“I see.” A marriage of convenience. For some strange reason, I’m disappointed for and in her. She sees the censure on my face and hurries on.
“That’s not the reason I married him. I love him,” she says in a most uncharacteristic way, and she blushes. The stain on her cheeks restores my faith in her.
“Well, congratulations. Here you go.” I hand her the “happily ever after” card I signed yesterday and hope she doesn’t open it in front of me. “How’s married life so far?” I ask, to prevent her from doing just that.
“I recommend it, sir.” She’s glowing. I recognize that look. It’s how I feel myself. And now I’m at a loss as to what to say.
Andrea shifts back into work mode. “Shall we go through your schedule?” she asks.
“Please.”
MARRIAGE. I CONTEMPLATE THE institution when Andrea leaves. It obviously agrees with her. It’s what most women want. Isn’t it? I wonder what Ana would do if I asked her to marry me. I shake my head, feeling ambushed by the thought.
Don’t be ridiculous, Grey.
In my mind I replay this morning. I could wake up every day beside Anastasia Steele and I could close my eyes beside her every night.
You’re smitten, Grey.
You’ve got it bad.
Enjoy this while it lasts.
I e-mail her.
* * *
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Sunrise
Date: June 14 2011 09:23
To: Anastasia Steele
I love waking up with you in the morning.
Christian Grey
Completely & Utterly Smitten CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
I grin when I press send.
I hope she’ll read this on her BlackBerry.
Sarah brings me my coffee and I open the latest draft of the SIP agreement and start to read.
My phone buzzes. It’s a text from Elena.
ELENA
Thank you for being so understanding.
I ignore it and go back to my document. When I look up, there’s a response from Ana. I take a swig of coffee.
* * *
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Sundown
Date: June 14 2011 09:35
To: Christian Grey
Dear Completely & Utterly Smitten
I love waking up with you, too. But I love being in bed with you and in elevators and on pianos and billiard tables and boats and desks and showers and bathtubs and strange wooden crosses with shackles and four-poster beds with red satin sheets and boathouses and childhood bedrooms.
Yours
Sex Mad and Insatiable xx
Shit. Laughing and choking at the same time, I spit coffee onto my keyboard at “Sex Mad and Insatiable.” I can’t believe she’s written that in an e-mail. Fortunately, I have tissues left over from yesterday’s coffee fiasco.
* * *
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Wet Hardware
Date: June 14 2011 09:37
To: Anastasia Steele
Dear Sex Mad and Insatiable
I’ve just spat coffee all over my keyboard.
I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before.
I do admire a woman who concentrates on geography.
Am I to infer you just want me for my body?
Christian Grey
Completely & Utterly Shocked CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
I continue my read of the SIP agreement but don’t get very far before there’s a new e-mail from her.
* * *
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Giggling—and wet too
Date: June 14 2011 09:42
To: Christian Grey
Dear Completely & Utterly Shocked
Always.
I have work to do.
Stop bothering me.
SM&I xx
* * *
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Do I have to?
Date: June 14 2011 09:50
To: Anastasia Steele
Dear SM&I
As ever, your wish is my command.
Love that you are giggling and wet.
Laters, baby.
x
Christian Grey
Completely & Utterly Smitten, Shocked, and Spellbound CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
LATER, I’M IN MY monthly meeting with Ros and Marco—my M&A guy—and his team. We’re going through a list of companies that Marco’s people have identified as potential targets for takeovers.
He is discussing the last on the list. “They are floundering, but they have four patents pending, which might be useful in the fiber-optic division.”
“Has Fred reviewed them?” I ask.
“He’s excited,” Marco replies with an avaricious grin.
“Let’s do it.”
My phone buzzes and Ana’s name flashes on my screen.
“Excuse me,” I say as I pick up the phone. “Anastasia.”
“Christian, Jack has asked me to get his lunch.”
“Lazy bastard.”
“So I’m going to get it. It might be handy if you gave me Sawyer’s number, so I don’t have to bother you.”
“It’s no bother, baby.”
“Are you on your own?”
I look around the table. “No. There are six people staring at me right now wondering who the hell I’m talking to.” Everyone looks away.
“Really?” she squeaks.
“Yes. Really,” I pause. “My girlfriend.” I tell the room. Ros shakes her head.
“They probably all thought you were gay, you know.”
I laugh as Ros and Marco exchange a look. “Yeah, probably.”
“Er—I’d better go.”
“I’ll let Sawyer know.” I laugh at the reactions around the table. “Have you heard from your friend?”
“Not yet. You’ll be the first to know, Mr. Grey.”
“Good. Laters, baby.”
“Bye, Christian.”
I get up. “I just need to make a quick call.”
Outside the boardroom, I call Sawyer.
“Mr. Grey.”
“Ana’s leaving to get some lunch. Please stick close.”
“Yes, sir.”
Back in the room, the meeting is wrapping up. Ros approaches me.
“Your private merger?” she says with a curious look.
“The very same.”
“No wonder you’re so upbeat. I approve,” she says.
I grin, feeling smug.
BASTILLE IS ON FIRE. He’s knocked me down three fucking times. “So Dante told me you brought a beautiful girl into the bar. This why you’re soft today, Grey?”
“Maybe.” I grin. “And she needs a trainer.”
“Your PA spoke to me this morning. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“She wants to learn to kickbox.”
“Keep your ass in line?”
“Yeah. Something like that.” I lunge for him, but he feints left, his dreads flying, and he knocks me down with a swift roundhouse kick.