When Kate arrived home on Sunday from her exciting weekend away with Elliott, Ana was cozy on the couch with a book. "Hi Ana!" Kate said, as she dragged her large suitcase in behind her. Her eyes fell on the beautiful bouquet of roses on the counter. "Wow, those are gorgeous. Are they from Christian? I thought you two weren't seeing each other anymore?"

Ana smiled, happy her friend was home. "They are from Christian." She plucked the card out from between the stems for Kate to read.

"Huh… That's awfully nice of him. Have you spoken to him? Elliott said Christian is kind of avoiding family dinners right now so he hasn't seen him."

"I messaged him to say thank you… and then we also kind of met up on Saturday."

Kate's eyes widened with excitement. "Ouu! What happened? Please tell me you're back together!"

Ana shook her head. "No, we aren't back together. But it went really well. We have decided to be friends."

"Friends?" Kate asked. "Are you sure you're okay with that? Is he okay with that?"

"I was actually the one that suggested it. I want to focus on my new job at SIP. I don't need a boyfriend or anything right now. But I do want to stay in touch with him… Does that make sense?"

Kate nodded her head. "Yeah. It does make sense… because you still have feelings for Christian. You don't want to lose him, and I'm sure he doesn't want to lose you either. So you're going to torture yourself with this whole friend thing for a while. I give it three weeks and you'll be back with him!"

Ana laughed and gave Kate a playful slap on the arm. "Hey now! Give me some credit."

"I am." Kate responded. "Christian is hot and you two make a great couple. Elliott agrees too."

"Well that's very flattering, but Christian and I are just friends, okay? Friends!"

"Alright, alright. Three weeks though… That's all it will take!"

Ana decided to change the subject. "Tell me about your weekend away!"

***

Friends, Christian mused to himself. Ana Steele wanted to be his friend. Not his lover or his submissive... but his friend. This was a new concept to him. It wasn't what he had expected. He was hoping that she would tell him that she wanted to be back with him as well, however she could have also said she never wanted to see him again and to stop contacting her, so all in all their meet up at the coffee shop had not been a total fail.

He found himself anxious for the next time he would see her. Oftentimes, he would be in a meeting and his mind would wander over to her. He worried for her safety, especially knowing that she was around Jack Hyde five days a week. No, the man did not have a criminal record but something did not sit right with Christian. He and Taylor would keep a close eye on Jack. He also reminded himself that if anything happened Ana had his phone number in her iPhone and knew to call him at any time. That's what friends were for, right?

They had messaged several times since their meet up a few days ago, but he already wanted to see her again. He hoped she was feeling the same way.

***

Ana quickly fell into a new daily routine. Her days at work were so busy that they flew by. She loved her new job. Everyone was very friendly and she loved getting to read new stories before they were published.

Since Christian's warning about Jack Hyde she unintentionally seemed to have her guard up around him, but so far he had done nothing to tell her that Christian was right. He was fair and even mentioned that maybe she could go to New York with him for a convention in the Fall. The only time he had seen anything negative from him was if his coffee wasn't hot enough or the deli down the street accidentally put mustard on his sandwich.

It was late on a Thursday evening and Ana was just packing up her things to leave. She was stuffing a manuscript in her bag to take home and read that evening, when Jack approached. She offered him a smile. "Hi Jack."

"Looks like we're the last two left for the day… Employee of the year for you!" He winked.

Ana gave a little laugh. "I was actually just heading home. Hope you are done soon too."

"Soon." He smiled at her. "Did you get that manuscript read today?"

She hesitated. Her afternoon had been so jam packed that she hadn't gotten to. She didn't know what his reaction would be. "I didn't get a chance this afternoon, but I have it in my bag to take home and read tonight."

"Taking work home with you? Won't your boyfriend be upset?" Jack questioned.

Ana shook her head. "I don't have a boyfriend." Her mind quickly flashed to Christian. "I live with my friend Kate."

"Well I'm shocked! A pretty and accomplished girl like you! You probably have guys falling all over you."

Ana gave an unsure smile, and grabbed her coat. "I've got to hurry or I'll miss my bus." She lied. She walked home from work every day.

"Yes, of course! Sorry to keep you. Great work today and I'll see you tomorrow!" Jack said, standing back, out of her way.

Ana said goodbye and quickly hurried for the elevator. He went back to his office which faced out over the busy streets of Seattle. He saw Ana come out the front door of the building and watched as she quickly hurried past the bus stop. He noted that she had lied to him. He didn't appreciate that.

***

It was Saturday night and Ana found herself on the couch in her fuzzy slippers and matching pajamas with Chinese food and a book sprawled out in front of her. It wasn't a crazy Saturday night by any means, but she was enjoying it after another busy week.

She stared at her phone that sat on the coffee table in front of her. What was Christian doing tonight? Was he home too, or was he out for a fancy dinner with some other woman and not even thinking about her? She hated these thoughts, but she often wondered if he was seeing anyone else. They had messaged several times throughout the week, but she felt like it was just him checking in on her. All of his messages had a serious tone to them, and she wanted to see the fun and playful side of him again. She picked up her phone and unlocked it. She opened up their messages. They hadn't spoken in two days, and hadn't seen each other for nearly three weeks. She took a deep breath and decided to write to him.

Hi friend. Would you like to get lunch tomorrow?

She exhaled and set her phone down. Would he say yes? Was she coming off clingy?
Luckily, she didn't get to dwell on these thoughts for too long, as Kate came bursting through the door. "Hello!"

Her friend smiled brightly as she set down a large paper bag and pulled two bottles of wine out. "Hop in the shower and start getting ready… We are going out tonight!" She exclaimed.

"What?" Ana stammered, looking back at her Chinese food and the cozy couch. "I don't know if I'm up for that. I'm really tired."

"I am not taking no for an answer! We haven't gone out in so long. C'mon! A bunch of us are going to Nicky's… you love Nicky's. Please! We don't have to stay out late."

Ana hesitated. Kate's version of late was different than her's. Often when Kate went out she didn't come home until four in the morning. She looked at Kate, who so badly wanted a night out with her best friend, and caved. "OK. We'll go out!"

Kate cheered and ushered her to the bathroom to start getting ready while she poured them some wine. Within the hour they had polished off a bottle and we're ready to go.

Nicky's bar was busy, as it was so close to the Washington State campus and was a popular spot for the students with cheap tequila shots. A group of their friends was there, along with Jose and Elliott too who both hugged her.

"Ana!" Elliott exclaimed, happy to see her. "Christian will be so jealous that I get to see you tonight and he didn't!"

Ana laughed. "Don't rub it in too much." She answered, before remembering the message she had sent Christian about lunch the next day. She quickly pulled out her cellphone and was happy to see his name with a notification on the screen. She excitedly opened the message.

I would love to. Pick you up at noon.

"Well you look awfully happy." A deep, male voice said from behind her. She turned around and was shocked to see Jack Hyde. It caught her off guard.

"Jack. Hi… What are you doing here?"

"Same as everyone else. Blowing off some steam from the work week. I'm here with some friends." He gestured behind him, but to no one in particular so she wasn't able to pick his group of friends out from the crowd.

"I didn't know you came here." She stammered. The last thing she wanted was her new boss to see her drunk.

"Are you going to introduce me to your friends?"

"Oh yes, sorry." She apologized before making her way around the table and introducing her boss.

Jack did not seem to want to make small talk with the group. "How about a tequila shot?"

Ana hated tequila but she didn't want to be rude, so before she knew it she was following Jack to the bar.

Elliott watched as they made their way over to the bartender. Ana looked uneasy as Jack slipped his arm around her waist, and watched as she made a point to move away. He vowed to keep an eye on Jack just in case he got too touchy with Ana. "I hope that guy doesn't hang around too long." He said to Kate.

"Me either. Who wants to hang out with their boss on a Saturday night at a bar?" She joked, as she finished off her third cocktail. "We should have invited Christian."

"You're right. But you know what? It's not too late." Elliott excused himself to go and call his brother.

***

Ana was definitely drunk. Jack kept insisting they do shots together and she had lost count of how many they'd had. He didn't seem to be too worried about not hanging out with her friends and stayed with her since they had bumped into each other. "Your friends probably think that you ditched them." She yelled over the music. "You've been with me the whole time."

"I'm sure they don't mind since I'm with someone as pretty as you." He yelled back.

This comment made her uncomfortable. This was her boss. She didn't want him to flirt with her.
'I'm going to run to the washroom." She excused herself. She passed by Kate. "I'm going outside for some air."

"You want me to come with you?" Kate asked. "Are you okay?"
Elliott looked over at Jack, who was watching them intently. He checked the time… Christian would be here soon.

"No, you stay here. I'll just be a few minutes." She said, before hurrying for the front door. The air outside was refreshing. She sat down on a nearby bench and let out a long breath that she didn't know she was holding. She needed to get some distance from Jack for the rest of the night.

***

Christian had been lying in bed unable to sleep when Elliott called. His brother explained that he was out at a bar with Ana, Kate and their friends. Then he mentioned Jack and how friendly he seemed with Ana and he sat up straight in his bed. When his brother asked if he wanted to join them he didn't need to be asked twice. He called Taylor and asked for a car to be out front in ten minutes before he sprang out of bed and changed into a fresh shirt and a pair of jeans.

The drive to Nicky's seemed painfully long. He worried for Ana. He didn't like her out drinking, especially if Jack Hyde was near. He knew how she got after too many drinks, and hoped she was okay. He knew he'd need to restrain himself. When the car pulled up front he quickly thanked Taylor before getting out. He headed for the front door but stopped when his eyes spotted Ana on a bench. "Ana!" He said, before hurrying over to her. "Are you okay?" He took in her appearance. She was wearing tight jeans and a floral blouse. She looked beautiful.

Ana looked at him shocked, before her expression changed to happy. She offered him a wide smile before getting to her feet and hugging him tightly. "Christian! What are you doing here?"

"Elliott invited me." He explained. She seemed drunk, but not as drunk as she had been the night she'd gone out to celebrate her graduation and passed out. He was relieved.

"That's great. It's great to see you. I've been thinking about you."

"In a friendly way, or a non-friendly way?" He teased.

She smiled and teased back. "I'm not telling."

"Ana, there you are! I've been looking for you. I got worried." Came the voice of Jack Hyde behind them.

Ana and Christian turned around to face time. "I just needed some air." She explained. "Jack, this is my friend Christian Grey. Christian, this is my boss, Jack." Ana introduced them, hoping that Christian wouldn't be upset that Jack was here.

Christian stared at Jack, who had his hand extended for a polite handshake. Christian begrudgingly shook his hand. He didn't want to but he also didn't want to make Ana upset with him. He could only imagine how that would go. "Let's go inside. I need a drink." He suggested.

Ana went back into the bar with Christian, and Jack followed behind them. What kind of night was she in for?