Interviewing Mr. Grey - Kate’s POV

I take a seat on the couch and grab the blanket Ana laid out for me. I hate myself for it, that today off all days, I woke up with the flu. Today I planned an interview with the CEO of Grey Enterprises Holding Inc. The CEO is an exceptional entrepreneur and major benefactor of our University, his time is extraordinarily precious.

It took me freaking nine months to plan this and when he finally says yes to an interview with the school news paper, I wake up with the flu. So glad I have Ana, although I can’t help feeling a bit guilty to spring this on her so sudden. I mean she is not a journalist. She rather huddles up in the corner of the University library then doing a one-on-one interview.

But then I think this might me good for her. Maybe she’ll come out of her shell. I instantly feel better. Ana comes out of the bathroom looking nervous. And right away my good mood drops.

“Ana, I’m sorry. It took me nine months to get this interview. It will take another six to reschedule, and we’ll both have graduated by then. As the editor, I can’t blow this off. Please,” I clear my throat. Usually I hate it when people are sympathetic for me.

Ana reading the questions

I see a small smile on Ana’s face. “Of course I’ll go Kate. You should go back to bed. Would you like some Nyquil or Tylenol?” She asks me sweetly. I know that the nerves a singing through her veins. My subconscious yells at me, how dare you to spring this on her. You know Ana is not a  journalist! I wave my subconscious away; I can’t use this right now. I already feel guilty as it is.

“Nyquil, please. Here are the questions and my recorder. Make notes, I’ll transcribe it all.” When Ana takes the stuff I see the hesitation in her eyes. “I know nothing about him.” She murmurs. I feel the panic rising, shit, I can’t blow this off. “The questions will see you through. Go. It’s a long drive. I don’t want you to be late.” I hope this works, she’s my last hope.

“Okay, I’m going. Get back to bed. I made you some soup to heat up later.” She stares fondly at me. But all I am thinking is Bulls eye. I sigh silently.

“I will. Good luck. And thanks Ana – you’re my lifesaver.” I wink at her as she grabs her satchel. After she closes the door I stand up and walk to the kitchen. I look at the pan that’s standing on the stove. I open the lit and look what’s inside it. It’s chicken soup. I smile at the thought.  I close the lit and walk back to my room. I feel so useless. And now Ana is having the interview I wanted so badly. I hope the CEO will understand. I drop my pink flannel PJ’s decorated with cute little rabbits, which I have on reserve for my aftermaths of break ups and illnesses. I cozy up under my blanket, and soon I drift off.

I dream about Ana, who arrives to late at the appointment, and the CEO is cursing at her.

I wake with a shock, I need to do something. I put on my PJ’s and walk back to the living room. I glance at the clock and see only thirty minutes has past. I can’t seem to shake this feeling. I stalk back into the kitchen and turn on the stove on a slow simmer. I open the lit and stir the soup. I close the lit again and stalk back to living room.

I take a seat at the dining table and grab my books. Maybe I can study a little bit while the soup heats up.

I keep re-reading my notes but somehow it doesn’t stick. I am too worried about Ana. I am glad I gave her the keys to my Mercedes. She wouldn’t make it far in the Beetle. What did she call that thing?  my subconscious sneers. “Wanda,” I call out loud and smile. For some stupid reason I can’t stop looking at the clock.

I hear the lit rumbling on the pan, I stand up and walk towards the kitchen, turn of the stove and I grab a soup bowl from the upper cabinet on the right side. I fill it with soup and walk back to the couch. I grab the blanket I left and roll myself in it. When I smell the soup, which smells delicious, I wrap my cold hands around it. I take a small sip. It not only smells delicious but it also tastes delicious. Leave it for Ana to cook.  When I lean back I drift back to the memory when Ana and I first moved in. I saw her and José standing on campus looking lost. Ana and I hit it off instantly. And then my Mom, Dad and Ethan came over; even they hit it off immediately. Which is rare. But they invited Ana to come over at night and basically she never left. Although my parents had one rule. No boys were allowed to live in the house. Except for my brother Ethan. You know, I was for sure that Ethan and Ana would hit it off. Which reminds me to call Ethan one of these days. Need to talk through our schedule for our trip to Barbados. I busy myself with checking and packing the stuff we only use every once in a while. We need to pack it any, we move to Seattle next week. I can’t believe we lived her for four years. Dad bought us an apartment at Pine Market Street. Somehow I resent the move, it means that we finally enter the real adult world. At least I can look forward on two weeks of vacation with my parents and my brother to Barbados. And I already arranged my internship at The Seattle Times. “I can’t wait to show Seattle Katherine Agnes Kavanagh, Journalist. No story is safe.” I yell. It makes me laugh. Oh shut up, and worry about Ana. You send her into the lion’s den. My subconscious sneers at me again.

I take my seat on the couch and think about Ana and Ethan, and then I wonder myself why they didn’t dated. I try to set my mind to that instead of Ana and the CEO, what his name? Oh yeah, Christian Grey.

I need to keep myself busy. Or else I’ll only worry about Ana. I and know deep down she’s okay, or else she’d called by now.

 Sometimes I really think that Ana is missing the “I want a boyfriend gen” I take another sip of my soup. I glance at the clock, luckily the time goes a little faster, at least so it seems, now I did some other things then just sit around and wait.  

Five hours have past but still no word from Ana. I start to get worried. She should’ve returned by now. I stand up again and walk back to our dining table and once again I am buried and surrounded by books. I try a second chance to study. After thirty minutes I grab my phone from the table and hesitate to call her.

Suddenly I hear a door slam. And not long after that the front door opens. Ana walks in, she is clearly happy that the interview is over. I jump up and hug her hard. I am really glad that she’s okay..

Finally she's back from the interview that would change her life!

by Katherine Kavanagh