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Mr Jack Hyde he sainstto e to curl my lips upward in a semblance of a smile
"I&039;ll be off, if that&039;s okay with you," I murmur
"Of course, it&039;s five thirty I&039;ll see you toht, Ana"
Collectingonair of Seattle, I take a deep breath It doesn&039;t begin to fill the void in my chest, a void that&039;s been present since Saturday , a painful hollow reminder ofatwithout my beloved Wanda, my old Beetle or the Audi
I shut the door on that thought immediately No Don&039;t think about him Of course, I can afford a car - a nice, new car I suspect he has been overgenerous in his payht leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I dismiss it and try to keep my mind as numb and as blank as possible I can&039;t think about hiain -
not out on the street
The apart on a beach in Barbados sipping a cool cocktail I turn on the flat-screen television so there&039;s noise to fill the vacuum and provide some semblance of company, but I don&039;t listen or watch I sit and stare blankly at the brick wall I a must I endure this?
The door buzzer startles uish, and my heart skips a beat Who could that be? I press the intercom
"Delivery for Ms Steele" A bored, disehe cardboard box, and leaning against the front door I sign for the package and take it upstairs The box is huge and surprisingly light Inside are two dozen long-steratulations on your first day at work
I hope it ell
And thank you for the glider That was very thoughtful
It has pride of place on my desk
Christian
I stare at the typed card, the hollow inNo doubt, his assistant sent this Christian probably had very little to do with it It&039;s too painful to think about I exa myself to throw them in the trash
Dutifully, I make my way into the kitchen to hunt down a vase
And so a pattern develops: wake, work, cry, sleep Well, try to sleep I can&039;t even escape hi eyes, his lost look, his hair burnished and bright all haunt me And the music so much music - I cannot bear to hear any les in commercials make me shudder
I have spoken to no one, not even my mother or Ray I don&039;t have the capacity for idle talk now No, I want none of it I have beco grows and the horizons are bleak Yes, that&039;s me I can interact impersonally at work, but that&039;s it If I talk to Mo left to break
I ae a cup of yogurt, and it&039;s the first thing I&039;ve eaten since Friday I a on a newfound tolerance for lattes and Diet Coke It&039;s the caffeine that keepsme anxious
Jack has started to hover overme personal questions What does he want? I&039;th
I sit and begin trawling through a pile of correspondence addressed to him, and I&039;s, and I quickly check to see who it&039;s from
Holy shit An e-mail from Christian Oh no, not here not at work
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Tomorrow
Date: June 8, 2011 14:05
To: Anastasia Steele
Dear Anastasia
Forgive this intrusion at work I hope that it&039;s going well Did you get allery opening for your friend&039;s show, and I&039;m sure you&039;ve not had ti drive I would be more than happy to take you - should you wish
Let me know
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc
Tears swim in my eyes I hastily leave my desk and bolt to the restroom to escape into one of the stalls Jose&039;s show Crap I&039;d forgotten all about it, and I prooing to get there?
I clutch my forehead Why hasn&039;t Jose phoned? Come to think of it - why hasn&039;t anyone phoned? I&039;ve been so absentminded, I haven&039;t noticed that my cell phone has been silent
Shit! I am such an idiot! I still have it on divert to the Blackberry Holy hell Christian&039;s been getting my calls - unless he&039;s just thrown the Blackberry away How did he get my e-mail address?
He knowsto present hiain? Could I bear it? Do I want to see hi lance through me Of course I do
Perhaps, perhaps I can tell hied my mind No, no, no I cannot be with so pain on me, someone who can&039;t love h , the bathtub, his gentleness, his hu, sexy stare I ony that has felt like an eternity
I wrapether I miss him I really miss him I love hi I hadn&039;t walked out, wishing that he could be different, wishing that ere together How long will this hideous overwhelatory
Anastasia Steele, you are at work! I o to Jose&039;s show, and deep down, thea deep breath, I head back to my desk
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Tomorrow
Date: June 8, 2011 14:25
To: Christian Grey
Hi Christian
Thank you for the flowers; they are lovely
Yes, I would appreciate a lift
Thank you
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Jack Hyde, Co my phone, I find that it is still switched to divert Jack is in a , so I quickly call Jose
"Hi, Jose It&039;s Ana"
"Hello, stranger" His tone is so warh to pushWhat time should I be there to?" He sounds excited
"Yes, of course" I senuine srin
"Seven thirty"
"See you then Good-bye, Jose"
"Bye, Ana"
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Tomorrow
Date: June 8, 2011 14:27
To: Anastasia Steele
Dear Anastasia
What time shall I collect you?
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Tomorrow
Date: June 8, 2011 14:32
To: Christian Grey
Jose&039;s show starts at 7:30 What tiest?
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Jack Hyde, Co Editor, SIP
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Tomorrow
Date: June 8, 2011 14:34
To: Anastasia Steele
Dear Anastasia
Portland is some distance away I shall collect you at 5:45
I look forward to seeing you
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Tomorrow
Date: June 8, 2011 14:38
To: Christian Grey
See you then
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Jack Hyde, Co to see Christian, and for the first time in five days, my spirits lift a fraction and I allow myself to wonder how he&039;s been
Has he missed me? Probably not like I&039;ve missed him Has he found a new subht is so painful that I dismiss it immediately I look at the pile of correspondence I need to sort for Jack and tackle it as I try to push Christian out of ht in bed, I toss and turn, trying to sleep It is the first time in a while I haven&039;t cried myself to sleep
In my mind&039;s eye, I visualize Christian&039;s face the last time I saw him as I left his apartment His tortured expression haunts o, which was odd Why would I stay when things had reached such an i around our own issues - my fear of punish onsadness He thinks he doesn&039;t deserve to be loved Why does he feel that way? Is it so? His birth ue me into the early hours until eventually I fall into a fitful, exhausted sleep
The day drags and drags and Jack is unusually attentive I suspect it&039;s Kate&039;s pluh-heeled boots I&039;ve stolen froht
I resolve to go clothes shopping with my first paycheck The dress is looser on me than it was, but I pretend not to notice
Finally, it&039;s five thirty, and I collectto see hiht?" Jack asks as he strolls past my desk on his way out
"Yes No Not really"
He cocks an eyebrow at me, his interest clearly piqued "Boyfriend?"
I flush "No, a friend An ex-boyfriend"
"Maybe tomorrow you&039;d like to come for a drink after work You&039;ve had a stellar first week, Ana We should celebrate" He shis hands in his pockets, he saunters through the double doors I frown at his retreating back Drinks with the boss, is that a good idea?
I shake h first How a to do this? I hurry into the restrooe , hard look at my face I ae eyes I look gaunt, haunted
Jeez, I wish I kne to use makeup I apply so sos artfully down my back, I take a deep breath This will have to do
Nervously I walk through the foyer with a smile and a wave to Claire at reception I think she and I could beco to Elizabeth as I head for the doors
S broadly, he hurries over to open them for me
"After you, Ana," he murmurs
"Thank you" I smile, e He opens the rear door of the car I glance hesitantly at Jack who has followedtoward the Audi SUV in dismay
I turn and cli his gray suit, no tie, his white shirt open at the collar His gray eyes are glowing
Myat me Oh no!
"When did you last eat?" he snaps as Taylor closes the door behind me
Crap "Hello, Christian Yes, it&039;s nice to see you, too"
"I don&039;t want your smart mouth now Answer urt at lunchtime Oh - and a banana"
"When did you last have a proper meal?" he asks acidly
Taylor slips into the driver&039;s seat, starts the car, and pulls out into the traffic
I glance up and Jack is waving at lass, I don&039;t knoave back
"Who&039;s that?" Christian snaps
"My boss" I peek up at the beautiful man beside me, and his mouth is pressed into a hard line
"Well? Your last meal?"
"Christian, that really is none of your concern," Iextraordinarily brave
"Whatever you do concerns roan in frustration, rolling my eyes heavenward, and Christian narrows his eyes And for the first tiiggle that threatens to bubble up Christian&039;s face softens as I struggle to keep a straight face, and I see a trace of a smile kiss his beautifully sculptured lips
"Well?" he asks, his voice softer
"Pasta alla vongole, last Friday," I whisper
He closes his eyes as fury and possibly regret, sweeps across his face "I see," he says, his voice expressionless "You look like you&039;ve lost at least five pounds, possibly more since then Please eat, Anastasia," he scolds
I stare down at the knotted fingers in my lap Why does he always make me feel like an errant child?
He shifts and turns toward me "How are you?" he asks, his voice still soft
Well, I&039;m shit really I s "If I told you I was fine, I&039;d be lying"
He inhales sharply "Me, too," he murmurs and reaches over and clasps ainst skin
"Christian, I - "
"Ana, please We need to talk"
I&039; to cry No "Christian, I please I&039;ve cried soto keep s my hand, and before I know it I&039;m on his lap He has his arms around me, and his nose is in my hair "I&039;ve missed you so le out of his hold, to maintain some distance, but his ar me to his chest I melt Oh, this is where I want to be
I rest ainst him, and he kisses my hair repeatedly This is home He smells of linen, fabric softener, body wash, and my favorite smell - Christian For a moment, I allow myself the illusion that all will be well, and it soothes ed soul
A few h we&039;re still in the city
"Come" - Christian shifts me off his lap - "we&039;re here"
What?
"Helipad - on the top of this building" Christian glances toward the building by way of explanation
Of course Charlie Tango Taylor opens the door and I slide out He gives me a warm, avuncular smile that ive you back your handkerchief"
"Keep it, Miss Steele, with my best wishes"
I flush as Christian comes around the car and takes my hand He looks quizzically at Taylor who stares i
"Nine?" Christian says to him
"Yes, sir"
Christian nods as he turns and leads randiose foyer I revel in the feel of his large hand and his long, skilled fingers curled around mine
I feel the familiar pull - I am drawn, Icarus to his sun I have been burned already, and yet here I a the elevators, he presses the call button I peek up at himatic half smile As the doors open, he releases my hand and ushers me in
The doors close and I risk a second peek He glances down at ray eyes alive, and it&039;s there in the air between us, that electricity It&039;s palpable I can alether
"Oh asp as I bask briefly in the intensity of this visceral, primal attraction
"I feel it, too," he says, his eyes clouded and intense
Desire pools dark and deadly in razes htly, deliciously, deep inside me
Holy co can he still do this to me?
"Please don&039;t bite your lip, Anastasia," he whispers
I gaze up at hi my lip I want him Here, now, in the elevator How could I not?
"You knohat it does to oddess stirs from her five-day sulk
Abruptly the doors open, breaking the spell, and we&039;re on the roof It&039;s windy, and despite my black jacket, I&039; o stands in the center of the helipad with its rotor blades slowly spinning
A tall, blond, square-jawedlow, runs toward us Shaking hands with Christian, he shouts above the noise of the rotors
"Ready to go, sir She&039;s all yours!"
"All checks done?"
"Yes, sir"
"You&039;ll collect her around eight thirty?"
"Yes, sir"
"Taylor&039;s waiting for you out front"
"Thank you, Mr Grey Safe flight to Portland Ma&039;a me, Christian nods, ducks down, and leads me to the helicopter door
Once inside he buckles iveslook and his secret smile
"This should keep you in your place," he murmurs "I must say I do like this harness on you Don&039;t touch anything"
I flush a deep crier downme the headphones I&039;d like to touch you, too, but you won&039;t let me I scowl at hiht I can barely move
He sits in his seat and buckles hiht checks He&039;s just so co He puts on his headphones and flips a switch and the rotors speed up, deafening azes at h the headphones
"Yes"
He grins his boyish grin Wow - I&039;ve not seen it for so long
"Sea-Tac tower, this is Charlie Tango - Tango Echo Hotel, cleared for takeoff to Portland via PDX Please confirm, over"
The dise instructions
"Roger, tower, Charlie Tango set, over and out" Christian flips titches, grasps the stick, and the helicopter rises slowly and s sky
Seattle and my stomach drop away from us, and there&039;s so much to see
"We&039;ve chased the dawn, Anastasia, now the dusk," his voice coape at him in surprise