Chapter 3

A/N: Way fewer reviews on the last chapter but still a lot of new followers and favorites. Regardless of the reviews, Thank you to everyone that is reading this story and is enjoying it so much!

I am exceptionally sorry for the long delay in this chapter. With real life, i.e. work and kid, on top of being sick and trying to keep out of the hospital with an upper respiratory infection, bronchitis and pneumonia, well it's just late and I apologize.

There is a bit of a difference in Ana in this story. She will be more guarded and a lot less naïve with a slightly different back story. Not by much but by a little. More will come out in later chapters but I wanted you all to know.

All mistakes are mine and as always, the characters belong to E.L. James, I'm just playing around with them for a bit.

CPOV

Well fuck me! I can't believe that this stunning woman is Steele's daughter! Fuck. She's absolutely perfect, at first glance anyway, to what I require in a sub. With the way she was sitting with her ankles crossed, hands in her lap and looking down. I have to admit I found it irritating though that as someone was speaking to her she didn't seem to even acknowledge that person as being there. I'll have to find out what Elena was speaking to her about.

"Mr. Grey. It's nice to meet you"

Her words are said the most melodic voice I've ever heard as she reaches out to shake my hand and for a few seconds I'm taken aback by its beauty. Just like her.

"Miss Steele." I say as I take her hand and I feel it. This jolt that passes right through me to my core. Looking at her I see her eyes widen just a bit as she meets my gaze.

Looking into those striking guileless blue eyes I see surprise. She felt it too. It's almost like we are the only two people in the lobby. I notice no one else. Just this amazing creature in front of me but am soon broken from my reverie when I hear someone clearing their throat. Turning I realize that Elena is now standing right next to me where a moment ago she was starting to walk towards the entrance of the building.

I immediately drop her hand and turn to Elena; who if not for the botox injections she gets every couple of months, I'm sure would be scowling at me. But I don't acknowledge her right now. I now she is trying to command me to her. She can obviously see my attraction to this girl. Hell she's the one who finds all my subs. She knows my preferences and therefore knows this slip of a girl in front of me would fit my needs beautifully.

Turning back to the girl and give her a smile, "It was my pleasure." Stressing the word my, when I notice the quick scowl from Welch before his expression goes blank. Well except for his eyes, they've hardened.

Giving a quick nod to the two men, "Gentlemen." I acknowledge them then turn and take Elena's elbow and lead her from the lobby and out to my waiting SUV to take us to lunch.

I can hear Elena protesting. She's angry with the way that I led her from the building. I don't fucking care that she's pissed, fuck I just needed to get out of there. I was giving too much away standing there in her presence. Welch will realize what was going through my head sooner rather than later, and as he knows all about my proclivities I doubt that he would let me anywhere near the delectable Miss Steele. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he's warning her now.

Welch knows of my inclinations. Hell he's done the final background checks on almost all of my subs. Ten out of fourteen. They are all the same. Petite, brunette long hair, light eyes, all educated. That's the physical anyway. He scrutinized every item of their background. Bank account info; employment information; siblings; parents; relationships; he digs in every crevasse and cranny looking for any potential disturbance or anything that could be a hindrance to me getting what I need from them.

Of course Elena does, and always has done, the preliminary background checks and reference checks of previous Doms as well as recommendations before we ever meet. She's the only person to have vetted all fourteen of my previous subs. Honestly without her help I probably would have had to continue to use the clubs around the city to find what I wanted, what I needed. And let's be honest someone with my strict preference to the physical appearance of a potential sub could and more than likely would be left unsatisfied.

I'm in my own head, so deep in thought about the daughter of a now employee it's unsettling. Her amazing blue eyes framed by extraordinarily long lashes, porcelain skin, dark mahogany hair and lush full lips. What I wouldn't do to see those lips wrapped around my hard cock as she looks up at me through those long lashes with those baby blues.

I'm so lost in my thoughts I didn't realize that the car has stopped in front of Elena's favorite little tapas bar. I'm not particularly fond of the place but for some reason we always eat here when we meet. She's told me that she likes the small sizes and variety of items. She once even told me that she liked it because they serve the food family style and we had to share the dishes. After that comment I made it understood with the wait staff that two orders of everything ordered would need to make it to the table. I don't want to share my plates with Elena. Hell I do good to tolerate her most days. I need her so I have to tolerate her. But the place does have a decent wine list so usually I can just deal with everything else.

Suddenly my door opens and it brings me to the present. The here and now and that pisses me off. I am no longer in the mood for dealing with Elena. But I know that I will need to suck it up. I am in need of a new sub. She has the files of four women that she wants me to look over and to set up times for interviews if any of them meet my liking.

Getting out of the car I find a scowling Elena on the sidewalk, waiting.

"Christian. What the hell is wrong with you?" she hisses at me.

She hasn't yet figured out that she no longer intimidates me. Even after all this time. We've been over for almost six years now. You would think she would learn.

Looking her in the eye, squaring my shoulders, in Dom mode myself as I walk by her. "Nothing Elena. I don't have a lot of time. I have a meeting to get back to so let's get lunch and discuss what we came her to discuss."

The hostess greets us when we enter and escorts us to a secluded table in the back of the restaurant. I order a bottle of 2011 Puligny-Montrachet.

"Wow, must have been a bad morning?" Elena asks as the server leaves the table to get the wine and we peruse the menu.

Glancing up at her, "Not really. Why?"

I hate this small talk but it is necessary. I have to tolerate her to get what I need from her so that I don't have to worry about going to one of the BDSM clubs around town.

"You don't usually order a $200 bottle of wine at lunch, Christian."

"I don't care about the price, Elena. You know that. It's what I felt like having. So I am having it." Addressing her question in a roundabout way, but quirking an eyebrow at her challenging her to continue to question me.

We both sit silent staring at each other, as the server comes back with the wine and goes through the motions of opening the bottle and serving me the tasting sip, to which I nod approval, and he pours a glass for both myself and Elena before taking our orders and scurrying away.

Taking another sip of the wine, I realize that it reminds me of the girl. Steele's daughter. Or should I say at least my first impression of her. Scintillating and electric with a depth that is unknown to me but with a brilliance that shines through. I imagine her to be like the wine, silky to the touch but definitely with a determination not to be undermined.

What the fuck is wrong with me! Am I really comparing a girl that I just met for all of two minutes to a bottle of wine? Thinking about her continuously since I got off of the elevator in my building and saw her sitting in my lobby.

Fuck, Elena's talking again. I don't understand why she can't just email me the information about the salons. Meet every week and she tells me how the salons are going. Looking for my input on how to make the chain bigger and better. But then when I am in need of a new sub, we have to go through all this bullshit. It's much easier between us when my need isn't front and center. For some reason, each and every time my need for a new sub comes up she hounds me for a couple of weeks, offering herself to me in my lull between subs. Like I would ever step foot in my playroom, or anyone else's for that matter, with her ever again.

I always find it offensive. Though I have never told her that. In the end I still need her but I never want to have to walk into my office again and find her sitting in my chair, behind my desk, with nothing on but a black 'G' string and black thigh high boots twirling a pair of leather handcuffs with a ball gag already in place. Closing my eyes for a moment to rid myself of that unpleasant memory, I try to follow what Elena has said this entire time.

I have barely paid attention to my lunch, eating out of habit never noticing the food, let alone paying attention to most of what Elena has said. I offer the occasional hum or ahh, in the appropriate moments, feigning interest. I don't give a damn about her fucking salons and I damn sure don't want to fuck her so testing all my control and patience until after the waiter has cleared our table she finally brings up the subject that brought me here to begin with. The subs. This I need to pay attention to and put this girl out of my head.

"I have three prospective interviewees for you. All their information is here, along with their pictures." She says as she slides over three files the table in my direction.

Opening the first file, there is a photo of a girl. Giving her a cursory look over, I turn to her bio. Jennifer Lewis, 30 years old; nurse. Glowing recommendations from three previous Doms. Never used her safe word. Hmmmm… Looking back to the picture, taking a closer look. Round face, button nosed, thin lips, light brown shoulder length hair, and hazel eyes.

My preference has always been petite women with long hair, hitting somewhere in the mid-back; pale complexion and light eyes. Though adamant about a subs hair color I have never been inflexible on eye color, as long as they are light. But looking at this picture, I know instinctively this woman is not what I am looking for and closing the file, slide it back to Elena.

"Not interested."

She smirks but takes the file and sets it in front of her. She doesn't say anything. She knows me. She knows what I like and regardless of recommendations or not, Ms. Lewis isn't it and it pisses me off that Elena would try to pass that off as an experienced sub to my liking

Opening the second file I immediately notice that the woman has chocolate-brown eyes. Slamming the file shut without looking any further. I look over at Elena and see her smirking.

Again passing the file back to her. "This isn't a game, Elena. What the fuck. You know what I'm interested in. Why waste my time?" I hiss at her.

"Darling, I don't know what you mean. You've only looked at two files, and one you only looked at a picture. How do you know that they won't suit your needs? None of them have ever used a safe word and all three have very few limits. You need to look deeper instead of just blowing them off. I know you must be at your wits end by now. It's been months since the last one…what's was her name?"

"Molly."

"Ah, yes. Molly. Horrible nasty attitude in person but a good sub, nonetheless."

Shaking my head at her as I open the least file. "What the fuck Elena! She's a fucking blonde!"

"Don't you dare take that tone with me! Now calm yourself down. Look past the pictures for God's sake Christian. I own and run the best hair salons in the damn state. Hair color can change, extensions added. I may not be able to change eye color to suit you but a fucking optometrist can. It's called contacts! Shit.

"Read the bios. Read the recommendations. Visualize what you need and think about if one of these woman can give that to you," she stands, grabs her purse and before turning away says, "thank you for lunch. Call me tomorrow and let me know your decision and I'll set the interviews up."

With that last statement she turns on her heel and walks away leaving the files with me to look over. She's right of course. Hair color, eye color even a person's complexion can change with the help of a few professionals.

Darker longer hair and a few less trips to the tanning salon would help Ms. Lewis. But the fact that she works at the same hospital as my mother puts a stop to her immediately. – Ok so valid reason to dismiss file number 1.

Pulling out file number 2 again. Elizabeth Morgan, 28; Head of Human Resources. Sitting staring at her picture I admit she is pretty, in a conventional way. But I don't think that I can get past her eye color. No colored contact is going to make her have lighter eyes. No I can't visualize her in my playroom at all. – Dismiss. Shallow I know but it is what it is.

Opening file number 3. Samantha Readdy, 28; teacher. Blonde, blue eyes, full lips, heart-shaped face. Beautiful. Information that she was introduced into the lifestyle about five years ago and in that time she's had four Doms. Each and every one of them gave amazing recommendations. One went so far as to say that he has yet to find a sub anywhere near as good as she was. – Hmmm ok, maybe I did dismiss too early on this one. Again Elena can change her hair color then there wouldn't be a problem.

After making it back to Grey House, I know that I've finally made my decision to call Elena and set the interview for Ms. Readdy. Excited by the prospect of finally getting what I need again, so distracted with my thoughts on how I will assess this potential new sub, I did not see anyone or anything as I made my way across the lobby to the elevator bank.

About halfway to the elevators I hit something. Or more like someone. "What the fuck?" I yell out.

"Shit. Sorry."

I look down and instantly realize that the person that bumped into me was sitting on the floor, looking up at me with those amazing ocean blue eyes wide. The bell like quality of her voice warming me instantly. Bending down to help her up, I again feel that spark.

"No harm done. In a hurry Miss Steele?" I ask as I steady her on her feet and then reach down to pick up her purse and hand it back to her.

Taking her purse, I see the blush slowly spread up her cheeks and causing my dick to twitch. "Thank you Mr. Grey. A bit. I'm supposed to be meeting a friend … Nevermind." She says shaking her head before continuing with, "Anyway, I'm a klutz. I…I guess I can't text and walk at the same time… I'm really sorry Mr. Grey."

And before I can respond she turns and leaves. She's gone. Just walks out of the lobby and left me standing there, looking after her.

That's when I notice everyone staring. What the fuck is wrong with these people? I pay them to work not stand around and gawk at shit.

I yell out, "GET BACK TO WORK PEOPLE!" As I turn and walk to my private elevator feeling … bereft. It's a not a new feeling. I've felt it before, but it does make me wonder why I'm feeling now.