I do not own the Fifty Shades Trilogy characters – those belong to E.L. James.

Ana's Photos

It's finally Thursday and tonight is the fundraising show for Leila's scholarship foundation. I'm so nervous about tonight as I was able to pull this off last-minute. I also had to put a lot of money into this event, so I'm hoping that we can raise enough money for the scholarship. I feel this is the right thing to do to, honoring Leila by giving the chance for others to pursue their dream of art school.

I left SIP early today so I could help set up at the gallery to make sure everything is set up correctly. Jose is driving up from Vancouver and should arrive soon to set up his photographs with the gallery manager. Jose takes amazing photographs and I'm interested to see which ones he decides to use for this show.

The gallery is all white walls with dark floors. There are halogen lights from above that are pointing towards the walls to highlight the artwork. I meet with Kellie, the gallery manager, and she points to the empty wall space from the middle of the gallery to the back that we use to display the artwork and where the caterers can set up for the light refreshments for the evening. She allows me to put my personal items in her office and I wait patiently for Jose to show up.

It's after one when Jose finally shows up and he looks a bit stressed. "Adios Mios, damn Seattle traffic and then I got lost! So sorry Ana", Jose comes rushing into the gallery with his arms flaring all about. He looks good in his tight jeans and tight black t-shirt. His dark hair has gotten a bit long and looks like a mess, probably from him running his hands through it from driving in the Seattle traffic.

"It's okay, we have time to get you set up", and I meet him at the door and give him a big hug and he is warm and moist from perspiration.

"Oh Ana, it's so good to see you", and he pushes me away at arm's length. "How are you doing? Holding up okay?", and I see the look of concern in his eyes.

"Yeah, I'm doing okay. Just taking one day at a time".

"Good", and he kisses my cheek. "Come on, I have lots of pictures to hang".

I'm so glad that Jose could be part of this event tonight and that he is here to support me. We meet at orientation at WSU and became good friends at first. He is the second guy I ever had sex with and actually the last guy I had sex tried the relationship route as I thought I was in love with him, but in the end, the passion and sexual attraction wasn't there for us and we decided to stay friends.

That is my fear with Ethan right now. We have a such a strong friendship that I'm not feeling the passion between us either. Ethan is so attractive, but when I'm with him, I don't have the desire to be sexual with him and I believe he wants us to be more than friends.

I feel horrible for the way I treated him Tuesday night after my session with Klein. He met me afterwards and took me to my favorite pizza place and then escorted me home. When he tried to push our kiss a bit further into a full fledge make-out session, I stopped him. I'm not sure what happened with my feelings about him in the past week, but I just don't feel that desire for him and I pushed him away. I don't want to lead him on by constantly having him spend time with me at his place or my place. I haven't heard from him in two days and now I'm concerned if he still coming tonight.

"Hello! Earth to Ana!", and Jose is waking me up from my thoughts of Ethan.

"I'm sorry, Jose. You just caught me day dreaming".

"Yes, I can tell. Are you going to help me?", and he hands me some smaller photographs that he's brought in from his car.

I start unwrapping some smaller photographs and there are photos of me when Jose and I were together from almost two years ago! What the fuck!

"Jose, what the hell is this?", and I hold up a frame with an eight by ten, black and white photo of me he took, in what I thought was an intimate moment.

He rubs his forward, "Yeah, I meant to tell you about that. I think that is a really great photo and I know it will sell. People love black and white photos. Actually, it is part of a series. There should be three of them there". He walks over to me so he doesn't have to talk across the gallery.

"Look, Maddy saw them and got a little upset. I figured I would sell them tonight because I know someone will buy them". He points to the one in my hand. "I know that one you can see your face, but the other two are behind shots".

The photo of I'm holding is me with some crazy bed hair and tons of dark eye make-up that makes me look like I have cat eyes. I'm wearing a men's, white dress shirt, unbuttoned, with my hand at the collar and I'm holding it so it covers my mouth and nose. The black, lacy boy shorts can be seen underneath the shirt as I'm kneeling on a bed. We took quite a few that day for an assignment that Jose was working for one of his photography classes and I somehow became his model for the day. I thought this one of the few he took that for his eyes only.

He unwraps the other two to show me. Also in the same type of frame in the eight by ten size, the second photo is showing me taking off the shirt, but from behind and you can see my profile. The third is still me from behind, but with the shirt off in only the boy shorts and holding out a pair handcuffs in my right hand, dangling from my index finger. Oh my, I forgot about the handcuffs!

I could see why his girlfriend wouldn't want him to have these photos and if he gave them to me, I would probably have put them up for sale tonight.

I lay all three photos against the wall on the floor and shake my head. "You better sell them all, but I'm not sure who would want to buy them", as I shake my head.

"Are you kidding me Steele?", he scoffs. "Those will sell tonight. Some man will want you hanging on his walls".

"Yeah, some pervert", I scoff. "Get me a hook and let's get them up", as I shake my head.

The caterers finally arrive later in the afternoon and I help them set up tables and get them settled in the back so they could prepare some of the snacks and desserts we are serving this evening. While I'm in the back talking with the servers, Kate arrives to help get my hair and make up done. She is also covering this event for her father's media website and wanted to interview me for her write-up.

I decided to wear my all-purpose little black dress, but wear my leopard printed flats as I'll be on my feet all night. Kate will be so proud of me that I'm not wearing my trusty cowboy boots, but I'm not great at wearing heels. With my hair curled and make up done, I'm ready and nervous as hell.

"So, is Ethan coming tonight?", as I finally had to ask her while I'm wringing my fingers together.

"I think so, but he seemed pissed when he came home the other night from having dinner with you. What's going on with you two?"

"I don't know Kate. He's been supportive of me these past couple of months and he has become one of my good friends, but that is the problem. I don't think I want anything more than a friendship with him and I think he wants more. I mean, he's very attractive, but I'm not feeling it with him. I don't know what to do".

"I know he is my brother, so there is only so much I can bear to hear about this, but you have to be honest with him. I don't want to see either one of you get hurt, especially by each other".

"I know. I just feel like I'm in a sticky situation right now".

The gallery starts getting busy just after seven-thirty and Ethan came and gives me a friendly hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Ana, I think we need to talk", he softly says in my ear. I can in his eyes the sadness and he slightly grinds his jaw.

"I know, but can we talk tomorrow? I just want to enjoy tonight", and I gently put my hand on his cheek and give him a small smile.

"Of course, not tonight. I want you to enjoy this too as you worked so hard and thank you for inviting me. I wouldn't have missed it for anything". He returns my smile with his own and closes his eyes briefly. In a strange way that we are communicating our apologies but that we need to have a heartfelt talk tomorrow.

While talking to some art students from the local high school, the energy around me changes and I'm not sure why. It almost feels like someone is watching me, which makes me very nervous. As I turn around, Christian Grey is a few feet behind me. I can't believe he came tonight.

I excuse myself and make my over to Christian Grey and he really is handsome. He is wearing a light gray suit with a white button down shirt, but no tie tonight. He must have ditched it after work. He is also wearing a beautiful smile.

"Anastasia", he greets me with his hand extended as I get right in front of him.

I slip my hand in his larger hand and return the smile. "Mr. Grey, I'm so glad that you could make it tonight. Do you need a drink?"

"I'll grab one a few moments. It seems you have a good turn out tonight?", and he looks around the gallery before he lands his gray eyes back at me.

"Yes, I'm a little surprised, but it's a good surprise. Hopefully we will raise a decent amount tonight".

He turns to his right and then nods slightly to the photos behind him. The three photos of me that are hanging behind him. I feel the heat of my blush on my face. "Did you pose for those photographs?", he asks softly.

I'm so embarrassed that he saw them! "Um yes, but those were taken almost two years ago by my friend Jose, the photographer that is showcasing his work along with Leila's art here tonight. They were for an assignment he had and he took them. I don't know why and I don't know they are here". I can't stop rambling and twisting my fingers tightly around each other.

He smirks at me. "I like them, a lot. You're very beautiful, Anastasia". He looks at the photos again and then looks back at me and I see that dark expression in his eyes again. The look is smoldering and it calls on me on a deeper level. No man has ever looked at me like he is now. "Well, to help contribute to the scholarship fund, I bought all three of them".

What! Christian Grey bought the photos of me! I'm speechless and I don't know what to say, except "Thank you", I whisper.

"My pleasure", in a husky voice that makes my mouth water. Get a grip! You don't know this man except his had a secret affair with your dead sister.

"And", he continues. "Please let me know how much you raise tonight. I'll match that for the scholarship fund too". What! Oh, I know he is rich, but I hope he is not taking pity on my little philanthropic endeavors.

"Again, thank you Mr. Grey", I softly tell him.

"And again, my pleasure Anastasia. Would you like a drink?", and he points to the bar area.

"Oh, no thank you. I have my water", as I shake my head and give him a smile.

He smiles at me. "Very well. Are you available tomorrow night for a drink?" Woah, did he just ask me out for a drink! Normally I would say no because I don't drink with strangers, but he doesn't feel like a stranger to me. I don't know what it is about him, but he feels...familiar to me.

"Um, yeah, I can meet tomorrow night and I should know the amount raised from tonight's event by then".

He pulls out his phone. "What is your number, so I can call you?"

As I give him my number, Jose calls for me.

"Is that your boyfriend?", and he raises an eyebrow to me.

"Oh, no", and I wave towards Jose. "He's the photographer".

"You let him take those photos of you?" and he seems a bit angry about that?

"The ones you bought? Yes, I did". I smile and he smiles back at me. "I have to go, but it was nice to see you again Mr. Grey and hopefully I'll talk to you soon".

"Enjoy the rest of your evening, Anastasia". I don't linger and turn on my heel and head towards Jose.

As the night gets later, people start to leave and there are only a few people left, including Kate. Jose is by some of his photographs, being very flirtatious with a couple of ladies. I think he's had too much wine tonight and is enjoying the attention.

Kate comes up to me as I'm picking up some the empty cups around the gallery. I know I don't need to pick up, but it's in my nature.

"I think you, Miss Ana, had a wonderful turn out tonight. Do you know how much you sold?" She rubbing my shoulders and the unexpected treat feels good.

"A few of Leila's pieces were sold and a lot of Jose's work, but I think also think Jose can be a used car salesman too", and we both chuckle. "But Kellie told me we sold around seven thousand tonight. And, we can keep the rest on display until next weekend, so we will make a bit more".

"I'm so proud of you Ana. Hey, was that Christian Grey I saw here tonight?".

"Yep, it sure was. I invited him."

"You did?", and she gives me the most puzzled look.

"Yes, last week when I met with him. I didn't think he would show, but he did", I shrug my shoulders.

"Did he buy anything?"

"Yep".

"What", and she stops me from my house cleaning.

"Those", and I point to the photographs.

"What!", she screams that gets the attention of Jose and his fan club.

"Hush, keep it down. He liked them so he bought them. Listen, just keep this to yourself, but he said I was beautiful".

"Ana", and she is whispering. "Do you think he bought them because maybe you remind him of Leila?" Jeez, I didn't think of that. I don't think I look like her except that we're both thin and have brown hair. But her facial structure was different and she had brown eyes.

"I hope not, but I don't look like Leila." I push the thought way in the back of my mind as it's not something I want to dwell on. As much as I loved her, I don't ever want to be like my late sister.

"I'm sorry Ana. Is Jose taking you home tonight?"

"Yeah, he will walk me to my car and he staying at my place tonight. However, his Maddy is coming up tomorrow night for the weekend, so I may have to crash at your place so I don't feel like a third wheel around them".

"Is Maddy okay with him staying at your place tonight?", she asks. I don't have a problem with my ex staying with me, but his current girlfriend is a bit jealous. It took her awhile for her to warm up to the idea that Jose and I are just friends though we have a past.

"I don't know. Not my problem if she isn't".

She giggles, "Okay Steele. Listen, I'm going to head out. I'll call you tomorrow".

We give each other a big hug. "Okay. Have a good night. Talk with you tomorrow".

I finish cleaning up and Jose is packing up some of his stuff as his fan club has left the gallery. As we walk out, he looks over at me. "Where did you park?"

I point down the street and Leila's red Audi is parked underneath a lamp-post. "Right there".

"Okay", and he walks me to my car. "Are you staying at my place tonight?"

"Yeah, I hope you don't mind".

"No, but is Maddy okay with it?"

"She said she was, but I think she wants to get a hotel for tomorrow night", and we finally reach my car. "I'll follow you home, so don't drive like a maniac". Once I'm safely in the car, Jose takes off to his car and I pull out and wait for him to start up his car so he can follow me to my place.