JUNE 2ND 2005

"How is she?" I ask mom the minute she walks through the door.

"She's fine… just got a bump on her head." I practically deflate in my mother's arms. "What happened?" All week I'd made headlines, for some reason having a glass and steel structure being built in the heart of Seattle gets you an unwanted amount of attention. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one being hounded.

"Mia called me earlier and said there were a few reporters camped outside their school. I'm guessing one of the kids or their parents must have talked." We had gone to great lengths to keep Ana and Mia out of all this. "When Elliot and I got there to pick them up…mom their numbers have tripled, they kept pushing and shoving and one of them grabbed Ana and she kicked him, he let go of her and she lost her balance and fell…"

"Grace, Christian…"

"Ray she's fine, just a small bump on her head, they want to keep an eye on her for a few hours to make sure nothing else comes up."

"Take this, call them and give them my name, because it's clear you need security and not just any kind. I'm going to see Ana. Fucking reporters." With that, he's out the room. I open the folder and find a long list of security personal, names and background information.


"So he has to follow me around everywhere I go?" Ana asks clearly not happy.

"Yes."

"Don't I get any say in this?" I laugh.

"If I don't get any say in this, what makes you think you do? I'm six two and a good few pounds on you and I have to have a CPO." I say running my fingers through my hair more like tugging. "Ana it's for your safety… I can't go through what I went through outside your school again, so yes the burly man is going to follow you around and scare the crap out of reporters and paparazzi." I tell her pleadingly.

"I love you and it's not because of your bed hair but I don't think patches of bald spots on your head looks good. The burly man can follow me just so you can stop pulling your hair."

"Thank you," I tell her chuckling.

The burly men as Ana affectionately calls them has had an effect, I still get reporters in my face but they are only brave enough to do so when there is a large number of them and that only happens when I attend functions.

The constant attention to me and my business has given me some clout and bargaining power and I used it to my advantage, I filed a harassment report on the reporter that grabbed Ana, I know I won't get anywhere with it but they need to know that kind of behavior will not be tolerated.

SEPTEMBER 17TH 2005

"Are there going to be boys?" She rolls her eyes at my question.

"There were boys at my party, so yes there will be boys at hers," she tells me clearly annoyed at my line of questioning.

"Ana I was 16 once I know what happens at these parties, they are not as innocent as you make them sound."

"Mine was."

"Yes, because there a large amount of parental supervision."

"Don't remind me, choked all the fun out of my party." I ignore the attitude.

"You do not drink anything handed to you, get your own drinks, if you come home smelling of alcohol I will tell Ray."

"You wouldn't," she says with a look of utter shock.

"Try me."

"I can't believe you, I kept my mouth shut when you bought that bottle of vodka."

"I was 15 and thought my world had ended."

"When you put it like that… I will be on my best behavior, no alcohol, I will get my own drinks and look I'm even wearing my panic alarm bracelet."

"Good, you know I worry… I just want you to be safe." I hug the life out of her.

"You are squashing me."


"When will it be ready?" I ask the realtor.

"In just under two years," she says like it's not a big deal.

"I'm putting a down payment of a million dollars for an apartment that won't be ready for two years."

"If you don't some else will." So she keeps telling me. "And doing this now means it will be finished to your specification, the style of the bathrooms, kitchen, paint colors and the security features can all be incorporated before you move in." I sign a check of a million dollars over to the sales rep for the new building not far from Pike Market. "Mr Grey, it's been a pleasure doing business with you." She keeps hold of my hand a little too long; I politely take my hand away. "What are your plans…" She's interrupted by Taylor busting through the doors. "Sir, Miss Steele activated her panic alarm."


DECEMBER 14TH 2011

"Blue, gray and white," Mia asks with obvious disgust.

"Yes." Ana and I answer at the same time.

"But…"

"No buts Mia, we've picked our colors." This conversation was over as far as I was concerned but Ana didn't want to alienate our newly appointed wedding planner.

"Mia, my favorite color is gray; Christian's is blue that's why we picked them," Ana says matching my beaming smile.

"Now invites." Mom quickly asks before Mia can further protest.

"Hundred, under hundred even better." I say.

"You can't be serious." l am quickly losing my patience with Mia.

"I don't believe Christian and Ana have a hundred friends among them," Ray adds before Mia can say anything else.

"Why don't you just invite the people invited to the engagement party? I believe that was around ninety or so. Kate adds.

"Perfect." With the exception of Mia, everyone else seems to be easy going and understands this is our wedding. Mia looks around and quickly realizes the same.

"Okay, flowers," Mia asks.

"Roses." My girl and I are in sync. Roses might not be the obvious choice of flowers for a wedding but it's want we want.

"We can probably get colored blue and grey roses and get some white roses. The men can wear a red rose on their lapels.

"Thanks, Mia, that's brilliant," I say beaming at her. I always get my way, well except when it comes to Ana.

"I will have some food and cake samples for you in a couple of weeks since the wedding is now on the first weekend of March," Mia adds. Ana squirms next to me I know she's recalling the tryst at the Heathman. Score one for Christian Grey.

"It's all great but where are we doing all this." My dad asks. I thought we told them.

"Oh yeah, venue, Ana you wanted somewhere outdoors."

"Not somewhere, here." From the look on my mom's face, we don't need to ask if it's okay.

"So that's everything, Kate's mom is dealing with the bridal party attar and Christian you are sorting the men." I nod. "Ooh best man and maid of honor."

"Elliot."

"Bro, I'm honored."

"As you should be," I add.

"I could say no you know I might be busy that day."

"Elliot is best man, Kate is maid of honor, Ethan is the groomsman and Mia will be my bridesmaid," she says in her no-nonsense way. "I know you will be handling a lot that day Mia but…"

"Ana I'm thrilled."

"Excellent with that sorted Ana and I bid you farewell," I say with a bow making Ana giggle.

"Mr Grey, Mr Grey."

"I heard you the first time." I checked out of this meeting the moment I heard the word sell and now I have been rudely pulled out of my reminiscing just as it was getting to the good part. The part where I had Ana bent over the car and…"

"So what do you think Mr Grey?" This is the second time in a little over a month I've turned up at a meeting only to find the proposal represented to me to be vastly different from what got me to the meeting in the fist place. And these lying asswipes got me to New York by using my charitable good deed and now they are talking about selling their product. They have quite cleverly designed what is effectively concrete tents and one you can put up in less than an hour. I was excited when they contacted me, saying they needed help to get to the areas where this will be vastly needed like the refugee camps in places like Sudan. And now all I'm hearing is things like selling, profit margin, gross income and net income.

"Who exactly are you planning on selling your product to?"

"Well, the government that require…"

"You are either stupid or extremely ignorant."

"The government, the government of these countries is the reason their people find themselves in this position to begin with."

"Which one are you, stupid or ignorant. If I get my way which I will, your patent application will not see the light of day much less granted. It's a beautiful idea quite perfect for its intended purpose, therefore, it will find its way to the necessary areas with or without you. Good day gentleman." I am very happy to help get their tents to the necessary areas without them if need be. It's not like they need the money. The beauty of this product is you don't need a crack team of experts to put one up, all it requires are people willing to work.


I've been back to the office for a couple of hours and I'm still in a foul mood. I loved New York the last time I was here, Ana and I was celebrating her birthday, more importantly, our engagement. I've been here since Monday and all I can think about is Ana, Anastasia, Anastasia Rose Steele, Anastasia Rose Grey, Mrs Grey, Hello Mr and Mrs Grey. Yes, I miss my fiancée.

I hate those fools for dragging me here. "Mr Grey, you have a visitor." Which part of do…?

"I don't care if it's the president of the United States of America tell them to fuck off." Just then my door crashes open and I'm about…

"Now, now Mr Grey is that any way to treat your guest."

"Ana." Is all I manage before my lips find hers. "Oh god, I've missed you."

"Yes, I can tell. I've missed you too."

"What happened to your meetings?"

"Jack took them off my hands as I was in a foul mood and of no help to anyone."

"That man is proving more and more brilliant each day," I say making Ana giggle. I can't help but kiss her again. "What a pair we make."

"It's official under no circumstances are you leaving me," she tells me running her hands through my overgrown hair.

"Ditto."

"Ditto?" She questions slowly.

"You know, I agree."

"I know what ditto means. I just didn't know it was part of your vocabulary." She says raising her eyebrows at me. She knows why I said it and yet she's just going to make me say it out loud.

"There was nothing else to do so I watched a couple of films," I mumble.

"Uh huh, what films?" She asks trying not to laugh.

"You know."

"No, I don't Mr Grey, enlighten me."

"I was watching Ghost and Dirty Dancing." I murmur.

"Ghost and Dirty Dancing… Oh, you mean the girlie trifle anyone remotely calling themselves a man wouldn't be caught dead watching, that Ghost."

"Yes that Ghost, happy now."

"Delirious." I've missed her and her smart mouth.

"Let's go for dinner, I am famished," I say dragging her out of the office.

ANA

EARLIER IN SEATTLE

I've buried myself in work to stop myself thinking about Christian, he went to New York on Monday, he moaned about it but in the end, he went, after all, it's a project for charity. God, I miss him terrible and find myself looking at flight information when a knock on my door distracts me. "Come in."

"Ana Alex Fox is in the lobby making a lot of noise, she doesn't believe Mr Grey isn't in the building," Sawyer says smirking.

"Send her up."

"One sacrificial lamb coming right up," he says making me laugh. I sit up straight behind my desk and wait for her.

Sawyer opens my door and Alex storms in. "Where is Christian?"

"On a business trip. He will be back on Friday if you wish to wait for him." She's a little taken aback by my demeanor. I guess after slapping her hand away she expects me to try and scratch her eyes out. Sawyer smiles and closes the door but I can tell he's standing just behind it.

"I can't get a job anywhere and I know it's because of him."

"How do you know that? Did they tell you it was because of Christian?"

"No but I know he did it, his mother put him up to it."

"No… I did." Something else she didn't expect.

"So you are jealous after all," she says smirking. I let her enjoy the moment a little while before I snatch the carpet from under her feet.

"Nothing to do with jealousy, I hate Fredrick Parker and you decided to leave your family and a guaranteed job to help him do what exactly. You know Christian, do you really think he is that fickle." There are no words to describe the look on her face and it takes an effort not to laugh. "If he paid you the additional half a million you shouldn't be that bothered about not being able to get a job, you did this for the money and now it's all you have." She drops down on the seat in front of my desk. "I didn't ask you to sit down." She gets up so quickly she sends the chair sprawling.

"Please, I will leave Seattle I just need Christian…"

"Oh you will leave Seattle or you can kiss the money that rat gave you goodbye. Turns out the rat took the money from the family business while he was working there; I believe it's called embezzlement."

"Ana Pl…"

"Ana is reserved for my friends, do yourself a favor get out and keep going. "Sawyer." He's through the door in a heartbeat.

"Escort her out my building."

"Yes, Ana."

"If I find out you are still in Seattle come tomorrow morning you can practice medicine in a prison infirmary. One more thing, make any attempts to warn Parker and it will be the last thing you do." Good riddance.

CHRISTIAN

"Ana, Ana Steele."

"Oh wow, Mike." So this is Mike, good looking fucker. "I heard you moved here, how are you?"

"I'm good, great in fact." I clear my throat.

"Mike, this is my fiancé Christian Grey. Christian this is…"

"Michael Landis." I say, not missing the look that crossed his features, fucker still wants Ana.

"So tell me, are you conquering the publishing world," he asks Ana.

"Wouldn't say conquering, but I am an editor."

"What about you?"

"I'm an Architect with a firm here in town." He's a lot more than that; he's wearing a five thousand dollar Brioni cashmere and silk suit.

"All that doodling paid off."

"God Ana, it was great seeing you."

"You too." I watch them exchange emails and it takes every effort not scream at Ana. Can't she see the fucker still wants her? She finally turns to me and tries to take my hand as we walk into the restaurant but I pull my hand away and shove them in my pocket. I'm acting like an ass but right now I can't help it.


Ana storms into the bedroom and slams the door, what was I thinking she gave me no reason to be jealous and the moment he walked away I completely ignored her the entire meal. Way to act like an asshole Grey.

"Ana, I'm sorry; I was feeling a little jealous."

"OFF WHAT, did you forget the reason why I broke up with Mike?"

"No."

"Did you forget that apart from kissing nothing happened?"

"No." But it didn't stop my mind from conjuring up more.

"And you still acted the way you did." She doesn't wait for my response and goes back to sleep. She has never been this angry at me. I don't know what happened, the moment she hugged him all I saw was his hands all over her.

My being jealous is nothing new, I was that way about our friendship, in all the time I've known Ana I've only ever encouraged her to pursue one other friendship and that didn't end well. I was extremely dubious of Kate when I noticed she and Ana were becoming more than roommates. My jealousy of Mike was unfounded and worse I treated Ana like she did something wrong. Mike might want her but it doesn't mean she feels the same. She was jealous in Portland but we had a hell of a lot of fun with it… we could because she didn't act like I did something wrong, she marked her territory why couldn't I do that instead of acting like an asshole.

I have tossed and turned all night, god this so far removed from the last time we were here, I couldn't put a foot wrong then. She's asleep but I talk to her all the same. "Ana I'm so so sorry. My actions tonight… fuck there are no words to describe just how stupid, idiotic and downright moronic my actions were. I had no reason to be jealous…"

"I don't have a problem with the fact that you were jealous, it was the way you acted after. You wouldn't talk to me and when I tried you shut me down."

"I didn't realize you were awake."

"Couldn't sleep with you..."

"Sorry." I wait and wait for her to say something anything the silence is deafening. "Ana say something."

"What would you like me to say?"

"You were so happy to see him…"

"I was just glad he didn't hate me." What? "I knew for months he wasn't the guy for me and yet I strung him along… while all his friends were getting hand jobs, blowjobs and sex I was the girlfriend who wouldn't do any of that and he never pushed never put any pressure on me. He was the perfect gentleman and I…"

"Baby you were 17 years old…"

"It doesn't change the fact that I felt bad, seeing him today just brought it all back."

"And I added to it by being a complete asshole."

"Seeing that small flicker of hurt in his eyes when I introduced you was heartbreaking. He'd asked me several times if it was you I wanted and I denied it, only to introduce you as my fiancé." So that was what I saw and I read it as him wanting her.

"I'm sorry, baby; you came here to surprise me and…"

"It's all right; we both know I can't stay mad at you for too long, I love you too much."

"I love you too," I say moving closer to her.

"Don't get any ideas." Damn.


AN: Is just me or is there no way to delete outgoing messages.