The Dance with Dr. Flynn
"Welcome Anastasia, please, take a seat. You look different."
"I feel different John. Everything that has happened these last weeks has been really hard for me. First was Leila, then the thing with Hyde and his sexual harassment… I think I never told you about him… then Christian's accident; the damn Mrs. Robinson; all the drama with the third husband… Jesus, never in my life has happened so many things like in these weeks. But everything has made me stronger and now I know that if I have to fight for the ones I love, I will do it. I think I have never been in this situation… I was always protected, in my own little world, seeing my life move on before my eyes. Today I feel the star of my life, of my dreams". I say this calmly, and very confident of myself, as confident as I never thought I would be.
Flynn watches me and takes some notes. He looks at them and throws me a question. "Why do you think Christian loves you Ana?"
Touché. This man really knows how to complicate my life. My subconscious sharpens her fangs. That's a tough question for the old Ana, the one before Christian… I smile and get comfortable in my seat while I make my subconscious retreat.
"I imagine this has to do with our first date or the first time we met. Am I right John?" He nods smiling. I make another question: "What did you think of me the first time you met me?" John answers quickly and without a doubt, "that Christian was right, that you were a beautiful and very special woman."
"It still is hard for me to understand that people can find my attractive. Don't take me wrong, I know I'm not ugly, but I lived many years feeling like an old and ugly bird, thanks to the third husband. However, now I know that for some miracle that I can't comprehend, Christian Grey, the most eligible bachelor in Seattle, loves me just as I am. I always focused on being smart, not beautiful. You know how I've tried to be invisible, but it's clear I didn't make it. Christian's love showed it to me the day of the charity ball."
"God, so many things happened, but the auction was by far the most humiliating thing I've have to endure in my whole life. I have only felt that exposed at José's exhibit, with all those giant pictures of me hanging in the gallery. I don't really know if I wanted to be won by Christian…"
"You don`t know?"
"It's not just that. Yes, I wanted him to be my first dance, but I didn't want him expending so much money on it. That's why I hated you a little when you upped the bet John. I don't know how to dance, and less with someone that isn't Christian. I was so scared. Besides I didn't know who you were or what did you want; and what was just a fun game for you, for me it was a torture… Those were the longest five minutes I can remember, ever".
"For your consolation, if it wasn't me, some other naïve man would have tried to win your first dance. Anyway… I remember how tense you were that day. Clearly you were uncomfortable; you don't need to tell me that… And what if the ball was today? What do you think would happen Ana?"
"That's a good question… I don't know. The view I have of life today is different. Everything was wrong at that party. We had just broken up; Christian took me to Mrs. Robinson's Salon while she was there. There was also Mia's dumb friend looking at me and judging me, and I didn't know anyone besides the Grey family. Today, with Mrs. Robinson out of our lives, with everything that has happened… Well, I think I would feel more confident and maybe I would even enjoy that moment, instead of being ashamed. But it's hard to think about things that haven't happened."
"Ah… but they will! Don't forget that the charity ball is an annual party."
"True" I answer and remain quiet. So many things change that night, the most important of all, the break in Grace and Mrs. Robinson friendship. We have overcome so much this moths.
"OK Ana, I would like to see you one more time. That would be our last session. I think the work we have done has help you tremendously and today you are a woman more confident about yourself, about your feelings and about what you incite in others. I know that this hasn't been just because of therapy and that what Christian and you have gone through has helped a lot. On our next session, I will give you what we call 'restoration', which is what you will have to keep working on."
"I suppose I can come to see you sometime if I need it?"
"Ana, this isn't good bye, but yes. You can always count with me."
-oOo-
Weeks ago at the charity ball
Flynn POV
She looks distinguished, nice figure, very proportionate. I believe Christian has made a beautiful choice. I watch the lady that's accompanying my dear patient, Mr. Grey. I have seen how this girl has made more progress with him in days, than me in years of therapy. I'm dying to meet her; even though I know he is afraid of us being alone, he thinks I may tell her things from our sessions. This young people don't understand how serious professional secrecy is, but of course, if I was in his or her shoes… I would be worried too.
I have been looking at Anastasia for a while… she seems so sweet, but sexy at the same time. She's a beautiful contradiction. Now I understand how she has Christian so out of his mind and so confused that he changed his view on life. I hope she is in the auction, I promised Christian that her first dance will be with me, but I'm sure he's going to try to stop me.
-oOo-
-"Christian, where is your lovely girl? I can't believe you left her alone, I'll see if I find her around, I'm dying to meet her"
-"Don't even dream about it Flynn, I haven't left her alone, Mia took her to the bathroom, but soon I will go to her rescue…"
-"To lose her again in my arms. I'm willing to pay a lot for her dance"
-"Not as much as I am, Flynn; and I don't think your wife will like you spending money on girls you don't know"
-"Huhh! She knows it's for a good cause" – Christian looks at me puzzled- "Of course man, it's to meet your new therapist. If she keeps going like this, she is going to leave me without a job real soon"
-"So that's what you are afraid of? Oh Flynn, there's still so much to do before that. Your pocket can remain in peace because I will keep filling it with money every month, at least for a while"
-"Hahahaha, I'm very thankful of your generosity Mr. Grey, but don't forget… I still want a dance with that woman."
-oOo-
Poor girl, she looks as if she is naked in front of this entire people and you can't even see her face. She wrings her hands as if that's going to save her. It' may sound cruel, but it's kind of funny. I look at Christian and he can't take his eyes away from her. Clearly he is not happy to have her exposed in front of so many people.
I think it's time to test his tolerance and Anastasia's resistance. I hear her name being called and I'm ready to bet for her, always after Christian, of course. The bidding starts and after four bets she already made it to $100.000… That's a spending I'm not willing to make, and less for a woman that it's not mine. Much to my regret, Grey wins, but he will have to let me dance with her anyway. Not even all the money in the world it's going to save him from that.
-oOo-
Very well, here we go. Christian reluctantly said yes, and he'll let me dance with her, but Anastasia doesn't look like she really want's to dance with me either. She seems surprised when she finds out I'm Christian psychiatrist. She pictured me older, and even though she doesn't say it, probably bald. I like this girl, but her insecurity is as overwhelming as her beauty. Maybe I should give her an appointment with me. Oh, stop it Flynn, don't try to fix everyone's psyche, with Grey you have enough.
I can't stop thinking about how confusing her signals are. She's undoubtedly beautiful, but thinks of herself as ugly as a troll. It's weird; she looks like a scared little creature, but answers me with sharpness and thinks of me as a quack. I like that, she's honest, and clearly, she's no submissive. Thank God Christian could see that. It would be a shame if he would've lost this extraordinary young girl.
Christian cuts in and takes her away, but I don't object, I know I will see her again, sooner rather than later, she has a lot to figure out.