Fifty Shades Trilogy 02 - Fifty Shades Darker

will really be for me. I hug myself in anticipation as I switch off the shower. I just have to prepare it.
    In the walk-in closet, I put on a dark red fitted dress with a square neckline, cut quite low. Yes, this will do for work.
    Now for Christian’s present . I start rummaging through his drawers, looking for his ties. In the bottom drawer I find those faded, ripped jeans, the ones he wears in the playroom—the ones he looks so hot in. I stroke them gently, using my whole hand. Oh my, the material is so soft.
    Beneath them, I find a large, black, flat cardboard box. It piques my interest immediately. What’s in here? I stare at it, feeling like I’m trespassing again. Taking it out, I shake it. It’s heavy as if it holds papers or manuscripts. I cannot resist, I open the lid—and quickly shut it again. Holy fuck—photographs from the Red Room. The shock makes me sit back on my heels as I try to wipe the image from my brain. Why did I open the box? Why has he kept them?
    I shudder. My subconscious scowls at me—this is before you. Forget them.
    She’s right. Standing up I notice his ties are hanging at the end of his clothes rail. I find my favorite and exit quickly.
    I try to tell myself those photos are BA—Before Ana. My subconscious nods with approval, but it’s with a heavier heart that I head into the main room for breakfast. Mrs. Jones smiles at me warmly and then frowns.
    “Everything all right, Ana?” she asks kindly.
    “Yes,” I murmur, distracted. “Do you have a key to the . . . um, playroom?”
    She pauses momentarily, surprised.
    “Yes, of course.” She unclips a small bunch of keys from her belt. “What would you like for breakfast, dear?” she asks as she hands me the keys.
    “Just granola. I won’t be long.”
    I feel more ambivalent about this gift now but only since the discovery of those photographs. Nothing’s changed , my subconscious barks at me again, glaring at me over her half-moon winged glasses. That picture was hot, my inner goddess chips in, and mentally I scowl at her. Yes it was—too hot for me.
    What else does he have hidden away? Quickly I ferret through the museum chest, take what I need, and lock the playroom door behind me. Wouldn’t do for José to discover this!
    I hand the keys back to Mrs. Jones and sit down to devour my breakfast, feeling odd that Christian is absent. The photograph image dances unwelcome around my mind. I wonder who it was? Leila perhaps?

    On my drive in to work, I debate whether or not to tell Christian I found his photographs. No , screams my subconscious, her Edvard Munch face on. I decide she’s probably right.

    As I sit down at my desk, my Blackberry buzzes.

    From: Christian Grey
    Subject: Surfaces
    Date: June 17, 2011 08:59
    To: Anastasia Steele

    I calculate that there are at least 30 surfaces to go. I am looking forward to each and every one of them. Then there’s the floors, the walls—and let’s not forget the balcony.
    After that there’s my office . . .

    Miss you. x

    Christian Grey
    Priapic CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

    His e-mail makes me smile, and all my earlier reservations evaporate. It’s me he wants now, and memories of last night’s sexcapades flood my mind  . . . the elevator, the foyer, the bed . Priapic is right. I wonder idly what the female equivalent might be?

    From: Anastasia Steele
    Subject: Romance?
    Date: June 17, 2011 09:03
    To: Christian Grey

    Mr. Grey
    You have a one-track mind.
    I missed you at breakfast
    But Mrs. Jones was very accommodating.
    A x

    From: Christian Grey
    Subject: Intrigued
    Date: June 17, 2011 09:07
    To: Anastasia Steele

    What was Mrs. Jones accommodating about?
    What are you up to Miss Steele?

    Christian Grey
    Curious CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

    How does he know?

    From: Anastasia Steele
    Subject: Tapping Nose
    Date: June 17, 2011 09:10
    To: Christian Grey

    Wait and see—it’s a surprise.
    I need to work . . . let me be.
    Love you.
    A x

    From: Christian Grey
    Subject: Frustrated
    Date: June 17, 2011 09:12
    To: Anastasia Steele

    I hate it when you keep things from me.

    Christian Grey
    CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

    I stare at the small screen of my Blackberry. The vehemence implicit in his e-mail takes me by surprise. Why does he feel like this? It’s not like I’m hiding erotic photographs of my exes.

    From: Anastasia Steele
    Subject: Indulging you
    Date: June 17, 2011 09:14
    To: Christian Grey

    It’s for your