Claiming of Fifty shades

The Gala and the meltdown

I flinched, flattening my lips together at the slow tap of the knock, which resembled more to a loud thud hammering over my head. I slowly massaged my temples. Turned out I wasn't as invincible as I thought.

"Mr. Grey?" Taylor's crisp voice rang from behind the door.

"Come in Taylor." I strained out as I downed two painkillers to take care of the severe headache that was hell bent on defeating me. I grimaced as I swallowed, hating being resorted to take medication. My mind was a jumbled mess of unwanted thoughts and painful memories as struggle raged and rose inside my body like a tide trying to suppress them.

"Taylor." I called out to him in a flat voice.

"Yes Mr. Grey?"

"Make sure Ms. Steele doesn't venture into the gala." Ms. Steele, if everything went my way, might be spotted with me in a few days, weeks at max. To be honest, a face like hers was a masterpiece anyone could seldom forget, which meant people in my circle might recognize her as that waitress. I wanted to avoid that for selfish reasons. I didn't really care what her acquaintances speculated about, but I didn't want to give my circle fodder for gossip more than strictly necessary. Other women, I didn't take them out. Anastasia, I had different plans for her. So I wanted to introduce her to everyone on my terms.

Then I heard what Taylor had said.

"She wouldn't Mr. Grey." I whipped my head around to eye him suspiciously. Just what was happening under my nose here.

"And how, I wonder, you know that?" I drawled.

Taylor blinked as his body grew rigid. "I talked to her."

"Did you now?" My jaw set.

He took an unconscious step back.

"I'm your personal security Sir. I have to make sure she stays out of your way. She has assured me she will remain in the kitchen." She was being uncharacteristically obedient. One less thing to worry about. What I didn't like was her slowly building trust on Taylor. At this point, as far as she was concerned, I was beneath him in her affection-o-meter. I eyed Taylor critically. With his buzz cut and tall buff physique, he might not be a hunk, but he held himself with a dignity and grace that was eye catching. It certainly caught my eye. It might have caught hers too.

"You like her, don't you?" I clipped out.

Surprise briefly flared in his eyes before he reluctantly nodded.

"She's very innocent Mr. Grey."

"Yes. Of course she is." A nasty smile curved on my lips. "I would know wouldn't I?" Why the fuck was he so concerned for her? How many others had she effected alongside me. Wasn't he pursuing Mrs. Gail?

"Yes Mr. Grey." Fuck that calm of his!

"In fact, I think I would like to have a go at her—again."

I watched with petty satisfaction as Taylor swallowed. "You never repeat them Mr. Grey."

Now it was my turn to be surprised. Taylor, never in all his years at my service had disputed with me.

"I don't, but why does it make you uncomfortable?" I cocked my head.

"She thinks you don't want anything to do with her." Impressive. He usually backs down. And I wanted her to think that Taylor.

"I didn't. But now I find myself wanting her again. Tell me why does it make you uncomfortable Jason Taylor?"

He further straightened up his already erect posture. "It doesn't sir. I was just caught off guard. This isn't your usual memo. If you indulge her again, she's young enough to get the wrong impression. That's all." He was telling me in polite words that I liked to hit it and quit it. That or she was too good to be involved with the likes of me.