As I walk out of Kidzie at 6.05, saying good bye to ever chatty Cynthia, a black SUV Audi is parked at the curb. The moment I step out of the main door, Christian looks up from his every buzzing blackberry and give the drop dead smile. He opens the front passenger door.

'Hi Anastasia.' He says smiling. He takes my hand kisses it gently which leaves a tingling sensation down my spine.

'Hi Christian.' He helps me into the SUV and get in at the driver seat. I wonder where Jason is.

'Where are we going?' I ask after he starts driving

'Dinner.' The reply comes clipped. Hmm…

'Where?' I ask controlling my voice from showing the irritation.

'Can't I surprise you?' He asks but without filtering the irritation.

'Fine. Where is Taylor?' my voice is laced with irritation. Never irritate Annie.

'Not here.' Clipped and cold. Two can play the game and I replied clipped and cold too.

'Where is he?'

'Anastasia… firstly, please stop asking questions. I am here and that is above everything.' Clearly annoyed but damn I need answers. I hear a very strong dominating voice of Christian. I shoot a quizzical look and he looks annoyed.

'You do understand that Jason and Gail go all out to protect me and if he sees me with you, I might get into trouble explaining myself.' I replied with a higher tone. I don't like how this is going. There is no way he is going to put himself above all that I have had for the last 20 years.

'Jason is not here, he is running some errands for me.' His tone is clipped and iced, no changes, one more chance. I sigh heavily and look out of the window. This relationship is not going anywhere if he is going to order me around. Suddenly, his hand holds mine softly.

'I am sorry Anastasia, I didn't mean to snap at you.' He finally says softly.

'I was just asking and you went all monotonous with me.' I complain.

'I have never needed to explain myself to anyone before Anastasia. You are the first. Please give me the time. By the way, you look cute when you pout.' He smiles.

I know he can't simply forgo his obsession. He can have all the time he wants but if he tries to dominate me.. then he is bloody wrong. He is not getting his way with Annie.

'Fine. Where are we going?' Here let's start again.

'To a restaurant that I frequent to. They have the best steak in Seattle. I have reserved a table.'

There, see, it is not that difficult for you to be nice and lovely.

'Good, I am starving. How was your day?'

'The usual. Accounts, looking out for a new company and stuff.'

'Don't you get bored Christian?'

'What do you mean by bored?'

'Doing the same thing day in day out?'

'No Anastasia, this is what I like to do, I am good at. I dropped out of Harvard because I want to do this. I know I can do it.'

'Oh… '

'Like how you love books, I love business. I buy, re build the company, turn it profitable and sell it for a profit.'

'What will happen to the people who are working in the company?'

'I do it to safe people's job. Companies that go bankrupt will put their workers on street. I help to save their jobs. They will be on their job until I turn it around and when I sell it, their job is still secured.'

'I see.' Now that is something new. I didn't know the man who held chain and whips is soft at heart. He is concern about those people who might be out of job when a company goes bankrupt. That is something interesting point about him. He is very deep and there is a lot to discover. But if he is so soft, why the sadism?

'We are here.' He says breaking my train of thought.

'Oh… good.' He gets off and opens my door. Such a gentleman who opens door for the lady. We walked in and a lady dressed in black knee length pencil skirt and a cream cotton blouse complete with a cute white apron greets Christian.

'Good day Mr Grey. Welcome ma'am. I am Rozana, your guest relation officer for the night. Your table is waiting for you. This way please.' The waitress smiles warmly but maintained professionalism and led the way to a private dining room behind the restaurant. After helping me with my chair, Christian sits opposite me. Rozana hand us the menu and retreats silently. Damn, the choices are endless.

'What do you want Anastasia?'

I look up to him and he is there staring at me with a stormy gray eyes. You! Shut up you little conscious.

'I will have grilled dory with vegetables, mushroom soup and freshly squeezed orange.' I snap close the menu and smile to him. Rozana enters and Christian starts ordering but his eyes never left mine.

'Grilled dory with vegetables, mushroom soup and freshly squeezed orange with a dash of lemon. Chicken breast, grilled, vegetables, mushroom soup and your best wine.'

'Very well Mr Grey.' And she leaves leaving me alone with a man eying me like a prey.

'Stop staring at me.'

'Why can't I look at you?'

'You are not looking, you are staring. I hate being stared at.'

'I love looking at you… your face is so soft, your eyes are bright, your smile is sweet, your cheeks are rosy..'

'Christian, please… '

'Anastasia, I feel that you can see right through my soul with those big blue eyes.'

'No Christian. Honestly, you are still a mystry.'

Dinner arrives as we look at each other. I don't understand why he says he has no love in him. Anyone can fall in love with the strong jaws, gray eyes, wavy copper hair, the list is endless. His gaze is soft but dominating. I would really love to run my fingers through those thick curls and feel the softness. I would love to brush my thumb against that strong jaw, brush my cheeks against his face….

'Dinner is getting cold Anastasia.' His soft voice brings me back to dinner.

'Oh… alright.' And I dig into my dory fish.

'I would really love to know what you were thinking Anastasia,' he says and takes a big bite of his chicken.

'Nothing that you should really be bothered about.' I smile at him and he smirks. Dinner was filled with how my first day went and how his day went off. His life revolves around accounts, mergers and acquisitions, and meetings. What kind of entertainment he has? Oh Ya… His subs!

'Anastasia, your face gives a billion expressions in a minute and I would really like to know what you are thinking.'

'I was only thinking how hectic your life is.'

'Yes Anastasia, it has been hectic, dictated, and plain until I saw you.' He smiles.

We leave without paying and when I asked, he has some shares in the restaurant and he needs not to pay. We drive up to my apartment and he walks me to my door.

'Christian, I had a wonderful dinner. Thank you.'

'I loved your company. The dinner was something, different and refreshing. I never had a dinner with a girl.'

'Not even with your… umm Sub?'

'No Anastasia. You are the first I took out for a nice dinner.'

'I am flattered.'

'Good night Anastasia.' He says softly.

'Good night Christian.' I whisper softly. Christian bends and kisses the tip of my nose and walks away. That small gesture was sweet and it left my skin tingling. Entering the empty apartment, I giggled my way to my room.

'Taylor, I am worried about Annie.' I voice my concern. Annie has moved to Seattle and secured a job with a publication company… Kiddie? Kidssie? Whatever!

'We can't do much. She did say she is a grown up. It is her own words. She wanted us to not to interfere in her business. I hope she doesn't end up as another knot in the playroom bedpost.'

I hear Taylor sigh heavily. I know he has given up persuading Annie to stay away from Grey. She did not agree to the sub arrangement and walked out. He is still staring at those damn security monitors.

'Do you think Grey will stay away from Annie?' I ask Jason still thinking about Annie.

'I don't think so. Grey is really into Annie. They even chatted like old friends over coffee after she knew about the playroom. Annie looked very comfortable conversing with him. I know Grey showed her the room… I saw them on the CCTV recording, entering the room.'

'That girl is one confusing girl, Jason.'

'No Gail, she is one determined, composed girl. She knows what she is doing. We can't baby sit her. She is a working adult now. We have to accept the fact.'

'She is still my little Annie. I worry for her.'

'Let it go Gail. She is grown up, no longer your little Annie.'

Yes, Jason is right. Annie is all big now. She should be able to handle herself out there. But a man like Grey…

'Don't sweat it Gail. Grey is after her. He sent her flowers today to her office and he let me off for the entire evening. I think he is taking her for dinner, which he never does with his subs. I think he is really into her Gail.'

'What makes you think he took her out for dinner?'

'I am not with him! I am his damn personal security and he doesn't want me to be with him. What is it supposed to mean? He is seeing Annie and he don't want me around. It will be awkward.' He turns facing me.

'That explains. Should I call her?' He sighs again and turn to the monitor not explaining further.

'Old habits die hard Jason. I just…'

'Let it go Gail.' He feels that Grey will not harm Annie. He is different with Annie… but he is a damn dominant. Yes he is a nice man, a very professional man, caring, he wants everyone safe, but hell he has belts and canes in his so call playroom.

'Gail, Grey is back.'

'Alright. See you later.'