Chapter 1

Ana

Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele met at Cascade Teen Treatment Center in their adolescent years. They have both since recovered from the mental health issues they struggled with as teens and remain grateful for the opportunity that they had to receive treatment. Mr. Grey continues to donate regularly to various mental health organizations, including the one he formerly attended. Mr. Grey and Miss Steele have enjoyed a close friendship, which then grew into a romantic relationship. The comments made by Miss Steele's former partner are untrue and baseless, simply an exploitative attempt to receive attention by painting something as benign as receiving mental health treatment as though it were taboo, and the allegations regarding her commitment to their relationship while it was in progress are unequivocally untrue. Mr. Grey and Miss Steele do not wish to comment further, other than to say that they are content in their personal relationship and request privacy.

This is the PR statement that somewhat gave me my life and reputation back. We can't just sail away on The Grace every day, it seems, so this was the next best thing.

Well, the men at work respect me again, at least. I'm no longer viewed as a social-climbing, back-stabbing, gold-digging, red-A-wearing pariah. The women… most of their haughty, I-can't-believe-you're-with-the-boss, I'm-so-above-that looks have transitioned into I-can't-believe-you're-with-the-boss, he's-so-hot, I'm-going-to-be-jealous-until-the-day-I-die looks. Either way, I remain unpopular.

My office door swings open without a knock. Guess who. "Fucking Monday," my one ally sighs. The women except Maya, that is. "How was your weekend?"

I feel a blush coming on. My weekend didn't have much variety, but it did have a lot of activity… for which Christian and I rarely left his bedroom. "Good." I fidget in my seat. I remember just how good it was every time I sit.

"Jesus. You two are disgusting. Do you even talk?"

I laugh. "Sometimes."

"Better than Caleb?"

I unconsciously grimace at that name. "Not even on the same planet."

"I can only imagine."

Yeah. I'm lucky. "Did you need something?"

"I just wanted to show you my potential cover for Nielsen's next book. She's yours, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Her standards are impossible. Let's see."

I follow her out to her cubicle and feel the turning of every female head to grimace at me. I ignore it, while Maya scowls back at all of them. "How the fuck do you put up with this?" she mutters.

I shrug and smile ruefully. "It is what it is. Anyway, I love the cover. It's so creative. Hopefully she likes it, but I think it captures the root of the story."

"Thanks, doll. Coffee?"

"That would be great." I smile at her and walk with my head bowed back to my office. I'm beginning to understand how Cinderella felt in her own little corner. I mentally find myself going anywhere but here quite a bit these days…

I hear Maya come back as she shuts the door behind her. "I'm gonna throat-punch a bitch."

"Maya," I sigh. "It's not really about me, it's about him."

"The Greek god? Yeah, I know. But it's not your fault that you're irresistible. You don't deserve this."

I roll my eyes. Irresistible. More like thank God that Christian has selective blindness. "It won't be forever."

"You think they'll get over it?"

"Either that, or I'll just go somewhere else."

"You're thinking of leaving?"

"Honestly… yeah. This is becoming a toxic work environment, and I'm not sure that it is appropriate to be dating the owner of the company, even if those two things are totally separate. It's not like I don't feel weird about it."

"Does Christian know?"

I wave my hand in dismissal. "It's just a thought. There's nothing concrete happening yet. I'm just browsing. Besides, he has better things to do than wonder if he's going to lose an editor at a subsidiary company."

"You're not just an editor, though. You're his beloved." She bats her eyelashes.

I roll my eyes. "We are in love, but we live pretty separate lives. I doubt he'd care. We don't talk much about work. And like I said, there's no point in bringing it up unless there's something actually happening."

"Your mouths are too busy to talk about work, huh?" she asks, raising a suggestive eyebrow.

"Maya," I giggle. "Okay, thanks for the coffee. I have a call with Nielsen soon, so I'll let her know that there's a cover coming her way. Prepare yourself emotionally for rejection."

"I'm always prepared for that. We can't all marry the prince like you."

Marry. Jeez. We've barely been together a month. Marriage is not even a concept of a conversation. I know that we still come from completely different worlds, and Christian being my boyfriend is more than I ever thought I'd have. Besides, Marty and my dad never got married and they're perfectly fine. I just live a day at a time. "We're at work, My. Just in case you forgot."

"Fine. I'll leave you to your grumpy authors."

"Thank you." I blow her a kiss as she exits. Just as she leaves, my desk phone rings. Mrs. Nielsen calling early, perhaps? I brace myself for the complaints that I know are coming, putting on my most pleasant voice. "Anastasia Steele."

"I love your full name. You don't use it enough."

I practically melt in my chair. The honey-sweet voice on the other end is definitely not that of one of my authors. "To what do I owe this lovely intrusion at work?"

"I miss you."

I giggle. "Yeah, it's been, what, an hour?"

"Eternity." I can tell that he's pouting. That does things to me.

"Well, some of us have work to do."

"Does that mean I didn't work you enough over the weekend, baby?" he purrs.

"Mr. Grey, how inappropriate. You are my boss," I say kittenishly.

"I'm actually your boyfriend first. Before anything else. It's the only title that really matters to me."

I sigh. "You can't say things like that and expect your editors to get anything done."

"One of them can slack off all she wants. In fact, maybe she could play hooky and come visit her boyfriend who adores her."

"I'm sure she'd love to visit her boyfriend who she also adores, but he's pretty important, so I'm sure he's busy."

"I hate leaving you. Wouldn't it be easier if we were in the same building?"

"Again, I think it would affect my productivity," I laugh.

"I'm sure we can find other ways to be productive."

"Mr. Grey, are you flirting with me?"

"Not at all. I'm in love with you, and I'd like very much to be able to show you just how much, on my desk, whenever I want."

"I'm not sure this is for the good of the company anymore."

"It's for the good of the CEO. That would benefit the company, don't you think?"

"Christian," I half-sigh, half-laugh. "I have things to do, and I know you do, too. In separate buildings."

"How am I supposed to do you from a separate building? Do you have Skype on your computer?"

"Christian!"

"Oh, how I love to hear you scream that. I realized this weekend that it's my favorite sound."

"Christian." I really couldn't be blushing harder right now. How does he make me feel like a teenager even over the phone? At 9 AM on a Monday?

"When will I see you tonight?"

"After work, I guess. Anything you want to do?"

"Just you. I'll pick you up?"

I gulp, anticipating the intensity of the scowls I'll get tomorrow if he does that. But I really can't say no to him. "Okay."

"Is Sawyer there?"

"He's… around."

"Ana."

"What? He doesn't need to watch me drink coffee and type. And he definitely doesn't need to be present for this conversation."

"He should be doing his job, which is making sure that the light of my life is safe at all times."

"And he is doing his job. From the lobby. None of my coworkers have tried to kill me yet." Although, if looks could kill…

"Ana, you need to—"

Mercifully, call waiting informs me of Mrs. Nielsen on the line. "I'm sorry, Christian, I have another call. It's an author. I can't wait to see you tonight. I love you."

He's quiet for a moment. "I take it back."

"What?"

"That's my favorite sound." Oh, heaven help my heart. I'm gone. "I love you, too, baby. I'm counting the minutes."

"Me too. I love you, I love you, I love you. Goodbye." I quickly hang up before this call overtakes my entire day. "Mrs. Nielsen," I greet her, still with a goofy smile on my face. "What can I do for you today?"

I practically rip the car door open and slide inside, shutting the door behind me and quickly glancing behind to make sure none of my coworkers spotted me. I really don't need the bitter group mentality if they see me leaving with Christian. "Hi, Taylor. You can drive. Quickly, please."

"Ana? What the hell? Is someone following you?"

I turn my gaze over to him, and he looks confused and on alert. "No, no, nothing. I'm just ready to get out of here with you." And away from all of that. I push those thoughts aside and drag his face over to me. I don't care if we see each other every day, eight hours without those lips is torture. "God, I missed you."

Any anxiety is forgotten now, his face smoothing and a beautiful smile replacing his frown. "You have no idea."

"So, what are we doing tonight?"

"What we were doing this weekend, condensed into an evening."

And now I need to change my panties. "Perfect." I kiss him again, enjoying the feel of his tongue sliding against mine, already getting lost…

He pulls away, and I feel myself pout. "Before I forget, Elliot wants us to go out with him and Kate this week. Wednesday. Is that okay with you?"

"All my plans involve you, so yes. Now kiss me again."

He smiles, somehow both salaciously and shyly. The perfect combination. "Yes, ma'am."

A/N: Just a short little setting the scene. Promise they won't all be this short. xo