Old habits die hard, that's my excuse for dragging Ross and her partner Gwen out for dinner. Off course Ross had to drag the real reason for this dinner out of me. I told her I was interested in someone and I had competition. Ross's desperation to find out which side I truly bated for was the reason she agreed to go.
Martin Gordon that was the fuckers' name, the one Ana was going out with tonight. I know it's purely business for Ana. Not for Gordon, you don't book a table for two at Canlis just to discuss business. Fucker is trying to get into her panties. Not on my watch.
From where we are sitting I can't see Ana which is a good thing because I won't be able to stop myself from hurting the fucker. But I'm watching the door like a hawk and should see her leave.
We're done with dinner and on our way out, just as I'm thinking of a way to spot Ana without it seeming as though it's planned I hear my name. Thank fuck.
"Ana"
"Christian, I couldn't trouble for a ride home." Thank fuck, this couldn't have worked out better.
"Yeah sure." The fucker looks like I just pissed in his breakfast.
"Shit, where are my manners, Martin Gordon, Christian Grey, Christian, Martin."
The fucker opens his mouth closes it then opens his mouth again, finally finding his voice.
"The Christian grey, as in GEH." Is there any other.
"Yes," Ana answers before I can.
"Gordon, thanks for dinner. End of the month would be great for the first draft on book two." Gordon just nods. Ana doesn't shake his hands and neither do I. Yeap, this was simply a business dinner to Ana. The fuckers attempt at trying to turn it into something else has only pissed her off.
I put my hands on the small of Ana's back and escort her out. I look back at the fucker and he looks like he's still trying to figure out what just happened.
"Thank fuck for you."
"What"
"Had to take my car to get serviced today. Gordon saw me arrive by cab and was insisting on taking me home, that's when I saw you."
"You could have just said no."
"I did, several times. He just didn't want to hear it. You'd think the fact that I refer to him by his last name would clue him onto the fact that I'm not interested." Now I feel great. I shouldn't have been there, but looks like it was a good thing I was.
After dropping Ana off. I find myself wondering where our relationship would be if I hadn't made such a mess of things in the first place. Would I have realized that I was in love? If I'm honest with myself, I know I felt different from the very beginning a fact that was set in stone the night I watched her sleep at the Heathman.
I find myself wanting to be in her presence all the time at the same time it hurts, as I can't be with her the way I want to. I've been told to be patient.
Time to learn new habits Grey.
I was in such a great mood when I woke up this morning. It's Tuesday after all, Ana is coming by later to give me a haircut. Who would have thought I'd be so deliriously happy about a haircut. But not anymore. Some idiot's calculations of the shipyard in Taiwan I'm trying to purchase are wrong. The shipyard is half the size of what we initially thought or rather what we were told. Meaning I have to buy the shipyard next to it, that's a whole other bunch of fuckers to deal with and it also means going to Taiwan. My happy mood is well and truly on its way out the door.
I'm in a foul mood when I walk into the penthouse as I most certainly have to go to Taiwan. Travelling for business is nothing new but this is not a time I want to go away. I'm pulled away from my thoughts when I hear her giggle. Now I'm pissed I really don't want to go away.
"What's put that frown on your face."
"I have to fly to Taiwan on Monday."
"How long will you be gone for?"
"I'll try and keep it to a month."
"Oh, Okay."
After dinner with Ana, talking about nothing in particular. Ana asks if I'm ready for my haircut. She starts to walk towards my bedroom and I freeze, I don't want her going in there. She turns around and seeing the worry on my face asks what's wrong.
"I can't go in there." Ana sighs.
"Christian, you fucked up and in the process hurt me to the point where I required surgery. Strangely I was angrier about the way you treated me afterwards, I now understand you didn't know any different. Kate told me how you broke down in front of your family. We both know you'd rather give away your empire than hurt me again." I nod. I'd cut off my dick first. "Honestly if I can move past it and forgive you. You can walk into your bedroom. So grow a pair." I'm still rooted to the spot. I'm trying to get my head round the fact that she's forgiven me. She's forgiven me. I knew it would happen eventually, but hearing her say the words it still takes a minute for me to comprehend.
"Thank you, Anastasia."
"You're welcome, now you coming."
My heart knows how it feels about Ana. My brain is aware of that fact, but it's clever enough to remember how badly I fucked up, therefore my brain does a brilliant job of keeping my body from reacting to the way my heart feels. But now my brain has registered the words I forgive you and has decided to join my heart. Well, my body does not stand a chance, and it has now subscribed to that old adage if you can't beat them join them.
They are all wondering whether Ana's shirt has always been that tight, she looks spectacular in her jeans, I don't know what make they are, but I'd like to buy her more.
God, she smells great like a mix of vanilla and something else, my brain is too befuddled to figure it out. That shirt is perfect on her, accentuates her small waist, whilst showing off her breast beautifully. She's leaning over washing my hair and it takes a great deal of effort not to bury my face in her tits. I soon realize that's the least of my problems. My dick has woken up and has decided to see for itself what the hell the rest of me is going on about. Fuck, I should have changed, at least in a pair of jeans this wouldn't be so obvious. God what a time to get a hard on.
"Okay, I'm done." I turn around and look in the mirror.
"I like it. Thanks"
"Alright, I'm going to get a brush to sweep the hair, and give you a minute as you clearly need it." As Ana walks out of the bathroom, I see her shoulders shaking clearly trying to hold in her laughter. She fails miserably, as the door closes she erupts into uncontrolled laughter. Doesn't do much for a man's ego to laugh at his hard on, except in this case I'll take it. I'm in a pair of jeans by the time Ana returns. I can tell she's still trying to contain her laughter. She's biting that damn lip and it's not helping matters.
I knew she was up to something when she casually asked what I was doing on Friday. Here I am on a Friday afternoon carrying shopping bags and following her around like a lost puppy. Tried getting Taylor to carry the shopping bags and he gave me some bullshit about needing his hands-free for security all the while smiling like someone who's won the lottery. So okay it's not exactly bullshit if I had known this was what Ana was planning I would have brought an extra pair of hands.
"What exactly is all this for?"
"Its food Christian, what do you think it's for?"
"It can't all be for today." She sighs exasperated.
"No Christian it's for the week."
"What are you making today."
"Well you've never had my lasagna, so I thought I'd make it for you." Taylor groans behind me. I turn to look at him with a smug look on my face.
"Sir, do you need me to wait in the car?" Clever fucker he knows if I say yes Ana would invite him up.
"No Taylor, go and enjoy your afternoon with Gail." Who's smiling now ass swipe?
Elliot has told me about Ana lasagna, more like couldn't stop singing her praises, my afternoon just got brighter.
"What would you like for dessert?" Did I say my afternoon just got brighter? "Chocolate cake." Ana thinks about it for a few seconds.
"Since you helped with the shopping why not." Why not indeed. Taylor looks pissed and my smile just gets bigger.
"Need your hands for security do you," Taylor mutters something incoherent.
"I get to take the rest home, right." Ana looks confused. "The chocolate cake, I get to take the rest home." Ana giggles.
"Sure, why not."
After another half hour walking around Pike Market before heading back. It's my first time in Ana apartment. It's very welcoming feels like a home. I need to look into making the penthouse feel more like home. Elliot and Kate are home. They had planned on going out for dinner, realizing Ana was cooking decide to stay in. I walk into the kitchen looking pissed.
"What's wrong?"
"Elliot and Kate are staying in." Ana clearly doesn't see anything wrong with that. "They are going to eat all of my chocolate cake." Ana looks at me for a minute, then burst out laughing. "I don't find it funny." She just about to say something when Elliot and Kate interrupt.
"You made the gossip pages already." I take the iPad from Elliot and read the article.
The article speculates about the nature of my relationship with Ana. Wondering if Ana and I are a couple. There are quite a few pictures of me and Ana walking, talking and mostly laughing during our shopping trip to Pike Market. I never thought I'd say this, but I love the Nooz.
"Want to call your PR department so they can set them straight." Why the fuck would I do that.
"NO." Elliot knows what he's doing. Fucker.
"Of course not. Why stop an article that says you and banana are a couple. Does a good job of keeping others away." I turn to look at Ana and she's smiling. She doesn't mind. God, I feel great.
"Come on Christian stop being selfish."
"It's my cake, you've already had two slices." Kate can't seem to stop laughing the whole time this argument is going on, Ana just looks bemused.
"Who says it's for you?" If he thinks he's getting another slice, he doesn't know me well.
"It is mine, as I asked for it."
"Ana made it so she gets to decide."
"Sorry, Elliot but he did ask for it and I promised he could take the rest home with him." Elliot tries to look hurt, only he looks constipated. Ana and Kate start laughing at him.
"Oh come on Chris just a little slice."
"No, you already had two."
"Ana, tell him to share, he listens to you."
"Sorry, Elliot you are on your own."
"Oh, I see how it is."
Elliot and Kate tried to get Ana and me to go clubbing with them. I was extremely glad when Ana declined. God knows I'm desperate to spend some time alone with Ana.
"Do you want to come with me to my parents this weekend? I'd like to spend some time with everyone before I leave for Taiwan." God, please say yes.
"That would be great, considering you'd be gone for a month or more." On the outside I'm as cool as a cucumber, on the inside I'm doing the jitterbug. "Can't you send someone else."
"Why Miss Steele will you miss me." She looks at me as though that was the most idiotic question she's ever heard.
"No, I can't wait to get rid of you," she remarks sarcastically. The jitterbug isn't cutting it anymore. She will miss me. God, I feel like a kid who just got everything they wanted for Christmas.
"Usually I will send Ross, but they don't tend to have very high regard for females when it comes to business." Ana looks surprised. "Yeah I know."
Another restless night but it wasn't due to nightmares, I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that Ana didn't want me to go to Taiwan. I'm buzzing and I kept getting up to get another slice of chocolate cake. I check my phone to see if there are any last minute emails to deal with. Instead, there is a text from Ana inviting me over for breakfast before we leave for Bellevue. Fuck yes, I text back saying I will see her soon. I make my way to the bathroom, shower and shave. Gail knows what to pack for the trip and Taylor will pick me up from Bellevue come Monday morning.
Saturday morning hardly any cars on the road, I make it to Ana's in record time. She buzzes me up, I take the stairs two at a time, the front door is open. Elliot and Kate are lounging on the couch. "Hey, bro."
"Elliot, Kate you're up early."
"Banana is cooking breakfast." Kate goes into the kitchen, apparently to help Ana.
"You've got a cook and yet you also get a woman that can seriously cook."
" I haven't got Ana. I'd give my right hand to say I do."
"You will. It's not a question of if, it's when."
"You going to Taiwan is a good thing."
"I don't see how."
"Because you guys got else to do but talk."
"Well, she did say she will miss me." Elliot looks smug.
"That's not all."
"What, tell me."
"No"
"Elliot"
"Now don't you wish you shared that chocolate cake." Is he kidding me?
"Elliot I will make your life hell if you don't tell me." He thinks about it for a minute.
"No." I am just about to throttle him when Ana calls us for breakfast. Throughout breakfast Elliot still had that smug look on his face. He's going to tell me if it's the last thing he does.
Ana asks if she can drive my R8 to Bellevue I said no and now she's sulking. I pull over and tell she can drive. The smile she gives me is worth it even if she wrecks the car. Okay, maybe not wreck the car.
Ana and I arrive just before Elliot and Kate. She's not a bad driver even though the speed limit means nothing to her.
My mom as usual is at the front door to greet us. I hug her hello, here comes teary eye. I guess after 20 years it takes time to get use to the fact that I can freely hug my family. "Hey, mum."
"Ana, Christian good to see." Just then Elliot's truck pulls up behind us.
We have lemon and garlic marinated steak with baby potatoes and a nice bottle or two of Chablis for lunch. After lunch, we make our way into the living room. I sit on the floor by Ana, as usual she starts running her fingers through my hair. It takes quite an effort to compose myself every time she does that. Elliot starts telling the family about my refusal to share the chocolate cake. Kate tells him to let it go. We are all laughing at Kate's story about stopping her brother from eating Ana's cake. By telling him it was disgusting. Only for him to catch her in the middle of the night stuffing her face, when Gretchen walks in announcing a visitor.