CHAPTER 3

Ana Pov

I drove over to GEH and found the underground parking structure. I was searching for the spot marked CFO by the elevators. I parked and was about to get out when a black Audi SUV pulled up in the spot next to me.

I opened my door and got out and Christian Grey stepped out of his SUV after me. I smiled at him.

He said, "Hi, Anastasia, welcome to the GEH team. Are you here to sign your package offer?"

I said with that same smile that hasn't left my face, "Yes, I am. How has your day been?"

He flirted and said, "Much better now." I blushed. "Let me walk with you to HR." He lightly put his hand on my lower back and walked with me to the elevators and pushed the button. His security guard went inside with us. "So, what have you been up to all day?"

"I went for a run this morning at 6am to find a salon in Post Alley to make an appointment for tomorrow." I told him.

"Do you mean Esclava Salon?" He asked me.

I said, "Yes, actually."

Christian led me out of the elevator with his hand on my lower back still and said, "Tell them you are a GEH executive and show your employee badge to them. They will give you a discount."

I was curious and said, "Oh, are they part of the company?" I looked up at him as we walked.

He said, "Yes, my company holds the majority stock in all three locations."

We bypassed the receptionist and headed down the hall. I said, "I see. Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it."

We arrived at the office. I stopped and turned to him. I said smiling at him, "Thank you for the escort. I'll be seeing you soon. You have a nice rest of your day, Mr Grey."

He patted me on the shoulder and said, "You're welcome. I'm glad you're coming on board. See ya soon." He removed his hand and I went into the office. God, he is just gorgeous. I exhaled and shook off the way my body reacted to him.

I walked up to the receptionist and said, "Anastasia Steele to see Rebecca Cummings at 3pm." I sat down and Rebecca came out to get me.

I went over the paperwork. I got a parking spot registered to my car, $465,000 a year salary, four weeks vacation, 10 sick days, a corporate car if I wanted, and 5% profit sharing bonus yearly. I get a 30% discount for services at all companies under the GEH umbrella, a special retirement plan, life and premium health insurance coverage, short term and long term disability insurance, use of the company plane, exclusive club memberships, financial and legal counseling. Wow, holy shit!

My duties include tracking cash flow, analyzing strengths and weaknesses to propose corrective action plans when necessary, preparing accurate forecasts so that executive management can make informed decisions about future investments or cuts, developing plans for growth to increase company profit while also reducing expenditures, identifying investment opportunities and managing mergers and acquisitions,

Assisting the CEO and COO to develop financial plans, and managing accounting procedures.

I was to oversee Auditing, Accounting, Marketing, Finance, Account Receivable, Account Payable, Payroll, Inventory, and HR.

I signed an acceptance letter, a company NDA, and a ton of other paperwork for insurance and liabilities. I went to get my picture taken and fingerprinted for my badge to be made. I let them know, I had a passport already, though I haven't been anywhere. That was one thing I didn't need to do that was required. I was told my start date was on Monday July 11th. I had from Wednesday through Sunday to get ready.

After everything was all said and done. Rebecca took me up to the 20th floor and I was shown to my new office. It was not as big as Christian Grey's, but it was big and had a mini bar, mini refrigerator, expensive desk and leather desk chair and the furniture was nice. It was kinda bare bones. I will fix it up. Rebecca then showed me to the executive washroom for the ladies and the executive employee lounge. She handed me a company map of all the departments and what floor they were on and a breakdown of the managers and directors of every department in Grey House.

She then took me to Christian Grey's office. I heard yelling in his office and the two blonde assistants looked nervous. The younger one was glaring at me.

Rebecca said, "Andrea Parker and Olivia Blandino, this is the new CFO, Anastasia Steele. She will be coordinating with you until she can get her own PA. She starts Monday." Something smashed against the door and shattered. Everyone jumped. The young one, Olivia, backed off the glaring and looked at me surprised.

The older one gave me her hand and shook it. She said, "Welcome to GEH, Ms Steele. I'm Andrea Parker, I'll be glad to work with you."

I smiled at her and asked, "Is he like that all the time?" I was looking from her to the office door.

Andrea said, "Not all the time, but from time to time, it happens."

Rebecca said, "Maybe now is not a good time."

I said bravely, pulling back my shoulders, "Nonsense."

Olivia said smugly, "Everyone, for years, has enough sense not to go near him until he has calmed down on his own."

I said, rolling my eyes at her, "I guess, you'll just have to watch and learn. My father said that I could tame tigers for a living."

I walked up to the door and heard Olivia muttering, "Your funeral." I closed it behind me. I stepped over the breakage on the floor.

He was pulling his hair, pacing and swearing in front of his desk. I walked up to him and said softly, "Shh, hush. Calm down, Christian. Everything is going to be okay." I touched his shoulder and he looked at me wide-eyed and took his hands out of his hair. I think he was in shock. I took his hand gently and led him to the couch. I said, "Here, come sit down." He mechanically walked over to it. We both sat down. I faced him sideways. I patted his hand and he wouldn't break eye contact with me. Softly I asked, "Let me help you with your problem that upset you. Tell me about it."

He kept staring at me. He whispered, "They lost a shipment of goods going to Darfur to aid the people." The volume increased with his emotions. "I think it was hijacked by the rebel factions or the government. All that bargaining, negotiating and payoffs were for nothing." He was sad now. I put a hand on his shoulder and rubbed it.

I said firmly, "Then we will just send another shipment to get through with more armed security guards guarding the goods." I reached up and cupped his jaw. "The point is never give up trying, at least, Christian. I know it is frustrating, disappointing and the incident has terribly upset you but we will get it through to them. You can't win every time because you know how the area is under such distress and unstable. But your trying and every success is a blessing to those people because you didn't give up. You're a good man, Christian, because you care." I rubbed his cheek. He looked like a lost little boy. "Do you feel a little bit calmer and in more control maybe?" He nodded, still staring at me. I smiled gently at him. "Good. I start Monday and I'm going home to study the papers that signed my life away to your company." I removed my hands and stood up.

He looked unsure of himself and said, "Will you have dinner with me tonight?"

I debated a second and couldn't hurt him by rejection and said, "Ok, is seven o'clock a good time?" He smiled real big like a little boy who got a new bike.

He said, "That would be good. I'll call you when I'm out front." I nodded and turned away and headed to the door.

I said, "Make your arrangements for another shipment and more security this time. I have a good feeling it will get through this time." I walked out the door and closed it.

I said, "Andrea you need to get maintenance to clear away the rubble in there and everything is fine now." They all stood and looked at me funny, like I was a unicorn or something.

I smiled and turned to Rebecca and asked, "Do we need to do something else before I leave?"

She said, "No, I think this is all. If there is anything I need I'll call you or see you on Monday then."

I smiled and said to Andrea, "It was nice meeting you. Have a good rest of your day." I glanced at Olivia and turned toward the elevators and left the building.

By the time I got back home, it was 5:30pm. I took off my shoes and dress and put up my hair to take a shower. I put on a burgundy velvet body con dress, off the shoulder, 3/4 length sleeve, and had a split in the back and was about an inch below the knee. I wore my black pump Louboutin heels and my yellow gold garnet set jewelry. I went with light smokey eye makeup and put my vanilla perfume on again. I took my black Michael Kors Marilyn Medium Saffiano Leather purse with me. I was ready and waiting for his call. He called exactly at 7pm.

I answered and said, "Hello."

He said,"I'm waiting for you out front, Anastasia." I giggled.

"Ok, I'll be right there." I said.

I locked up and headed down. On the way I started thinking that this might not be such a good idea to get involved with my boss, so I will try to stay platonic. If it doesn't work out, how do you go back to coworkers? You can't. Oh well, I'm committed to this date at least. Let's see how it goes. I stepped out the front doors and he was leaning up against his dark gray pearl Spyder. He was still in his gray Armani suit. I giggled walking down the steps.

He said, "What are you giggling about?" He stood up and opened the passenger door and held his hand out to me.

I said with a smile, "Your car is the opposite color of mine, yet the same car." His interior was light grey leather. I took his hand and got into the car. He closed the door and got in the driver's side. I put on my seatbelt and sat back watching him move. He was so graceful.

He smiled at me and said, "We have good taste." and started the car.

I was curious and asked, "So, where are you taking me?"

He said, "I thought perhaps the Mile High Club tonight."

I said, "I have never been there before. It will be nice to try something different."

He said, "I own it, so you're entitled to your 30% discount now and free club membership, now that you're an executive employee."

When we arrived, our car was valet and he opened the door for me. We entered the lobby and took an express elevator that took forever to get to the 76th floor. The tension and current running between us was strong and palatable in the confined space. He was driving me wild inside. I just wanted to wrap myself around him and kiss the life out of his beautiful lips. I really had to relax.

Christian Pov

She's so damn beautiful. She smells like heaven in her sweet perfume. It seems now and even this afternoon when she calmed me down, I just wanted to grab her and kiss her until I could stop feeling like a teenager with a walking hard-on all the time. I have been rolling in a sea of totally different emotions I don't recognize. I've never felt this way before in my whole life. I couldn't believe she said yes to dinner tonight. I was sure she would reject me. This static current around us is so hard to endure in this small space in the elevator. It's hard to breathe. I want to take her up against the wall here. *Ding* Finally, we both exhaled as we stepped out. She must feel it too.

I take her hand in mine and lead her out into the restaurant. The hostess takes us to our table and ignores Anastasia completely and swings her ass the whole way. She says, "Have a good meal, Mr Grey." and then winks at me swinging her hips as she walks away.

Anastasia turned to watch her shake her ass and said, "Damn, if she sways her butt wide enough, she could take an eye out of some unwary patron." I smiled then chuckled at her frankness. I thought, 'Her butt ain't got nothing on yours baby.'

I asked, "Would you like wine?" She said yes. I ordered a bottle of Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon. I asked her, "Do you mind if I order Oysters? No food allergies?" She said it was fine and she had no allergies. I feel so unsure of myself. I've never been like this around a woman, because I have never dated. Yes, but Grey, she is not a submissive, your only friend or family member. I usually just order what I want. The waiter came with the bottle of wine, served us and I ordered a dozen oysters on the half shell as a starter.

I asked, "Do you see anything you would like on the menu?"

Anastasia said, "The Shiitake Coconut Soup and The Asiago Crusted Sea Bass."

When the waiter returns with the oysters, I put in her order and then I get the Crispy Spinach Salad and Double R Ranch Filet Mignon medium rare. The waiter leaves. I am fumbling with what I want to say to her, so I just go for broke and hope I don't scare her away.

I say, "Have you had oysters before?"

She smiled and said, "Actually, no Christian. I've always wanted to try them."

I demonstrated, "Here, you squeeze a little lemon on each of them and run your fork underneath them to make sure it's not attached. Some people like hot sauce, dash of black pepper or mignonette sauce, but I like lemon myself. Then you just slurp it down, chew once or twice and swallow." I ate one to show her. She giggled nervously and did the same as I did. When she swallowed it down, it was so fucking sexy. She fucking 'Ummmed'!

She smiled and said, "They are salty and lighty fishy, but the lemon cuts the fishy taste. I like them." We enjoyed our oysters until our soup and salad arrived.

I started on my salad and said, "Anastasia, I think you know I'm extremely attracted to you and have been trying to keep my compulsion to kiss you under control. You're the most unbelievably beautiful woman, frankly, that I have ever seen. I want you very very much." She looks like deer caught in the headlights. I think I said too much.