Chapter 7 is being re-written from start to end, sorry about the delay in getting this up but I like being one chapter ahead but am not now!

Chapter 6

Christian sat at his desk in Escala, Ana's profile in his hands. He was staring at her smiling photo in awe. Anastasia Steele was a virgin. He'd never have guessed. Last night he had approached the topic of BDSM with her just to find out not only did she not have sex with any of her clients, she'd never had sex full stop.

He had known the agency service was one of high stature, none of the girls were supposed to have sex with their clients, it was about keeping them company, being a woman on their arm and being paid for it. He however knew that the majority of girls had sex with their clients for extra side pay, that's how so many of the girls were rich. He had learned that for Katherine Kavanagh who had tried to get him to be one of those clients who had Additional Services, he had never contemplated it and had told Katherine that she was company only.

He hadn't had a submissive in a few weeks, his last had gone too far with him and had wanted more with him. That was something he hadn't been prepared to give her and he had immediately ended their contract.

He'd really screwed up with Anastasia Steele. He'd miss read her. Of course, there hadn't been any attempt from her to persuade him in the direction of Additional Services yet he had taken for granted as one of the girls she would be into making the extra cash. Nope, she was really one of a kind who had no interest in having sex for extra money.

Christian had royally fucked up and he knew he needed to fix it.

Anastasia sat at her computer with a glass of wine. She had no plans for the day and with no Kate she was free to wallow in self-pity.

She had been so sure that things were developing well between her and Christian, that maybe she'd be able to tell him that she wanted to spend time with him without being paid for it, simply because she knew he wanted to spend time with her. Then he went and spoke about Additional Services. She had no issues with the girls that did those things, Kate was one of them. However Ana had never felt comfortable going there and with still being a virgin she had no knowledge or experience to draw on to even consider it.

When her text alert signaled her she hoped that she had a job from the agency, something mindless and boring that she could use to keep her mind from the argument she'd had with Christian the previous evening.

From: Work 2
Rosie, you're being paid $5000 to attend a meal at Penthouse Escala 6pm… don't screw this up.

Ana paled. He'd gone and booked her through the agency. This was a figure the agency would fire her for fucking up. The bastard. She would have to go Escala, she would have to see him again after the horrid words he'd spat at her the previous evening.

It was five pm already, which meant she had an hour to get herself ready and get to Escala. She couldn't be late, if Christian called the agency looking for her then she would be fired immediately. That was what the likes of Christian Grey didn't understand. An Agency like hers would have hundreds of girls wanting to work for them, payment for keeping company, sexual favors a side option. She was just an object to them, an income. She had been lucky to get the job thanks to Kate's good word and the reason she still struggled to climb up the pay ladder was because many of the men she kept company would pass on feedback that said she was too mousy or too boring, mainly because she refused the Additional Services. Kate wasn't like that, Kate would put out, give blowjobs and have sex, she was a $3000 a night earner, Ana was still sitting at $1500 approx.

To have been offered $5000 from Christian Grey for dinner should have given the Agency a reason to be suspicious, she hoped therefore that the bosses would be on standby. Ana knew the protocol, if things were going badly she was to get to a bathroom and send an S.O.S text message, given time to use the facilities and wash her hands the hope always was that the heavies would arrive and rescue the damsel in distress. However she hoped she wouldn't have to do that, she hoped she was right in trusting Christian Grey.

She decided immediately that she was going to dress comfortably, she wasn't going to wear a dress and feel vulnerable. She didn't care if he thought her clothes were cheap, tonight would mean talking if there was any hope for them to even consider a friendship and for that Ana needed to feel like the strong independent woman she was, not the vulnerable woman she felt like when she was playing escort.

Christian walked up and down in front of the large glass windows overlooking the Seattle skyline. When Ana arrived he knew he needed to apologize to her. He'd been out of order in the way he had spoken to her and he knew that groveling may even be on the cards. The truth was, he didn't know what had come over him. Asking her to put her hair in a braid was him seeing if she really looked like the girl he wanted to take into the playroom. She had been so submissive to him, obeying every rule he gave her, looking at him for reassurance, to see if she was pleasing him and any sign she wasn't her eyes would naturally drift to the floor. Now he could see that Anastasia Steele was no submissive.

He hadn't has a submissive in a few weeks and maybe not having one had clouded his judgment. He hadn't wanted to make Ana feel like a common whore, she was far better than that, far better than he could have ever imagined. She was pure. Now he hoped she would come to him, give him the opportunity to apologize. He had promised himself he would make her feel beautiful, he had thought through having her as his submissive he would have been able to do that easier but instead he made her feel cheap and she was far from cheap.

The elevator door opening was the sign that she was there. He breathed heavily and walked towards the entrance of the great room to meet her. As she walked in, his breath hitched. She looked incredible. A pair of pink blush pants hugged her legs and hips, a white blouse with off the shoulder sleeves kept her modest and much to the imagination. On her feet a pair of silver ballet pumps shined. Mostly he noticed her hair, loose and wavy all around her shoulders. She was truly breathtaking and he knew there was no use in saying it to her, she wouldn't take it.

"Hello Christian." She stated, her arms folding across her chest defensively. Christian felt a little lost seeing her like this, she'd come ready for a fight.

"Ana." He smiled softly, unable to resist and slowly he saw her demeanor change and a small uncertain smile play on her lips.

"So dinner?" She asked, glancing around the room, no one else was present. "I didn't get any last night." She added teasingly, making a further pang of guilt chime inside Christian.

"Yes, Mrs. Jones will be through in half an hour to serve it. I was hoping we could talk." Christian explained. "Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"Wine? Yes. Talk… is that such a good idea even though absolutely necessary?" Ana asked, she was melting, the sight of his gray eyes, the smile he'd given her, his nervous attitude, it had stopped any attempt at having a go at him that she had, though she still planned on asking him her questions and getting answers.

"Sit, I'll get wine and yes talking is necessary." Christian replied before walking away.

Anastasia took to the u shaped couch and tried to breathe easy. Putting on a so much confidence was difficult and she knew it would have to continue while they talked, she would have to remain composed, ask her questions and get some answers and then it was for him to decide if he even wanted her in his life but from what she had heard last night, she would not be his submissive.

When Christian returned with two glasses of wine, he chose to sit beside her, with not enough space for a person between them. She was nervous and she could feel the nervous buzz from him. For a moment they sat in silence. Ana rubbing her finger around the rim of her wine glass and Christian just looking at her with piercing gray eyes.

"So…" Ana said, sick of the silence.

"Ana…" Christian started, deciding it was now or never. "I need to apologize to you for last night. I spoke to you in a way that was unacceptable and I should never have asked what I did of you and then to treat you the way I did… it was despicable and I am truly sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Ana smiled, this is what she had wanted tonight, this is what she had hoped for.

"Already forgiven." She said causing Christian to blow out a breath of relief, he'd feared she wouldn't accept his apology and she had, as easily as that. "I do have a couple of questions though. If you would be willing to answer."

"I will answer anything I can." Christian replied honestly, already relaxing as he turned more towards her, lifted his leg onto the couch and leaned back. Ana felt herself relax a little more too.

"Kate… I mean Katherine… has she been your… submissive?" Ana asked feeling quite uncomfortable talking about it but needing to know.

"No. She knows nothing of my lifestyle, she was simply an escort. I didn't want a brunette, due to the fact all my submissives are brunettes. I just needed someone on my arm to stop people trying to hook me up with girls at functions. I'll be quite honest Anastasia, Katherine Kavanagh is annoying as hell and I was glad that at those functions she could go off and be herself as she's used to those scenes and knows what to say and what not too. I never had any kind of sexual relation with Kate. I have a question though…" Ana had gone from the relief of finding out that Christian never had anything with Kate to being nervous because he had a question. "What's your relationship to Katherine?"

"Oh." Ana laughed, she hadn't expected that. "Kate's my best friend, we met in college and even though we're like chalk and cheese we became inseparable, she took care of me like a big sister."

"I see." Christian replied though he didn't, he didn't understand real friendship like Ana was describing. "So any other question?"

"One." Ana stated with a smile and Christian just gave her a nod encouraging her to ask. "If you're planning on spending any time with me after tonight, can it be without payment? I don't want to take a penny off you Christian when I enjoy being in your company. I can't refuse tonight as you went through the agency but after tonight… if you want to spend more time with me… well can it be like friends?"

Christian just stared, blinking heavily. He couldn't understand for a moment what had come out of Ana's mouth. She wanted to spend time with him, without being paid, like friends.

"Friends?" He asked feeling suddenly vulnerable.

"Yes, friends. I mean that's what you normally call someone you like spending time with and care about." Ana replied not understanding why Christian was reacting the way he was, she thought it was cute but was a little unsure because he was just gawping like a gold fish.

"You consider me a friend?" Christian asked.

"I'd like to, but to be friends with someone you don't usually pay them to keep you company." Anastasia giggled. His eyes lit up, that was the most amazing sound he had ever heard.

"I was going to suggest, as an apology, I'd like to take you out tomorrow but only because you want to and not because I'd be paying you." Christian stated nervously, this had always been planned but he was going to originally ask at the end of the night and now he was basically being given the perfect opportunity to ask.

"Take me out? Like a date?" Ana asked shocked, it was what she had perceived from the question.

"I don't do dates Anastasia… but yes like a date."