Fifty Shades Darker(141)

I flush. The dress is part of my new wardrobe, courtesy of my incredibly rich boyfriend. It's a sleeveless shift dress of pale blue linen, quite fitted, and I'm wearing cream high-heeled sandals. Christian likes heels, I think. I smile secretly at the thought but quickly recover my bland professional smile for my boss.

"Good morning, Jack."

I set about ordering a messenger to take his brochure to the printers. He pops his head around his office door.

"Could I have a coffee, please, Ana?"

"Sure." I wander into the kitchen and bump into Claire from reception, who is also fixing coffee.

"Hey, Ana," she says cheerfully.

"Hi, Claire."

We chat briefly about her extended-family gathering over the weekend, which she enjoyed immensely, and I tell her about sailing with Christian.

"Your boyfriend is so dreamy, Ana," she says, her eyes glazing over.

I am tempted to roll my eyes at her.

"He's not bad-looking," I smile and we both start laughing.

"You took your time!" Jack snaps when I bring in his coffee.

Oh! "I'm sorry." I flush then frown. I took the usual amount of time. What's his problem? Perhaps he's nervous about something.

He shakes his head. "Sorry, Ana. I didn't mean to bark at you, honey."

Honey?

"There's something going on at senior management level, and I don't know what it is.

Keep your ear to the ground, okay? If you hear anything - I know how you girls talk." He

grins at me, and I feel slightly sick. He has no idea how we "girls" talk. Besides, I know what's happening.

"You'll let me know, right?"

"Sure," I mutter. "I've sent the brochure to the printers. It will be back by two o'clock."

"Great. Here." He hands me a pile of manuscripts. "All these need synopses of the first chapter, then filing."

"I'll get on it."

I am relieved to step out of his office and sit down at my desk. Oh, it's hard being in the know. What will he do when he finds out? My blood runs cold. Something tells me Jack will be annoyed. I glance at my Blackberry and smile. There's an e-mail from Christian.

From: Christian Grey

Subject: Sunrise

Date: June 14, 2011 09:23

To: Anastasia Steele

I love waking up to you in the morning.

Christian Grey

Completely & Utterly Smitten CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

I think my face splits in two with my grin, and my inner goddess back-flips over her chaise longue.

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Sundown

Date: June 14, 2011 09:35

To: Christian Grey

Dear Completely & Utterly Smitten

I love waking up to 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 boathous-es and childhood bedrooms.

Yours

Sex Mad and Insatiable xx

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.