APOV
I woke this morning to the patter of tiny feet running across the wooden floorboards, before a small presence threw themselves onto the bed proceeding to jump all over me. "Mumma, Mumma! It's time to get up!" The giggles bounced of the walls in her glee, I threw the blankets back playfully before snatching the small girl into my arms blowing a raspberry against her stomach. "Stop Mumma! That tickles!" She squealed.
"Never my little one." I couldn't help but laugh at her struggling in my arms, her face going pink from laughing. I let up and gave her a kiss on her nose. "Fine, you win. Do I really have to get up?" She proceeded to huff and puff at my answer.
"Yes Mumma!" Her brown locks were in complete disarray around her face, it made me smile at how her little fists automatically went onto her hips when she got impatient.
"Alright you win." I threw my hands up in the air dramatically causing another little giggle, she bounded off the bed running out of my room leaving the door open.
"Ana!" Kate's voice rang out.
"Coming Kate!" I yelled back, I slid out of bed and walked out into the kitchen sitting at a stool at the breakfast bar. Thankfully, she had poured me a cup of coffee as I entered, sliding it across the benchtop. "Thanks Kate." I inhaled the aroma of the life-saving liquid.
"No problem Steele." She was dressed and prepared for her day at work only after a few sips of my coffee I saw how she looked.
"Jesus Kate, you look like hell." She grinned.
"Thanks, soooo much Ana." The words dripped with unveiled sarcasm. "I know I look like s-h-i-t; however, I have to go to work today." I frowned at her words.
"Why? Surely one of guys can take over the interview?" As the words left my mouth, I knew it wasn't a possibility, Katherine Kavanagh refused to allow anyone else to shine on her parade or accept any of the credit owed to her. "Don't worry, I get it. Who is the interview with anyway?"
"A hotshot mogul, Christian Grey." The name was familiar, but I couldn't place where I'd heard it from. "He's one of the world leaders in green energy and saving the poor hungry souls of the world." I nodded in understanding.
"Big interview then…"
"Yeah, only I don't think he'll do the interview if I'm this sick…" She frowned.
"What if I go? You write the questions down and I'll record his answers for you?" She lit up like a celebration on the fourth of July.
"Would you Ana?" I just managed to stop myself rolling my eyes.
"You seriously have to ask?" We both laugh, only she started coughing halfway through.
"Jesus, get back to bed Kate. Can you look after Jasmine for me?"
"Me, look after that little horrid monster?" She was trying to hold back a grin; I knew that Jasmine would be standing somewhere in the room behind me. I placed my coffee mug back on the benchtop waiting for the little tyke to pounce.
"Oh of course, although I could just tie her to a pole out the front of the building, couldn't I?" I wink to Kate.
"MUMMA!" We all laughed at her outburst, I turned and picked her up and kissed her all over.
"Tricked you!" Jasmine laughed loudly and struggled out of my grasp.
"Dats not nice Mumma!" She pouted.
"Oh, I'm sorry…." I pouted back and made my eyes wide. I sniffled a few times and pretended to cry. She immediately ran into my arms and hugged me tightly. "It's okay Mumma. I forgive you." She kisses my cheek and runs back into her room.
"Love you too." I rolled my eyes grabbed my coffee and went into bedroom to gather some clothes for the interview. Knowing that he was a 'hotshot' billionaire I went for one of my more expensive outfits, courtesy of Kate. It was a navy-blue business pencil skirt with an ivory button-down top that tucked into the skirt. It hugged me like a second skin whilst being modest. I paired the ensemble with a pair of nude heels a simple clutch and then proceeded to the bathroom to have a shower, do my hair and finish getting ready.
When I left the bathroom, my hair hung down but had what Kate called a 'natural' wave that only seemingly came with a curler or hair straightener – go figure. With simple winged eyeliner and clear lip gloss I was ready to head towards the interview. I got a wolf whistle from Kate and a slobbery attempt from Jasmine. I kissed her forehead chuckling as she wiped the lip gloss off immediately, I got the list of questions and recorder off Kate before picking up the keys to her Mercedes Benz.
Our building didn't have a doorman but one of the guys from one of the apartments met me by the door and opened it anyway. I blushed slightly, whispered a thankyou and headed towards a café before starting on the journey to the Grey House building.
The girl behind the machine smiled, asked where my daughter was and had my late ready before I had the chance to order. This is why we liked to come to this little café, the personal service and the kindness shown makes me feel good. I gave her a generous tip and headed out towards Kate's car.
It didn't take me long to get to Grey House, the parking attendant allowed me access since the license plate was cleared for entry. I got a little note to stick in the window after I parked and directions for where to park and even where the elevator was. Prompt efficient service if I do say so.
When I got past the elevator I went directly to the receptionist, she was around the same age as myself, but her lips looked as if they were slightly too big for her mouth. "Anastasia Steele, from Kavanagh Media to see Mr. Grey." She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"We were expecting Katherine Kavanagh." I got the pass assigned to me from Kavanagh Media to allow me access to their building, I handed it over to the young girl along with Kate's business card. "Call Katherine and she will explain the change." She huffed but called Kate, it didn't take long for her to give me a visitor pass with instructions on how to get to the 20th floor. I didn't bother thanking her, the attitude put me off her.
"Hey, it's apartment 147, right?" I turned to the voice, only to see the guy from my building.
"Oh hey." I ignored how he knew my apartment number.
"What are you doing here?" He smiled widely, his eyes were bright green, his hair was black and curly. He was an attractive guy, nicely built, not too tall nor too short, if I weren't creeped out how he knew my apartment number I'd be tempted to talk for longer.
"Just interviewing some staff for work."
"Oh, that's cool, who are you interviewing?" The elevator pinged open, and I quickly walked in, swiped my card and pressed the button for level 20. "Oh wow, heading up to the big offices huh?"
"Sure, I guess?" The doors closed and he still hadn't selected a number. "Which floor are you on?"
"Oh level 12." He swiped his ID card and selected the floor, I stepped away from him slightly and was thankful when the door opened, and he stepped out. "Bye 147!" He waved and went on his way.
What a fucking creep. It didn't take longer to get to level 20, the top floor, when I got out, I saw the receptionist or secretaries desk. There were two blonde women sitting behind the desk whispering to one another. What the hell, is it a requirement for women to be blonde to work here or something?
"Hello." I smiled politely at the women. "I've got an appointment with Mr. Grey today?"
"Miss Kavanagh?" The oldest of the two spoke.
"Unfortunately, she was not able to come, my name is Anastasia Steele." The girl nodded and spoke into the phone quietly, the other blonde beside her began to look me up and down with a slight scowl on her face. I merely raised an eyebrow in response. "Please go on in Miss Steele, Mr. Grey is available now." I smiled and headed towards the big doors.
They opened at my touch, when I got the first glimpse into the office it was nothing like I expected. The building was large, grey and extremely modern but his office was modern but had paintings that expressed a rather artistic side to Mr. Grey. No doubt some old bugger that's got more money than sense.
"Miss Steele?" I hadn't even bothered to look beyond the beginning of the office, so when his voice caressed my ears, I turned suddenly catching my foot on something, most likely air. I began to fall only to have two strong arms holding me up. When I followed the hands up the arms towards the face, I was beyond surprised to see how young this man was.
He looked to be no younger than 27 but no older than 30, I blushed brightly and pulled away from him quickly, I looked away from his stupidly handsome face to around the office again. Large floor to ceiling windows sat behind the large, rather impressive desk.
"Are you okay?" I heard the amusement in his voice, I straightened my back and turned back to him.
"Yes, thank you, Mr. Grey I assume?" I held out my hand which he shook firmly.
"Indeed, that's the name on the office." He smirked causing me to blush again, he led us over to the two loveseats in his office. I sat opposite him and began to set up the recorder, I fumbled with it slightly but managed to get it working, he had a long finger grazing against his bottom lip as he watched me.
"Sorry, do you mind if we record this?"
"After all that trouble? Not at all Miss Steele." I blushed again but got the paper out that listed Kate's questions.
"Firstly, Mr. Grey, thank you for taking the time to interview with me today. We appreciate it."
"Not at all, Miss Kavanagh was rather ruthless when asking for interviews…" That does sound like Kate… "I admire that level of tenacity."
"She doesn't stop until she has exactly what she wants." He smiled at the response, and I felt my heart skip a beat. When he looked away from me for a second, I took time to appreciate the beauty of this man, his copper sex-hair, grey stunning eyes, straight nose, chiseled jaw line, defined shoulders, trim waist that I knew would house defined muscles beneath the shirt. I looked away just as his eyes returned to me.
I bite my lower lip softly before clearing my throat and looking at him in what Kate would call a professional reporter style. "Did Miss Kavanagh explain what this interview was in regard to?"
"She explained that it was going in a graduation of a student newspaper, as I'm going to be talking at the graduation ceremony." Is he really? Which university- Don't be stupid Ana, he obviously means out university.
"Perfect."
"What's your first name Miss Steele?"
"Anastasia but call me Ana." I answered automatically.
"It's a beautiful name for a beautiful woman." I blushed.
"Thank you, Mr. Grey, now to the real questions." I nearly winked at him however, I managed to catch myself at the last moment. HE IS NOT FLIRTING WITH YOU ANA! The voice screams in my head.
"Of course, Anastasia." He teases his bottom lip with the tip of his finger again. Can I bite that for you Mr. Grey? Or would you mind me ripping my shirt open and straddling you Mr. Grey?
I straightened my back before returning back to my professional reporter persona. "You are very young to have amassed such a large empire, to what do you owe your success?" His devilish grin began to fade before my eyes, I try to convey my sympathies for the general questions, but I doubt he picked up on it.
"Business is all about people, Anastasia and I'm very good at judging people. I know how they tick, what makes them flourish, what doesn't, what inspires them and how to incentivize them. I employ and exceptional team, and I reward them well." He pauses and fixes me with his grey stare. "My belief is to achieve success in any scheme, one has to make oneself the master of that scheme, know it inside and out, know every details. I work hard, very hard to do that. I make decisions based on logic and facts. I have a natural gut instinct that can spot and nurture a good solid idea and good people. The bottom lime is, it's always down to good people."
"Maybe you're just lucky." I blanch as the words escape my lips, before looking down at the list and back to Mr. Grey, I see he's shocked at the words I've spoken before they turn to steel.
"I don't subscribe to luck or chance, Anastasia. The harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. It really is all about having the right people on your team and directing their energies accordingly. I think it was Harvey Firestone who said, "the growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership."
"You sound like a control freak." I want to bash my head against a wall.
"Oh, I exercise control in all things Anastasia." He smirks again and I swear it travels from his lips straight to my groin. I blush before shaking my head slightly. His finger is back on those lips, I glare slightly at them. I wish he'd stop doing that. "Besides, immense power is acquired by assuring yourself in your secret reveries that you were born to control things." His voice became softer as he spoke, but his eyes were like molten metal.
"Do you feel that you have immense power?" I all but whispered the words, I wanted to put the stupid list of questions aside and kiss him, to have control over that stupid finger against his stupid lips that make my stupid brain do backflips.
"I employ over Forty Thousand people Anastasia. That gives me a… Certain sense of responsibility 'power' if you will. If I were to decide I was no longer interested in the telecommunications business and sell up, Twenty Thousand people would struggle to make their mortgage payments after a month of so." I know my mouth is hanging open at this stage, how can someone say something of that magnitude as if it was nothing more than buying their groceries, who am I kidding like he even does that!
"Don't you have a board or something to answer to?" I ask.
"I own my company; I don't have to answer to a board." He merely raises an eyebrow in response. I flush both in embarrassment and disgust, if I'd done my research, I'd know this, but the sheer arrogance is disgusting.
"Do you have interests outside work?" The question throws him for a second before he settles into his seat.
"I have varied interests, very varied." I ignore the smirk and playful words.
"You work hard, what do you do to 'chill out'?" Decide I don't like telecommunications anymore, play with my lip to make girls like you are nervous.
"Chill out?" He grins, it makes him appear to be several years younger, it makes my heart stop for a moment… No one should be this good looking; it should definitely be illegal. "Well, to 'chill out' as you put it, I enjoy sailing, fly, indulge in various physical activities." Holy mother of crackers, did he just hint at something else there? "I'm a very wealthy man, I have expensive and absorbing hobbies." No animal cracker collections then? Got it.
I frown and look down at the list for the next question. "You invest in manufacturing. Why specifically?" I choose to look at the recorder instead of him.
"I like to build things. I like to know how things work: what makes things tick, how to construct and deconstruct and, I have a love of ships. What can I say?"
"That sounds like your heart talking rather than logic and facts." I caught the smirk when I look up at him.
"Possibly Anastasia. Though, there are people who say I don't have a heart."
"Why would they say that?" I tilt my head slightly at the question, looking into those deep gray eyes.
"Because they know me well." Well, that's just fucking heartbreaking.
"Would your friends say you're easy to get to know?" Fucking hell Steele, that's not on the god damn list.
"I'm a very private person, I go a long way to protect that privacy. I don't often give interviews."
"Understood." I mumble. "You also invest in farming technologies, why are you interested in this area?"
"We can't eat money, and there are too many people on the planet who don't have enough to eat." He looks away from me but not before I catch the haunting look in his eyes.
"That sounds very philanthropic. Is it something you feel passionately about? Feeding the world's poor?" He shrugs his shoulders in response.
"it's shrew business." It doesn't make sense, if he wants to dissect the business world to figure out how it ticks, why would he spend so many time, money and resources on an endeavor that does not reap financial rewards? The only benefit to this would be personal ones… For someone without a heart, it doesn't make a lot of sense.
"Do you have a philosophy? If so, what is it?"
"I don't have one as such. Maybe a guiding principle if I had to choose. "Aman who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of any else which he is justly entitled.' I'm very singular, driven. I like control of myself and those around me." Fuck me… That sounds horrible.
"So, you want to possess things?" I furrow my eyebrows.
"I want to deserve to possess them, but yes bottom line, I do."
"You sound like the ultimate consumer."
"Oh, I am." He smiles as he says the words, but the smile doesn't reach his eyes. It's starting to get uncomfortable sitting in this room with him, the personal questions and differing information from a man much too attractive for any one person's safety.
"You were adopted, how far do you think that's shaped the way you are?" When I look up at him, I can see the playful man from before is gone, the mask of indifference is back.
"I have no way of knowing."
"How old were you when you were adopted."
"That's a matter of public record." I flush and berate myself quietly, why the fuck would this question even be here Kate?
"You've had to sacrifice a family life for you work."
"that's not a question." His voice is stern, I apologize.
"Sorry, have you had to sacrifice a family life for your work?"
"I have a family. I have my brother, sister, two loving parents. I am not interested extending my family beyond that." I think of my little girl back home, to live a life without her for his life… No thank you.
"Are you gay Mr. Grey?" I blanch at the words. What. The. Fuck. Kavanagh! I focus on the paper in front of me refusing to look at him, only when the silence continues, I sneak a peak at him threw my lashes, he looks absolutely mortified.
"No. No Anastasia, I'm not." Fuck, fuck, fuck. He looks so not happy right now.
"I'm sorry… It's just written here is all." I motioned to the paper; his stern expression turns to one of curiosity as he tilts his head.
"These aren't your own questions?" I can feel the blood draining from my face.
"Not exactly… Kate – I mean Miss Kavanagh she complied the questions."
"Are you colleagues on the student paper?" I shake my head slightly.
"Not exactly, she's my roommate…" He rubs his chin as he thinks.
"Did you volunteer to do the interview?" I frown at the question, just hold up a second mister. I'm supposed to be running this show, not you!
"I don't think that matters Mr. Grey." We are interrupted by a knock on the door, as we turn the receptionist from earlier comes through.
"I'm sorry to interrupt Mr. Grey, your next meeting has arrived."
"We're not finished Andrea, reschedule." She nods and exits the room. "Now, miss Steele. Where were we?"
"Mr. Grey, please don't let me keep you from anything. I'm aware you're a busy man after all." I try to start gathering my things only to have the recorder pinched off the table and paused by him.
"I think it's only fair I get to know about you Miss Steele." I harden my eyes at him.
"There's honestly not much to know."
"What are you plans after graduation."
"Haven't thought that far ahead."
"What are you studying?"
"English Lit."
"A bookworm?"
"Generally, that's why people get into English Lit." I held out my hands for the recorder, giving him the look, I give to Jasmine when I want whatever she's got.
"I'll hand it over when you answer honestly Miss Steele." He grins and my resolve crumbles.
"I would like to go into publishing, but I will most likely go into whatever is available." Part time work after university, totally possible.
"We do run an excellent internship program here." I raise an eyebrow.
"I'll keep it in mind." I motion for the recorder which he reluctantly hands over. "Just don't expect to find me working here."
"Why is that, Miss Steele?"
"I'm just not full-time material. Thank you for the interview Mr. Grey." He stands and holds out his hand to help me up, the moment my hand is held in his I feel a jolt of electricity run through my body. I release his hand quickly.
"It was a pleasure, Anastasia." I smile at him and gather my things tucking the recording device into my clutch and leaving his office. He follow me outside and even waits with me at the elevator.
When I get in, I turn to face him. "Anastasia." He says in goodbye.
"Christian." I breathe out.
Helloooooo.
This was originally a story I wrote back in 2016, I got some suuuper negative reviews essentially making me just run from it entirely.
I'm hoping that it gets a little better feedback now.
Let me know what you think.