CHAPTER 3

Flynn told Christian the next day that he had to stop and reevaluate himself and the lifestyle. He said that the woman, Ana, was correct in her evaluation of his contract. Flynn said instead of Ana breaking it down like he had been trying to do, she had told him point blank what he was doing. Christian had tried to argue that she didn't understand. Flynn told him that if she could see it immediately as an Analytic Methodologist and himself a Clinical Psychologist, that Christian would need to come to terms that he was a sadist and enforcing master/slave contracts to women because that was exactly what Elena had done to him and taught him to do. Flynn said that until he realized that, he would never be able to stop the damage done to himself.

Needless to say, Christian stormed out of his office and was very upset and angry all day. He didn't want to face that everything Elena had told him was a lie. In the back of his mind it was starting to grow slowly. He had emailed repeatedly over the next month to Ana's email he found trying to get her to respond to his job offers. Ana had completely ignored him with no response. His IT guy, Barney, had verified that it was received and viewed but deleted. It further angered Christian thinking she was just being rude.

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Six months later, in December, Ana was out shopping in the snow in downtown Pike's Marketplace. She was in her faux expensive Arctic Wolf fur coat and going from shop to shop looking at the seasonal sales. Earlier she had bought a beautiful formal dress for the Christmas party she had been invited to after meeting a young woman at a gala she had gone to for a local hospital. It was in her home and her parents were throwing it. Ana had been friends with the woman for the last three months and was going to lunch, dinners and clubs to dance, on and off. She was convincing the woman to use her culinary skills she had from a school in Paris to turn into her own bakery business. She even said that she would invest to help her get on her feet, but the woman reluctantly said her brother would loan her the initial investment.

That evening, Ana had gone all out and got her hair done and had her mani-pedi done at a local salon. She was stunning in a blood red velvet trimmed with lace formal dress that was form fitting. It shows off her beautiful figure being ruched, backless and slit up to mid thigh. Her long dark hair was piled in ringlet curls in a Grecian style with a gold metallic cord wound through it. She wore her gold and garnet jewelry set with a matching blood red fluffy collared fur coat with a cowl hood, Louboutin velvet pumps, and a matching velvet crossbody purse. Her makeup was done dramatically in a smokey eye and eyeliner with matte dark red lipstick.

Ana pulled up to the mansion valet in her 2011 metallic sapphire black McLaren. They took her keys and helped her out of the car. She had her cowl hood up on her fur coat and was carrying two presents. She walked into the front door handing her invitation to the greeter in the residence entry hall. He directed her to the coat check.

Christian was sitting bored at his mother's formal Christmas party with Elena sitting next to him babbling about renovations on her salons. Suddenly, Elena noticed a demure beautiful woman and said, "Who is that?"

Christian looked over and saw the back of a slender curved goddess with a long neck, legs and perfect ass. Her dark hair was up and her back was completely exposed in creamy silky skin. The gorgeous creature was talking with his sister, Mia.

Christian said deeply, "I have no idea, she is stunning." The woman turned around being led by his sister to his mother.

Grace said to Mia curiously, "Is this your friend you told me about, Mia?"

Mia said proudly, "She sure is. Mom, this is Anastasia Steele. Ana, this is my mother, Dr Grace Trevelyan Grey."

Grace said smiling friendly, "I'm pleased to finally meet you. Mia said you're the young lady trying to help her get a business plan in order for a bakery and put her degree in culinary school to work. It's nice that you are encouraging Mia in such a positive way."

Ana blushed and said, "She has come over and baked with me at my condo showing me recipes and she is very talented. It would be no problem with proper advertising to get Mia up and successfully." Mia hugged her friend. Grace instantly liked this young woman.

Grace said happily, "With you around her I'm sure she will be." Christian instantly knew who she was overhearing her name. He stood up and walked over to them. Elena was shocked at his reaction and got up following him.

Grace saw him and said, "Christian, I would like you to meet Mia's friend who's helping her develop a business plan for a bakery. Anastasia Steele, this is my son, Christian Grey."

Ana looked at Christian in the eyes and said, "Mr Grey." He reached out his hand to her. She took his hand to shake but he kissed it instead.

Christian said smirking, "I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Steele about six months ago in Portland. At the time, she had just graduated from WSU with double masters degrees to add to her double bachelors degrees she already had. Nice to see you again, Anastasia."

Grace said surprised, "My goodness, you have four degrees, Miss Steele?"

Ana frowned at Christian because he got all that off her background check, not that she told him and thought that rude. He didn't know her at all after the crap he pulled on her already. Ana said, "Yes, I do in Business Administration, Business Analytics, Econometrics, and Statistics. I haven't used all of the degrees yet but plan on it eventually. I have an inheritance and don't need to work but would like to."

Elena came up and heard all Ana said. She asked Grace intrusively, "Who is this girl, Grace?"

Grace said resting her hand on Ana's red velvet long gloved forearm, "This is Mia's friend, Anastasia Steele. She is helping Mia get a business plan together and helping her launch a business."

Elena said snottily, "Mia doesn't need her when she has Christian to help her do all that." Grace looked at Elena frowning.

Grace said clipped, "Don't be rude, Elena. She is helping and encouraging Mia, her friend. It is a wonderful friend who can do that."

Elena knew she stepped in it a bit with Grace, so she said ingratiatingly, "I just meant that Christian has always been there to do that is all. No offense." Elena flippantly said to Ana.

Ana was irritated and said, "Mia excuse me. I need to go to the restroom, can you show me?" Ana had to get away from Christian and that older woman, Elena. She was getting pissed off.

Mia said quickly, "Of course, follow me." Mia took Ana's hand and led her through the crowd to a bathroom in the back of the house.

Mia said quietly perturbed, "I can't stand that old cow." Ana nodded and patted her arm, turned and went into the bathroom, closing the door and locking it. Mia went back to the front of the house.

When Ana was done washing her hands, putting her gloves in her purse and checking her makeup, she unlocked the door and went to step out into the hall, but Christian was there and gently pushed her back in the bathroom and locked the door.

Ana said flatly and frowning, "What do you want?"

He said, slowly backing her up against the sink, "Why didn't you answer any of my emails I sent you?"

Ana said flippantly, "Because I don't want to be in your control freak life being dominated by you. I know now how impossible it seems to avoid you now with Mia as my friend."

He said frowning, "I was only offering you a job at my company."

Ana asked, "Did you get my background check finally? The CIA makes it more difficult to get it, huh? I hope you know what a blunder you committed that night when I last saw you?"

Christian said gruffly, "Yes, I know. This is about business not that. Why are you being so defensive?"

Ana laughed at him and said, "I am not defensive, Mr Grey, you silly man, or I would leave right now if I thought you were a threat. I'm cautious of getting into any kind of relationship with you, even business. You are a control freak sadist with issues. I'm not willing to work for a man that I don't trust. You approached me randomly thinking I might be someone's sucker or easy mark that you can control and beat into submission in your red room of pain. You thought I was like other women who would just put up with that for your pretty face for things and money. You did it just because I was, supposedly, a poor naive college student. You found out that I am as far away from poor and naive, as that night proved, didn't ya? I have worked all my life and have been in control of my destiny. I have already given five years of my life to my country, educated myself, fed the poor, contributed to charities, and now trying to help your sister too. Tell me Mr Grey, what more do you want from me?" He saw the fire in her eyes making her so sexy and look right through him, his loins were burning for her. He couldn't stand it much longer, not touching her.

He said spontaneously without thinking, "I want you, Anastasia. I want more… with you." Ana stared at him in shock. He leaned in and quickly took possession of her lips.

Ana said in a whisper breaking the kiss turning her head away from him, "You must be joking. You must know I will not tolerate you trying to Lord control over me or raise a hand to me? I'll spank your ass instead of you trying to spank mine. I'll never submit to you like you are used to getting from other women."

Christian said in a deep sexy voice running his fingers down her naked spine, "I'm not asking for you to do that now. How about you teach me how to share control with you?"

Ana felt tingling going down her spine to between her thighs from his touch. She was wet instantly. Christian felt a tingling going up his arm from touching her skin. His hard on in his pants was becoming painful and like granite. He had her up against the sink with both hands by her hips. He leaned in and kissed her neck with his tongue licking her skin, then kissing below her jaw. Ana exhaled roughly. Christian had never done this before but was enjoying every second causing her body to react.

Ana said a bit shaky grabbing him by the biceps, "You're not playing fair with me acting all different now. I… I need to get out of here and away from you." She started breathing heavier.

Christian said softly against her throat nuzzling her, "Don't run away, Anastasia, please stay? I need you, beautiful. I need you to show me how to trust someone for the first time?" He caressed her lips with his finger. They were both breathing heavily now looking in each other's eyes. Ana suddenly aggressively smashed her mouth into his losing control for a moment and kissed him so hard that it caught him by surprise because he was the aggressor normally. She passionately and vigorously attacked his mouth. He swore his toes curled in his shoes. Christian grabbed her hips and was pressing her body into his. He let go of his control for the first time since Elena and was losing himself in her kiss. He felt almost euphoric with his hands all over her body. Her scent, feel of her skin was so intoxicating and felt so perfect against his body and hands. Ana's hand slid up his arm and into his hair at his collar. She tugged his hair gently and he growled.

Christian broke the kiss caressing her cheekbones and said, "Please come home with me after this. I promise to you that I will not hurt you ever. You're to lovely, but I might bite your lip a bit and fuck you until you scream."

Ana was in a dilemma with her body and mind reacting to his words. On one hand, she wanted him to satisfy the lust in her body and on the other hand, he was extremely sexually attractive to her on every level. He was so very handsome and sexy. But, she knew what he was, a sadist, but definitely didn't know why yet. Ana said, panting, "Only if you tell me why you are the way that you are first." He was panting and she saw fear hint across his eyes.

She brushed his lips barely with her own lips and whispered sensually, "Be brave for me, Christian. Take a chance that the universe is leading you to something even better. I won't leave or hurt you if you do. I promise to work with you as long as you work with me too." He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as she nuzzled and licked his ear.

When his eyes opened he said, "I'll tell you tonight." She nodded and kissed him softly. He loved it, responding back to her tongue movements languidly moving with his own. He had never been kissed like this, slow and easy, because he didn't kiss his subs only on the body, never the mouth. It was too personal. He never kissed anyone but Elena and that was many many years ago, but never like this. Ana was different. She was… sultry about it.

Ana broke the kiss and grabbed some tissue paper from the box on the counter of the sink and started wiping off the lipstick on his mouth. Then she turned to the mirror, leaned in as her rubbed himself against her ass and cleaned up her own mouth. She applied her lipstick as he was up against her stoking the skin on her back focused watching his hand slowly move across her skin. Ana turned around and he took her hand went to unlock the door, taking her hand and leading her back through the house to the party. He felt drunk but didn't drink. It was her, it had to be.

The people everywhere were all eating and drinking as the music played in the small room cleared for dancing. Christian asked, whispering in her ear, "Will you come dance with me?"

Ana turned and said in his ear softly, "Ok, Christian." He pulled her onto the dance floor and held her in his arms very intimately and close.

Elena saw him holding that girl too closely and dancing with her. She taught him how to dance long ago. She was growing angry because it should be her he dances with. He was touching her intimately like a man driven by desire. He never looked at her that way even when he was younger and it pissed her off. She taught him about sex, about dancing, manners and about wines. He belonged to her because she created him. That girl should be down on her knees thanking her, but Elena just wanted her to go away from her Christian. She owned him.

Grace was watching her son holding Ana to his chest. It was remarkable that he was touching her so tender and gently. She never in her life saw him act like this. It was shocking everyone because he never was like this to any girls he was ever around. Carrick just smiled watching them while standing next to Grace. He knew this girl must be the one.

Mia smiled knowing Ana would be good for her brother. She was such a nice person and she bet that Ana could heal Christian.

Elliot wandered in the room and was stopped to be amazed at what Christian was doing with the most beautiful woman ever in his arms. 'That lucky bastard. I thought he was gay. Isn't that Mia's friend that sexy minx?', he thought.

Christian said in her ear softly, "I want to eat you. You smell so very good and delicious."

Ana said firmly then chuckled, "Behave yourself, Christian Grey. Everyone is staring at us." He chuckled knowing he was affecting her. He open-mouth kissed her neck and shoulder. His family members gasped seeing him kiss her body so intimately. Elena almost went into a full meltdown wanting to break something.

Ana said softly, "Let's go get a cool drink and talk." He nodded and led her off the dance floor to where a bar was set up.