A/N:

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Trial of the Senses

by

Ava LeBeau

Chapter 14 – Don't stand and watch me drown

'Usually keeping a low profile Christian Grey, 27, was spotted out and about in Portland last night with a mystery woman for the second time in two weeks.

The billionaire Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc. CEO cut a casual figure with slim dark jeans and a fitted white polo t-shirt which showed off his muscular physique, completing the look with a jacket and white sneakers.

His fresh-faced date wore little to no makeup and opted for a relaxed look donning blue jeans, comfortable flats and a fitted leather jacket for their night out.

The pair were all smiles as they mingled with the crowd at an art show of up-and-coming photographer, José Rodriguez, before Christian went and bought a handful of Rodriguez' artwork, allegedly a whole photo series of his mystery companion, while she hanged back and used the time to catch up with Rodriguez beaming and joking with him in front of the cameras.

Grey lauded his pal Rodriguez for his talent and eye for the perfect motive. The artist seems to share his impeccable taste for women with Christian Grey, having chosen Grey's date as what appears to be his ultimate muse.

Inside Gossip can confirm that Grey's date is Anastasia Steele, 21, who is currently working in publishing after recently graduating in English Literature from UW.

They were last seen together at her graduation ceremony with the Seattlite hunk handing her the diploma and delivering a speech about his ongoing mission to help eradicate hunger and poverty across the globe.

A source close to Steele told Inside Gossip that Steele and Grey are only friends.

The insider also revealed that they get on really well and have a lot of chemistry which leaves us wondering if the two are more than just friends and have quietly decided to give their relationship a try despite the self-made billionaire's busy lifestyle jetting around the globe doing business.

Grey's latest outing comes only days after a major setback on the business front. His planned takeover of Next Door Books, a multi-million dollar deal, took a turn for the worse with heiress and socialite Linda Sherman shrewdly thwarting his move last minute.

But apparently Grey isn't taking the whole deal too hard:

After leaving the show with them firmly holding hands both Grey and Steele enjoyed a lavish dinner together at a plush restaurant where they could be seen talking animatedly before heading back to Seattle in his racy sports car.'

"And so it begins", I said absentmindedly, staring down at the photos that illustrated the article before I pushed the button of the intercom and told Andrea to send Ros over.

I pulled out my phone, pressing quick dial.

"Taylor? I want you to up the protection on Ms. Steele. No paps anywhere near her at all times."

"Yes, Sir!"

Andrea knocked and I motioned for her and Ros to enter while I gave Taylor some final instructions and hung up.

"Christian?"

Andrea turned swiftly and left, gently closing the door behind her.

I flung the gossip magazine down onto my desk.

"What the fuck, Ros? How do they know about Sherman and our deal?"

My second in command gave a half shrug, visibly surprised.

"I'm sorry, I don't know, Christian."

"Let me guess. Sherman doesn't know when to shut the fuck up?"

"Do you want me to contact our lawyers? They will take care of it."

"Of course they will."

Ros nodded.

"I want them to wipe her out completely."

Ros nodded again.

"Well...", I adjusted my neck tie, turning my back on her, staring out the window, it was time for her to leave and take care of this mess.

"Christian?"

"What?"

"With all due respect, Christian... but what's the matter with you lately? I'm worried."

"Honestly!"

I turned to face Ros, glaring at her.

"It may have escaped your much-valued attention, Ros, but I get a lot of stuff thrown at me lately", I ground out.

"And as if this wasn't enough already I now have a bunch of paparazzi hounding down my every move. So, of course I'm pissed off. And stressed", I snapped, she didn't have the faintest notion of what was really going on.

"You could take a vacation", Ros suggested.

"How thoughtful of you."

I inspected my cuticles and uttered, "I can't take the time off work, Ros."

"You own the company, Christian, you can do whatever you like."

"I'll give it some thought, Ros. Now if you please...", I picked up my phone and nodded towards the door.

"Sure, Christian."

"Anastasia", Jack Hyde called, "Come here for a sec, will you?"

Smirking he threw the latest issue of Inside Gossip into the trashcan that stood by his desk.

"Jack?", Anastasia peeked into his office, her arms folded in front of her chest.

"Well, you've survived your first week working for me."

He chuckled as he got up and walked around his desk to come closer.

"This calls for a celebration, Anastasia."

"I don't know."

"It's important to celebrate success at work, Anastasia."

"Okay. But only one drink", she bit her lower lip.

"Great", Jack smirked again. "Now be a doll and bring me Bate's manuscript."

"Sure", Anastasia gave him a small smile and left.

Three calls.

Three calls from Christian.

Those butterflies were fluttering again. Madly.

Christian had been in a foul mood last night. Plus, she had found his references to Berlioz's symphony on the way back home rather creepy.

Anastasia knew how much he hated José, but José was her childhood friend and Christian would have to deal with this if he really wanted to have her in his life, as he had so verbosely vowed over dinner last night.

She had tried to tell Christian that, among other things, and their conversation had become rather heated.

In the end she had simply told him, that she needed time to think.

Definitely an answer not well-received.

Anastasia bit her lower lip when the phone rang again.

"Christian?"

"Anastasia."

"How are you?"

"Fine. I'd love to see you tonight."

He sounded tense.

"Christian, I-"

"Anastasia, it's been more than twelve hours. What could there possibly be-"

She bit back a chuckle.

"Patience isn't really your forte, Mister Grey."

Anastasia pressed her lips together, grinning, waiting for his answer.

"Touché", he admitted grumpily. "Well?"

She decided to let him dangle a little longer.

"Ana, please."

"Okay, but we are only talking."

"Sure. I'll pick you up at work."

"Bye, Christian", she hung up before he could answer.

Smiling Anastasia looked down at her phone then she turned her attention back to her inbox.

Almost six.

I was just about to pull out my phone to call her when the front door swung open.

"Hi, Christian", Anastasia smiled, walking over to me, making no move to kiss me, "How are you?"

"Better, now that you are here", her small smile didn't go unnoticed.

I would have given a lot to kiss her but she kept her distance.

Take it slow, Grey!

I took a quick glance around and pointedly shoved my hands into the front pockets of my jeans.

"Ready?", I asked and she nodded. There was that small smile again for a moment.

"How was your day?", I continued, walking beside her on the outside of the sidewalk, my hands still in my pockets. I hadn't really planned for it to be like this.

"Good", she looked straight ahead, so very unlike the bubbly Anastasia I was used to.

"Glad to hear it."

I made another attempt at conversation but words didn't come easy today. For both of us.

"You have bought all six of them, Christian", Anastasia said all of a sudden and looked at me.

"What?"

I furrowed my brow.

"The pictures, Christian. At José's art show yesterday. All six", her face was unreadable.

"Yes", I admitted casually.

She slowed down.

"Why?"

I looked at her.

"Because I don't like strangers gawking at you, simple as that."

"I see."

I stopped, studying her features while I was wondering what that was all about.

It had flushed a decent amount of money into José's account, who was, as Taylor had found, constantly hard-pressed for money.

It had made it impossible for others to even catch the slightest glimpse of her or at least a glimpse of her in these pictures.

As for me, I had added to my collection.

More than that actually.

And I had already chosen a special place for the pictures. A self-pleased grin ghosted across my features.

"Do you mind if I go in there real quick to buy a few things?", her voice jerked me out of my thoughts about her and the pictures.

Anastasia pointed towards a small corner shop.

"No, go ahead", I looked around again and pulled out my phone.

No messages from Taylor so far.

"I'll be right back", she piped and hurried inside, fortunately she did not want me to join her, actually I had not been food shopping in years.

Moments later she returned with a bag, her eyes wide, her face pale.

I reached out to take the grocery bag to carry it for her.

"Everything all right?"

My fingertips reassuringly brushed against her upper arm.

"Yes. Just... just tell me. What is this, Christian?"

Anastasia pulled out a copy of the latest Inside Gossip, featuring a picture of us on the cover, and showed it to me.

"Oh, this", I frowned, took the magazine and stowed it back into the bag before I held out my hand for her.

"Are you worried about the headlines? Paparazzi?"

We were waiting for the pedestrian lights to turn to green.

"No, it's just that I-I'm not used to things like that", her hand in mine felt cold while my thumb brushed across the back of her hand.

"Taylor will make sure that nobody bothers you."

"Christian, I don't want Taylor to-"

"You won't even notice him or one of his men."

"Christian, please."

"Well then what do you want me to do about it, Ana?", I asked as we reached her house.

Her keys jangled when she retrieved them from the depths of her purse.

She looked at me and I wondered if she was about to cry, pangs of worry made my insides clench.

Please don't! Not here!

I resisted the urge to pull her closer, to hug her to me and kiss her, instead I asked,

"What's wrong?"

"Can you? I mean...", Anastasia glanced at the bag in my hand then back up at me.

"Sure", I nodded, probably looking surprised at her sudden request, while she unlocked the front door.

Outside her apartment I held out the bag, a kiss was definitely out of the question.

Yes, I was intent on taking it slow now. I would let her set the pace.

"Let me know if you need anything."

"Thank you, Christian", Anastasia looked at me, taking the bag as she pushed the apartment door open.

"Y-you could come in. Just for a moment."

"I guess I could..."

She sure was putting my self-control to the test. Swiftly I followed her inside.

Sipping the white wine Anastasia had just poured me I leaned casually against the kitchen counter, watching her nimbly cutting up fruit.

Her sadness seemed to have given way to a serene expression.

I studied her features, her cheeks were rosy and her lips slightly parted, her brow furrowed as she peeled an apple.

"Come", Anastasia took the bowl with her fruit salad and reached out for my hand to lead me to the living room.

"You know, I really like this place. It's cozy."

I had never been good at complimenting.

"Yes, Kate's parents have bought it for her."

Anastasia sat down in one corner of the sofa, I chose the opposite side, watching her.

"Want some?", she pointed at the bowl in her hand.

"I'm fine, thanks."

Anastasia shrugged and spooned up a mouthful of fruit salad, glancing at me.

"Well...", she mumbled, a small grin was tugging at the corner of her mouth.

I toyed with the stem of the wine glass, avoiding her gaze, wondering what she wanted to hear.

"Well, I don't want you to worry about the headlines about last night."

"I don't want Taylor following me around, Christian"

She put down the bowl on the side table.

"But I don't want you to-"

"I would feel kind of trapped, Christian. Controlled."

I sighed.

"I really don't want to take any risks when it comes to this situation, Ana."

"But I am not your property, Christian."

My property?

I would rather think of her as my sub, my girlfriend even, if that was what would make her stay.

I cleared my throat and sat up slightly to set aside the glass, I didn't like her stern expression, the harsh tone her voice had taken on.

"Listen, Anastasia, I'm very sorry about all this."

"I don't care about the article, Christian. What I do care about is the way you treated me last night."

What the hell?

Hadn't I picked her up only to have to endure the presence of this bore José?

Hadn't I stooped down to make an appearance at his laughable art show?

Hadn't I supported his desperate attempt at being famous by talking to the reporter last night?

Hadn't I driven her there, bought the pictures of her to preserve her independence of Rodriguez and whoever would have bought the pictures instead?

So what the hell did she want from me?

The muscle in my jaw started twitching again.

Calm down, Grey!

"All right, I'm sorry, Ana."

"You know, I have made a vow to myself, Christian."

The color of her eyes was mesmerizing, so unbelievably blue.

I was on the verge of losing myself in her eyes, drowning in them like in an ocean, convinced I was doing the right thing for a moment, but her ensuing words washed over me like an icy cold wave.

A sobering wave of rejection.

"No jerks for me."

My gaze narrowed and I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to simply get up and leave.

Her indignity was almost too much to bear.

"I said I'm sorry, Ana."

Silence.

"I-I have been a complete asshole and I wish... yes, I wish I had been different... I wish I could show you..."

Too much!

Anastasia chuckled and moved closer, eyeing me curiously as if she had never seen me before, visibly enjoying this.

"Go on", she demanded, pursing her lips, her gaze studying my chiselled features.

I shifted in my seat, clearing my throat again.

"You deserve better, Ana", my voice was barely a whisper and I was looking down at my hands, stony-faced.

Anastasia leaned closer, sitting right beside me now, her face was only inches from my cheek while her hand came to rest on my knee.

Her breath was hot against my skin when she whispered, "I know. So, what are you going to do about this?"

"Ana, you know that I'd do anything..."

She chuckled again, that well-known heat was creeping up the back of my neck again.

"No rules, no punishments. No more secrets, Christian."

I nodded slowly while she reached up to cup my cheek, her thumb was brushing across the stubble on my jaw.

"Don't make me regret this, Christian Grey."

Anastasia's lips crashed down on mine when I pulled her closer and onto my lap.