I know, I know and I am so very sorry. So here you go...
I woke up the next morning remembering last night and fought back the tears. Christian is gone.
He had to, silly. He'll be back though, he loves you.
That's right. Christian loves me; he still loves me after what I did to him. How did I get so lucky to be able to try again with such a great and powerful man?
Whatever it was, I won't let anything break us up this time. This time it's going to be different, so different.
I get out of bed and turn on some music, today is going to be a great day I think to myself. I'm going to stay positive because everything is turning out to be the way it is supposed to. While getting ready I hear my phone ping, I go to grab it thinking it is just another work email. What I open surprises me even more…
To: Anastasia Steele
Subject: You
From: Christian Grey
As soon as I left your apartment last night I wanted to turn around.
I miss you. Have a good day at work.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises & Holdings
As I read his email, I can't help breaking out into the biggest grin ever
To: Christian Grey
Subject: You, too.
From: Anastasia Steele
I miss you just as much, and yes… If you would have come back I doubt we would have ever left the apartment.
Anastasia Steele
Editor, HarperCollinsNYC
I send off the email and decide to get ready for work. All I want to do is fly straight back to Seattle but I know better. I have to put in my two weeks' notice with HarperCollins before I do anything; I am already dreading the conversation with Mr. Aaron when I tell him I am leaving.
I finish getting ready for work and head out; on the walk there I think about the conversation I am going to have with Jerry, my boss. He took such good care of me when I first came to New York by giving me a job. He could tell I went through a bad break up because he and his partner had gone through a few before they got married. Jerry and Daniel were like my two lost souls that I needed the moment I got to New York; it just took a few days to find them. But when I did – it was worth it.
Daniel would come over with girly movies and dark wine to make me feel better. He was like the male version of Kate. Exactly like Kate.
"Good morning, Ross," I say to the receptionist when I finally make it in to the building.
"Good morning, Ana! How's it looking today?"
"So far, it's looking pretty good. See you later!"
I get in the elevator and hit the button to the twentieth floor and then make my way to my office.
"Good morning, Ana!" Sofia says, she is the exact opposite of Hannah and I know she'll do everything I ask.
"Good morning, Sofia. Messages?" She gets up with her notebook and follows me into my office. I take my seat and she hands me my coffee and starts to go over my schedule for the day.
"Sofia, will you please schedule a meeting with Mr. Aaron for today or tomorrow?"
"Yes, Ms. Ana. Should I tell him what it is regarding?" She asks.
"Just need to speak with him about some things I am working on, I'll fill you in later."
"Okay, what do you feel like for lunch?" She says, just as the phone rings and she rushes back to her desk to answer the call.
Work was going by fast until Jerry summoned me into his office, I decided to tell him tomorrow about me leaving, and I still needed to figure out how to approach the subject with him.
I knock on his office door since his assistant is nowhere to be found and wait for him to yell for me to come in…
"Ah, Ana, come in! Please sit."
"Good afternoon Jerry, what can I do for you?"
"Well Ana, I wanted to talk to you about a upcoming event. You've heard of the Writers Association, correct?"
"Yes, they are very well known," I wonder what he is getting at.
"Well Mr. Aaron and I have been asked to send two of our very own editors to their event this year in London and after careful consideration we wanted you to be one of the two to go."
"Really? I mean… Are you sure that it's me who you want to send to London?" Oh. My. Gosh. I have always wanted to go to London and this would be an amazing opportunity.
"Yes, Anastasia, Mr. Aaron even insisted that you should go. He was actually the one who brought your name into consideration." Whoa, what? I have only spent a handful of business occasions with our Senior Lead and it was all just meetings where I took notes in the corner. I don't understand how Mr. Aaron would even notice me.
"Wow. I cannot believe this. Uh, do I need to give you my answer to go right now? I would really appreciate it if I could think about this. To be honest, I think I am in such shock to even decide whether to go or not."
"Of course. Of course. Just so you know, this could be a great start for you to take on more responsibilities. If you impress our people over in London you could be traveling for our company a lot more," he says; his face full of hope.
"Jerry, this might not be the perfect timing for this but, I was actually going to put in my two weeks' notice tomorrow."
His face goes directly to confusion, "Two weeks' notice? Why would you do that? Is it something I have done wrong?"
"No, it's nothing like that! Actually I've recently worked things out with my ex and I decided yesterday that I wanted to be closer to him. I have decided to move back to Seattle."
"That's great Anastasia! Whatever you heart desires is something you need to do."
"Thank you Jerry, I really wish I could go on this trip. How long would it be for?"
He pulls out a paper from underneath several other papers, "Uh. It looks like it would only be for one week. It looks like you would be leaving on Thursday."
"This is the worse timing I am sure of it, Jerry. I really wish I could stay but I need to be closer to him if we ever have a chance of working things out correctly."
He puts his forefinger to his lip like he is thinking of something, "Actually we might be able to help you find work in Seattle, but you would have to go on this trip before you left."
"Uh, what kind of help is that?"
"We have a sister company in Seattle, with a recent new owner so they are changing the name. But the point is, you could transfer there after your two weeks is up and still be able to go on this trip to get some experience under your hat."
"Well, then this works out perfectly! I still hate to leave you Jerry. You and Daniel have helped me so much since I first started here." I get up to leave, but stop and turn around thinking of one more question. "Jerry, do you mind if I ask about the other editor that you guys are sending to London?"
"Oh, not at all. Since Mr. Aaron didn't have any time to really think of anyone else he said the he will accompany you."
"Oh," that's weird – I have never heard of a Senior Lead going with an editor to an event before. "Okay, thank you!"
I walk quickly back to my office and fire up my email, I cannot wait to tell Christian the news!
To: Christian Grey
Subject: news
From: Anastasia Steele
My boss just gave me some very exciting career news…
Would the sexiest CEO in Seattle like to know what it is?
Anastasia Steele
Editor, HarperCollinsNYC
I don't think I have been this excited for any career opportunity since I started working at HC five years ago. I really hope that Christian will be happy for me; everything is starting to get better now that Christian is back in my life. He makes everything better no matter where he is.
To: Anastasia Steele
Subject: RE: news
From: Christian Grey
Sexiest, huh? Well I don't know about that! But there is a pretty hot goddess in New York right now that I would just love to get my sexy hands on… What, my darling goddess, is this news that you write of?
Christian Grey
Sexiest CEO, Grey Enterprises & Holdings
Oh! Playful Christian! I better use this to my advantage and FAST!
To: Christian Grey
Subject: goddess?
From: Anastasia Steele
Goddess? Why thank you kind, sir, but I don't know about THAT!
The Writers Association is having a week-long event in London, starting Wednesday, and they have picked me to go! Of course I brought up my two weeks' notice and they also told me I could transfer to a sister company in Seattle… How exciting is that? Everything is turning out how it is supposed to be and it is all because I have you back in my life, my love.
I cannot wait to see you again.
I love you so much.
Anastasia Steele
Luckiest Editor, HarperCollinsNYU
I wait for about five minutes for him to email me back before I get started on work again. He probably just got busy and forgot about my email I am sure of it. He is a sexy CEO anyways. I am just about to shut everything down for the day when Sofia comes barreling into my office without as much as a knock on the door.
"Ana, you have a phone call and whoever it is – he is angry."
"Did they say who it was?"
"No, he just asked to speak with you immediately. He is on line one."
There is only one person who would be calling me right now; I don't usually get phone calls after 4:30 pm. I put all my stuff down and take a deep breath, "Hello, This is-"
"LONDON? I JUST GOT YOU BACK AND YOU'RE LEAVING ME AGAIN?"
Whoa. "Christian, will you please calm down!"
"I WILL NOT CALM DOWN. YOU ARE NOT TO GO TO LONDON!"
"Christian Grey I will hang up this phone right now unless you CALM DOWN!"
I hear him take a few deep breaths and wait patiently for him to tell me he is calm, but he doesn't. He just keeps taking breaths like he is waiting for me. "Are you okay?"
"No." He says, so sternly I feel like I am about to get scolded.
I wait a few more seconds before asking him again, "Christian, are you alright now?"
"No. I won't be alright until you are safely in my arms in Seattle. London is farther away and what if you don't come back because you figured out that reconnecting with me was a mistake?"
"Christian Grey!" I cannot believe he would say that, "Don't you ever say that again, this – what we have, is the furthest thing from a mistake. It's unforgettable, remember?"
"Yes, baby. I remember. I just don't like the fact of you traveling by yourself to London."
Oh shit. "Uh… I won't exactly be by myself; the Senior Lead Editor is coming as well."
"Senior Lead? I've never heard of them doing that? Who is she?"
I am screwed, "Well, Mr. Aaron is coming with me." I half ass mumble out.
"Who?" He says.
"Mr. Aaron. Christian you have nothing to worry-"
"YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO TO LONDON!"
Lord, please help me.
"Why not?" I am starting to get mad, jealous Christian is no fun.
"I will not let my girlfriend go to London with some other man!" He is fuming now, I can already tell something in his office is about to get smashed.
"Christian, if we are going to work this whole thing out between us we need to learn how to trust each other. Nothing will happen, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Please, don't make this something that will tear us apart again. You know I love you with everything in me! Please just trust me." I am almost crying now, I just wish I could show him how much I love him. Then it comes to me and I really hope this works out just like I want it too.
"Anastasia, I have to go to a meeting but we WILL talk about this later." He says, he sounds somewhat calm but I wouldn't want to be those people opposite that meeting.
"Okay, baby. I love you."
"I love you too, Ana. I just want to look out for you."
"I know, Christian. Go kick ass at that meeting." I say, I need to talk to Jerry before he leaves for the day.
"Always, laters."
That night, everything is set in motion as I board a plane to Seattle. I cannot believe I talk Jerry into giving me Tuesday and Wednesday off. I just have to be back by Thursday morning for our flight to London. I raced home as soon as I left the office to pack a bag and few intimate items; I just hope everything works out. I have already spoken to Gail, thanking my lucky stars that Taylor never changed her email address, and everything is in motion. Taylor specifically told me that Christian is going to be working late tonight and shouldn't be home by the time I get to Escala to surprise him.
I thankfully got a non-stop flight, thanks to Sawyers connections, and he will be picking me up at the airport. I should be arriving right around ten o'clock. I have a feeling of deja-vu since I was just doing this same thing almost a week ago.
How everything has changed.
What kind of surprise should Ana give Christian when he gets home from work that night? Any suggestions?
xoxo,
Madss