"Anastasia?" "Sir?" I was currently busying working through logic theories at my new desk…. right smack beside Mr. Grey's. He was leaning back in his chair and facing out the window with his hands clasped on his lap. "Let's go on a date." "No." And just like, I could sense his sharp glare burning a sudden hole through my head.
"No? Did you just say "no" to me, Anastasia?" Mr. Grey had a tone. "We have work to do, sir." "We've worked all morning. Let's go somewhere this afternoon." "I still have five pages to get through. This is going to take all afternoon," I still didn't glance his way. Seemingly unhappy with my defiance, I blinked as he came over to snatch up the remaining papers- including the one I was currently working on. My eyes just rolled up to him, finding him dangling the paperwork above me. His other hand planted on his hip firmly.
"These pages are no longer your responsibility." "Mr. Grey… I have to finish those," my lips let out a soft sigh. "Not anymore." "You can't do that." "I do whatever I want; I'm your boss." This caused another long sigh to erupt from me. "Mr. Grey, please…." "As your boss, I order to take the afternoon off with me." "And do what?" My eyebrow raised a little suspiciously. He shrugged. "You choose; we can do whatever you want." "Really?!" My eyes widened in sudden surprise. This startled expression made him smile lightly… He smiled, and I felt my heart skip an unconscious beat. That smile with those sapphire eyes…. "Yes, wherever you want to go. Just say it; that's what we'll do." In that moment, I was overwhelmed by the urge to tell him how I adored his eyes, but didn't…. That wasn't appropriate, was it? "I-I… I don't think you'll like where I pick. You should decide, sir." "I said name it, Miss Steele," his grin widened.
We were standing in the National Museum's foyer. There were tons of school children and families bustling about. I simply looked at the slightly alarmed Mr. Grey with a grin. "Well, you did say anywhere," this was cheeky to say. I loved going to museums; they were always the first place I went to when I traveled. I came here when I just needed to get out of my apartment; plus, no gangsters ever came here- double win! This place was huge, with three full floors of content, many exhibitions, a conservatory, and a library- which I have been in before. Personally, my favorite galleries were the animal panorama and history section. I wonder what Mr. Grey would like to see…..
He didn't say anything for the longest time. Then he chuckled to himself, peering down to me. "I should have known. An academic like you…." "I love museums. Aside from libraries, universities, and the Lush store of course, they are my favorite places to visit." "You really are a nerd," more chuckling. "Maybe…." "So, Miss Smartie-Pants; what would you like to see first?" "What?!" I blinked to him in astonishment. I found him smiling again; he was smiling with those gorgeous eyes once again…..
This made me pause for a second before continuing. "Oh no, Mr. Grey! I come here all the time. You choose! I'll be happy to go wherever you want." This seemed to please him. He peered down, then leaned in closer to my ear. "Anastasia, while we're in public, I want you to call me "Christian"." Of course, I audibly gasped scandalized. "I can't do that!" "Why not?" "Because you're my boss! It wouldn't be right. Besides it's…." It's not like we're in a real relationship or anything. The very notion made me blush a tad. Mr. Grey seemed all the more pleased with this frazzled reaction, like he actually found my modestly charming.
"Anastasia- the goal is to try and look like a real couple. People will think it's very suspicious if you address me so formally all the time. Just call me "Christian"; it's alright." It's alright… "No, it's not alright," I fired back with not as much steam as I would have liked. "We have to be believable. Do it for me, ok?" Do it for him….? Ugh! Why did he have to say it like that?! Finally, my head nodded without my brain's permission. Bad head! He grinned in complete victory over this, straightening back up.
"Good! Now, where do you want to go first?" "I want you to choose," I countered quickly. "And I want you to pick. And since I'm your employer, I make the call; choose." Gees, he just won't give up, will he? A sincere smile bloomed across my lips- a happy grin…. In that moment, I felt… happy; pure, unadulterated joy. I pointed towards the animal panorama.
"Ok, let's go there." "Fine," you can't imagine how high my heart leaped when Mr. Grey reached over to take hold of my hand. It was so unexpected and out of nowhere that I failed to react right away; just like the night Paul hugged me…. Mr. Grey gave me a gentle, small tug forward; this somehow caught my lost mind up with the situation. I tried to pull my hand out of his grasp, but he didn't relent. He just gazed back to me from over his shoulder.
"Anastasia?" "D-do…. do you have to hold my hand?" I was blushing so hard, I couldn't look him in the face while asking. He watched me for a moment, his feet coming to a halt. "We can't only sound like a real couple. We have to look like one too?" "Y-yeah, but… does that really require you… h-holding my hand?" Can't we be a couple who doesn't touch? Like at all? Touching leads to attachment…. and attachment was the last thing I needed right now. In Mr. Grey's opinion however….
"We'll stay closer together this way." "Yes, I know… I don't want to stay closer together." "Anastasia, are you embarrassed?" "Of course I am! I'm not used to…." This. After watching me for another moment, Mr. Grey softly, almost tenderly pulled me forward; my eyes grew as I found myself walk up right next to him. We were so close, I could almost feel him…. While my cheeks were bright red, his face was nothing but kindness and caring. "W-Why, Mr. Grey?" "What did I just say?" His voice wasn't as chastising as you'd image. My gaze began to drift down thoughtfully, shyly…. "Why do you want to hold my hand…. C-Christian?" Oh, that felt so wrong….. maybe because it felt right in so, so many ways. Too many ways. I needed a reality check and fast. Too bad I wasn't getting one anytime soon. Mr. Grey smiled in the warmest, more effortless way possible. His head leaned in towards mine once more.
"Let me hold your hand." My eyes started to widen. I knew what he meant by this: he wants to hold my hand. Why? Just for the fake relationship? If so, then… Please hold my hand. Then why is holding onto my hand so tight? So protectively?
So tenderly?