A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
Despite my resolution to start living, I'm still determined to not fall deep into the clutches of a man even if it's the panty dampening Christian Grey. In the past three months, I've become a stronger and more resilient woman, and I plan to remain that way. I've decided to call him l tomorrow, Thursday, as he suggested. For now, my focus is on my article which is almost complete.
"Ladies, I'm going to Foundation tonight if you'd like to tag along.", Daniel Wallace, the magazine's restaurant critic says while leaning against the wall beside Audrey's desk. Although he's known as the office flirt, he's pretty much harmless.
"I've been there a few times and love it so count me in. Kate, Ana, what about you guys?", Audrey asks.
"I'll go.", Kate answers, shifting her eyes from her computer screen to me. Start living
"Ana, we promise not to keep you out too late on a school night.", Audrey says. "We can have some drinks and dance. What do you..." Her mouth drops open before finishing the rest of her sentence.
"What's wrong?", Kate asks as she turns her chair around. "Oh hell no. You've got some nerve." There's only person who makes her this angry, Bryant. Taking a deep breath, I lift my head and see him standing by the door. He inches closer to us but comes to a stop when Kate lifts her stapler. "If you come any closer, I'll staple your nuts together, and I really don't want to waste a good staple on a piece of crap like you."
"Ouch.", Daniel winces. "I'm going to get back to work."
"Kate, it's good to see you too.", Bryant mutters. "I'm not here to cause trouble, but I would like to talk to Ana."
"She doesn't want to talk to you so leave."
"Ana is capable of making up her own mind." His eyes go straight to mine while seemingly pushing past the death glares that she's giving him. "Ana, please. I won't take much of your time, but I'd really like to talk."
"Fine, but you only have five minutes.", I tell him through gritted teeth. "Let's go out into the hallway." After getting out of my chair, Kate motions me over to her. "It'll be fine."
"Do you need my stapler?", she asks.
"No, but thanks. I'll be right back."
"Thank you for this.", Bryant smiles once we step into the hallway, far enough from the office so that no one can hear us.
"What do you want?"
"I had an ad pitch with the café down the street and thought that I'd stop by to apologize for the other night. Even though Seattle is a big city, it's not at the same time so we were bound to run into each other at some point. I didn't mean to make things awkward for you."
"You didn't." Ok, maybe things were a bit awkward, but I'm not admitting it.
"We had some good times, didn't we? Remember the time that I tried to put that table together and ended up one extra piece? It was small, but it was the key part that was needed to hold the entire thing together."
"I remember, but what's your point?"
"My point is I know that you hate me, but I also know that you share the same memories as me, memories that you can't just forget."
"Memories which you tarnished.", I hiss. "As for hating you, you're wrong. Hating you would involve having some sort of feeling towards you, but I don't feel anything for you. Nothing." He looks like pained by this revelation, but what does he expect? "You've had your five minutes."
"Ok.", he says, shoving his hands into his pockets before taking a step back. "Take care."
"What did that jerk want?", Kate asks as I settle back down at my desk.
"To apologize for the other night, but he wasted a trip. Back to your plans for tonight, if I can get this article finished by the end of the day, I'll go." Kate takes me surprise by jumping from her chair, running over to me, and then embracing me with a tight hold. "But I'm not going to stay out late."
Even though it's a weeknight, there's a line of people waiting to get into Foundation when I arrive with Kate and Audrey. Daniel said that he would meet up with us, but there's no sign of him so far. I'm dressed in a black body fitted knee-length dress that's paired with a pair of very uncomfortable black stilettos.
"Ana, I'm so excited that you came out with us. This is going to be a great night!", Audrey exclaims.
"It would be better if Kate hadn't insisted that I wear these shoes.", I say.
"They were the best ones for your dress, and you look hot which trumps comfort any day.", Kate counters. "Finally, here comes Daniel." Daniel comes sauntering up the sidewalk with a grin plastered on his face. "Where have you been?"
"I was getting ready.", he replies. "Call the fire department because the three of you are smoking."
"It's still going to be a while until we get in."
"Chillax ladies because I happen to be friends with the bouncer so follow me and get ready to party." The four of us move past the complaining crowd and head to where the bouncer is manning the doors. The tall, muscular guy can either can either tell us to go in or to get lost. "Mike, what's up?"
"Hey Daniel.", the bouncer says. "It's been a pretty busy night so far."
"Good to hear. My friends and I were hoping to get in there and relax after a long day at work. How about it?"
"The ladies may have put in a hard day, but something tells me that you were lazy as usual."
"Ah, you may have a point.", Daniel laughs.
"Since you're a good guy and your friends are hot, I'll let in."
Music is blaring from all sides as we step into inside. Kate and Audrey are already swaying to the music, but I've never been a very good dancer so I think I'll stay on the sidelines.
"I'm going to get a drink at the bar.", Audrey tells us over the music. "Do you guys something?"
"I'll have an appletini.", Kate answers. "Ana, what about you?"
"Um, I'm going to hold off for a bit longer." We took a cab here tonight, but I'm still not planning to drink a lot.
"Get something so you won't be empty handed."
"I'll have an appletini as well.", I give and tell Audrey.
"Audrey, I'll go and help you with the drinks.", Daniels says.
"I think Daniel has a crush on Audrey, but I'm not sure.", Kate says.
"Daniel likes Audrey? How have I not noticed that?"
"He doesn't make it very obvious, but I've seen hints along the way. Do you remember how he arrived last week with two drinks from Starbuck? He claimed they had messed up his order and given him a non-fat double espresso which happens to be Audrey's favorite."
"I thought it was a bit odd but didn't read much into it.", I shrug.
"Then there was the day that she needed someone to pick her up after her car broke down. The guy pushed everyone out of the way to go for her. It's actually kind of cute seeing him acting in such a way, but I'm not sure if Audrey feels the same way."
"We're back.", Audrey smiles while handing me and Kate our drinks. A tall, dark-haired guy eases through the crowd and steps beside Audrey with the look of man on the prowl.
"Hi. I'm Seth.", he says.
"Hi Seth. I'm Audrey."
"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman." It's at this time that Daniel conveniently gets choked on his drink.
"I'm ok.", he mutters.
"Would you like to dance?"
"Sure.", she answers. "Daniel, will you hold my drink for me?" He slowly nods his head and takes the drink before she moves out on to the dance floor.
"Daniel, are you ok?", I ask.
"Yeah. The drink just went down the wrong way is all."
"That's not what I was referring to." As I'm trying to think of what to say to him, Kate's eyes light up at a guy standing a few inches away. He's tall with curly blonde hair and goes along with her usual type of guys. "I think we're about to have company." Kate rolls her eyes at me as the guy heads over to us.
"I'm probably going to come off as sounding like some sleaze, but I had to tell you that seeing you is the highlight of my day.", the guys says to Kate. "I'm serious. My day was terrible. After waking up late, I went to work and found out that two of my crew members weren't coming in so that put the day's work behind. What else? Oh, I spilled my soda on my shirt during my lunch break."
"Aww, I'm sorry, but I hope things get better.", Kate says.
"I thought a night out might do the trick so I called my brother and asked him to come along. He had an emergency at work and is running late, but it's ok because the night picked up when I saw you."
"You're very sweet um..." Kate always gets the guy's name before giving out her own.
"Elliot. My name is Elliot, and you are?"
"Kate, and this is Ana and Daniel."
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Kate, would you like to hit the dance floor with me?"
"Sure.", she answers, noticing that she's still holding her drink, but she quickly downs it and places the empty glass on a newly unoccupied table. "Guys, I'll be right back."
"And then there were two.", Daniel mumbles before setting Audrey's glass down next to Kate's. Seeing him take in Audrey and Seth's dancing, I hold my hand out for him. "What?"
"Let's dance." While I won't be winning any dance contests in the near future, I'm not going to let Daniel's night go down the drain. "Well?"
"Fine. I'll warn you that I tend to get caught up in the music."
Once we've joined the others out on the dance floor, I begin to let the music flow through my body while ignoring that I have two left feet. Daniel wasn't lying about getting caught up the music, but his dance moves are very out there. He's alternating between doing the robot to the windmill.
"Nice moves.", I giggle.
"Why thank you. Can you believe that I've had no training?", he asks as his eyes go back to Audrey and Seth. "She needs to be with a guy who actually cares, not one who only wants in her pants."
"Why don't you tell her how you feel?" The music is continuing, but his dancing has come to a halt.
"I've been close to telling her, but I've always chickened out. Besides, she only sees me as her friend and co-worker."
"Maybe but maybe not. What if you keep being Mr. Negative and end up regretting it later on? You'll never know the ending if you don't start beginning." As my words leave my mouth, I feel a crackling of electricity in the air around me. The source is standing by the bar with his gray eyes burning with intensity. He grabs a glass from the bar and raises it with a nod in my direction.
"I'm going to take a break.", Kate says while holding Elliot's hand.
"I see my brother finally made it.", Elliot tells us as he glances at the bar. Elliot as in Elliot Grey, Christian's brother. I should have known my night would take an interesting turn. Christian slowly saunters past a group of gawking women who are whispering.
"You're Elliot Grey.", I murmur.
"That's what's on the tag in my boxers.", he laughs. "Just joking. How did you know my last name?"
"I wrote an article on the Coping Together Ball for Seattle Magazine."
"And she went out to dinner with your brother.", Kate adds. "It wasn't a date though."
"Christian, hey. I was just getting to know Kate and her friends a little more, and Ana told me that she's the one who did the article for the ball. Even though it seems we informally know one another, allow me to make the introductions. This is my brother Christian. Little bro, this is Kate, Ana, and Daniel."
"Hello everyone.", Christian says. He turns to me with a devilish grins. "Anastasia, it's nice to see you again."
"You too."
"I'm going to get another drink.", Daniel says.
"Kate and I will go with you.", Elliot announces.
"I've been waiting on your call.", Christian says softly once we're alone.
"It isn't Thursday yet.", I smirk.
"True. I enjoyed watching you dance a few minutes ago, but I didn't like your dance partner. Tell me, is there something going on between you and Daniel?"
"No. He works at the magazine with us and is a friend."
"A friend or a friend with benefits?" I can't believe the nerve of this guy asking me such a question. Does he not think it's possible for a man and woman to simply be friends?
"He's only a friend. You may live in some parallel universe where men and women can't just be friends, but that's not how things are here. Even if I were here on a date with Daniel, what's it to you?" He runs his hands through his hair in frustration and places his mouth right next to my ear.
"I want you, but I don't share what's mine.", he whispers.
"I'm not some possession." Yes all I wanted was a no strings attached thing with him, but I also didn't want to lose myself. That plans seems to be failing. "I refuse to let a man control me." His eyes darken as everyone returns to us. Audrey is now alone, much to Daniel's delight judging from the smile on his face. "I've had fun, but I'm getting tired."
"All right. We can go.", Kate says.
"You guys don't have to leave because of me. Why don't you stay? I can grab a cab back to the apartment."
"Anastasia, I'd be happy to give you a ride.", Christian says with a tiny smile.
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm going to pass. I'll see everyone later."
The cab ride to the apartment is excruciatingly slow. All I want to do is get home and change into my pajamas with a pint of ice cream. I should have never considered any type of relationship with Christian Grey, but more importantly, I shouldn't have let him get to me.
Dragging myself inside, I turn on just the small table lamp in the living room and head to my bedroom to change. I'm relieved to be out of the heels and dress and in the comfort of my pajamas. A small tapping comes across the door while I'm on my way to the kitchen. Since it's almost eleven, I'm wary of opening the door, but it's possible that it's Kate. She has a habit of forgetting her key. Peering through the peep hole, I feel my heart rate jump at the sight of Christian.
"What do you want?", I ask through the closed-door.
"Please open the door." I give in and unlock the door, jerking it open with a scowl.
"Did you follow me here?"
"Yes, but only because you left like you couldn't get away from me fast enough."
"Don't flatter yourself. I didn't leave because of you. Like I said, I'm tired." He's silent for several seconds before lust consumes us and lunges our lips together. His tongue is tangled with mine as we stand in the doorway and kiss. I'm about to place my hand on his chest, but he grabs my wrist to stop me. What's up with that?
"I'll let you get your sleep."
"Ok.", I stammer as he leans in and places a less tame kiss on my lips.
"Laters baby."