Fifty Shades Trilogy 01 - Fifty Shades of Grey

me.”
    Jeez, I sound like him.
    “Ana,” she pauses staring at me. “You’re okay, aren’t you? You’re not running to your mother’s to escape?”
    I flush.
    “No, Kate. It was you who said I needed a break.”
    She closes the distance between us and takes my hands – a most un-Kate thing to do. Oh no … tears threaten.
    “You’re just, I don’t know… different. I hope you’re okay, and whatever issues you’re having with Mr. Moneybags, you can talk to me. And I will try not to wind him up, though frankly it’s like shooting fish in a barrel with him. Look, Ana, if something’s wrong, you will tell me, I won’t judge. I’ll try to understand.”
    I blink back tears.
    “Oh, Kate.” I hug her. “I think I’ve really fallen for him.”
    “Ana, anyone can see that. And he’s fallen for you. He’s mad about you. Won’t take his eyes off you.”
    I laugh uncertainly.
    “Do you think so?”
    “Hasn’t he told you?”
    “Not in so many words.”
    “Have you told him?”
    “Not in so many words.” I shrug apologetically.
    “Ana! Someone has to make the first move, otherwise you’ll never get anywhere.”
    What… tell him how I feel?
    “I’m just afraid I’ll frighten him away.”
    “And how do you know he’s not feeling the same?”
    “Christian, afraid? I can’t imagine him being frightened of anything.” But as I say the words, I imagine him as a small child. Maybe fear was all he knew then. Sorrow grips and squeezes my heart at the thought.
    Kate gazes at me with pursed lips and narrowed eyes, rather like my subconscious – all she needs is the half-moon specs.
    “You two need to sit down and talk to each other.”
    “We haven’t been doing much talking lately.” I flush. Other stuff. Nonverbal communication and that’s okay. Well, much more than okay.
    She grins.
    “That’ll be the sexing! If that’s going well, then that’s half the battle, Ana. I’ll grab some Chinese take-out. Are you ready to go?”
    “I will be. We don’t have to leave for a couple of hours or so.”
    “No – I’ll see you in twenty.” She grabs her jacket and leaves, forgetting to close the door. I shut it behind her and head off to my bedroom mulling over her words.
    Is Christian afraid of his feelings for me? Does he even have feelings for me? He seems very keen, says I’m his – but that’s just part of his I-must-own-and-have-everything-now control-freak dominant self, surely. I realize that while I’m away, I will have to run through all our conversations again and see if I can pick out telltale signs.
    I’ll miss you, too… more than you know...
You’ve completely beguiled me…
    I shake my head. I don’t want to think about it now. I am charging the BlackBerry, so I haven’t had it with me all afternoon. I approach it with caution, and I’m disappointed that there are no messages. I switch on the mean machine, and there are no messages there either. Same e-mail address, Ana – my subconscious rolls her eyes at me, and for the first time I understand why Christian wants to spank me when I do that.
    Okay. Well, I’ll write him an e-mail.

    From: Anastasia Steele
    Subject: Interviews
    Date: May 30 2011 18:49
    To: Christian Grey
    Dear Sir
My interviews went well today.
Thought you might be interested.
How was your day?
Ana
    I sit and glare at the screen. Christian’s responses are usually instantaneous. I wait… and wait, and finally I hear the welcome ping from my inbox.

    From: Christian Grey
    Subject: My day
    Date: May 30 2011 19:03
    To: Anastasia Steele
    Dear Miss Steele
Everything you do interests me. You are the most fascinating woman I know.
I’m glad your interviews went well.
My morning was beyond all expectations.
My afternoon was very dull in comparison.
    Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

    From: Anastasia Steele
    Subject: Fine Morning
    Date: May 30 2011 19:05
    To: Christian Grey
    Dear Sir
The morning was exemplary for me, too, in spite of you weirding out on me after the impeccable desk sex. Don’t think I didn’t notice.
Thank you for breakfast. Or thank Mrs. Jones.
I’d like to ask you questions about her – without you weirding out on me again.
Ana
    My finger hovers over the send button, and I am reassured that I’ll be on the other side of the continent this time tomorrow.

    From: Christian Grey
    Subject: Publishing and You?
    Date: May 30 2011 19:10
    To: Anastasia Steele
    Anastasia
‘Weirding’ is not a verb and should not be