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Chapter Fifteen.
Structure.
Ana.
.
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Stepping onto the crowded elevator, situated in Will's office building. I only realize that I'm still holding the empty, Starbucks cup, once the aroma of hot chocolate fills the confined space, and people around me begin shuffling away from me. Well, as best they can in a metal box, anyway. I catch sight of my reflection in the mirrored doors through the gap in front of me, and roll my eyes at my appearance. Christ. I look a mess.
Stepping off the elevator. Sylvia, spots me immediately. Her eyes widen at my ruined attire, and I'm sure she's going to question me, but thankfully, Will, appears from his office before she can utter a word.
"Well, good morning An..." he greets me cheerfully. Stopping abruptly, when he sees the state of me, all stained and sticky. I shake my head at him.
"Don't ask." I state, with another roll of my eyes at myself as I head over to the pair.
Part of me, wants to laugh out loud at the ironic value of today, and another part, the bigger part, wants to scream.
"Sylvia, please find Miss Steele a towel, and show her to the bathrooms." Will, instructs and retreats back into his office.
Sylvia, rises immediately to her feet, and ushers me quickly to the staff break room. She heads to the small attached cloak room, and begins to rifle through a large gym bag. She, then, turns towards me, and with a smile, offers me a clean t-shirt, her toiletry bag and a fresh towel.
"I swim after work." she explains, before I can question why she has such things with her.
I thank her profusely, and head eagerly toward the bathroom, to wash up and change. As I strip off my ruined blouse and clean myself up, my anger slowly dissipates. By the time I'm done, I feel a little more like myself.
"What happened to you, Ana?" Will asks, as I enter his office a few minutes later.
"I met him." is all I offer, as I sit, and settle myself into the familiar wing back chair.
"Who? Mr Grey." he asks, his eyebrows lifting into his hairline with surprise.
"Yes." I reply, smiling and sitting up straighter in my seat as Sylvia enters the room.
She's carrying her usual tray, laden with warm and sweet, biscuit goodies, and I really need the comforting, sugar rush right now. I never even took a sip of my hot chocolate. I chuff to myself. I don't think I'll ever be able to smell that aroma again, without thinking of Christian, and the hate he displayed toward me.
"When?" Will asks, bringing me out of my musings, and smiling his thanks to Sylvia, after accepting a cup of coffee.
"A moment ago. I just bumped into him at the Grey House coffee shop, literally bumped into him." I reply, indicating to myself, and giving an explanation for the state I'm in.
"How did it go?" he asks as he chuckles.
I smile, despite the dejection I feel. "It didn't, he turned on his heel and left me stood there, dripping. His security was kind enough to give me his card, and instruct me to replace my clothing, though." I explain, with a small shoulder shrug.
"Well, as first meetings go, I suppose it..."
"It wasn't our first meeting." I interrupt, and Will's eyes widen with curiosity. I chuckle at his blatant eagerness.
"No?" he questions. Sitting back in his chair, waiting for all the details.
"No, I also met him yesterday, whilst out running. I have the sore elbow to prove it." I utter, rubbing said elbow. Will's brow creases with concern for me as he scans my arm. "Christian, ran into me, knocking me over, but I got the same reaction as today, he fled." I add with a smile. Reassuring him that I'm okay.
"He ran from you?" Will asks quirking his brow quizzically. I simply nod.
"As soon as he saw me, he ran. He never said anything, either time, barr a mumbled apology." I explain further.
"I've never known Christian Grey, to be lost for words." Will says with a bemused chuckle.
"I was no better, though. I was too dumbstruck to say anything to him. I froze, just like I did today. I couldn't even introduce myself." I confess, exasperatedly, and with a deep frustrated sigh.
For some reason, it causes us both to chuckle. I roll with it, allowing a belly laugh to grow and escape, because I know if I don't laugh about this, then I'll surely cry.
"Sounds like you've had an eventful few days." Will, says with a smile. Which I force myself to mimic and hold. Knowing, that he's trying to comfort me. "How do you feel, now that you've actually seen him in person, after all of these years?" Will, asks.
How do I feel?
My forced, false bravado, drops as I think about it.
"He's clearly, not the compassionate boy I knew, but he's definitely the boy that saved my life. You're right, though, his once friendly demeanor, and approachable personality have turned to stone." I pause, as Will, nods in agreement at my assessment. "He's not very forgiving. He was instantly irate with me, when he ran into me yesterday, and his eyes were fierce, when we met earlier. He gave new meaning to the saying... If looks could kill. He's extremely intimidating. I clam up as soon as I see him." I gush, almost ranting. Openly, admitting, that it's not just the shock of seeing him that has me catatonic.
"I did warn you, Ana." Will says, compassionately.
"I know you did, and I'll admit, I'm a little hurt, he didn't recognize, or remember me, but... Maybe he did and just hates me." I confess my fears out loud. Hating, that it's even occurred to me at all.
"I don't think that's true, Ana." Will, says softly.
"You never saw the way he looked at me, Will. I've never had anyone look at me with so much hatred before."
"No, Ana. I don't think it's hatred. Both meetings, took him by surprise. He was no doubt angry at you for being hindered. He's not a patient man. It must've been a shock for him too, and..."
"He hates me, I can feel it. Maybe, I should just go home." I mumble, interrupting him.
"No, you can't take this personally, Ana. He needs you, and..." Will, states sharply.
"He does?" I ask. Seeking the reassurance I need, from his conviction that I'm doing the right thing. I know deep down, that it's only disappointment and embarrassment, that's ruling my emotions and responses right now, and obviously, causing my doubts to grow.
"Yes, he does. He's just a hard man to talk to." Will, says with a small smirk.
"Clearly." I utter, smiling down at my borrowed attire. "We're a right pair, aren't we?" Will, nods as he suppresses a chuckle.
"I don't know how to advise you, Ana. It's hard, controlling your emotions and responses in those types of situations. Despite what you two share, I can understand why he intimidates you and causes you to freeze." I nod, in complete agreement. "I've never dealt with him, I've never wanted to. His ruthless reputation, has always been enough of a reason for me to steer clear of him, but these meetings have proven one thing..."
"Which is?" I interrupt, desperate for his insight.
"That this, is going to be harder than I thought," Will mumbles with a concerned frown. "But, we can't give up, you can't give up, because I have some good news," he says with false cheer. Trying to raise my diminished hope as he notices my body slumping. "I have his 24/7 schedule, well, as close as we can get to it anyway. We obviously can't access his full calendar, but he's pretty strict with this routine. Which, can only work in our favor."
I nod in agreement. Then share with him, how I've spent my weekend, researching Christian, and how I intend to invade Grey House, anyway I can. He's not surprised. He had the same idea.
"Tell me everything you found out." I ask, believing in Will, and feeling a little more optimistic.
A few hours later, I'm back in my hotel room. I'm feeling more determined and more myself. I've been going over all the information that Will, and his team have gathered, and even though, there are many positives and negatives to Christian's life and strict routine, this added information tells me nothing new. Nor, does it give me a clear way in. A lot of the newly acquired information that Will, has provided, mirrors the information that I found out myself. Just with more detail. Will, has added structure to Christian's life, and that's the only real positive thing I can use, and ultimately, work in my favor.
Christian Grey, lives to work. He's known for his twelve, even fourteen hour days, spent in his office. Grey House, seems to be his life, his love, his baby. He's the first to arrive and the last to leave. He has a tight, trusted and loyal set of staff. Most of them, have been with him for years. So I can't see any job vacancies becoming available, anytime soon.
Christian, has no real friends, associates, or interests outside of work. He has no real hobbies or pastimes. He does hold a flying license, owns a helicopter, a jet, also a boat, but as I don't know anything about flying or sailing, these attributes of his, won't help me in any way to get close to him.
He seems to be a very physical person. He has a personal trainer, who visits Grey House, at least three times a week. He also runs most mornings to Grey House, or visits the gym, once he arrives. I know I have a good chance of meeting Christian again, while out running, as there are only so many running routes between Grey House, and Escala, so that has to work in my favor.
As I discovered on my own, Christian, has no real social life. He very rarely makes an appearance at any local establishment, but he does own a club. Which he dines at regularly. I chuckle as I read a foot note in Wills, dossier, asking me, if I fancy dinner with him and his wife Rebbecca. I need to tell him as soon as possible if I'd like to go, as there's a two month waiting time for a table. I roll my eyes at that snippet of information, because it proves again just how much Christian, his life, and everything around him is mapped out and set for the future.
The compassionate side of Christian Grey, exceeds far more than what is public knowledge. It's just a pity that his compassion, doesn't stretch to his family as he visits them very rarely. So the information Will has on them, is moot. So, I skim it.
Christian's closest companions, are his Security team. He's very well protected, and is constantly escorted and accompanied everywhere by his team. His head honcho, the guy I met at the coffee shop, is Jason Taylor. Will, looked into him, and apparently, he lives with Christian. He is also married to Christian's housekeeper, so maybe it would be prudent to meet her.
Accidentally.
The only real structure to Christian's life, apart from Grey House, is that he owns a beach house a few miles away. He escapes there, every weekend. This thought excites me as I've never really spent much time at the beach. It occurs to me, and Will, that his security can't be as rigid there as it is at Escala.
I feel a trip to the beach coming on... But then again.
This weekend, and Will is uncertain of how many previous weekends, Christian, had a female guest staying with him. A Miss, Leila Williams. Will, found out a little bit about her, knowing I'd be curious.
Leila Williams, is a 26 year old, pretty, brunette. She's an art student, and shares an apartment with another female, a Miss Katherine Kavanagh, close to the pike market district. Which, coincidentally, is just around the corner from here.
Closing the file in my hands, I kick off my shoes and bring my feet up onto the sofa beside me. I recline against the arms of the sofa and close my eyes. It's only then, that I become aware of how my heart is suddenly pounding.
It doesn't surprise me that Christian, has someone in his life. He's a very handsome man, and despite him being so cold and unapproachable, everyone needs someone to share things with.
To have a life with.
I feel a twinge in my chest from an unknown feeling, and I'd like to take a look at this Leila Williams. I'd like to see the woman that holds Christian Grey's, heart in her hands.
Just out of curiosity...
I, foolishly, tell myself.
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