Claiming of Fifty shades

Bitterness

On the eve of my return from the graduation ceremony, my thumb hovered above Anastasia Steele's contact number that I'd obtained from her background check report.

Uncertain if I should call, in an impulsive moment, I pressed the green button, an unthinking smile on my face. It stayed put, until the bell rang, rang, and rang. Then as instinctively the smile had come, it snuck away, leaving behind a dark bitterness.

She didn't attend my call.

I frowned and sank down on the cushioned chair of my office in Escala, languidly pouring myself a stiff shot of whiskey from the crystal decanter.

A while later, I called again; no answer.

Lastly tried once more with no response.

Anger seething just below the surface, I chucked my Blackberry away after I erased the scathing text my mind was intent and fingers were itching to write.

Slowly gulping down the bitter golden liquid, I stared at the ceiling with unseeing eyes, my mind whirling, then swiftly drained my glass. My eyes inadvertently slid to my knuckles showing white at the bone. Loosening my hand, I slammed the glass on the polished wood of my office table.

What the fuck was I doing acting like a whiny bitch?

Why did she of all the women take me so lightly? Why wouldn't she pick up? Had she changed her mind regarding our dinner tomorrow or was she occupied with someone else? I felt my face harden with coldness.

I called another contact, desperately needing to get a grip on something remotely resembling control, by hook or crook.

"Brenda Calder speaking, Mr. Grey."

Drumming my fingers on the arm of the chair, as soon as the call was attended, without abiding by the conventional route of beginning a conversation, I directly charged.

"Tomorrow, I want you to be on Miss Steele's tail. I want to be aware of all her activities. Pay special attention to the people she'd surrounded herself with." I bid curtly.

"Done. I'll do it." Her response was equally to the point.

"Good. Text me. Every single little detail. Every information."

"You won't be disappointed."

"I hope not." I said before ending the call without pleasantries.

Now it felt an iota better.

I won't go ruining her day, I decided, though I'd like to know what she was up to. It was only fair after she refused to talk to me.

Next day the first text I received from Miss Calder was when I was on my way to GEH.

9:00; no activity outside her apartment except for a breakfast delivery and a wrapper filled with nondescript items. Sent by me.

The second time, I was with Ross, having a heated back and forth regarding the profit of the last year acquisitions.

10:00; she had exited her apartment, wearing a casual white tee and jeans.

10:20; in a grocery store, only bought tea, cookies, crisps, tomatoes, peanut butter, soya sauce and few other junk items, names unidentified. My brow slowly rose, the woman clearly loved those unhealthy foodstuff.

I was in a meeting with the CEO of a Korean industrialist who came with an interpreter, when I received the next text.

11:00; she's on her way back. The guy on the cash counter tried to flirt. Although she didn't encourage his advances, she was polite and giggled a few times. No numbers were exchanged between them.