Fifty Shades Trilogy 02 - Fifty Shades Darker

quickly glance at my Blackberry, and it startles me by buzzing—it’s Christian.
    “Hi,” I murmur.
    “Hi, when will you be finished?”
    “By seven thirty, I think.”
    “I’ll meet you outside.”
    “Okay.”
    He sounds quiet, nervous even. Why? Wary of my reaction?
    “I’m still mad at you, but that’s all,” I whisper. “We have a lot to talk about.”
    “I know. See you at seven thirty.”
    Jack comes out of his office.
    “I have to go. See you later.” I hang up.
    I look up at Jack as he strolls casually toward me.
    “I just need a couple of tweaks. I’ve e-mailed the brief back to you.”
    He leans over me while I retrieve the document, rather close—uncomfortably close. His arm brushes mine. Accidentally? I flinch, but he pretends not to notice. His other arm rests on the back of my chair, touching my back. I sit up so I’m not leaning against the backrest.
    “Pages sixteen and twenty-three, and that should be it,” he murmurs, his mouth inches from my ear.  
    My skin crawls at his proximity, but I choose to ignore it. Opening the document, I shakily start on the changes. He’s still leaning over me, and all my senses are hyperaware. It’s distracting and awkward, and inside I am screaming, Back off !
    “Once this is done, it’ll be good to go to print. You can organize that tomorrow. Thank you for staying late and doing this, Ana.” His voice is smooth, gentle, like he’s talking to a wounded animal. My stomach twists.
    “I think the least I could do is reward you with a quick drink. You deserve one.” He tucks a strand of my hair that’s come loose from my hair tie behind my ear and gently caresses the lobe.  
    I cringe gritting my teeth, and I jerk my head away. Shit ! Christian was right. Don’t touch me .
    “Actually, I can’t this evening.” Or any other evening, Jack .
    “Just a quick one?” he coaxes.
    “No, I can’t. But thank you.”
    Jack sits on the end of my desk and frowns. Alarm bells sound loudly in my head. I am on my own in the office. I cannot leave. I glance nervously at the clock. Another five minutes before Christian is due.
    “Ana, I think we make a great team. I’m sorry that I couldn’t pull off this New York trip. It won’t be the same without you.”
    I’m sure it won’t. I smile weakly up at him, because I can’t think of what to say. And for the first time all day, I feel the tiniest hint of relief that I am not going.
    “So, did you have a good weekend?” he asks smoothly.
    “Yes, thanks.” Where is he going with this?
    “See your boyfriend?”
    “Yes.”
    “What does he do?”
    Owns your ass . . . “He’s in business.”
    “That’s interesting. What kind of business?”
    “Oh, he has his fingers in all sorts of pies.”
    Jack cocks his head to one side as he leans in toward me, invading my personal space—again.
    “You’re being very coy, Ana.”
    “Well, he’s in telecommunications, manufacturing, and agriculture.”
    Jack raises his eyebrows. “So many things. Who does he work for?”
    “He works for himself. If you’re happy with the document, I’d like to go, if that’s okay?”
    He leans back. My personal space is safe again.
    “Of course. Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you,” he says disingenuously.
    “What time does the building close?”
    “Security is here until eleven.”
    “Good.” I smile, and my subconscious flops down in her armchair, relieved to know that we are not alone in the building. Switching off my computer, I grab my purse and stand up, ready to leave.
    “You like him then? Your boyfriend?”
    “I love him,” I answer, looking Jack squarely in the eye.
    “I see.” Jack frowns and he stands up from my desk. “What’s his surname?”
    I flush.
    “Grey. Christian Grey,” I mumble.
    Jack’s mouth drops open. “Seattle’s richest bachelor? That Christian Grey?”
    “Yes. The same.” Yes, that Christian Grey, your future boss who will have you for breakfast if you invade my personal space again.
    “I thought he looked familiar,” Jack says darkly and his brow creases again. “Well, he’s a lucky man.”
    I blink at him. What do I say to that?
    “Have a good evening, Ana.” Jack smiles, but the smile doesn’t touch his eyes, and he walks stiffly back into his office without a backward glance.
    I let out a long sigh of relief. Well, that problem might be solved. Fifty works his magic again. Just his name is my talisman, and it has this man retreating with his tail