Fifty Shades Trilogy 02 - Fifty Shades Darker

have you been doing with Mr. Mogul?”
    “Mr. Mogul?” I snicker. “Well, it’s been interesting. He’s taking us out for dinner this evening.”
    “Cool.” Ethan seems genuinely pleased. Phew!
    “Here.” I hand him the keys. “You have the address?”
    “Yeah. Laters.” He leans over and kisses my cheek.
    “Elliot’s expression?”
    “Yeah, kind of grows on you.”
    “It does. Laters.” I smile at him as he collects his large shoulder bag from beside the green couch and exits the building.
    When I turn, Jack is watching me from the far side of the foyer, his expression unreadable. I smile brightly at him and head back to my desk, feeling his eyes on me the whole time. This is beginning to get on my nerves. What to do? I have no idea. I’ll have to wait until Kate is back. She’s bound to come up with a plan. The thought dispels my bleak mood, and I pick up the next manuscript.

    At five to six, my phone buzzes. It’s Christian.
    “Crusty and Cross here,” he says and I grin. He’s still playful Fifty. My inner goddess is clapping her hands with glee like a small child.
    “Well, this is Sex Mad and Insatiable. I take it you’re outside?” I ask dryly.
    “I am indeed, Miss Steele. Looking forward to seeing you.” His voice is warm and seductive, and my heart flutters wildly.
    “Ditto, Mr. Grey. I’ll be right out.” I hang up.
    I switch off my computer and gather up my purse and cream cardigan.
    “I’m off now, Jack,” I call through.
    “Okay, Ana. Thanks for today, honey! Have a great evening.”
    “You, too.”
    Why can’t he be like that all the time? I don’t understand him.

    The Audi is parked at the curb, and Christian climbs out as I approach. He’s taken off his jacket, and he’s wearing his gray pants, my favorite ones that hang from his hips—in that way. How can this Greek god be meant for me? I find myself grinning like a loon in answer to his own idiotic grin.  
    He’s spent the whole day acting like a boyfriend in love—in love with me. This adorable, complex, flawed man is in love with me, and I with him. Joy bursts unexpectedly inside me, and I savor the moment as I feel briefly that I could conquer the world.
    “Miss Steele, you look as captivating as you did this morning.” Christian pulls me into his arms and kisses me soundly.
    “Mr. Grey, so do you.”
    “Let’s go get your friend.” He smiles down at me and opens the car door.
    As Taylor heads to the apartment, Christian fills me in on his day—a much better one than yesterday, it seems. I gaze at him adoringly as he attempts to explain some breakthrough the environmental science department at WSU in Vancouver has made. His words mean very little to me, but I’m captivated by his passion and interest in this subject. Maybe this is what it will be like, good days and bad days, and if the good days are like this, I won’t have much to complain about. He hands me a sheet of paper.
    “These are the times that Claude is free this week,” he says.
    Oh! The trainer.
    As we pull up to my apartment building, he fishes his Blackberry from his pocket.
    “Grey,” he answers. “Ros, what is it?” He listens intently, and I can tell it’s an involved conversation.
    “I’ll go and get Ethan. I’ll be two minutes,” I mouth at Christian and hold up two fingers.
    He nods, obviously distracted by the call. Taylor opens my door, smiling at me warmly. I grin at him, even Taylor’s feeling it. I press the entry phone and shout happily into it.
    “Hi, Ethan, it’s me. Let me in.”
    The door buzzes, and I head upstairs to the apartment. It occurs to me that I have not been here since Saturday morning. That seems so long ago. Ethan has kindly left the front door open. I step into the apartment, and I don’t know why, but I freeze instinctively as soon as I step inside. I take a moment to realize it’s because the pale, wan figure standing by the kitchen island, holding a small revolver is Leila, and she’s gazing impassively at me.

Holy fuck.  
    She’s here, gazing at me with an unnerving blank expression, holding a gun. My subconscious swoons into a dead faint, and I don’t think even smelling salts will bring her back.  
    I blink repeatedly at Leila as my mind goes into overdrive. How did she get in? Where’s Ethan? Holy shit! Where is Ethan?  
    A creeping cold fear grips my heart, and my scalp prickles as each and every follicle on my head tightens with terror. What if she’s harmed him?