Chapter Eight
There will be some mistakes, I'm sorry in advance. Also: It was pointed out to me that I'm just following the books, yes I am. To a certain point. I'm setting Ana & Christian up so that in a couple of chapters they have a strong foundation to tackle the shit I'm about to put them through. Thank you all so much for your support.
Tuesday 7th June
This morning I don't have a clothes disaster so we have extra time for shower sex. I'm proud that I still manage to make it into work five minutes early. I'm feeling very professional in a grey pant suit with a white shirt and black pumps.
"Ana, coffee." Jack barked as he stormed passed me into his office over five minutes late.
"How do you want it?" I asked the best smile I could muster gracing my face.
"Black, two sugars." He glares, hopefully the coffee will get the stick out of his ass.
"Yes, Jack." I replied scurrying into the break room.
The morning passes quickly, I don't even realise it's lunchtime until Jack stands over my shoulder and speaks to me.
"Are you going out for lunch, Ana?" He asks, shocking me. I was really into this manuscript.
"No, I've got lunch with me." I refuse.
"Okay. I'm going to the deli across the street." He says with a grimace, probably thinking about how long the wait will be. I shrug it off making my way to the break room smiling, I know my lunch will be delicious! Gail loves baking bread and made some focaccia with Parmesan cheese and red onion, the bread paired with Parma ham and followed by a vanilla cupcake equals a delicious lunch. I decide to email a picture of my food to send to Christian.
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Lunch
Date: June 7th 2011, 12:10
To: Christian Grey
Loving my lunch! Gail is amazing.
How's your day?
Love you,
Love Sick & Loving It
"Instagram?" A voice huffs. I turn to see a beautiful and curvaceous woman with dark skin; she's wearing a mustard yellow skirt, white blouse with black spots, black blazer and black shoes, her makeup is stunning.
"No I sometimes get so engrossed in something so I forget to eat, my boyfriend worries that with me in a new job that I'll forget, so I'm making sure he knows I'm eating." I indulgently laugh. "Do you want to join me?" I ask with a smile. She nods putting her tray down next to me.
"I'm sorry, thought you were one of those always on Instagram posting their lunch. My friend convinced me to join and all I see is peoples lunch." She rolls her eyes.
"Sounds boring! I don't even have a Facebook. I can never be bothered with stuff like that." I laugh.
"I'm Joy." She introduces.
"I'm Ana." We jokingly shake hands.
"Do you mind if I sit with you both?" Claire from reception asks, her peppy demeanour replaced with nervousness looking at me. I assume she and Joy already know each other.
"Of course you can." Me and Joy say at the same time before laughing at each other, Claire laughs as well, we finally stop laughing enough to eat. I notice Jack sitting at the table behind us with a couple of other editors carrying take out bags from the deli.
"I have to ask, Ana. Who's the hunk who picked you up yesterday?" Claire asks wiggling her eyebrows.
"My boyfriend, Christian." I say dreamily.
"He's not Christian Grey is he?" Joy laughs.
"Yeah." I admit looking down, embarrassed.
"Wow! You said, he.. I mean... people say... Joy begins.
"People say he's some kind of arrogant, aloof monster?" I question with a raised eyebrow. Joy and Claire nods sheepishly.
"He's not like that in private. When he's around those he loves he's completely different." I dreamily assure, hoping to change the subject.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Lunch
Date: June 7th 2011, 12:20
To: Anastasia
Ditto. Hope you're enjoying it as much as me.
I love you too.
I have back to back meetings so my replies might be slow. I'm sorry.
I love you.
Just as Love Sick & Loving It
I grin seeing his picture of his lunch.
"He's replied hasn't he." Joy grins.
"Is it that noticeable?"
"Yes." Joy and Claire say together.
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Lunch
Date: 7th June 2011, 12:23
To: Superman
Go to work, or save the world. It's the same thing to me.
See you at half five.
I love you.
All yours.
I finish my reply to Christian before putting my phone in my bag to concentrate on Joy and Claire who have thankfully started to talk about some new movie I haven't seen yet. We talk more before Claire realises she needs a cigarette now before everyone goes outside and Joy wants to get back to her desk early so she can prepare for a meeting later. We decide to have lunch again tomorrow. I grin sitting back in my chair with a grin the Joker would be proud of. I'm making friends, I'm making work friends, I'm in a happy relationship. I sigh dreamily, then remember I wanted to text Kate.
- I need a favour.
Steele I'm in Barbados! What can I help with? LOL
Christian's decided I need a new wardrobe & doesn't care about how much it costs. I'm just freaking out. I'm not gonna make an issue about his money, but I'm finding it hard to shop for myself even on some site called net a porter I found when my budget is unlimited. So...
I've got you! Send me a screenshot of the card details & your new address. I'm so excited!
I thought you might be, here's a picture of the card. Have fun!
I will. Love you, I'll let you know when I'm done.
Thanks, love you too.
That seemed easy. I hope Christian understands what he's getting himself in for asking Kate.
My trip to Human Resources took minutes, thankfully they didn't need some form of proof of address. I made it back to my desk with five minutes to spare, I decide to make Jack's coffee before he gets to his office.
The rest of the day passes quickly and soon, I'm outside waiting for Christian to get here.
"Need a ride, Ana?" Jack leers standing so close our bodies are almost pressed together, I take a step back.
"No thanks, my boyfriend is picking me up." I reply with a fake smile.
"How sweet. See you tomorrow." He huffs striding down the street. Finally Christian's Audi pulls up.
In the car I warn him that Kate is doing shopping for me from Barbados.
"The card only has three million on it so she can't do too much damage." He shrugs going back to his emails.
"Okay then." I sigh in a daze.
"I know you said you didn't want to go on about it..."
"It'll take time getting used to, I doubt I ever truly will. But I'm coming to terms with it." I smile.
"I got a text from Jose today." I almost squeak.
"The photographer?" He growls.
"Yeah, He has an exhibit Thursday and I said I'd go. I can use my car that my lovely boyfriend bought me, and go straight after work if you don't want to come." I announce. We're partners but, I'm going to support my friend. I can't be bothered for this to become a fight.
"The friend who forced himself on you whilst you were incapacitated?" He growls again, I swear he's going to bark in a second.
"The one who I will be having words with the second I see him about that? Yes. The more I've thought about it, the more I realise he deserves a second chance." I implore.
"What if he does that again, Anastasia? What if he rapes you." He barks.
"I plan to get him alone tomorrow, completely alone, and I will tell him that if he does that again to anyone I will walk out of his life never to return. And I'll be telling my father." He looks confused at the last part. "Our fathers are friends."
"We'll go in Charlie Tango. The drive is too long, and we can't stay over I have a meeting the next morning and you don't want to miss a day on your first week at your new job." He concedes.
"I'm so glad you safe worded. I'm so glad I stayed with you." I smile,
"You were worried I'd not let you see your friend?"
"Every time we have a discussion and work things out together my faith in us as partners gets stronger." He takes my hand kissing it.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Christian."
Over dinner he tells me about all of his meetings today, how they're hoping to open a factory in China but making sure their workers are treat just as good as they would here. He goes on a rant about how he hates knowing that people work hard for pennies and have no rights. I love how much he cares. He changes the subject asking me how my day was, I tell him all about how Jack offered me a ride home. He did not like that one bit. He was happy I made new friends, and sat up straighter as I mentioned how cute Joy found it that I was showing him pictures of my lunch.
I head to our bedroom to change after dinner, grabbing a permanent marker I head for his office.
"Do you know how long you'll be?" I ask from the doorway wearing only my robe and new necklace.
"Not long, why?" He asks not looking up from his computer.
"I was going to do that roadmap on your chest." I reply. He takes a deep breath.
"I.." He begins, still not looking at me.
"You're not ready." I say
"No, I'm sorry." He whispers, he still doesn't look at me.
"Christian, I can hold my hand upon your heart when we sleep. While we make love I can hold your arms or your hair. That's enough for me, one day I want to be able to touch you freely. But that is not something we can rush. There is no need to feel shame, or anything negative." I implore walking from the doorway to him. Thankfully his desk chair can swivel around, I pull the arm so he's facing me.
"I love you Christian." I kiss the top of his head, he still can't look at me. My poor broken man.
"Christian by your own admission, you're fifty shades of fucked up. And I love every one of those shades. One day I want to be your wife, one day I want to be the mother of your children, and I want to grow old with you by my side."
"What did I ever do to deserve you." He whispers leaning his head forward so his face is on my stomach.
"You're just you. That's all you need to be." I reply stroking his hair. his hands snake around me before stopping at my ass, then fondling it.
"Are you naked under here?"
"Why don't you find out." I flirt.