A/N
Hey!
How are you all? Hope you all are staying safe and at home. I am sure we will get through this pandemic.
Here's another chapter and I hope you like it. This isn't my best work :(
Also, I discovered that there are, in fact, places called Hemington and Bridgville and I just wanted to clarify that the places that are mentioned in my story are nowhere related to actual cities. I wanted to create my own places so that I was free to manipulate the weather, people and stuff.
A little request : If anyone finds any error concerning absolutely anything is welcome to point it out SPECIFICALLY and PM it to me. This is my first time posting stuff and I often make mistakes. I welcome constructive criticism.
I have replied to all the messages in my PM box and I had the biggest smile reading them.
Next coming up soon. Stay tuned.
Stay safe and stay home. All my best wishes to you and your families.
VA Adeles xx
She sighed and closed her eyes, painfully, "Because then we won't be able to help at all."
It was pleasant when I woke up the next morning and was welcomed with a sun that peeked under the shoulders of the beautiful white clouds. I could hear the birds chirping as if my mother was rushing me to get ready for school, except for that I don't think anything about this morning was pleasant.
With respect to the mood I was in, I preferred to wear just my father's sweatshirt that I stole but I knew I had a meeting with Isaac a few hours later so I decided to get dressed. I put on my white shirt and khaki straight skirt and tied my hairs in a loose bun and went down.
Gail greeted me from the kitchen and I sat at the breakfast table.
"What would you like to have, Ana?" She asked, smiling.
"Just a coffee," I smiled. My head automatically turned to Christian's bedroom and my jaw clenched.
"He is still asleep." She whispered.
I gave a tight nod and stood up, walking into his room. I wanted to puke, it still stunk and so did he. I did not look at him and went straight into his bathroom.
Splash.
He woke up with a jerk, his eyes wide with shock and spun his head from side to side until his eyes settled on me, "Anastasia?" His voice was scratchy.
I was already glaring at him, "I guessed you would need some water after that hangover." I hissed, "I hope the cold water did or I could have some boiled?"
He was confused. He ran his hand through his face, pinching the bridge of his nose and groaned, "Jesus."
I waited for him to come back to his senses and realize the situation right now. He did. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at me, "When did you come?"
I had to struggle to keep my voice leveled, "Last night." I kept my smart-ass sarcasm down my throat.
He sighed and cleared his throat, "I am sorry."
I just glared at him and stormed off. I heard him groan but continued my stride across the hall. Gail was already looking at my direction and she immediately hurried to serve the coffee in the mug.
"Three spoons of sugar," I informed her,
She stared at me and then nodded, "Yeah, sure"
I took my seat at the bar stool and brought the coffee mug to my lips. The bar stool beside me shifted and I did not react to it.
"Good Morning, Mr Grey," the lady greeted warmly,
"Gail." He said, his voice sounded distracted to me and his eyes felt boring into my head.
Gail was quite as shadow, this moment she was right in front of me and the other she was nowhere to be seen. My eyes flickered at him, "Why did you sent her away?" I accused.
"I want to talk to you." He said, casually. Casual, my ass.
"I don't." I hissed, keeping the mug with a loud thud
He took a deep breath and placed his hand on my thigh, "Ana, please, stop being so uptight."
I smiled, bitterly at him, slapping his hand away "Sure, honey if you stop stinking."
My hand was gripping the coffee mug as if I wanted to choke it till the very end. His face hardened as I spoke and frustration flashed across his eyes.
I calmed myself down, if we were to have an adult conversation that would actually lead to something, I had to be able to get my voice out without increasing it.
"What?" I decided to whisper,
He took in a relieved sigh, nodding in approval and I stared at him. He straightened his back, "I am sorry, Ana," He whispered, "I am so sorry you had to come on your own, I –
"Taylor picked me up." I intervened, impatiently, "You should really promote these guys, they do a lot more then they have to,"
He was puzzled.
"He was smart enough to understand the situation so he sent himself."
The room went quiet. The flames in the fireplace burning gently behind his shoulders. The clock was ticking as time passed by and I zoned out, giving him time to get to the explanations of his actions and listening to it ticking. I hadn't realized before but there was music that kept humming through the tension beside us.
"I was stressed, didn't mean it to get that bad."
His voice broke my focus and I turned my face to him and revised his statement in my head. He did not see my reaction coming. I stood up in fury and glowered down at him, "You were stressed?"
I ran my hands through my hairs and laughed, "You didn't mean it to get that bad, huh? You know what? You're justified. Stress does that to you." My voice sounded nothing but sincere although the man knew better.
He didn't look at me.
"I am standing here." I snapped and he reluctantly lifted his head up at me. I knew he hated being shouted at. It must have put him a lot of effort to not fire back at me, mistake or not, but I wasn't bailing out just because of his preferences.
I dropped my voice to the almost normal tone, "Christian, if stress does this to you," I waved my hand up and down his body, "then I would be having my liver transplant right now."
His face changed expressions and he stood up, lifting his hand to reach out to me, "What's wrong?"
I stepped away, "This isn't about me."
"Tell me." He ordered in a low whisper
I sighed, "You know about all the biological dad shit and everything and then your mails—
"Mails?" Confusion brought his eyebrows together,
Words got stuck in my throat, "You don't remember?"
He shook his head, "What was it?"
"N-nothing, really," I fumbled, "You were drunk and you just blabbered on and on and that had my stress on its peak."
He narrowed his eyes at me in suspicion, "What did I say?"
"Christian, that is not the poi—
But I was late, he had already snatched my phone and his fingers drummed across the screen. Giving me a suspicious look, he brought the phone to his ears and color – whatever was left of it – drained from his face. His hand dropped to his side.
"That did not mean anything. You don't need to stress about that." He avoided to look at me and his eyes distanced himself, out of my reach.
I decided to let his secret stay the way he wanted it to be, "You drunk always stresses me out" I gently touched his arm and spoke quietly, "I did not mean to make this about me," I stepped forward, "But you cannot do this."
I pulled him to me and locked my arm around his neck with his hands balled on his sides. Gradually when he understood that I wasn't going to let it go, he smoothed his hands around my waist and pulled me closer.
"You don't have to know this," I thought he said that but I wasn't sure, it was a low whisper, obviously to himself.
Somebody cleared their throat. We broke our embrace to encounter Taylor standing beside us, glaring at Christian, "Your father is here to see you, sir."
Christian frowned, "How did he know I am back?"
"If you put that idiot box to use, you'd know, Christian." A deep voice ran through the foyer and we turned our heads in the direction. The man looked nothing like Christian but he was handsome in his own way, tall, blonde like Elliot and shared the same blue eyes as his oldest son.
I had met Mr Grey a long time ago and I had to say that age had have no effect on him at all. I still remember the first time I saw him; it was when I had stumbled and fallen right into him on my way to Christian's room. As close as we both were, our families weren't. Ray knew I had a friend who was Mr and Mrs Grey's grandson and they loved me. That was it. So, there was no way he would have stopped to share pleasantries with me. All he did was hold me by my shoulders, smile down at me, pat my cheek and walk away. That was it.
His eyes landed on me and he frowned, wide-eyed, "I didn't realize you had company."
"Mr Grey, how are you?" I smiled at him and held my hand forward. He took it and gave it a light shake,
"I am fine, thank you." He smiled, "Christian Grey has a friend!" he muttered with a smirk, turning to look at him.
"This is Anastasia, an old friend of mine," Christian said tightly, "Ana, this is Carrick Grey, my father but you already know."
I smiled, politely.
"It's really nice to meet you, Anastasia Steele," I frowned when he said my last name.
"Why are you here?" Christian snapped, his eyes stretching across his face in hostility,
"Why do you think?" He was arrogant.
Christian shifted uncomfortably beside me and so did I. "I will give you two some privacy, I need to take off anyway," I smiled at our guest and brought my hand forward, he nodded and took it, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr Grey."
"Carrick," He corrected,
"You don't have to go." Christian stated in a firm voice
I glared at him. This confrontation already seemed too uncomfortable and too private to me to nose in and as much as I wanted to know what this was about, it wasn't my place, "I know but I have a meeting. I got to leave."
"Taylor will drive you."
I could feel Carrick's eyes bore into me as Christian made the offer. I shook my head consciously, "No, thank you. I will manage."
As if on cue, Taylor walked in and looked directly at me, "There's a car to pick you, Ms Steele. Isaac Kay."
I frowned. How did he know?
As I entered into the elevator, I decided to give Kate a call to inform her that I was here in Hemington and realised that my bag was nowhere in sight. I cursed under my breath and turned to Taylor, "Can we go back? I left something."
I rushed through the foyer and that's when I heard noises that made me stop on my tracks.
"The girl is nothing but a gold digger, of course and you cannot be seen with her, Christian! Her father is an ordinary surgeon in that small town."
"Be careful with your words, Carrick and you don't have to do a background check on her. It's my life, I'll handle it"
I stepped a little forward so there were in my view. Carrick had just stepped forward, coming face to face with him. My eyes widened.
"Your life is destroying my enterprise. People are questioning our credibility because of you and your conducts," Carrick moved around and pressed a button on the remote from the table.
The reporter came on the screen and my eyes widened. It was a picture of me getting into the car and another picture of Christian on the airport.
"Young lady has been spotted getting into Christian Grey's car with the billionaire's chauffeur." He said in a tone that annoyed me, somehow, "The Grey Enterprise Holding has been subject to a family dispute that led to the man storming out of his own company one afternoon," he leaned forward, "Could the young anonymous lady be behind this turning point of –"
The screen went black and I turned my eyes to Christian who had snatched the remote from Carrick.
Carrick narrowed his eyes and crossed his hands, "How many mouths are you gonna shut, Christian? They need a reason and if you don't give them one, they'll make one."
"I need you to leave."
"I will not." Carrick hissed, "I am so waiting for the tabloids tomorrow."
"Leave," Christian warned and I flinched,
"Watch it," Carrick fired right back, "And get rid of that gold digger or whatever she is, I am not up for any more damage control." I took a step back as the word pierced through me. Gold digger? Really? That's what I will be? A gold digger or a dirty little secret of Christian Grey, CEO of a multi-billion company?
It was as if the words had knocked the breath out of me and my eyes landed on the hand fisted at Christian's side. He knew it, he knew what the paparazzi would make out of it.
Carrick's posture softened and he stepped back, keeping a hand on Christian's shoulder which he jerked away, it did not seem to bother his father, "Son," it was the first time I had heard him say that, "I will arrange everything, I promise, the rehab, the company, the press, everything but you have to get your shit together and step up, again."
Christian did not answer and he just looked away. I sighed and cleared my throat, "I am sorry, I forgot my bag," I plastered a smile.
Gold digger. The word repeated itself in my head as I sat at the restaurant. This was so unfair to be judged by people that don't even know your first name yet. I always thought I was a fighter, to survive my father walking out on us, my mother's death and that godawful incident but now, I wanted to just find an escape route out of this shit hole. I shook my head and closed my eyes, Not now, not yet. I said to myself and focused on the fishes in front of me swimming in the aquarium.
My phone vibrated and it was a call from Kate.
"Shit," I cursed under my breath. I had completed forgotten about her. I cautiously answered the phone and was greeted with a huff.
"Too busy?" it was like venom out of a snake.
I bit my lip to stop myself from chuckling at her theatrics, "Not for you, honey,"
She huffed again, "You're so shrewd,"
I giggled, "I know, I am sorry, Kate. I should have called,"
"Yeah, you should have."
"Sorry."
"Yeah, you said that."
"Let's meet. I have time. Where are you?"
"Called in sick."
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
I laughed, "Is Heathcliff near you?"
"It must be half an hour from my place."
"Why don't you come here? Say at four?"
Isaac entered the restaurant just then and his eyes scanned the room, his lips turning into a vibrant smile as he spotted me and made his way through.
"Alright, bye."
"Bye," I hung up and stood up to greet him. We exchanged formal pleasantries and talked about my experience back in Bridgeville. Isaac seemed to know everything and I decided to not stress on the 'how' part for the most of it.
"Coffee?" the corner of his lips lifted up. I nodded at him and he held up two fingers to someone behind my shoulder.
"You come here often?" I asked.
He nodded.
Awkward silence.
He decided to be the ice-breaker, clearing his throat, "Well, let's discuss about your role and your issues, shall we?"
I nodded.
He stared.
"Oh," I realized that we were waiting for me to speak up first, "Umm… first off, I don't think I am experienced enough," He opened his mouth but I rushed to continue, "Let me complete," I requested, "Although I am kind of career oriented, I don't want to be at the top… I mean I want to make progress, sure, but not a whole company or something, I don't want it."
"Ana," the tone was persuasive, "Those are the same points you had already talked about and I don't think they are real problems," he shrugged. Classic, wasn't it? Almost invalidating someone else's problem. "You are just—
"I don't want to, Isaac." I cut him off with an irritated tone
He seemed frustrated as his jaws tightened a little, "What do you mean you don't want to? What should I do? Throw my company away because of your problems that are just in your head?"
I was incredulous, "What do you want me to do? You were the one who asked about my 'concerns'," I made the quotation sign, "so here am I,"
He looked away still frustrated "You are right, I am sorry." He turned his head to me and then his tone took a dream-like turn as if trying to paint a happy picture, "You won't be alone," he emphasized each word carefully, "There is a whole board and your staff. You will have a second in command who will guide you throughout. His name is Jerry Roach," he told me, "He has been my right-hand man, he will be the same to you,"
I sighed, trying to think of anything else that would be a trouble, "But I love writing and reading, this will take it away from me, won't it?"
"Not necessarily, dear" he replied easily
"But having a company, don't you have other children?" I said before thinking it through. It was a personal question.
"I do," he replied, as if discussing about new decor for his palace. I was stunned by the admission, of course and… even more shocked at the fact that he hadn't brought this up before "I have a son from my ex-wife and they have their share, too"
I tried to remain as neutral about this as I could. I shouldn't be affected anyway, "That's… nice."
He smiled, "I know I should have mentioned them, they're good people."
"I am sure," I replied, hesitating "Are they okay with-
"Of course," he seemed to be a little shocked at the question I couldn't complete "They really don't want to do anything with me,"
I nodded.
"They really are good people. Danny is a little tough and the loner type but June is kind and hyper active," he chuckled and I was surprised by how I felt. I felt bad when he talked about her, as if it was unfair to my mom, "Just like your mother,"
I didn't say anything.
"So, is that it?" he leaned forward
I puffed out air from my mouth in a huff, "Well, I guess, this was it."
He smirked at me but then the corner of his lips turned down, something flashing across his eyes.
"What?" I asked,
"How do you know Christian Grey?"
I stiffened. Of course, all my attempts to not remember today's events would rush up to me as he mentioned his name. The news! That must be where Isaac must have known about my new temporary address. I mean, there wasn't any other believable explanation.
"So, that's how you knew where I was," I accused,
He shrugged.
This was possibly the only reply I would get so I decided to answer his question, "He's my childhood friend."
"Interesting," he nodded, "I wouldn't have cared if it wasn't for the connection he had,"
"What do you mean?"
He cocked his eyebrow.
I was very aware of the moment at the time around me as I realized what he was saying, "No,"
"Yes."
"I will be answerable to GEH?" my mouth was hanging open,
He nodded slowly.
I had no idea what to reply to that. Christian was my boss? I mean, at least technically he was. This was exactly the kind of situation where your mind goes completely blank. You are not thinking, you just stop processing.
I nodded, too and it felt a lot of pressure to move my head at all.
"Your relationship with him will be favorable to us." He frowned, nodding "I must say, as unintentional as it is, good work." His face stretched into a shrewd smile and there he was cold and calculating as always.
"Am I expected to lure him into me so we have an upper hand?" I asked, impassively.
"I wouldn't say lure," I was surprised when he actually seemed to answer me sincerely, "But it's always good to be on the good side,"
I lifted my eyebrows up in frustration, "You gotta be kidding me."
He looked at me and lifted his hands up, "Just saying. Although, there's nothing to be worried of, really. We are almost equals. My ex-wife and my son are board members and so are you once you sign the papers. "
"Don't they have a say in me being the editor and all?"
"Of course. GEH knows."
"But his father came today!" I said as soon as I processed it "Did he know who I was then?" All that went through me was I had probably given more reasons to Carrick proving I was, in fact, a gold digger. I had given them all even before I met him. He knew. He knew that I was the all-of-a-sudden-discovered daughter and that I was probably taking advantage of a dead man.
"I would say so," he scoffed, unaware of the havoc that just went inside me, "He even might have done a background check for all that matters."
"Isn't it illegal?" I wanted him to look worse in the situation.
He rolled his eyes, "Technically."
"That's wrong," I said, stubbornly, "I haven't signed the papers yet!"
"Do you want to sue him?"
"No, but –
"No buts,"
I huffed.
He chuckled, "Can we get back to business?"
I shrugged.
He fished out a manila file from his briefcase and pushed it towards me, "Take this, I will collect this from you tomorrow at the office."
I nodded, quickly – too quickly and turned the pages of the file. He stopped me, "You'll do great,"
I chuckled, "Yeah."
I was in Kate's car and it was late in the evening as I returned from the cafeteria. The weather around me was still pleasant, a tad colder than it was in the morning. Kate and I had a lot of catching up to do and it was obvious by the way she wasn't able to stop speaking... and her complaints and gossips still continued as I sat beside her in her car after she offered to drop me home.
I hummed to whatever she was saying and she stared at me confused, "What?"
"What?" I frowned,
"I asked you about the news and you said 'hmm'?" she said, "You know what? Don't talk to me."
I hurried to explain myself, "I am sorry, Kate. I dozed off. Please don't be mad,"
"Only if you answer me."
I sighed, "There is no answer."
"You hooked up with the billionaire? You didn't seem to be the gold digger type," she scoffed,
I rolled my eyes and made a face, "What can I do? The luxuries attract me too much."
She chuckled, "So, did you get the job? It is real good that your runaway father settled you into his company."
I hummed again but this time she seemed okay with it.
"How does your commissioning editor stuff pay you here?"
"No, no, Kate. Didn't you get it? I am the head of the publication."
"What?" Her mouth hung open, "B-but you are not qualified,"
I cringed away and stared at her, disbelievingly.
She recovered herself, "I mean, i-it will be difficult for you,"
"Of course, it will be. What's not?"
She shrugged, "It's a little unfair to the people who actually deserve it."
"You think I don't deserve it?" my voice was like a wounded, angry animal
She gave me a cold look, "There are people more deserving." Her eyes assessed me and she knew how hurt I was because of her. She turned her head to the road, "Where do I drop you?" her hand moved towards the inbuilt system in the car to enter the location
"Escala." I whispered,
Her eyes jerked at me, "Escala? How did you get there?"
I felt like a criminal as I responded to her question, "I moved in with Christian."
There was a very low whisper and I got the word 'unbelievable'.
So, everybody thought I was an exploiter and the sadder part was that all my insecurities in me ganged up together to tell me that I was.
