Hello everyone,
I hope you're doing well during this difficult time. It's been a harsh year. What else can I say.
I hope you're as careful as you possibly can.
I decided to publish a prequel to Cold Steele which wasn't the first thing on my list to put in here. So this story is bascially about Christian and Ana's relationship before they split. I wanted to show why she felt so badly about the situation and partly blamed herself for the break-up.
So as you can guess, this one isn't HEA because it's heading to breaking Anastasia. (Spoiler to Cold Steele, but it's 2020, I don't care :D).
Feel welcome to share your thoughts and curses :)See you very soon, still in 2020.
I know it's late but Happy Holidays.
Mila
The Slippery Slope
Chapter 1
APOV
2011
My Dad always told me that I should always be there to help my friends. This time, however, it was the biggest failure in my life. My roommate Kate asked me to fill in for her last minute to do an interview with some businessman who's apparently a very important figure for my university. I did as I was brought up and agreed. Never again.
"Are you gay?" I stopped. "Oh, no. I'm sorry." I closed my eyes and shook my head. Fuck no. This is what happens when I have to talk to a handsome man without any preparation. Just fantastic.
I really shouldn't have agreed to this interview. I made a total fool of myself and I almost burst out crying. Why did I do that to myself? This whole interview was a catastrophe, but this thing was the peak of the stupidity.
"I'm so sorry for this question Mr Grey. That wasn't my intention." My voice was shaking. I wanted to somehow hide my embarrassment.
"Look at me, Ms Steele." I knew what he was about to say. Get the fuck out you stupid girl. I took a deep breath, and my eyes met his. Surprisingly, he seemed amused.
"It's okay. Obviously, these aren't your questions."
"But I'm the one who asked it out loud."
"You did. However, no one dared to do so right into my face." He gave me a reassuring smile and looked at the notebook. "That was my last question, Sir. Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview." I said looking into his beautiful eyes.
"Thank you for your time, Ms Steele. Ms Kavanagh also set a date for a photoshoot next week, hopefully she gets better by then." My face fell. He wanted me out. Kate is going to kill me.
"I hope she will. Goodbye Sir." He showed me out and smiled again.
"I hope you'll be there as well. Goodbye Anastasia." I left the building and headed straight home. I couldn't stop thinking about this man. Kate was taking her meds when entered our flat.
"Were you serious? I asked him THAT question! I made a total idiot of myself." She put down her water and started laughing.
"My God, you did that! What did he say?" I punched her in the arm. "What?! I really wanted to know, so?"
"He didn't say anything. It was the last question on the list, so I managed to get all the other answers." I gave her the notes and I sent her the file with the interview. I made sure she had dinner and didn't say anything for the rest of the day. She was busy with the material I gave her. When she finally finished, she came to see me.
"Ana, thank you so much. You're the best!"
"I know. You can't do without me."
"You're right and I don't want to. You're coming to the photo shoot as well. He knows you already. Besides, he didn't seem angry with your question." Part of me wanted to see him again. I remembered exactly his grey eyes and his voice. He was such an enigma. The interview was probably the most generic shit he'd ever given.
"Okay, I'll be there."
For the next days I was looking forward to seeing him again. I looked him up but couldn't find much information. Adopted, very dedicated to his work and I understood Kate's curiosity on his status. The only women he was photographed with were his mother and sister, no one else. It drew my attention and I wanted to know why it was that.
"It's a pleasure to see you again Anastasia." He said with a delicate smile when we shook hands.
"Thank you, Mr Grey." He didn't look at me later at all. I helped Kate and the photographer but felt kind of useless. Kate bossed me around as usual. I agreed to come in the first place. In the end, thanks to my help they saved over an hour and Kate was happy to see that nothing went wrong. I helped my friend José for years in high school that's why I knew how to help with the equipment.
The photographer and Kate left me alone for a minute to put the things in the car when he finally looked at me again. I was trying to be discreet throughout the shoot, however, I wasn't subtle enough in looking at him. Although I guess looking is an understatement.
"Thank you for your help today. Would you mind joining me for coffee?" I raised my eyebrows surprised. I took a step back. Was I imagining it? I pulled my hair away.
"Now?" I covered my face with a hand. Great. I was being an idiot again. He was just a man. An interesting one for sure, but he was out of my league as well. "I mean, no Sir. I'd like to join you although I don't drink coffee." I let out a smile and focused. I wanted to have coffee or whatever with him. More of whatever.It was nothing just a random guy asking me out. Wait? Was he?
"Tea then. We'll work something out."
"Sure. Thanks." I let Kate know I'd be home a bit later and immediately started to feel so many ambivalent things at once. I wanted to be as far away as possible and at the same time, I wanted to learn more about him. The only things I knew about him were the boring stuff from the interview. I watched him closely when we walked out of the building. His posture changed a bit, he took off his tie and folded it into his pocket.
"Is everything okay?" Why wouldn't it be?
"Sure. Lead the way, Mr Grey. It's the second time I've been in this area. This is one of the reasons I feel slightly off. I don't want to get lost in the middle of a big city." I admitted honestly. I liked knowing where I was all the time. I wasn't in my element.
"I won't let you get lost. Besides your car is parked here. I'll walk you afterwards." He gave me a reassuring smile and I smiled back.
"I appreciate the gesture." It was warm outside, so we opted for taking our drinks outside and go for a walk. It was the end of May and my blazer was more than enough. We took our time walking and observing people.
"How do you feel about graduation?" He asked politely. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I wanted to be able to focus solely on my career rather than balancing studying and working.
"Perfect. Four years is too much. The exams are mostly done, so I can say that in a week's time I'll be done with formal education." I studied translation and interpreting in French and Spanish and that was so demanding. I liked translating more, however, interpreting is better paid, so I decided to follow the paycheck, not my passion. That wouldn't do good for me.
"Nicely put."
"I'm learning new things every day, for example, how not to do an interview." I joked.
"Well, if I'm being honest it was terrible Ms Steele. Yet, these weren't your questions, and we can agree that you weren't in your element."
"I totally wasn't. I worked with different people over the years, but my role was always different. I'm the invisible linker, not one of the main elements of the dialogue. That's how I'm comfortable. I'm currently on the move to Seattle with Kate to push myself a bit more into my field."
"I can see that. How are you finding Seattle for now?"
"Great. I still get lost sometimes and there are so many areas I don't know yet, but I'll catch up pretty soon."
"Of course, you will. Anastasia…" He hesitated and it made me stop for a second. "Are you currently seeing someone?" That was unexpected and I had to wrap my head around that. Was he asking me if I was single? It's getting weird. What was his point?
"No, Mr. Grey. I'm not. Why are you asking if I may?" I was out of breath.
"I'm about to walk you to your car because I have another meeting, but I don't want this to be the last time I see you. Except for your graduation." I managed to control my emotions and not to show my surprise, the only thing I let out was a shy smile.
"I feel the same." He gave me his card and wrote something down on it.
"Here. Let's go." I looked at the card and he explained. "It's my private number. You're welcome to call anytime and let me know if you'd like to have dinner with me sometime soon." I put it into my planner without a second look at it.
"Are you serious?"
"I usually am." He didn't say anything until we reached my car. "I'm really hoping you'd call, Anastasia." I liked the way he pronounced my name. "I promise to get you back home safely before it's too late."
"Promise?"
"Yeah. Goodbye, Anastasia."
"Goodbye, Christian."
Kate won't believe it. Hell, I don't believe it.
CPOV
The moment I saw her for the first time was something I'd never felt before. Anastasia. Such a lovely name and such a sweet woman, so delicate, so adorably awkward, so submissive, and eager to please. I wanted her like nothing before. She literally fell into my office and when I first saw these eyes, I knew I was lost. She was perfect and I wanted her to be mine. I'd do anything to have her. She had no idea what she was doing, and it showed. Good that she didn't pretend, but told me straight away, she was a last-minute replacement. She read the questions out mechanically as if she saw them for the first time. I gave the very obvious answers. She didn't want to be here no longer than necessary, but I took my time. I even cancelled one of my meetings to keep her for longer than I had originally scheduled for the interview. The moment she leaves I'll get everything I can about her.
When she read out the latest question "Are you gay" I was taken aback. No one had ever asked that question out loud. I looked at her angrily and saw that it wasn't her intention. She immediately apologised. Good. Although I wanted to give her my answer, I didn't want it to be recorded.
"It was my last question. Thank you." She was leaving. Fuck. Too soon. I remembered about the photoshoot as the second part and wished she'd accompany her friend. She blushed, but quickly regained control. I hoped she'd come. I wanted to see her not Kavanagh. I only agreed because it was organised by the university and I had already worked with Kavanagh senior.
The moment she left. I called Taylor to my office. He knew me to well to know where I was heading.
"I want everything there's to know about Anastasia Steele. First thing in the morning on my desk."
"Yes, sir." He left without saying anything else. How long it's been since the last one? I couldn't stop thinking about Ms Steele. Would she even be interested in me? She seemed attracted to me as much as I was attracted to her. But what if she was strictly vanilla? Then she wouldn't be right for me. Maybe I could introduce her into it? Maybe she'll love the lifestyle as much as I did.
I am entire weekend on her personal data my people managed to collect and there was nothing that drew their or my attention. She was busy studying and working, she used to engage in clubs, but gave up when she started to do more paid projects. Her parents were divorced, no siblings, no boyfriend… Maybe she'd be interested in spending more time with me.
I cooled myself down. I decided to wait till I see her again. She was embarrassed during the interview; she might not come. I want to see her again. I have to get to know her. I want all of her.
She came. She seemed to act as if the mistake of the interview never took place. She was much more in control than she was the first time. I took my time to watch her discretely which caught the attention of Katherine Kavanagh, not that I cared in any way. She wouldn't guess how I imagine her sweet innocent friend. Anastasia didn't seem to think I looked at her, but she was watching me carefully as well. Only I was better at being discreet. Game on.
She would be mine. Afterwards, I decided to enjoy a coffee with her. She was more careful and collected than before, but she was clearly interested in me. I couldn't waste my shot. She was sweet when she admitted she was afraid of being lost. I wouldn't let that happen. She would be only where I wanted to be. She'll want it as well. I'll take care of her. She won't be able to have anyone else but me.
I wondered how many days it would take her to call me. She took her time, and I took mine. I watched her closely thanks to some extra pairs of eyes and ears in her neighbourhood. She'll see I'll bring her pleasure she'd never felt before.
Finally, after almost a week of waiting, I received a call I've been waiting for. She'll be mine. In every way.
Let me know if you liked it.
Enjoy your Holidays!
Mila