Another day, another chapter

Recap: Christian was worried about Ana after Kate told him about the fight Ana and Jack had Friday night. Christian arranged a catch up with Ana during lunch so he could talk to her about a few things, he offered her Brittany's job as s he is moving to a different department and Ana confided in Christian that Jack thinks she is having an affair with him and she is scared of Jack and wants to leave him. Christian offered to help Ana if she wanted it but she told Christian she wanted to do it on her own.

Thank you for coming back to keep on reading this story! I can't believe we're 5 chapters in already. Also a huge thank you to everyone who has followed, favourited and reviewed so far; I really appreciate all of the love so far.

Disclaimer: Fifty Shades of Grey and its original characters do not belong to me

Poison Apple: Chapter 5: Stepping Up

Ana
When I got home from work last night all I could think about was Christian's amazing offer to give me Brittany's job when she moves departments. I was happy that he wanted to promote me but it was obviously going to cause issues with Jack and I really didn't need any more of those. Taking the job would mean doing the Friday meeting every week and not getting in until late but it doesn't bother me because I am trying to get as much experience as I can before I graduate college and work for a publishing house.

Surely it would look amazing on my resume if I had this job and listed all of the skills I had picked up, Christian also knows a lot of people and if he did say how great I was it would open many doors for me. This really is an amazing opportunity and I think I am going to take it, obviously I haven't told Jack about it yet but I would be stupid not to take it.

I shouldn't even be worrying about Jack is going to react because I am leaving him, he is going to leave my apartment and he is not going to contact me. I admit that I don't know how I'm going to make that happen because the direct approach doesn't seem to work and he really scared me Friday night with his 'you are mine' and 'I'm not going anywhere' thing.

Surely he can see that this relationship just isn't working and if he really did think I was a cheat then why would he want to be with me anyway? That doesn't make sense. He has such a bad temper and on Friday when he had me trapped against that wall I honestly thought he was going to hit me and I've never been more scared my whole life. Jack knew how scared I was, it was probably written all over my face so he is thinking that he can carry on treating me this way but I can't make him leave.

Of course I thought about Christian's offer to help me get rid of Jack but I really didn't want to drag anyone else into my mess. I would get out of this on my own and I will make Jack realise that he can't treat me that way and get away with it. He can't accuse me of things, call me names, scare me into thinking he's going to hit me and control what I do with my life. I'm stronger than that and he will see I'm not the weak and quiet little girl that he thinks I am.

Of course it is all easier said than done because I have no idea how I am going to make him leave, I have thought about taking a day off from work and college and whilst he's out pack all of his stuff, leave it outside and change the locks but I have a feeling that wouldn't stop him and that is a cowards way out, I wanted him to understand and me tell him to his face that I don't want to be with him. I just feel trapped between a rock and a hard place.

I looked at Christian's schedule and saw that he was free for the next half an hour so I got up from my desk and went over to his office, I knocked on the door waited a moment then opened it. Christian was sat at his desk working away on his computer but looked up at me as I came in.

"Ana, come in and sit down," He said. I closed the door behind me and sat down in the chair on the other side of his desk "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked.

"I came to tell you that I accept the job offer," I told him.

"That's great," He replied happily and stood from his desk, he came round to the other side and sat on the edge of his desk right in front of me.

"Thank for the opportunity. I know this is my first job and I don't have much life experience but I appreciate everything you have done for me here and I can't wait to get started," I said.

"You're amazing at your job Ana," He commented "I do have to ask," He started and I knew what this was going to be about "Jack-"

"I don't care what he has to say or what he thinks," I stated.

"That's good but have you ended it yet?" He questioned.

"No, I'm just trying to figure out a way to do it that will make him see clearly that it's over for good and there is nothing he can do to change that. Jack is a stubborn man and I need to end it in a way he will get." I answered.

I got up from the chair and went over to Christian's windows to look out at the city. Down below people were walking around, going about their business, I never realised how small people looked from up here. I heard movement behind me and then felt Christian place his hand on my shoulder in a comforting way. I turned to face him and noticed he looked troubled.

"I know no one gets Jack. No one understands him or the way he thinks but I do and I know how to talk to him and make him see that our relationship isn't working. It's easy for you and Kate to tell me to just pack his stuff and change the locks or just scream in his face but that won't resonate with Jack," I explained.

"We all worry about you," Christian stated.

"You don't need to. I'll be fine and soon Jack will be gone and out of my life for good," I said.

"I always worry about you," Christian said softly, he brought a hand up to my shoulder again "When we spoke yesterday and you told me about Jack and the incident on Friday, it took everything in me not to keep you locked up in this office and away from him. I hate that he upsets you so much and I hate that you were scared. I nearly sent Taylor to drive by your apartment to check on things," He told me.

I reached up and placed a hand on his cheek.

"You're sweet," I muttered.

Christian was standing close to me, closer then he was a second ago. His hand that was rested on my shoulder started moving its way up, over my neck until he was cupping my face.

"I don't want you to go back to him." He stated.

I nodded; I didn't want to go back home either.

Christian's head started moving closer to mine and I found myself reaching up to meet him. Our hands still on each other's faces and then his lips met mine. Christian kissed me and wrapped both of his hands around my waist, pulling as close to him as he could. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him back. His kiss was tender but urgent, sweet but desperate.

No.

I pulled away from the kiss and took a step back from Christian.

"I'm sorry," He apologised quickly.

"We can't do this," I breathed.

"You're right. I went about that the wrong way," He replied.

"No, we can't do this," I repeated "Jack thinks I'm having an affair with you. That is why we fight and argue so much. Kissing you just makes him right and me a cheater; I'm not that kind of woman. I'm not happy with Jack but I can't kiss someone else, especially you," I explained.

"I'm sorry," He said again.

"I'm going home." I stated.

I left the office in a rush and grabbed all of my belongings from my desk. Brittany looked confused as I stared gathering my things, I knew she wanted to ask what was going on but she didn't and I'm glad. I'm not in the mood to talk to her right now.

I am so embarrassed. I can't believe Christian and I kissed, I never should have let that happen. I should have just accepted the new job and thanked him then left the office and went back to work. Kissing him makes Jack right and me a cheater; I'm not a person who cheats. Jack doesn't treat me right, I know that and he's not very nice to me which is why I'm trying to break up with him but we live together and we have been together for so long it's hard. Part of me still cares about Jack and I don't honestly know what I'm going to do without him because he has become a constant for me.

I admit I shouldn't have called in sick to work today but what was I supposed to do? I can't face Christian yet, I need to clear my head and get some space from both Jack and Christian for a while. I know Jack won't be back from work until late tonight because of some editors meeting so I should have the apartment to myself for the day.

Times like this made me wish I had more friends. I can't call Kate and tell her Christian kissed me and it is definitely not something I can go to Jose about. Why didn't I make an effort with people and get more friends?

My buzzer rang out loudly; I wasn't in the mood for people today. I opened the door and saw Christian standing there. I looked at him in surprise, he looked worried.

"Christian, what are you doing here?" I questioned.

"Can I come in?" I allowed him in and we went to sit down on the couch "I just wanted to check on you, I was worried when Brittany said you had called in sick. I was hoping that it wasn't anything to do with what happened yesterday," He said.

"Of course it is," I replied.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kissed you, it was a bad move. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable at work," He told me.

"How am I supposed to carry on as normal?" I questioned.

"Pretend it never happened," He answered.

"Maybe that is something you can do easily but it isn't for me. We kissed and I'm in a relationship... I feel so intimidated by you sometimes. You are this hot single mysterious multi billionaire who one minute is this cut throat businessman and then the next you're comforting me and kissing me," I stood up out of frustration and started pacing "Why did you kiss me?" I asked.

"I thought it was obvious," He replied.

"Not to me,"

"I like you Ana... I like you a lot and if Jack wasn't in the picture I probably would've asked you out by now." He said.

"Do you know how much your timing sucks?"

The sound of keys opening the door made both me and Christian turned out attention to it, the door opened and of course Jack was there. Well doesn't this just get better and better. Jack stood in the door way as he took notice of Christian's presence on the couch; Christian immediately stood up and went over to Jack with an outstretched hand.

"Good to see you again Jack," Christian greeted but dropped his hand when he got no reply or movement from him "I was just checking in on Ana," He stated.

"Aren't you a great boss?" Jack teased and closed the front door.

"Jack," I warned as he took a step closer to Christian.

I knew that Taylor was probably just outside and would be coming to check on Christian soon if he didn't hear from him. Christian didn't seem fazed by Jack and stood his ground as Jack stood directly in front of him trying to intimidate him.

"Christian I think you should go now," I said.

"Not just yet," Christian replied without turned away from Jack.

"Christian please, I will see you tomorrow at work," I pleaded.

"Will you be ok?" He asked.

"I'll be fine," I promised.

"Call me if you need anything." He turned to face me and gave me a small smile.

Christian gave Jack one last 'stare' and made his way out of the apartment.

Jack stood in his spot and looked at me with a look of disgust and hate. I knew there would be no point in trying to talk to him and tell him that nothing had happened, well not today anyway.

"Well isn't that just sweet," Jack started "When you said you didn't feel well this morning, I actually thought you meant it which is why I came home early... so I could take care of you. Yet I find you here with Christian Grey. He looked real at home here on the couch, somewhere he's been before I guess," He finished.

"He came to check on me," I replied.

"I knew you were sleeping with him but to do it in our apartment is disgusting! You are nothing more than a stupid slut who opens her legs for the first man to look in her direction!" He shouted.

"Call me a slut one more time." I warned.

"And you'll do what? Pack my things and throw me out? We both know I'm not going anywhere sweetheart," He said and walked around the sofa towards me "So how was it? How was he? Is he better than me? Or do you just sleep with him because he's rich?" I couldn't control myself; I slapped Jack around the face.

"Jack I'm-"

Jack slapped me with the back of his hand across my face. I went to run away from him but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back, he gripped the tops of my arms and looked as if he was the devil himself, I struggled against him and he let one of my arms go but he used his hand to slap me again and this time I fell down to the ground.

"Please... Jack... nothing happened, he just came to check on me," I cried.

He kneeled above me on the ground, smirking at me as a predator does its prey and then he punched me right in the face. He wasn't going to stop, he was so angry and there was no way he was going to let me out of this apartment.

I head-butted him which made him get off me so I stood up and tried running for the door but he grabbed me and shoved me to the floor, I hit my head on the coffee table as I fell. I could feel the blood running down the side of my head and my face was stinging.

"One day you will learn how to be a good girlfriend," He spat.

"One day you might learn to be a good boyfriend," I argued and tried to sit up.

"You made me this way by sleeping with someone else!" He shouted.

"I never slept with Christian!" I shouted back and by the look on Jack's face you would think that I just hit him in the stomach with a baseball bat "I kissed him," I said in a calmer tone as I stood up "Yes, we kissed but nothing else. I don't like how you treat me Jack and he comforted me and was kind to me. You haven't been kind to me a very long time; it was nice to have someone care about me and wonder if I was ok," I explained to him "You can't treat people so horrible and expect them to still love you." I added.

Jack didn't say a word. He stormed towards the front door, threw it open and left slamming the door behind him.

Well wasn't that an action packed chapter! Where do you think Jack has gone? Will Ana be ok? How will Christian react? Will Ana even tell Christian? What will happen to Jack? Will Ana finally be free of Jack or is this just the beginning of something else?

Thank you for reading; I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

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