Grey
Page 102
Your Ana
You. You chastise me via e-mail at every opportunity—and 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 for—what did she call them? SHOUTY CAPITALS.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Careful what you wish for…
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
Slowly…
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 suddenly—just 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 filling—you’ll be very pleased to hear I ate far too much.
Getting interesting? How?
I’m glad she’s eating…
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. ;)
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 ma?tre d’ escorts me to her table, and she rises, presenting her cheek to me.
You. You chastise me via e-mail at every opportunity—and 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 for—what did she call them? SHOUTY CAPITALS.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Careful what you wish for…
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
Slowly…
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 suddenly—just 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 filling—you’ll be very pleased to hear I ate far too much.
Getting interesting? How?
I’m glad she’s eating…
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. ;)
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 ma?tre d’ escorts me to her table, and she rises, presenting her cheek to me.
