Fifty Shades Trilogy 01 - Fifty Shades of Grey

Holdings Inc.
    The Audi is a joy to drive. It has power steering. Wanda, my Beetle, has no power in it at all – anywhere, so my daily workout, which was driving my Beetle, will cease. Oh, but I will have a personal trainer to contend with, according to Christian’s rules. I frown. I hate exercising.
    While I am driving, I try and analyze our e-mail exchange. He’s a patronizing son-of-a-bitch sometimes. And then I think of Grace and I feel guilty. But of course, she wasn’t his birth mother. Hmm, that’s a whole world of unknown pain. Well, patronizing son-of-a-bitch works well, then. Yes. I’m an adult, thank you for reminding me, Christian Grey, and it is my choice. The problem is, I just want Christian, not all his… baggage – and right now he has a 747 hold’s worth of baggage. Could I just lie back and embrace it? Like a submissive? I’ve said I’d try. It’s an awfully big ask.
    I pull into the parking lot at Clayton’s. As I make my way in, I can hardly believe it’s my last day. Fortunately, the store is busy and time passes quickly. At lunchtime, Mr. Clayton summons me from the stockroom. He’s standing beside a motorcycle courier.
    “Miss Steele?” the courier asks. I frown questioningly at Mr. Clayton, who shrugs, as puzzled as me. My heart sinks. What has Christian sent me now? I sign for the small package and open it straight away. It’s a BlackBerry. My heart sinks further. I switch it on.

    From: Christian Grey
    Subject: BlackBerry ON LOAN
    Date: May 27 2011 11:15
    To: Anastasia Steele
    I need to be able to contact you at all times, and since this is your most honest form of communication, I figured you needed a BlackBerry.
    Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

    From: Anastasia Steele
    Subject: Consumerism Gone Mad
    Date: May 27 2011 13:22
    To: Christian Grey
    I think you need to call Dr. Flynn right now.
Your stalker tendencies are running wild.
I am at work. I will e-mail you when I get home.
Thank you for yet another gadget.
I wasn’t wrong when I said you were the ultimate consumer.
Why do you do this?
Ana

    From: Christian Grey
    Subject: Sagacity from one so young
    Date: May 27 2011 13:24
    To: Anastasia Steele
    Fair point well made, as ever, Miss Steele.
Dr. Flynn is on vacation.
And I do this because I can.
    Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.
    I put the thing in my back pocket, hating it already. E-mailing Christian is addictive, but I am supposed to be working. It buzzes once against my behind… how apt, I think ironically, but summoning all my willpower, I ignore it.
    At four, Mr. and Mrs. Clayton gather all the other employees in the shop, and during a hair-curlingly embarrassing speech, present me with a check for three hundred dollars. In that moment, three weeks of exams, graduation, intense, fucked-up billionaires, deflowering, hard and soft limits, playrooms with no consoles, helicopter rides, and the fact that I will move tomorrow, all well up inside me. Amazingly, I hold myself together. My subconscious is in awe. I hug the Claytons hard. They have been kind and generous employers, and I will miss them.
    Kate is climbing out of her car when I arrive home.
    “What’s that?” she says accusingly, pointing at the Audi. I can’t resist.
    “It’s a car,” I quip. She narrows her eyes, and for a brief moment I wonder if she’s going to put me across her knee, too. “My graduation present.” I try and act nonchalant. Yes, I get expensive cars given to me every day. Her mouth drops open.
    “Generous, over-the-top bastard, isn’t he?”
    I nod.
    “I did try not to accept it, but frankly, it’s just not worth the fight.”
    Kate purses her lips.
    “No wonder you’re so overwhelmed. I did note that he stayed.”
    “Yeah.” I smile wistfully.
    “Shall we finish packing?”
    I nod and follow her inside. I check the e-mail from Christian.

    From: Christian Grey
    Subject: Sunday
    Date: May 27 2011 13:40
    To: Anastasia Steele
    Shall I see you at 1 p.m. Sunday?
The doctor will be at Escala to see you at 1:30.
I’m leaving for Seattle now.
I hope your move goes well, and I look forward to Sunday.
    Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.
    Jeez, he could be discussing the weather. I decide to e-mail him once we’ve finished packing. He can be such fun one minute, and then he can be so formal and stuffy. It’s difficult to keep up. Honestly, it’s like an e-mail to an employee. I roll my eyes at it defiantly and join Kate