Thank you for the reviews, follows and favourites. Good or bad, I appreciate you all taking the time out of your day to review my work. Over sights and mistakes were made on my part and they have now all been corrected. I am also double triple checking everything now and making sure there are none/ little mistakes as possible.

A little Disclaimer: This chapter may seem a little mundane, but don't be put off, bigger things are coming and this will set it alllllll up!

I am working on the chapters constantly, I am trying to get as much as I can done with the time I have. I hope to have at least three updates a week. In time I may set up some sort of schedule for uploads!

Thank you again,

Chloe

XxX

Chapter Two - The Last Day Of Work

Sunday came around a little faster than I'd hoped, today is going to be my last ever shift in the DIY store. I decided to continue working there over the summer as I wasn't quite ready to let go my college life. A job opening of a lifetime forced me to snap out of my comfort zone and finally leave the beloved DIY store I spent many hours stacking shelves, serving customers and having polite and sometimes no so polite conversations with many peope. I can't lie to myself and say I wasn't going to miss the job, but I am. I am going to miss this little store so much.

My alarm clock buzzes, but I am already awake. Truthfully, I hadn't slept much since at least Wednesday last week. My nerves were all over the place and now those Gray eyes made them ten times worse. I shut off the alarm and sit up, stretch my arms out and yawn. I get out of bed and shuffle my feet along the floor towards the bathroom. I turn on the shower, and strip down to my naked body and step in. I wash my body, and my hair and step out feeling a little more refreshed.

30 minutes later and I am ready to go. I am in my trusty converses, my favourite jeans and a plaid check shirt. I exit my apartment and make a beeline for my trusty old Volkswagen Beetle, better known as Wanda. She was an old rusty thing but she has gotten me through all of Senior year of high school and all of college, I could never let her go for as long as she lived.

My journey seemed short, but that was probably because I spent my whole journey listening to an old 90's cassette tape and singing my heart out. I stand outside of the DIY store and look up at the sign, the realization that it was my last day ever hit me like a tonne of bricks. I step inside and I am greeted by Fred and his son, Kevin.

"Good Morning Ana, ready for your last ever shift?" Fred asks with a smile

"No, I'm sad to be leaving you guys" I reply, feigning a sad face

"Don't be silly, you've been here over 4 years, it is time to chase your dreams" Fred says patting me on the back. I give him a smile.

"Yeah, Ana, we'll be fine here without you, just don't miss us too much okay?" Kevin chimes in, a small chuckle escaping his lips as Fred rejoins him near the counter.

"I won't, I promise" I say as I disappear into the aisles and towards the back room.

I plop down my bag on the table and let out a sigh, overwhelmed a little still from my own thoughts. I needed today to be good, I need today to take my mind away from my thoughts. Once I had snapped myself out of my own head I walked onto the store floor and began my tasks, first, stacking the shelves. I carefully placed tins of paint onto the shelves and made sure they were all straight and forward facing, I was truly a perfectionist and I liked everything to be perfect.

Some hours pass and the end of my shift was approaching, I had completed my tasks of stacking shelves and sweeping the floors, and was now covering the cashiers desk. Kevin was leaning on the wall beside me, talking to his Father, Fred about an upcoming project they had planned for when the winter months rolled in. I had tuned out of their conversation as I wasn't very knowledgeable on the subject of boats, and so I focused on looking out of the window.

It wasn't very busy, Sunday never was, it made people watching harder as passers-by were few and far between. So much so that I was fixated on a car that wasn't very common around this area. An Audi, I wasn't sure on the Model but it was definitely fancy. An SUV type vehicle. The windows were blacked out, I was desperate to see inside, it had been sat there for a while now. I wondered if there might be a celebrity inside there, but then I thought why? A celebrity wouldn't come to a small town just outside of Seattle... Would they?

"Anastasia Steele" a familiar voice says, I blink harshly and turn to face Christian Grey... Wait, Christian? What is he doing here?

"Hello, Mr Grey" I respond, confused, I raise my eyebrows at him, letting him know I was confused by his presence.

"I was just passing by and thought I would look in to see if I could grab some supplies I need for a new venture" Mr Grey pauses and looks at me with a small smile "I didn't know you worked here"

"Oh... Okay, I can help you find those supplies. It's actually my last day here, I have a new job" I respond, beginning to step away from the cash register. I turn to Kevin and smile "Hey, can you mind the register? I'm going to help out Mr Grey" I ask

"Of course" Kevin looks just as confused as I do.

I usher Mr Grey further into the store and begin asking him what he was looking for. "Paint Brush, Overalls and some cable ties" Mr Grey looks at me and I immediately look away, "what size paint brush?" I ask.

"I think a small one will be fine, do you have a wide range?" Mr Grey is now looking at all the items on the shelves as we make our way towards the decorating aisle.

"We have a few sizes, yes. I'll let you decide, unless you'd like to tell me what you'll be painting?" I steal a glance and his eyes are trained on me, his smile still firmly on his face.

"Um, I'm going to be painting a piggy bank" Mr Grey looks at me with a blank face, I look back at him and shake my head slightly.

"O..k well then you'll probably need a smaller one, which is right here" I say pointing to the paint brush, "and overalls are right behind you, I'm not sure what size you'll need, but we stock up to XXL" I point over to the overalls.

"Whilst you're looking at those I will grab you the cable ties, someone must have taken the last ones. We have some out back

Mr Grey says nothing but nods, I hurry away from him and into the store room where we keep extra stock. I begin rummaging for cable ties and eventually find a big box. I bring the box with me and make my way back to Mr Grey who was patiently waiting with three paint brushes in various sizes, two sets of overalls, and a tin of white paint. I set the box down and ask Mr Grey how many packets he would like.

"Three, please Anastasia" Mr Grey says, I quickly hand him three packets and then stack some packets onto the shelf as Mr Grey continues to look at the paints we stock.

"Well, I think I'm good now. Do I pay at the front?" Mr Grey asks, I nod

"Yes, thank you for choosing to shop here. I'm sure my boss will appreciate your custom" I say with a smile.

"It's been a pleasure, you are a model employee. You know... You would be useful at my company, if you like I could set you up with a job" Mr Grey suggests

"That sounds lovely, Mr Grey. But I think I told you earlier that I have a new job. My dream job" I reply, I pick up the box and we begin walking towards the front of the store

"Oh, yes you did mention. What is your dream job?" Mr Grey asks as he effortlessly carries his items.

"I want to be an editor for books. I'm going to be a PA for a while but I'd like to work my way up" I respond, we reach the front of the store and Mr Grey places his items on the counter and takes out his wallet, he places a wad of cash on the counter and picks up his items.

"Let's go for a coffee some time, Anastasia. I'll call you" Mr Grey says as he shakes his head at Kevin who tries to give him back his money and exits the store and walks across the road and hops into the Audi SUV I was previously looking at.

But wait, Mr Grey didn't have my number. How would he get it? I turn and take the box I had been holding in my hand back to the back of the store. I pause for a moment, I really needed to gather my own thoughts, what a strange encounter I thought to myself. One I would not forget in a hurry. He came all this way, for supplies, to paint a piggy bank? Really? Something wasn't right there, but I didn't want to question it.

A few moments pass and I exit the store room and head back to the cash register. Fred and Kevin are talking about Mr Grey and his act of kindness. They were both confused and grateful. "3,000 he left. Hell of a tip" Fred says, the money is in his hand, his eyes fixated on the money.

"You know what, Ana. Here, call this your parting gift, you deserve it" Fred takes a chunk of the cash, there was easily 1000 there.

"Oh, no I couldn't possibly accept this Fred" I shake my head and hold my hands up

"Please, you've been so good to me over the years, working whenever I ask, always being on time, staying past closing time, I don't know what I will do without you"

"Uh, What about me, Dad?" Kevin chimes in, Fred looks at him and smiles

"Of course you're a great help too, Son but Ana has been a great employee" Fred replies, he slips the money into the pocket of my shirt and refuses to take it back.

"Fred, you really don't have to" I say holding the cash in my hands.

"Ana, I got you these too. It's just a little something, a token of appreciation, I know you like flowers and so I thought I would get you a pretty bunch to look at for a while" Fred hands me a huge bunch of flowers, full of roses, tulips, daisies and sunflowers.

A tear rolls down my face as the emotions hit me from Fred's kindness, I couldn't hold back the tears, they kept rolling down my face. "Keep the apron too, and the name badge, as a keep sake from us. And... you're free to go, to go chase your dreams, live the life you've worked so hard to achieve. It's all coming into place and we're so proud of you, the both of us. Don't forget to check in on us every so often will you?" Fred says, I hug him and shake my head

"Thank you, I really appreciate this. You've been the best employer ever, and Kevin you've been a great friend. I promise if I ever need to do any DIY, this store will be my first port of call" I wipe my eyes and turn to make my way for the staff room.

"I take off my apron, pick up my bag and my flowers and grab my apron and name badge and throw it over my arm, I make my way back to the front of the store and say my last goodbye's to Fred and Kevin and finally exit the store for the last time in a long while. I make my way back to Wanda, sit inside and break down in tears. I was so overwhelmed I definitely couldn't drive home until the last tear and dropped down my face. I really will miss this place, my life was finally about to begin in Seattle after all these years of dreaming. And I would get to do it all with my best friend by my side also living her best life.

Finally after 30 minutes, I was ready to drive. I start the engine, turn on the radio and make the journey back home. I make a pit stop to a Starbucks and order Kate and myself our favourite drinks, I knew she would be working hard all day on her article and so she definitely deserved a treat. I also pick us both up a blueberry muffin and finally drive the last leg home.

I exit Wanda, with all my belongings, plus our Starbucks orders in my arms and knock on the apartment door. Kate opens the door, a confused look on her face but it quickly turns into a smile when she sees the Starbucks.

"Oh Ana you shouldn't have, how much do I owe you?" Kate asks as she takes the drinks tray and the bag from me.

"Nothing, it's on me. Hey, do we have a vase? Fred and Kevin bought me flowers" I reply, a stray tear rolling down my face thinking about my now ex boss.

"Yes, we do, I'll grab it. Wow they're beautiful how kind of them" She takes a quick glance at the flowers and rushes into the kitchen where I hear cupboards banging from her looking for a vase.

A few moments later and Kate appears with a vase filled with water, she takes the flowers from me and puts them into the vase and then places them on the coffee table for us both to enjoy. We both sit on the couch, our drinks and muffins in hand and face each other.

"So anything interesting happen today?" Kate asks before sipping on her drink.

"Actually, yes. I saw Christian Grey today" I reply, Kate's face suddenly looks very interested, eyebrows raised and her eyes widen.

"What? THE Christian Grey" Kate says, the shock in her voice. I quickly nod my head

"Anyway, he just shows up out of nowhere. Buys the most random items, and chucks a wad of cash at Fred. 3000 at least! He offered me a job, oh... and he asked me to go for Coffee with him" I say, taking a sip of my drink and picking apart my muffin.

"NO. HE. DID. NOT. ANA!" Kate pushes at my shoulder, she looks so happy and excited.

"He did, he said he'd call me. I didn't give him my number" I respond, taking another sip of my drink.

"Ana, Christian Grey shows up at your place of work, that is out of town. Asks you out for coffee... He'll find your number, I PROMISE you" Kate takes a bite of her muffin and I just look at her.

"You think so?" I respond, my mind starts filling with doubt. What if he just said that? What if he didn't mean it?

"I know so. I have high hopes" Kate's phone suddenly dings, she picks up her phone and she takes a long pauses as she reads her phone. "Well, Christian Grey has emailed me back answering all the questions. He's also agreed to a photo shoot" Kate grins

"That's so good, I'm glad it worked out" I say, finally finishing my drink and muffin.

"After more long chats, food, and some online shopping with Kate for my new job. Kate and I both decide on bed, we both had big days tomorrow and I definitely needed some sleep. I cosy up in bed, and close my eyes. After my talks with Kate this evening, I feel much more content. I definitely needed to get a lot off my chest, and things were finally not clouding my head. I was definitely going to sleep tonight, and peacefully too.

Finally...

Peace...

And Quiet...

Good Night, Ana.