You Have Email!
Ana's POV:
I returned to my desk after my unexpected lunch and spontaneous appointment at a salon around the corner from SIP, just in time to catch my boss Linda. She has a personal meeting so has left for the afternoon. She left me a bundle of work which only took me an hour. As a result I have engaged in busy work; Clearing my desk, double and tripling checking Linda's schedule, answering mail and emails. My boredom though is soon brought to an end with an email.
To: Anastasia Steele
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Unusual Reactions
Dear Anastasia,
All morning I have had my employee's stop and look at me every time I walked past. I know I often silence a room, but this was ridiculous. It wasn't until my second in charge, Ros, was staring at me that I questioned her, what was going on with her and every employee today. She pointed out that it was the smile that is plastered on my face. I looked in the mirror and there it was. I suspect it has been there ever since I took you to bed last night. It made my lunch meeting with my head's of department humorous, though terribly slow.
Just a reminder that news of the takeover of SIP won't be public next Monday. I have spoken to the team coordinating the acquisition and arrangements for your specific request have been put in place.
How has your morning been? What are you doing? Have you had lunch?
Christian Grey
Wrinkly CEO of Grey Enterprise Holdings from smiling too much!
To: Christian Grey
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Wrinkles?
..Should I lend you my anti-wrinkle moisturizer?
You smile so irregularly that your employees stare at you when you actually break into a smile? Maybe I shouldn't sleep over again… sounds like your meeting was awfully inefficient. I wouldn't want to be the result of the decrease in productivity at GEH. I suggest we cancel our dinner plans...Or return to the original plan of only seeing each other on the weekend. ...
... I bet I am making your palm twitch... aren't I?
Yes, I had lunch; you should know… you had it delivered to me. Thank you. Currently, I am trying to act busy. My boss has left for the day and I have completed all my assigned tasks too quickly.
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Linda Tobin, SIP
I laugh as I hit send, but it is short lived. Shit! What if actually thinks I am serious and agrees to only seeing me on the weekend. I don't like the sound of that... too much like the original submissive contract.
To: Anastasia Steele
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Spasm!
Anastasia you are making my hand spasm instead of twitch. Your backside will be mine... And no to the anti-wrinkle cream... but that does give me other ideas... cream, baby oil, all over you... oh the possibilities are endless.
It also needs to be pointed out that I am a man of many abilities… even if the efficiency level of my entire company fell by fifty percent, I would still make more money than I could ever spend. Our dinner plans stand and after your previous email it now needs to extend throughout the night. I will pick you up at six. Do you need a toothbrush?
Also, I have been recently reminded that we offered to cook lunch for my parents. My siblings, Elliot, and Mia, true to form have invited themselves. This will also mean that Kate will be in attendance. With such a large invitation list, we will need to prepare. May I suggest that you stay at my place until Sunday so we can be suitably prepared?
Christian Grey
CEO of Grey Enterprise Holdings
Oh shoot! I forgot about Sunday's lunch and it was my idea. Why did I suggest it again.. Oh yeah to get agitate Christian. At least his last email proved he is able to take a joke.
To: Christian Grey
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Five nights...
...to make organize a lunch. It only took seven days to create the earth it almost sounds like you are asking me to move in with you.
Now about my backside, could we negotiate that? I would prefer more attention be given to my front! Since I didn't have to spend some of my lunch time ordering lunch, I made a little detour to a salon close to SIP... I think you might like it... No, I know you will.
I will be ready at six. Pick me up at my apartment. I have my own toothbrush and I will be sure to bring it with me. Tell me what are we doing tonight and if wearing nothing under my dress will be inappropriate.
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Linda Tobin, SIP
I sit and wait for a reply. I expect an immediate response to my underwear comment. After ten minutes there is no answer…. maybe he went into a meeting or got a phone call... hang on does he think I am actually asking to move in with him? Way too early for that... besides he isn't the easiest person to understand, let alone move in with.
To: Anastasia Steele
From: Christian Grey
Subject: RE: Five nights...
You want to move in?
Christian Grey
CEO of Grey Enterprise Holdings
I shake my head at his reply. I practically spelt out the wax I had at lunch, teased him about maybe not wearing underwear tonight and he focuses on that one statement?
To: Christian Grey
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Ummm…
No.. It was a bad joke. Forget it!
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Linda Tobin, SIP
To: Anastasia Steele
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Major.
You are an English major, not a comic.
Christian Grey
CEO of Grey Enterprise Holdings
Christian may be in his office, away from here, but he is mercurial even in his emails and it is driving me batty. This is why I hate emailing... you can't tell when anyone is sarcastic, joking or serious.
To: Christian Grey
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: vocation
Do you want me to move into with you?
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Linda Tobin, SIP
To: Anastasia Steele
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Relocation
Maybe…
Christian Grey
CEO of Grey Enterprise Holdings
Maybe? What does that mean... I need to flip this..
To: Christian Grey
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: alternative
Can I just have a few sleepovers?
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Linda Tobin, SIP
To: Anastasia Steele
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Permission
Sleepover? Where your parents meet my parents to make sure they are of high moral calibre? I sincerely hope I never have to ask your father permission to sleep over... I doubt he would like what I want to do with you... And you can sleep over till Sunday. I have to go to New York on Monday for at least four days to finalise a deal, which will mean I won't get see you next week until Friday. Curiously that feels like an eternity.
Why do you want me to pick you up at your apartment? I can pick you up from SIP as soon as you finish. I will be at the front door, waiting.
Christian Grey
CEO of Grey Enterprise Holdings
His email makes me gush as well as cringe. How do I tell him, that I don't want anyone at work to see us together right now. Ben knows that we are together, but no one else. I want us to keep as low a profile as possible for now... at least until after the sale is made public. What do I say?… Oh wait I know.
To: Christian Grey
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: a girl…
…needs to freshen up. Remove her clothing and underwear, shower, put on a fresh dress, that sort of thing.
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Linda Tobin, SIP
To: Anastasia Steele
From: Christian Grey
Subject: a boy…
…can help to meet those needs. You didn't mention anything about putting back on your underwear.
Christian Grey
CEO of Grey Enterprise Holdings
To: Christian Grey
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: commando
I know… see my previous email that I sent and you only focused on the 'moving in' comment. What if I told you I wasn't wearing underwear now? I could leave and head over to Grey House right now...
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Linda Tobin, SIP
I grin knowing that my last email would have had him going. I count back from ten expecting a reply. 10.. 9.. 8..7….6…5…4…3…2…1..0. hmm… nothing. Two minutes, five minutes.. ten minutes.. nothing. I stare at my computer in a futile hope that it will bring on a reply quicker.
"Excuse me Miss Steele, could I have a minute with you… in private?" I close my eyes, knowing this voice too well. I don't need to look up.
"Yes. We can go into my boss's office." I reply still not even looking up yet. For some strange reason, if I do then it will be obvious to everyone within a radius of a mile that I have been emailing him, and that we are together.
"Please lead the way." I open the door, but it is Christian who closes it.
"It is a good thing I have purchased this company Miss Steele, or you might have been in for a very uncomfortable meeting with human resources over those emails." I turn to face Christian troubled by his statement.
"What do you mean exactly?"
"Your emails are monitored here at SIP" What? Shit! NO! I start to feel the blood rush from my head, and the next thing I know is that I am in Christian's arms. "Ana.. Thank God. I got so worried when you went pale and blacked out."
"How...why...no... How did you get to my office so quick? Grey house is a good twenty minutes from here!"
"I was in the building, in a meeting with the current SIP management and my people. I had to excuse myself after those emails you sent me... I needed to check if you were in fact breaching the company dress code. I am glad to see that weren't while being disappointed at the same time." I slowly get back on my feet with Christians help. I focus on regaining my independent balance, knowing that if I was to walk out of this office with Christian Greys arms around me will get more than tongues wagging.
"You better get back to your meeting. I am fine.. I will be ready at six" I argue in the most casual manner I can muster.
"The meeting isn't that important. My people can handle it from here. Taylor has the car ready, at the front of the building. I am taking you home.. well to my apartment. We can start your sleep over earlier."
"As tempting as that is.. I don't think it is wise. You mentioned that the sale of SIP into the vast ocean that is Grey Enterprise will not be public knowledge until next week."
"You being seen with me won't do that... besides I couldn't care less if rumors circulate or not."
"I do.. I am the one who works here" My answer does little to convince Christian. I fact he appears on the edge of anger.
"Okay we will play it your way; however, I intend to take liberties with you tonight.. and until Sunday. Plus don't forget that you and I have been photographed together ... your work colleagues may already know that we are... together." Oh damn! I forgot about that photo, but I am annoyed at Christian too much to think about that right now. Control freak. I hadn't yet consented to stay at his apartment until Sunday, but it seems he has made up my mind for me.
Christian's POV:
I arrive at Ana's apartment early, not my usual style. I am never late or early. Rather I am precisely on time but I haven't been able to get her out of my mind all day. Especially after those emails she sent me. I am buzzed up by Kate, who I find in the arms of my brother.
"Christian, not working tonight? Or are you working on a different type of deal?" Elliot crudely asks.
"Lelliot, the zip on your pants are down." My father raises his eyebrows at me as he grins. How did he manage not to develop good manners after the upbringing he had? Before I can even ask where Ana is, I hear her laugh from her bedroom. It has to be one of the most perfect sounds I have ever heard. I enter not knocking, to find Ana in the most luscious tight red dress that she won't be wearing too long if I have anything to do with it. Though it is the sight on her bed that makes me want to revisit my teenage days of 'brawling.'
"Christian, you are early." Ana walks the short distance to me. She offers me a small, tender kiss, which I immediately turn into the most passionate kiss I have ever given her while my hands cup her backside.
"I know. I see you weren't expecting me" I gesture to the bed, where a Mr Ethan Kavanagh is laying reading a manuscript so it seems.
"Ethan just came in. He is interested in mystery novels and I mentioned this manuscript to him. He just started to read it." I nod though not appeased in the slightest.
"How about I read this in my room? Ana I will bring it back later."
"Thanks, Ethan" I glare at him as he walks out of Ana's room, especially as he can't keep his eyes off Ana.
"Christian.. Don't. There was nothing going on. I have told you that he is more like my brother than anything else."
"Did you get changed while he was in here?"
"No."
"Good. Now do you have everything you need?" I look around in search of a bag or some sort of case. But there is nothing.
"Yep" Ana grabs a backpack that I didn't see next to the bedside table.
"That is all you need?"
"For one night. That is all that I have agreed to." Ana raises her eyebrows at me. I thought I had successfully railroaded her into agreeing to stay with me until Sunday. Don't mess with me here Ana. I am much better at getting what I want, regardless of your sassiness.
"Have it your way. We need to hurry or we will be late. I will organize for one of my staff to go out and buy you enough clothes to last you until Sunday then." Before Ana can protest, I take the bag and half drag- half escort out of her room. If it weren't for my brother, we would have probably made a quick getaway.
" Going somewhere children? I think a curfew is in order" Elliot winks, and elbows Ethan, who is standing next to him.
"Ana, what time are you going to be home?" Ethan probes.
"She won't be tonight" I respond, then walk out with Ana. From the corner of my eyes, I make out my brother grinning like a Chester cat and the Kavanagh fucker glaring at me disapprovingly. I was right about him. Though I do have Ana to myself at least until Monday. Fuck, I will be on the other side of the country for four days until then. I need to act and I know exactly what to do... the issue is how do I enact my plan without causing another deception, secret or lie. I think quickly and stifle my smile, not wanting Ana to suspect anything. A Perfect Plan!
Author's note: So our Christian Grey has formulated a plan to keep Ana from Ethan but in a manner that won't arise any suspicion...any suspicions about what it might be? I am off to write the next chapter.. Review if you wish.