I walk to my desk, sit down and start shuffling through the messages that Sophia took while I was out at lunch… lunch with Mr. Grey. The realization of what happened at the restaurant begins to hit me, I feel cold and start to tremble when Sophia interrupts my thoughts "Miss Steele, are you ok?" she asks, standing in the doorway. I hadn't heard her knock or open the door.
"Yes I am fine thank you Sophia" I said distractedly. "Can I help you with something?"
"I have Miss Kavanagh on line two for you" she informs me. I nod and she closes the door behind her. I take a deep breath and pick up the receiver.
"Kate, my lovely. How are you?" I ask trying to keep my voice light.
"Ana honey! I am fine, just checking we are still on for our long overdue evening of fun tomorrow night?" she reminds me that we have arranged to go to the new nightclub 'Pandora's Box' that opened a couple of weeks ago.
"Of course, I am looking forward to letting my hair down" I reply with as much enthusiasm I can muster.
"Are you ok Ana? You sound distracted" she knows me too well.
"Oh I just have a lot on my plate with the new boss" I tell her. Well that was the biggest understatement ever!
"I saw the press on that; I can't believe how lucky you are to have the Christian Grey as your boss. I bet he is a task master thought. He's dreamy, don't you think Ana?" she questions.
"Listen Kate, sorry but I have to run, so much to do here before the weekend but I promise we will have a proper catch up tomorrow" I say hoping my diversion will satisfy her.
"Ok Ana, see you tomorrow. Take care honey" she says fortunately accepting my excuse. I shake my head to try and clear my thoughts so I can concentrate on work again. I turn my attention back to the messages and begin to busy myself in sorting those.
"Miss Steele?" I jump, look up and realize Mr. Grey is standing in the doorway. Oh boy he is so…dreamy, I can feel a hotness developing and I blush.
"Yes Mr. Grey", I answer without belying my feelings.
"I didn't mean to startle you, would you come to my office for a moment? I have some questions regarding the Adams account" he asks.
"Of course Mr. Grey" I stand and move around my desk and follow him to his office across the hallway. He shuts the door behind me and volunteers a seat with his hand. After an hour of what feels like intense discussion, the issues are resolved and as I stand to leave he stops me.
"Ana, I err want to apologize for earlier in the restaurant, my life is complicated and crazy as you have seen. I don't want to give you a false impression…"
I cut him off sharply "If I remember correctly Mr. Grey, it was entirely a mutual decision. I will be in my office if you need anything else". I storm out of his office although I don't know why I am upset, it's not like he promised me hearts and flowers or anything for that matter. It was an unexpected quick fuck in a restaurant so why am I so disappointed? Did I want more?
The rest of the afternoon passed without too much hassle, which is unusual for a Friday afternoon, not that I was complaining and I didn't see Christian again. At 5.30pm I leave my office, I hand some files to Sophia and wish her a goodnight. The hordes of press have dispersed from outside of SIP, I assume they got the story or pictures they wanted. I see Sawyer sitting in the A8, waiting to drive Mr. Grey home. I wave to him and he nods in acknowledgement. I wonder if he has to sit and wait all day. Surely not I tell myself as I climb into my car, open the roof as it's a beautiful evening and begin the journey to our apartment.
Kate and I live together in a swanky apartment funded in part by a trust fund from Kate's grandparents. I pay rent but Kate will never tell me if what I contribute covers enough. It's on the 25th floor and the views are spectacular at times. Kate is due back tomorrow, she often travels, sometimes to dangerous places to cover stories but it's nice to have the space to myself. I open the door, kick off my now pinching shoes, jump in the shower, then I grab a bottle of wine from the chiller and allow the couch to mold comfortably around me. I flick through the channels and settle for watching back to back episodes of 'White Collar' drooling over Matt Bomer, who funnily enough reminds me a little of Christian.
I wake up suddenly, the sun is pouring in the lounge window, and I am disorientated momentarily before realizing I must have fallen asleep on the couch without shutting the curtains or switching the television off. Its 6am, ugh too early for waking so I stiffly get up and head to the bedroom to continue my slumber. A few hours later I wake to my cell phone's chime, it's Kate.
"Hey sleepyhead, sorry did I wake you?" she laughs.
"It's ok, I mustn't stay here all day" I yawn and stretch and Kate tells me she should be home around four this afternoon and to be ready for 6pm to go for dinner before heading to the club. I swing my legs out of bed, put on my jogging gear and head out for a run to clear the cobwebs in my mind.
I must have been out longer than I realized, when I checked my watch it was gone 2pm. I stop at the local deli for a sandwich and my favorite chai latte to go. Back home I greedily eat my lunch, check the mail, tidy a little and hit the shower.
Deciding what to wear is proving to be a challenge, should I go smart casual or slinky sexy? I am holding a silver and black short dress up to me in front of the mirror when Kate bursts in and tells me that it is flawless and I can borrow the Jimmy Choo's she bought recently. She is like a whirlwind, pulling out handbags and jewelry that will, of course go perfectly with the dress. I tell her to go get ready while I put my hair up in a soft chignon and apply a little foundation and lip gloss. When Kate returns we both stare at each other for a moment.
"Wow girl, you look gorgeous" I say to Kate who could pretty much make a plastic bag look chic.
"Honey you are stunning" she returns. "How are we still single?" she frowns
"So where are we heading for dinner? I ask, chuckling at her last statement.
"How about Portofino? It's a cab ride from here but it's not far from the club so we can walk there after dinner" Kate suggests.
"Sounds good" I grab the apartment keys and we go down to the street to hail a cab.
Portofino's is a great choice for Italian food and we leave a couple of hours later, heading towards 'Pandora's Box'. As we draw closer we can hear the music pumping from the club. Everyone who is anyone says this is the hottest place in town. After queuing for what feels like forever, we enter the club, leave our jackets in the cloakroom and go to check out the place. The bar is immediately on our left so we order our usual. Mine's a 'Black Velvet' cocktail and Kate has a 'Flirtini', typical Kate!
We find a table and sit for a moment taking in the ambience. It really is a magnificent building, it has two floors, the main club on the lower, with two bar areas and I would guess the V.I.P area on the second. The décor is comfortable but stylish if not a bit dark for my taste but then again people are not coming here to admire the color of the walls I remind myself. Comfy couches surround the tables which are situated on the outside walls; the dance floor is in the center. The DJ has got the crowd going with some top tunes and the lighting arrangement is fantastic. It's almost as if they are flashing to the beat of each tune. I glance upwards to the second floor, everyone seems to have champagne and there is some activity around some doors over to the left. Private rooms perhaps? I notice two burly bouncers at the foot of the stairs and wonder what it takes to get access. Maybe Kate would have connections? I must remember to ask her sometime.
However I can see Kate is itching to go dancing so I drink up and we head to the dance floor. In no time we are surrounded by some young, half naked and sexy men. Not bad if I do say so myself and I let out a small giggle. Kate is busy tormenting a poor guy; she is gyrating up against him, shaking her booty in his face and generally being a huge flirt. I can't help but smile, I love Kate like a sister and she is so much fun to be with.
After much dancing and giggling we grab another drink from the bar and sit down again to catch our breath.
"You are such a tease Kate Kavanagh!" I gently reprimand her.
"I know, it's such fun" she replies with a huge smile on her face. I can't help but smile back.
All of a sudden we become aware of a commotion towards the entrance to the club, we stand to see if we can get a better view. It must be someone famous has arrived, the air crackles with excitement.
"What's happening? Can you see?" I ask Kate.
"Oh you will never guess who has just arrived" she looks at me with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Who, Who?" I crane my neck to get a better view.
"It's your new boss, Christian Grey" smiles Kate. "He is certainly one for making an entrance, look at all the people flapping around him"
"What's he doing here?" I exclaim loudly as though he shouldn't have been there. I sink down into my seat pick up my drink and take a long sip.
"What's the matter Ana?" asks Kate.
"I...I just didn't think he would come to a place like this" I stuttered.
"He owns it honey. This was a derelict building before he bought and transformed it into this " says Kate as I stare at her.
"Didn't you know that?" scoffs Kate. Damn me for not reading the tabloids closer then I would have known! I make a mental note to start reading some of the classier magazines from now on.
"I wonder who that is with him?" I mumble. I recognize Taylor and Sawyer from earlier today and they are doing a great job of fending off unwanted attention but not the tall blond that is walking beside him.
"The blond is his wife" Kate informs me as a matter of fact.
"What!" I exclaim going very pale under my foundation.
"Yeah, apparently they have been married for two years, they have a son too" say Kate oblivious to my increasing distress.
"But he can't be married" I say beginning to cry.
"Why ever not honey?" as a now concerned Kate comes and sits beside me on the clubs couch. She puts her arm around my shoulders.
"Because we went to lunch yesterday and ended up having sex in the restaurant" I blurt out and then look around, hoping no one else had heard me. Kate took a sharp intake of breath and slumped back on the couch.
"The Bastard" was the only words Kate could muster.