Reposted…Ugh I hope this works!
Yeah, I couldn't wait to post this one. It is probably one of my favorites I have written so far. I hope you love it like I do =]
3. (AS POV)
Of all the people I have to run over Christian Grey? Really? There are thousands of people who come in and out of this airport and my shit luck is it has to be him. He's beautiful though. How is this possible? He has leveraged the company I work for to handle all public relations for Grey Enterprises nationally. They are our biggest client by a landslide. In fact, the team I head up is dedicated solely to ensuring a smooth onboarding process. I have sat in on all meetings to make sure the transition from his prior company to ours is seamless.
I am sure he doesn't realize who I am considering the way I look right now. But I most certainly know who he is. He is just as beautiful even casual; white V neck t-shirt, and grey jeans. Complete with his signature tousled copper locks. This really will go down as the worst day of my life.
"I. Am so. Sorry. I've had a really, really bad day. And I just, I'm late for my flight which I am sure I have now missed. And it's just a really bad day. On top of it, and can barely walk and talk. I had no business thinking I could text and run. Anyways, did you drop anything or is the only thing broken my phone and dignity?"
At that, he laughs. This is a dream. I am definitely dreaming. "If this is what happens when you run and text. Please don't ever try and drive and text. Seriously though, I am fine. Your phone however, is not. By the way, I'm Christian," he says. I know who you are. He doesn't realize who I am. That can be taken as a blessing, or a curse. Tonight I don't have time to figure out which one. Wait, did he call me beautiful?
"Christian, it's my pleasure. I'm Ana. I am so incredibly sorry. I don't mean to cut this short. But I need to run. I need to attempt to check in and see if I can still make my flight. It was good to bump into you, and I hope you have a safe flight," I say as I am already walking away.
I don't know why or what I am thinking not continuing talking to him. But really, he was just being courteous. Whatever you think you felt Ana, you didn't. He is Christian Grey, arguably the most successful mogul in his age bracket. There is nothing he would want from me. I am not his type. I'm me. I shoot my boss an email, extremely aware of my surroundings so as to not have another run in with anyone.
As I make my way to the kiosk I get an email from my boss. Times like this I am glad I have my business phone too. Otherwise, I would be beyond screwed right now.
Ana,
All other direct flights are booked to Austin till 6am; there is one in an hour which will take 12 hours with layover. Grab a hotel nearby and just take the 6am one.
PS: I am so jealous you got to touch him right now. Was it magical? I bet he smells heavenly. Please delete before HR gets a hold of this!
LO
I laugh out loud. My boss is also my mentor, and a dear friend. She has watched me go through it. She is also one of those ones that think everyone wants me. I don't get it. But I know they do it for the sake of my nonexistent self-esteem. I do appreciate them for that. As I get to the kiosk I check out the flights and decide on the one that is earliest and direct.
"Miss Steele, actually, I see you on the manifest for 2490 in first class. They are set to leave in about one hour," She says. Ok, I'm confused. "No, that must be a mistake. I haven't rebooked yet. I just need to rebook my missed flight. Please look again." I ask. She turns the monitor to me. "No Miss Steele. It's all right here. It was just updated a few moments ago in fact. Please give me a few and I will have someone escort you out to the first class lounge," She says.
"No need for anyone to take her there, I will help her find the way."
As I turn around, Christian is pushing his body off the pillar. He really is that gorgeous in real life. As he gets in my vicinity, I feel it again. No, this is not real. I am playing far too out of my league right now. With my bags checked he leans down to say something. He is really close, uncomfortable close. All I can think is how I want him to be closer. "I figured you had a shitty day, so I was hoping I could help you end it on a good note," he says as he takes my hand to guide me out of the line.
"This is incredibly kind, and unexpected. But I absolutely cannot let you do this. Do you even know where I am going? This is such an inconvenient to you I am sure. Please, I will just rebook my flight."
People doing things like this make me extremely uncomfortable. It has been something I have a hard time with. Even down to a dollar burger. It was a huge point of contention with Jose. In retrospect, I think it emasculated him. It's true; I was financially in a better place. But what he didn't understand and what I could never say was it was never about him, it was me. I watched my mother go from man to man. Each one for financially secure than the last. I vowed that I would never let that be my life. But Jose and I never talked about our past. Maybe that would have helped to be honest.
"Ana, I happen to know you are going to Austin on business. As luck would have it, so am I. Think of this as retribution for nearly costing me my life," He says with a smirk. I can't help but laugh. Tonight, I will concede on this. I am far too physically and emotionally exhausted to argue with anyone else today. "Thank you. I really appreciate you doing this for me," I tell him. I'm blushing; I can feel it on my cheeks. This is embarrassing. Although I am sure he is quite used to this.
"No, thank you. If it weren't for you this would be an extremely mundane flight," he says. Wait, he wants to actually hang out with me? "Oh, assumed you had someone with you or something?" I question. "No, it's just me. I have a really important benefit I am hosting Sunday night. My mother was supposed to fly out but she came down Ill," he said. "I'm so sorry to hear that, I hope she's alright," I apologize. "She'll be fine. She just came down with idontwanttositonaplanefor4hours-itis. Anyway, enough about that. I want to know you..."
Wait, what? "What about me? There's not really much to know," I sigh. I realize that even if I wanted to tell him about myself, there would be nothing of interest to him. "I highly doubt that Ana. I think there is far more to you than you are letting on. So how about this…We can do a series of questions and answers. I'll start. Anastasia, how long are you planning on letting on like you have no idea who I am? Granted, you are very good at nonchalant. I will give you that. But lets me clear, you know exactly who I am, and vice versa Ms. Steel," he says with a devious smirk.
Holy shit. "Well, that's an ice breaker if I have ever heard one. I guess the simple answer is I planned on keeping it up until you called me on it? I'm sure you deal with people interested in invading your personal space and time all the time. I have no desire to harass people getting on planes. It's already a stressful situation. However, I have no problem nearly knocking them over though," I shrug. "Witty, I like that...you're turn." I mean really, there are countless things I can ask.
It's nearly 10 at night and my business phone is going off. "I'm sorry, I need to take this," I apologize. As I walk away, I answer without looking.
"Are you alright," Jose says panicked. Wait, didn't we just break up? I'm really confused as to what is going on here. "Yes Jose, I'm fine. I dropped my other phone and it broke into a million little pieces. I was already at the airport and had no time to get a new one. Did you need something," I ask. Not that I need to. I already know what's coming. "Can we talk when you're back? I don't like how things went..." I interrupt him. "No one likes how breakups go. But this is what you wanted. This is what you have been thinking about for weeks and you've become increasingly more distant. At this point no, we can't talk. I'm not ready to talk. I just want to grieve the loss of our relationship and move on as best I can. Remember, I didn't want this. In fact, there were points before today that I begged you to just work through this with me, for me. You didn't. You chose this," I tell him. "I made a mistake Ana. You know I did. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I knew it was a mistake," he pleads. I can hear the anguish in his tone. "I know, and I hate this mistake you made, because your mistake broke us. I have to go. I don't want to talk about his anymore tonight," I say. With that, I hang up.
Walking back over to Christian, I start to feel a slight tinge of guilt. I love Jose. I wanted to build a life with him. But here I am playing 21 questions with a man I have no chance with. What am I doing?
"That clearly wasn't work related. Your facial expression says it all." He says as I walk back to my respective seat next to him.
"No, it wasn't. I would almost welcome that at this point," I tell him. "Boyfriend," he questions.
"No...Wait...it's my turn for the question sir," I interrupt. "Fair enough, ask away Anastasia." I'll keep it simple. "First, it's just Ana. Second, why am I here?" I ask. "Going straight for it; good for you. It's really quite simple. I want to know you," he says with that perfect smirk. Come again? "Know me?" I question.
"Yes Ana, know you. When you looked up at me with your red, puffy, clearly just got done crying, lost eyes. All I could think about is how someone could do that to you. Truth be told, I have seen you in the meetings. Usually across the room, sipping your tea, head down but intently listening to every word said. Then like clockwork, everyone turns to you to resolve whatever issue and you do so every time. I thought you were stunning the first time I saw you, then you spoke and I realized you are so much more than that pretty face of yours. I never mix business with pleasure. I keep the two incredible separate. So I'm not quite sure what it is, or what it means. But I have this inherent need to know you, to know everything about you. So yes, know you, I want to know you Ana."
"I don't even know what to say to that," I say. Why do I want to cry right now? "Don't say anything, except the answer to my next question. Who called you right now?" he asks. "My ex-boyfriend, Jose." And it's over before it started. "Your ex, is this recent?" I bit my lip, unable to speak in fear that I'll start crying and I shake my head yes. "Hence the swollen red eyes?" he asks. "You're quick Christian. I'll give you that much," I say with a slight laugh. I am attempting now to lighten the mood and failing miserably. "What happened, if you don't mind me asking?" he asks.
I don't mind. I want to tell him. But I am still trying to sort through it myself. "It's fine. I dated this guy for a year. I cared a great deal for him. I loved him, and he broke up with me. There was no defining moment, no blow up fight, nothing. Just him gradually pulling away till he decided he was done. He called right now to say he made a mistake." I can tell he tensed by that. "And do you think he did?" he asks. "Well, yes. Because I was good to him. Really, really good. And we had a good relationship. I really saw a future with him. So yes, he made a mistake. He lost someone who would have supported and loved him regardless," I say. "So you're not thinking about taking him back?" he asks. He almost looks worried. "No, let me be honest. Aside from Jose, the only relationships I know are toxic. And when I finally decided to start dating seriously, I had 2 cardinal rules. He lies, were done. He leaves me, he's never coming back. He knew this and instead of just trying to work through whatever he was feeling he left me. You don't leave people you love. You figure it out. You talk it out. But you don't leave. That's it. It's really simple. At least I think so." I see him relax a little. Woah, he cares.
"Ok, I'm done talking about this now, my turn. So what are you intentions once were in Austin?" I ask. I don't even know why I am asking that. I am his employee. What am I even doing? "Well, permitting you say yes to my next question, I can continue answering. May I jump to mine?" He asks.
I motion that he has the floor. "I would very much like to take you out Saturday night. I assume you need to get settled once we arrive, and I have some things I need to square away for the benefit. But I would love to take you out tomorrow night. Permitting you want that too. And now knowing your current relationship state, I will understand if that's a no. But know that, since the moment you ran into me, all I could think about was the next time I will see you. The timing is shit. I know that. But my intentions are you take you out tomorrow night and begin to show you why you are no longer with your ex and why you bumped into me. This is serendipity at its finest Ana," he says.
He can't be serious, is this real life right now? My head is saying yes, off novelty alone. But it hasn't even been 24 hours. I care about Jose. But I need to remember he left me. We are here because of him. That makes my decision too easy. "Yes, I would very much like to accept your offer," I tell him. And just then, they advise we are getting ready to board.
As we board the plane I quickly realize it is just he and I. "Christian, where is everyone else?" I ask him. "I typically don't fly commercial. But the only way to make it tolerable was to make sure it would just be me. Well and you now," he says with a smile. As I am getting buckled in I catch glimpses of him staring down at me. Each and every time I have to remind myself to breathe. He is beyond intimidating, and mostly hard to read. But there is something incredibly endearing about Christian as well. I have only known him to be this stoic powerhouse who commands perfection. Truth be told, I admire him for it. He is not that much older than me. And yes, I am sad right now. That has not change. But I am also starting to understand when people say that fate has no timeline. Because for the first time in over a month I feel semi normal. I have Christian to thank for that. Today was shaping up to go down as one of the worst days of my life. However, it is quickly redirecting into what could be one of the best. Is it too soon to entertain the idea of letting someone new into my life? Absolutely. Do I care? Not in the slightest.