APOV

Kate and I are having dinner. I need to tell her about my date with Christian Grey, and convince her to tag along, so nothing happens.

"I have a date." I blurt out nonchalantly, continuing to eat as if it is no big deal. Because it's not.

Kate stops her fork in midair to her mouth.

"What?!"

"I have a-"

"I heard you! With who?!"

"Christian Grey." I whisper.

"WHAT?!" Kate drops her fork now.

I just stay quiet.

"Chri- Gre-" Kate grabs my hand and drags me to our sofa.

"How? Tell me EVERYTHING! Ana! I need details!"

"There's nothing to tell. He asked, I accepted." Now to get Kate to join. "On the terms that you and Elliot join us."

"No way, Ana! As much as I would love to see this. You can do it."

"I went with you when you begged me to join you and Elliot at his parents barbeque. I didn't even want to go."

"Ugh. Fine!"

"Thanks, Kate."

"This is going to be FUN! You know what this means right?"

"Should I?"

"We have to go shopping!" Kate squeals. "You have to wear something unbelievably sexy. Oh! I have the perfect shoes! Be right back!"

Kate jumps up and runs to her room, coming back moments later with a pair of thigh high 6 inch killer heel boots.

"Kate! I am not wearing those!" Is she crazy?! She's crazy!

Kate looks at them. "You're right. Too Pretty Woman."

She runs off and comes back with another pair, I'm not sure are any better. This time with a pair of leopard print platform heels with red soles.

Seriously Kate!

I sigh and put my head in my hands rubbing my temples.

"Kate." I say getting frustrated.

"Right, sorry. Too wild sexy." She goes back to her room.

I am dreading what the next pair will look like.

I look up when she comes back out.

"What, no ice skates?" She's empty handed.

"We need to find Ana sexy, not Kate sexy."

Kate insists I wear a dress to show off my 'killer legs', but this has to be the shortest dress ever.

I'm standing in the dressing room looking at myself in the mirror. I look... Well to be honest, I must admit, I do look good. It's a 3/4 sleeve black mini dress. It doesn't look so bad, however, it is completely backless, as in I can't even wear a bra since it goes down to my lower back almost to my ass.

"Ana, open up." Kate knocks on the door. "I found some heels."

I open the door for her, and she comes inside, closing the door behind her.

"Look at these heels I found, they are-" Kate stops talking and her jaw is practically on the floor.

Maybe I don't look as good as I thought.

"Kate?" I say nervously.

"Wow, Ana." Kate say slowly.

"What? Is it too much?" I ask turning to look at the backless back in the mirror again.

"It's perfect. You look amazing."

"Thanks."

"I found some heels." Still in a daze, she hands me the more Ana, less Kate heels.

"Well." I spin around, after I put the heels on, as slowly and gracefully as I can.

"You have to get that dress. It's the one!" She says excitedly, finally coming out of her trance. "And then let me borrow it when you're done!"

We laugh, pay for our things, and head home.

The next morning at GEH.

Where's Becca? She's usually here before me. Oh well. Better get to work.

"Anastasia." I look up. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Mr. Grey." I say nonchalantly.

Looking back down I continue with my work.

Thankfully he continues to walk passed my desk and toward the elevators.

~..~..~

I go to the corner deli for lunch. It's quickly becoming my favorite because their sandwiches are delicious.

I place my order, get my food, turn around and- What is he doing here?

Mr. Grey is sitting at a corner table smiling at me.

Instead of eating here, I'll eat outside, or back at GEH in the receptionist's break room.

"Anastasia."

I stop from walking towards the door to walk over to him.

"Are you stalking me now?!" I say in a loud whisper.

"I believe I was here first. That would make you the stalker."

"Uh huh. I'm sure this is the top deli all the CEOs go to."

"Would you care to join me?" He waves his hand toward the empty chair across from him ignoring my hostility.

"No thank you, Mr. Grey."

"It's just lunch, Anastasia." He sounds frustrated. Good.

I look around to see if any co-workers are here. None are here so I huff, sitting down. He's all smiles.

"So are you trading your dinner date for a lunch date then?" I ask as I begin eating my sandwich.

"Of course not. This could be a business lunch if you'd like."

Business is Business. Pleasure is Pleasure.

"What business are we discussing?" I ask, as there really is no 'business' I would have with the CEO.

"How are you liking GEH?"

"It's nice." I shrug, continuing to eat so I can get out of here.

"Just nice? I'm sure we can do better than nice."

I shrug. "It's not my thing, but it's... Okay. With the exception of the CEO stalking me." I smirk, taking another bite of my sandwich.

"What is your thing, Anastasia?" Why does he sound like he knows something? Hmmm... No, he couldn't.

"Books!" I blurt out.

"Books?" He looks surprised by my answer.

"Yes. I'd like to get into publishing. My dream is to become an editor." I smile.

"Interesting. Why are you working as a receptionist for my company then?

"There were no publishing companies hiring, and I don't have enough experience in the field, regardless of my degree I spent four years to get." I explain. "I'm hoping working for GEH will give me the business experience I need so when publishing companies are hiring, they will hire me."

Wow, this is the most I've spoken to him and I'm not stuttering like a fool. I'm actually comfortable talking to him now, however, I am practically saying I'm only with his company for one reason. Like I'm using him.

"I see. You like to read then?"

"Yes. But don't worry, I wont hold you to any high expectations on the date. I'm not a princess and this is not a fairytale. It's reality. Besides, I'm sure you don't have a white horse just sitting around." I giggle at the thought of him having a white horse or being a knight in shinning armor.

"I could get one." He says serious, causing me to stop giggling and look at him.

He really is handsome. No, Ana!

"I'm sure you could." I get up. "I have to go, my break is almost over, Mr. Grey."

I walk out of the deli, and go back to GEH.

The last two mornings I've gotten to GEH before Becca. I don't know why she's late.

I put my bag away and sit at the reception desk to start another day at GEH.

"Good morning, Anastasia."

I look up hearing his sexy baritone voice.

Oh, gosh! Why is he walking over here?

"Good morning, Mr. Grey. May I help with something?"

"No. I got you a coffee." He tries handing me a to-go cup.

"Thanks, but I don't drink coffee."

"Who doesn't drink coffee?" He says like it's unheard of.

"Me." I go back to work without accepting the cup.

"A muffin then?"

Why wont he leave me alone?

"Mr. Grey." I say annoyed. "I agreed to the date, and I believe one of my conditions was to not bother me until the date, however, since I've agreed, you've been nothing but a bother. Is this your way of realizing you messed up and don't want the date? Because if it is, just say so and cancel instead of playing games. Otherwise, leave me be until the date like we agreed. I mean, do you do this with all your other 40,000 or however many employees? The emails, texts, breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner dates? I don't think so. Please! Just let me do my job. I came here to work."

Immediately after my rant I feel terrible. He's just trying to be nice, Ana!

But why?

I start to apologize, "I-" ,but he interrupts me.

"I wont bother you again until our date, Anastasia."

He walks away upset.

Great!

I send him a text since I now have his cell number.

Sorry. -A

He doesn't reply.

You've done it now Ana!

"Morning, Ana." Becca says in her now snippy tone.

"Good morning." I say to her politely.

There is something different about her. Were her eyes always that blue? I never really noticed, but I don't think they were blue at all.

True to his word, Mr. Grey has not bothered me the rest of the week. He still says 'Good morning, Anastasia' so he must not be upset with me.