Jen1072: Me neither I get you girl.

joangoldman9: Maybe we'll find out what Morton's letter said in the future. As for the list and taking Jack down I think Ana's strong but may be in over her head too. Chloe being a CPO wow, love the idea let's see what happens.

fundays: Thank you!

Gowildcats: The list was a good copying mechanism if you ask me, glad you like it.

carlarbaptista: Brigada! :)

CathyD52: Thank you for reviewing so many chapters. I too love quirky Chloe and hate slimy Jack.

NOTE: Contains spoilers for Pretty Woman.

Chapter Five: Grey

The rest of the weekend is as grey as the sky. Going grocery shopping results in a bags worth of 2-minute noodles, fruit, drinks and frozen meals. I download a bunch of music on my phone, classical, no words. Music, I decided, is my new form of distraction. At some point Sunday evening I get answers from the publishing houses- they all inform me that the vacancies have been filled, and the music thus far only serves to remind me of him. During a terrible and desperate moment I google Christian Grey- I smartly avoid images and find out his middle name is Trevelyan.

Sunday night I sit with a bowl of noodles swaddled in a giant, fluffy blanket after not having eaten the rest of Saturday or today. I chew on it lazily feeling dejected and flip through the channels of the television with disinterest.

At some point Pretty Woman's on, somehow, I can't reach the remote.

Anger boils inside me as I stare at the soundless images on screen. I don't know when it starts but the sobbing is uncontrollable. My bowl sits half-empty and abandoned on the floor as I bury my face into the blanket.

"He doesn't love you!" I exclaim at the television. "Don't kiss him!" My arms swing wildly at them trying to stop the impending scene from happening, "He just thinks you're an easy hooker who he owns! Don't! You're more than that!"

I'm fucking Vivian! I'm the hooker who falls in love with somebody who could never love me back. Difference is Edward always loved Vivian and fights for her when it counts. They had giant differences and worked through it together.

He didn't want to work through it. He wanted me to act a certain way, be a certain way. Edward used hearts and flowers but you could see the care behind it. I was forcing him to treat me like the hopeless romantic I am making him do something he can't- doesn't want to do.

Ringing echoes from somewhere in my mess. I slobber up digging through the blanket until I find it under the couch cushion. It reads Claire- a few seconds pass where I guiltily hope she'll hang up before I clear my throat, "Hello?"

"Ana, hey! It's me, Claire! I've got big news!"

Oh God! The Vixen hisses covering her ears. Why'd the hell d'you answer the phone.

"What's up?" I take my bowl to the kitchen rinsing out the remaining contents. Grey would disapprove, I could practically hear him scolding me for wasting food.

"Hello? Are you still there?"

"Uh, the connection went a bit fuzzy can you repeat that last part?"

"I said that I have news for you. Remember the other day when I told you about my second aunt Farnie? The one with the major paying job, who's a snob and talks way too much?" It feels like years ago.

"Um… yes."

"So," She drags it the exact way Kate drags her vowels to annoy me. "This weekend while we were all at Tacoma she was going on about her company- okay not her company the one she works at. Telling us about it, even though we know all about it. But then she said they were just about to begin their paid internship program and are trying to find someone to replace one of the candidates that got removed." She continues without pause.

"And get this she's vice head of Human Resources, they of course wouldn't take me if I begged what with my community college certificates and afternoon classes but they would totally have you." I perk up at this. "I'm sorry, I know you just started at SIP but I feel like you're leaving soon. Usually after I've sent someone to Sarah they leave right away."

Is Claire really this ignorant to what's happening? I don't think I want to know. My subconscious raises an eyebrow at me. No possible chance she doesn't know.

Well you heard her she says she needs this job, The white voice respond. Maybe she needs to turn the other cheek.

"Nothing good every came from turning the other cheek." I mutter before I realize I've said it aloud. "Sorry Ana, what was that?"

"What's the company?" God, I wish I could focus on what she's saying but my mind's racing. Could Jack have all of SIP in on what he's doing. Claire could be in on it and this could all be an elaborate plot to trick me. It's all too much.

"It does so many things communications technologies, eco-manufacturing and a bunch of stuff like that. It's such a huge company. By the way since I have all the employees files I gave her like the basics of your résumé. She is totally willing to pull a few strings." I listen carefully, as flickers of Viviane pass on the TV as she talks to her friend Kit De Luca. I've never had much interest in the other side of the business world that didn't involve art and literature but it's a start.

"It's even paid."

"Really it's paid?" That sounds almost too good to be true.

"Yeah its I know I'm amazing. I'll send you her email address, email her before the ivy league graduates get a whiff of this."

"Yes, absolutely!" I'm stunned. "Thank you Claire, this is unbelievable."

"No problem, I hope you get it Ana."

"Thank you." When I hang up, I throw a fist in the air in celebration. Yes! Yes! Yes! Finally, something great might happen for me.

And that my dear Ana is why you answered the phone. The white voice cheers.

I walk back to the TV where Vivian is crying, "It will all work out, girl." I say grabbing the remote and switching it off with a click. I beeline to my room where a printed copy of my résumé rests in my bedside table, I grab Kate's laptop and head over to the printer scanning it on, then I open my email and copy the email address Claire sent to my phone. Writing a short message of gratitude for the chance and an image of myself.

It's still early so I press send.

When my alarm rings the next morning the first thing I do is check my email, no new emails I frown but busy myself in getting ready for work.

My stomach twists uneasily, I dread going in today. With all the distractions of him and the excitement of a possible new job. My mind keeps consciously trying to push Jack away. How can I face him after what I now know.

The first face I see is Claire's smiling one, "Hey you." She smiles brightly. The great thing about the weekend was I could be sad in the apartment and not have to talk to anyone or put up a fake front. Today though I am feeling immensely indebted to her smile and go over to hug her, in greeting and thanks.

The next face I see is Jack my-heart-is-pounding Hyde and I have no idea how I manage to keep last night's noodles down.

"Morning Ana. You look nice today." He says, my skin crawls when his hand brushes across my shoulder.

"Morning sir." I manage, side-stepping him to my desk.

His whole demeanor seems different now. Now that I know what he's a sly fox waiting to grab little bunny Steele. His eyes I once thought mischievous but charismatic, now scream cruelty and malice. Every movement he makes, I second guess and must remind myself to calm the hell down. I work through last Friday's files when he doesn't give me a direct assignment and goes to his office. At 14:30 as I'm about leave for lunch, when my phone pings.

From: Gwen Farnie

Subject: Internship Program

Date: June 13, 14: 28

To: Anastasia Steele

Thank you for the interest in our internship program and we'd be glad to have you.

I have a few more personal questions for you that are to do with this specific internship, but besides that there's an attached document with further details on said internship down below. Please ensure that you do not inform any of your fellow interns of your acquaintance with me, and my hand in helping you acquire your position.

I apologize in advance about the short notice most of the interns have known prior to 3 months of their acceptance. Hopefully you are well informed of this company like many others.

See you in three weeks.

Welcome to Grey Enterprises Holdings!

Vice President of Human Resources, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

I double take, blinking twice and rub my eyes.

Welcome to Grey Enterprises Holdings!

Grey Enterprises.

Grey.

Grey.

Grey!

"Oh my God?!" I scream covering my mouth in disbelief. I look to find the whole room's witnessed my outburst. "Sorry." I squeak my face flaming with embarrassment. I use one hand to cover my face against prying eyes and the other to click refresh on the page a couple hundred times. When the words remain the same, I'm suddenly scrambling out of my desk, with about 12 pairs of eyes following me.

For some reason my hand won't leave the side of my face even as I reach reception, as if I'm trying to block the world from seeing my entire dilemma. My other hand begins to shake as I for an unbeknownst reason knock on Claire's desk.

"Um…" Words fail me but she's on the phone giving me a worried glance as she listens responsively to someone. "Yes sir. I'll be sure to deliver the message…"

As she speaks my shaking hand joins the other on my face massaging at my temple. I'm frantically trying not to have a panic attack at some point I start pacing. Fuck! I hadn't even considered- Holy mother of all that is good and pure! I'm working for him! My ex- not even my ex, my ex- dominate.

"Ana? What's wrong?" Claire says eventually putting the phone back in the receiver. I look at her wide-eyed stopping mid-pace. I mean like does she not understand the situation? Everyone in my head waits for her to catch on to the obvious situation. She meets my gaze confusion evident on her face.

"The internship is at Grey Enterprises...?"

Claire immediately brightens. "I know right! You're so lucky!" She clasps her hands together eagerly. "My aunt messaged me just this morning telling me not to tell you. I'm so happy for you." The acknowledgement that this is real, is overwhelming and my whole being is at a loss.

"I didn't know it was there."

"What? How did you not know?" She shakes her head lightly to herself. "I swear I mentioned it."

"No!" I snap, though she might've and I just didn't listen. We both falter, "Wait, Ana aren't you happy? This is a great opportunity. That is currently one of the best places to work in the USA, it's literally world renowned."

Of course, it is. Of course, Claire doesn't understand, how could I expect her too. What do I say? No, I can't work there because my ex-dominate who beat me, then I dumped is the CEO billionaire, owner, guy.

I look to the characters and they all nod encouragingly at my train of thought. I can't say that!

"No, no, of course, I am." My mistake is showing too much emotion, too much of the wrong emotion. Happy, dumb, numb... I plaster on a smile.

"I'm just so stunned, and overwhelmed I mean Grey Enterprises- That's something!" She waits for more. "Something amazing I mean like fuck me."

Really just fuck me. Fuckity, fuck, fucking dammit!

After convincing Claire of my utter, and complete gratitude. I drag my feet back to my desk, sink into my seat and shrink away from everyone's wayward stares in my direction. How can I expect to work at Grey Enterprises and never see the Grey CEO and owner? You'll just be an intern. You may never meet him. My voices chime in unison.

In high school they said interns are specially selected individuals by the company. Managers, CEO's or whoever's in charge meets said individuals at any time they're available and know each of them by name and accompanied information. He could send his 2nd in command, Ros. She seems like the type that would over see this. I perk at this then immediately placate myself. Why am I considering this? I am not working at that place.

Groaning I smack my head on to my desk, no longer caring what people here think of me. "This is crazy…"

"What's crazy?" I jump up in my seat at Jack's teasing voice. "Oh uh." I'm at a loss for words, his presence making me immediately uncomfortable. He raises an eyebrow and gives me a look as if he's hiding a big secret. Tears immediately start to pool in my eyes. I'm at a loss as I feel my throat tighten and bile rise in my throat.

Hey guys another chapter done and dusted and if you ask me things are getting heated. Poor Ana it's becoming a lot to deal with, but to me she's dealing with it as best she can.

Let me know how you guys are feeling ;)

xoxoIvoryxoxo