Disclaimer: The characters portrayed in this story are those in E L James's Fifty Shades Trilogy, therefore they remain her property. The plot and themes in this story are those of the author. The author is in no way affiliated with James. No copyright infringement intended.
More on its way tomorrow guys!
Much love :) x
"Just take it easy today. Please."
I grab his hand and raise to it my lips, undoing my seatbelt to climb out. "I will. Is Sawyer already here?"
"Yes. He's got the car with him, ready to drive you home after work. I've got a late meeting tonight." Christian shrugs at me.
"Okay, what time do you think you'll be back?"
"I don't know, late. I'll contact you later."
I reach across to him, manoeuvering around the gear stick to kiss him.
"Laters baby!" I giggle, sliding out of the R8 and heading off into the reception of Grey Publishing.
Every time I walk through the building a thousand people stop in my presence, smiling and wishing me a good day. I know that they do this only because I'm married to the boss, but it still brings a smile to my face. Being polite costs you nothing!
"Mrs Grey -" Danielle shouts after me, jumping into the elevator beside me. Lately she's been doing everything she can to prove herself to me, part of me wants to just forget what happened - accept it and move on - but the Grey in me can't let that happen. She fucked up, it's going to take a lot to rectify that.
"Danielle?"
"I have the list of applicants for you, the first one is scheduled for one." She hands me a piece of paper full of names. I was surprised to see so many people had applied for the role here, considering it was only officially advertised last week. Christian had to remind me that having Grey on your resumé is like discovering the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It appears his last name is the key to so many doors in this world! My last name.
"Thank you. Is there anything else?"
"Erm, a package arrived for you this morning. I brought it straight up to your office."
"Danielle, I have an assistant to do that for me. You don't need to do that."
"I know, I wanted to." She smiles at me, adjusting her hair and tugging her waistcoat into place.
"I appreciate it. Can you please call Mark and ask him if he's free to interview with me, if not I'll just do it on my own."
"Of course."
I nod to her, thanking God that the elevator has now arrived at my floor.
Making a quick exit I head straight into my office, accepting Hannah's offer for a cup of tea on my way past her. Setting down into my chair I power up my computer, getting ready for the busy day ahead. I instinctively check my emails first and I am thrilled to see nothing else from bitch troll. Just one more day and she's out of our lives!
Flashing at the top of the screen is a new message.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Tonight
Date: 22nd November 2011 09:03:35AM
To: Anastasia Grey
My meeting tonight will run til around 9. I should be home for ten, but of course this might change.
I know that you will roll your eyes at this, so please remember that I am only saying this because I love you - and I will take you over my knee if necessary - but please take it easy today. No stress, no shouting or going crazy. If it becomes too much, leave and head home. I mean it. It's not good for either of you.
I look forward to seeing you tonight.
I love you both.
C
x
Christian Grey
Ready to take mischievous wife over my knee for eye rolling offences, CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
From: Anastasia Grey
Subject: Looks like...
Date: 22nd November 2011 09:04:56AM
To: Christian Grey
... I'll be requiring a spanking this evening Sir.
I will take it easy - I'll be spending most of the day on my backside questioning people about why they want to work for a tyrant like you.
I love you more.
Ana
xxx
P.S. Blips sends his love and asks for his Daddy to remember that Mommy is a strong woman and doesn't need him worrying about her.
Anastasia Grey
Personal messenger for Baby Grey & Editor, Grey Publishing Ltd.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: RE: Blip's response
Date: 22nd November 2011 09:06:49AM
To: Anastasia Grey
Please could you pass on my love to Blip and remind him that he is one of the reasons why I worry about Mommy so much. I will never stop worrying about either of you. You are my life.
My palm is already twitching Mrs Grey.
Tyrant? I can show you tyrant. Your behind is mine.
Laters Baby
C
x
Christian Grey
CEO with twitching palm and one massive hard on, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
Grinning, I close my emails. Christian and his twitching palm! I start to tingle just thinking about him. If someone had told me a year ago that I would enjoy being spanked while a kinky fucker like him shoves silver balls into me, I would have slapped them down and suggest they need medical help! Meeting Christian sure has opened my eyes to a lot of things. He is the sole reason for my happiness, bar our baby.
My intercom starts to bleep, interrupting my thoughts of Christian punishing me. I reach across and answer it, hearing Danielle bursting to life on the other end.
"Mrs Grey, I have called Mark and he said he can't make the interviews today. He said to pass on his apologies. Would you like anyone else to sit in with you?"
"No, I'll just interview them on my own. It's fine. Thank you." I switch off the call and sit back in my chair.
It's fine, you can do this. I repeat this mantra to myself over and over, trying to believe it. I've interviewed many people before, when I needed to hire someone to fulfill my duties while I was on break, but I had Mark there with me. Someone else to share the questioning with; someone who knew what they were doing.
"Now would be a great time for you to start turning Mommy into Daddy! I could use some of him right now, in more ways than one!" I whisper down to Blip, resting one hand against him.
Leaning back in my chair I start to plan questions in my mind - things I need to ask them, should ask them and things I should avoid at all costs. I let my eyes fleet around my office, tracing the window and book shelves opposite me, the piles of papers dotted around my desk, my photograph of Christian and I, and lastly to the square package on the chair in front of me.
Standing up from my chair I walk around the desk, to examine the package closer. It's quite small. I lift it and check its weight - light. Taking it back to my seat I notice a small white card attached to it, handwritten.
Mrs Grey,
Best Wishes
"What? No name?" I whisper, turning the card around between my fingers. "Who sends a gift with no name attached to it?"
I place the package down on my desk, shuffling my chair closer. It's wrapped in brown paper, with string around the middle. It's thin, only a couple of inches wide. I feel through the paper and try to second guess what it is before unwrapping it. Canvas?
Taking one finger under the string I pull the package apart; the paper opening immediately. I tear the paper from it, revealing a small canvas underneath. I flip the package over, so the front is facing me.
A painting?
In my hands lays a small oil painting. A delicate and intricate picture of a coastline - a yacht in the background settled on the waves. The colours are beautiful - the sunset a mix of peach, rose and lilac; the water a calm contrast of light blue and creams reflecting the light. It oozes tranquility and peace, the yacht still and in the distance reminding me of our honeymoon and yacht in the South of France. It's beautiful. I check the piece all over for any signature or identity of the artist but there is nothing. No clue as to who has sent this to me. I admire the piece in my hands, taking in its beauty once more. I have seen work like this before - the subtle grace of the painting, as if it comes second nature to whoever painted it.
Something goes off inside me, like a lightning bolt, causing me to drop the painting on the desk. I close my eyes and think back to the picture I saw in Christian's office - it's similar: the simple theme, the easy, free-flowing penmanship. The only things that are different are the colours. The same artist?
My stomach drops, thinking of how he refused to tell me who it was from. How he avoided it - brushing over it or taking a phone call hoping I'd just forget about it.
Shoving the painting aside, confused and annoyed, I open up my emails once more. Should I tell him? I start to type out my message to him, but erase it all and starting over. I can't just come out with it; he'll steer clear of it again.
A fleeting thought passes through my mind, maybe Christian had it sent over? Its a long shot but a possibility. It could just be a coincidence - I'm sure there are many artists who have similar styles.
From: Anastasia Grey
Subject: Did you...
Date: 22nd November 2011 10:14:55AM
To: Christian Grey
... send me anything this morning?
A
x
Anastasia Grey
Confused Editor, Grey Publishing Ltd.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Did you...
Date: 22nd November 2011 10:15:53AM
To: Anastasia Grey
No. I haven't sent you anything. Why?
C
x
Christian Grey
Equally confused CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
From: Anastasia Grey
Subject: Never mind
Date: 22nd November 2011 10:17:02AM
To: Christian Grey
I just received something and there was no name attached, was just wondering if it was from you.
Never mind.
See you tonight.
Ana
x
Anastasia Grey
Editor, Grey Publishing Ltd.
I allow my mind to run away with me, thinking of anything that Christian could have said or given away when I confronted him weeks ago about the one in his office. There's nothing! He said nothing! My subconscious screams at me.
I'm interrupted from my thoughts by my phone bleeping in front of me. I pull it up from my desk and bring it straight to my ear.
"Ana?" Hannah's voice bursting through the speaker.
"Yes?"
"You have a guest in conference room 2."
"I thought the first interview was scheduled for one?"
"Erm, it is. I guess they must have been eager to see you? Claire just sent them straight up." Her voice queries, mimicking my confusion.
"Okay, I'm on my way now. Oh, Hannah?"
"Yes?"
"I had a package delivered this morning, do you know anything about it?"
"Yeah, Claire called up to say a young man delivered it first thing. I was going to collect it when Danielle jumped first. Is there a problem?" She replies to me.
"No, no problem." I hang up, putting the phone back on to the desk and rising from my chair.
Smoothing down my dress and pushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear I try to compose myself. You can do this. They're probably just as nervous as you. I glance down at the painting one last time, dismissing it and heading out of the door.
Conference room two is the smallest room we have, why would we hold the interviews in here?
I question the decision of whomever decided to send the first applicant up here, but thank their choice for getting a room on the same floor as my office. Although pregnancy has yet to cause me any great issues with walking or moving, my feet have taken a battering from the new patent heels I thought would be a good idea this morning when I dressed. Little did I know that withing ten minutes of having them on my feet, I would be in extruitating pain! Maybe I should leave shoe shopping to Christian? The ones he chooses never hurt - it's like walking on air when I wear them.
The walk over to the room is short, just down the hall past the restrooms. Reaching the door I take a deep breath and hold the door knob in my hand. Everything will be okay. I let the breath out and open the door, facing my fears.
The room is bright, the sun shining in through the window opposite. She's sat at the chair at the far end of the round table in the middle of the room. The light bounces off her hair, almost making it appear white. Her eyes find mine instantly, piercing a hole through me.
"Anastasia." She smiles slyly at me, her tongue flicking my name out of her mouth like a serpent.
I freeze to the floor for a moment, my eyes fixed to hers - impossible to break hold with them.
"Elena."
