Chapter 7
The next morning, Ana accompanied Grey to the meeting with the execs. She was straightening out all the papers on the table and waiting for people to arrive. She heard footsteps in the doorway and looked up. Jack Hyde has just walked in and as soon as his eyes landed on her, his face lit up.
"Well this is a pleasant surprise." He flashed a slimy grin at her. He walked around the table to stand in front of her and once again looked her up and down. He wasn't even trying to be subtle. "We didn't get a chance to meet the other day. I'm Jack and you are Anastasia Steele, right? Grey's assistant." He held his hand out for her to shake.
Ana looked down at his hand. She really didn't want to touch him. But she also didn't want to appear rude and risk him putting in a complaint about her. He was standing so close to her; they were basically breathing the same air. "Yes, I am." She shook his hand weakly so only her fingers were touching him and slyly took a step a back. She was going to have to scrub her hands. He made her skin crawl.
He held on to her as she tried to remove her hand. He was still wearing that creepy grin. "Well it's nice to finally meet you."
Others entered the room and Jack turned to look. Ana took that opportunity to remove her hand and move away from him as far as possible. Natalia entered and waved enthusiastically to Ana. Ana could only smile but she was sure it looked more like a grimace. She moved to hide behind a group of tall men, but she swore Hyde's beady eyes were still on her. She closed her eyes and shuddered in disgust as she remembered the feeling of his hand. She opened her eyes and looked straight into a pair of grey ones.
'Are you okay.' He mouthed to her from across the room with his brow furrowing in concern.
'I'm fine.' She mouthed back with a smile to further her point. He cocked an eyebrow at her as if saying 'really?' Ana gave him a thumbs up and went to take her seat. Grey saw her glance at something really quick. He followed her gaze to Hyde who was sat back in his seat and was whistling to himself. Grey narrowed his eyes.
After some time, Grey had gestured to Ana for a coffee. She quickly made a cup and went to hand it to him.
"Thank you, Miss Steele." He whispered with a smile full of gratitude. Warmth emitted from his eyes. She smiled in response.
As Ana turned to walk away, she felt a pull on her sleeve. She looked down and Hyde had his hand on her wrist. "I'd love one too Anastasia." He whispered.
Ana was conflicted again. Who did he think he was bossing her around? She didn't work for him. She wanted to get away as far as possible from the man. She wanted to tell him a big fat no but there were so many people here and probably watching her right now. She ripped her wrist from his grip and nodded hesitantly. She looked at Mr Grey who had his eyes nearly narrowed to slits and was alternating between staring at both of them, his mouth set into a hard line.
She poured a black coffee and took it over to him. She placed it on the table quickly and moved away before he could turn around. As she sat back in her seat, she avoided his gaze and concentrated on what was on the screen.
Christian watched her. Something fishy was definitely going on. Anastasia looked like she wanted to hurl that whole time. He didn't miss the way Hyde's eyes never left her as she sat down and the way he leered at her. Anastasia's leg also hadn't stopped jiggling since she had sat down, but Christian didn't think she noticed.
Ana was focused on making notes and jotting down her thoughts to everything that was being discussed. She was listening intently to what Natalia was saying when a pen came rolling towards her on the floor. She looked up just as Hyde said her name.
"Anastasia." He almost cooed. "Would you be a sweetheart and pass me my pen please. I accidently dropped it." He did whisper it, but everyone had stopped and turned to look at her. Ana's face flamed from the attention.
She nervously cleared her throat and stood up. She'd have to bend over in front of all these people. She wanted to tell him to fuck right off and get his ass off that seat and get his own pen. Just as she went to take a step, Mr Grey's voice rang out.
"Anastasia. Sit down." His voice boomed. Ana's bottom hit the chair so fast, her skirt nearly flew up. She felt like she'd just gotten told off at school. She looked at him nervously. He levelled Hyde with a shit scary glare. "Hyde you are perfectly capable of retrieving your own pen that you purposely dropped onto the floor or have you lost all mobility in your legs in the last hour? I don't think so. Miss Steele does not work for you; she works for me. And no one else. You want a coffee? Get your own damn coffee. She's not here to wait on your hand and foot. So, I suggest you stop ordering her around and leering at her if you value your job." He didn't raise his voice much, but his words were firm and left no room for argument.
The room was deathly silent. Hyde looked like he'd been properly chastised, and Ana refused to catch anyone's eye. She sat frozen. Once again, she managed to find herself in the limelight of yet another meeting. It wasn't her fault this time, but she was still involved in it. For the love of god, this needs to stop happening.
"Carry on please Natalia." Grey commanded. Natalia nodded and resumed her speech without missing a beat. Ana released a quiet breath. As she went to look up at the screen, that pair of grey eyes captured her blue ones. Her heart stuttered for some unknown reason. He raised a solitary brow at her discretely. Ana just nodded slightly in return and averted her gaze. The pen lay forgotten on the floor.
Ana strolled happily into the building after she returned from her lunch date with Emily. It always a good time with her. But she had been acting a little odd. Emily kept trying to steer the conversation to Ana's job and her eyes were too wide and innocent whenever she asked. Ana could tell there was something bubbling under the surface. Or maybe it was because Emily was an awful actor and her voice got so high that it was a surprise there weren't dogs barking.
When she got off the elevator on the 20th floor, the atmosphere felt different. Andrea was nearly bashing the keys on her keyboard.
"Are you okay Andrea? What did that keyboard do to you?" Ana was concerned. This was cool, calm, collected Andrea. She looked like she was about to lose it.
"I'm fine Ana. Don't worry about me." Andrea grumbled. She definitely didn't want to be spoken to. Ana just decided to leave her to it and not aggravate her further.
A few minutes later, Ana could hear Mr Grey shouting from his office. She wondered what was going on now. It wasn't an unusual occurrence, but everything had been fine when she'd left so she wondered what had happened so suddenly.
Ana got up to go and make herself a tea after 15 minutes. Andrea just grumbled out a 'no' when Ana offered her a coffee. Ana had her back to the breakroom door as she was waiting for the water to boil. She heard some heavy footsteps in the hallway and turned to look, wondering who had made Grey so angry. She saw Taylor and another very tall dark-haired man, who was obviously part of Grey's security since both were dressed in suits, pass by swiftly.
Curiosity got the best of her and Ana stepped out to get a better look. She looked to her left and saw Grey stood outside his door glaring after them. She looked to her right and saw the men get in the elevator. She realised there was another person in between Taylor and the other guy. He was short though and so all Ana could see was blonde hair peeking out from Taylor's shoulder. Andrea had stood up and was also glaring at them. Ana could see her mouth moving but couldn't make out any words.
Now Ana knew she could be oblivious to certain things but in the time that she had been at GEH, she lost count of how many times she asked herself what the hell was going on. She didn't know what was going on at this moment of time, but she knew it was a lot. Am I missing something vital here or am I really that clueless?
The elevator doors closed before the person in the middle could turn around so Ana had no clue who it was. Grey shut the door to his office with so much force that Ana felt the vibrations through her.
She turned back to finish making her tea all the while wondering what had happened in the one hour she had been gone. The floor felt cold and frigid now. She took her tea back to her desk and this time Andrea was just sat in her chair staring with steely eyes at nothing. They were unmoving and she was clutching the desk so hard her knuckles were white.
Ana visibly startled when Andrea turned to her all of a sudden and stood up. "Excuse me for a moment Ana." She said calmly in the voice she would use when answering the phones.
"O…okaaay." Ana's voice trailed after Andrea who was already walking towards the elevators.
"Miss Steele, may I speak to you for a moment." Mr Grey's voice came through the intercom. She immediately stood and headed for his office. She knocked timidly, scared that she might anger him further somehow.
"Come in." She walked in with an apprehensive smile. He was leaning against the windows. "Take a seat Anastasia." He had his back to her so she couldn't gauge his mood. Ana's thoughts went wayward for a fleeting moment. She thought the sight of his silhouette against Seattle's skyline was incredible. She wished she could capture this sight.
Christian turned around but didn't move from his spot. His hard eyes appraised her for a moment before speaking. "I finally received the CCTV footage from the conference room." He stated.
Ana was confused for a moment. What did this have to do with her?
Grey saw her confused look. "The day of the tea incident." He clarified.
"Ah." Ana breathed out. She certainly wasn't expecting this. One knee started bouncing.
"Did you see who Taylor and Sawyer escorted out?" He asked. There was a hard edge to his voice.
"Uh... no. I didn't manage to get a look. Taylor and Sawyer were too tall for me to see.". Whoever that guy was, had been the person who had grabbed her inappropriately. And if she was being completely honest, she didn't want to know who it was.
"Just as well that fucker didn't set his rotten eyes on you one last time." He muttered to himself, but in this quiet office, she heard him clearly. He inhaled deeply before slowly exhaling. "It was Jack Hyde. Which honestly after the stunt he pulled today shouldn't have been a surprise."
Ana sat unmoving. She couldn't look at him. She didn't know how to react. Yes, it's not really shocking that it was him. He had made his thoughts about Ana very clear to her. She thought this wasn't a very big deal but clearly to Grey it was.
"Oh, yeah that's not really surprising after- "Ana was glad she'd been cut off. She had no idea where she was going with that sentence.
"He's been fired. Effective immediately. Taylor and Sawyer were making sure he left the building." He ground out.
Ana's mouth formed a little 'o'. She definitely wasn't expecting him to be fired. She was thankful he'd even investigated but thought this was a bit extreme. Was she supposed to thank him? She frowned in confusion. "Isn't that a little harsh. I mean he didn't manage to cop a feel, so did he really have to lose his job for it? Wouldn't a warning have made more sense?"
Christian's brows flew up. At this point he really shouldn't be shocked at her selflessness. "You must be joking." He stared at her with wide eyes. Ana shook her head slightly. "Anastasia, he touched you without permission. He may not have managed to get what he wanted but that was still his intention. I see the way he stares at you. I know he made you uncomfortable at the meeting today. He wanted you to bend down for him to retrieve his pen. That behaviour is unacceptable. At GEH, I'd put that under sexual harassment." He said firmly with blazing eyes locked on her. "I also know you wouldn't have felt 100 percent safe in this building with him lurking around either."
God, she really was oblivious. Ana fidgeted under his gaze. He probably thought she was scatter brained. How did she not realise? She usually prided herself on her observational skills, but apparently, they vanished when it came to herself.
"I hadn't realised." She all but whispered. Grey sighed and came to sit on the chair next to her. "I'm sorry I questioned your decision, but I really had no idea."
"You probably just refused to acknowledge it." He said in a calmer tone. "I don't want any one like that working for me and compromising the safety of my female employees. I may be the boss here, but I am very aware of what goes on. Andrea also informed me of the many times he's tried to hit on her and wouldn't take no for an answer. He's a predator and I hate to think what he would have done if he was allowed to stay."
"I knew he was slimy from the moment I saw him." She mused. Christian smirked at her description. "I don't know what to say. I guess, thank you sir. On behalf of all the female employees here." She smiled but then her face became worried. "I hope he wasn't a good worker. I'd hate for it to affect GEH work-wise."
Christian shook his head. "Nope. Nothing special. He will not be missed. I can find a better replacement easily. I assure you."
"Good. That's good." Ana sighed in relief.
Christian regarded her with curious eyes. She worried about everyone or everything before herself. She was more concerned for GEH than herself. It shouldn't surprise him anymore. This girl was unlike anyone he'd ever met. Her soul was so good and kind-hearted.
As Ana was walking back down the hall to her desk, Andrea emerged from the elevator. Ana's eyes widened as she stared at her. Her normally pristine blonde 'not a hair out of place' bun that she had before, was gone and was now hanging lopsidedly and there were strands hanging all around her face. Her black slacks now had slight mud stains on them near the bottom as well as her black heels. Her eyes looked crazed and she had a satisfied smirk on her lips. She looked wild. She was righting her blazer and her necklaces as she was walking.
She hadn't seen Ana and went to sit at her desk. Ana appeared in front of her. "What happened to you?" Ana exclaimed while looking her over closely. Her makeup was also smudged. Ana had been in with Grey for maximum 15 minutes. What had Andrea been doing in that time to look like this?
"Not what happened to me, my dear Anastasia. More like what I happened to do to a scumbag." Andrea said cryptically.
"What?" Ana wondered if the woman had lost the plot.
"Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head about. But I would just like to say that I am very, very glad you are working here. Good things are happening. You are the lucky charm." Andrea looked dazed. Ana had no idea what she was going on about. She was just spinning in her chair while grinning like a loon.
"She's lost it." Ana whispered to herself. Like she'd done earlier, Ana just decided to leave her to it. "Your hair looks like a bird's nest by the way." She mentioned looking at her monitor.
A few days later, Ana and Andrea were both surprised when two police officers came to their desk, followed by Taylor and Sawyer who looked annoyed at the officers.
"Andrea Parker?" At Andrea's nod they went on. "Can you confirm that this is you in these pictures?" The officer placed three photos in black and white on the desk.
Ana glanced at them and nearly snorted. The pictures were taken by a CCTV camera in a back alleyway and a woman who was clearly Andrea, was kicking a man in a suit, who was lying on the floor. You could see Taylor or Sawyer standing guard near them. In one shot Andrea's high heel was heading for the man's crotch. Her mouth was wide open, and it looked like she was shouting at him. Ana looked closer and saw the man was none other than Jack Hyde. This time she nearly choked on her own spit. Andrea was looking at the pictures impassively, but Ana saw the way the corners of her mouth were twitching.
"Yes officer. This is me." She didn't even have a note of regret in her tone.
At that moment, Grey came out of his office and saw the officers. He walked over to the little crowd and introduced himself to the officers. He looked at Anastasia whose eyes were nearly watering from supressed laughter and she kept trying to wipe the grin off her face that kept coming back. He looked at Andrea who was staring at the officers with cold eyes but there was a satisfied glint in them. Taylor and Sawyer were also standing there with their lips twitching. Taylor was looking at Andrea proudly.
"Is there a problem?" He inquired pleasantly enough to the officers. He was redirected to the displayed photos. Once he realised what was happening in them, he smirked. He looked back up with impassive eyes. "Gentlemen, maybe we should take this in my office." He suggested. He pointed them in the right direction and allowed Taylor and Sawyer to follow them. Grey gestured for Andrea to come with them.
Ana watched them go and saw Grey and Andrea fist pump secretly. Ana just laughed to herself.
Andrea came out a few minutes later and Ana demanded she explain.
"Well, I asked Taylor to text me when Hyde was on his way out because I have some unfinished business with him. So, Taylor escorted Hyde to the alley behind GEH and I gave that sack of shit a piece of my mind. He was crying for me to stop the sorry son of a bitch. Now Taylor was not expecting that, but he soon left me to it and had no objections. That scumbag deserved everything I gave him. I hope I damaged his prized possession. Those heels were 5 inches long."
"Woman, if those pictures were anything to go by, you've damaged more than that." Ana said. She definitely was not mad at her. Why would she be? "Was Mr Grey mad? Are you going to be arrested?"
"Nope. No jail for this gal. Grey's sorting it out with them. And he definitely wasn't mad. He said I should have done worse. And I know I could have, but those heels are probably worth more than his life, so I didn't want to ruin them too much." Andrea grinned like a Cheshire cat. She was so proud of herself. Ana didn't know what to do so just hugged her tightly. This woman, this crazy, ice queen princess was possibly the best thing that happened to Ana in a long time.
A few minutes later after Ana had gotten back to work, she heard Andrea muttering. "It was the most satisfying thing. I would do it again, but I'd have to wear something more practical."
Ana huffed out a laugh. "Hell, hath no fury like a woman scorned." She mumbled to herself as she shook her head.
Just another day at GEH.
