I pull out a chair for her before sitting down next to her.
"I think you know my sister Mia?" I start.
"Yes I do, hello Mia, nice to see you again, I love your dress, perfect colour for you" she says with a genuine smile.
"Thank you Ana, I was about to say the same about yours" Mia smiles back.
"So Mr Grey…"
"Please call me Christian" I interrupt.
"Very well Christian, tell me about yourself" she says.
"Ladies first please" I really want to know all about her.
"Ok, I graduated from university with a degree in mechanical engineering, I now work for my Dad but I think you already knew that?"
"Ray Steele?" I feel somewhat confused.
"Yes, well he is not my biological father but he has been my Dad for the last 18 years or so"
"I did meet him briefly a week or so ago with regards to his racing team" I am feeling a little uncomfortable now.
"He told me he had met you but you declined his business offer" she looks a little miffed.
"Purely a business decision I assure you." But now, I may need to reconsider. I feel like I have started to sweat.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time for our newly introduced couples to start the evening's dancing" The MC announces.
Phew, saved by the bell. I offer my hand to lead her to the dance floor and along with the other 5 or so couples we begin dancing. She is light on her feet and moves with such Grace and poise. I look around at the tables and see my Mom sitting with her hands clutched together, looking a little teary eyed as Ana and I dance. I get the feeling Mom will be pestering me about Ana too.
Finally it's time for the others to join us dancing, it gets a little crowded and we accidentally knock into Elliot who is dancing with Dad's business partner's wife.
"Oops sorry Elliot" I say "Oh I would like you to meet Ana, Ana Steele, this is my brother Elliot"
His mouth is open and he mumbles hello when shaking her hand.
"Pleasure to meet you Elliot" and we whirl off again leaving him standing looking slightly shocked.
"You don't really look like brothers" Ana mentions.
"We are not biologically related, Elliot, Mia and I are all adopted" I say.
"Sorry I didn't mean to intrude" she looks a little embarrassed.
"Not at all, being adopted was the best thing that happened to me and I am pretty certain Elliot and Mia feel the same way too" in fact I know they do.
"I'm glad for you all, my dad left my Mom when I was about 3 years old, then Ray came into our lives, became the father I always imagined I would have and he brought me up as his own" she shares.
That's wonderful, he seems like a very genuine man" I smile and she nods back.
The music stops and Ana goes to the ladies room, Elliot walks over…
"Wow, she is beautiful, I can see why you bid for her. Did you know she was Ray Steele's daughter?" he asks.
"Not until Mia told me" I reply.
"Mia knows her?!" his mouth gapes again.
"Yes she does, I haven't found out how or why yet" Elliot shrugs and walks off and I take a few moments to check my blackberry and reel off a couple of messages before Ana returns.
"Would you like to dance again Ana?" I take her hand.
"I would like another drink first please" she answers so we walk over to the bar. Mom happens to be standing close by and she walks over…
"Christian, I hope you are having a nice time and who is this beautiful lady?" she beams.
"Mom, this is Miss Anastasia Steele, Ana this is my Mom, Dr Grace Trevelyan-Grey" they brush cheeks.
"You have a lovely family Dr Trevelyan-Grey and this is such a wonderful event for a fantastic cause. I hope it has been very successful" she adds.
"Please call me Grace and thank you, it has been a great success. Christian, have you seen your father?"
"No sorry Mom I haven't"
"Lovely to have met you Ana but I must go and find my husband"
"It was a pleasure Grace" Ana replies and Mom is gone.
"What would you like to drink Ana?"
"A Bailey's Cinnamon Spice please" the barman obviously knows what she means because it's a new drink on me.
"I will have a Manhattan please" our drinks appear after a few moments and I once again invite her back to my table.
"So where did you complete your degree?"
"UC Berkley. I was lucky to get a scholarship and I completed the degree a year early so I graduated at 21. I started working as an engineer for GM motors. I love American muscle cars and have a fondness for Chevies since my dad used to drive them. However the corporate world was not to my liking so I decided to work for my dad."
"That must have been a huge change but I imagine it must be exciting working in NASCAR, the atmosphere, the challenge and the danger?" I dig.
"I love it, I wouldn't be anywhere else to be honest" she admits "What about you? GEH must have taken some energy to build up to the success it is today"
"I started it with $100.000 I borrowed from a friend, I admit I got lucky with some deals early on but they cemented the business and reputation, we have gone from strength to strength since. I started University doing Economics but quit before the end."
"Oh I wasn't expecting that, I felt sure you would have degrees coming out of your ears" she giggles and I feel instantly turned on.
"It just wasn't for me" I don't want to go into my past with her right now but there is now an awkward silence between us.
"Ana sweetie there you are, thought I had lost you for a moment" a tall, slim brunette is walking over to us.
"Kate honey, I'm ok" she reassures her friend "Kate, this is Christian Grey of GEH, Christian, this is Kate Kavanagh of Kavanagh Media" we politely shake hands but I feel a little uneasy at a media moguls daughter knowing about any of our discussions.
"Aren't you going to introduce me Christian?" Elliot's voice startles me as he walks up behind.
"Of course, Kate, this is my brother Elliot and…"
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance Kate" Elliot says as he kisses the top of her hand, she visibly blushes and lowers her eyes.
"Hello Elliot, pleased to meet you" Kate shyly says.
"Can I interest you in a dance Kate?" He asks her and she takes his hand towards the dance floor.
"Oh I don't think I have ever seen Elliot so smitten, Is Kate dating anyone?"
"Not that she has told me" Ana responds with a smile "We actually live together" my face must have dropped "Not like that Christian, I rent a room from her, her family owns the apartment we live in"
"Oh I see" I relax again "How did you meet?"
"We went to university together, shared a house with another girl before we went into our respective professions but when I decided to work for Dad she offered her apartment and I have been there ever since"
"So you live in Seattle then?" I ask.
"Yes I do, I am not far from the stadium which is handy" she tells me.
"Indeed, it must be"
"Hello Christian, sorry I have been engaged all evening" Dad says apologetically.
"Hi Dad, don't worry, you have guests to look after, this is Ana Steele, Ana, this is my Dad, Carrick"
"Hello Ana, lovely to meet you" Dad says.
"Likewise" Ana responds with that becoming all too familiar sexy smile.
A distant call from Mom takes Dad away again and we are alone once again.
"Well, you have met all the family" I chuckle and she responds with a sexy throaty laugh, I can feel him stirring, think of something boring Christian otherwise this is going to get seriously awkward so I concentrate on a marmite sandwich, you either love it or hate it and I hate it but it does the trick and he settles down again.
I see Ana looking at her watch "It's getting late, this evening has flown by but I have had a lot of fun, I had better go back to my table and find my lift home"
"You have to go already? It's not that late" I sound slightly desperate but I don't want to watch her leave, I want her to stay with me, here, forever.
"I have to work tomorrow, we have a lot of things to sort in the coming weeks" she sounds sad "Thank you I have really had a lovely evening"
"So have I" Quick Christian say something "Will I see you again?"
"I don't know Mr Grey, will you ask?" she smiles and is gone.
Damn, damn, damn you fool Grey, why didn't you just ask if you could see her again.
With the evening over and the various organisations beginning the tidying up process, I get a glass of water, say goodnight to my parents and Mia, I don't see Elliot anywhere so I am guessing he has gone already so I climb the stairs, drop my tuxedo on the floor before heading to a much needed shower and my bed.
The morning sunlight feels most unwelcome, it has disturbed me from a very sexy dream I was having about Ana but I reluctantly get up, wash and dress myself before going to the breakfast room where Mom has laid out a huge spread including continental meats and spreads, croissants, scrambled egg, toast and jam, coffee, tea and juice. I take a small selection and some juice before sitting at the bar. Mia enters a short while later followed by Elliot.
"Morning Elliot, morning Mia" I say as brightly as I can muster.
"Morning Christian, so tell me, what did you think of Ana yesterday? Elliot, you seemed pretty taken with Kate, do I detect some dating possibilities here?"
"NO!" Elliot and I both say in unison.
"Oh you guys are just so boring" She grabs a croissant and disappears out into the garden.
"Do you have a busy week this coming week Elliot?" I say trying to start some sort of conversation that doesn't involve Steele Racing, NASCAR, Ana or Kate.
"Yeah, big job just starting not far from here actually, should keep me busy for 2 months which is great" he replies with slight terseness in his voice.
"That's really great Elliot" I smile.
"And Mom is pleased because I said I can drop in for lunch or dinner occasionally" he adds.
"Mom will love that" she will be absolutely ecstatic to see Elliot a little more even if it is for a short length of time.
"Anyways, I am heading home now, do you need a lift back into town?" I ask.
"No thanks, I have my car here" Elliot declines my offer.
"Take care bro and see you soon" I gently thump his arm on the way out.
"Laters!" I hear Elliot mumble, I guess he is still mad at me. I say my goodbyes to everyone else and then head home to prepare for the following weeks meetings.
Monday morning is even less welcome and I literally drag myself out of bed, into the shower and dress for the day. Andrea hands me some papers on arrival and the packed schedule for the day. Oh good, I have 30 minutes for lunch, fantastic…not!
I switch on the computer system, log in and check my e-mails, clearing out 50 trash messages as I go. The intercom buzzes…
"Mr Grey, your 9 o'clock appointment has arrived, shall I send him in?" Andrea asks.
"Yes please do Andrea and coffee when you have a moment"
The door opens and Andrea shows in my appointment.
"Hello Mr Grey"
"Good morning Ray"