From: Christian Grey
Subject: The Big Apple
Date: August 23 2011 12:59
To: Anastasia Grey
Dearest Wife
My empire requires that I go to NYC on Thursday.
I’ll be back on Friday evening.
Are you sure I can’t persuade you to come with me?
Your boss’s boss’s boss needs you.
Christian Grey
CEO, Breast & Ass man, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
From: Anastasia Grey
Subject: NYC NoNo
Date: August 23 2011 13:02
To: Christian Grey
I think my boss’s boss’s boss can manage a night without me
and my breasts and ass!
As they say, absence makes the…heart grow fonder.
I’ll behave. I promise.
Anastasia Grey
Editor, SIP
Thursday, August 25, 2011
It’s pre-dawn, and my wife is curled up beneath the covers. Beside her on the floor is the remains of a cable tie. I pick it up, smirking, remembering last night, and slip it into my pants pocket.
Fun times.
Leaning over her, I catch a hint of her scent. Ana and sex; the most seductive perfume in the world. I plant a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“Too early,” she grumbles.
Damn. I’ve woken her, and I know from experience that Ana is not a fan of the early morning. “I’ll see you tomorrow night,” I whisper.
“Don’t go,” she says sleepily, and she’s so tempting.
“I have to.” I stroke her cheek. “Miss me.”
“I will.” She gives me a sleepy smile and puckers her lips.
I grin. An early morning good-bye kiss from my girl. “Bye,” I whisper against her lips, and reluctantly, I leave her to sleep.
From the back of the car I send Ana an e-mail while Ryan drives Taylor and me to Boeing Field.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Miss You Already
Date: August 25 2011 04:32
To: Anastasia Grey
Mrs. Grey
You were adorable this morning.
Behave while I’m away.
I love you.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
Captain Stephan and First Officer Beighley are on hand, and we’re soon airborne for NYC. I strip down in the small bedroom, hoping to catch an hour or so of sleep. As I lay down, I recall our evening. Ana and I went to the Seattle Assistance Union Gala; she looked elegant in her pale pink dress and second-chance earrings. She looked even more elegant when I undressed her last night.
She should be with me now. I close my eyes and my mind drifts to our honeymoon night, on board this Gulfstream.
Hmm…I hope to dream of my wife.
I wake when we’re about an hour out of New York and, feeling refreshed, dress quickly. Taylor is in the main cabin, eating what looks like a ham-and-cheese croissant.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Hi. Breakfast. Great. Did you get some sleep?”
Taylor nods, looking his usual, immaculate self. “I did, thank you.”
I take my seat as the captain joins us.
“Sleep well, sir?” Stephan asks.
“Yes. Thanks. Everything okay?” I ask.
“We’re being rerouted to JFK. There’s been an incident at Teterboro.”
“An incident?”
“As far as I know, it’s nothing major, it’s just hit our landing time.”
“This will give me less time at GEH Fiber Optics,” I say to Taylor.
“I’ve been in touch with the ground crew at Sheltair, and we’re rerouting your car from Teterboro,” Stephan says.
“Good. Will you get the Gulfstream to Teterboro after we land? It’s more convenient to leave from there.”
“I’ll see what we can do.” Stephan smiles and heads back into the cockpit.
Forty minutes later we land at JFK. As we taxi to the terminal, I check my e-mails. There’s one from Ana.
From: Anastasia Grey
Subject: Behave Yourself!
Date: August 25 2011 09:03
To: Christian Grey
Let me know when you land—I’ll worry until you do.
And I shall behave. I mean, how much trouble can I get into with Kate?
Anastasia Grey
Editor, SIP
Kate? I imagine she could get into a lot of trouble with Kate. The second time I met Miss Kavanagh, Ana was inebriated. That’s how we spent our first night together. Shit! I press call.
“Ana St—Grey.”
It’s such a pleasure to hear her voice. “Hi.”
“Hi! How was your flight?”
“Long. What are you doing with Kate?”
“We’re just going out for a quiet drink.”
Out? With Hyde at large? Fuck!
“Sawyer and the new woman—Prescott—are coming to watch over us,” she says sweetly.
Then I remember. “I thought Kate was coming to the apartment.”
“She is, after a quick drink.”
I sigh. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I’m not in Seattle. If something happens to them…to her, and I’m not there, I’ll never forgive myself.
“Christian, we’ll be fine. I have Ryan, Sawyer, and Prescott here. It’s a quick drink. I’ve seen her only a few times since you and I met. Please. She’s my best friend.”
“Ana, I don’t want to keep you from your friends. But I thought she was coming back to the apartment.”
She sighs. “Okay. We’ll stay in.”
“Only while this lunatic is out there. Please.”
“I’ve said okay,” she mutters, and I know by the tone of her voice she’s exasperated.
I chuckle, relieved that she’s reverting to type. “I always know when you’re rolling your eyes at me.”
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I’ll tell Kate.”
“Good.” I blow out a breath. I can go about the rest of my day and not worry about her.