A/N: Thank you for all the amazing feedback I have gotten from my readers. I am going to try to create a regular publishing schedule on Tuesday's & Fridays for this story so I can provide updates in a timely manner.
I can see Kate's mind is in turmoil, knowing her as I do she is fighting between disbelief and a need to knock some sense into me. If only she knew, that in the back of my mind, I think am falling in love with him. It sounds crazy even to me, I don't know him but I do know how he makes me feel when he touches and makes love to me.
"Ana, ANA!" Kate shrills at me. I had momentarily drifted off to fantasy land. "You need to find out what he wants from you".
"I will I promise" and I meant it.
"You said that before and look what happened!" I smile and launch my napkin over the table at her. We both fall about laughing and I pour us both another glass of wine.
The next few days at SIP were the busiest I have ever known. I was buried under file after file, telephone calls and meetings with potential clients. Christian was nowhere to be seen. That irritated me slightly, was he avoiding me? He certainly left me under a mountain of work for the best part of a week. I can only hope that it is because he trusts my judgement and abilities.
Friday rolled around and the raging torrent of work had reduced to a trickle. Only a few queries remained active, awaiting Christian's presence in the office. Kate had been badgering me to do some research on the internet so I googled 'Christian Grey' and was astonished to find about 3000 references to him, varying from business to social to personal articles. I get myself a coffee, grab a notepad and pen and start at the first article on the list.
After an hour of reading and making notes, I didn't feel like I really knew much more about him. What I did discover was he is 28 years old, born in Detroit, adopted at four years by a Carrick and Grace Trevelyan. He has one older brother, Elliot and a younger sister, Mia, both also adopted. He made his first million by 22 and has powered his way up the Seattle business ladder ever since. By all accounts is a ruthless business man who has forged a few enemies but on the whole has respect from most of the business sector for his work ethic and success.
A knock on the office door pulls my attention away from the screen, it's Sophia.
"Is it alright if I go now Miss Steele?" I glance at my watch. Oh goodness, it's gone 6pm.
"Of course Sophia, have a lovely weekend" I say as I start to tidy my own desk in preparation for leaving. I gather up and file a few documents, leave those still requiring my opinion in the tray and drop some papers on Sophia's desk as I head towards the elevator.
After the week I have had, I am happy to have a quiet weekend. Kate and I get pizza delivered, open a bottle of wine and watch the latest new movie on cable. We go shopping on Sunday and Kate buys a gorgeous maxi dress in Ted Baker. My find was a simply stunning pair of Manolo's. All too soon it is Monday morning again.
The traffic was unusually light this morning and stepping off the elevator it appears I am first in the office. I walk into my office taking my jacket off at the same time. I turn towards my desk and stop in my tracks when I see an unexpected figure sitting at my desk.
"Good Morning Miss Steele" says the sultry voice. That voice, it's so inviting and sexy. I am about to return a greeting when I see he is leafing through the notepad I had been using the previous Friday to make notes on him. My eyes widen in horror and I feel the color rising in my cheeks.
"Checking up on me I see Miss Steele" he voice sounding mildly annoyed now.
"Err Mr. Grey, I wasn't expecting you here so early this morning" I stutter.
"Apparently so" he retorts.
"I was merely doing some background research" I say as casually as I can. Well that's a pretty lame excuse Ana!
"Oh? Did you find out everything you needed to know?" he looks quizzically at me.
"Yes I did. Is there something I can help you with Mr. Grey?" trying to move the conversation on from my silly indiscretion.
"I understand you have some papers needing my attention" he asks.
"Yes" as I hand him the relevant documents. He thanks me and leaves my office. I slump into my chair, with my head in my hands, how could I have been so careless? He will think I am some stalker now. I sigh, I have missed the opportunity to talk about what has happened between us again and I feel disappointed that I am no further forwards. I am besieged by work for the rest of the day and can't wait for 5.30pm.
The following day I find an envelope on my desk, it's a very expensive looking envelope and I open it to find an equally luxurious invitation to a charity ball hosted by Christian's parents at their home this coming Saturday. I have never been to a charity ball before, what would I wear? I scan the invite again and am astonished to see that I will be accompanying Christian. Well nice of him to even mention it to me! Harrumph.
After talking to Kate at length that evening about the pro's and con's, I decide to accept the invitation and Kate once again goes into overdrive, making plans to go to the finest stores in town to find me the perfect ball gown, shoes and accessories. I am glad I have my style guru on hand; I don't know what I would do without her sometimes.
I vow that I will talk to Christian before Saturday and when the opportunity arises on Wednesday I steel myself outside of his office before knocking.
"Come in" he answers, closing a ledger as I walk towards him.
"Good afternoon, please may I have a word Mr. Grey" I say before he is able to initiate any conversation.
"Of course, Miss Steele" he indicates to the chair and a flash back of what happened the last time we were in his office pops into my head and I feel myself blushing.
"How may I be of assistance to you" he asks. Oh boy, that feels like a loaded question.
I take a deep breath and start by accepting his offer to attend the ball on Saturday night. I swear I saw a flash of victory cross his face but that look fades slightly when I continue with a proviso that we discuss the events of recently and our 'relationship', today. He looks a little uncomfortable and shifts in his seat. I decide to go for broke.
"What do I mean to you Christian? We have had sex twice" mind blowing sex I want to add. "You have given me no indication if you want to have a relationship or am I just someone you wish to fuck when you feel like it?" I continue "You invite me as your guest on Saturday and I feel very confused about what you want from me". I find myself breathing heavily at the end of the sentence and twisting my thumbs together as I wait for his reply.
"Ana" he looks a little crestfallen "As I tried to tell you before, my life is very complicated but if you could afford me some time and space I will do my best to tell you. I am sorry if you feel used, that was never my intention because whenever I see you my heart beats faster, I can't get you out of my mind, you ignite the fires inside me. Your smile and touch send shivers down my spine. Ana please don't judge me on what you read and hear but I do have some skeletons which could cause my family and I a great deal of harm and those are the things that scare me the most. I want you to be mine, Anastasia, in every way" Oh my!
I sit feeling a little bemused at the words he has just spoken to me. 'Ignite fires and sends shivers' Wow; I guess I have gotten to him as much as he has gotten to me. I can't help but feel a little apprehensive about those skeletons but I guess we will deal with those as we come to them.
"I hope that is ok for you Ana because it's the best I can offer right now" his voice pulls me from my thoughts.
"Yes, that's very much ok" I grin from ear to ear, he rounds the desk in a second, embraces me and our shared kiss is full of intensity and lust.
"We are going to have to be very careful though?" I question.
"Yes, work is work, it is acceptable to be seen on a colleague basis but particularly on a social level we have to be especially careful, don't forget I am married" he winks. I stifle a giggle but I can't help feeling apprehensive about the possible pitfalls and complications of having a relationship with Christian.
"I am out of town for the next few days" Christian tells me "but I will pick you up from your apartment at 5pm on Saturday".
"Thank you Christian" I reach to kiss him again and am rewarded with another knee weakening kiss.
I am on cloud nine for the rest of the week. Kate and I spend Saturday morning being pampered, waxed, buffed and preened at our favorite spa before visiting numerous shops eventually finding the perfect ball gown. A baby blue, A-line floor length, one shoulder gown with a delicate silver belt. Simple but very very effective. Kate even commented that if Christian didn't want to rip it off and take me as soon as he saw me then nothing would. I blush and playfully scold her.
Back at the apartment I prepare for Christians arrival, Kate is fussing, making sure everything is absolutely perfect. She brings out a delicate necklace, bracelet and earrings that belonged to my grandmother, each piece encrusted with Sapphire gems; eventually she stands back admiring her handy work and declares me ready. Thank goodness, I was beginning to think she would never be satisfied. I take a turn in the mirror and I am happy with how I look.
I check the clock and have a little over half an hour before Christian arrives so Kate cracks open a bottle of wine, telling me it's for 'Dutch courage'. She won't let me sit down in case I crumple my gown, I have to chuckle and tell her it is going to get crumpled the moment I sit in the car and we both laugh. I think the wine on an empty stomach wasn't the smartest decision but it has made me relax a little.
I glance again and see he will be here any moment and I feel those butterflies forming in my stomach and I feel some anxiety building. The doorbell chimes and Kate rushes to open the door, she swings it open and I audibly gasp at Christian standing in the doorway, so handsome so debonair in his fine tuxedo. His eyes trace up from the floor, over my gown and into my eyes, his mouth is slightly open as if in shock. His eyes show pure lust and wanting, piercing back at mine.
"Anastasia, you are absolutely stunning, I am lost for words" he manages to say.
"Thank you Christian, you look very handsome" I smile.
"Are you ready? Shall we get going?" He asks.
I take a deep breath, shout "don't wait up" to Kate and shut the apartment door.