The morning sun rises, letting rays of light strobe through the curtains; it looks like it is going to be another wonderful day. I feel bright and breezy as I swing my legs around. I feel a little sore, then I remember our playtime last night and a big smile emanates from my lips, who knew being touched there could elicit such an intense and pretty damn sexy response from my body.
Christian is nowhere to be seen and I ask Mrs Jones if she knew where he was, she replies that he left already, mumbling something about things to do, people to see and places to go. What does that mean I wonder? I shrug my shoulders and start munching the toast that Gail has just put in front of me.
I check my phone and find a message from Kate says all was ok there, very little press intrusion and she is thinking about coming home in the next day or two. Great, I can move back home, much as it is great to be here, especially with Mrs Jones, I need my own space and some girl talk about movies, actors, music and fashion, that's everything a man doesn't want to talk about! I laugh to myself at the thought of trying to discuss with Christian, the pros and cons of Matt Bomer appearing in Magic Mike and Henry Cavill in Superman. It would be a huge fail. I text Kate back saying to let me know when she is planning to arrive so I can be at the apartment waiting for her.
I finish getting ready, Taylor and I get ready for the press gauntlet but surprisingly it's very quiet out the front, only one or two stragglers waiting in case a lucky scoop comes their way but most realize that no more information is going to be shared by Christian, his family or I and have moved on to the next big thing which appears to be the marriage of a British actress to an American producer. I heard it on the early news this morning but at least that takes the heat off us for a while.
I ask Taylor if I can drive myself today as the press has almost dispersed and I have not actually driven my new car yet and am raring to try it out. I want to feel the power behind the 3.0L TDI engine. Taylor agrees but will continue to follow behind still. Ok I can deal with that, I get me time alone in the car again and listen to what ever music I want to.
Traffic was horrendous this morning and I disappointingly didn't get to drive the car above 60 mph but I notice some admiring glances from other drivers which sent a thrill down my spine. I have never had and never thought I would ever get a car like this in my lifetime, that is unless I win the Lotto.
By the time I sit down at my desk I have another message from Kate saying she will be home tomorrow late afternoon and did I want to get take out, wine and ice cream ready? Of course I readily message back and tell her I look forward to seeing her tomorrow. I check the take out options on the internet and decide that pizza sounds good. I will go to the store after work and choose a couple of bottles of wine and ice cream. Hmm Haagan Daas chocolate chip or Ben and Jerry's phish food, oh too many choices.
Christian comes into the office to see how this morning's journey was; he comes around to my side of the desk to kiss me. He looks at my screen and sees the pizza ordering service up.
"Take out tonight? I am not keen on pizza Ana" he tells me.
"Oh no, Kate is back tomorrow night so we are having a girls night in with take out, wine and ice cream" I beam as I am saying this to him.
"What time can I expect you back tomorrow?" his mood is darkening, I can tell by his face.
"I am going to stay at the apartment. I figured that as things had settled down somewhat, that I could go back home again" I say with more confidence than I am feeling right now.
"You have everything you need at my apartment Ana so there is no need to go back" he advises me.
"I wasn't intending to move in with you permanently Christian, I took it to be a stopover whilst things eased off a little. They seem to have now so I will go back to my apartment" I can see he is getting seriously aggravated with what I am suggesting.
"Well I want you to stay so I can protect you Ana" he growls at me.
"That's lovely Christian and I appreciate everything you have done and are doing for me but I am not ready to move in with you" I'm waiting for the explosion.
"Why not for fuck sake Ana?" great here we go "I want you and need you to be with me"
"I will be Christian but I still need my own space to do my own things with whom I want and when I want. I am not ready to be explaining myself to you" I bristle.
"So where does that leave us Ana?" he is shouting now.
"Please don't shout at me Christian, I want to be with you but I am not ready to give up my independence just yet" I reply as calmly as my mind will let me.
"Well that's just fucking great Ana, so you are going to leave me hanging then?" shouting again.
"Don't swear at me either, no I am not leaving you hanging, we will have to date like normal people do" I bite back "or is that something you have never done" not knowing how close to the mark I have come.
"Whatever Ana, see you later" and he storms out of the office slamming the door on the way out.
Phew, that was an intense and what I consider to be irrational conversation. I don't know anyone who would move in together this quickly. Perhaps by sleeping with him the first time we met gave him the impression I wanted more and quickly but whilst I am totally smitten and in love with this man, I am not ready to give up my life to be completely his…yet. I feel bad that I might have given him that impression however neither of us has promised anything to the other.
I feel irritated so I finish up and head to the store, I will take the things to the apartment now in preparation for tomorrow and that means less time at Escala with Mr Moody. The liquor store has a great range of white wine but I am sure no one specific to go with pizza, I chuckle. I pick 2 medium priced bottles and head to the grocers next door for ice cream. I struggle with choices and end up coming out with three tubs, Vanilla, I chuckle again, Choc chip and Phish food. I drive home, the apartment looks really great, Elliot has done a great job and it hardly smells now. I stow the wine in the fridge and ice cream in the freezer. Check the mail, bills, junk, bills junk. Kate and I will sort those properly tomorrow.
I reluctantly drive back to Escala, Taylor still hot on my trail. I park up; wait for Taylor to escort me into the lift
"How do you put up with him sometimes Taylor?" I start to say "sorry I shouldn't ask you questions like that"
"Mr Grey has looked after Gail and I very well, I won't deny that certain things get frustrating but he is a good employer and I believe he would help anyone in need" he answers.
"Yes you are right Taylor I believe he would" I smile trying to hide my embarrassment for asking a question I knew he would find hard to answer.
We enter Christian's apartment in silence, Gail is at her usual spot in the kitchen, something smells wonderful and Gail is plating it up as I walk into the kitchen.
"That smells delicious Gail" I comment.
"Thank you Ana, its Ravioli casserole" Gail says offering me a plate. I sit at the breakfast bar and tuck in. Oh my goodness, it tastes absolutely fantastic.
"Would you like a glass of wine Ana?" Gail asks.
"No thanks, I am not in the mood tonight" I respond.
"Do you need anything else Ana? Otherwise I will turn in for the night" she doesn't need to ask me.
"No thank you Gail, enjoy your evening" I smile and she leaves with Taylor.
I don't hear Christian anywhere; I check the bedroom, study and television room but no sign. The spare room is empty so I go into his bedroom, shower and climb in to bed. Sleep takes a while to come as my mind is playing over our conversation from earlier but while I really appreciate the help, I am not moving in.
Christian is nowhere to be seen in the morning, even Gail hasn't seen him but according to her it's not unusual for him not to come home occasionally. She tells me the club is a place he can stay overnight if necessary. I hope he is ok and I am not the reason he has stayed away as that would be really childish but I hate bad feeling, it leaves me feeling uncomfortable but I am not backing down on this.
The ever faithful Taylor is waiting for me. I tell him about going back to my apartment this evening and he tells me Mr Grey has already informed him of my decision but that he will be around for a little bit longer on Christian's orders. I sigh and Taylor gives me a resigned look and off we go again.
I bury my head in work only surfacing when Sophia brings me lunch.
"Is Mr Grey in today?" I ask as casually as possible.
"No Miss Steele, he flew to New York in Sierra Bravo last night for a business meeting" she informs me.
"What's Sierra Bravo?" I naïvely ask.
"Mr Grey's private jet, he also has Charlie Tango which is a helicopter" she smiles.
"Thank you Sophia" I wave her out of the office. Wow a private jet and helicopter, nice of him to tell me he was going away. I feel in a really bad mood now until a text from Kate comes through making sure we are still on for tonight and I cheer up somewhat. At least I can share some things with her, she is good at putting a different spin on a problem, looking at things from a different angle and I like that.
Four thirty comes around and I head for the exit, I am really really looking forward to seeing Kate tonight. Taylor follows me and sees me safely into the apartment. I fuss around for a few minutes before getting two glasses, bowls and spoons out ready on the coffee table. I hop into the shower, the flow of the water feels divine on my back and I am suddenly taken back to our shower and how good it felt to have Christian's hands all over me. I snap back to the here and now, quickly dry myself, put my PJ's on and sit waiting for Kate.
She comes in about fifteen minutes later with her suitcase, toilet bag and quite a few store bags too. I smile and rush over to give her a hug.
"Hi Kate, so good to have you back" I am squealing in delight "Wow you look good, girl, Elliot is doing wonders for you and shopping, show me what you have bought"
"Ana, whoa slow down honey, are you ok?" she looks concerned "what's happened?"
"Let's talk about you first" I say. The doorbell rings, pizza is here, Kate goes to the fridge and uncorks the wine, we sit, eat, drink and talk about her and Elliot.
She tells me that Elliot has been an absolute prince the last few days; he has shown her some of the work projects he is working on, they went shopping and had a really romantic dinner at a top rated restaurant. She is glowing whilst telling me about her few days away and I feel a little envious but I am also pleased, she deserves the best.
"Ok Steele, tell me what's going on with you and Christian" she demands and you don't mess with that tone!
"We had a row yesterday about me coming home" I begin "he thought I should move in with him permanently, well assumed I was going to and when I said I wasn't ready he stormed off. I then found out he flew to New York in his private jet that night and I haven't heard from him since"
Kate sits slightly opened mouthed.
"Honey you should only move in when you are ready and not a moment before" she confirms "in fact Elliot made noises about the same thing but I quashed the idea quickly too"
"I told Christian we would have to date like normal people and that went down like a lead balloon" I giggle.
"I can imagine" Kate laughs.
"So I don't really know where we are at to be honest. He will have to make contact with me at work, if not before but I am not going to be swayed on this one" I say confidently "Anyways, enough about them, show me what you bought"
We go through her shopping bags, she has bought some fantastic clothes and a wicked pair of Taclou booty veau velour's Louboutins in black. They will go perfectly with skinny jeans or a short skirt, maybe if I am lucky she will let me borrow these sometime. She has bought me a Kurt Geiger Dash Rucksack and it is perfect. I smile and hug her again.
"Thank you so much Kate, it's beautiful and thanks for being such a great friend" a single tear falls onto my cheek.