Chapter 1

Christian

I lie awake in bed after having been woken up by yet another nightmare about the crack whore. I'm waiting for my alarm to ring so that I could start getting ready for work. This was unusual. Typically, if I couldn't get back to sleep - and I never do - I'd get up and do some work in my office; but lately, work just doesn't motivate me anymore. It's all the same. I've mastered it by now. There's no more challenge. I didn't think I would ever get here. I thought work would be my constant companion. I thought it would keep me going. What do I do now? What do I live for now?

My alarm rings. I start my day. Today is gonna be just like yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. You get the point. I take a deep breath. I need to see Flynn.

Ana

Blank. My mind is blank. It has been for the past 5 months. I hate to say it for fear that it might come true, but i'm afraid it already has: I'm in the midst of a writer's block. Sure, i've had them before but it's never been for this long. The longest one i've experienced before this only lasted a few days. It's been 5 months! This is bad.

My phone rings on my desk beside my laptop — which i've been staring at for the past half hour willing my brain to conjure something, anything. It's Hannah, my editor. Fuck.

"Hey Hannah, what's up?" I nervously answer.

"Hi Ana, how you doin'? Listen, I hate to pressure you like this, but the higher ups have been asking me for some updates on the new book. Any progress? Maybe we can talk about creating a timetable. This way we could set deadlines for new chapters." Oh shit. What do I say?

"Um, it's not going great. I've hit a road block, and there's no detours in sight. I don't think there's gonna be any new chapters in the near future." They say honesty is the best policy.

"It's okay, Ana. Don't panic! I'm an editor, I know this happens all the time. How about we meet up sometime this week so we could discuss how we could pull you out of this rut? Also, don't think i've forgotten about that drink you still owe me from that bet you lost a few months ago."

"Haha, maybe we should meet up at that new restaurant near Pike Place Market. I've heard good things about the food. Plus, they have a bar there. I could buy you that drink then."

"Ooohh that sound great! Are you free Tuesday?"

"I'm good on Tuesday. Thanks Hannah! Bye, i'll see you then!" Phew, that went pretty well considering the circumstances. Thank God, I chose Hannah as my editor instead of that Jack Hyde guy at SIP. He gives me the creeps. I hope Hannah has some sound advice cause i've tried all that I could think of: exercise, meditating, journalling— I even bought some Carnelian crystals for creativity. All to no avail.

I take a deep breath. I need to talk to Rhian.

Christian

I look through the rearview mirror and see the Audi Q7 Taylor's driving right behind me. It's not often I get to drive by myself nowadays. It's a shame really, no car this expensive should ever be left rotting in a garage. On the way to Montesano, I think about my appointment with Flynn earlier that day.

"It means you need a new purpose in life, Christian. What you've got right now just isn't doing it anymore. There's more to life than work, Christian. You've grown so much when we first started meeting, and you should be proud of your progress. Unfortunately, we've hit a wall right now and it's because you've stopped accepting my help. It's time you learn to build personal relationships. Make some new friends, or maybe cultivate the friendships that you've kept at a distance."

I call Ros. "What's up, boss?"

"Hey Ros, what are you doing on Saturday?"

"For the first time in forever, not much actually. Why do you ask? Is there something that needs my attention?"

"No no. Well, umm, nothing work-related. Do you umm wanna maybe hang-out? We could go play tennis or something. Prove to me that you almost did qualify for the olympics that one time." Aahh, this is harder than I thought.

She doesn't respond. I look at my phone to see if she's still on. She is. "Hello? Ros? You there?"

"I'm here. I'm here. Yeah sure, we should go hit some balls on Saturday."

"Great, i'll uhh see you then."

"Um are you okay, boss?" She asks.

"Yeah, i'm fine. Why?"

"Nothing. I'm looking forward to it. Don't bail on me now. Bye!" She hangs up. I chuckle. Only Ros could get away with hanging up on me like that.

I pull up outside of a building with a "Steele Studio" sign displayed out front. I've set up a meeting with an artist that my mom's been raving about for a few years now. I plan to commission a sculpture of my mom for her birthday next month.

I was greeted by the receptionist as I enter the building. She points me to the room where the artist is in. The sculptures were displayed in a line on either side of the hall leading to a room wherein muffled hammering noises can be heard. I knock on the door and enter into a large room with piles of wood on one corner and a huge table with a variety of tools pushed up into a wall. In the middle, is a large, well-built man whittling into a wooden sculpture of a beautiful young woman. He looks up upon noticing me.

"Ray Steele? I'm Christian Grey. I contacted your office about a possible commission work I wanted to have made." I explain.