[hi there, I would like to thank all of you guys - gals, to have taken the time to read my story, and for all of the reviews, those words 3 you've encouraged me to write faster and more, please enjoy this chapter, I know this is a change of scenery, but I just had to get this out there so with other words there wasn't really any progress since the last chapter. and I have to disclaim yet again that all of the Characters belongs to the magnificent Mrs E.L. James. enjoy]
Chapter two
Friday, January 13, 2012 (earlier that day)
Christian POV
'Welcome to the life of Christian Grey' I think as I stare at the pretty brunette in front of me, as I watch her eyes scan through the contract I've placed in front of her, her eyes broadens at some of my requests. She bites onto the pen and glances up at me her brown eyes find mine and it pisses me off.
"Miss Summers, that is the second rule you've broken so far," I say matter of fact.
Her eyes drop back to the contract. "Which was the first rule, sir?" she purrs.
Where did Elena pick you up? Are you even a fucking sub? I stare at her for a while, sceptical. I rise from the chair in my office, not the one at home but at Grey House.
I would've wanted to have this discussion in the privacy of Escala, but the new CPO is oblivious to my reverence of lifestyle. Anastasia Rose Steele. Christ, even thinking about her makes my cock twitch.
She's the main reason I need a new sub, ASAP.
My thoughts wander back to the first time I laid eyes on this beauty. She stumbled into my office with Taylor, my most trusted CPO slash driver slash head of security, by her side, declaring that she's the one who's going to be my baby sister's new CPO. I get disturbed by a throat being cleared, which pisses me off even more.
"Thank you miss Summers, as much as I would like to punish you now, there'd be no reason for you to sign the contract since you're inadequate for this position, I feel as if there's something else you seek."
"Mr Grey, please give me a chance."
"Thank you for your time miss Summers, please remember that you signed an NDA, " I say as I rise from my chair to escort her out of my office where she'll be met by Taylor.
If I shake my head he'd know that she's declined then he'd escort her out of the building and tell her everything there's to know about the consequences if she doesn't abide by the NDA's rules and regulations.
Taylor meets me and the petite brunette and with the shake of my head, he broadens his shoulders, which means it's time for business.
I wonder if I look like that too. If I have my own little thing that changes when things get serious. But come to think of it, I only have two modes namely: CEO-mode and DOM-mode.
I watch the two of them walk into the waiting elevator and Taylor turn to her.
When the door closes I retire back to my office. I decide to make a phone call to Elena, dearest. That was sarcasm. Lately, she's been pushing down on all of my buttons, having smart little comments about my employees, well employee, named Anastasia.
"Christian, Darling, so, what did you think about the newest one?" Elena Lincoln, my ex-mistress/ ex-dom whatever people classifies it as, answers on the first ring. Which means she's been expecting my call.
"No, Elena, Just. Fucking. No." I hiss into the receiver.
"Well, what the hell was wrong with this one? It's been the third one this week Darling, I'm starting to think you've lost your edge, maybe I should-
"Don't, I'm perfectly capable of handling this on my own, I want you to stop sending them in, because, Lord knows if I have to encounter another one of these submissive wannabes I'll choke them to death," I say, I pinch the bridge of my nose, waiting for Elena's comeback.
"I'm sorry you found none of them to your liking, darling. But-
Taylor and Reynolds appear in my office without knocking which sets off all types of alarms in my head.
"Goodbye, Elena," I say ending the call.
"Sir, there has been another threat," Reynolds speaks up.
"Does Steele know?" I ask him.
"Not yet sir, we wanted to run it by you first," well then what the fuck?
"Well, what is it?" I say in a stern voice, Reynolds and Taylor should have known to tell Ana, fuck, even if it's a microscopic pothole she needs to know.
"A letter addressed to you,"
"Where'd you get it?"
"Pinned on Miss Grey's windscreen."
Shit. I grab the piece of paper and read it.
Christian Grey,
It should've been me. And you'll pay for it.
Dearly.
Starting with your loved ones. Those you keep close.
"Do you have a lead?" I ask them, they look at each other and Taylor steps up.
"No sir, we don't but we know that the person is someone who wanted a part of your life so it draws to – a sub maybe?" Taylor says. For Fuck's sake. A sub?
Well, there was that time last year when Leila Williams had cut her wrists in front of my housekeeper, Gail… she was a special kind of crazy, thinking me and her could be more.
"Have Barney look into their every move since the last time I saw them," I say dismissing them.
"Oh and Reynolds," I say probably making the poor prick worry his little head off. I'm not really fond of him.
"Y... yes sir?" See the poor fuck stutters. I'm really good at this, reading people.
"Let Steele know about things like this." I get a nod and a 'yes sir' and then they leave my office.
I look at the letter again and shake my head.
What is it with people? The instant there is money involved they start acting crazy, it's fascinating really, to think a simple person who's probably struggling financially can stoop so low as to threaten people their lives.
I find this fascinating because this is an urge, a drive that the human mind feeds.
This is all fascinating because this is what makes people tick. People are often driven to do bizarre things when they feel like they're drowning.
I think back to my birth mother; her urge was to sell her body to make a living. Then she decided, when things got tougher, to use drugs as an escape.
I was a lucky son of a bitch when Grace Trevelyan-Grey came into my life and saved me.
I go back to the emails I was replying to before the interview with Emilia Summers, the submissive who wants to look into my eyes. I shake my head at the thought. I really need a sub, but I don't want to be rash and choose one who's going to fuck it up.
I've been engrossed with my work for about half an hour when there's a knock on my door. Not even a millisecond after Reynolds pokes his head into my office.
For the love of God, what now?
"Sir, it's Steele we can't get a hold of her, sir, and her number keeps going to voice mail, even her personal phone." He says hurriedly. I jump up from my chair and storm out of my office and down the hall to Taylor's office.
"HOW THE FUCK CAN'T YOU GET A HOLD OF FUCKING MISS STEELE?" I bellow.
"Her cell is off, I tried Sawyer, Ryan, Prescott and Gail, none of them knows where they are. Gail said Mia and Steele left Escala about an hour ago, said something about Mia needing something," he says,
"Taylor, I think we should head home, and have the team go around looking for them, seeing as none of them really knows where they are, only Ana is with Mia," I say. Taylor nods standing up and follows me out of his office along with Reynolds.
"Andrea, clear the rest of my day, I'm heading home," I say as I round the corner and pass my receptionist slash P.A.
"Yes, sir," she says and starts doing whatever the hell it is she does so well. I should give this poor woman a raise sometime soon for putting up with my crap.
We walk into the private elevator that is for my use only. And in a few minutes the doors open and we walk out into the garage.
X X X
This is how my usually boring day went by until I got a worried call from my mother:
When we arrived at Escala, were Taylor sent half of his security team out to look for Miss Steele and my sister, but no one got them which lead me to think of the worst case scenarios. They were either dead, kidnapped or prying my patience. But if they were kidnapped there would've already been requests for ransom, were they dead the security team was looking in the wrong places, and if they're only prying my patience they should start praying they either die or get kidnapped. After a few hours we gave up, mum called me at five.
"Christian, your sister is not answering her cell phone and your father says she's not at home. She was supposed to meet me for lunch this afternoon but she never showed up." She tells me. I fill her in with what we know. She gasps.
"This is unlike Mia, Christian, I'm heading home, come over and wait with us for your sister to return, I want an explanation from the CPO assigned to her," Mum says. Yes, her CPO, the one who's going to be looking for a job in the morning.
When I ended the call with mum I called Taylor and he drove me over to Bellevue. Mum, Dad and I had a light dinner while waiting for the girls to turn up. Hours passed, mum and dad grew tired of the long wait and decided to go to bed, I told them that all is well and I think I'll stay the night and wait for my two deceivers.
X X X
I don't know when I fell asleep but the sound of someone walking on the stairs wakes me. I groan and reach for my cell phone. Fucking 02:30. I've slept almost an hour, I crane my neck to see who's using the stairs this late, or should I say early. I see the brunette who's been the cause of my twitchy palm lately. She rounds the corner and disappears into the kitchen.
I rise from my spot on the chair in the foyer. I stretch my arms and neck, the muscles are aching. I wish I was normal so the sexy brunette that causes them to ache can massage them.
But I'm not.
I walk into the kitchen and find her in front of the sink, pouring water into a glass and gulping it down.
I stand there watching her mundane actions. My eyes travel up and down her body, she's wearing a white jacket and very tight jeans that are showing off her firm ass, my god, would I like to spank her.
What is it about her that has me so intrigued? Is it because she's a little brunette and I'm her boss?
I know I can't fuck her because that is breaking my golden rule: do not fuck the staff. That makes it even more fun, knowing that it's not right. It makes it sexier, like that porn video Lelliot was watching when I walked in.
I continue with my ogling, my eyes travel down her mile-long legs, and what I see next confuses me, my curiosity is burning. Where's her shoes? It's like a game of where's Waldo.
I clear my throat, startling her, she's quite the jumpy type. Wasn't she a marine? Shouldn't they be fearless or something?
Ugh, God, another thing to add to my list of Anastasia Rose Steele's way to piss me off. She's fearless which means that she won't really care for my 'intimidation'.
She turns around slowly, and I must say the look on her face is priceless. It looks like how I imagine a teenager would look like when her parents walk in on her masturbating. I have to suppress a laugh.
"I can explain," she says. I don't know how, but by some miracle, I succeed in containing my laughter. She looks so guilty right now and with my inappropriate thoughts... I'm one sick bastard.
Anastasia POV
"I can explain," I say.
His lips are pressed into a thin line and his eyes are burning into my skull.
He walks around the counter towards me.
"I'm listening, Miss Steele." He says he's looking down on me.
My stomach churns and there's a bile in my throat. I don't really know how to explain how Mia put me into this situation. I know that I was in the military and so on, but still, how do I explain how she stole my cell phone and blackmailed me into going to the club with her.
"I'm waiting, Miss Steele." He says sternly. I bite my lip thinking of a way to explain. I sigh and start with my story.
"Miss Grey and I were at Escala, looking at plans for the surprise party for Mr and Mrs Grey's anniversary and then she got a text, she said it was an emergency," I say
"So you've been gone the entire afternoon and haven't bothered to answer your cell phone?" he bellows and I shrink.
"Sir, Mia stole my cell phone." I squeak.
"You, an ex-veteran, are telling me that my sister, a girl who can't even open a jam jar, stole your cell phone?" he asks me and I nod.
"So what was the emergency?" He asks deadpan.
"She needed to go to a drugstore," I tell him.
"The drugstore?" he frowns.
"Yes, sir." I believe that's what I just said.
"what for?"
"I don't know sir," I lie not wanting to upset him any further.
He falls silent. I look away from him, I stare out of the window at the fountain on the patio.
"You're incompetent!" he yells at me. Incompetent, really Grey? "Do you understand how worried I've been?"
"I'm sorry sir,"
"Steele, if you ever, and I mean ever not answer your cell phone again or let something like this happen, you're fired!" he yells at me. I nod. Jeez, Mr Grey, while you're at it why don't you wake up the entire street? I suspected this all along but now I know for sure that this man has no feelings. At all.
"Take me home." He says walking out of the kitchen. If it weren't for our circumstances, I'd think that he implied a double meaning.
I follow him out of the Greys home, where Mia's sleeping soundly, oblivious to the fact that her brother is ripping me a new one.
He walks down the stairs gracefully, each step with a little hop.
His long legs carry him to the black SUV in no time where he stands, irritated with me, waiting to get into the car.
I unlock the doors when I reach him and open the door for him. He should feel honoured to have a lady such as me, open a door for him, but he only glares at me. Well, fuck you too Grey.
When I get in the car, I look at him through the rare mirror, he has a huge grin plastered across his face. And I swear I hear him say: "Found it," I look away from the strange man.
I give one last glance to the Grey Manor.
This is probably my last time here.
I start the engine and pull away from the real-life dream house.
X X X
On the way to Escala, I steal glances of Mr Grey. There are dark rims under his eyes, must be because of the little sleep he gets. I noticed many times how his nightmares influence him and his fifty shades of moods.
"Miss Steele quit starting at me and focus on the road." He says. Oh, no. I've been caught. Suddenly my face heats up, and I feel like I can go bury my head in a hole.
"Sorry, just trying to figure out what's been bothering you."
"You," he mutters.
"Me?"
"Yes, you, everything about you." Am I bothering him? I don't know if he knows it, but that hurt. sheesh, my skin is tough but even the coldest person has feelings, I mean, I'm sure he has feelings. Yes, I intended to call him the coldest person.
"Well, I'm sorry for being an inconvenience and an apparent pain in the ass."
"I never said pain in the ass."
"Well, you've been walking around with difficulty," I mutter.
He grows silent again. Shit! Steele! You and your smart mouth, you always just have to say what comes up to the surface, don't you?
Luckily I make it to Escala before he can grill me for it. I shut off the car and practically jump out of the vehicle.
Hugh Reynolds and Luke Sawyer waits for us at the elevator.
I open the back door for Mr Grey receiving a look that chills my blood.
"We'll talk about this later, Miss Steele." He says and I nod my head in a microscopic movement.
He gets out of the car handing me the heels that were on the seat next to him.
"Thanks," I say and awkwardly put them on
We make our way to the elevator and sawyer gives me a look that says "Don't take him up too seriously." I give him a one-sided smile and stand next to him.
Luke and I've become fast friends. He's the only one of the team who actually accepted me. And tomorrow, well, later today. The rest of the team's wish will come true.
They can finally take out the banner that says 'Hurrah Steele is gone' that I know they're secretly hiding somewhere.
X X X
When the elevator arrives at the penthouse Jason is waiting for us, his eyes find mine and he gives me the stink eye. When Mr Grey retreats to, either his office or his bedroom, Jason turns to me.
"Not now dad, I know I'm in heaps of trouble but can your chastising wait until tomorrow? That way I can soak everything up at once." I say making Jason's eyes soften.
"Ana, you know that you've become like a daughter to me right?" he says, and I nod, feeling guilty.
"I know this can sometimes be a hard job, but I need you to stand your man. Good night Ana, get some rest." He turns on his heel and walks to Christian's office.
I retreat to my room the staff quarters where Samantha Prescott is poking her head out of her door, looking at me with a smug smile.
"Little Ana, always there to fuck things up." She chuckles. "Can't you do anything right?"
"why are you such a bitch?" I ask her before I enter my room and slam the door shut.
Sure this seems childish, but I've been here too long, acting like I'm cool and calm, when all of the tantrums are being thrown my way.
I think I have a right to throw a big one myself.
I get dressed in my pyjamas and get in bed, knowing that in just a few hours I'll get the rebuke of my life.
God, I thought I outgrew scolding sessions when I turned sixteen.
But the people I've stained myself with makes me feel like an undisciplined child.
[thank you for reading, I'm looking forward to your reviews* well, some of you said that Mr Grey can't possibly fire Miss Steele and that she won't resign, but do you think he'd punish her in a way? maybe drag her up to the red room of pain for her smart mouth? or do you think he'll suffer in silence? and what could Mia and Ana possibly be hiding? laters, A]