Chapter 17: Pretty Pink Things

Christian: Did you eat your breakfast, Princess?

Anastasia: I ate half the muffin and all of the yogurt. I have the banana in my mouth now.

Christian: Now I have the mental image of you with a banana down your throat.

Anastasia: Would you prefer that I put something else down my throat, Sir?

Christian: Stop it, brat. Finish your breakfast.

Anastasia: I need to talk to you. It's work related. When you are able, could you call my cell phone. It's more secure.

Anastasia had waited about twenty minutes before she'd sent that last text message, after she'd finished all of her packed breakfast. The muffin had been delicious. Christian didn't even wait twenty seconds before he called her.

"Bennington Steele Publishing House," Anastasia answered out of habit. That was really dumb, she realized, because she was answering her cell phone, not her office phone. She did silly things like that when she felt nervous, and she definitely felt nervous about telling Christian what she needed to tell him.

"I still say it sounds like the name of a fucking detective agency," Christian told her dryly. "What's going on, Princess? How's your day going?"

"Better now that I'm talking to you, Sir," she said. "Are you having a good day?"

"I'll be having a better day when I pick you up at 5:00," he answered. "Now, get to your point. What do you need to tell me?"

Anastasia sighed. "I met with my lifestyles editor and her assistant this morning. That was the meeting I was running late for. The good news is that they know and have accepted the fact that we're not, under any circumstances, going to publish the Memoir. The bad news is that Sally Jacobson, the editor's assistant, read the whole thing. She knows."

"Shit," Christian muttered. "Will she be discrete?"

Anastasia answered nervously, "I'm afraid not, even though I've reminded her that anything she reads at work is confidential. She was particularly interested in… the middle of the manuscript. The part of it where Leila outed you. Sally tried to convince us that it was the part that would sell. She's interested in the gossip and scandal. So, no, I'm afraid she can't be trusted. I suspect she may have already told some of her friends about it. I checked her social media and didn't find anything there, but I suspect she could have posted something earlier in the week and then deleted it."

"I'll get Barney on it," Christian told her.

"Will he be able to find posts she deleted?" Anastasia asked confusedly.

"Honestly, I don't think there's anything that exists in cyberspace that Barney can't find," Christian replied. "Anyway, thank you for the warning, Princess. Did you finish your breakfast?"

"Yes, Sir, the entire thing," Anastasia answered alluringly. "The muffin was moist and delicious. And the banana was perfectly firm."

"I know what you're doing, brat," Christian told her amusedly. "If I had time, I'd pay you a visit and spank your ass at work. Unfortunately, it'll have to wait. I've ordered you something nice for tonight, though. I think you're really going to enjoy it."

"What did you get me?" she asked with a smile.

"It's a surprise," he answered. "You'll just have to wait and see. And feel." A little hint didn't hurt, he decided. It only built her anticipation.

"Well, thank you in advance," Ana told him sweetly.

"What are you doing for lunch today?" Christian asked.

"I don't have a plan yet," she answered. "I'm obviously still full from breakfast right now. I'll probably pick something up downstairs at my favorite cafe around 2 or 3 this afternoon. Why, do you want me to meet you somewhere?"

"I wish I could, but I've got too much work to finish," he answered. "I'm determined to keep my weekend free to play with you, so that means finishing everything here today. No, I just wanted to make sure you're safe, Princess. Don't go out by yourself, even to the downstairs cafe. Your CPO doesn't start until Monday. I'll get something sent in to you for lunch."

Anastasia thought he was being overprotective, but she didn't say so. She enjoyed being cared for. He was being a thoughtful Dom. "Thank you, Sir," she told him.

They said goodbye and ended the call. For the next three hours or so, Anastasia was busy reading reports from all of her editors, reviews of works they'd read, and other work-related emails.

Then, she was surprised when there was a knock at her door, and none other than Taylor, Christian's CPO, stuck his head in the already open door.

"Excuse me, Ms. Steele, but your assistant seems to be away from her desk," he said as he walked towards her desk carrying an enormous bouquet of pink roses in a crystal vase and a carryout bag from Miles To Go Cafe.

"Yes, she's at lunch," Anastasia responded with a huge smile on her face. "He sent me flowers! Oh, hello, Taylor!"

Taylor placed everything he was holding on her desk. "Mr. Grey asked me to deliver these items to you. Lunch from the cafe downstairs. Mr. Grey asked me to remind you to eat it all and to send him a message when you've finished eating."

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "Wow, lunch and flowers, too." She smiled as she took the card attached to the bouquet.

"Yes, ma'am," he responded. "Mr. Grey wrote the message himself."

Anastasia read the handwritten card, which said, "These reminded me of you, especially the pretty pink color." He'd signed it simply with a C.

Anastasia blushed, catching Christian's reference, and she smiled happily to herself, because Christian Grey had just sent her flowers. She looked up at Christian's CPO and said, "Thank you, Taylor."

"Ma'am," he replied, excused himself, and went out the door.

Once Taylor had left, Anastasia hummed happily to herself as she admired the bouquet of two dozen perfect pink roses. She snapped a picture of the bouquet with her phone and sent it to Christian with a message: "Thank you for the beautiful flowers."

He responded almost immediately. "You're welcome. I've been thinking a lot about a couple of other pretty little pink things that I'd much rather be looking at right now. And I don't mean the dainty little buttons on your blouse."

Was he serious? Was this her Dom giving her a veiled command, or was he merely flirting with her? Did it matter? She wanted to do it, either way. She responded, "How secure is your phone? Your eyes only?"

Again, his response was instant. "Perfectly secure, and absolutely my eyes only."

That settled any doubt she had. He definitely wanted it as much as she did. Without further consideration, she went to her door and locked it. Then she unbuttoned her blouse, pulled down her bra the same way he had that morning when he punished her, and released her breasts. She snapped a selfie of just her breasts and sent it to Christian before she could change her mind. Only after hitting send did she fix her bra and re-button her blouse.

By the time her blouse was buttoned, he'd already responded. "Perfectly lickable, Princess. The only thing hotter would be a video of you playing with those pretty pink buds. But not right now, baby. I need to work. I'll give you a call later, when I have time for a break. Keep your phone on you in case I text you again if I don't have time to call you. Now, eat your lunch. And be sure not to touch yourself. I'll know."

"Yes, Sir," Anastasia texted back. Like she would masturbate at work. That wasn't going to happen. Well, it would only happen if her Dom ordered her to do it. There wasn't anything she would refuse him.

She sat down and unpacked the sandwich that he'd sent her. It was her favorite turkey club on honey oat. How had he known her favorite sandwich?

Christian: Did you finish your lunch, Princess?

Christian: Anastasia?

Christian: Princess, where are you?

Christian: Respond to me now.

Christian: Why the hell are you not answering me?

"Ana, you have a call on line one," Hannah told her over the intercom. "It's Christian Grey, and he insists you want to take his call. He refuses to leave a message."

Anastasia's eyes popped. She'd forgotten to text him! Shit! "Thanks, Hannah. And yes, anytime Christian Grey calls, always put his calls through to me no matter what I'm doing."

Anastasia quickly picked up her office phone. "Mr. Grey, I'm so sorry, Sir! I had a meeting with my young adult fiction editor as soon as I finished eating lunch, and then my science fiction editor stopped by unannounced to tell me about a new manuscript he just started reading. He only left a moment ago."

"What were your instructions, Princess?" Christian asked quietly. She knew he was angry. She hadn't experienced it before, but instinctively, she knew that quiet and angry Christian was more dangerous than angry and shouting Christian.

Her voice was apologetic as she replied, "You asked me to keep my phone on me in case you texted me if you didn't have time to call me. You also told me to eat my lunch, which I did. And you told me not to touch myself, which I haven't. My phone was on me, but it was silent, and I didn't check it while I was meeting with my staff. I am sorry I missed your messages, Sir."

"I'm not pleased, Anastasia," Christian told her. "And to make matters worse, what the hell kind of security do you have that would allow Taylor to go from the lobby on the ground floor all the way to your private office without a single person asking him one damn question? And where the fuck was your assistant?"

"Hannah was on her lunch break when Taylor brought my flowers and lunch," Anastasia replied.

"Do you not have an intern or something to fill in for her while she's at lunch?" Christian asked her incredulously.

"It's never been necessary," Anastasia answered.

"Well, it's necessary now! I've already moved your covert security to the lobby, just for the rest of today. And beginning Monday, your CPO goes to work with you. You're going to need to create a work space for her near your office, probably close to your assistant. Ms. Prescott won't be waiting outside for you like we'd originally planned, not now that I know how unprotected you've been. By Monday, your name is going to be known all over the internet as my girlfriend, Anastasia, and the assholes are going to come knocking. I'm making damned sure that they won't get to you as easily as Taylor got to you today. Bennington Steele is getting a security upgrade! Today!"

"Yes, Sir," Anastasia responded immediately. She hadn't even thought about security for Bennington Steele. She'd never needed it before.

"Keep your phone on, Anastasia. I expect you to answer when I send you a message," he told her. Thankfully, he sounded less angry than before.

"Yes, Sir. I'm really sorry. It won't happen again," she promised. She hoped she'd be able to keep that promise, but she wasn't sure. Work was work, and she couldn't always check her phone every five minutes.

"I need to go, Princess. I'll message you close to pick up time. Keep your fucking phone on you and answer my messages."

"I will, Sir, I promise," she replied.

Once he had ended the call, she took her cell phone out of her pocket and un-silenced it. She checked her messages. In addition to the four unanswered text messages from Christian, there were two voice messages. She listened, and both were from Christian. Angry Christian. Shit!

Anastasia: I'm very sorry for missing your messages, Sir. I hope you will allow me to make it up to you tonight. I can give you something nice to relieve your tension.

Christian: Stop topping from the bottom, brat. I'm not angry now. I was worried. Alex Welch is now overseeing the security of Bennington Steele. He works for me. You can trust him. Expect a visit from him this afternoon. He's installing a security system.

Anastasia: Yes, Sir.

An hour later:

Anastasia: Mr. Welch just came by to install the security system. Thank you, Sir.

Christian: Good. There will be an additional security guard on duty in the lobby from now on as well.

Anastasia: Thank you, Sir.

Christian: I now have a meeting that I will make sure to end at 5, and then a couple of emails that I have to answer today, before the weekend. They can't wait but won't take long. Can you be ready to leave at 5:20 sharp? Taylor can pick you up at the front door where he dropped you this morning.

Anastasia: That's fine with me, Sir.

Christian: Good. I have more surprises for you, Princess. For both tonight and tomorrow night. I'm not sure which one I'm looking forward to more. No, that's a lie. I'm definitely looking forward to tomorrow night more.

Anastasia: I'm looking forward to both events, too, Sir. And to spending the day with you tomorrow before we go to the club.

Christian: Me, too. Before you leave your office today, take off your panties. Give them to me when you get in the car. Don't touch yourself.

Anastasia: Yes, Sir.