Chapter 5

Hi all! So I know I disappeared… long story but I'm getting back into the swing of this story after being away so long.

CPOV.

She had touched my chest.

Ana touched my chest. She touched my chest… and I didn't even notice. There was no burning or pain that ripped through me. Nothing. If anything, having her hands on me brought a new sense of calm and peace. I relished her touch. So much so that I was still touching her while I introduced her to my mother.

"Christian darling, I thought I could stop by and we could maybe have lunch? I have some things I wanted to talk to you about and you haven't been returning my calls." My mother's request snaps me back into the conversation. I knew exactly what she wanted.

"Mother I can't today I have plans but tomorrow night I'm free for dinner and you can try and manipulate me into your auction then, but I promise the answer hasn't changed," I say looking straight into her eyes with a slight warning. I realize my hand has a mind of its own and I now am holding Ana securely around her waist.

My mother notices this and I can see the wheels in her mind turning.

"I don't know what you are talking about Christian..." She says grinning ear to ear, but I see the humor in her eyes, "But yes tomorrow night is perfect. I'll come to you if you don't mind." She pauses and takes another glance at Ana and smiles slightly. "It was lovely meeting you dear, I'm sure we will be seeing much more of you. Bye darlings!" And just like that, she was gone quicker than she appeared.

I glance down at Ana. She seems to be in slight shock of the encounter, I'm not sure she even uttered a word to my mother, but I can tell she is trying to school her reaction. As I go to speak, she cuts in.

"Well, Mr. Grey thank you so much for this opportunity. I suppose I should let you get on with your day. When do you want me to start?" Ana moves two steps away from me and I immediately want to pull her back to my side. What's wrong with me? Get it together Grey.

"Ana I'm sorry about my Mother... She tends to be rather, well, she's a force of her own." I say apologetically hoping she will drop her new formal and professional front she put back up. "And if you can why don't you start today? Familiarize yourself with the files my team has already put together on prospective authors and get me a report by end of the day about your thoughts and any changes you think would be instrumental?" If she can throw a wall of business up, then so can I. Also, this means I can stare at her all day.

Ana isn't in the slightest bit taken aback by my request and relaxes even further back into business mode. "Of course, Mr. Grey. Should I speak to Andrea about that desk then?" I can hear the slight sass in her tone.

I smile tugs at my lips, I move away from her completely and walk behind my desk and press the intercom on the phone. "Andrea can you bring me the editor's folder that was compiled along with the GP first-year projections and HR paperwork for An - Ms. Steele." Almost slipped and used her first name. I needed to keep my head in gear. The last thing I need is for rumors to spread. "Actually, Andrea… come in here please." I say sternly all while maintaining eye contact with the brunette beauty who I'm almost positive is my new obsession.

"Yes, Mr. Grey." Comes the response. Seconds later Andrea comes in through the door with a questioning gaze on her face.

"Andrea, I need you to have the night crew move a desk in here for Ms. Steele, she will be working out of my office for the foreseeable future until her office is done with construction." Andreas's eyes go wide, but she doesn't look up from the iPad she is taking notes on. She has been with me long enough to know never question me. "Get Ms. Steele set up with a company phone, car, expense account and anything else she needs. Also, let's start interviews for her assistant. Ms. Steele until then anything you need Andrea will help you. Ok, that's all." I can see Ana staring me down as Andrea quietly and quickly leaves my office closing the door behind her.

I hold her stare; two can play this game. Only mere seconds pass before I see the slight rage in her eyes. Why is she angry?

"I'm sorry but did you seriously just speak to her like that?" Ana basically yells at me. Wait - hold up, what?

"Excuse me, Ms. Steele?"

I respond sternly, now I may be completely infatuated with this woman, but I want nothing more than to bend her over and spank her for how she is currently speaking to me.

"You didn't say please or thank you! You spoke to her how people speak to a misbehaved dog!" Well, I did not see that reaction coming… She is pissed and to be honest it's doing nothing but turn me on. We are standing on opposite ends of my office, staring each other down and she is so mad that the deep breaths she is taking are making her magnificent cleavage heave up and down. I would kill to have the buttons on her seemingly cheap blouse break open. Before my thoughts completely take a dark turn, I get back to the issue at hand.

"Ms. Steele, Andrea has been my assistant for three years and she knows how things work around here.

Nothing is personal. She is well compensated and has no issue with how I speak to her." The truth is her outburst hit home. I never really thought about it, but I suppose I did speak rather rudely.

Ana's eyes are still raging, my response has not placated her in the least. "I'm sorry Mr. Grey but if that's any indication of how you speak to your employees then you can count me out. I won't work for someone, let alone share an office with an employer, who shows zero respect to his employees." She makes a move to the door but before she can I freeze her with my next words. Hell, I freeze myself with my next words.

"You're right."

With her back to me I can see her breathing hitch as she slowly turns back to me. With a confused and wary expression on her face, "Wh-what?"

I sigh, this is very un-CEO of me. GOD the effect this woman has on me could be detrimental to my entire company at this point.

"You're right Ms. Steele I was out of line. I owe Andrea an apology… And you for that matter. I truly am sorry for I spoke Ms. Steele." What is shocking as these words come out of my mouth is that I mean every word.

I know I can be an ass, but I guess the success it has brought me never made me question my behavior. Ana is now sizing me up again. Trying to figure out if this is a trap or trick, I'm sure. If I want her trust, I need to earn it not talk my way into it.

I walk past her quickly and through my office door to Andrea's desk. She's on the phone, seeing me approaching her she puts the call on hold immediately. It was as if I gave her an electric shock by approaching her how quickly she reacted. She stands swiftly and goes to speak.

"Andrea I'm sorry." I say before she can get a word in.

"Um – for what Mr. Grey?" She is obviously very confused.

"I – well I shouldn't have spoken to you how I did. I probably don't tell you this enough, but you are highly valued here and I would probably not know where anything is without you. So please forgive me for how I spoke." Andrea is looking at me like I have grown a second head. Yeah, I guess I'm so much of ass that it's scarier when I'm nice.

"Uhm – I – um no problem Mr. Grey. Thank you, I accept your apology." Still staring at me as if I need to be committed. I smile at her and turn back to my office. Ana has made her way to the doorway and is staring at me with a small smile on her lips. Thank god! I'll take it.

This woman would be mine if it's the last thing I do. I just need to show her I'm already hers.

Sorry, it's been so long since I updated. Life happens.

So what do you think? I would love to get a sense of what you all think and if you even want more.

LJxoxox