Fifty Shades of Grey (59 page)

“Can’t I do something for my own daughter? Come on, Bob’s starving.”

“Too right,” moans Bob, rubbing his stomach and assuming a fake pained expression.

I giggle as he rolls his eyes, and we head out the door.

Later when I’m in the shower, cooling under the lukewarm water, I reflect on how much my mother has changed. Seeing her at dinner, she was in her element, funny and flirty and amongst many friends at the golf club. Bob was warm and attentive… they seem so good for each other. I’m really pleased for her. It means I can stop worrying about her and second-guessing her decisions and put the dark days of Husband Number Three behind us both. Bob is a keeper. And she’s giving me good advice.
When did that start happening?

Since I met Christian.
Why is that?

When I’m done, I dry myself quickly, keen to get back to Christian. There’s an email waiting for me, sent just after I left for dinner a few hours ago.

From:
Christian Grey

Subject:
Plagiarism

Date:
May 31 2011 16:41

To:
Anastasia Steele

You stole my line.

And left me hanging.

Enjoy your dinner.

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

From:
Anastasia Steele

Subject:
Who are you to cry thief?

Date:
May 31 2011 22:18 EST

To:
Christian Grey

Sir, I think you’ll find it was Elliot’s line originally.

Hanging how?

Your Ana

From:
Christian Grey

Subject:
Unfinished Business

Date:
May 31 2011 19:22

To:
Anastasia Steele

Miss Steele

You’re back. You left so suddenly - just when things were getting interesting.

Elliot’s not very original. He’ll have stolen that line from someone.

How was dinner?

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

From:
Anastasia Steele

Subject:
Unfinished Business?

Date:
May 31 2011 22:26 EST

To:
Christian Grey

Dinner was filling – you’ll be very pleased to hear, I ate far too much.

Getting interesting? How?

From:
Christian Grey

Subject:
Unfinished Business - definitely

Date:
May 31 2011 19:30

To:
Anastasia Steele

Are you being deliberately obtuse? I think you’d just asked me to unzip your dress.

And I was looking forward to doing just that. I am also glad to hear you are eating.

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

From:
Anastasia Steele

Subject:
Well… there’s always the weekend

Date:
May 31 2011 22:36 EST

To:
Christian Grey

Of course I eat… It’s only the uncertainty I feel around you that puts me off my food.

And I would never be unwittingly obtuse, Mr. Grey.

Surely you’ve worked that out by now ;)

From:
Christian Grey

Subject:
Can’t Wait

Date:
May 31 2011 19:40

To:
Anastasia Steele

I shall remember that, Miss Steele, and no doubt use the knowledge to my advantage.

I’m sorry to hear that I put you off your food. I thought I had a more concupiscent effect on you. That has been my experience, and most pleasurable it has been too.

I very much look forward to the next time.

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

From:
Anastasia Steele

Subject:
Gymnastic Linguistics

Date:
May 31 2011 22:36 EST

To:
Christian Grey

Have you been playing with the thesaurus again?

From:
Christian Grey

Subject:
Rumbled

Date:
May 31 2011 19:40

To:
Anastasia Steele

You know me so well Miss Steele.

I am having dinner with an old friend now so I will be driving.

Laters, baby©

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

Which old friend?
I didn’t think Christian had any old friends, except…
her.
I frown at the screen. Why does he have to still see her? Searing, green, bilious jealousy courses through me unexpectedly. I want to hit something, preferably Mrs. Robinson. Switching the laptop off in a temper, I clamber into bed.

I should really respond to his long email from this morning, but I’m suddenly too angry. Why can’t he see her for what she is – a child molester? I switch off the light, seething, staring into the darkness. How dare she? How dare she pick on a vulnerable adolescent? Is she still doing it? Why did they stop? Various scenarios filter through my mind: he had had enough, then why is he still friends with her? Ditto her – is she married? Divorced? Jeez – does she have children of her own?
Does she have Christian’s
children?
My subconscious rears her ugly head, leering, and I’m shocked and nauseous at the thought. Does Dr. Flynn know about her?