Welcome to Escala, we cater for different tastes and flavours here.
Ana's POV:
"Are you ready?" Christian asks.
"Sure" I reply. I feel like I don't have any choice really. Christian throws the backpack on his shoulder and then before I know it, I am in his arms.
"Christian, put me down!" I demand, but I know my pleas are going to fall on deaf ears.
"No. We have to go down a flight of stairs, and I refuse to allow you to hurt yourself twice, whilst in my company." I roll my eyes but give in. I swear Christian's lip twitch upwards at my eye rolling, but it's so hard to tell and to read him.
Taylor is already downstairs. He and Christian exchangea polite nod. I wonder if he is ever not working.
"Evening Taylor" I greet him.
"Ma'am" he replies. I can't help but giggle at his old fashion response. Christian stops suddenly and looks at me.
"What?" I ask.
"I love the sound of your giggle. It is a real joy!" Christian then tilts his head a little as if he is truly shocked. He helps me into the car and even tries to put my seat belt on me.
"I can put on my own seat belt! It is my ankle that is sore not my arm." I tell him off.
"Just making sure you are safe." Christian murmurs. He walks around the car and gets in next to me. He pulls out his cell phone and looks at me.
"I don't live far from here, so it won't be a long ride. Is there anything in particular you would like for dinner? Ms Jones is extraordinarily talented and versatile, she can make pretty much anything you want." Christian expression is soft, and with the background lights of Seattle, I realize just how hot he actually is! However, can one guy be so different moment to moment?
"Anything will do" I comment, starting to feel overwhelmed. Christian nods and starts to email, or text. I am not sure which one. We drive through the city until we enter the garage of a tall and impressive building.
"We are here" Christian declares and again races over to my side of the car, and swoops down to pick me up. At least he lets me unbuckle my seat belt.
"Christian, please put me down. I can walk! My ankle doesn't hurt much anymore." I attempt to convince him. Once we are in the elevator, he actually listens to me. He passes me my crutches but keeps his arm around me.
"Happy?" Christian murmurs.
"You still have your arm around me" I observe.
"I know" Christian sounds sad and then let's go of me. It is almost as if he doesn't want to stop touching me, or that he is confused by the fact. There is a strange vulnerability about this man. He is mercurial and overbearing; however, at times there seems to be a real sincerity about him, and he is interested in me. Me? Christian Grey is interested in me? Why? Surely there must be a line of girls, longer than the length of the equator, wanting to be with him.
The enclosed environment of the elevator amplifies the intensity of Christian's powerful glare on me. It is as if he is drawing me in and bathing me in his energy. It's curious, scary and enticing all at the same time. I start to take deep breaths wondering if I even know what I am doing. Why did I agree to come here with this complex, brilliant man that also aggravates me! Do I run? How could I? I can hardly even walk.
The elevator doors open, exposing the carefully designed and decorated foyer. It looks more like a corridor of a high end art gallery, but what genuinely peaks my attention is the little table with a crystal vase and perfectly arranged flowers. It feels out of place, like a deceptive symbol. The wide doors of the apartment open for us, and I recognise the guy as Sawyer.
"Grey, Ma'am"
"Sawyer" Christian greets him briskly and then Taylor makes a quick appearance. Boy he moves quickly.
"Paperwork?" Christian asks Taylor.
"Yes. Andrea had it sent over from your lawyers, and the other paperwork is also on your desk" Taylor says without emotion, and strangely it feels as if he is avoiding eye contact with me.
"Good. That will be all for the day. I am unsure if I will be going into the office tomorrow." Both Sawyer and Taylor nod in acknowledgment and walk into the apartment. Even though I have heard their entire conversation, I have failed to comprehend what they just said to each other. It is as if they spoke a different language.
"Can you make it into the kitchen?" Christian questions.
"Yes." I reply confidently, whilst I am shriveling inside. I look around at the vast penthouse. It is probably five to six times bigger than the entire block size of my father's house. Maybe I shouldn't have said that I could make it to the kitchen. Who know how far in it is? I being to follow Christian, and notice that he often glances back to check on me.
The kitchen of course is beautiful, modern and ostentatiously large. Behind the counter is a friendly looking woman, who I assume is Ms Jones. "Evening Mr Grey and Miss Steele. Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes" Oh she knows my name.
"Thank you." Christian replies and gestures for me to continue walking. He leads me into an elegant dining room. It has a brilliant view of the Seattle skyline. One side of the room is floor to ceiling glass.
"Ana, please take a seat. I will get you a drink" Christian pulls out one of the plush and comfortable looking chairs for me before heading off to the kitchen. I sit in the dining room alone, feeling decidedly dwarfed at first and then out of sorts. I start to analyze what I have seen of this apartment and try to work out which of its perfectly designed and decorated parts reflect the man I have only just recently met.
Christian returns with a tall glass, a glass of wine and a large envelope. Though I am not much of a drinker, I pray that the wine glass is for me. I need something to calm my nerves. He sits opposite me, after placing the tall glass, instead of wine, in front of me. I can't help but frown, which makes Christian cock his head to the side.
"It is sparkling water with lime. It is rather good. I can't offer you a wine glass. You are on anti-inflammatories. Medication and alcohol are not an acceptable mix!" I gape at him. Can Christian Grey also read minds?
"Of course" I reply and pick up the glass. I take a sip, and he is right. It is tangy and refreshing.
"I need you to read and sign this. It is a non-disclosure agreement. It is highly routine, and my lawyers insist on it." I look up at Christian bewildered. "A non-disclosure agreement is a contract by which one or more parties agree not to disclose confidential information that they…."
"Christian!" I interrupt him. He looks put off but almost bemused. "I know what I a non-disclosure agreement is. I am not stupid"
"I never said you were" He replies. His expression fails to change. This man confuses me to no end!
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It has been a very long time since anyone dared interrupt me."
"I guess most people are just intimated by you. They wouldn't even attempt to!" I candidly respond before thinking.
"Are you intimated by me?" Christian asks.
"Should I be?" I ask instead of answering his question. His answer will tell me more.
"Yes" he whispers. My stomach does somersaults. Damn I wish he had given me something strong to drink, regardless of my medication. The large size of the dining room isn't a match of the tension that has filled the room.
"Why should I be intimated? You don't make any sense! You are interested in me but then… oh I don't know" I comment.
"You will understand. As soon as you are ready. Will you sign the agreement?" Christian asks softly. I nod. I sign the documents and pass them back to him.
Mrs Jones enters with two plates of Chicken Marsala pasta I don't think I have ever smelt a more delicious meal, but my appetite has disappeared. I don't even pick up my fork whilst Christian has commenced to heartilyy consume his meal.
"Eat Ana" Christian voice is authoritarian. I pick up my fork and attempt to eat, but I can't.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it just ... I don't know. It looks delicious" I reply.
"It is! Which is why you need to eat." I nod and fake a smile. I try to take a bite, but my appetite fails to comply.
"Anastasia, start to eat now, or I will give you an example of why I am likely to intimidate you" Christina warns harshly. I don't know whether to fight back, or just concede? I swallow hard and wisely commence to eat.
"That's better!" Christian responds. I feel like a child being scolded. I almost want to scream out of annoyance, when I take my first few bite. Dinner is delicious, and soon my appetite returns, full force. Whilst the mood calms considerable while we eat, we never exchange any words, and I am aware that Christian is taking long looks at me. His is wearing an arrogant and self-assured grin on his face when I finish everything on my plate.
"You enjoyed that?" Christian inquires. I know he is only asking me as a challenge ND to confirm that he just won.
"It was sufficient" I reply rather blasé. Christian cocks his head to the side and then narrows his eyes. His expression speaks volumes.
"Is that how you intimidate people? By giving them forbidding looks?" I ask, faking confidence that I don't necessarily have.
"It is one of the ways." Christian reply's honestly, but there is a tone of mystery about him. It is fascinating, and I want to know more.
"What other ways do you intimidate people?" I challenge. I want to know his entire repertoire so I can defend myself from him.
"That depends"
"On what?" I sigh inwardly annoyed at his attempts to avoid answering my question.
"On where you would like me to truly intimidate you. Would it be in the boardroom? Here at the dinner table? Or would you prefer me to intimidate you as I take you to new heights that your body has never reached, and no man will ever succeed at duplicating?" Christian picks up his glass and slightly twirls his wine before he raises his wine to his mouth. He takes a slow drink and then licks his lips. I am in shock. No, actually I have been hit by shock waves! Did he genuinely just say that all to me? I try to speak, but no words come out, no matter how hard I try.
"Now that we have finished in our main meal, how about some desert?" I gape at Christian. He now seems too casual, and I am still recovering from his last statement... How can he go from one personality to another?
"Desert?" I question bewildered. I run my palm over my forehead and start to take deep breaths, trying to compose myself. Stay strong and on your feet Ana!
"Yes. What would you like? Mrs Jones has prepared a couple of different deserts. There is chocolate mousse, angel cake, apricot crumble, or dirty fruit, nuts and cheese" It sounds more like the desert menu of a restaurant.
"That is a lot of different choices" I comment.
"We cater for different tastes and flavors here at Escala". Christian voice is so sensual that it is obvious that he is talking about more than desert.
"What do you prefer?" I inquire.
"Do you really want to know?" Christian challenges.
"Yes" I answer and then bite my lip
"That would require more paper work; however, if you keep biting that lip I might just make a rare exception" Christian voice is so enticing that it leaves me confused.
"We are not talking about desert anymore, are we?" I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. An answer I already know, but want him to confirm for me.
"No, Anastasia, we are not" Christian remarks.
"I am... I …" I try to speak, and confess one of the most private pieces of information of myself but I fail to. I start to think about what else I can ask him, and one curious piece of information hits me.
"You just mentioned something about more paperwork. What more paperwork do you have for me to read and sign?" I investigate, shifting the conversation marginally.
"Anastasia Steele, you have no idea how much I would like to show you, have you sign and act on that paperwork." Christian states so seriously and with so much passion.
"I might refuse to sign"
"I know, which is why I am going to wait. For now." Christian lips form a hard line at first but then suddenly becomes ever so composed. I bet this is what he is like when negotiating to acquire a company. Yes, this is his CEO mode.
"I need to do some work. Is there anything you would like to do? You can watch TV, or read. I have a large library here"
"I think I would prefer to go to bed. To sleep" I am exhausted, but I also just need some space away from this overwhelming man.
"Pity" Christian comments. "I will show you to your room"
"My room? You mean the spare room don't you?" I ask to clarify.
"Yes, of course. Apologies, it was a slip of the tongue"
Christian grabs my backpack and leads me to a set of stair. No! Not more stairs! I can walk well enough on a flat surface, but stairs are still hard while my ankle is sore.
"The spare room is upstairs, Can I help you?" Christian offers
"No. I can manage" I declare, reinforcing my independence, but in truth I don't think him touching me, would be a smart idea for some unknown reason. I attempt to climb the stairs, but cry in pain when I put too much weight on my injured foot.
"Anastasia let me help you." Christian groans. He bends done and picks me up too quickly, and that I don't feel stable. I lean into his and place my hand on the top of his chest. Christian then has the harshest and most pained look on his face. He is literally hurting and practically drop me.
"AAGGGHHH!" I call out, more out of shock than pain. Thankful I have landed on my other foot, and I am not hurt, more than I currently am.
"Ana!" Christian calls out uneasy. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I think so. But you are not" I point out.
"Me?"
"Yes. Your face. You were in pain and frightened even when I touched you accidentally." I tell him. Christian for a split moment looks vulnerable but then enters his CEO mode.
"No, I wasn't. It was just... I…" Christian runs both his hands through his hair this time. "We need to get you off your feet before you hurt yourself more. Since you can make it up the stairs, then you will have to sleep in the main bedroom." Christians advises me.
"The main bedroom? Isn't that your room?"
"Yes Anastasia it is"
Authors Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I am enjoying writing this story and have some fun, drama filled chapters in plan for you all. Now that REUNION is finally over I will devote more time to this story. Review if you wish.