Pain is More Trouble than Love is Worth

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or anything involving the series 50 Shades of Grey. All rights are owned by E.L. James

If you do NOT like second person point of view stories, then this is NOT for you.

"blah blah" - dialogue

'blah blah' - inner thoughts

Blah blah - conscience

Chapter Four: Shiver

'Why is he here?'

Your eyes cannot believe the sight in front of you. Christian Grey in the flesh now stands outside of the store you work at staring straight at you.

In your surprise, you step backwards, completely forgetting that you were on a platform and fall backwards, bringing the mannequin down with you when you try to break the fall. Luckily, the big box of clothes was directly behind you so you fall and sink into it.

You groan and say to yourself, "This cannot get any worse." That's when you look down and notice your hands gripping the plastic breasts of the mannequin.

…And it just did.

'Why me?' You groan inwardly.

Your manager and coworkers stop their work and rush over to you. Christian quickly enters the store to see to you as well.

"Charlotte, are you okay?" Diana asks concerned. Molly and Jennifer lift the mannequin off of you and then help lift you out of the box.

"Yeah, I'm okay." You say once you've been rescued from the traps of the cardboard box.

"How did this happen?" Diana asks

"I accidentally stepped backwards off of the platform and everything went downhill from there." You say sheepishly, making sure you avoid his gaze.

"Are you sure you're okay? I don't want you to keep working if you're hurt." Diana rubs your shoulder.

"I'm fine, I promise." You hope your guise of a smile convinces her.

"Okay. You ask Molly or Jennifer if you need extra help." Your coworkers nod and smile at you, agreeing.

"Thanks guys." The three of them smile and resume their work, leaving you with Christian.

"That was some fall, Miss James. Are you alright?" You find the courage to look him in the eye even though all you want to do is shrivel up, find the nearest rock, and stay under it forever. He genuinely looks concerned for your well-being you notice. Why, exactly, you have no idea.

"Yes, I mean, yes sir. I'm fine." You rub your right arm, smiling weakly.

You remember you have a job for a split second. 'Great, let me embarrass myself even more.'

"I'm sorry, Mr. Grey. I forgot to ask you if there was something that I could help you with."

'Wait. What exactly would he want from Victoria's Secret of all places?'

Maybe he's a cross dresser?

'Pfft. I doubt that. It's probably a fling of some kind. He's too attractive not to have one.'

So you do admit you're attracted to him.

'I didn't say that. Not the point.'

You might want to stop looking like you're having a conversation with yourself.

"Miss James?" Christian snaps you out of your thoughts.

"Yes, I'm sorry. What were you looking for again?" Christian looks at you quizzically.

"I said that I was in town for a meeting and decided to stop in for a few things."

"Oh okay." You smile awkwardly. "What specifically did you want to buy?"

"I was wondering if you had a catalogue that I could peruse." His grey eyes are so smoldering and practically burning into yours. You never imagined that you would see him again, much less at your job, which you still didn't know why he was in here in the first place.

To see you obviously!

'I seriously doubt he would travel all of this way to see me.'

"Yes, of course. We have several behind the counter. Follow me." Your voice cracks a little at the end.

'Get ahold of yourself. This is your workplace. Act professional.'

You lead him to the checkout counter, taking extra precaution that you do not fall or slip. Once is more than enough.

'Why does he make me doubt myself so much? I'm glad I decided to look decent today.'

Your hair is up in a bun, a neater one this time. As an employee, you have to wear all black so that you are distinguished from the customers. You're wearing a black short sleeved peplum shirt, black dress pants, and black flats with a gold capped toe.

You finally reach the counter and go behind it, pulling out a spring catalogue from one of the shelves, and bringing it out to show him. Christian leans on the counter to see it better.

"The lingerie sets are on pages twenty through twenty-five." You inform him trying to sound blasé but you end up turning slightly red.

"You said you were in town for business?" You ask, trying not to make the situation more awkward than it already is.

He opens to the catalogue to the correct pages. "Yes, I did Miss J-." You interrupt him before he could finish the rest. "Call me Charlie or Charlotte, but not Miss James."

He eyes you carefully, smirking at your protest. "Yes, I'm in town for a meeting. I'm overseeing a project for one of my investments. I'm just making sure that everything is running smoothly."

'Just what I thought. He's not here to see me at all.' You frown inwardly, slightly hoping that there was some chance that he could be here to see you.

You watch him as his eyes glaze over the photographs of the beautiful models scantily clad in lingerie. You silently wish that you could be half as confident as those girls and half as beautiful so that just maybe, Christian would be somewhat interested in you.

"This one will do." He points to a set of lingerie that looks like this.

You shyly turn the catalogue around so that you can see the order number and write it down. "Will you be ordering this today, Mr. Grey?" He nods, turning the catalogue around so that he can go through the next couple of pages.

"Will this be all?" You ask hoping that he will end this seemingly never ending run of embarrassment.

"I'd like to order at least two more sets." He tells you matter of factly.

'Of course he isn't done.' You sigh.

You get the courage to ask him another question. "Are these for a girlfriend?"

He smirks, keeping his eyes on the women in the book. "No, not exactly."

'Well then who is it for?' You wonder. He would not come into this store unless it was for someone important. No man just walks in here unless he's with his girlfriend or he's getting something for her.

In order to feel like you're doing something productive, you start logging his order into the computer.

"How long have you worked here?" You glance up at him, and see him staring at you, his eyes focusing on yours. You feel your legs get weak. You feel the butterflies rise in your stomach and are perplexed at the feeling. He makes you feel like a teenager whose finally talking to her crush for the first time.

"Four years." You stammer slightly. Taking your eyes away from his and concentrating on your task.

He turns his eyes back to the catalogue and finds another set, turning the book around for you to see.

"This one." He points to this set.

'He's got good taste. Whoever this woman is very lucky.'

You nod, taking note of the order number, and start to log that information in the computer.

"You said you'd like one more right?" He nods and returns his attention to the catalogue.

"Is your lady friend looking for anything in particular?" You courageously ask, feeling your fingers tremble as you type.

"I'm not sure. I want it to be a surprise so I didn't ask." He runs his index finger across the different pictures as he turns the pages.

"Oh okay." You look around the store to see if anyone else is finding this as weird as you find it to be. No one is paying any attention to you behind the counter or Christian in front of it.

'Yep, it's just me making the situation worse than it has to be.'

"And this one." You attention returns to Christian as he points to another set.

Once again, you put in the order number. You remember to tell him about the sale the store is having. "If you buy three sets of lingerie, you get the fourth one free."

"Is that so?" He raises an eyebrow and smirks at you. You nod sheepishly in response.

"Why don't you pick the last one for me? A woman's touch is always appreciated. I'm sure she'd like whatever you pick." You turn red again, surprised that he would ask for your opinion.

He turns the catalogue around and you look through pictures, your eyes immediately focusing one particular photo.

"I think that she'd like this one." You point to the picture. In the midst of turning around the catalogue so that he can see it, his hand brushes against yours and you quickly feel a spark of electricity running through your veins.

"Sorry." You mutter, pulling your hand away in a hurry.

"No need to apologize, Miss James." He smirks and looks down at what you've chosen.

'Why does he make me feel like this? I cannot get a grip on my emotions.'

This is what you picked.

He immediately smiles and bites his lip a little which makes you want to melt right then and there.

"You have very good taste, Miss James. I think she'll approve." He smirks.

"Thanks." You smile feeling the color creep back into your cheeks. 'Could you please get yourself together Charlie? Do not let him intimidate you in your own environment.'

You log the last order in and ask him, "What size does she wear?"

He pauses a moment, looking you over which makes you slightly uncomfortable. 'What is he doing?'

"She's about your size so enter in whatever size you are."

You nod nervously and enter your size into the computer. "Is there anything else that you need before I complete your order?"

He shakes his head no, keeping his eyes focused on your eyes.

"Okay." You ask him for the shipping address and he tells you the information. As you type it in, he asks you how the article is coming.

"It's finished actually. I didn't write it though, Sarah did. It was her story originally and she was upset that she couldn't do the interview. She's very proud of what she was able to put together." You answer honestly and without feeling like you were going to melt like chocolate in the sun under his gaze.

"Her only problem is that she doesn't have any photographs of you."

He looks confused. "What kind of photographs is she talking about?"

You brow furrows in confusion. "I'm not too sure, actually."

He sighs. "I should be around tomorrow if that's of any help."

"That would be great!" Your voice goes embarrassingly high. Sarah mentioned to you on Thursday that she wishes that she had pictures of Christian which would make the article perfect.

Another excuse to see him.

You can't lie to yourself. You are excited about that prospect.

"Sarah would be more than happy. We just have to find a photographer." You grin at him widely.

He looks at you, as though he were about to say something, but doesn't. It's like he's lost or something. Lost for words maybe?

He regains his composure and reaches in to his pocket, pulling out a business card. "My number is on this card. Let me know your decision before ten in the morning."

"Great!" You take the card happily from him.

All of the sudden, out of nowhere you hear your name being yelled.

"Charlotte!"

You look up from behind the counter to see Patrick, your boss Diana's younger brother. He is home from NYU and stopped by to see his sister and you. You met Patrick when you started to work at VS and he's become a brother to you.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Grey, could you excuse me for a second?" You ask politely, moving from behind the counter to greet your good friend.

"Charlie! It's so good to see you!" Patrick wraps his arms around you, lifting you and spinning you around. You hold on to his neck tightly so that you don't slip out of his grip.

"Patrick! I've missed you! How have you been?" You beam brightly at him. He's matured ever since you've known him, becoming more handsome and rugged by the year. Once again, you have no attraction towards him, which he understands. Besides, dating your boss's brother could turn out messy, right?

"I've been good. I've missed you too. You look great by the way!" He examines you with one arm around your shoulder, looking you up and down, grinning. He has always been the flirty type so you don't take offense to it.

You look back in Christian's direction and his grey eyes meet yours instantly, watching you like an eagle waiting to descend on its prey. He doesn't seem so friendly anymore and has instead taken on an aura of aloofness.

'Great. I do not need him upset with me now that's he's agreed to do the photo shoot.'

"Hey, Patrick, I was actually checking out a customer. You should come with me to say hello."

You lead him, with your hand in his, over to where Christian is standing by the register. Christian's eyes shoot down to your hand in Patrick's and when you notice this, you immediately let go of his hand.

'Awkward turtle anyone?' You inwardly groan.

"Patrick, meet Christian Grey. Mr. Grey, this is my friend Patrick Smith. His sister is my boss."

Keep talking! You don't want him to think this is your boyfriend!

"Patrick and I have been friends ever since I've worked here. He's home from NYU where he studies film."

"Mr. Smith." Christian extends his hand for a handshake. You can't exactly read his expression.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Grey." Patrick returns the handshake. "Hold up, now I know why your name is so familiar. You're the head of Grey Enterprises, aren't you?" Patrick is completely smitten with the fact that he is meeting the Christian Grey.

Christian smiles at him, but it somehow doesn't feel genuine.

"I didn't mean to interrupt, umm, your purchase, sir. I'll talk to you later Charlie." Patrick smiles and leans down to kiss your cheek, much to your embarrassment, in front of Christian.

You watch as Patrick walks away to find his sister.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Grey, let's check you out." You resume your post behind the counter and computing the total.

"Okay, that will be sixty dollars and fifteen cents please." His glare makes you feel extremely nervous, especially considering all that has happened a few moments ago.

You take his credit card and slide it through the machine. The receipt prints a few seconds later and you tear it off, handing both the receipt and card to him. "Your things should arrive within three to five business days."

"Thank you Charlotte." Your name rolls off of his tongue smoothly and he once again manages to make you feel weak in the knees. You feel shivers run down your spine.

"Remember to call me if you want to do the photo shoot." He reminds you and you nod, smiling happily.

"Okay, good. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow." He says and turns to leave when he turns around to say one more thing.

"By the way, Charlotte, I must say that I'm very glad that Miss Winston could not do the interview." He smiles and strides eloquently out of the store, catching a few glances of the women shopping.

You stare at his back as he leaves, feeling all sorts of emotions rise to the surface at once, namely lust and a very strong magnetic attraction.

Admit it. You like him.

'Okay, fine. I do.' You give in to your conscience, knowing that it's right. You cannot pretend that you feel nothing for this man any longer. He makes your hairs stand on edge whenever you're near him and you always feel butterflies in the pit of your stomach. You actually find him extremely attractive, yet you know a relationship between the two of you would probably never happen.

You would just have to admire him from afar, like most women did. There's nothing wrong with that, especially when you could do all the admiring you wanted tomorrow. You get excited, anticipating the idea.

'I'm glad that Miss Winston couldn't do the interview either, Mr. Grey.' You smirk inwardly.

AN: Thanks for reading! Remember to comment if you can. I appreciate it. I'll try to get another chapter out as soon as I can.