Grey (42 page)
Authors: E L James
Subject:
Your Behind
Date:
May 31 2011 16:10
To:
Anastasia Steele
Dear Miss Steele,
I am distracted by the title of this e-mail. Needless to say it
is
safeâfor now.
Enjoy your dinner, and I miss you, too, especially your behind and your smart mouth.
My afternoon will be dull, brightened only by thoughts of you and your eye rolling. I think it was you who so judiciously pointed out to me that I, too, suffer from that nasty habit.
Christian Grey
CEO & Eye Roller,
Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
A few minutes later her reply pings into my inbox.
From:
Anastasia Steele
Subject:
Eye Rolling
Date:
May 31 2011 19:14 EST
To:
Christian Grey
Dear Mr. Grey,
Stop e-mailing me. I am trying to get ready for dinner. You are very distracting, even when you are on the other side of the continent. And yesâwho spanks you when you roll your eyes?
Your Ana
Oh, Ana, you do.
All the time.
I remember her telling me to keep still and tugging my pubic hair while she was sitting astride me, naked. The thought is arousing.
From:
Christian Grey
Subject:
Your Behind
Date:
May 31 2011 16:18
To:
Anastasia Steele
Dear Miss Steele,
I still prefer my title to yours, in so many different ways. It is lucky that I am master of my own destiny and no one castigates me. Except my mother, occasionally, and Dr. Flynn, of course. And you.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
I find myself drumming my fingers, waiting for her reply.
From:
Anastasia Steele
Subject:
Chastisingâ¦Me?
Date:
May 31 2011 19:22 EST
To:
Christian Grey
Dear Sir,
When have I ever plucked up the nerve to chastise you, Mr. Grey? I think you are mixing me up with someone elseâ¦which is very worrying. I really do have to get ready.
Your Ana
You.
You chastise me via e-mail at every opportunityâand how could I ever mix you up with anyone else?
From:
Christian Grey
Subject:
Your Behind
Date:
May 31 2011 16:25
To:
Anastasia Steele
Dear Miss Steele,
You do it all the time in print. Can I zip up your dress?
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
From:
Anastasia Steele
Subject:
NC-17
Date:
May 31 2011 19:28 EST
To:
Christian Grey
I would rather you unzipped it.
Her words travel directly to my dick, passing “Go” on the way.
Fuck.
This calls forâwhat did she call them? SHOUTY CAPITALS.
From:
Christian Grey
Subject:
Careful what you wish forâ¦
Date:
May 31 2011 16:31
To:
Anastasia Steele
SO WOULD I.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
From:
Anastasia Steele
Subject:
Panting
Date:
May 31 2011 19:33 EST
To:
Christian Grey
Slowlyâ¦
From:
Christian Grey
Subject:
Groaning
Date:
May 31 2011 16:35
To:
Anastasia Steele
Wish I were there.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
From:
Anastasia Steele
Subject:
Moaning
Date:
May 31 2011 19:37 EST
To:
Christian Grey
SO DO I.
Who else can turn me on via e-mail?
From:
Anastasia Steele
Subject:
Moaning
Date:
May 31 2011 19:39 EST
To:
Christian Grey
Gotta go.
Laters, baby.
I smirk at her words.
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.
Andrea knocks on the door with new schematics from Barney for the solar-power tablet we're developing. She's startled that I'm pleased to see her. “Thanks, Andrea.”
“You're most welcome, Mr. Grey.” She gives me a curious smile. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Please.”
“Milk?”
“No thanks.”
MY DAY HAS IMPROVED
immensely. I have knocked Bastille on his ass twice in our two rounds of kickboxing. That never happens. As I slip on my jacket after my shower, I feel ready to face Elena and all her questions.
Taylor appears. “Would you like me to drive, sir?”
“No. I'll take the R8.”
“Very good, sir.”
Before I leave I check my e-mail.
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
Is she flirting with me? Again?
And she's my Ana. Again.
From:
Christian Grey
Subject:
Unfinished Business
Date:
May 31 2011 19:22
To:
Anastasia Steele
Miss Steele,
You're back. You left so suddenlyâjust when things were getting interesting.
Elliot's not very original. He must have stolen that line from someone.
How was dinner?
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
I press send.
From:
Anastasia Steele
Subject:
Unfinished Business?
Date:
May 31 2011 22:26 EST
To:
Christian Grey
Dinner was fillingâyou'll be very pleased to hear I ate far too much.
Getting interesting? How?
I'm glad she's eatingâ¦
From:
Christian Grey
Subject:
Unfinished BusinessâDefinitely
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:
Wellâ¦There's Always the Weekend
Date:
May 31 2011 22:36 EST
To:
Christian Grey
Of course I eatâ¦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. ;)
She loses appetite around me? That's not good. And she's making fun of me.
Again.
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?
I hoot with laughter.
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.
As much as I'd like to keep up the banter with Ana, I don't want to be late for dinner. If I were, Elena would be displeased. I power down my computer, collect my wallet and phone, and take the elevator to the garage.
THE MILE HIGH CLUB
is on the penthouse floor of Columbia Tower. The sun is sinking toward the peaks of Olympic National Park, coloring the sky with an impressive fusion of oranges, pinks, and opals. It's stunning. Ana would love this view. I should bring her here.
Elena is seated at a corner table. She gives me a small wave and a big smile. The maître d' escorts me to her table, and she rises, presenting her cheek to me.
“Hello, Christian,” she purrs.
“Good evening, Elena. You're looking great, as usual.” I kiss her cheek. She tosses her sleek platinum hair to one side, which she does when she's feeling playful.
“Sit,” she says. “What would you like to drink?” Her fingers and her trademark scarlet fingernails are wrapped around a champagne flute.
“I see you've started on the Cristal.”
“Well, I think we've got something to celebrate, don't you?”
“We do?”
“Christian. This girl. Spill the beans.”
“I'll have a glass of the Mendocino sauvignon blanc,” I tell the hovering waiter. He nods and hurries off.
“So, not a cause for celebration?” Elena takes a sip of her champagne, eyebrows raised.
“I don't know why you're making such a big deal of this.”
“I'm not making a big deal. I'm curious. How old is she? What does she do?”
“She's just graduated.”
“Oh. A little young for you?”
I arch a brow. “Really? You're going to go there?”
Elena laughs.
“How is Isaac?” I ask with a smirk.
She laughs again. “Behaving.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief.
“How boring for you.” My voice is dry.
She smiles, resigned. “He's a good pet. Shall we order?”
HALFWAY THROUGH THE CRAB
chowder I put Elena out of her misery.
“Her name is Anastasia, she studied literature at WSU, and I met her when she came to interview me for the student newspaper. I gave the commencement address this year.”
“Is she in the lifestyle?”
“Not yet. But I'm hopeful.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. She's escaped to Georgia to think it through.”
“That's a long way to go.”
“I know.” I look down at my chowder, wondering how Ana is and what she's doing; sleeping, I hopeâ¦alone. When I raise my head Elena is studying me. Intently.
“I haven't seen you like this,” she says.
“What do you mean?”
“You're distracted. That's not like you.”
“Is it that obvious?”
She nods, her eyes softening. “Obvious to me. I think she's turned your world upside down.”
I inhale sharply but hide the fact by raising my glass to my lips.
Perceptive, Mrs. Lincoln.
“You think?” I murmur after my sip.
“I think,” she says, her eyes searching mine.
“She's very disarming.”
“I'm sure that's novel. And I bet you're worrying about what she's doing in Georgia, what she's thinking. I know how you are.”
“Yes. I want her to make the right decision.”
“You should go and see her.”
“What?”
“Get on a plane.”
“Really?”
“If she's undecided. Go use your considerable charm.”
My snort is derisive.
“Christian,” she scolds, “when you want something badly enough, you go after it and you always win. You know that. You're so negative about yourself. Drives me crazy.”
I sigh. “I'm not sure.”
“The poor girl is probably bored to tears down there. Go. You'll get your answer. If it's no, you can move on, if it's yes, you can enjoy being yourself with her.”
“She's back Friday.”
“Seize the day, my dear.”
“She did say she missed me.”
“There you go.” Her eyes flash with certainty.
“I'll think about it. More champagne?”
“Please,” she says, and gives me a girlish grin.
DRIVING BACK TO ESCALA,
I contemplate Elena's advice. I
could
go to see Ana. She said she's missed meâ¦the jet's available.
Back home I read her latest e-mail.
From:
Anastasia Steele
Subject:
Suitable Dinner Companions
Date:
May 31 2011 23:58 EST
To:
Christian Grey
I hope you and your friend had a very pleasant dinner.
Ana
P.S. Was it Mrs. Robinson?
Shit.
This is the perfect excuse. This is going to need an answer in person.
I buzz Taylor and tell him I'm going to need Stephan and the Gulfstream in the morning.
“Very good, Mr. Grey. Where are you going?”
“
We're
going to Savannah.”