CHAPTER 4

Christian had been very upset that Ana would not trust him to protect her. She was in a dangerous situation and wouldn't tell him anything. The next day he got Barney and Welch to dig deeper on her, find out who were these people she trusts so much, how they were connected to her and who she might be afraid of. They hadn't found anything in weeks. He was pissed that she had found the bugs in her apartment and destroyed them as soon as she walked into her apartment. He had to give it to her for smarts. He put a covert on her, but it took over three weeks before she left her apartment to go to the bank and supermarket. All She got were deliveries. She looked much better as the bruising had faded and the scratches healed, that he could tell from the photos.

Three days later, he was sitting in his office studying a spreadsheet on his computer and Andrea buzzed him. He hit the button and said, "Yes, what is it, Andrea?"

She said, "There is a call from Miss Anastasia Steele."

He said, "Put her through." His phone rang and he put it on speaker phone.

He said, "Hello, Anastasia."

She said, "Hi, Christian. My issue has been cleared up and I will not have to deal with it anymore I was told. How have you been?"

Christian said perturbed, "I've been fine. Kind of left in limbo since I left the hospital that day."

Ana said honestly, "I am sorry about that but I was not at liberty to say anything to anyone about the situation and I was protecting you from a notorious criminal. I know you don't understand it and you like to know everything about everyone. Let's just remain friends and try to let it go and don't let it bother you. Fate has cast me into your path twice with unusual timing as it is." He had to agree with her that the timing was unbelievable.

He asked her, "Can you come to see me at GEH on…" he pulled up his schedule on Monday on his laptop. "Monday at 11 am? Security will escort you up after you get a visitor pass at the front desk in the lobby. I'll have you plugged into my schedule for an hour so I can show you around, take you to lunch afterwards and drop you off at HR to fill out an application. Ok?"

Ana said smiling, "That's very generous of you to spend time with me like this. I'm flattered. Of course, it all sounds great. I'll make sure I look my best. I need to impress my hopefully new boss. You know how intimidating and critical he can be?"

He chuckled at her, teasing him, "Yes, he's a tough hard ass but I am sure he will be charmed by you and your smarts in your mouth and brains." She snorted and giggled. He thought she sounded adorable.

She said smiling, "Well at least he is nice to look at, most bosses are gruff old men that are meanies. Gruff young good looking meanies are at least a step up."

Christian was grinning at that and said sarcastically, "Is that so? Well glad it's a step up for you then. I'll be looking forward to spending Monday afternoon with you, Anastasia."

Ana said, "Me too Christian, me too. Have a good evening."

He said, "You also." They hung up.

—--

The next day, Ana went to Nordstrom's to get a few things to add to her wardrobe. She went inside and started looking around. A sales associate helped her with the purchases she wanted to make. When it came time to check out she had a dozen items in her hands and there was a line.

A woman behind her was getting outrageous in her commentary on being critical about everyone. The witch was saying, "I bet most of these people in here have to take years to pay off their credit cards to afford their purchases."

Her friend said, "Really, Lily, be quiet."

The witch then said, "Just look at them. They should have a VIP cashier for us more important people."

Her friend said, "Keep it down. You're embarrassing me."

The witch said, "You should go up there and tell them your name, Mia, and make these people all step aside. They would rather have your business than theirs."

When Ana's turn to check out came up, the witch behind her said while tapping her on the shoulder too hard, "Do you mind if we go ahead of you?" Ana turned and looked at the mountains of stuff she had in her arms. Ana snorted and turned back around.

The person in front of her was done and Ana moved to put her items on the counter and the woman behind her shoved her out of the way knocking her to the ground. She snottily said, "Move out of the way for the more important people."

Her friend, Mia, shouted, "Lily! What are you doing?!"

Ana stood up, grabbed her things off the floor and said to the cashier, "If you ring up one thing of hers, I think everyone in line will leave." Ana walked up to Lily, shoved her out of the way as she cried out dramatically and swiped all of her things on the counter down out of the way. The eight women behind them clapped their hands. Ana put her purchases on the counter and the cashier started ringing them up.

Lily stood up and said hatefully, "You bitch! How dare you touch me!" Lily was trying to take a swing at Ana. Ana grabbed her wrist and jammed her thumb into her pressure point causing Lily to scream like she was being murdered and going down to her knees.

Mia shouted angrily, "For God's sake, Lily! Shut the fuck up and quit being a drama queen! You started this whole scene looking like a impatient snob and shoving that woman for no reason! I'm sick of your shit! Get a cab to go home because you're not my friend anymore and I'm not driving you anywhere!" The women in line started clapping again.

The cashier called security and had him escort Lily out of the store as Ana took her bags after cashing out. Ana patted the cashier's hand and said, "Sorry you have to put that all back."

The cashier said, "No worries, as long as she got what was coming to her." Ana smiled and patted her hand turning to leave.

Mia said, "Have you got a minute?" Ana waited while she bought her few purchases. When she was done they walked towards the exit.

Mia said, putting out her hand, "I'm Mia. What's your name?"

Ana took her hand and said, "Ana."

Mia said reaching into her purse and pulling out her phone, "Would you like to go out Friday night? We could get dinner first."

Ana smiled and said, "Sure, that would be great." They exchanged phone numbers and went to their cars. They were on their way to becoming friends and were planning on having fun together. Lily was standing outside the store watching them both leave pouting waiting for her father to come pick her up.

—--

Friday night, they were going out to the clubs. Ana was dressed in a dark blue velvet bodycon dress, off the shoulder, long sleeve, ruched and to mid thigh. She wore a pair of dark blue Louboutin Astrida Bride red sole suede pumps, a Jimmy Choo dark blue leather mini crossbody bag and her faux red fox fur coat.

She picked Mia up in her new car, a Kyanite Blue Pearl 2011 Jaguar XKR Convertible, went out to dinner and they went to the club Mia wanted to start at a place called The Dance Factory. Mia said she got her brother's to come out to the club but she wasn't holding her breath on one of them showing up. They didn't have to stand in line with a VIP pass, went straight into the coat check and the VIP section was in the back.

They were led to the VIP section of the club. It was very loud there with the crowd and the music. A bit disorienting at first walking through it all. Ana kept a hold on Mia's hand to guide her through the crowd. They finally got there and sat down. The inside was just so full of people at 8 pm. They ordered drinks and Ana was glad they ate before.

Mia said, "What do you think of the place so far? My brother owns it and my other brother did all of the remodeling." She looked around and it was hard to get the full layout of the club because of the people.

She said, "It's a bit hard to get the layout because it's so full." Mia nodded. A man with blonde curly hair and blue eyes comes up to the table and sits down next to Mia. She smiled and thought, 'He sure is good looking for a surfer type.'

The guy said, being charming, "Hey, beautiful, I'm Elliot, Mia's favorite better looking older brother." Mia elbowed him in the ribs. Elliot chuckled at her. He put his hand out to shake hers. She shook his hand and he kissed the back of her hand. Ana blushes because she can't seem to stop from doing it on cue.

Elliot asks Mia, "How long have you been here?"

Mia said, "We just got here long enough to order a drink." At that moment the waitress takes his order and he flirts with her. She thought, 'He's a big playboy type. Never serious I bet.'

A guy came up to the table and asked Ana to dance. Mia took her purse to go lock both of theirs up in the office because Elliot had the key. The guy took her out to the dance floor and they danced a couple songs. He took her up to the bar and started getting handsey and Ana blew him off walking away. She went to the restroom.

On her way back, Ana went back to find Mia sitting with two men. Ana walked up and to her surprise there was Christian with Elliot. She wondered just how small the world really was. Christian looked up at her surprised. He stood up and whispered in Ana's ear, "You look beautiful." She smiled at him and sat down sliding into the round booth.

Ana said leaning in to talk to him, "So how do you know Mia?"

He said smiling, "She's my sister and this is my club. Will you go dance with me?" She nodded and he offered her his hand. She took it and let him lead her to the dance floor.

He put his hands on her hips and started dancing slowly with her to Halsey's 'Not Afraid Anymore'. She turned her back to him and was rubbing up against him in an agonizing slow sexy way with her hands caressing his arms. Her head was back on his shoulder next to his face. He was very aroused and wanted to kiss her badly, so he started kissing her neck. His hands were roaming her body. The next song was faster called Usher's 'Scream'. He thought, 'I can't do this. She's too good for me. I'll be a disappointment to her and she will walk out on me when she finds out what a monster I am.'

When he pulled her off the dance floor, he took her to a quieter corner and cupped her face looking into her beautiful blue eyes inches from her lips. She swore he was going to kiss her. But, to her disappointment he said, "Anastasia, you should steer clear of me. I'm no good for you. I have to let you go."

Ana said perturbed at him toying with her, "Getting a little too real for you because I'm not sub material?" He didn't respond but put his hands down. "Tell Mia I had to leave because I wasn't feeling well. Can you get my purse from your office?" He turned and she followed him to the back office. He unlocked a door and flicked on the lights. Her purse was on his desk. Ana brushed by him and snatched it all up and turned to leave.

He said solemnly, "I still hope you will come and fill out an application at my company on Monday?"

Ana spun around glaring at him and said, "Why should I? Your just fucking around with me like a cat with a mouse. I am not a toy to be played with when you're bored. You don't know what the hell you even want. Do you, Christian? I'm not playing your game of hot and cold. What do you want with me anyway and why would you start something in the first place? You can't beat then fuck me anyways. There are other companies out there other than yours, Grey, that deserve a person with three degrees."

He said sadly, "I'm sorry, Anastasia."

She spat, "Yes, you are, Mr Grey." She walked out and slammed the door. Walked out of the nightclub and drove home.

He went home and couldn't stop thinking about what it felt like to touch her and what was said. He knew that he was wrong to have treated her like that and hurt her feelings. His self loathing was telling him that it was better to push her away before she got invested in thinking that he could have a vanilla relationship with her. He felt so damn guilty.

—--

Saturday afternoon came, Christian was leaving for his parents house, and Ana was surprised to see him in the parking garage getting ready to leave. She didn't know he lived in her building. Just something he didn't mention at all. She ignored him and continued walking over to her car. She was dressed in her teal Badgley Mischka pleated three quarter sleeve bodycon midi dress, teal Louboutin patent leather high heels and a faux silver fox fur coat. Her hair was down and curled. She was hitting the key fob and put a few bags in her trunk. He stood by the SUV and stared at her then walked over to her. She walked around to the car door to get in her Jaguar. He said, "Anastasia?"

She turned and looked at him impersonally, "Yes, Mr Grey?"

He said condescendingly, "Don't do that." She raised an eyebrow looking at him like saying, 'Do what?'

He said, pouting, "Don't act like you don't know me."

She asked stiffly, "How should I act according to you?"

He said frustrated, "I didn't mean to…. I don't want you to be angry with me."

Ana opened her car door and said, "What do you want from me? You tell me to steer clear from you, now you're coming up to me not wanting me to be angry at you. Will you make up your damn mind, Christian Grey." She turned to face her car and he spun her around suddenly holding her by the upper arms and started kissing her. She was in shock at first with him. She started responding and then turned her head, breaking the kiss.

Ana asked panting, "What are you doing? You threw me away."

He panted and said, "I didn't want to but I can't sleep without thinking about you. I'm afraid I'll hurt you worse. Will you go out to dinner with me tonight, so we can talk this out? Please Anastasia, just to talk? Give me one more chance?" She noticed he looked desperate in his eyes.

She caved and said, "Ok, dinner, but no more games, Christian." She muttered, "I can't believe I'm doing this." She shook her head.

He said, "No more games, Anastasia. I promise." He kissed her again quickly and said, "Is seven ok?" She said ok. He let her go and went to the SUV looking back at her longingly. Ana turned on the ignition. He watched as she put on her seatbelt, pulled out and exited the parking garage.