APOV

I can't believe my first encounter with the CEO was so embarrassing.

Smart one, Ana, not knowing what your big boss looks like.

I can only hope if I see him again, I wont embarrass myself. Now that I know what he looks like, it should go a little more smoothly.

I'm walking back to GEH after my lunch break is over. I wasn't that hungry so I just grabbed a Banana Nut Muffin at a small café near Grey House, and read my book until it was time to go back to GEH.

I feel my phone buzzing so I check to see who it is. Kate.

Hey Ana! How's your first day going, sweetie? -KK

I am so not telling Kate about my first interaction with Mr. Grey via text.

Looks like I'll need to grab a bottle of wine before I go home tonight.

I send Kate a quick text saying I'll talk to her when we get home, then I put my phone back in my bag and just as I look up.

BAM!

I bump into someone.

They wrap their strong arms around my waist, pulling me close, causing me to put my hands up, palms flat and on their hard chest. I'm instantly hit with a strong intoxicating masculine scent.

"I'm so sorr..." I look up to see non other than my boss. Well, my boss's, boss's, boss. Christian Grey himself!

He's staring down at me with a weird look on his face, probably because I'm pressed against him after colliding with him on the sidewalk.

So much for our next encounter not being embarrassing.

"I'm so very sorry, sir."

I pull away from his hold and hurry into the building before he can fire me.

Fortunately, or maybe even unfortunately, I don't see Mr. Grey the rest of the day.

CPOV

"Grey." I answer my phone without checking the caller.

"Hey, Bro!" Elliot's voice comes through my phone. "Wanna grab lunch?"

Hmmm... If we meet up, it gives me a reason to go down to the ground floor to see My Beauty.

"Sure. Mile High?"

"Really?!" He sounds shocked that I actually agreed. "Wow, cool! I'm near the Mile High, so I'll meet you there soon?"

"On my way."

"Laters."

I hang up with Elliot and head to my elevator.

"Andrea, I'm going out to lunch." I let her know as I stride passed her desk.

I push the button and the elevator doors open immediately.

I straighten my tie and run my fingers through my hair while looking at myself in the reflective mirrored glass of the elevator.

~DING~

The elevator opens and I begin to walk towards My Beauty's desk.

Damn! She's not there. She must be out to lunch.

I continue to walk, without stopping, and just as I get outside my phone buzzes.

It's a text from Elliot letting me know he's at the Mile High Club.

I'll be there in 10. -CG

I put my phone back into my pocket and- BAM!

Some fucker decides to ruin my day by running into me. Okay, so I also was not paying attention.

Instinctively I wrap my arms around her tiny figure as to not let her fall. Whoever she is, she smells amazing, like vanilla, honey and coconuts. I pull her towards me which causes her to put both palms flat on my chest! What the fuck?! No pain?! How is that even possible?!

"I'm so sorr..." Comes the soft voice of the girl. She suddenly stops talking.

When I look down, she is looking up at me with big beautiful blue eyes. It's My Beauty.

My beautiful girl blushes even more.

"I'm so sorry, sir."

She gets out of my hold and rushes into GEH, leaving more confused.

I run my hand through my hair as I watch her retreat.

Fuck Elliot. I need Flynn!

~..~..~

I arrive at the Mile High minutes later and am shown my usually table where my brother is waiting.

"Hey, Bro!"

"Elliot." I shake his hand.

We order our food and drinks.

Halfway through our meal Elliot continues on about me going clubbing with him.

"So... You gonna go out with me tonight? Pick up chicks?"

"No."

"Oh, come on, man. We could go to one of those ABCDEFG clubs first, find you one, then go find me one at this new club I wanna check out. I need to get laid and judging by the look on your face so do you."

Yes, Elliot knows about my BDSM lifestyle. Elliot doesn't know about Elena's involvement other than what happened when I was 21.

It's kind of impossible to hide a Playroom in my penthouse when my family drops by unannounced. Luckily, none have meet any of my submissives. He came over one weekend, that Taylor had off to be with his daughter, and found me in my 'Sex Dungeon' as he called it. Luckily, I didn't have a submissive then.

"No."

"Alright, but if you change your mind, I could use a wingman."

~..~..~

Instead of going back to Grey House, I go to Flynn's for an emergency session.

"Christian, are you just going to sit there, or are you going to tell me why you needed an unscheduled visit?"

I sigh and rub my face with both hands, pulling them through my hair.

"Do you think I could do the normal vanilla thing?"

"Where is this coming from? I understand your family tried to get you into 'normal' relationships, although there is no such thing as 'normal' relationships. It's all about two people in a Safe, Sane, Consensual relationship, regardless if it involves pain or pleasure. BDSM or not. Are you considering cutting BDSM from your life to accommodate your parents' expectations?"

"No. ... Yes. ... No, I can't. ... I don't know."

"Christian, we've talked about this. BDSM is a lifestyle choice. You can choose to participate in it or not."

"I. ... I ran into someone today. She touched me." I say as I pick a piece of lint off my pants.

Flynn looks worried, he knows how I react if I'm touched in my forbidden zone, but tries to stay impassive.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" He asks confused.

"It didn't hurt. I felt no pain. How is that possible? My own mother can't even hug me, but this girl can just put her hands on me and all I felt was warmth."

"Do you know this girl?"

"Anastasia. And no. Not really. I only just meet her today. She's a receptionist at GEH. She didn't even know who I was." I laugh when I remember our encounter this morning. "She's so beautiful. I. ... I want her."

Flynn nods and writes something on his yellow pad of paper. His tablet is on the mends.

"Why don't you ask her to dinner?"

"As in a date?" I snort. "I don't date, Flynn."

"What are you expecting of her? If she's a nice young lady, she would expect a date. Do you want her as your submissive?"

"Yes. ... No. ... I don't know, Fuck!" I sigh.

Can I be what she wants? Can she be what I need?

I put my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands.

"You wont know unless you talk." He responds like I asked that out loud. "You can talk over dinner."

I look up at Flynn. "That's the best you've got?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "It's a suggestion."

"Thanks!" I bark sarcastically.

~..~..~

"No! No! NO!"

I bolt upright in my bed, waking from yet another night terror.

I change from my sweat covered pajamas into a fresh dry pair, then I head to my piano to play and think.

Maybe I could try a vanilla relationship. If I want her, I'll have to. I can't bring my Beauty into my world of darkness.