The next morning my stomach is in knots. Not the kind of pleasant knots you get. The unpleasant ones when all you want to do is hide in your covers for the rest of your life ignoring that the real world is finally here. I am officially an adult today. Embarking on a whirlwind of job interviews awaiting for my dream career to take me under it's wing. Today is the day that I face reality and how much it sucks. Because let's face it, it freaking sucks. Rolling over, I grab my phone to check my emails. Low and behold I have to messages both from a member of the Grey clan.
From: Mia Grey
To: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Mrs. Lincoln would like an answer...
Ana-
Elena was so pissed to see her new, expensive purse trashed with mashed potatoes. Whoever would have done such an awful thing she wants to know? Of course she suspects it was you, but not to worry my friend, I cleared it up and said it was the god. We don't have a dog, so she's mighty suspicious. Anyway...Christian's birthday is this Friday. We're throwing a party and I want you to come.
Kick that interview in the ass!
-Mia
From: Christian Grey
To: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Potatoes
Miss Steele,
It appears to me you value mashed potatoes.
Best of luck today,
Christian Grey
CEO of Grey Holdings and Enterprise
Smiling to myself, I reply back to Mia's email saying I will mark the even on my calendar.
From: Anastasia Steele
To: Christian Grey
Subject: Values of the potato
Ah, you caught me. I am one of values the potato. It is a very important vegetable. Would you not agree?
Thank you for good luck as I embark on this thing called life. Also, you're birthday is this Friday? Trying to keep me in the dark were you, Mr. Grey?
Xo,
Ana
Finally removing myself from my bed, I smile at the email Christian sent me. I like when he's so carefree and not intense. Much like how he usually is. He's so complex. I jump at the sound of my phone alerting me that I have a new email. Getting showered can wait. I mean, who says I actually have to be cleaned for an interview?
From: Christian Grey
To: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Mashed, baked, or fried. All great potatoes.
Anastasia,
My birthday is just another day. Not all that important to me. Mia wanted to throw a party; there was no point in trying to stop her. She can be so convincing...and annoying.
Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for that thing called a job interview? I hear they're very important if you want to make money and not live in a box.
Christian Grey
Potato Admirerer and CEO of Grey Holdings and Enterprise
From: Anastasia Steele
To: Christian Grey
Subject: Hi from my cardboard box
As you very well know, I do not habit a box. Therefore if you would stop distracting me from the job interview, I could actually get ready for it.
See you soon!
Throwing my phone onto my bed, I march with renewed purpose into the bathroom. Victoria is signing up for medical school in Seattle today. She won't be back until later tonight. I am also supposed to be having dinner with my mom tonight. She wants to settle our disagreement or move on from it. I have a feeling she won't let us just move on from it without an hour long lecture about the importance of respect. She would much rather me hate her even more than move on from it.
After my hair and makeup is done, I go to my closet. I had bought a suit last month when I got my cap and gown for graduation. Good thing I did otherwise I would be going to the interview in jeans and a t-shirt. I have a feeling that that would not be too professional. Checking my phone one last time for any emails, I grab my purse and keys. The drive to Seattle is quite a ways, but once I am moved in on Wednesday, it will be much more convenient. Josh and Christian are both helping me move in. Victoria's parents will also be helping us.
Arriving in Seattle, I feel my stomach start to tie in knots again. This is it; this is the moment I have been waiting for since I started college four years ago. I never imagined that I would actually be standing on the sidewalk below a publishing house in anticipation for an interview. This is my dream job. It's the only thing that I aspire to be. Journalism and books are my two favorite things. Combine them together and you have yourself a dream job in book publishing. Smoothing my pencil skirt down, I walk into the building. Unlike Grey House, Seattle Independent Publishers is a building with much less windows. Nonetheless, it's still intimidating and completely screams business. I smile at the woman at the front desk, giving her my name. She tells me to head up to the fourth floor where the editor and chief Jack Hyde will be waiting for me. Shoulders back and a nervous smile stretched across my face, I head to the fourth floor. Thankfully I wore my black ballet flats. Otherwise I would be splayed out on the floor by now because of my high heels.
"You must be Anastasia Steele," a man awaits me at the exit of the elevator, surprising me.
"I-yeah hello, Mr. Hyde. Thank you for seeing me." I shake his hand.
Jack Hyde's brown hair is cropped short. He wears a pair of jeans and a formed fitting shirt. Suddenly I feel overdressed. Gazing around the room, I take a quick look into the opened door. It appears to be a meeting room complete with a long, brown table and chairs surrounding it. A couple other people sit in there. Jack gestures for me to follow him into the meeting room. He pulls me out a chair facing three other people. He sits right across from me, giving me a wide smile.
"I have reviewed your credentials, Anastasia. Very impressive work you have done at University. Second in your class. Impressive, very impressive."
I smile proudly as he begins to rattle of my achievements. The praise is flattering but a bit too much for me. I don't normally brag to people about what I have accomplished. Not like Victoria does. I wait for him to finish asking me my first question: what would I contribute to the team here at SIP.
After a few other questions, he lays my file down. He still has a wide smile plastered across his face. I smile back, unsettled. I need this job though; this is the only publishing house that has a good reputation in Seattle. The other ones are either too small of unknown. SIP is perfect. It has been my dream job since I decided to major in the publishing field. I gaze up at the two woman and the other man. Their faces are stoic, void of any emotions. Perhaps they aren't as impressed with me as their boss is.
"There's nothing more to say. What do you guys think?" Jack asks his business associates.
They glance back and forth between me and Jack. The woman next to him whispers something in his ears. His eyes dart back to me, then back to her. "We can give her a shot, Mary."
"Anastasia, when can you start working?"
My mouth drops open. "You mean I got the job?"
"That's what I am saying. Welcome to the SIP team as my new assistant editor. Of course it's an internships job testing the waters to see if you're fit for book publishing. You'll be getting paid though, so no need to worry about that. When can you start? Next Monday?" Jack rests his elbows on the table, waiting for my answer.
"Monday will be fine," I say, trying to reign in my excitement.
Jack claps his hands together, "great. Monday it is." He shakes my hand and I express my gratitude.
I thank the other people and head back to the elevator,a huge smile on my face. As soon as the elevators close, I call Christian. He's the only one I want to tell my news to.
"Christian!" I screech into phone.
"Ana, are you alright? Where are you?" Christian asks.
I smile at his concern, "I'm okay. You are now talking to the new assistant editor to Mr. Jack Hyde of Seattle Independent Publishers!"
"I knew you could do it. Let's celebrate tonight. My treat."
I laugh into the phone, "if you can spare a few dollars on me."
"Ana," he breathes into the phone.
I mentally slap myself in the face. "Yeah, so, what did you have in mind?" I wave to the lady at the front desk when I get off the elevator. It's now raining outside and I have forgotten my umbrella in the apartment. If Christian wants to celebrate, I might as well stick around the Seattle are for a few hours. There's a few things I need to check out before we move in this week. Might as well do it today.
"Dinner at my place."
"Oh, your place?" I ask, feeling slightly nervous. The last time I was at his apartment, really his palace, he proposed our little agreement. I still am thoroughly confused about the proposal as I am not sure if we are actual or not.
"Is that a problem, Miss Steele?" his voice is husky, making me shiver.
I shake my head, then I realize he cannot see me. "No problem. I'll be there. I'm in Seattle the rest of the day because there's no use in going back to my apartment..."
"Come to my office. Now."
I scrunch my nose at his command. Let's not start this now. "Why?" is what I ask.
"Because I said so," he answers back.
Gone is the fun Christian Grey. We're back to the dominating one that I have come to detester. "Good argument, Mr. Grey. I would think for a man so intelligent and powerful that your answers would be so witty."
"Miss Steele, I will have you know that my answers are being so brief right now because I have about ten other people listening and looking at me this minute."
"Wait...what?"
"I'm currently leading a meeting. Sorry everyone, it's my girlfriend."
Hearing him tell his employees that I am his girlfriend makes my heart flutter. Maybe I will go down to his office after all. "I'll be right over. God, for once you should do your job."
He laughs and says, "Laters, Ana."
I hang up and run out into the rain. There's no way to dodge the huge rain drops, so I will arrive looking like a wet dog. It's cool though. Totally cool because I couldn't care less what I looked like because I am in the greatest mood ever. Nothing can stop me from-a car whizzes by, hitting a puddle of water, and I'm drenched from head to toe.
Okay, maybe that can stop me from being ecstatic. Now I literally look like a wet dog who just went swimming in the pond. Christian will probably be amused when I arrive like this. Too bad this suit was brand new; now it's completely ruined.
My phone rings, "Hello."
"Ana, I hope we're still on for tonight so we can talk."
Crap. I totally forgot that my mom and I planned to have our settlement dinner tonight. I would much rather be with Christian than my mom. Especially after that phone conversation. I can't refuse him now after he's been nothing but sweet to me. It's so unlike him too. But what can I say to my mom that would make her understand? She's going to assume I'm ditching her to avoid talking through our issues. I can't have that-that would just pour more salt onto the wound.
"Mom," I sigh into the phone for dramatic effect, "I've had this journalism dinner planned since a couple of weeks ago. It's like our farewell into the real world. I am so sorry that, but it completely slipped my mind. We can do breakfast tomorrow."
"Oh thank God because I am not feeling all too well. I didn't want you to think I was avoiding you. Breakfast would be lovely. I'll meet you at your place around ten."
I smile, mentally doing high kicks in my head for such a quick response. "Sounds like a plan. Thanks for understanding, Mom. See you bright and early!"
We hang up and I let out another sigh. Avoided that situation like a pro. Hopefully tonight will be worth blowing off my mom and lying to her face. From the sound of Christian's email and phone calls, it will definitely be worth it. Smiling to myself, I make my way to Christian's office a couple of blocks away.
"I'm here to see Mr. Grey," I say to the receptionist. She's probably sick of seeing me.
She regards me curiously, taking in my disheveled, albeit professional, appearance. What a sight I must be to everyone. A girl in business clothing soaked to the bone. Yeah, I am the definition of a classy girl.
"Go right ahead," she hides a laugh from escaping.
My shoes squeak against the tile flooring. I am a walking disaster if I ever did see one. Riding up to the top floor, I smile to myself, imagining Christian's reaction to how I look. He'll be appalled, no doubt, but amused. The blonde woman at the desk smiles warmly at me, gesturing to go inside his office. I smile back and head into his office. I stop in my tracks when I hear frantic whispering through the doors. Peeking in, I see the sight I never wanted to see again: Elena talking to Christian. They're close together, but Christian's face registers with anger.
Does this woman not have a life? Seriously, she's everywhere I go it seems.
"Hello," I walk through the door.
They break apart and Christian runs a hand through his hair. Elena gives me a look that could melt ice.
"You look...well you look like hell," Christian tells me.
I smile despite my anger towards seeing Elena. "A good day isn't complete without being splashed by a car. It's all good though because I am employed. I am an adult." My words are clipped, emphasizing that I am mature enough to be with Christian.
Elena's eyebrow rises at me. "How nice."
"How's the purse?" I ask, feeling brave.
"I knew it was you, you little bi-"
Christian comes between us. "It wasn't Anastasia."
"Just admit it, admit that you're using Christian!"
I am disgusted by her accusation when it couldn't be farther from the truth. If anyone is using anyone, Christian is using me, but I can't exactly say that. My eyes begin to water; I will the tears away. I will not cry in front of Elena. Or Christian.
"You don't know anything about me, Ms. Lincoln. Why don't you tell me the obsession you have with Christian and me," I spit out.
Elena chuckles, "so innocent and naive you are."
"Elena," Christian warns.
I look at him, suspicious of why he's getting so nervous. Suddenly I want to puke all over her expensive, designer shoes. Tears are still threatening to spill over. "Someone please tell me what the heck is going on!"
"Christian and I were once involved."
My mouth drops open to the floor. Christian starts swearing to himself as Elena looks proudly at me. I feel sick; I do what I do best. I run out of the room and into the bathroom I have passed a few times. I close the door to one of the stalls, pressing my back against it. I hold my hand over my mouth to try to stifle the sob from coming out. It doesn't help and my tears come pouring down quickly. What was I thinking falling for a man like Christian Grey? He obviously goes for more experienced, professional women than myself. I was an idiot to believe that he wanted me. Such an idiot.
"Anastasia?"
I wipe my eyes, "Christian?"
"Open the stall, Ana."
Leaning my head into my palm, I look down at my hand. My makeup covers my hand now. Groaning silently I open the stall door.
"It's part of my past. She's part of my past. There is nothing going on between Elena and I. Not anymore. Please believe me." His gray eyes plead with mine.
"Did you lover her?" I ask, dreading his answer.
"It," he rakes his hand through his hair, "it's complicated."
My heart sinks. "Enlighten me."
"No because it doesn't matter because I don't feel anything for her now. I...Ana, you're my future. Okay?"
"What?" I look up at him.
"I don't want her; I want you. You're beautiful, smart, clumsy, and you say what's on your mind. Women like you are hard to find. Please believe me." He grabs my hands.
I let myself be pulled into his embrace. The tears have stopped and for some reason I believe him. The heart is a stupid thing. It's over powering and uncontrollable. There's nothing I can do to stop falling for this complicated man. Even if I wanted to walk away now, I know that I couldn't. Not now.
Christian kisses my hair, "you're soaked."
I pull back from him, laughing as I just soaked him. "Look at us. We're both walking disasters."
"You can be my disaster."
I glance back at him, smiling. I lean into him and crash my lips against him.
I would rather be his walking disaster than any guy I have ever kissed.
"About that dinner..." I start.
Christian runs his hands down my arms, "way to interrupt a romantic moment Miss Steele."
"I feel so classy making out in a bathroom with you." I laugh at the situation.
Christian shrugs, "yeah, guess this is kind of weird. Let's go kick Elena out of my office then."
I raise my eyebrows at him, "after you, Mr. Grey."
*Comment below on what scenes you want to see me recreate from the book. Remember must be PG-13! Lol*