Sitting there for the next hour I could do nothing but gaze at the man that proceeded to amaze the audience. It took me all that time to finish one glass as Kate was having a wonderful time. She poured more wine for her and then poured the last of the bottle into my glass. My thoughts filling my head with so many questions that I couldn't answer. How could he do what he did? Why had he chosen me? What made Anastasia Steele from the back end of nowhere stand out? When he finished his show making his elegant assistant disappear then himself the crowd applauded and cheered. Everyone was standing on their feet clapping myself included.
As the audience calmed down and moved back to their seats I wondered if he wanted me to go now. His show had finished, but a guitarist was taking to the stage to play some smooth music to end the night. I sit down hesitating on if I should go now or wait until the guitarist finished. Kate leans over the table to me.
"Sweetie if you don't go now I will be forced to drag you there." The tone of her words makes me leap up from my seat.
She has a sweet caring smile placed across her lips. Seeing my wine glass full on the table I take it downing the contents without a single thought. I hope that will give me some courage.
"Have fun." Kate beams from behind me as I walk steadily over towards a dark door by the side of the stage.
A soft and gentle tune begins on the guitar as I try to gain my confidence walking up to the large male gorilla at the door. Clearly a bouncer, he just goes to wave me away when I hold out the card to him. His stern expression drops instantly and he opens the door.
"Please miss, go on through. It's the main door you want." I slide past him and he closes the door leaving me in a short corridor with a single door at the end.
I start towards the door at the far end. My heart is beating like a drum crashing into my ears. I make it the short steps to the door and I freeze. Just behind me to my right is the fire escape. My body comes to life heading in that direction. My feet making quick work to get me there it's only when my hand barely touches the handle does my brain kick in gear. You can't do that if the fire door is alarmed you will start a panic. My own internal panic was the problem now. My fingers peel back from the handle. I could head straight out into the bar. Great and deal with Kate. I would rather die. The door behind me begun to open. His door my mind shouts and before I know it I throw myself behind a large stack of equipment.
Hidden behind the shelves I see his assistant walk out. She turns to him as he stands in the doorway. She leans up and kisses his cheek then quickly heads back down the hall and out through the door with the bouncer. I slide out from behind the shelves once his door shuts. I need to get out of here. Looking over my shoulder I see his door is slightly open and he is expecting me. I step quietly over to the door and go to knock when I see movement. My eyes are drawn to a mirror that shows him.
He has his back to the mirror, but I see his upper half. Watching he slips off his black jacket and drapes it over the chair. My eyes stick to him as he pulls at his tie releasing the knot and pulling it from his shirt. His shirt will be next, my breath hitches in my throat as he reaches for his first button. I gasp and he glances back towards the door the same moment I lose my balance and fall into the room.
I'm beyond red faced. My skin the colour of a cherry tomato. I'm on my hands and knees in his dressing room. I glance to the side looking through my hair that is covering my face and see his gaze.
He glances over me as his hand reaches out toward me. "Are you okay?" He asks concern in his voice. I take a deep breath.
"I'm fine I just tripped." I take his hand as I'm sure he can feel how hot my skin is from his touch.
He lifts me up to a standing position and I stare into his grey eyes. He turns from me and releases my hand.
"Please have a seat. Would you like a drink?" I mentally shake the embarrassment from me. Walking over and sitting down on a sofa.
"No I'm fine thank you." He takes a glass and walks around taking a sip from it.
Pulling the glass from his lips. "Did you enjoy the show?"
I swallow hard. He knows I was watching him get undressed. I feel the blush rising again and do my best to fight it. What do I say? What can I say? Yes, I'm so sorry for spying on you. He smirks at me.
"I mean you said you don't believe in magic." Thank heavens. He means his magic show.
I quickly smile back as the blush that started to raise begins to fade. " Yes, it was wonderful to watch."
He shows genuine surprise at my response. "That's very surprising. I thought it may have bored you." He sits back seemingly sure of himself as he lifts his foot placing it on his other knee.
"No, I really enjoyed it. I do have a question to ask." My mind trying to pick out one question through the haze of all of the questions filling up my thoughts.
"By all means. You're more than welcome to ask." He smiles taking another sip of that wine. " How did you do it?" I mutter.
"Do what?" He answers me back with a question of his own.
"How did you know what I had written?" I manage to sound more confident or at least my voice didn't crack.
"It's magic." He replies simply, his smile showing a set of gorgeously white teeth.
"How did you get my necklace?" I feel bold more powerful. Perhaps the wine is finally taking the desired effect.
"A magician never reveals his secrets." He smiles at some kind of private joke that I can't share in.
"So what is with that address you wrote down?" He asks casually.
"It's my families home," I answer watching him stroke his wine glass.
I want to feel those fingers back on my skin touching my neck or anywhere else for that matter my inner devil pipes up. I flush the thought away and decide on making small talk helping distract me from his fingers.
"Have you been doing magic for long?" I manage to say. I inwardly curse myself for such a stupid question.
"I don't do magic. I con people as you put it." There is a smirk that spreads over his whole mouth.
"Are you teasing me?" The words spill from my lips before I can stop them.
Oh no. His cool gaze locks on my eyes and I feel glued to the sofa.
"Do you feel like I'm teasing you?" His eyes pull me towards him silently.
"Yes." I breath as I say it. "Erm I mean no. You're quite difficult to pin down."
He shoots his answer back at me. "Oh, Ana you have no idea." His lip again pulls up slightly almost to a smirk.
Is it a nervous habit? I'm certain that Mr Christian Grey does not do nervous.
"Kate thought you were amazing. She does love magicians." Quit it. I think to myself.
The moment I get nervous I go into either babbling, chatty Ana the waitress mode or silently torment and torture myself with my thoughts. Clearly my body moves easily from one to the other without any warning.
"Really and who is this Kate?" He touches his finger to his lips tracing them softly.
"She is my friend who I came here with tonight. She was the one who got the tickets and dragged me out here." Shut up. Stop talking.
Yes, why don't you throw this handsome man at your best friend who can seduce a guy with a simple look. I am still thinking of the horror of Kate getting her hands all over him when he cuts into my thoughts.
"She dragged you out?" Instantly I realize how bad that sounds and mentally kick myself for saying it.
"Do you really dislike magicians that much? Or is it just me?" My eyes that are now staring at my hands look in shock to his question.
I feel it rising and before I can stop myself the words pour out of me. "No, I just thought that all magicians were conmen. Quick little slight of hands tricks and fake items that the audience are made to think are real. With you I don't know." His eyes change and become serious.
"You don't know if I'm a con man or you don't know if you like me?" His words catch me off guard as he leans forward toward me.
"I don't' know If you're a conman. How did you give me your card?" I ask licking my lip softly as my mouth has gone so dry.
His eyes focus on my lip as he watches me and for the first time I feel I get a little bit of an answer. " Maybe one day I will show you." He says before shaking his head as if coming out of a trance.
There is a knock on the dressing room door. A disembodied voice calls through.
"Closing time Mr Grey." His gaze leaves mine heading to the door.
"Thank you Roger."
I quickly stand up and he does so too. In one fluid motion, he is up and next to me as he leads me toward the door opening it, like a gentleman as I turn to him.
"Thank you for the wine," I say softly. He looks at me with a calm and serene glow.
"You didn't have any wine here." I smile for the first time in this whole meeting I can sound overly confident.
"For the wine you sent to my table."
He nods his head and leads me to the fire exit door. He is about to press the handle when I touch his hand stopping him.
"You can't open the door it could activate the fire alarm." My fingers stay on his hand, that draw is there again pulling me to him.
"This means you won't get caught in a long queue to get out. What can I say I like to live on the edge." He smiles like a young reckless little boy without a care in the world.
He presses the bar down and in one move I am spun outside and now facing him again. I let go of his hand as his other holds the fire door open. The alarm noise is deafening. Both my inner angel and devil are plugging their fingers tightly in their ears to drown out the sound. The whole building is going to be evacuated because of this. His hand comes up and flicks the air and suddenly the noise is gone it's silent peaceful even. As I'm standing in the parking lot of the bar.
"Can I ask a question?" I stare at the handsome man and nod. "What is your last name?" I smirk now it is my turn to get the upper hand.
"Well, I'm sure a magician would know that?" He nods accepting defeat. "Can I ask a question?" I quickly blurt out before he shuts the door.
"By all means." He smiles waiting.
"Why pick me?" A long drawn out smile spread across his face as his eyes darken a little. It could be the lighting in the parking lot.
His words come out softly. "So many reasons. Goodnight Miss Steele." The door shuts softly and flush to the wall as I'm standing there dumbfounded. Shit! How? He knew my last name.
(So what does everyone think of this Christian Grey? A lot of my long time readers love the hot sexy magician who is more than meets the eye. I do reply to everyones reviews and please do favourite and follow my story. Thank you. SJamesW.)