I am going to post on Tuesday and Friday from now on.
Christian's POV:
It's my first day at the office since the New Year started. I no doubt have a goofy smile plastered on my face. As I walk through the office, everyone congratulates me on the engagement. My life has picked up since that night. I had a session with my trainer yesterday and knocked him on his ass twice. My mother and Mia keep hammering Ana about a date for the wedding. I want to fly to Vegas tomorrow, but Ana is a traditional girl. I'm going to give her the fairytale wedding girls dream about. I sit down at my desk and take a sip of my coffee. I open my Macbook and fire up my e-mail.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Wedding Date
Date: January, 6th, 2014
To: Anastasia Steele
I was thinking a wedding in early June. What are your thoughts? I can't wait until you're mine!
Christian Grey, CEO, Grey Enterprise Holdings Inc.
I hit send and head into my morning meeting. We go over our 2013's yearly fiscal and make goals for 2014. Everyone's staring at me like I have three heads. I guess my staffs aren't used to me being happy. Once we're done, I check my e-mail.
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: June Wedding
Date: January 6, 2014
To: Christian Grey
June won't work were going camping remember? How about July? Maybe the 7th?
Anastasia Steele, Editor
Grey Publishing.
I forgot we're going camping.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: July 7, 2014
Date: January 6, 2014
To: Anastasia Steele
Sounds perfect. I'll let my mother and Mia knows.
Christian Grey, CEO, Grey Enterprise Holdings. Inc.
I hit sends and her reply is almost instant.
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Marie Antoinette
Date: January 6, 2014
To: Christian Grey
Tell them to watch the movie Marie Antoinette. I think it would be wonderful to have that as a theme.
Anastasia Steele, Editor
Grey Publishing
I instantly open my iTunes and download the movie. I spend the rest of the day watching the movie. I don't care much for the plot, but I understand what she means by Marie Antoinette themed. Whatever she wants is OK with me. I've already started planning our honeymoon, which is going to be a surprise. She is going to have the best. I wonder if I'm going to act this way until we get hitched. I'm high on the thought of Anastasia agreeing to be my wife. I need to focus on one thing at a time. Valentine's Day is just over a month away and I want to do something cute and ask her to be my valentine.
Oh god, Grey, you've gone soft!
I roll my eyes and ignore him. Yes, I have gone soft and there's is nothing wrong with it. I love Anastasia, she's my world.
Anastasia's POV:
All of the girls in the office are so excited about my engagement. They bombard me with questions. When's the wedding? Have you thought about kids? What's the theme? Have you picked a bridesmaid? Everyone is excited except Lacey. She's giving me the cold shoulder. Every attempt I've made to talk with her fails. I have no idea what her problem is. It's the end of the day and I make one last attempt to talk to her before going home.
"Did you have a nice holiday?" She looks at me briefly before walking away. I sigh and collect my things. Christian drove me to work today so I go outside and wait for him. Usually, he's waiting for me when I get out, but not today. I stand outside the building and wait. Thirty minutes later I see the Audi pull up and I walk towards it and climb in.
"Where are Christian and Taylor?" I say once I notice Sawyer's driving.
"He has a meeting." I wonder why he didn't call. Oh well. When I get home, Wellington is jumping up on me and barking. I run up the stairs and throw on my running gear and grab his leash.
"Sawyer, I'm going for a run."
"Wait! I have to come with you."
"Why?"
"Mr. Grey's orders."
"Does this have something to do with his meeting?"
"I don't know." I glare at him, but he doesn't give in.
"Fine." I get a glass of water and wait for Sawyer to return in his running gear. I know Christian's hiding something from me and it's not good. I guess it's not as bad as I think because Christian is letting me leave the house. Sawyer two feet behind me the whole time we run. Running used to be an escape for me and now I have to have a body guard follow me. Even if he's a friend. I give up and turn and start running back towards Escala. I notice a black car and run faster checking back every once in a while.
"You see that too, Ana?"
"Yeah."
"Just keep running." I do as I'm told and run. Once I get through the doors, I keep running towards the elevator even though I normally do a little cool down. The elevators open and Sawyer and I get inside. I pace the whole way up, but I don't say anything until we get into the kitchen.
"Do you want to tell me what's going on?"
"I honestly don't know. Taylor didn't tell me."
"Well, you better tell him to fucking tell you what is going on."
"I will. Eat your dinner and I will tell you what I know when I'm done." He retreats back into Taylor's office while Gail lays out my dinner. Lemon rosemary chicken with sweet potato fries.
"I don't suppose you know what's going on." I say to Gail and take a bite of the chicken.
"I'm sorry, no. I can call Jason and get some information."
"Will he get in trouble if he tells you?"
"Maybe."
"Then don't. I just wish my boyfriend has the decency to tell me."
"I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be. Does Christian know about you and Jason?"
"What? Well yes he does. How did you know?"
"I can see the love in his eyes when he looks at you."
"That's very sweet of you to say."
"It's the truth." She gives me a smile before clearing my plate "I have some work to do. I'll be in my study." Wellington follows me and lies down on the ground beside my desk. I am going over Lisa Sack's manuscript as a way to pass the time. She has written a wonderful fiction novel, but her details are inconstant. Her character goes from having blue eyes to green eyes or brown hair to blonde hair. I make constant corrections. I've already gone over the grammar and punctuation I just need this book to flow before I do the fact checking. This girl has real talent. Every time I read the manuscript, I get lost in the book. Once I feel I've made most of those corrections, I check the clock and it's just before midnight. I save the document and send it to myself before I close the lid.
The apartment seems so empty and cold. I grab what's left of the pistachio ice cream and head go into the bed room. We've stopped letting Wellington sleep in the bed, but Christian is still not home so fuck him. I sit and eat ice cream deciding to wait a little longer for Christian to come home. I give up and put the bowl on my bedside table a write a note.
Dear Christian,
You weren't home when I went to bed so Wellington will be sleeping beside me. You have your pick of rooms, but not this one.
Your very MAD fiancee.
I put it on the door and go brush my teeth before climbing into bed and falling asleep. When I wake up in the morning there's a note.
Dear Anastasia
I am sorry about last night. I slept in the guestroom as per your wishes. I will explain tonight.
Your very sorry fiancée.
I am beyond pissed now. He stays out all night and doesn't even wait around this morning to see me. I get ready eat and head down to the parking garage with Sawyer who is not telling me what's going on either.
"What is that?" I say pointing to the new white Audi A6 with very tinted windows.
"Precautionary."
"Can I drive?"
"I don't see why not." He hands me they keys and I drive to work. What the fuck is going on? I stop the car outside Grey Publishing and let Sawyer park it. Charlie hands me my morning tea and I go into my office. Sitting on my desk is a beautiful bouquet of 24 red and 24 pink long stem roses with pink hydrangeas. I grab the card which says
I'm sorry. Let me take you out to dinner tonight. -CG
How could I say mad at him? I sit down at my desk and get to work on the manuscript I was working on last night. I go through and fact check. Every time I get frustrated, I look at the flowers and smile. I am hard at work when I hear a knock on my door.
"Come in." I say and Sawyer walks in with a gift wrapped box.
"From Mr. Grey."
"Thank you." I wait until he has left my office to open the box. Inside is a beautiful nude butterfly draped gown with a pair of matching nude heels. Oh my, where is he taking me tonight?
I will pick you up from your office at six. -CG
I get back to work and I still have a smile plastered on my face. Christian doesn't play fair. I grab lunch and when I get back there is a Cartier box on my desk. This is getting ridiculous. I open it up and there is a beautiful necklace with 21 diamond orchids on it. Holy shit.
I look forward to our date. -CG
How does he do this so fast? I remember when Christian said he didn't have a heart. I smile when I think of how far along he's come. I'm suddenly grateful that I did my hair this morning. The rest of the afternoon, I am going over manuscripts sent to me by authors, but all I can think about is Christian. At ten to six I, head over to the door and lock it. I peel the dress away from my body. Again, am thankful that I wore my Bobbie lingerie. I take off my shoes and pull on the dress. Then put on the shoes. I apply another coat of my Revlon berrycherry lipstick and put on the necklace. I quickly throw everything into my bag and grab my coat. Sawyer looks at me in surprise as I step out of my office.
"What do you think?" I say and bat my eyelashes.
"You look amazing." I hear Charlie say from beside me. Holy crap, I didn't see her there.
"Thank you, babe." I blow her a kiss and say goodbye.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" She yells when I'm at the bank of elevators.
"I'll do more than that." Charlie and Sawyer both laugh. Christian is standing in the lobby waiting for me. Boy does he look good in a tux.
"You look fantastic, Anastasia."
"You look snazzy too."
"Shall we?" He gives me his arm and I grab it. Once we are in the car I turn to Christian and ask "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise." We arrive at Canlis and I look at Christian.
"Don't you think we're a little dressed up?"
"No, come." He grabs my hand and leads me inside. I look around and there are candles and flowers everywhere and no one is inside.
"Did you rent out the whole restaurant?"
"Yes,"
"Why?"
"The sight of you is not something I wish to share this evening." What a cheese ball.
"How sweet." He pulls out my chair and I take a seat.
"I've already ordered for us."
"Well what will we be eating then?"
"The potato soup, lamb and the soufflè."
"Sounds delicious."
"I'm sorry, Anastasia. I should have called you last night."
"It's fine, Christian, but I need to be in the loop. You are also impossible to stay mad at."
"The necklace looks beautiful on you."
"It's a beautiful necklace, Christian, but it wasn't necessary. I don't know how you put all of this together so fast."
"I am a very wealthy man, Miss Steele. I also bought the necklace beforehand it just so happened to arrive today."
"Well, it's beautiful, thank you."
"I'm glad you're not fighting me on it." He gives me a little innocent smile.
"I'm learning to pick my battles."
"That is a lesson I still need to learn."
"Yes, it is." I smile as the waiter brings our soup and a bottle of Pinot Noir. "So are you going to tell me what's going on?" He sighs and I know he doesn't want to and I almost think he isn't going to tell me.
"Well the car that was following you turned out to be some paparazzi, but what concerns me is Stephen Morton." I choke on my wine. What does he mean?
"What about him?" I spit.
"We are still trying to figure out what's going on, but we have been tracking his movements and last week he was in Georgia, to see Carla. He flew into Sea-Tac yesterday. We have someone following him, but I don't think this is a coincident." My eyes are wide open and I can't speak. Why did he go see Carla and what is he doing in Seattle? Christian rushes to my side. "breathe, Anastasia." I hadn't realized I was holding my breath.
"Ana, he's not going to hurt you." I count to ten and my breathing goes back to normal.
"I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I won't let him near you."
"I know that, Christian."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Christian, you are a wonderful man and I don't want that prick to ruin our evening." I give him a smile to reassure him and he takes his seat again.
"The soup's really good eh?"
"It is."
"What did you do at work today?"
"All I could think about is you. I made sure everything got there, but all I could think about was you leaving me." Oh fifty.
"Christian, I'm not going anywhere."
"I can over react sometime."
"Oh, really?"
"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit Miss Steele."
"Whatever." I stick my tongue out and he smiles. Our main course is just as good as the first and the wine goes perfectly with it.
"It sounds like a great manuscript. I want to talk to you about two things."
"Alright."
"First, I know you love your job, but after we get married I want to gift the company to you. Second, I also want to gift you the salons."
"Why?"
"Because you'll be great at it. You are a very capable woman."
"Well I understand Grey Publishing Ltd. Why the salons?"
"Since Elena went to jail I took over the salons and I can't run them."
"Well owning Elena's old business would be fun." I think about this.
"You don't have to do this, but I think you'll enjoy it."
"I'd love to."
"Really?"
"Yes, but I have no idea what to do." We spend the rest of the meal and dessert talking about what I need to do. Christian won't be gifting me these two businesses until I have everything settled. I need to make my own Grey House basically. Christian said he was going to give me money to start my company, but I said I'd only agree to this if it were a loan. I am going to work at Grey Publishing until I have everything sorted, but I am going to be a business woman.
"What about the name Anastasia Steele Inc."
"Well that won't work because we're getting married." Oh true. "Anastasia Grey Inc."
"No offence, but I don't want my company to be associated with Grey House."
"Steele Grey Inc."
"That kind of has the same problem."
"Raymond Steele Inc."
"I actually like that."
"Well nothing's set in stone yet. How about you and I get out of here?" I give him a wink and his eyes widen in surprise.
"Yes."
Lemons next. Please Review.