Thank you, Ana. I kiss her. “Good. Shall we have dinner?”
She nods and her fingers dance over my chest. “I want you to tell me something.” Sincere, curious blue eyes meet mine.
“What?”
“Don’t get mad.”
“What is it, Ana?”
“You do care.” She says the words with such compassionate sincerity that all the air is sucked from my lungs. “I want you to admit that you care. Because the Christian I know and love would care.”
Why does she do this?
From nowhere images of Leila, and Susannah, and the rest of my subs cloud my brain. All that we did. All that they did. For me. All that I did, and do for them.
Leila broken and filthy.
Hell.
That was torture. I wouldn’t want her or any of them to experience that. Ever.
“Yes. Yes, I care. Happy?”
Ana’s eyes soften. “Yes. Very.”
I frown. “I can’t believe I’m talking to you now, here in our bed, about—”
She places a finger on my lips. “We’re not. Let’s eat. I’m hungry.”
I sigh and shake my head.
This woman confounds me. In every way.
Why is this so important to her?
My sweet, compassionate wife. “You beguile and bewilder me, Mrs. Grey.”
“Good.” She kisses me, her tongue finding mine, and soon we’re lost in each other again.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Good morning, Mr. Grey.” Andrea is bright and chirpy.
A little like me. Married life agrees with her, too, it would seem. “Good morning, Andrea.” I give her a quick, sincere smile.
“Coffee?”
“Please. Where’s Sarah?”
“On an errand for the meeting this morning. Black?”
“Yes. And let’s go through the preparations for today and the weekend.”
Sitting down at my desk, I review the documents laid out in front of me. Today we meet the Hwangs from Taiwan to discuss our joint venture with their shipyard. I have their stats, their management structure, details of their suppliers and subcontractors, and a list of their clients. It’s impressive, but part of me is still wondering why they would want to partner with a company in the U.S. In fact, this is what has been nagging me throughout our discussions with them. They told us during our recent call that they want to expand throughout the Pacific rim to be less reliant on the domestic and East Asian market. But GEH could be entering a political minefield.
Well, today we get to ask all the difficult questions.
Andrea joins me. She makes a mighty fine cup of coffee. “This is great.” I raise my cup to her, and am rewarded with a smile. “Where are you with the travel arrangements for Ana’s surprise party?”
“Your family arrives tomorrow. Raymond Steele will be driving in from his fishing trip in Oregon tomorrow. The Gulfstream is due to take off this afternoon for Savannah to collect Mr. and Mrs. Adams. They’ll fly into Seattle tomorrow afternoon. I wanted to check that you didn’t need hotel reservations for them.”
“No, thanks. They’ll be staying with us.”
“I think that’s all with regard to the weekend. I’ve been liaising with Mrs. Jones.”
“Great. Now, the Taiwanese delegation.” I check my watch. “They should be here by eleven.”
“Everything’s in place.” Andrea is exuding her usual efficiency. “They’re coming from the Fairmont Olympic. In addition to the owners, Mr. and Miss Hwang, and their chief operating officer, Mr. Chen, they’re bringing their interpreter; I’m sorry that I don’t have his or her name yet. Marco will meet them in reception and escort them to the conference room.”
“Odd that they are bringing an interpreter. They all speak fluent English.”
Andrea shrugs. “Lunch is booked in your name, at the Four Seasons at one thirty p.m.”
“Thanks, Andrea, sounds like everything is in hand.”
“Will that be all?”
“For now.”
Once she’s gone, I turn to my iMac and check my e-mail. The title of Ana’s jumps out at me.
From: Anastasia Grey
Subject: The List
Date: September 9 2011 09:33
To: Christian Grey
That’s definitely at the top.
:D
A x
Anastasia Grey
Editor, SIP
I laugh out loud and shift in my seat as I remember the spreader bar and how exceptionally accommodating my wife was last night. Then again, she has been every night since Leila intruded on our lives. Thankfully, that drama is over—Leila is home and Flynn has reassured me that she’s happily settled back into her life in Connecticut.
Ana is as insatiable as ever.
I am a lucky, lucky man.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Tell Me Something New
Date: September 9 2011 09:42
To: Anastasia Grey
You’ve said that for the last three days.
Make your mind up.
Or…we could try something else.
;)
Christian Grey
CEO, Enjoying This Game, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
Our only source of conflict has been Ana’s campaign to rehire Prescott, in spite of the fact that Ana herself said she wasn’t certain about her. I’ve reassured Ana that I’ll give Prescott a good reference, but that’s it, and for me the matter is closed. I return to the documents in front of me for a reread; I need to be on my game.
That done, I check for any further e-mails from Ana, but there are none. I’m restless for the meeting to start, but with forty-five minutes to go, I need to stretch my legs. Leaping up, I grab my phone and head out of my office.
“Andrea, I’m just going to see Ros. I’ve got my phone.” I wave it in front of her, and notice it needs charging.
Damn. “Can you charge this for me?”
“Yes, Mr. Grey.”
With a need to burn off some of my excess energy prior to the meeting, I vault down the stairs to Ros’s office.
Ros has a ream of final questions for the Hwangs, and we’re discussing tactics when there’s a knock on the door. It’s Andrea. “Mrs. Grey called you. She wanted to talk to you urgently. I thought you would want to know.” She hands me my phone.