BeccaPOV

"Hey, Becca," Chelsea greets me when I make it back to reception after my phone conversation with my Mistress. "Deb just called looking for you. She wants to talk to you."

"Thanks, Chelsea."

I go to Deb's office, wondering what she wants me for.

"You wanted to see me, Deb?" I walk in, without knocking, since her door is open.

"Yes."

She gestures towards a seat across from her, so I sit.

"It has come to my attention that you've been late a few days last week. You know company policy. I'm sorry but you're fired."

What the hell? Fired! I thought me being late would make him want to punish me, not fire me.

"What?! I've been here for three years! It was only a couple days."

"As I've said, you should know. It was more than a couple days Rebecca, it was everyday. I've checked the computer system. I'm sorry, but you are no longer employed by GEH. Security will escort you out."

Oh well. I got what I wanted; a full time Dom to train me.

CPOV

"Taylor, I need to go to Esclava." I snap entering his office. "Now!"

"Yes, sir." I can't tell if he's pissed or happy, impassive as ever.

"Rebecca Anderson is a threat." I tell him as we make our way to the SUV. "She knows, Taylor." And he'll know what I'm referring to.

"I'll put her on your threats list, sir." He tells me as he opens my door. "May I ask how she found out?"

"I don't know, but I am going to find out, that's why I need to see Elena."

I get inside the SUV, wait until Taylor is in the driver's seat, before I continue.

"She needs to sign an NDA."

"Sir, all GEH employees are required to sign an NDA." He reminds me of what I already know.

I'm flustered here, okay. Someone knows who shouldn't.

"I also want someone on Anastasia. Covert." I continue. No one knows of our involvement yet, however, Rebecca does, I'm sure. "I think Rebecca may be a threat to her as well. I spoke to Debra Martin and she has fired Ms. Anderson for being late all week, so she should no longer be allowed at Grey House."

"Yes, sir. I'll put Luke Sawyer on Miss Steele in the morning, sir."

I nod, satisfied for the time being. "See that you do."

~At Esclava Salon~

"Hello, Mr. Grey, can I help you today, sir?" Greta greets me when I walk in.

"Where is she?"

"Who, sir?"

"Elena!" Who else would I be asking for?!

"Christian, darling, this is a surprise." Elena comes up to us before Greta can get anymore annoying.

"I need to speak to you, Now!" I bark in my CEO/Dom voice so she knows I mean business.

"Of course." I walk towards her office before we can exchange anything further.

"Whatever is this about?" She asks once we've got inside her office.

"Rebecca. Anderson." I growl the name separately.

"What of her?" She asks, seeming oblivious. "I believe she was on the list of bottoms I sent to you. Not really your type. Is she the one you want?"

"Fuck no! She knows I'm a Dom. How?!"

"I'm not sure, darling, I just called her and-"

"Don't give me that shit, Elena! She knows I'm a Dom. How the fuck could she know?! The common denominator is you!" I seethe.

"As I've said, I have no idea!" She stands tall, using her Domme tone. "Who do you thi-"

"Bullshit! Then why did she change her hair color?! She fucking dyed her hair brunette, obviously knowing what I enjoy. It's the same fucking color as Anastasia's for fuck's sake!"

"Anastasia?" She perks up at the name. "Who is Anastasia?"

Shit!

"Nobody of importance to you." Only me. "Stay the fuck away from her, Elena! It's my personal business."

"Personal business?"

"As in personal, and none of your fucking business!"

"Vanilla?!" She looks shocked.

Well, I think she looks shocked. She sure sounds shocked.

I give her a threating glare.

"That's it, isn't it? A vanilla relationship."

"I'm warning you now, once and only once. Don't fuck this up for me!"

I walk out with the warning.

"Oh, Christian." I hear her say.

I shake my head continuing to my SUV. She better not fuck this up for me.

~Back at GEH~

I don't see Anastasia at the reception desk, it must be her break, so I hope she's waiting for me upstairs.

~DING~

I walk off the elevator.

"Mr. Grey," Andrea starts as soon as she sees me. "Miss Steele, from reception, is waiting in your office. She said she had a meeting with you but it wasn't on your schedule. I tried calling you, sir, but I couldn't get through so I called Taylor and he said to have her wait inside your office sir."

Taylor deserves a raise.

"That's fine, Andrea. Thank you."

I walk inside my office and quietly close the door. Anastasia is looking at my artwork and hasn't heard me enter.

"A local artist." I say startling her. "Trouton."

"Oh!" She jumps, turning around to face me. "They're lovely. Raising the ordinary to extraordinary." She says, looking back at the paintings.

She could quite possibly be explaining herself, and, "I couldn't agree more."

"You wanted to talk to me?" Getting right to it then.

"Why wont you give me another date? I thought you enjoyed yourself?"

"You're my boss." She says again, though I'm not falling for that line anymore.

"Is that the only reason?" Don't lie to me, baby.

"Well.. Um, yeah."

Time to call her bluff.

"So if I'm no longer your boss, you'd give me a chance?"

She narrows her eyes at me looking adorable. "Are you going to fire me to get me to go out with you again?"

"No." I laugh, but I do have other plans, an alternative motive, if you will.

She seems to be contemplating, biting her lip in thought. I wish she'd stop doing that. It's arousing and we're alone.

"Sure." She agrees. "If and when you are no longer my boss. I will consider another date with you."

I'll take what I can get.

"Good to know." Now to get her to be in my life. "Until then, can we be friends?"

"I'd like that." She says with her genuine smile. "Friends. Just friends."

Just friends?

"What do you mean just?"

"No benefits."

"Benefits?" I ask, raising my brow.

"None."

Damn!

"I'll take it! I accept your friendship."

Whatever I can get, and if that means just being your friend for now, then I accept that.

"Friends." I hold my hand out for her to shake.

"Friends." She agrees as she grabs my hand.

What the fuck was that?! She pulls her hand away quickly. Did she feel that too?

~..~..~

APOV

"Friends." I say as I grab his offered hand.

As our hands touch I feel an odd tingling sensation. I withdraw my hand quickly. What was that? Must be static.

"I have to get back to work," I tell him. "My break is almost over."

"Of course." He walks me out and to the elevator.

Friends. I can do friends. I smile at the thought.

~DING~

I go inside the elevator, turn around, and look at him. He looks so young and carefree, more so when he's happy.

"Anastasia." He says as a farewell.

"Christian." I say before the door closes.

Friends, right?

~..~..~

My car is still out of commission, but since it's a nice day I decided to walk. After work I slip off my heels and put on my comfy walking shoes, I probably look ridiculous and Kate would flip, but hey I'm not walking home in heels.

I walk out of GEH, only to be stopped by someone calling my name behind me. I turn around to face them, wondering who it could be.

"Anastasia Steele?" A platinum blonde asks coming closer to me.

She must work at GEH, I know I'm only assuming since she's blonde and knows my name.

"Yes?" Wait, Isn't that the creepy lady that works at that salon?

"I was wondering if I could speak to you about a mutual friend?"

If she doesn't creep you out nothing will.

"I don't know you. I'm leaving." I turn to walk away but she grabs my arm.

"I think you're going to want to hear me out." I look at her hand on my arm then back to her.

"Get your hands off me, lady!" I pull my arm from her grasp and walk away.

I shiver, getting the chills.

"It concerns Christian Grey." I stop dead in my tracks.

I turn to look at her.

"I know what he likes." She gives me a devilish look. "I could help you."

"No, thanks." I turn her offer down and walk away.

"You'll never be enough for him." I hear her say and wonder what she means.

Insecure much?

We're just friends. We'll only be friends. We can't be more, I don't do 'more'.