Chapter 4: Hearts and Flowers

APOV

"Ana! Ana, you got flowers!" I still have a week until I start my internship at SIP. It's been nice to relax and do some reading. Flowers? Who would send me flowers? It can only be from either my dad or Jose.

I put my tattered edition of Tom Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd on my bed and go out to the living room to check out the flowers. When I get into the living room Kate is holding a vase with what must be at least two dozen perfect pale pink roses. I think they are the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. These must have been very expensive - I doubt Ray or Jose would have sent these. I stand still looking perplexed at the flowers as Kate holds them. "Ana! There's a card. Who are they from?"

I open the little envelope that has my name and address neatly typed on the front. Inside there is a quote.

'He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.'

From Christian Grey

"Well, who are they from, Ana?!" Kate is hopping up and down on her tiptoes she is so excited. I think I may be in shock.

"It's a quote from Tolstoy's Anna Karenina." I say as I look up in confusion at Kate. I read her the card. Kate gets a crooked smile and yells so suddenly it makes me jump.

"I knew he liked you! Elliot said Christian has never showed interest in a woman before." She honestly looks like the cat that ate the canary.

I give Kate a huge ass eye roll. "Kate, someone like Christian Grey can have any woman he wants. There is no good reason why he would want to pick me."

Kate purses her lips and crosses her arms in front of her chest. "Anastasia Rose Steele, when are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours that you are a great catch? You're beautiful, smart, and the most genuine person I know. Who wouldn't love you?"

I hate it when Kate does this to me. Things come a lot easier to Kate than they do me. "Well, I'm not so sure he's my type."

Kate starts to laugh. "Ana, tell me you just didn't say that. How is he not anyone's type? He's super model gorgeous, he's smart, and he's as rich as Hell."

"That's just it, Kate. What do I have in common with him? My life revolves around books, working at Clayton's, and Ray. His life is a CEO wearing suits that cost more than I make in a year and jet setting to fancy parties around the world."

"Ana, you need to have more faith in who you are. And when you realize that, the man you choose is going to be the luckiest guy ever."

I say nothing else. I place the beautiful flowers on my bookshelf in my room and tuck the card into my book. It really is romantic. But I don't want to get hurt again and I have a feeling that Christian Grey would be able to really break my heart.

The following day I am coming back from the market with the ingredients for my famous lasagna. Kate is out somewhere with Elliot. I get to our door and there's a package. I bring it in and set the groceries on the island in the kitchen. The box is addressed to me. I open the box and there's a little gold box inside with "Knipschildt Chocolatier" printed on the top. I open the box and inside are the prettiest chocolate truffles I have ever seen. Oh my God. This is the best chocolate I have ever had. It definitely is NOT Hershey's. I look at the card but I have an idea of who it is from without reading.

"The soul of sweet delight, can never be defiled."

Christian Grey

Why doesn't he just write a card that says, 'I like you.' or something? He's so confusing. He sends me these beautiful quotes but the way he signs them is so strange. It's like I am a business deal or something.

Just then the doorbell rings and I freeze - I hope it's not him. I look terrible. But to my relief it's Jose. Jose is living in Seattle with a couple of his friends for the summer and I am so happy. It's a comfort to know he is close by.

"Annie, who sent you these chocolates? They are a-fucking-mazing!" At least I got to have one of the chocolates before Jose got his hands on the box.

"Christian Grey sent them to me as well as roses yesterday." I don't know why but I can feel that I am blushing. I guess it's because no one has ever sent me flowers or candy before. Not even when I had my tonsils out in third grade.

"You're kidding me. Wow. He really likes you! Of course, I called it. I knew he did the second I saw the way he looked at you." Jose likes to think he's really good at reading people but he is rarely right. He's probably going to rub this in.

"Jose, don't be crazy. It's probably because his brother and Kate are dating and it's convenient. I'm sure it wouldn't go anywhere. I am not his type." I'm not his type but I have to admit that I wish I was. There's a part of me that wishes he would be my knight in shining armor or my Mr. Darcy. I just don't think I am ready yet.

"If you don't go out on a date with him, Anastasia Rose Steele, you're the crazy one." I hate it when he uses my whole name. It makes me feel like I'm a child getting in trouble.

The next day Kate and I are sitting at our kitchen table eating left over lasagna. The doorbell rings and both of our heads snap up. Kate looks at me with a twinkle in her eyes and says, "I bet it's something from your not-so-secret admirer!" as she is running to the door. I'm too nervous and can't move from the chair. I think I am actually holding my breath.

Kate brings me the package that is wrapped in brown paper. It's too heavy to be chocolates but I don't know what else it would be. I open it up and I am in shock. I have to blink my eyes a couple of times to make sure this is real.

"Ana! What is it? I'm dying over here!" Now Kate is jumping up and down clapping her hands.

"Kate, they're first editions of Tom Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles. These must be worth thousands of dollars. The quality of these is outstanding." I keep tracing my finger up and down the spines. These books probably cost more than everything I own combined. "I can't keep these. It's too much. I have to give them back."

"Wow, Ana. He must really like you. But of course he is a gazillionaire."

"I have to give these back. I can't keep them and be able to sleep at night. I don't even know him." I think I am still in shock. This is probably the only time I will ever hold first editions like this.

"I'm going to Elliot's house tonight. If you really, really want to give them back I can give them to him for you." Kate is flipping through the latest Cosmo but I can see her looking at me from the corner of her eye trying to see my expression.

"Yeah, Kate, I really think I should. Flowers and chocolates are one thing. But I don't want to take advantage of him whether or not he's rich. It isn't right." I'm starting to re-wrap the books and doing my best job to do so carefully.

"OK. I'll do it but if I were you I wouldn't." Kate is already putting the package in her large purse. She knows that this is not me. "Alright, babe. I am going over to Elliot's. I'm not sure when I'll be back so don't wait up." Kate has a mischievous smile as she walks out the door.

Now I'm not really sure what to do with myself so I decide to read a book. I go into my bedroom and look at my over-stuffed bookshelf. I pull out my copy of Tess which is a paperback that is dog-eared and looks like coffee was spilled all over it. At least I don't have to worry about damaging this one.

KPOV

"Hey Baby!" Elliot greets me at the front door with a kiss. "How was your day?"

I'm putting my purse and the bottle of Moscato that I picked up on my way here on his table in the kitchen. "Good. Oh! I have something for you to give to Christian from Ana." I start to dig in my purse to find them. I really need to either clean out my purse or start getting smaller ones.

"Oh, well, you can give them to him yourself. CHRISTIAN!"

"Elliot, you yelled right in my ear! Oh, hey Christian." I am holding the books as Christian walks up to us.

"Hello, Kate." Christian nods at me. He is so stiff. It's like he has a permanent stick stuck up his ass. I ignore it.

"Ana asked me to give this to you but she says thank you for the flowers and the chocolates."

Christian takes the package and looks confused.

Elliot starts to do something that is between a cough and a laugh. He is starting to turn red. "You sent a girl flowers and chocolate? THE Christian Grey is trying to woo someone? I'll alert the presses." Christian gives Elliot a gaze so fierce that if it was directed at anyone other than Elliot they would probably lose control of their bowels right there.

"Shut up Elliot. Kate, why is she giving the books back that I gave to her? I thought she likes literature." Christian is still holding the books as if they are going to bite him.

"Christian, she loves literature and reading. And, Tom Hardy is her favorite author. But I think you really freaked her out getting her something so expensive. Ana isn't in to material things at all. She's the least materialistic person I know. She's not impressed with things and she really has no place for them. And, well, she only ever met you the one time. You're coming on a bit strong." I don't know why I am giving him advice. I don't really like him much. He's nothing like the rest of the family but since they are adopted it makes sense.

Christian is still staring down at the books as if he doesn't know what to do with them. "Christian, if you want to win Ana over you're going to need to show her you care. For her it's not what you spend but what you do. Try to do something more on her level."

CPOV

I have never in my life met a woman who doesn't want gifts. My previous subs would have taken the gifts without even batting an eye. But, Ana isn't a sub. I don't even know if she could be. I'm not even sure what I want from her. When I was holding her hand in the car on the way home from the party it just felt, "right". It's like our hands were made to fit together perfectly. Not to mention that current that I know she feels too when we touch. She has to have some interest in me. I have to try.

"Yeah, guys. I'm going to catch you later." And before Kate and Elliot even have a chance to respond I'm out the door.

OK, so actions are what is going to mean something to Ana. I guess this is my last shot. I can't believe I am doing this. I could have practically any woman falling at my feet if I wanted to but here I am walking to a flower shop. I've never been in a flower shop. I've never even ordered flowers; Andrea normally does that for me and she picks out nice arrangements.

I walk into a tiny shop that I think is smaller than my closet. There is an older gentleman who is balding and wearing a green apron standing by the register. He looks up at me and smiles, "Can I help you find something, Sir?" I must look lost.

"Yes. I want to get some flowers to give to a girl. A girl I like." I stammer. I feel like such an idiot doing this.

"Ah, well. You're in the right place. What does she like? Roses? Orchids? Lilies?"

"She likes simple things. Things that aren't materialistic." I know I have no clue what I am even asking for.

The man taps his finger on his lips in thought. "Hmmm, well, what about a bouquet of wildflowers? They aren't ostentatious but they are beautiful nonetheless."

"Wildflowers? OK, I think she would like those." Actually, I have no idea but they do remind me of some huge meadow with wildflowers that are written in those romantic novels she reads.

"Would you like us to deliver them?" The man is wrapping up the bouquet and heading over to the cash register.

"Um, no thanks. I want to add something with them. Can I get this too?" I pick up a box of stationary. Normally I just use my letterhead for GEH but I don't think she would like that.

"Of course." He rings up my purchases and places them in a brown paper bag. I make my way back to Escala thinking about what I want to say.

When I get back to my apartment I don't really pay attention to anyone. I am a man on a mission and I head straight to my office. I need to be able to concentrate.

After I have moved the stationary from one spot on my desk to another about twenty times I decide I should just write. I should just put my thoughts on paper. When was the last time that I actually wrote something with pen and paper?

Dear Anastasia,

I am sorry if my gifts were over-extravagant. I just wanted to send you something nice since you deserve the very best.

I know we don't really know each other and you probably aren't sure what we have in common. And frankly, I don't know either. But it's like I am drawn to you. I can't get you out of my mind. You are beautiful, smart, and funny. With you I am like a moth to a flame.

I would not be able to forgive myself if I at least didn't try. Everything in my head is screaming that I should just leave you alone. But there's this burning feeling deep inside of me that tells me not to let you go. That we could have something great. I have never felt that before.

I know I am not expressing myself well. You see, I am not used to this. As my loquacious brother may have mentioned, I don't date often. Actually I have never dated so I have no clue what I am doing. You could drop me in the middle of a subway station in Tokyo and I think I would have a better idea of what to do.

It makes me nervous that I don't know how you will react or what you are thinking. I am not used to this. I am used to controlling a relationship to every detail. But when I was with you at the party and in the car on the way back to your apartment I felt invigorated. Again I've never felt like that before.

So, even though this is out of the norm, I hope you are willing to at least give us a chance. All I am asking for is one date. I would like to have you to my apartment for dinner on Saturday night. We can get to know each other.

Please give me a chance.

Sincerely,

Christian

That should work. I take the letter and seal it in an envelope and attach it to the bouquet of wildflowers. Then I buzz the intercom to let Taylor know I need him in my office.

"Yes, Sir?" Taylor notices the bouquet on my desk and I can see his eyes dart between them and me. But, like a good employee he says nothing.

"I need you to take these and deliver them to Miss Anastasia Steele. I don't want to trust a courier service. It's too important."

"Absolutely, Sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?" Taylor is always the professional. I know he has had a long day and is probably dying to relax with Gail.

"That's all. After that I won't need you for the rest of the night."

"Yes, Sir. Have a good evening and I will make sure that Ms. Steele gets these." Taylor turns to walk out the door.

"Taylor?" He turns around to look at me.

"Yes?"

"Thank you." Taylor looks at me so strangely. I don't think he knows what to say.

Suddenly he regains his composure. "My pleasure, Mr. Grey."