CPOV

I suppose I should've expected what I had seen this morning. I should've also predicted the teasing that was heading my way now.

"My brother, dating a socialite" Elliot joked as I looked for the paperwork that laid out in detail the desk I'd been commissioned to make, ignoring the newspapers he was trying to show me instead.

"And I thought he was just a country boy" Jason added, as he joined in with my brothers teasing.

"Ana is no socialite and we are not dating," I said more to myself than them as I continued to search for the papers. I would like nothing more than for the latter part of my statement to be different but I know some people are not going to make it that easy.

I wouldn't give up though. I had spoken to Ana this morning when she had called me just as I was about to call her upon seeing the newspapers. Despite not being named, Ana is worried about me being dragged into the madness of her family. I assured her not to worry about it before we spoke about the day ahead.

"Christian, I was kidding," Elliot said, hearing my huff of frustration as he tossed the newspapers on his desk.

"What, sorry, I'm looking for the diagrams for James's desk," I told him, not bothered at all that photos of Ana and me had graced the covers of all the local papers this morning.

It did make me realise more than ever though how much of a target Ana could be because of her father. To have someone take photos of us sat on the jetty eating seafood, having no clue that anyone was there, made me want to protect her more than I'd done when I had picked her up on the side of the road.

How in such a short amount of time Ana could come to mean so much to me, shocked me too but she hadn't pulled away when I held her hand. Ana had wrapped her arm around my waist when mine had been around her shoulder so that had to mean something. This had been documented in print as well but I didn't give a shit about that. Having Ana that close to me had been the perfect end to the day.

Thoughts of Ana left my mind for just a second when the papers I had been looking for were put in front of my face.

"Thank you," I told my brother before I headed towards the door, getting ready to follow Jason who had just left.

"Christian, are you ok."

"I'm fine, sorry my mind has been all over the place this morning" I replied, turning to face him.

"All over the place or on a woman called Anastasia Steele."

"Her name's Ana, not Anastasia, that's what she wants to be called."

"Is Anastasia her Sunday name then" he teased, making me smile.

"No, it's a name reserved for those who are not friends and that includes family too."

"You like her," he stated.

"I do… when I first saw her in Lily's I could see her beauty, but I could also see in her eyes that despite her young age she'd lived a harder life than most."

"Her parents are…"

"What billionaires, yes but that doesn't mean they give their daughter an easy life. Ana's twenty-one, she works, something her father tried to ruin for her, thinking she would just give up because he removed her from his executive team. I think he would be shocked at just how much of her work he depends on, plus there's her other job too."

"Which is," he asked.

"She's a published author" I replied proudly.

"Don't they know, I mean Steele is a well-known name in this city. There's that monstrosity of a building they built downtown which he slapped his name on."

"Ana doesn't publish under her birth name. She writes under, H. Wilks, after her grandfather."

"I've not heard of the name but I bet Mia has. She's as bad as you are for having your head in a book" he laughed.

"What, sue me I like to read. When I'm on the road there's not a lot to do apart from enjoying a beer at the places I stop at so a book is always handy."

"Speaking of trips, the final pieces of Lewis's home will be ready this week," he told me as we looked out towards the workshop where those final pieces of the shell that made up an echo home were coming together. I had already taken most of it over to Lewis new place, I had been coming back from there when I'd picked Ana up. It had been a long trip back from Nebraska but it had been a good trip in more ways than one.

"I'll be ready" I assured him. "When it is."

Leaving the office, I headed over to my trailer, my home until my house is built. It's not exactly Buckingham Palace but it's comfortable and has everything I need. I'd come here just to change my boots but upon leaving the trailer my focus turned to the cavalcade of black cars that entered the yard.

"Are we having a visit from the president?" Elliot called out, joining me.

"I highly doubt it" I replied, watching as the three cars stopped before men in black suits emerged from them all.

From the middle car, one of those men went to the back door and opened it.

"Shit, whoever's inside obviously hasn't mastered how to open a door" Jason stated, making me laugh.

I knew who would be in that car before he even emerged so I wasn't surprised to come face to face with Raymond Steele, Ana's father.

"Is there something we can help you with?" Elliot asked before I could say anything.

"No, not you. I've come to see him" he replied, looking directly at me.

If his words, his stance, the intimidating way his men looked at me, was all meant to scare me, it only brought on my smile.

"What would you want to speak to me about," I asked, crossing my arms.

My tattoos were on display which from the way he looked at them, seemed to disgust him. My tattoos represented my parents, the vines, the flowers that were their favourites, the words entwined within them made me feel as if they were still here.

"My daughter, I want you to stay away from her."

I laughed at his words as if they would keep me away from Ana. I know nothing had happened between us so far except a lunch by the water as friends. I was going to pursue Ana, let her know what I was feeling inside and I would be damned if I would allow anyone especially her father, to get in my way.

"I can't do that" I replied, infuriating the man.

"You, you..."

"Me what…"

"Do you think someone like you is good enough for my daughter? Do you think she'd be interested in being with someone who lives in that?" he spat, looking at my trailer.

"Do you think your daughter gives a damn about things like that?" I replied. "If so, you don't know Ana at all?"

"Ana, her name is ANASTASIA" he shouted at me.

"To you, yes but not to me... You come here demanding I leave Ana alone, leave her alone so she can be with that abusive bastard you left her with."

"I would watch your tone young man" he hissed.

"Or what. You don't like facing the truth of what a shit father you are" I snapped, shaking my head.

"Do you realise how powerful I am, what I could do to you if you cross me?" he sneered.

"Are you threatening my brother Steele?" Elliot asked. "My brother saved your daughter's life, picking her up in the middle of nowhere where she'd been left. You should be thanking him."

"I'll send him a cheque."

"Get out" I snapped. "Any power you think you have means nothing here."

"I could crush your company, have it taken from beneath you with only a few words."

"Really Steele, I've read up a little on what type of businesses you deal in, how you have many enemies because of the companies you have taken over the years. You will find Steele we don't owe a penny to the bank; we have no debt. What you see before us and the land we own is all ours. Now as I said before, get out and if you return, I will have you arrested for trespassing."

I could see he was ready to say something more, something to save face in front of all the men he'd brought. Nothing he could say would make me stay away from Ana though so he was wasting his breath.

"This is not the last you've heard from me Grey; I'll make sure you stay away from Anastasia."

"Just try it," I spat, taking a step closer to him.

I must have shocked him that I dared get in his space because I soon had guns pointing my way.

"You have been warned."

"Yes, Steele and so have you. Before you leave though, make sure you wave to the cameras" I replied, pointing to one of the security cameras to make him think his actions and threats had been recorded. They were only turned on at night but he didn't know that.

Steele quickly turned around and got back in his car, tyres soon squealing as they left the lumber yard behind.

I didn't realise that I was shaking until I felt Elliot touch my arm.

"Bro."

"I'm fine Elliot. I'm just so angry and pissed off right now."

"Are you going to stay away?" he asked with a smile, already knowing the answer I was about to give him.

"Am I fuck. I like Ana a lot and I'm going to tell her that. If she tells me she's not interested then I will accept that. What I won't accept is the shit excuse she has for a father turning up to dictate to me especially when he won't protect her from the man who left her covered in bruises."

No, Raymond Steele can go fuck himself because if she agrees, Ana will be mine.

…

Elliot had offered to hold still the bag of sawdust we had hung in the workshop in case I wanted to kick the shit out of it but I refused, putting my feelings and focus to better use.

I made my way towards the back of the workshop, turning on the lathe and soon a cup bigger than the ones I had made before started to take shape.

Ana said she always loved a large mug of tea on a rainy day, keeping warm inside of her apartment.

Once I had the shape of the mug, I carefully carved Ana's name onto the side, surrounded by raindrops. I was very proud of this one and once the wood was sealed and oiled, I decided it was the best thing I'd made to date.

Leaving the workshop later that afternoon, leaving the mug in a safe place, I was pleased to have also started on the Senators desk. Senator James Blandino had been a good friend of my parents when they were alive, my father and James having attended school together.

He had been pleased that our company had won the contract in the early days to remodel the government offices downtown. Some later grumbled that we had been given the contract because of our friendship and James had influenced the decision but he was still a lawyer back then and had no power to influence such things. I know that should we go to him for help though, he would jump at the chance to do just that. We have called in no favours before now though but knowing he sometimes met Steele at the society shindigs he had to attend, I'm wondering if I should ring him up to see what I can find out about the man behind the company and his men in black.

Thoughts of ringing James though went out of my head when for the second time that day, the cavalcade arrived.

"What the fuck do they want this time," Jason asked, coming over.

"Probably to deliver more threats," I told him, smiling when he stood on one side of me, my brother soon on the other who informed me the cameras were on, something we were delighted to find out our assistant in the office had done earlier too so we had Steele's first visit on tape as well.

From the middle car, as before one of Steele's henchmen got out and went to open the back door. From the other cars, the men stayed put.

"Still not mastered door handles I see" Elliot spoke making me smile as we waited for whoever was inside to emerge.

We were surprised to see a woman appear but not the one I wanted to see.

"For a moment I thought it was…"

"Ana" I spoke finishing Elliot's sentence.

"Yeah, but from what you've told me about her, I doubt she would arrive like this."

I had to agree, plus I knew as soon as the woman's foot appeared, that that woman wasn't my own.

"Can we help you?" Jason asked as she nervously approached us.

"Yes please, I'm looking for a Mr Christian Grey."

"That's me, what can I do for you," I asked, taking a step forward.

Upon taking in my appearance, a scowl on my face and tattoos on show, she took a step back.

"I have something for you" she spoke, looking now to my face.

This woman had a look just like the one I'd seen on Ana's face when I had found her frozen on the side of the road, a look of fear. Was she fearful of me, or was she fearful of the man who had no doubt sent her here? I got my answer as she willed me to take the envelope she held out.

"Is this how he treats women who work for him?" I asked as I looked from her to the envelope, refusing for a moment to take it.

"I'm sorry" she spoke timidly, now I was closer to her.

"He bullies the women he keeps around" I stated.

"I'm sorry sir" she spoke with more conviction as if my previous observation had insulted her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm just trying to paint a picture in my mind of what kind of man, considering the greeting he received this morning, would send you back here."

"I've been asked to bring this to you" she stated, waving the envelope in front of my face again.

"And what is in it," I asked.

"I do not know, I was just asked to bring it here" she replied but by the way she shuffled her feet now, unable to maintain eye contact with me, I don't believe she was telling the truth.

Taking it from her, she quickly turned around and headed back towards the car, to the door that was still being held open for her.

"It's a good job the postal service doesn't need an escort when delivering the mail, we would never get it" Jason stated, making me smile.

What was in it that was so important, I soon found out and it wiped the smile right off of my face.

Inside was four words on a piece of paper, a letterhead in fact with Steele Enterprises Holdings on top. Those words being STAY AWAY FROM HER. It wasn't those words that pissed me off, no it was the cheque that accompanied it for twenty thousand dollars.

"Is that all he thinks his daughter is worth?" Jason spat looking at the cheque in my hand. I wanted to rip it up, shred it into a thousand pieces at the anger I felt but no, I calmed myself because I decided I was taking it back.

"I highly doubt he thinks she's worth that but he's trying to throw his money around Jason."

"Well, it's a shit amount of money. My daughter to me is priceless and there's no amount of money on this planet that would be worth as much as her."

"You and he are two completely different fathers my friend" I spoke, placing my hand on his shoulder before I left them behind and headed for my car.

"Where are you going," Elliot asked.

"I'm returning the trash. I don't want it to be found littering the streets, we have enough garbage in landfill as it is."

"Shit, I'm coming too" he laughed.

"Ell, if we go in there mob-handed, we won't even get up the stairs at the front of the building."

"What are you going to do then," he asked.

"Me, on my own, I'm going to walk in the front door. Just make sure you have bail money ready."

Getting into my car, I headed away from the peace of the lumber yard and into the early evening traffic. I knew the offices would be clearing out soon, but I also knew from what Ana had told me about him never going home, he would still be there when I arrive.

I parked out front of the building, taking the spot of a car that had just pulled away. Walking up the steps, I was lost in the crowd of those leaving the building, working my way through them and bypassing the guards.

Walking towards the reception desk now away from the crowd, I knew my appearance would gather attention.

"What can I help you with," a snotty-nosed woman asked, taking in the work boots, jeans and t-shirt I was wearing, all grubby after a long day at work.

"I want to speak to Steele."

"Excuse me" she spluttered, "You cannot see Mr Steele without an appointment."

"I have my appointment card here" I spoke, slamming the envelope down on the top of the counter. "So, you might want to get on that phone and speak to your boss because I can guarantee that he's going to want to know that I'm here."

While she made the call, I was aware that I had the attention of the guards that I had so easily bypassed earlier. They didn't come closer, probably not wanting to risk the wrath of the man upstairs should I have a genuine reason to be here. That man seemed to have everyone walking on eggshells in this company especially hearing the voice of a woman on the end of the line, one that sounded fearful as she told the receptionist he had just left for a dinner appointment and was on his way down. The receptionist didn't have a chance to warn the guards as to what was about to happen as the elevator dinged its arrival and four men, two of which were those men in black from earlier got out.

It only took a second for Steele to notice me. I took pleasure in seeing his face grow red as if he was going to burst.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE, HOW DID YOU GET IN" he bellowed, having everyone's attention now.

"You came to visit my place of work; I was just returning the favour. How did I get in, like everyone else, I walked through the doors? Your security is shit by the way... Now I came to speak to you about this" I announced, holding up the envelope. "And as you're already here, it seems I don't need an appointment" I added, looking back to the receptionists who sat there, mouth open as if she was catching fish.

It seemed that no one had dared speak back to this man before, well I'm only too happy to be the first.

"What is that," he asked, playing dumb as he looked at the envelope.

"Is it a bribe or a threat, I've yet to decide" I spoke, pulling the note and the cheque out, holding it aloft for everyone to see.

"Yes, you decide" he spoke, his arms crossed, his attempt at intimidation, pitiful.

I knew we had an audience while I spoke to him, I didn't realise that the audience contained the one person who would be hurt by all of this. Ana had told me she had a meeting with her publisher Hannah today, I didn't realise with all the secrecy surrounding her writing, that that meeting would still be held here.

"What is this" Ana spoke softly as coming up behind me she had pulled from my hand the note and the cheque. "Is this all that I'm worth to you" she added, addressing her father.

"Anastasia, we will discuss this upstairs."

"No, no we won't" she replied, moving past me to get closer to her father. "Christian saved me that night, from him and you're trying to bribe him to stay away. What about what I want, doesn't that ever matter to you."

While speaking, Ana had nodded to the man who stood by Steele's side before she continued to argue with her father. I'd barely paid any attention before to this man as I'd not seen him that day when I had picked up Ana, he had remained out of sight in the car. He certainly had most of my attention now as he tried to tell Ana to be quiet.

"DON'T SPEAK TO HER" I shouted at him, taking a step forward which made all the others react.

It was Ana who hit out first when that man grabbed her arm. She rounded on him, kneeing him where it hurt, screaming at him not to touch her. We all watched as he hit the ground, crying out in pain but who did Steele go to first, not his daughter who was holding her arm, no it was his golden boy.

"Ana" I called out as I felt hands on my shoulders and arms. Steele's security had finally decided to act. "ANA" I shouted over the noise, trying to pull away from these men who were pulling me back.

I managed to get myself free, looking around to where Ana was. I saw her then, rushing through a door on the other side of the room followed by the young woman she'd been with and as I tried to follow, my way was blocked. It was then that I felt more hands try and restrain me, pulling me back towards the doors I had entered. With Ana no longer here, then neither did I need to be so I stopped fighting, letting them think they had won.

"I'm leaving" I spoke, lifting my hands in surrender as they let me go but continued to surround me. "I don't need an escort," I announced. "I know the way out."

"If you ever return Grey."

"Yeah yeah, Steele but remember that works both ways."

I was about to turn around and head towards the door when I spotted the note and the cheque and picked them up.

"Will you just leave," he spat, watching to see what I would do next.

"I'm going, don't worry but there's one thing you should know Steele" I stated, ripping the cheque and note into many pieces. "I can't be bought and neither can Ana."

Thank you for reading, and reviewing.

We have a reunion next chapter and a trip away for these two is on the cards.

I was asked about the last chapter with Leila being mentioned or more her painting, if she will be in this story. No, she won't and she had nothing to do with Christian in the past. With her paintings mentioned in the original books and Christian disliking them, I thought I would insert them into the story, plus it won't be the last time we see that painting much to Ana's amusement.

Until next time which I'm hoping if I can finish editing it, will be tomorrow, an Easter gift to you.

Take care.

Caroline.