards me. I clung onto her so hard I thought she might break, and we did that awkward jumpy girly squealy thing teens do when they've not seen each other in two days.

"Oh my god Steele! You look incredible!"

"So do you!" (She always did, but I wasn't going to ruin the moment.)

"Where have you been all my life? I've not seen you since I came to visit, and you never call any more…"

Mia saved me for a second time, by interjecting.

"She's writing a book. Originally it was going to be a romance, but now it's a murder mystery. She's constantly locked in her room typing away. No one sees much of her anymore. Just as we free one recluse, another takes his place."

She giggled and then sipped her champagne; Kate also laughed, but there was something behind her eyes that didn't find it funny at all.

"Well, when you get a minute – tell me all about it, okay?"

"Okay," I replied, hoping that if I kept smiling, she'd eventually relax so that I could.

Elliot strolled up to the three of us and slung his arm around Kate. She immediately turned her body into him, wrapping an arm around him but she was still obviously tense.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"Some girl I went to school with."

"Oh?" It was such an obvious question, that I blushed for Kate. She didn't seem to care that she was prying, but even Mia made an excuse to leave at this point.

"Nothing like that. She's not my type," Elliot said, kissing Kate on the forehead.

"Really?" Kate took an indignant sip of her drink, and I could feel myself blushing again.

"I didn't take you for the jealous type," Elliot said. There was no indignation in his voice, he seemed somewhat turned on by it. He removed the glass from Kate's hand, placing it on a nearby table. Then he pulled her in close and put the biggest kiss on her lips I'd ever seen. He kissed her hard, like he needed it. Like she needed it too. And she kissed back.

The noises were disgusting.

But I kept watching, and in my stomach I knew I was jealous of this. Jealous that their biggest problem was insignificant. That they could just touch each other whenever they wanted. I felt an arm fall around my waist as Christian appeared beside me. As if I'd summoned him with my thoughts.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, coolly. "But our parents would like to give a toast, and you're expected to participate."

Elliot pulled himself away from Kate with as an abrupt as force as he'd attached himself. Kate looked dazed and delirious, but in the best possible way. Her lipstick was all smudged around her mouth, which she dabbed at haphazardly with a napkin. I resisted the urge to help, as the four of us walked over to the main stage.

Carrick and Grace were already stood on the stage. Mia was fidgeting just beside them. I stepped up carefully, very aware that I was wearing heels far higher than I was used to at Mia's behest. Once all the Grey children were assembled, Carrick tapped his champagne glass which brought the attention back to us. I could feel my cheeks burning under the spot lights. I tried to smile, hoping it would detract from how exposed I felt. It was a party for crying out loud.

"I'd like to start by thanking you all for coming," Carrick said, holding champagne in one hand and his wife's hand in the other. "It has been a good long while since we hosted a gathering such as this. I do hope you haven't felt neglected."

Mild laughter from the crowd.

"My eldest son, Christian, has been working hard – which is an admirable quality to be sure. But when that work gets in the way of family, well, it causes us to question why we do what we do. Which is why it is a great relief to me to know that, Christian has signed a partnership with this young lady here, Anastasia Steele."

Whilst the world around me applauded, a little too loud to be polite, I stared at Christian who just winked in response.

"I don't doubt that this partnership will grow in time, and in the same way as my other son's partnership has. Can we give a warm congratulations to Elliot and Kate, who are now engaged."

Again, raucous applause. I stared at Kate who shrugged her shoulders at me and mouthed 'you never asked.'

Still, she was my best friend. If I'd had been engaged or… No. I had no right to be annoyed. I'd kept big secrets from her since I'd moved in with Christian. She was allowed to have her own.

"And as for our youngest, Mia, she informs me that she is going to start her own clothing line. And we are very proud."

The applause flew up again, though less enthusiastically this time. Mia smiled at her adoring crowd regardless.

"So let's raise our glasses to my wonderful children, to my darling wife, and to an exciting future!"

"To an exciting future!"

We sipped our drinks and the music began again. Christian helped me step down from the stage, as my legs were shaking more than I'd realised and my feet were already starting to hurt.

"Well… that was an interesting surprise…" I said, as I shifted my weight from one foot to another.

"Interesting in a good way?" he asked, smirking.

"Well, it's not every day you get to be a partner in a million dollar company. It does explain why so many bankers and lawyers wanted to talk to me this evening."

"It's a tight knit group, no secret stays a secret for very long."

"Except for this. And your other situation. Why didn't you tell me?"

"You would have said no. But if you dogged determination to help me has proven anything, it's that you put others needs before your own. I respect that, and love you all the more for it. I can't think of anyone better to make decisions for my business if things don't go the way we'd like."

"If," I repeated.

"If."

I had to wait a while to get anywhere near Kate after the engagement announcement. She was waving her left hand around like it was made of gold, but I couldn't begrudge her that. Elliot looked at her with such affection. I just hoped her paranoia died down.

"Congratulations," I said when I was finally close enough. "You'll make a super cute couple."

"Thank you," she said, with genuine sincerity. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just didn't want to say it over the phone and I hadn't seen you in so long that there was never a good time, you know?"

"I get it," I said, reaching for her hand. "I've been an awful friend. I'm so sorry. Whilst you're in town we'll have a proper catch up. I promise."

"Well, maybe we can work on Christian. Then we can be sisters-in-law and we'll have to see each other!" Kate practically shouted.

"I wouldn't bet on it, darling," Elliot said with a familial coolness. "Christian has never been the marrying kind."

Kate looked at me to contradict Elliot, but all I could do was shrug.

"We're just taking it slow, like you suggested. No point rushing these things."

Kate flinched a little, and I realised too late that she'd taken it personally.

"So getting into bed and business with him is fine but heaven for fend he should make an honest woman of you? You've changed your tune quite a lot since we lived together."

"That's not what I meant…"

But Kate wasn't listening, she'd stropped off towards the bar. Elliot smiled kindly at me.

"Don't mind her. Work's tough and she misses you. She just wants your approval."

"Why on earth would she need that?"

"She doesn't need it. But there are a lot of fake people in Miami. She needs to know who her real friends are, and she wants to know that you're one of them."

"Tell her I'm sorry again, and I'll try and be the best friend she's ever had."

"Will do," Elliot replied, moving towards the bar also. Before I could move towards Christian, who was talking to more people I didn't know, Brendan Kyle walked up to me with another glass of champagne.

"To my new client. It'll be nice to see you without worrying if someone is trying to kill you," he laughed. It caused his face to twitch painfully, and I realised under the bad lighting that his skin colour was off slightly.

"Brendan… please don't take this the wrong way… but are you wearing make-up?"

He sighed.

"It's true. Just across my nose. Racket ball accident. Hit me square across the bridge. But, can't look bruised in front of the masses, so here I am looking like a fool instead."

"Cheers to that!" I laughed, sipping my champagne. "So, when did you hear about Christian's plan to make me a partner?" I asked.

"Oh Annette and I were two of the first to know. And of course, Christian's accountant Selene Kemp. We put the proceedings through without any problems."

"Selene Kemp?" I could feel the confusion pulling at my eyebrows. "I guess there's a lot of names I need to know now that I'm his partner."

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. Should anything happen to Christian, Kyle and Kyle will be able to run the company for you. You can spend your time finishing your novel."

Brendan smiled and walked away, leaving me with my half-drunk glass of bubbly. I could already feel it getting to my head, so I put the glass down and tried not to wobble as I walked towards Christian. He excused himself politely from the crowd he was in and met me half way.

"It's nearly midnight, do you have the compass?" he asked quietly.

I pulled it out of my pocket slightly to show him, and then immediately put it back.

"I thought in all the hubbub of tonight, you might have forgotten."

"Not at all," he said. "So how has your evening been? Is the future Mrs Grey still talking to you?"

"Not currently. But Brendan Kyle was friendly, so at least I know someone else here. Did you see his nose though? It looked like someone had broken it, and he's covered it in make-up. Racket ball accident, poor guy."

"Racket ball?" Christian asked, eyebrow raised.

"That's what he said."

"Brendan hates Racket ball. I could never get him to play."

"Maybe because he was worried about losing face to his client?"

"Surely the opposite would be true? Lawyers love sucking up to their big clients."

"Then I've no idea… Wait, he must be a Racket Ball player. On the night I was attacked at home, Annette said he had an important match he was going to."

"That would have been a fencing match. He fences for his local club."

"Fences? The guy who attacked me was wearing a fencing mask!"

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I thought I had, everything was being dealt with for me, I assumed it would be on the CCTV footage?"

"We only saw his black hoody and a black-looking mask. You couldn't tell it was for fencing."

"I hurt him. There'll be blood on the inside of his fencing mask. That's evidence, Christian, that proves he was the one who attacked me."

My voice was getting into more of an irate whisper the more things began clicking into place. Christian went to say something but was cut short. The compass had started making a weird ticking sound. And it was pointing right at Brendan.