The Opal Club
Ana's POV:
"Hey what's in the envelope?" Kate inquires.
"Not sure actually" I tell her passing her the envelope. She too looks as confused as I am. "It is from
Christian Grey" Kate's interest is immediately peaked as she rips into the envelope.
"Oh Ana, this is outstanding" Kate says examining the contents, but I don't share her sentiments.
"We have to RSVP immediately. It is four in the afternoon, and his office will probably close in an hour!" For the first time in the four years I have known the self-assured and composed Katherine Kavanagh, she is actually purring. I think I could compare my best friend to child at Christmas right now as she practically bolts to grab her cell phone. Fortunately I am closer to it and move it from her grasp.
"Steele!" She shouts.
"Kavanagh, sit and think about this for a minute." I say pointing to the chair. Kate groans, but finally agrees. Sometimes I feel like her mother and voice of reason, rather than her best friend.
"Fine, however, do you realize how hard it is going to be to get into this place on an ordinary day? We are talking about the Grand opening! I doubt that my father would even be able to get us in!"
"So what?" I genuinely do not see what the momentous issue in this. This is Seattle. The city is full of clubs. Why do we have to go to one that is owned by him? I cringe just thinking about it. I don't even like going to clubs.
"So what? Oh, please, please, please! Pretty, please Steele can we go?…Can we go? These are personal invitations from the OWNER, she shouts and winks… To the opening, and I did say opening, of the hottest new club in Seattle!" I laugh at how Kate emphasizes certain words in her little speech. I wish I had her confidence.
"Yes but the owner is Christian Grey! You do remember that guy don't you? He was the one who treated you so rudely when you interviewed him. He even called your father as if you were a disobedient little child! Do you then remember your father's reaction? Christian Grey almost black listed you so you would never get a job as a journalist" I say flabbergasted.
"I know. I know, but….." Kate stops and thinks. "…Look let's forget the whole interview debacle, its over. I am grateful you are so protective of me, but right now I don't need a mother, I need my best friend. So come with me to the opening. Please Ana, this will make our first weekend in Seattle the most memorable ever! Please!" I roll my eyes at Kate's impassioned plea.
"You could go without me" I suggest.
"Steele I don't want our first weekend here to be apart. If you genuinely don't want to go then, we don't have to" Kate says dropping the intensity of her voice and looking at me sadly. Oh, please, she isn't going to make me feel guilty is she? "Maybe we should just stay home and finish unpacking. We have a lot to do, don't we? Let's just put on a pair of sweats, drink a couple of beers and order pizzas." Kate makes sure that all the enthusiasm and life has been stripped from her voice.
"OKAY STOP POUTING I'LL GO." I relent.
"YEAH! God I love you Steele! You know it is actually a tremendously marvelous thing that I am here for you so I can get you out of your comfort zone!" Yep, the Kate I know and love has returned in full force. "We are going to have the hottest weekend. I am going to glam you up so much. Its time you show the world how hot and alluring you truly are, Steele." Hot? Alluring? I honestly do not think so. I am too skinny, awkward, pale, and unco-ordinated and a long list of flaws that mean that I do not belong at such an exclusive event.
"We need to find the hottest dresses!" I can practically visualize Kate's thought process as her facial expressions change.
"Damn I need a dress!" I groan realizing that nothing in my closet that will be sophisticated enough for this event.
"I have something you can borrow…. Actually no! Let's go shopping! An event of this magnitude deserves something new. It is about time your legs are introduced to the world. Time to start living and showing off those pins!" Kate proclaims. Her head is so far in the clouds that I doubt I will be able to bring her back to earth.
"It is okay Kate, you go. I don't have any money. I will find something in my closet or borrow something from your closet" I sigh.
"I have money tons of money." Kate replies softly. Even though she is rich, she is careful not to sound smug over our different socioeconomic backgrounds.
"I don't want you to spend your money on me," I say a little embarrassed.
"I don't intend to," Kate says holding up her father funded credit card. Daddy will buy us new dresses." NO! I have never told Kate, but her father unnerves me. I immediately start to shake my head, but she is too busy dialing the number on the invitation.
"Good afternoon, I am Katherine Kavanagh, and I am just confirming that myself and Miss Ana Steele will be attending the grand opening of the Opal Club...Yes...Thank you." Kate end's her call and looks like she has just won the lottery.
"I think we should get a silver or red dress for you. Red will match your hair amazingly!" Kate is eying me up and down, from my head to my feet.
"Katherine Kavanagh, No! I won't have you charge an outfit for me" I scold her
"Okay, well I will buy two dresses. One of which I will wear and the other one which I will lend you for the opening of the club 'Opal'. So it will be the equivalency of you borrowing something from my closet. Then I will send the bill to Daddy."
"Kate. Stop… that is still the equivalent of you buying me a dress"
"Yes it is, but I will even put the dress you buy for tomorrow in my closet so you can take it out and your conscious will be clear!" I shake my head and grab my best friend.
"God I love you Kate, but sometimes..." I don't know what else to say. "You know you should have gone into the legal profession or maybe even work at Grey Enterprise. You have skills to break down your opponents."
Christians POV:
"Christian, seriously you should have come with me. The ladies at the party were fine and certainly didn't need effort to get what you wanted from them. I GOT ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF US. " Elliot says smirking.
"I had work. Multi-billion dollar companies do not run themselves. Also, I do not favor easy women" I stated coldly. Elliot looks at me, and then gulps.
"Well there were also lots of eligible men" I then realize that he thinks that I have just come out as being gay. I start to consider allowing him continuing to believe this illusion. It would serve him right, but the arrival of my assistant at the door of my office stops me.
"Mr Grey"
"Yes Andrea"
"You wanted to know when Miss Kavanagh or Miss Steele phoned. They have confirmed they both will attend tomorrow night." I hide my delight at her news. I have been waiting to get a proper look at Miss Anastasia Steele even if it is the last time I ever see those beautiful blue eyes.
"Thank you." I respond directly and without emotion, wanting to get rid of her before my nosy brother starts to get curious. I made sure the phone number on their invitation was a direct number to my office, so I could be notified immediately when they rang.
Andrea then looks uncomfortable for a minute, and appears to be struggling to find the words to say.
"Is there something else?" I inquire.
"Yes, Mrs Trevallyn-Grey also called. She knew that Mr Elliot Grey was here, and she wanted to request that you both attend a family dinner on Wednesday, when Mia is home from college" Andrea is practically squirming and looking as uncomfortable as humanly possible.
"You mean that, our mother rang, and ask you to tell us that we must attend a family dinner on Wednesday." Elliot says.
"Well… yes…. No.…" Andrea stumbles not sure what to say.
"It's not an issue and thank you for relaying the message. Thank you, Andrea." I mention putting my valued assistant out of her misery. She turns and quickly exits.
Our mother has already informed my brother and I of the obligatory family dinner at Bellevue. Even our father called us earlier to make sure we will be at my mother's dinner. Elliot and I cherish our parents, and we know that we owe them everything, but these family dinners occasionally wear on our nerves.
"OK spill it bro…Who is Miss Kavanagh and Miss Steele? And why did you want to know personally when they have sent in their RSVP? Elliot smirks.
"Easy Lelliott just a professional favor to a business associate. His daughter has moved to Seattle this week" I comment simply.
"But Andrea just mentioned two people. Who is the other girl?"
"She is a friend and roommate of the daughter" I say descriptively.
"Interesting. Are you planning on attending the opening of your new club?" Elliot is half curious, half shocked at the possibility.
"I will drop in. I am the owner after all"
"Even more intriguing, since you my anti-social, too wealthy and as much as I hate to admit it, not bad looking brother, never attend your club openings. Usually you send one of your people instead." He smirks at me, but I do not react. "I look forward to meeting the daughter of your business associate and her friend, tomorrow evening." Elliot looks smug as ever. Damn, I forgot that he is on the standard invitation list.
"I will have one of my security people pick you up. You driving after attending a club opening is never a smart idea" I narrow my eyes at my brother.
"Thank you for your concern"
"Just saving our parents from anxiety" I reply
"Maybe you should just finally admit to our parents what I just worked out."
"And what is it that you have worked out?" I say tapping my fingers together analyzing my brother.
"That you my baby brother are not gay"
Ana's POV:
I examine myself in the mirror after putting on a pair of too high heels from Kate. I can just walk in them, and I have to admit they do make my legs look longer. I walk around the room, getting used to the shoes and to ensure that my ass isn't exposed as I move. Kate spent over an hour trying to convince me that this red dress was perfect for me at and I only agreed to wear the dress to shut her up and put the poor workers and other store patrons out of their misery.
The silk, of the dress, feels heavenly against my skin. It is short, very short. It covers everything needs to be covered, but I doubt that I will be able to bend down without exposing my backside or worse. However its figure hugging and even makes me look like I have some curves. I am horrified at how much Kate spent on this dress, especially since she charged it to her father, but secretly I love this dress. To clear my conscious, I intend to have the dress dry cleaned and placed in Kate closet as soon as possible.
I have left my hair down cascading around my shoulders and chests. The curls are loose and bouncy. I have kept my makeup as natural as possible, however; I did apply bright red lipstick to compliment my 'borrowed' dress.
I walk into the living room, to find my ever so elegant, blonde roommate wearing a tight black number. It is lower cut in the front and has a criss-cross back. Kate has styled her hair and her makeup is flawless. She is stunning as always. Considering how she looks this evening, I am sure there will be three for breakfast.
"Wow Steele, you look fabulous. If I didn't go for men as much as I do, you could turn me right now" Kate complements me in her own way.
"You are looking pretty hot yourself. I suspect I will be making breakfast for three tomorrow" I suggest raising my eyebrows but smiling playfully.
"Try four people," Four people? No... Kate doesn't mean it, does she?
"You are going to try and pick up two guys tonight I ask. "No, of course not," Kate says looking at me confused. "I thought that maybe you might find someone yourself"
"I doubt it"
"I wish you would wake up and see how beautiful you truly are Steele. No, you're not beautiful, you are gorgeous."
"Take off your best friend, rose collared glasses and let's go to this club. Maybe Christian Grey will attempt to pick you up and then you can reject him as payback" I prophesize.
"Megalomaniac men are not my type. Either way I doubt that he will even be there. In the research I did on him, he never attends the opening of his clubs. He isn't interested in them except the money that they make probably." Kate informs me. A random thought hits me. What is Christian grey interested in then? Whoa! Where did that come from?
"That figures" I say rolling my eyes. "Let's go, our cab is going to be here in any moment" We have decided not to drive so we don't have to worry about parking or how much we drink. At the age of 21, I am yet to ever let myself go wild while drinking, maybe it's this dress or the lights of the Seattle night, but I feel like letting go.
The Opal club in located in a fashionable and hip part of the city. The entrance is swamped in expensive cars, and I instantly feel out of place especially as I see the people enter. They look so confident in themselves. I wish I had the same. I would turn around and go home; it wasn't for Kate holding on to my arm.
"Don't even think about it Steele. We are going to have a night to remember" Kate tells me. I offer her a smile, but I know it doesn't reach my eyes.
We are stopped at the roped entrance, where our names and invitations are taken from us by one of the many security guards. His expression is unreadable and nods to a sharp dressed, buzz cut man at the entrance.
"Have a wonderful evening ladies." We progress to the door where people are being issued bands. When it is our turn, we inform the perky girl our names, and she looks for our names on her touch pad.
"Ladies, you have Golden Opal access" she informs us.
"What does that mean?"
"Golden Opal access means that you are both on the VIP list. You both have access to every level in the club, expect the private sections and all your drinks and food are on the house." She says with a smile. Kate's smile is larger than ever.
"VIP? Is everyone here tonight VIPs?" I question. It is the opening night and invitation only.
"Then why us?" I actually mean why me?
"I am not privy to that information. Have a wonderful evening"
"Come on Steele, let's go inside" Kate has been growing impatient at my questions, takes my hand and leads me into the club.
"Kate, I just want to know why we are on the VIP list." I stress.
"Who cares? Let's go and get some drinks" Kate and I are on our third cocktail, when we are approached by a couple of young, handsome men. One of which can't seem to keep his eyes off my best friend.
"Evening ladies, care to join us on the dance floor?" Kate's eyes start to glow as she slides off her leather stool.
"Sounds fantastic," Kate says, and then looks at me.
"Not right now. Maybe later" I decline, knowing that the alcohol I have consumed is already starting to take effect, and I do not have the skills to dance, even completely sober. Kate looks at me impassively. "You go. I promise I will dance later." I watch as Kate takes to the dance floor, and starts to dance. She works that song like she owns it. She commands the dance floor just like she does everything she takes on.
"Miss Anastasia Steele?" I turn to find the person who called my name, and find it is the same smartly dresses, buzz cut guy that l saw as we arrived.
"Yes"
"Would you come with me please" He asks politely.
"Where to?" I don't know whether to trust him or not.
"I will show you. I promise you, you will be perfectly safe" sincerity pours out of him, and it is as if he can read my mind.
"I here with my friend with me. She will if I disappear" I reply pointing to Kate.
"Understood" he replies and then signals to another guy, who looks familiar. It the same guy that delivered the invitation, but I can't recall his name. I know it started with an S.
"Sawyer will let your friend know; besides she will be cared for by the guy he is dancing with. Now if you come with me" He says. WOAH!
"What do you mean she will be cared for… who is the guy she is dancing with? Do you know him?" I quiz him.
"Yes I know him." I would swear that he just grinned, but he manages to hide it well. I am led upstairs, to the second floor of the club. It is impeccably decorated with impeccably dressed people sitting around drinking and eating. I didn't expect to see this up here, and it makes my stomach rumble a little. I should have eaten before I left.
"Right through here Ma'am" Mr Buzz opens the door for me.
"Thank you" I enter, not knowing what I am even doing. Maybe it's the alcohol. Maybe it is the excitement of the unknown, but I can't go back now… The private room is ultra-modern, with a table set for dinner.
"Anastasia, you made it. Finally," The voice behind me says a second time. What is it with everyone calling out my name while they are sneaking up behind me tonight? There is something odd about the tone in this voice. I turn around and there standing next to me is Christian Grey.
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