Fifty Shades of Grey(114)

He looks quizzically at me.

"Later," he says, and I have to move on because I'm holding up the line.

I go back to my seat. EmailsHe must have sent another. What did it say?

The ceremony takes another hour to conclude. It's interminable. Finally, the Chancellor leads the faculty members off the stage to yet more rousing applause, preceded by Christian and Kate. Christian does not glance at me, even though I'm willing him to do it.

My inner goddess is not pleased.

As I stand and wait for our row to disperse, Kate calls to me. She's heading my way from behind the stage.

"Christian wants to talk to you," she shouts. The two girls who are now standing beside me turn and gape at me.

"He's sent me out here," she continues.

Oh...

"Your speech was great, Kate."

"It was, wasn't it?" she beams. "Are you comingHe can be very insistent." She rolls her eyes, and I grin.

"You have no idea. I can't leave Ray for long." I glance up at Ray and hold my fingers up indicating five minutes. He nods, giving me an okay sign, and I follow Kate into the corridor behind the stage. Christian is talking to the Chancellor and two of the teaching staff. He looks up when he sees me.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," I hear him murmur. He comes toward me and smiles briefly at Kate.

"Thank you," he says, and before she can reply, he takes my elbow and steers me into what looks like a men's locker room. He checks to see if it's empty, and then he locks the door. Holy shit, what does he have in mind I blink up at him as he turns on me.

"Why haven't you emailed meOr texted me back?" He glares. I'm nonplussed.

"I haven't looked at my computer today, or my phone." Crap, has he been trying to callI try my distraction technique that's so effective on Kate. "That was a great speech."

"Thank you."

"Explains your food issues to me."

He runs a hand through his hair, exasperated.

"Anastasia, I don't want to go there at the moment." He closes his eyes, looking pained.

"I've been worried about you."

"Worried, why?"

"Because you went home in that deathtrap you call a car."

"WhatIt's not a deathtrap. It's fine. Jose regularly services it for me."

"Jose, the photographer?" Christian's eyes narrow, his face frosting. Oh Crap.

"Yes, the Beetle used to belong to his mother."

"Yes, and probably her mother and her mother before her. It's not safe."

"I've been driving it for over three years. I'm sorry you were worried. Why didn't you call?" Jeez, he's completely over-reacting.

He takes a deep breath.

"Anastasia, I need an answer from you. This waiting around is driving me crazy."

"Christian, I... look, I've left my stepdad on his own."

"Tomorrow. I want an answer by tomorrow."

"Okay. Tomorrow, I'll tell you then." I blink at him.

He steps back, regarding me coolly, and his shoulders relax.

"Are you staying for drinks?" he asks.

"I don't know what Ray wants to do."

"Your stepfatherI'd like to meet him."

Oh no... why?

"I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Christian unlocks the door, his mouth in a grim line.

"Are you ashamed of me?"

"No!" It's my turn to sound exasperated. "Introduce you to my dad as what'This is the man who deflowered me and wants us to start a BDSM relationship'. You're not wearing running shoes."