Chapter 10: Being Normal

APOV

This weekend was one of the best I've ever had. I can't stop thinking about that kiss with Christian. I've never had anything like that before.

Sunday Christian and Elliot's sister Mia came home from a semester abroad in Paris and their mom had a mandatory celebration. They both tried to act put out but you can tell they were excited to see her. Kate and I decided to have a girls' day. Kate helped me shop for some new work clothes. Then at home we drank wine, deep conditioned our hair, did facials, and gave each other manicures. It was so fun and relaxing. I haven't felt this happy for months. We invited Jose but he told us he's not that gay but he came over later for Chinese delivery and bad movies.

I began my second week at SIP today. Jack was kind of strange. He asked me if I had a good weekend and when I replied I had he asked me if I had any dates. I didn't know how to respond and luckily one of the other editors interrupted needing to speak with him. Luckily he had meetings pretty much all day so I didn't see him. Except he hasn't really left me anything to do so I've been trying to find projects here and there to keep myself busy. The other PAs seem slammed with work.

About midday I decide to text Christian:

*thank you for brunch on Saturday. I hope family day was survivable. :-)*

*Anastasia, the pleasure was all mine. It was good to see Mia but I forgot how much she can talk. How is it going at work?*

*it's going OK. My boss is kind of strange. But otherwise I really like it.*

*strange how?*

*he asked me if I had any dates this past weekend. Doesn't seem a normal question coming from a boss.*

*Ana, that isn't normal. I don't think I like the idea of that. You should come work for GEH. I'd make it worth your while. ;-)*

*Christian! OMG I better go he's due back from a meeting any minute. Talk to you later?*

*I'm leaving tonight for a business trip in London and won't be back until Friday. I'll text you as much as I can. Maybe drinks Friday evening?*

*travel safely. Friday sounds fun. Bye. :-* *

*laters*

"ANA!" Jeez, he just made me jump. Keep your pants on. I walk over to his office doorway.

"Mr. Hyde?" He seems kind of angry I hope it's nothing I did.

"I have a project I need you to work on. I have to get more books published so I need you to go through all of the submissions we received for the past month and do a summary of each along with a character analysis. I need it completed by EOB on Friday."

"Yes, sir. I'll get started on it right now." At least I won't be bored.

Kate texts me later that afternoon:

*Thai 2 night?*

*sounds good.*

*K I'll pick it up on my way home. Laters*

*lol laters*

I think we've all been spending too much time with Elliot. Next thing I know we'll be calling each other dude and bro.

The rest of the week was pretty uneventful. On Thursday Jose came over and we ordered a pizza and watched Quentin Tarantino movies. He teased me for drinking milk with my pizza and I teased him for liking anchovies on his pizza until Kate threatened to put both of us in the corner. Then Jose called her Trenchbull for the rest of the night.

Friday is finally here and it's casual dress at SIP. I'm wearing white skinny jeans with a flowing blue silky top and silver flat sandals. Kate picked this outfit out for me and I have to say I look pretty good in it. It fits my curves in all the right spots. I never paid this much attention to my outfits when I was dating Matt. What I have with Christian feels totally different.

Just before the end of the work day I finish the last of the summaries and character analyses. I hand my work into Jack.

"Great job, Ana. Let me take you out for drinks tonight to celebrate." Uh oh. This does not seem right at all.

"Um, I already have plans with friends for the evening." Holy shit. What do I do?

"Ah. That's a shame. Maybe another time." I don't respond and just walk out of his office. Luckily everyone else is leaving the office for the day. Saved by the bell. I yell goodbye to Jack and get the hell out of Dodge.

Since it's a beautiful night I decide to walk to the bar where I'm meeting everyone and make my way to Oliver's. When I get there Kate, Jose, and Elliot are already there and were able to snag us a table.

"Annie, you look hot. You could turn a gay man straight." I swear Jose is like my own personal hype man.

I start to blush and can feel him behind me. Before I turn around he says, "I completely agree with Jose." Jose looks at me and mouths 'I told you so'. I turn around and see Christian. He definitely is a sight for sore eyes. He's wearing black pants and a light gray shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the first couple of buttons undone. His hair has that devil may care look to it which gives his gorgeous CEO look a little bit of bad boy sexiness.

I look up at him and lose my ability for conversation. "Hi" is all I can squeak out. He gives me a sweet and gentle kiss and while placing his hand on my lower back. He whispers into my ear, "Breathe Anastasia." As we are taking our seats with everyone at the table Jose is looking at me with one eyebrow raised. Shit. I forgot to tell Jose about Saturday.

An hour later I order my third vodka tonic with lime and Christian orders some tapas telling me that if I'm going to drink then I need to eat something. I'm feeling a little drunk when I see Jack heading towards our table.

"So, Ana. This are the friends you turned me down for." I freeze and don't know what to do or say and I think everyone else is in shock too because they say nothing while looking back and forth at us. Christian has a flash of anger come across his face. But either Jack doesn't notice or care because he then says, "Introduce me to your friends."

Christian stands to his whole height and every muscle on his body tenses; while he reaches to shake Jack's hand he says "Christian Grey, and I'm more than a friend."

Jose lets out an audible snort while Elliot also stands but without shaking Jack's hand he says, "Elliot Grey and this is my girlfriend Kate and our friend Jose."

Jack takes a step back while making a face like he just sucked a lemon and says, "Well, Ana. I'll see you Monday morning." Then he turns and leaves. Kate looks at me and asks, "Ana, did he know we were meeting here?"

I look at her and suddenly have a sense of unease. "No. I just told him I had plans with friends."

Christian takes my hands in his, "Anastasia, are you going to be OK working with that asshole? I don't feel very good about this." I can see the worry on his face so I just nod my head and quietly say, "I'll be fine." Even I don't believe myself.

Then Elliot exclaims loudly, "Well Pipsqueak. Just say the words and your 'more than a friend' and I can take care of him." Everyone laughs and I smile. "Don't forget, I own a construction company and Christian is a billionaire we'd have no problem hiding a body."

At the end of the night Christian and Elliot walk us to Kate's car. Before I get in Christian gently caresses my face. "Are you going to be OK?" Again he has me speechless so I just nod. He leans down to give me a kiss and I can feel his erection against my stomach. After the kiss he tenderly brushes some hair out of my face and behind my ear. Just his kiss makes me weak in the knees.

"Can I see you tomorrow?" he asks. Again I'm unable to speak so I just nod. "I'll pick you up at 11. Is that alright?"

"I'm looking forward to it already." He gives me that panty-melting smile.

CPOV

Tonight with Ana was simply amazing but I have one hell of a hard on. What she does to me.

I don't like what's going on with Hyde. I call Welch from my hands-free.

"Mr. Grey?"

"Welch. I'm sorry for calling you this late but I have an urgent need." I don't really feel sorry especially if it's to keep Anastasia safe.

"No problem, Sir. What can I do for you?"

"I need a full background done on Jack Hyde. He's an editor at SIP."

"Of course. Do you want everything?"

"Get me anything and everything you can dig up on him including past relationships."

"I'll have it to you ASAP."

I get home to Escala and it's quiet. Everyone must already be in the staff quarters. I feel as if I am on cloud nine.

Now I have to plan what we are doing it tomorrow. It's our first proper date and although I am new to this whole thing I know I want to make it special for Ana. I finalize some details and head to my bedroom.

I'm in the shower and I think about how good Ana looked in those tight jeans. Her ass is perfect and her tits are amazing. The tops of them were peeking out of her shirt all night long. There were a few times I wasn't paying attention to what everyone was talking about because I was staring at them. I hope Ana didn't notice. And for the first time since I was fifteen I jerk off in the shower. Even when I come thinking about her it's better than before. I can only imagine what sex would be like with her.

At this rate I'm going to need more sessions with Bastille and a hell of a lot more cold showers.

Feeling somewhat relieved I try and get some sleep and dream about life with Anastasia. I know it's very early in this, whatever it is, but I know I need to have her in my future.