Cpov
"Christian what do you think," Ros asked, bringing me from thoughts of the evening before.
"Everything is going ahead as planned which I like to see. Have you visited the building yet, seen if it is completely adequate for our future needs?" I replied, looking down at the papers before me, trying to show I had been listening even though my mind had been on a beautiful brunette.
"I visited there last week," Marco told me. "It was an evening visit as the present owner doesn't want his staff knowing yet what's going on until they have to. The building is big enough to house what they do there now. Should you want to expand though, we might have to look for somewhere else."
I nodded, reading through the papers before me which I should've been reading before.
"With a little money put into the company and it be given a technological upgrade too, it could be left to run as it is now as the results on here speak for themselves. There is also the bonus that it would save us from sending our publishing needs elsewhere."
Receiving a somewhat bemused smile at my enthusiasm from my COO as I'd shot her down when she had brought up about purchasing the company six months ago, I continued to think about Ana and how I could find her again. There was only one option as far as I could see, having just her first name, Ana, Anastasia. I would have to suck it up and ask Ros.
"You surprised me there, you sounded genuinely interested" she stated when all others had left and it was only the two of us.
"I am Ros. I may not have had a lot to do with this purchase as most of the background work, the negotiations were done while I was going back and forth to the hospital to see my dad. I always like to know what's going on within the company though."
"There was something else you were thinking about in that meeting other than work though as you're not usually that distracted, so spill."
"OK, tell me about Ana."
My request had stunned her into silence for a moment, a rare thing for my COO. I could also see the mama bear come out in her just like I had seen when Ana had visited here. She was protective of a stranger but then again hadn't I felt like that just the night before.
"Ana… who?"
"Ros, don't give me that. You know just who I'm talking about. I saw her."
"You did" she replied, quietly.
"Yes, at Mile High last night. She was having dinner with some jerk who upset her and got up to leave just as I did and we bumped into each other, physically."
I had seen Ana when I had entered the restaurant, choosing much to my guest's annoyance when they arrived to be seated in the main dining area and not the private dining room at the rear. I could see her from where I was seated if I leaned to the side but she could not see me.
I couldn't hear what they were discussing until voices were raised. Seeing the maître d heading their way, probably to ask them to leave, with a shake of my head to him, they were left alone until I got there. I know I had no right to interfere, overstep, especially with the way I'd treated her the last time we'd met but the closer I got, the more his tone of voice grated on me.
Soon I was closer than I'd ever dreamed when for a few brief seconds, she was in my arms.
"Was she OK?" Ros asked me.
"Yes, she put him in his place. I had a few choice words for him too before we were then alone and I apologised."
"Christian Grey apologising, that's a first" she teased.
"I had to. Did you know… Did you know that the blonde hair was a wig?"
"Yes, I helped her put it right in my office. She was soaked to the skin and filthy when she arrived that day. Ana did nothing but apologise, thinking she was making a mess but it was so important to her that she speak with me, so important that despite how uncomfortable she must have felt she didn't want to cancel."
"I thought Ana was sick. Taylor showed me footage taken from the elevator cameras, of her removing the wig as she left revealing no hair."
"It's Ana's brother who's sick" she confessed. "The reason she was here was because of him. You see he has a bucket list, one that seems to terrify Ana. Number 9 on the list involves this building or more the helipad up top."
Ros told me about the recent call she'd had with Ana, telling me in no uncertain terms that should I say no to the arranged plans, she would quit. I wouldn't say no, not if it meant I would get to see Ana again.
…
I was as nervous as a teenager on his first date and I wasn't even invited to this dinner.
That is what will be taking place this evening. Tonight, Tim our company chef will be making dinner for Ana and her guests who will then eat, drink, even listen to music on top of my building.
Today has been a lovely day, the sun shining bright despite the forecast of strong winds. Up there on top of the building, especially when the light starts to fade, will be another story entirely.
"You're not having it, no bill, no charge" Ros said on her phone as she entered my office, taking a seat in the chair in front of my desk. "No, no you don't have to pay anything. You're not putting us out, just enjoy the night and do as you're told."
I had a feeling I knew who she was speaking to and that was confirmed by a laugh followed by her name. Telling Ana she would see her this evening, Ros ended the call.
"Problem," I asked.
"Only convincing Ana that she doesn't have to pay anything to hire the top of our building. Tim is only too happy to cater the evening. The heaters that we use outside in the courtyard are already in situ and so are the tables and chairs, bolted down to the helicopter moorings. The only problem I can forsee up there is with what's going on the table" she smiled before snorting a laugh. "If the wind picks up, it will look like they've had a food fight."
"How many are attending," I asked.
"Eight or nine. I told the kitchen to cater for ten though to be on the safe side."
"Is that all? I thought this would be a big dinner with all the trouble Ana's gone through to arrange it?" I said.
"No, the fewer people there is, the less chance there is of him catching something, not counting hypothermia from being on the roof. I've been assured though that he will be wrapped up warm, thermals in summer Ana had laughed."
"Has Welch been notified about their arrival? I don't want someone stopping them coming in especially when most will have already left by then?" I asked.
"Of course, although I told him to get lost when he asked for a list of attendees to be vetted. They will be arriving through the foyer and taking the service elevator straight up to the helipad if we unlock it from two floors below. The only other place they might want to go is to the bathroom and I've told Ana they can use mine to save going back down again."
"Ros, it's not going to look very good if they're bundled into the service elevator as soon as they arrive and thrown out on the roof".
"Tell that to Welch then. The only other way to the roof is through this floor, passing your office. As I told him you knew nothing about this dinner when we spoke, that was the only route he would agree to, saying all others were a potential security risk. I mean what's Ana going to do, bring a bomb, a gun in her purse. That guy needs to take a day off or better yet, get laid."
"I don't have a problem with them using this floor as a way to the roof, I would prefer it if they did. I will inform Welch, Taylor, too and if they choose to be sat by the monitors watching the whole night unfold then so be it but that is as close as any security will get to them. When Ana and her party arrive, I will meet them in the foyer."
"You'll meet them," she said with an amused look on her face. "OK, I was going to."
"It's the least I can do, Ros. Hopefully, I can make a better impression than the last time Ana was here."
"You can't do any worse" she laughed. "You were definitely an ass that day."
I didn't reply, all I could do was nod as she was right. Ana might not think it but I had a lot to make up for.
Ros left, sending me over the final details for this evening. It was on these papers that I finally learned Ana's full name.
Anastasia Rose Steele. A beautiful name for an incredibly beautiful woman.
….
The warm day thankfully continued into early evening so when the guests arrived at seven, jackets and coats were in hand.
It was Ana that I saw first as she emerged from the taxi, looking beautiful in a long pale blue gown. She was stunning, her hair seemed to glint in the light but as she came closer I realised that was because she had tiny gems woven here and there.
It was as she approached the door and it was being opened by a guard, that I took in the other guests.
One was a woman, vaguely familiar but at the moment I couldn't place her. It was the man who was with them that drew my attention away from Ana. He looked like he had a woollen suit on. It was chequered, in all different bright colours. Maybe it wasn't wool at all and had started as a tartan kilt. Despite his out-there suit, he looked smarter than I had seen him before and the dicky bow and woolly hat on his head topped it off.
"Mr Grey" he spoke, stepping forwards to shake my hand. "Fancy seeing you here."
"Where else would he be" the familiar blonde laughed before all three stood before me.
"J, it's nice to see you again" I replied and I could feel eyes on me, Ana's, looking between us two quizzically.
"Mr Grey."
"Christian" I corrected Ana smiling when she called out my name.
"Christian... You seem to know Jose Rodriguez, what did you call him J, and this is Katherine Kavanagh, Kate."
"It's lovely to meet you" I replied shaking Kate's hand realising now where I had seen her before, at various functions with her parents. I was then told when I went to call him J again that Jose was fine because J was in the past, his nickname as he told me for the annoying pap. "Your other guests?" I asked.
"Running late as they're stuck in traffic. Kate's brother is coming from the other side of the city so could be another half hour or so despite him leaving early today. Others though chickened out" Jose laughed. "Our parents were due to come too but all made up an excuse when Ana told them where dinner was being held. You surprised me with this one Ana" he said.
"How so."
"Because I know how much you love heights" he teased, earning a scowl from her.
We took the elevator up to the executive floor, exiting into the lobby where only Andrea now sat. I had sent Olivia home early, not wanting her incompetence to be on display when they arrived. Walking towards the stairs that led to the roof, I smiled when Ros exited her office and hugged Ana.
"You look lovely," she told Ana. "Different."
"Do you mean by different, that I'm clean and dry?"
"Yes," Ros laughed, looking pointedly at me.
I wanted to say that she looked more than different, that Ana looked stunningly beautiful and I would be honoured to escort her up the stairs and to her seat but as Ros started to lead the way it was Jose I walked with.
"The person that this evening is for, do you know if they will require additional assistance when they arrive besides being brought up here by either Ros, Andrea or myself," I asked causing his steps to falter before he turned to me.
"You don't know."
"Who's coming, no sorry. Ros has kept this to herself, only giving me details on Ana today. I think she was worried that I might've cancelled tonight."
"I bet that's driven you mad, the not knowing" he laughed.
"Not really. I trust my coo and after almost losing my father earlier this year, I've had to put my trust in many more. I know Ros would never have agreed to something she didn't feel comfortable with."
"You might change your mind when you hear that the person that we're all here for was previously a tearaway and a thief."
"You're serious" I replied, not sure with the smile on his face if he was or not.
"Yes. The man who we're here for tonight, once pulled a girls pigtails in kindergarten to get her to like him only to steal her candy." Reaching up to his head, he removed the woollen hat revealing not one hair beneath. I could see he was waiting for me to say something but I couldn't so he continued. Myself, I felt I couldn't breathe. "The tearaway we're here for tonight is me."
I had met this man many times over the years only knowing him then as J. Jose had once been a paparazzi, chasing down the rich and famous of Hollywood before he came back home to focus on Seattle's elite.
I thought he was a pest, just one of the others, someone who was trying to make my life as miserable as I thought theirs was, that was before I listened to him. He'd ask for a photo when we would meet, not shove a camera in my face, he'd ask politely if I would look his way. His voice was usually drowned out by the orders or shouts from others to look at them but because of his polite manner, I remembered him.
I was just starting out in business, being invited to many a party around town when I'd first encountered Jose. Young, rich, quickly moving from millionaire to billionaire territory not only got me the attention I didn't want from the press but from criminals too.
I'd been at a ball at the Fairmont, taking my parents along to give them a rare night off when I'd spent more than just a fleeting moment with this man. I'd stayed long after they had gone home, the evening ending abruptly when the fire alarms had gone off. Set off we found out later by a pap who wanted to get everyone outside.
We'd evacuated the building even though no fire or smoke could be detected. In the panic, there had been a rush of people and a young woman had been knocked to the ground. Trying to help her to her feet, I found myself sprawled beside her, my hip now sore from being trampled. I had been separated from the guards I employed at the time, who I later learned had been outside smoking before the alarm went off so I found myself in an alley with others.
Everything had been fine until it started to rain. So I decided to call it a night and make my way back home which unfortunately became my first mistake of the night. The second was finding myself surrounded by paparazzi with my phone no longer in my pocket, having fallen out when I had been knocked over.
Whichever way I turned, someone blocked my path, the flash from the cameras blinding me. The fact that with the route I'd taken, the back alley I had found myself in ultimately leading to a seedy strip club, lit the blue touch paper for those idiots.
A squeal of tyres scattered everyone, a shout of get in had me moving towards the car before, for just a second, I stopped, thinking it was a stupid thing I was doing, getting in a car with a stranger.
"Mr Grey, please get in the car" was what had me soon seated beside J as I recognised his voice. After dropping me back at Escala, wanting no reward or recognition for what he'd done, my admiration grew for him.
He told me he would see me around, that he had a real job now. That was the last time I'd seen Jose Rodriguez until this evening, until I was asked to sit by his side now. His side and also Ana's after being invited along with Ros, to join them for dinner.
"I didn't know you knew each other" Kate said of Jose and myself so Jose soon told them the story of how we met, telling them it was not a strip club as was reported but a dungeon for lovers of BDSM.
"Kinky" Ana laughed.
"Maybe, but that's not my thing."
"What is your thing then," Kate asked.
"Kate, this is dinner, not an interview," Ana said, slipping her shawl over her head when a gust of wind blew past.
"I'm just being nosy" she protested.
"Like always" Jose replied, earning a raspberry from his friend.
"How did you all meet then," Ros asked the group.
"Jose and I have known each other since birth. Our mums are best friends, living next door to each other. Louisa, Jose's mum was holding my mum's hand through my birth after my dad fainted" Ana giggled. "Three days later when that lump arrived, my mum returned the favour. Although his dad may have turned a bit green watching it all happen, he at least remained upright. I was brought over just after he was born and put by his side in the crib. Louisa said I immediately reached for Jose's hand, stopping his tears. The photo of that moment is on both mantels as well as many other more embarrassing ones taken over the years."
"Pumpkins" Jose laughed.
"Don't, that photo of us dressed as them for our first Halloween is terrible considering we're both screaming on it" Ana groaned.
"I thankfully missed the childhood photos phase" Kate laughed. "Ana and I met in college and in turn, I was introduced to Jose."
"Cold," I asked Ana as she shuddered, slipping her jacket over her shoulders, leaving the shawl on underneath.
"A little. I think it's more being up here than the wind that's making me shake" she said holding up her trembling hand. "I'm not a fan of heights."
"A fan, Ros and I had to drag you from the top of the stairs to your seat so you didn't go back down again" Kate laughed.
"Why dinner on the top of a building then," I asked Ana, smiling.
"You can blame Jose for that and his list."
"Hey I put dinner with the stars and you interpreted it as this" he laughed pointing to the table and then to the sky which was slowly starting to darker, the stars yet to make an appearance though. I just hope there wasn't a storm brewing as it was too early yet to go dark.
"What else is on your bucket list," I asked.
"Who knows" Ana grumbled. "It's all riddles to me. Number 8 is A big crash followed by Going like the clappers at number 7. Brother your clues give me a headache."
"You love it" he laughed earning a smile from her.
"I do admit that it's given me a reprieve from work, although I'm a little worried in case I get a visit from the police after looking online for suggestions on what to do with bullets" she laughed.
"Bullets?" I questioned.
"Yes, I put a clue down, Faster than a speeding bullet," Jose told us.
"Shooting range" I suggested, finding out a moment later that this was a previous task they were speaking about.
"Zip-lining. Down the side of a mountain, the rush, you have to try it" he replied enthusiastically. "You also have to dress as we did, as superheroes. Our dads were Batman and Robin, Kate was Wonder Woman, Ana, cat woman, whiskers and all and I went as Superman, making sure I wore my underwear on the outside of my pants as he does."
Jose went into detail about the day, happily telling us it was Kate and not Ana that had screamed the whole way down.
"I enjoyed that one" Ana admitted.
"Even though it involved heights," I asked, receiving a little nod from her.
"It's not so much the heights I don't like, more edges."
"Edges?" I questioned.
"Yes, I'm OK sat up here where we are but the steps are close to the edge of the building and making the mistake of looking over and down, I froze for a moment, thinking I was going to be blown off. Flying though, that's another thing entirely."
"You don't like it," I asked.
"Christian loves flying" Ros stated, interrupting us. "He even has a licence so he can fly himself. In fact, his helicopter is usually sat where we are."
"Helicopter" Ana croaked. "That's even worse than flying in a tin can."
The panic on her face should've worried me as I loved to fly but instead, it made me smile. Maybe I can help Ana get rid of her fear. Hearing her say though that if we were meant to fly, we would've been born covered with feathers and have wings had us all laughing.
The laughter quietened when the stragglers arrived and I did notice as Ana hugged a man I was introduced to as Ethan Kavanagh and a woman my mother's age who was Jose's Aunt Madge she hadn't taken even the tiniest step from her seat, from my side.
With everyone here now, I signalled for the first course to be brought out.
….
"Whose idea was this" Kate groaned as she tried to keep her soup on her spoon, before chasing after her napkin that blew from her lap.
"Jose's," all the others said together laughing.
The soup was followed by steak and vegetables and the meal was going well until the wind picked up, depositing Ana's glass of red wine all down her beautiful dress.
"This is the last time" Ana laughed, looking at me as she stood to try and shake some of the liquid from her dress.
"Last time for what."
"The last time I step into your building. Every time I come here, I get all dirty and wet."
"Technically sis we're on top of the building and think of it positively. With that red stain on your dress, which I should inform you is spreading the more you stand, you're all set for Halloween or as an extra in a crime scene."
Red wine wasn't the only thing that had spilt before we left the roof. Trying to eat pavlova which at Jose's request had a ridiculous amount of whipped cream on top soon has us all covered.
There were no tears over ruined clothes, it was only laughter that could be heard. This was unlike any dinner I'd attended before and with these people, especially Ana who I had spoken to most during the night, I'd do it again anytime.
"What time is it," Jose asked placing his napkin down as he gave up trying to wipe the cream from his clothes.
"Whatever time it says on your watch" Ros, laughed, pointing to his wrist.
"It's three, twenty-seven then" he replied, smiling at Ana who returned it with a beautiful one of her own.
"I think you might need a new watch," I told him, looking at mine and seeing it was after ten.
"No, this one's fine just as it is… Ana gave me this for my sixteenth birthday" he said proudly, showing us his watch that had none other than Donald Duck on the front. "It was the last time we went to Disney as one big family, our parents saying they're too old for the rides now, although the three of us have been back since. Ana gave the watch to me on our last day at my party. We'd been fishing with our dads when it finally stopped, our boat sprung a leak and we all ended up swimming back to shore as the HMS Titanic as I named it then sunk to the ponds mucky floor. I tried to get it fixed but was told by a so-called expert that they were ten a penny so I should just buy another. I can't, because this one to me is priceless."
"Do you still go on family holidays?" I asked.
"Yes," Ana told me. "Camping by the lake is like a family ritual. That reminds me, Jose, I promised you we'd go."
"I'll add it to the list, I just won't give you a clue for it" he smiled.
….
"You missed a bit" Ana laughed as we stood up from our chairs ready to leave, the wind picking up so much now, it wasn't safe to stay up here any longer.
"Have I" I replied, thinking I had gotten all the cream from my face.
Ana took the napkin from my hand and ever so gently wiped it against my cheek. Looking into her eyes, it was like everything had stopped. The wind, the chatter, for just a second it seemed to be only the two of us here until we faintly heard Jose say he was going to be sick.
It was just those few words that brought us back to why we were here and for the first time this evening, except from when she had used the bathroom, Ana left my side. It was only a few moments later though that Jose was moving away from her towards the stairs, his laughter easily lost in the wind.
"THAT'S NOT FUNNY JOSE" Ana shouted after him.
"Sorry sis, I didn't mean sick like that. I just mean I'm stuffed, I can't remember the last time I ate so much, wanted to eat so much, I just think I've had too much."
"No, it's me that's sorry, I overreacted" she replied, following after him as I stood with Kate and Ros. "I just don't want you getting sick through doing this list."
Watching the two of them together, you could see the bond they had. An unbreakable one. Jose was sick though, speaking to him while Ana had visited the bathroom I knew he was hiding from her just how much energy everything took. I'd asked him, why the bucket list. His reply, why not.
I could sense there was a reason though as to why he was making this list and watching him hide the pain, back straightened when Ana returned, I suspected it was more for her than him.
I've enjoyed Ana's company immensely this evening and I would love to see her again but taking her away from someone who needed her so much, I just didn't know if now was the right time.
…
Thank you for reading.
Ana and Christian meet again next time to tick off another item on the list and his mother has a hand in it too.
Until then, take care.
Caroline