Line of Attack
Ana's POV:
I am apprehensive as I approach the Audi SUV waiting outside SIP. Regardless of how much I refuse to allow Christian to control me, I am exhausted and don't have the strength to argue. He is going to flip when I tell him about today's events. It is my fault. It was my request that led to this situation.
"Hi" I try to smile as I enter the car though fail, causing Christian to narrow his eyes. No one has read me like he does. It is both comforting and unnerving.
"Did you have a bad day?"
"No." but it is likely to be a bad evening.
"Anything bothering you?"
"No" I shake my head. Yes, that must seem more convincing. Christian tilts his head to the side and regards me cautiously.
"Anastasia, I am not a fool. You can't honestly expect me to believe you. Talk to me now or I will find other means to encourage you to communicate!" I roll my eyes at his persistence. How is it that he and Kate didn't get along the first time they met? They both can interrogate a person until they are blue in the face.
"Don't believe me then!" My challenge seems to humor to his face though his eyes become dark. Shit they are dangerous and compelling at the same time!
"Do you want me to take you into my red room…. persuade you to communicate with me."
"Try me." There is something about Christian that gives me an endless amount of strength. I am bolder, challenging rather than feisty.
"Trust me Anastasia I will. I need you to communicate with me… always. Nevertheless, you need to eat first. You are going to need your strength. Do you want to go out for dinner or would you prefer to eat at my place."
"I am tired. Let's go back to your place."
"Good. Can I assume that you're not going to put up a fight over staying at my place tonight and until the end of the week?"
"Not today but can we stop over at my apartment? I need to get a few things."
"Like what?" I giggle at his question, as it is probably the most ridiculous thing I have heard him ask me. "Regardless of the joy I get hearing you giggle, I don't understand the humor in my query."
"Oh Christian, I need toiletries, clothes for tomorrow and underwear... those sought of things."
"No, bother. I had a personal shopper at Niemen Marcus select and send over a range of clothes and underwear for you. There is also an extensive section of toiletries. If you need anything else, then I can send someone out to get it for you."
"What?" I ask disorientated. My head is spinning at how he seems to just make things happen!
"Anastasia, I mentioned to you that I would organize clothes for you at my place."
"I know. I didn't think you would actually be serious." I shake my head at myself, in hindsight I should know that when Christian says something he means it.
"If you prefer we can stop over at your place." Christian groans annoyed. This must be hard on him, no one has ever even said 'no' to him. "Though we will most definably get stuck in traffic" Uugghhh!...That's the last thing I want to face tonight!
"No… it's okay. Let's just go straight to your place." I sigh and conclude that if the clothes are not suitable then I can just have the ones I am wearing washed, ready for tomorrow. More than likely he is going to freak at my news and I will end up going home tonight anyway so we don't fight more.
"Good. Now that is over, will you finally tell me what is troubling you?" I shake my head. I don't want to argue in front of Taylor.
"A strong woman who recklessly throws away her strength, she is worse than a weak woman who has never had any strength to throw away." I can't help but smile broadly as Christian quotes Hardy from Tess of the D'urbervilles. "And there is the Anastasia Steele I love."
"I am impressed. I didn't know that you knew Hardy that well."
"I read his works in high school and have recently re-familiarized myself. I need to be able to keep up with you." This delights me to no end.
"I am that much of a challenge?"
"Yes and you are aware of it. I suspect it is one of your goals in life and surprisingly I get pleasure from it. Now challenge me by telling me what is bugging you." I quietly sigh and resign myself to having to argue in front of Taylor. The poor man, I can't imagine what he has seen under the employ of Christian.
"My boss Linda was told today that she needs to attend a literary conference next week. Originally Jack Hyde was to go but since he has been terminated, another editor needs to take his place." Everyone at SIP, even management, seems relieved that he is gone. I requested that Christian investigate him and as suspected, he had a long history of sexual harassment, more than enough to terminate him immediately. I don't know how Christian managed it, but a couple of Hyde's past assistants wrote and signed an affidavit to that effect. "Linda has a family and doesn't want to go, so she recommended that I go instead. She believes I will be an editor sooner or later and I should get the opportunity. Management agreed and now I am off to my first conference."
"Well done!" Christian responds proudly. I had expected his response to have been argumentative however it is the opposite. What's his game?
"You are not going to get all controlling and overbearing, telling me that I shouldn't go?"
"No," Christian's answer is too simple for him.
"It's in New York, on the other side of the country. I will need to be there from Monday to Wednesday." I spell out as explicitly as possible. Maybe Christian misunderstood me somehow.
"I am fully aware of the geographical location of New York." Christian snaps.
"It will also mean that I won't be in Seattle when the sale of SIP becomes public."
"Neither will I!"
"Huh?" At first I am bewildered by Christian's comment until I finally put the pieces together. "Oh, that's right. You have meetings in New York next week, which is why you wanted me to stay at Escala this week." Hhmmm...This seems like too much of a coincidence. "Did you plan for me to attend this conference?"
"No, Anastasia. You were the one who had my team probe deeper into Hyde, and clearly I had nothing to do with your boss having a family preventing her from attending the conference." Okay, Christian has a point; however, I don't believe for one second that Christian didn't intervene in some way! He is too resourceful and too much of a control freak. He has known that he needed to go to New York for at least several days and he didn't indicate that he wanted me to go with him, beforehand. Something must have triggered this development. It isn't in Christian's nature to wait to make his move until the lucky convenience of Hyde's termination and my boss's refusal to go leave her family to go to New York. So what was it? What has happened since yesterday? Think Anastasia. What has wound him up?
"You can travel with me in the GEH jet. Think of it as revenue saving, since SIP and indirectly GEH won't have to pay for a plane ticket. We can stay at my apartment, or would you prefer to stay in a hotel?"
"In the interests of saving money, I would have to go with your apartment. Especially since SIP or GEH, whichever way you want to see it, will still need to pay for a ticket for me to return to Seattle." Christian cocks his head to the side at my comment, just before his lips form a hard line. "My conference finishes on Wednesday while you still need to be in New York until at least Thursday if not Friday."
"You are right." It must be because Christian is so successful and an intense control freak that hearing those words from him fill me with so much satisfaction. "I will organize for you to be given Thursday and Friday off work." Whoa… hang on … before I can object, Christian opens his car door and steps out. I didn't even realise that we had arrived at Escala. As always, he displays his well-defined manners by offering me his hand, helping me out of the car and leads me to the elevator. He hasn't even batted an eyelid.
"Christian... I can't take two days off work. My boss won't approve" I argue.
"Your boss does approve!" Christian rebuts arrogantly. I wasn't talking about you!
"Roach!" I pause to emphasize my point. "My boss is Roach and Linda."
"They will approve." If Christian's arrogant tone wasn't enough, then it is him do-not-argue-with-me stare he is giving me that almost makes me want to recoil. That is 'almost'. I consider giving Christian a pleading, innocent look, but that won't work. I wait until the elevator doors close and we have traveled several floors, before making my move. Poor Christian doesn't know what is going to hit him.
"Anastasia, stopping elevators is my trick!" Christian sounds stern, but he has a playful expression on his face. He takes a couple of step towards me, but I shake my head, expressionless.
"Christian... step back." He cocks his head to the side for a few moments and doesn't look like he is going to comply, so I commence unbuttoning the first two buttons of my blouse, then stop. "If you want me to continue then I need you to move back until you are against the wall. I doubt that you will be able to maintain your balance otherwise."
"I think you would find that I have extraordinary balance, Miss Steele; however in the spirit of cooperation, I will oblige." Damn! His voice is smooth
"Good." I continue to undo the next couple of buttons to the point that my entire cleavage is on show. Christian runs his tongue over his lips. Yes, it is time to talk and distract him simultaneously.
"Christian, we need to set down some boundaries. I have no issue with you owning SIP, in fact, I welcome it as the company needs new life; however,..." I stop briefly to adopt a high school trick of removing my bra, without taking off my shirt, and thread it through one of my sleeves. "... I can't have you throwing your weight around, when it suit your guilty pleasures. Do you understand?: Just before Christian can respond, I decide that it is the perfect moment to remove my panties.
"Yes, I understand. Though it is not just for my guilty pleasures, it is also yours. I can promise you that you will enjoy it also. Plus, New York is an incredible city. I would like to show you some of it." Okay, maybe I need to increase the level of distraction. He was supposed to have agreed with me by now.
"Christian, there is plenty of time for touring and holidays...later! Right now, I am very young in my career and want to do things properly. I need to come home on Wednesday evening. I will be here, waiting for you when you get back, on Friday." By this stage, I have removed my blouse and have closed the space between us.
"Promise me that you will be here waiting for the second I arrive in Seattle on Friday? No matter what?"
"Yes." I run my hands across the top of his pants, before undoing his belt, pants button and zip. Mmmmm... he is ready for me. This plan is working brilliantly.
"Double promise?" Oh, playful Christian is here.
"Yes, Christian. Nothing will keep me from being here from the moment you arrive". Christian smirks in that way that only he can. Hang on he get that look when he has won. Okay, backtrack here Anastasia. What did you just say? Christian places his hands on my hips and moves me so I have my back to the elevator door now. He lifts me and instinctively I wrap my legs around his hips, slipping him into me. Damn he feels so good.
"Good. In that case, I will have to throw my weight around to get you Friday off work, as I will probably arrive mid-morning that day, when you are supposed to be at work. I am so glad you promised to be here the very second I arrive home. No doubt I will have missed you!" I am only just aware of what Christian is saying as he starts to move. Filling me, and then stops, but remains deep inside of me. Damn he backed me into a corner, by playing the same game that I was trying to pull over him. Why did I think I would be successful? He is far more experienced in using sex as a weapon than me!
"But that would be silly. Return to work for one day and then taking the next day off" I say out loud before I have time to think about this statement.
"I agree. Very impractical for you to go in for one day, then play hooky on a you are doing Linda a favor by going in her place and will be costing my company more money for the plane trip back to Seattle, than the cost of your leave those two days."
"Umm... yeah... I guess." I agree because I can't find a proper argument against Christian and I want him to shut up and keep moving. Realizing my need, Christian moves twice and then comes to an abrupt halt.
"Then that settles it. You will stay in New York with me, for the whole week." Christian recommences to move, not stopping until we both have come gloriously. I know that we are going to argue in our relationship but given the option, I would prefer to do so exactly like this! He gently lowers me, making sure I am sturdy on my feet before letting go to help me get dressed again. He presses the code in the elevator and we start to ascend once more.
Christian, not wanting any distance between us, stands behind me and wraps him arms around me. He nuzzles my ear, before whispering to me. "I know you tried to convince me to let you come back to Seattle on Wednesday by using sex as a tactic."
"Do you now?" I focus on making my voice surprised, but I fail and laugh out loud. Thankfully Christian joins me. I don't want to argue!
"Yes. You should know that I would have moved heaven and earth to keep you with me next week, away from those who want you." Those who want me? I try to think who he is talking about and then it hits me. Ethan! Christian's had red all over his face when he saw him reading that manuscript on my bed. The elevator doors open, but before I walk out I turn to face Christian.
"And you should know that I know you have orchestrated this all to keep me away from Ethan. Not needed. I have seen him naked... not interested" Christian's looks stunned. At least I was able to do that today!
# # # #
"Christian, stop pacing! You are making me nervous!" I snap, but it does little to change him behavior.
"Ana... I can't. I have never had to face this type of obstacle before. I never thought I would. I have taken measures to ensure I don't ever have to deal with ... this" Christian is waving his hands around like a crazy man.
"Calm down before I phone Dr Flynn!"
"Anastasia you don't understand." Christian starts to pace and I wish that I could turn back the clock now. But it is too late! "I cannot do this."
"Christian Grey, it isn't as if I am pregnant or anything. We are just having your family over for lunch. Now calm down immediately, before I rip my clothes off and fuck you silly right now!" I yell at the top of my lungs.
"Oh please do!" A voice calls out from the entrance to the main room. Standing there is Elliot with his arm around a rather surprised Kate, Ethan and Mia. This could be salvaged, expect the fact that Grace and Carrick Grey have also arrived and had front row seats to my threat to rip my clothes off. What do I say now?
Authors Note: I hope you enjoyed this playful chapter. I am going away for a week but will work on the next chapter while I am away. Review if you wish.