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

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Drinks and Non-Drinks

I'm so thankful it's Friday and that the weekend is here, but I don't foresee a lot of rest this weekend with Jose being in town. After I got home last night, Jose and I stayed up for bit to catch up since I hadn't seen him since I graduated. After I went to bed, I could hear his phone going off a few times and then I heard him talking, so Maddy must have kept him up a bit longer. Probably to make sure that he was behaving since he was staying at my apartment.

Ethan already contacted me mid morning to see if I was available for dinner tonight and I didn't respond back to him right away. Since I agreed to meet with Christian Grey tonight, I don't want to double book, so I'll get back to him once I hear from Christian. I didn't like that Ethan seemed distant with me last night and I know he was keeping his distance so I could enjoy my night. Without his support, I wouldn't have pulled of last night's show, and in a way, I wished that he would have enjoyed it with me by my side instead of staying clear from me most of the night.

Between Ethan, Kate, and Jose, I feel like my phone hasn't stopped ringing and I'm just glad my boss, Jack Hyde, has been in a meeting all morning or he would be all over me about the personal phone calls.

My boss, Mr. Jack Hyde, seems like a nice enough guy, but there is something about him that puts me on alert. He always in my personal space and is constantly around me, which is a bit creepy. I'm just glad that he stopped asking me out for a drink after work almost on a daily basis. I finally had to tell him that I don't drink and that I was recovering alcoholic, which the latter is a lie, but it got him to stop.

After the lunch, my phone rings and it's a blocked call. Should I answer it?

"Hello?".

"Hello Anastasia. It's Christian Grey", and his warm voice floods my mind and veins and my stomach drops.

"Oh, hi Mr. Grey. How are you today?", I manage to squeak out.

"I'm well. How are you?"

"I'm glad it's Friday", and I hear a slight chuckle through the receiver.

"Would you like to meet me tonight?", and it's the most seductive invitation I've ever heard.

"Um, sure. What did you have in mind?" I'm trying not to sound all breathy, but it's hard since I feel like the air has escaped my lungs. But I knew he was going to ask me out for tonight, so why am I all nervous?

"I thought we could have drinks at my place". Oh, I don't think that is going to work Mr. Grey.

"Um, can we meet someplace more public? It's just that, I don't know you very well and prefer someplace more public".

Silence. Crap!

"Okay, meet me in the lounge at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel around eight pm", he says in a cold, clipped tone. He's probably slightly offended that I wouldn't go to his place, but I just don't know him and I don't go to a stranger's home without someone I know.

"I'll see you at eight tonight in the bar at the Fairmont, Mr. Grey", I tell him in my sweet voice in hopes that he isn't angry with me.

"I'll see you tonight, Anastasia", and his tone is softer now.

"Good-bye Christian".

"Good-bye".

Wow, that was a nerve-wracking phone call. He's so intense and he went from warm, to cold, to warm again. I'm not sure why he wants to meet me and he invited me to his apartment, on a Friday night! Is this a date? I don't think I should date him, but I feel an attraction, a pull towards him and I want to meet him. But this time I don't want to learn about his affair with Leila, I want to know who he is and why he bought those damn photos of me last night. And if I'm brave enough, I can tell him about me. Breathe Steele, now I feel nervous about tonight.

Now I need to deal with Ethan and tell him that I can't meet him tonight, but I'll see him tomorrow.

"Hey Ana", he breathes when he picks up.

"Hey Ethan. Am I catching you at a bad time?" I hope I didn't wake him or something.

"Not really. I'm at the library doing a little research. Are you still at work?"

"Yeah. Why are you doing research? You haven't started classes yet, have you?"

"No, but I have my class schedule and know what some of the reading material is, so I'm just preparing myself. What time do you get out of work?"

"Um, around six but I think I'm going to work out afterwards and stay in tonight. Listen, Kate wants all of us to hang out tomorrow, so how about you and I meet up before hand?"

"I'll come to your place and we can go over to the marina together". Kate and Ethan got permission to use their Dad's boat tomorrow. Since neither one of them are not entirely sure how to operate the boat, we are just going to hang out on the boat at the marina before we go to dinner and then may be a club.

"Okay, that works for me".

"Okay sweetheart. Listen, I'm getting dirty looks from other people here, so I gotta run. Call me tonight if you want to talk sooner, okay?" I think that his way of trying to see me tonight, but he knows better to push me if I say that I want to be alone.

"Will do Ethan. I'll see you tomorrow".

"Bye", and we both hang up.

Since Jack left the office a little early today as he is going away for the weekend, I leave at five-thirty and head over to H&M and grab an outfit for tonight. Since I'm meeting Christian Grey at the Fairmont tonight and I already wore my little black dress, I need something that is a little more dressy than what I have in the closet. Since it's warm, I find a pair of satin capri pants that will match my silk, green camisole and a pair of wedge heels.

After a frozen dinner and a long, hot shower, I find myself in front of the Fairmont right before eight. I decide to take advantage of the valet so I don't have to walk by myself from the parking garage to the lobby. The valet is dressed in a suit on this warm night and graciously opens the door for me and hands me a ticket while presenting me with a warm smile.

The lobby of the Fairmont is rich, warm, and inviting and is a place that I would never be able to afford to stay at. I feel out-of-place, so I square my shoulders and keep my head up high and hope that I don't trip over my own damn feet as I make way to the bar.

There are few people having drinks and enjoying the melodic sounds of the piano that in the corner. It's a nice combination of music and conversation in the dimly lit lounge area. I scan the large room and before I can see him, I feel the chill and goosebumps appear on my skin. I then the see his copper highlights in his unruly hair and piercing gray eyes coming towards me with a slow sexy smile twitching on his lips.

"Good evening Miss Steele", he says quietly as he takes my hand and places a soft kiss upon my knuckles. I can take in his scent and he smells clean like fabric softener and body wash. He is dressed impeccably in a black suit with a dark gray button down shirt, with the top buttons undone so there is lovely "V" of his soft skin from his neck and chest.

"Good evening Mr. Grey", I greet him back but notice my voice seems a bit huskier. He releases my hand and then offers his elbow to me and I slip my hand through to follow him.

"I got a table for us in the corner, so our conversation can be a little more private", he tells me.

We get to a small table for two and there is a small dish of nuts and two glasses of water with lemon wedges on the table. A small tealight candle burns and gives a soft illumination around the table. Mr. Grey is quite the gentleman and pulls a chair out for me. Once I sit, he helps push the chair for me so that I am closer to the table.

"Would you like a cocktail or glass of wine, Anastasia?", as he takes the chair opposite of me and raises his arm slightly to get the attention of the cocktail waitress that is making her way around the lounge.

"Ana", I tell him politely. "Everyone calls me Ana". Only my mother calls me by Anastasia and since I don't talk to her often, so I don't hear my full name much.

"Well, Anastasia is your name."

"Yes, but only my mother calls me Anastasia. I like Ana".

"Okay Ana, what would like to drink?", and he raises an eyebrow at me, seemingly annoyed that he had to say 'Ana', but also because the lovely cocktail waitress showed up and is eying Christian like he is her last meal.

"I'll have a sparkling water, thank you", as I peer up at the waitress, but she doesn't make eye contact me. I think she only moved her head in my direction because she is currently on the clock.

"A glass of your Sauvignon Blanc", he tells her and she thanks him. Where is my thanks?

Once she leaves, he still has his eyes on me. "I like Anastasia and that is your name", he murmurs to me and by his tone, I should just accept that he will use my full name.

"Before we continue, I need you to sign this", and he slides two pieces of paper towards me and then puts down a shiny, black pen on top. I pick up the pen and it's heavy and then notice a small white flower on the top of the cap. I pick up the papers and notice they are identical and it's a non-disclosure agreement.

"An NDA?", and I cock my head to the side. "Why?" I had to sign one when I started working at SIP and never thought I would need one for a date? Maybe he wants to recruit you for a special assignment for his company.

"I should have had you sign this last week when you came to my office, but I didn't think we would discuss my personal life, at least not in-depth. I'm sorry if this makes you feel uncomfortable, but I need to protect my personal life and it's something that my lawyer insist that I have in place".

I quickly scan the document and the language seems standard, so I sign on the line above where my name is printed on both copies and hand one back to Christian with his fancy pen.

"Thank you Anastasia", and he folds the paper and places it in the inside pocket of his suit jacket along with his pen.

"So, does this mean that I can ask you anything I want since you've sworn me to secrecy?"

"Yes".

The cocktail waitress shows up with our drinks and keeps her attention mainly on Christian. Shoo! Shoo! Why does she need to linger around?

After she finally leaves, I take a nice long sip of my sparkling water to help quench the dryness in my mouth. "So, Mr. Grey, why did you buy those photos?"

He smirk at me and I think he chuckles at bit at me, so I just smile along with him. "Because you're beautiful, Anastasia and this way, I can look at you all the time".

"Which one is your favorite?", I ask him and his smirks becomes a full-blown smile and he shakes his head.

"Now that would be telling", he says with a chuckle.

"Well, I'm glad that I make you laugh. Are you going to hang them?"

"I might".

"Where?"

"I don't know yet. Maybe if you came over to my place, you can pick out a spot for them". Sneaky bastard, trying to get me to his place.

I can't help but let out a small chuckle. "Still trying to get me to your place, Mr. Grey?"

"Of course. I would prefer to conversate with you in a more private setting".

"You're still a stranger to me, Mr. Grey, that is why I requested we meet in a more public space". But lets hope after tonight that he isn't a stranger, but more like an intimate friend. Did I just think that?

"You had no problem meeting me at my office. Just you and me. So what do I need to do so that I'm no longer a stranger to you?", and he cocks his head to the side.

"Well, so far you haven't done or said anything to me that makes me feel uneasy, so maybe after tonight I may consider you a friend".

"Do you have any plans this weekend, Ana?"

"Yes, tomorrow Kate and I are hanging out with some friends and dinner tomorrow night".

"I noticed that Kate Kavanagh was at the gallery the other night. She is also your Kate?", and his expression is now cold. His feelings for her are about the same as her feeling for him. I know she thinks he is attractive, but after that interview, she wasn't "in love" with the guy and found him a bit obtuse.

"Yes, and I know that you know her from the WSU interview, but please trust me, I didn't tell her much about what we discussed at your office about Leila and she doesn't know we are meeting tonight".

"I know that you are her friend but she also works for the media and I really do not want to her know my private life".

"I understand".

"Good. So do you have a boyfriend?" He's not holding back!

"If I had a boyfriend, I don't think I would be sitting here with you".

"Fair point, Miss Steele", and his eyes twinkle with some mischief like he has some secret plans for me.

The rest of our conversation goes much smoother as he asks about where I grew up, WSU, and working at SIP. I don't give him too much information about my family except Leila and I had different fathers and I really don't talk about my mother. But he seems to know about me and my family as Leila told him about our mother and growing up together. He tells me a little about his family, going to Harvard, and GEH, which I can tell this is something he is passionate about. I really don't ask him too much about his personal life but he confirms that he doesn't have a girlfriend and currently doesn't have any relationship at the moment. Jeez, for such a good-looking guy, this really surprises me.

Before I realize it, it's almost eleven pm, and though I won't turn into a pumpkin at midnight, I feel the need to get home. Christian gets the waitress and hands her a fifty dollar bill, though I don't think one glass of wine and my sparkling water costs that much. So not only is he eye-candy for her, he gave her a generous tip!

He escorts me out of the lounge, to the lobby and keeps his hand at the small of my back, which I reveal in his touch.

When we get outside to the valet, he grabs the ticket from my hand and give it to the valet along with another ticket. "Please charge these to the GEH account", he tells the valet.

"Thank you Christian, you didn't have to do that", and I just called him by his first name for the first time.

"My pleasure Anastasia", and his gray eyes sparkle down at me. "Do you have plans for Sunday evening?"

"No. Would you like to meet up again?"

"Yes, I would like to have dinner with you. Would you be okay coming to my place or am I still a stranger?"

I can't help but giggle. "No, I think your friendly enough now. Sunday evening at your place sounds like a nice idea".

He smiles so I see his perfect teeth. "I'll call you with my address over the weekend".

Just then, the valet comes around with my car.

He raises an eyebrow at me. "A red Audi? They must pay you well at SIP".

"No, they really don't. It was Leila's".

"I thought so", he says as he walks me over to the driver side of the car. He grabs my hand before I get in and pulls me into him.

"Thank you for a lovely evening, Anastasia", he whispers in my ear. When I pull away slightly so I can look at him, his gray eyes are darker and hooded. He leans down and kisses me softly on the mouth. As I part my lips, I feel his tongue glide along my bottom lip. But before I can taste his mouth, he pulls away, leaving me breathless and wanting more.

"You're welcome, Mr. Grey", I breathe and I finally open my eyes.

I take a deep breath and realize the moment is over and I get in the car. I watch Christian walk towards a black, fancy, sports car that pulled up behind my car. He passes something to the valet and gets into the car as I drive away.