AN: I've never done this before, but I have an idea for a story and I couldn't resist writing the first chapter before I wrote it in full for you guys :) I hope you enjoy this little teaser!

Summary: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man who is not searching for love will find it in the most unexpected way. Ana Steele is in no rush to walk down the aisle, but her resolve is tested when a mysterious man with a rude disposition comes to town. Christian Grey could never win over her heart… could he? A modern-day Pride & Prejudice romantic comedy, no BDSM

Fifty Shades of Pride & Prejudice

Chapter 1: A truth universally acknowledged

While it wasn't necessarily the classiest place in town, the Portland Community Center was a nice spacious area for the Steele family to host Raymond's 50th birthday party. The place was plenty big, and it was easy to rent out for the day which was a definite bonus. The large room was currently filled with dozens of tables, fold-out chairs, and balloon centerpieces, and there was an area set off to the side where the food, drinks, and - most importantly - birthday cake sat for everyone to enjoy.

"This all looks amazing, sweetheart," Ray exclaimed jovially to his daughter for the umpteenth time that day. Despite turning fifty today, Ray Steele didn't look a day over forty with his dark cropped hair, muscular physique (after his years in the Marines), and sparkling brown eyes still full of life. Lots of people had arrived already for the birthday party, and the large room was filled with chatting people, laughter, and little children running and goofing around. "So many people are here already. Did you invite everyone we know?"

"Mostly just your work friends," Ana shrugged, smiling as she gazed around the room as well. "Grandma and Grandpa are coming a bit later though, and Uncle Richard is out of town, but he's sending you your present in the mail."

"Even so, this is all wonderful darling," Ray smiled, and he kissed his daughter on the cheek, causing her to giggle. "I never expected this sort of turnout. Please let your sisters know how much I appreciate you all doing this."

"Will do," Ana assured him, and a moment later Ray was called away by some of his friends wanting to wish him a happy birthday.

Ana made her way across the room, searching for her older sister, and finally found her by the food table arranging the various dishes and platters.

"Hi Kate - need some help?" Ana asked. Kate, who was wearing a cute blue dress that accentuated her beautiful blonde curls, glanced up and smiled at Ana.

"Thank you Ana, but I think I've got it all handled here," she said, gazing at the spread before her, placing her hands on her hips. "I may need your help passing out plates and forks when it's time to cut the cake, though. Do you know where Mom and Leila are?"

Ana glanced around the room, and immediately noticed her mother conversing animatedly with a large group of people in the middle of the room. "Mom's probably going to be too preoccupied with the party to help out all that much."

Kate chuckled. "Can't say I'm surprised. Do you think Leila would help us out then?"

Ana's eyes cast around the room for their little sister, who she spotted leaning against a back wall and texting on her phone. She was looking rather sullen today in a black sweatshirt, skinny jeans, and Converse sneakers. "Leila!" Ana called out to her, and Leila glanced up at her. "Come here, we need help with the food!"

Leila responded with a sarcastic smirk and flipping her the finger before turning back to her phone. Ana looked at Kate, eyebrows raised.

"Was I that bratty when I was sixteen?" she asked fastidiously, and Kate giggled.

"Oh, give her a break - she wanted to hang out with her friends today and we wouldn't let her," Kate said, rearranging another one of the platters on the table. "She's just going to have to put up with all of us for the next few hours."

"More like we're going to have to put up with her for the next few hours," Ana rolled her eyes.

The party commenced, and many more people began to arrive at the community center. A lot of them were people Ana didn't know very well since they were mostly work acquaintances with Ray. He ran the most successful carpentry shop in town, and he was friendly with a lot of the local vendors, many of whom Ana had only met once or twice before in the past.

"…Whoa, who's that?" Kate suddenly asked. She and Ana had been busy refilling the punch bowl, and Ana distractedly glanced up at her sister.

"What?"

Kate nodded toward the door, and Ana looked over - their dad was greeting a man who had just walked in. He looked no older than twenty-five, and in addition to his sandy blonde hair, muscled physique, and cute smile, Ana could easily tell why Kate had a sudden interest in him. Kate blushed and looked away when she noticed Ana smirking at her.

"He must be another one of Dad's work friends," Ana said, looking back over at him. The handsome guy was soon joined by another man who was a bit taller, and had messy copper-colored hair. Ana thought he was even better looking than the blonde guy, though he wasn't smiling - he was actually gazing around at the party with an annoyed frown on his face, as if he wanted to be anywhere but here right now.

"The blonde guy is pretty cute, but his friend looks like he just smelled something nasty," Ana pointed out, turning back to the food.

"I've never seen either of them before. Where do you think Dad knows them from?" Kate asked. She glanced up toward the door again and her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh my God, they're coming over."

Ana glanced up too, and sure enough, Ray was leading the two men toward the food table, where Kate and Ana were standing. The two girls quickly tried to act busy as they rearranged the platters of food for the hundredth time.

"Ana - Kate," Ray greeted his daughters, and they both looked up at him. He was standing before them with the two handsome guys - the blonde was smiling at Kate in particular. "I'd like to introduce you to Elliot Adams. He runs a construction business up in Seattle, and I've been working on a project with him down here for the past few weeks. Elliot, this is my oldest daughter Kate and my middle daughter, Ana."

"Nice to meet you," Ana smiled and shook Elliot's hand.

"Nice to meet you too," Elliot smiled at her before turning to Kate, giving her a wide grin. He took her hand, and she blushed. "Nice to meet you, Kate."

"You too, Elliot," Kate smiled at him, and Ana couldn't help but notice her voice get a bit breathier. "Um… our little sister Leila is over there standing by the wall."

"Oh. So there's three of you, then?" Elliot glanced over his shoulder at Leila before smiling back at Kate.

"Yup. Three daughters and no sons," Ray chuckled. "I really had my hands full with them when they were growing up, I'll tell you that much."

Elliot, Kate, and Ana all laughed, and Ana couldn't help but notice Elliot's friend didn't so much as smile.

Someone then came over to wish Ray a happy birthday, and he excused himself before walking away. Elliot turned back to Ana and Kate.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce my friend," Elliot looked over at the other guy. "Kate, Ana - this is Christian Grey. He's a friend of mine from Seattle who's working with me down here in Portland for the next few weeks."

"Nice to meet you," Ana smiled at him, and he smiled and nodded back at them. He didn't shake their hands.

"Would you guys like some food?" Kate asked, gesturing to the table she and Ana had been tending to.

"Yeah, definitely," Elliot grinned, and for some reason Kate blushed as she smiled back.

"Great. Let me get you a plate."

Kate and Elliot busied themselves with the food, chatting with each other as they walked toward the other end of the table, and Ana and Christian were left by themselves. Ana looked up at Christian and smiled politely.

"Would you like something to eat too?" she asked, gesturing to the food on the table.

"No, thank you," he said stiffly. There was another short pause.

"So you work for Elliot, then?" Ana asked, trying to find some topic of conversation so standing here wouldn't feel so awkward.

"No. I work with him," Christian corrected her. "I run my own business in Seattle called Grey Enterprise Holdings. Elliot runs his construction company and I'm just helping him out with some of his projects while we're here."

"Oh," Ana said in surprise. "I see."

"My company deals in acquisitions, and there are actually a few businesses down here in Portland I've been looking to acquire," Christian went on, gazing at the party around them. She didn't fail to notice the bored look on his face.

"Well, good luck with that," Ana said charitably. "Excuse me."

She walked past him and headed over to Leila, not at all sorry to leave that awkward conversation.

"Hey," Ana said, but Leila didn't look up from her phone. "Can you at least look at me when I talk to you?"

Leila rolled her eyes before looking up at her sister. "I don't want to help you and Kate with the food."

"Fine, I won't make you. Although I'm sure putting out platters of food is far more interesting than whatever it is you're doing on your phone," Ana said amusedly, crossing her arms. "Filling out college applications, I assume?"

"Ha ha," Leila smiled sarcastically. "How's your online school working out for you?"

"For the millionth time - it's not an online school. It's online courses at WSU," Ana insisted. "And they're going very well, as a matter of fact. I'm graduating at the end of next semester."

"Whatever," Leila crossed her arms too and leaned back against the wall again. "If I go to college I'm going to go to an actual campus, like Kate did at Corban."

"You can do whatever you want, Ladybug," Ana smiled, calling Leila by the nickname she and Kate had given her as children. "Just know it's going to cost a lot more if you do that. Online courses may not have the same benefits of the whole 'college experience', but it's definitely a lot more affordable."

Leila didn't respond as her attention was drawn back to her phone, and Ana turned back toward the party. She glimpsed Elliot and Kate still talking to each other near the food table, and Ana was happy to see the blush on Kate's face as she smiled at Elliot. Kate hadn't dated anyone in over a year, Ana knew, and she was pleased to see her sister interested in a guy again.

Christian, on the other hand, was standing off to the side by himself and not talking to anyone as he gazed around the room. Ana couldn't resist rolling her eyes when she saw him - he wasn't even trying to mingle or look like he was having a good time. Leila at least could hold a conversation with someone when she wasn't being her usual snarky teenage self… Christian just seemed like kind of an asshole.

Ana saw Elliot excuse himself from Kate and walk over to Christian. Ana and Leila were close enough so that she could overhear what they were saying: "C'mon Christian, are you seriously just going to stand around here and not talk to anybody? You agreed to come with me today and socialize."

"You've apparently already found someone to socialize with," Christian deflected, nodding toward Kate, and Elliot grinned.

"Oh my God Christian, she's incredible," Elliot insisted, glancing over at Kate too. "Seriously, I don't think I've ever met a girl like her! I've heard Ray talking about his daughters before, but damn - I didn't realize his oldest was a fucking angel!"

"Better not let Ray overhear you preying on one of his daughters like that," Christian said in an amused voice.

"I'm not preying on her. I do want to ask her out on a date though," Elliot said eagerly, making Ana smile with delight. "I saw you talking to Kate's sister Ana. She's really cute, don't you think?"

"I guess so," Christian said, his voice skeptical. "What does it matter? It's not like I'm not going to go pick up girls at some old guy's birthday party."

"Not with that attitude, you're not," Elliot scoffed. "You don't find Ana even remotely attractive?"

"She's not my type," Christian said, rather rudely. "Why don't you go back to drooling all over Kate instead of wasting your time with me? I'm sure she's much more interesting."

Elliot rolled his eyes at his friend before walking away, and Ana looked over at Leila, who had overheard the whole exchange too. They both burst out giggling - neither of them could believe Christian had actually said that within earshot of Ana. She had already thought he was an asshole, and this only confirmed her first impression of him. All she could really do was laugh about it.

Christian heard giggling from a few yards away, and he looked over to see Ana and her little sister Leila laughing with each other. He realized that they were standing pretty close by and had probably overheard what he'd just said to Elliot - the glances they were sending his way made it pretty clear. He felt a bit embarrassed, but considering the fact he would probably never see any of these people again, he decided not to dwell on it too much.

Ana, still giggling, looked up at Christian and met his eyes again - her face was flushed pink and her eyes sparkled, and for a brief moment Christian couldn't bring himself to look away.

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: What do you all think? Please leave a review!