Chapter 5: The First Date

APOV

There is a knock at the door and when I open it there stands the driver of Christian's SUV the night of Kate's birthday party. I didn't realize how big he is; he kind of looks like the Men in Black.

"Miss Steele?"

"Yes?" What is going on? Is Christian mad that I returned the books to him? I didn't want to offend him but I couldn't keep something like that. I hardly know the man.

From behind his back he holds a bouquet of the prettiest wildflowers. "I have a special delivery for you from Mr. Grey."

"Thank you, um…"

"Taylor." He smiles at me. I wonder if he feels as awkward as I do right now.

"Thank you Taylor."

"My pleasure, ma'am. Have a good night." And with that he's gone.

I close the door behind me and admire the flowers. They really are pretty and I love the way they smell. Attached to the bouquet is an envelope and with beautiful script it simply says, "Anastasia".

I open the letter and it's a love letter. It's an exquisitely hand-written love letter from Christian to me. Me! I totally have butterflies in my stomach before I even read it.

I read the letter over and over still in shock about what a romantic gesture that was. I need to call him.

"Grey."

"Um, Christian? It's Ana. Ana Steele. I hope you don't mind but Elliot gave me your cell number." I can't believe I am so nervous about this. I think I can hear him smile on the other end of the phone.

"Ana, I'm so glad you called." His voice is syrupy sweet but laced with apprehension.

"Thank you for the flowers. They are really beautiful and I especially liked the letter." Just get it out, Ana. "Anyway, I'm calling to say that I would like to have that date with you on Saturday. If you are still interested that is." Why is this so hard?

"Absolutely. How about you come to my place for dinner, is 8 good for you? I can text you the security codes and information to get in."

"Yeah, that'll be great. So, are you going to cook?" He doesn't strike me as the cooking type.

Christian laughs haughtily. "No. I'm not cooking. My housekeeper is a wonderful cook."

"Sounds good. I have to go so I guess I'll see you on Saturday." I need to hang up before I say something stupid.

"I'm looking forward to it more than you know Anastasia."

CPOV

It's here. Saturday is finally here. I'm wearing my grey flannel plans with a fitted white button down shirt that gives a hint of my physique. Hell, I work hard to stay in shape. Gail prepared an amazing meal of baked figs with goat cheese, bacon, and a balsamic drizzle; and for the main course a dry aged New York strip steak with roasted fingerling potatoes and sauteed brussels sprouts with caramelized onions. I've chosen a 2010 Château Petrus, a Bordeaux from the region of Pomerol. Gail asked if I would like her to make a cheesecake for dessert but I told her dessert isn't necessary. I'm hoping Anastasia will be dessert.

My dining room table - which is rarely used is set for two with candles. I was going to ask Gail to put together a centerpiece or something but then I decided that I don't want anything obstructing my view of Ana.

I've asked Taylor to stay on duty until a little after Ana arrives in case I need anything. To tell you the truth I think he is a bit eager to since he has never seen me like this before. I'm sitting in my office trying to calm my nerves when he knocks on my door.

"Sir, Ms. Steele has arrived in the garage and is parking in the spot you designated." He turns around and heads back to his office. I told him I'd like to greet Ana at the door which isn't my normal protocol.

I'm curious to see what kind of car she drives. I go to Taylor's office to check out the security cameras in the garage. . .that? She drives a rusted, old Volkswagen Bug. It must be older than her. It's a death trap. Anastasia drives a death trap. I can't have this. I can't have her risk her life like this every time she gets behind the wheel. Taylor looks up at me. He knows exactly what I'm thinking and by the look on his face he is thinking the same thing. But, I have to slow down. If the books freaked her out then buying her a car surely will.

"Thank you Taylor. I won't need you the rest of the night. Have a good weekend." Taylor stands up and nods at me.

"Thank you, Mr. Grey. I hope you have a good weekend as well." And with that Taylor makes his way into the staff quarters.

I make my way to the elevator to greet Ana. After what I just witnessed I have to make sure she's safe. I stand there for what seems forever and I can't stop fidgeting. The only time I think I was ever this nervous was when I told my parents I had dropped out of Harvard. Hopefully tonight goes better than that did.

I hear the ding of the elevator and the doors open. There she is. She's just as stunning as I remember. She actually takes my breath away. Her long, silky brown hair is down with just enough curl. She's wearing a black eyelet sundress that is obviously not quality made but she can make a paper bag look good. He legs are like porcelain and they are so long and shapely. I didn't expect to see this since she wore jeans the last time I saw her. She has on strappy wedge sandals that also look cheap but she has the most adorable pink toes. Her feet are so tiny. She looks up at me and our eyes lock. I think I hear her let out a breath.

"Ana, you look beautiful." I say as I lean in to give her a kiss on the cheek. And there it is - that current of electricity. It's like it has a direct line to my heart, or rather, where my heart should be. She smells amazing. She smells like clean and sweet at the same time. I can't explain it but it's intoxicating. I want to bottle her scent so I can smell it and think of her.

Ana looks down and has a rosy pink blush crawl up her cheeks. She's shy and while it's something I normally hate with my subs I find it simply adorable with her. "Thank you, Christian. You look very…" she lets out another breath "very handsome." She looks at me and is biting her bottom lip. Jesus Christ. That makes me want to take her right here.

"Come. Let me show you around the apartment before we eat." I reach my hand for hers and she places her small hand in mine. It just feels right - like we are a perfect fit.

APOV

My God, his apartment is huge. I think Ray's place in Montesano could fit in just his dining room alone. I have never seen anything this big or grand. It's like a palace. If he lives alone I wonder why he needs a place this big. It must be lonely here not to mention a pain to clean. Although, he did mention he has a housekeeper. I hope she's paid well.

Dinner was absolutely fantastic. It was like a five-star restaurant. I half expected him to say Wolfgang Puck was the chef or something. And the wine was amazing. I think the fanciest wine I ever had was the Asti that Ray and I had when I graduated. Conversation flowed so well between us during dinner. There were no awkward pauses and it turns out we like a lot of the same things. I think Kate and Jose were right. I'm having a really good time.

Just as we're ready to move to sit in the great room his elevator dings letting him know someone is here. I can tell by his face this usually doesn't happen. But since I had to use a special code to even work the elevator I imagine it's someone he is very close to.

The doors open and this older woman with a platinum blonde bob wearing all black walks in and right up to Christian as if she owns the place. I study her trying to figure out who she is and what her relationship is with Christian. I don't think he'd be into older women but maybe she is a cougar or something. The thought makes me feel nauseated. She's what Jose calls a Monet. She looks great from far away but when you get up close you see she's really just a hot mess.

Christian furrows his brow as he looks at her. "Elena, I wasn't expecting you." He doesn't sound too happy to see her.

"Yes, Christian…" as she's talking she's looking at me up and down "I hate to bother you on a weekend since I know you are usually busy but I have an important business matter that I need to discuss with you right away." How does she even know he'd be home on a Saturday night. Surely someone like Christian is probably out on the weekends.

Christian looks at her quizzically. "OK, but I don't have a lot of time."

As he says that I hear his phone ring. He takes it out of his pocket to see who it is and I see a flash of anger briefly cross his face. "Ladies, I'm sorry. I must take this call. I won't be long." And with that he walks down the hall into his office. I guess the life of a rich and powerful CEO doesn't end at five.

Elena looks at me up and down. Again. What is her problem?

"So…" Elena stands by the breakfast bar in Christian's kitchen careful to not get too close to me.

"Ana"

"Yes, Ana. So, Ana, are you a new submissive of Christian's? I was unaware he had contracted with another sub. I usually set them up for him and help with the contracts and various paperwork. Are you new to the scene? What are your hard limits? Did he have you sign an NDA?"

She's rattling off all these questions so quickly that I hardly have time to absorb what she's asking me. What's a submissive? Contracts? NDA? What is going on here? I thought I was just here for dinner. I don't have a good feeling about this. Just as I'm trying to form some thoughts Christian walks back into the room radiating authority.

"I apologize for the wait. That was Ros about work. So, Elena. What can I do for you?" He sounds very clipped with her which is in stark contrast with how comfortable she seems here.

"Oh, nothing to worry about. I see you are busy. I will call you tomorrow about it. Have a wonderful evening Christian." And, she's gone. I have no idea what just happened but I feel like I was just hit with a freight train.

Christian turns to look at me and before he can say anything I ask, "Christian, what's a submissive? That woman asked me if I was your new submissive and if I signed an NDA. What is she talking about?"

Christian looks at me and swallows hard. His face is contorted in some unknown emotion. "Well, Anastasia. I hadn't meant to talk to you about this on our first date but I guess I don't have a choice. I am a Dominant. I like to have control over women and show them immense sexual pleasure through pain. I do this with my submissives in my playroom."

"Your playroom? I don't understand. What do you mean by pleasure through pain. Do you hit people?" This is starting to worry me. At least Kate knows I'm here just in case I don't come home tonight.

"Come. I'll show you." With that he holds out his hand and I take it. He leads us upstairs to a door with a lock. He takes out this fancy key and opens the door. I walk into this room and am immediately… horrified. This is like a torture chamber. And, he wants to do this with me?

"Christian. What is this? With the exception of that ornate bed everything else looks like it belongs in some medieval dungeon."

Christian hesitates before he answers me. I can tell he's torn and not sure if he wants to do this or not. Too late now. We're here.

"Anastasia. I practice BDSM. It's with fully consenting women who know my limits and I know theirs. I never do anything to them they wouldn't be able to handle or want."

I look at the wall behind him and there's a rack that is holding various canes as if they are some art exhibit. "And you want to do this with me?" I think I am starting to tremble.

"Yes. I mean not just this. We can do other things but I really want to do this to you. With you." Now he's looking at me with a mixture of trepidation and lust.

"You want me to sign a contract with you so you can hit me with things? And you'll get off on that? Why would I do that? What's in it for me?"

"Yes, I want us to have a contract for this. We can work things out if you've never done BDSM which I imagine at your age you have not. Ana, if you do this to please me, having you submit completely to me really turns me on." I can tell he's turned on by this because he already has a huge boner. Now I can't stop looking at it but this room is freaking me the fuck out.

"Ana, come downstairs with me. I can show you a sample contract. I keep some in my office." We go to walk down the steps but this time I don't take his offered hand. I don't know what to think and I don't know what to do. Just as we get to the bottom of the stairs his phone rings. He looks down at it and frowns.

"Ana, I'm really sorry. I have to take this call. We're having a problem with a shipyard in Ireland that I am trying to buy. Make yourself at home I shouldn't be too long." He quickly paces into his office and shuts the door. I can hear him having an agitated conversation with someone.

What the fuck do I do? I'm freaking out here. I can't do this. Any of it. This isn't going to work at all. I need to get out of here.

I have tears welling in my eyes and I can feel a sob caught in my throat. I was really starting to like him. While he's still in his office I go to the elevator and make my way to the garage and the safety of my car. My familiar, normal car. As soon as I pull out on the garage ramp the floodgates open. I'm sobbing terribly. I'm not even sure what I am crying about. I'm crying because this scares me. I'm crying because somehow I feel deceived. And, I'm crying because I know this means that there can never be anything between us.

I start aimlessly driving around with all of these thoughts in my head. I must have passed this same street about ten times now. I can't go home. Kate is there with Elliot and I really can't deal with the Kavanagh Inquisition.

KPOV

Elliot and I decided to stay in and order a pizza, drink beer, and binge watch Impractical Jokers. I love that show. Suddenly there is an urgent knock on the door. It's too early for Ana to come home and she wouldn't have knocked. I open the door and Christian Grey comes crashing in. His face looks pale and his hair is almost standing on end.

"Kate. I have to talk to Ana. Is she here?" The tone of his voice scares me and now I am worried about my best friend.

"No, Christian. I thought she was at your place for dinner." This tidbit has piqued Elliot's curiosity and he gets up to join the conversation.

"She was. But something happened… there was a huge misunderstanding and she left. I need to talk to her. I need to tell him I'm sorry. I need to tell her I've changed my mind." He is speaking with such urgency he can barely get the words out.

"You guys had a fight?" That's unusual for a first date.

"Yes. Well, no. It's complicated. I can't get into it." He is increasingly getting frustrated with my questions but he's the one asking for Ana.

"You can at least tell me a little bit. What was the fight about?" How could they fight about anything? They just met each other and Ana is the most amiable person I have ever met.

"It was about sex." He lets out an irritated sigh. Too bad buddy. "We were talking about the type of sexual relationship I think we should have." That's an odd topic on the first date but maybe that's how eccentric billionaires work.

"Like, she thought you liked her liked her and you just wanted a fuck buddy?" Elliot asks Christian with a stupid smirk on his face.

"Elliot, that is my best friend you are talking about. She's not anyone's fuck buddy and as long as I can help it she never will be." Now this makes sense to me about why Ana left. I feel like I am at an ethical crossroads here. I can explain to him why the topic of sex freaked Ana out and betray her trust in me or I can keep my trap shut and let him suffer." Man, he really does look upset though. "Christian, I know why Ana got so freaked out."

Both he and Elliot look at me the same time. "Are you going to tell me?" He asks me half snotty and half begging.

"OK, I will but on two conditions."

"OK"

"Swear to me."

Christian rolls his eyes at me. He thinks I'm being silly but this kind of helps me to not feel bad about me telling Ana's secret. "I swear."

"One, you never tell Ana I told you. And two, I swear to God. If you hurt Ana in any way I will rip off your balls and shove them down your throat. I'm serious." I can feel that I am already getting angry. Ana is probably upset by now regardless.

"I got it Kate. Just please tell me. I need to fix this." Now he's pleading with me. But I don't know if he can fix this.

"OK. Ana had this boyfriend Matt. They met first semester our freshman year and quickly became inseparable. They were the couple that everyone was sure would get married right after graduation and move into a house with a white picket fence. Well, that was up until a few months ago when she stopped off at his apartment and caught him cheating on her with some girl from his biology class. It turns out he was cheating on Ana for almost their entire relationship."

Christian cocks one eyebrow up. "I don't understand, Kate. I mean it's horrible and all but doesn't that happen in college relationships all the time? Why would me talking about...sex… make her freak out?"

"Because Christian, Ana is a virgin. She asked Matt to wait until marriage. He even gave her a promise ring and said they would lose their virginity together on their wedding night."

I think Christian stopped breathing for a second. Elliot lets out this strangled laugh, "Ana is a virgin? How? How is a woman who looks like that still a virgin? I didn't even think virgins were still a thing after high school." I roll my eyes at him. Guys are such sluts. Sex means nothing to them.

"Well, I think there's a few factors. Her mom left Ray and her when she was about six years old and since then has bounced from man to man. It seems like every month Ana was getting introduced to some guy who was going to be her new step-dad. Pile on top of that Ray is super protective of her and no guys even had a chance of getting near her. Finally, I guess from reading all those romantic books she decided she wanted her own fairy tale."

" . Kate, I really need to talk to Ana. Please tell me where she is. I need to make this right." Now he is definitely begging and it sounds like he may cry. Elliot is looking at him in disbelief and not saying a single word.

"Look. I think know where she probably is. It's where she goes whenever she's upset." I take my phone out of my back pocket and hit Jose's name on the screen. It barely even rings before he picks up.

"Hi Katie bear. I think I know why you're calling."

"Hi Jose. Is she there? What happened?"

"She's here. She came banging on the door and when I opened it she just started to cry and melted onto my shoulder. Her face was all pink and splotchy so I could tell she'd been crying for a while. Poor thing. She was so upset she was shaking. She couldn't tell me what happened so I gave her some Advil to hopefully ward off one of those crying headaches and a glass of wine. I sat here on my bed with her and rubbed her back until she fell asleep. She's all snuggled up sleeping in my bed. I hate seeing her upset."

I think I am going to cry. I hate seeing Ana so upset. She doesn't deserve it. "Do you want me to come and get her?"

"Nah, she's fine here. Really. I'll let her sleep and then buy her some pancakes at the diner tomorrow morning. She should be better by then."

"OK. Thank you, Jose. You are a true friend." And with that I hang up. I turn around to look at Christian and Elliot. I know they want me to tell them the whole story Jose just gave to me but they don't need to know.

"Ana is at Jose's house. She had a glass of wine and is sleeping. She'll be home tomorrow."