Under the watchful eyes of her colleagues, Anastasia reluctantly followed Christian Grey into his office. Once the door clicked shut behind them, she felt like a lamb led to the slaughter, her nerves on edge.
Her back pressed against the door, she folded her arms across her chest and regarded Christian warily. What did he have in store for her now?
"Heh," Christian let out a chuckle at Anastasias defensive posture, his stern features softening with amusement. "Silly girl, if you have any issues, come to me!"
He made a move to ruffle Anastasias hair, but she dodged out of reach. Irritation flared in her eyes; she had her dignity to maintain, after all. Undaunted, Christian reached for her, intent on tousling her hair regardless of her protests.
Anastasia couldnt escape his grasp, and with a swift motion, her carefully arranged hair was reduced to a disheveled mess. Her anger flared, and she leaped to her feet, fists swinging in a feigned threat. "Christian Grey! Please stop acting so childish! These are the antics of a schoolboy!"
"Oho! Look at you, ready to fight!" Christian retorted, unprovoked by her outburst. He watched her, waiting to see if she remembered that he had just come to her aid.
The reminder seemed to rob Anastasia of her voice. She blinked rapidly, a realization dawning on her. "Youre the CEO? Youre in charge of this company?" Her voice was tinged with disbelief. In her mind, everyone was just an ordinary person, so how had Christians status suddenly elevated to the CEO? She continued, "Or have they mistaken someone else for you?"
Christians face darkened at her words. This little girl never gave him credit for anything good. He decided against explaining himself; his family had shielded his identity, allowing him to live in a modest community. Regardless, they shared a childhood bond that was hard to deny.
"Oh! So thats why you recognized me and let me through the interview?" Anastasias thoughts raced, one after another.
Christians lips twitched. Despite her apparent confusion, she had a knack for surprising him with her insights. Of course, he wouldnt confirm her suspicions; he had his pride, after all.
"Oh! So I got the job through nepotism! And without even knowing it!" Anastasia pouted, dismayed by the idea that her first job had come through backdoors rather than her own merit.
Christian was even more determined not to admit the truth. With a dismissive tone, he said, "Im busy!"
"Busy? Meaning you dont have time for the interviews of us lowly staff members?" Anastasia was skeptical, and she refused to give Christian the benefit of the doubt. In her mind, anys special consideration he might have shown was undoubtedly to make her life more difficult.
With that thought in mind, she suddenly felt that she would rather not have taken the job through such means. At the same time, she couldnt help but worry about her future.
"Lunchtime, lets eat," Christian announced abruptly.
"Lunch? With whom?" Anastasia questioned, not particularly keen on the idea of dining with Christian.
"With my mother," Christian replied, already knowing what Anastasia was thinking.
"Mrs. Grey? Of course, Id love to!" Anastasia agreed wholeheartedly. In her memories, Mrs. Grey had always been kind and nurturing, often sharing treats with her and standing up for her when Christian was at his worst.
Christian smiled, his demeanor softening as he thought of his mother. "Shes looking forward to seeing you," he said, his tone gentler than Anastasia had ever heard it.
The lunchtime meeting was set, and Anastasia made sure to arrive at the restaurant before Christian to avoid any speculation about their relationship. Christian didnt mind, but seeing Anastasias anxious expression, he decided to humor her.
When everyone was seated, Anastasia was pleasantly surprised to find not only Mrs. Grey but also her own mother at the table.
"Mom, what are you doing here?" Anastasia asked, taken aback by her mothers unexpected presence.
"Sweetheart, I wanted to see how youre doing in the city," her mother replied with a warm smile, not revealing that it was Mrs. Grey who had insisted she come for lunch.
Anastasia embraced her mother, grateful for her support and presence. She had inherited her mothers gentle nature, but deep down, she also carried a streak of her fathers stubbornness, a man she never knew but only saw in photographs.
"Anastasia, Mrs. Grey has missed you so much!" Mrs. Grey greeted Anastasia with open arms, and Anastasia happily reciprocated the embrace.
"You should have told me you were moving to New York," Mrs. Grey chided Anastasia affectionately.
"I didnt want to bother you until I had a job," Anastasia explained, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Now that youre at Grey Enterprises, its perfect. Christian can look after you," Mrs. Grey suggested, looking at Anastasia with a motherly gaze.
Anastasia nodded, feeling reassured by Mrs. Greys support. She glanced at Christian, contemplating whether to mention the woman from his office earlier that day. There was something about the whole situation that didnt sit well with her, but she decided against it for now.
Christian maintained his composure, his charming smile never faltering. The two families enjoyed a pleasant lunch, but Anastasia couldnt help but notice the attention Christian attracted from other diners. She rolled her eyes at the sight, thinking that he was like a magnet for trouble, but she kept her thoughts to herself to avoid any unnecessary conflict.