Chap 7
Christian POV
"What the actual living fuck Christian!" Ros has been yelling at me for over ten minutes about the fact that I've 'officially lost it'. She has never seen me like this before – I get it. But that doesn't' change the fact that I'm not changing a God damn thing where Ana is concerned.
"Seriously Christian! First, you have me cover four meetings for you - which by the way, Anton Chanek, was pissed that you weren't there. He is not signing the shipping docks over unless he meets with you. Secondly, you try to get me to go to cover your Beijing trip! You know Gwen and I have an invitro session this weekend! I mentioned it three times and had Andrea put it in your calendar so you didn't do this kind of thing! And lastly, you move GP's headquarters to your god damn office?! After it took me nearly three months to secure that downtown building! I hope to God you are just smoking crack and we can quietly sneak you into rehab because if this is simply how your brain is working from now on then we have a major problem!" Ros's ranting and raging as she is pacing back and forth across my office.
I stand resting against my desk as I watch her slowly come back down to earth.
Before she can start back up again I move to stand in front of her. "Ros. Enough. Sit down and let's talk." She stops her pacing and looks at me. Giving me a small nod and sits in one of the chairs opposite my desk. I truly feel bad. I had forgotten that Gwen and Ros were trying to get pregnant. I really hadn't thought this through. I find myself wanting to apologize. Who am I? Ana has changed me in a matter of hours.
"Ros I'm sorry." I blurt out. The look on her face is priceless. "I truly had forgotten about your doctor's appointment this weekend. I'll handle the Beijing trip – don't worry about it. I'll take care of it." Now Ros is staring at me with her mouth hanging wide open. With a smile playing on my lips I continue with, "Also, I think it's important you know I am not taking cocaine. I'm very much serious when I made the decisions, I did this morning… Look I know how much time you spent on contract for the GP building, but I just need her close to me. I – ugh. Ros. I can't explain to you how I feel about her." I did not mean to reveal that to Ros, well here it goes. Ros is staring back at me now with a concerned look on her face.
"Christian… What are you talking about?" She tentatively asks me.
"I – I don't know. Ana is just different. I can't explain it. Look I don't want to get into it because I don't even understand what I'm talking about, but I do know this. If I don't have her close by you may as well have me committed because I need her near me or I'll go crazy. So, yes I temporarily may have moved her office into my office. I promise GP will be in the downtown location I just – just give me some time to understand what I'm doing. From the second I laid eyes on her in the lobby I knew that I needed to always be near her. Jesus – that sounds pathetic. Look I promise I'm not losing it." I've started breathing harder and am finding it hard to pull myself together. Panic attacks. Ever since the whole Elena thing came out, I have started having these panic attacks where I can't catch my breath. The only way to get through them is to work-out or lock myself in a room for a couple of hours.
This is the worst time for one to start up and I can feel it coming. I need to get Ros out of here. I don't want her to see me like this. Or Ana. That would be really bad.
"Christian are you ok? Look… it's ok. We can take a beat. Just breathe." Ros is standing in front of me now, her hands reach out to touch me, but she pulls them back almost immediately. Ros knows my issues with touch. She would never push me on it. I try to control my breathing. "Look, Christian – what can I do?"
I shut my eyes and control my breathing. Nothing. There's nothing anyone can do. I repeat in my head. Ana. I think to myself. She's quickly become my mental salvation. I think of Ana. My Ana. It calms me almost immediately.
My heart is pounding but for another reason altogether. My Ana. I take a few steps backward and gain my composure. "I'm good Ros. Sorry. Look I promise you'll have nothing to worry about. Go to your doctor's appointment with Gwen." Ros has been my VP since day one and stood by me through everything. I owe her a huge debt.
Ros is looking straight back at me with a look of confusion and compassion. At the end of the day, she truly was a real friend and my most loyal partner.
"Ok Christian. Thank you. I – ok. Whatever you need." She moves to leave my office. Then turns back to me, "Christian, I know this is new to you but… if this is how she makes you feel after only knowing her for an hour then make sure you fight for her. That doesn't come around again." She gives me a soft and knowing smile and leaves my office.
I mull her words over in my head. I know she's right. Her words ring true for me. Ana. This has hit me when I least expect it.
I've known that stubborn woman less than half a day and already want to spend every moment with her. However, no matter what I want it leaves the question; do I deserve her? I come with a crapload of luggage and a woman like that deserves the world. I need to become the man she deserves.
I sit in my office chair starring out the window to the city below. I've never been someone who thought they would find someone they would happily die for. That my heart would beat so fast at just the thought of her. Imagining my life without her is physically painful. Besides my family, I have never felt anything remotely close to what's stirring inside me.
I'm pulled from my thoughts as I hear voices outside my office. I can feel her presence before I hear her. It's like radiant electricity swirling around me.
"Look I really can't, I have lunch plans but I think Andrea is free if you are so interested in taking someone to lunch." I can hear Ana speaking to someone on the other side of the door. Lunch? Who is asking her out?! Enraged at the thought I jump out of the chair and tear open the door to my office door.
"Think about it sweet cheeks, all I'm saying is - I'm a great guy to have lunch with and I would be honored to enjoy lu-"
"Elliot!" I snap at him louder than I thought possible. My fucking brother is standing outside my door harassing Ana into lunch. Andrea is sitting behind her desk pretending not to watch everything happening.
Elliot and Ana jump at my sudden outburst. Well, Ana does, Elliot spins to me and just gives his signature smirk. Ass.
"Bro! You didn't tell me you had a new beautiful employee!" I want to punch him in the face. What is this asshole doing here?
"Elliot," I growl out, "Leave Ms. Steele alone. What on earth are you doing here?" I am beyond furious with him and the confusion on his face is obvious.
"Dude! Why so agro? Mom called and said you might be interested in going to lunch? And then I ran into this beauty on the first floor and I think I would rather have lunch with her than you!" Elliot smartly remarks with a wide grin all over his face. Mom would not call him to say that. He's a big fat liar. More like he heard she met Ana and came down here to see for himself.
Ana is standing in between us now and very awkwardly trying to move away from Elliot's continuous flirting.
Ok. That's it. Elliot gets every girl he wants. He never had problems in that area. But not this time. Not Ana. But… does Ana want to go to lunch with him? I mean she looks uncomfortable but still, will she bail on me and go to lunch with him? My thoughts are running through my mind a mile a minute.
Before I can say anything Ana jumps in, "Look, Elliot, I appreciate the offer but as I stated I already have a business lunch I can't change. Mr. Grey and I both do actually, right Mr. Grey?" Ana is now standing further away from Elliot and me but staring at me expectantly with a look of concern in her eyes. She sees something in my face and it's as if she can tell I need her reassurance. She sees right through me.
A small smile pulls at my lips. "Yes Ms. Steel, we do." I can't stop looking at her. A small smile spreads over her face. "So sorry Elliot but you understand. Mom must have been mistaken but check with Andrea and we can do lunch another day this week." I stare Elliot down. He better not argue with me right now. "In fact, Ms. Steele and I need to be heading out right now. Talk with Andrea and I'll call you later." I say as I gently steer Ana around him towards the elevator. As I do this Ana puts her hand on my chest and casually stops our movement.
"Hold on, let me just grab my bag and we can go. One moment."
Her hand brushed off my chest and she walks back past me to my – our – office.
I can feel his intense stare before I even look at him. Elliot went from being a playful idiot to a serious, overprotective brother bear.
"Christian – did she just touch you? Did you just LET her?!" He whisper-yells at me in shock.
I look to meet his intense gaze. "I – yeah Elliot she did and I did. So please stop asking her to lunch, ok?" Elliot and I have always had a connection. We didn't need to say certain things out loud for the other to understand what was happening. A genuine shocked smile spreads over his face and he slowly nods.
Ana is back and standing next to me before I know it. I put my hand at the small of her back and walk us over to the elevators.
Ana turns and faces Elliot, "Nice to meet you Elliot!" she says quickly turning back to step on to the elevator with me. Elliot is standing there with a huge smile on his face, "You too Ana… See you at the wedding!" He half yells with a wink just as the elevator doors close.
Well shit. Thanks for that one.
"What is he talking about?" Ana asks me as we make our way down to the ground floor. Her face is full of confusion and amusement.
"Elliot very rarely makes sense. Something I learned to accept a long time ago." I hope she takes this and doesn't look further into it. I glance down at her. Our gaze locks.
Electricity I wasn't even aware of starts to consume the air around us. Our height difference means I can see right down her blouse and see her heaving chest in all its glory. My hand itches to take hers in mine. Ana has no idea how much I want her but the way she is looking at me right now… does she possibly want me too?
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ANOTHER CHAPTER!
Having a lot of fun exploring this story. Let me know your thoughts and I'll keep going! I love getting all your messages. Stay safe. LJ xoxox