Fifty Shades Trilogy 01 - Fifty Shades of Grey

door, standing aside to allow me out first.
    Holy hell… what’s this about? What does he want? I pause in the hotel corridor, fidgeting nervously as Grey emerges from the room followed by Mr. Buzz-Cut in his sharp suit.
    “I’ll call you, Taylor,” he murmurs to Buzz-Cut. Taylor wanders back down the corridor, and Grey turns his burning gray gaze to me. Crap… have I done something wrong?
    “I wondered if you would join me for coffee this morning.”
    My heart slams into my mouth. A date? Christian Grey is asking me on a date. He’s asking if you want a coffee. Maybe he thinks you haven’t woken up yet, my subconscious whines at me in a sneering mood again. I clear my throat, trying to control my nerves.
    “I have to drive everyone home,” I murmur apologetically, twisting my hands and fingers in front of me.
    “TAYLOR,” he calls, making me jump. Taylor, who had been retreating down the corridor, turns and heads back toward us.
    “Are they based at the university?” Grey asks, his voice soft and inquiring. I nod, too stunned to speak.
    “Taylor can take them. He’s my driver. We have a large 4x4 here, so he’ll be able to take the equipment, too.”
    “Mr. Grey?” Taylor asks when he reaches us, giving nothing away.
    “Please, can you drive the photographer, his assistant, and Miss Kavanagh back home?”
    “Certainly, sir,” Taylor replies.
    “There. Now can you join me for coffee?” Grey smiles as if it’s a done deal.
    I frown at him.
    “Um – Mr. Grey, err – this really… look, Taylor doesn’t have to drive them home.” I flash a brief look at Taylor, who remains stoically impassive. “I’ll swap vehicles with Kate, if you give me a moment.”
    Grey smiles a dazzling, unguarded, natural, all-teeth-showing, glorious smile. Oh my … and he opens the door of the suite so I can reenter. I scoot around him to enter the room, finding Katherine in deep discussion with José.
    “Ana, I think he definitely likes you,” she says with no preamble whatsoever. José glares at me with disapproval. “But I don’t trust him,” she adds. I raise my hand up in the hope that she’ll stop talking. By some miracle, she does.
    “Kate, if you take the Beetle, can I take your car?”
    “Why?”
    “Christian Grey has asked me to go for coffee with him.”
    Her mouth pops open. Speechless Kate! I savor the moment. She grabs me by my arm and drags me into the bedroom that’s off the living area of the suite.
    “Ana, there’s something about him.” Her tone is full of warning. “He’s gorgeous, I agree, but I think he’s dangerous. Especially to someone like you.”
    “What do you mean, someone like me?” I demand, affronted.
    “An innocent like you, Ana. You know what I mean,” she says a little irritated. I flush.
    “Kate, it’s just coffee. I’m starting my exams this week, and I need to study, so I won’t be long.”
    She purses her lips as if considering my request. Finally, she fishes her car keys out of her pocket and hands them to me. I hand her mine.
    “I’ll see you later. Don’t be long, or I’ll send out search and rescue.”
    “Thanks.” I hug her.
    I emerge from the suite to find Christian Grey waiting, leaning up against the wall, looking like a male model in a pose for some glossy high-end magazine.
    “Okay, let’s do coffee,” I murmur, flushing a beet red.
    He grins.
    “After you, Miss Steele.” He stands up straight, holding his hand out for me to go first. I make my way down the corridor, my knees shaky, my stomach full of butterflies, and my heart in my mouth thumping a dramatic uneven beat. I am going to have coffee with Christian Grey... and I hate coffee.
    We walk together down the wide hotel corridor to the elevators. What should I say to him? My mind is suddenly paralyzed with apprehension. What are we going to talk about? What on Earth do I have in common with him? His soft, warm voice startles me from my reverie.
    “How long have you known Katherine Kavanagh?”
    Oh, an easy questions for starters.
    “Since our freshman year. She’s a good friend.”
    “Hmm,” he replies, noncommittal. What is he thinking?
    At the elevators, he presses the call button, and the bell rings almost immediately. The doors slide open revealing a young couple in a passionate clinch inside. Surprised and embarrassed, they jump apart, staring guiltily in every direction but ours. Grey and I step into the elevator.
    I am struggling to maintain a straight face, so