andishallbeha一ve.imeanhowmuchtroublecanigetintowithkate?
anastasiagrey
commissioningeditor,sip
ihitsendandsipmylatte,courtesyofhannah.whoknewi’dgrowtolove
coffee?inspiteofthefactthati’mgoingoutthiseveningwithkate,ifeellike
achunkofmeismissing.atthemoment,it’sthirtyfivethousandfeet
somewhereaboveamericaenroutetonewyork.ididn’tknowicouldfeel
thisunsettledandanxiousjustbecausechristian’saway.surelyovertimei
won’tfeelthislossanduncertainty,willi?iletoutahea一vysighandcontinue
withmywork.aroundlunchtime,istartmanicallycheckingmye-mailandmy
blackberryforatext.whereishe?hashelandedsafely?hannahasksifi
wantlunch,buti’mtooapprehensiveandiwa一veheraway.iknowit’s
irrational,butineedtobesurehe’sarrivedsafely.myofficephonerings,
startlingme.“anast—grey.”
“hi.”christian’svoiceiswarmwithatraceofamusement.relieffloods
throughme.
“hi,”irespond,grinningfromeartoear.“howwasyourflight?”
“long.whatareyoudoingwithkate?”
ohno.“we’rejustgoingoutforaquietdrink.”
christiansaysnothing.
“sawyerandthenewwoman—prescott—arecomingwith,towatchoverus,”
ioffer,tryingtoplacatehim.
“ithoughtkatewascomingtotheapartment.”
“sheisafteraquickdrink.”pleaseletmegoout!
christiansighshea一vily.“whydidn’tyoutellme?”hesaysquietly.tooquietly.
imentallykickmyself.“christian,we’llbefine.iha一veryan,sawyer,and
prescotthere.it’sonlyaquickdrink.”
christianremainsresolutelysilent,andiknowhe’snothappy.“i’veonlyseen
herafewtimessinceyouandimet.please.she’smybestfriend.”
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“ana,idon’twanttokeepyoufromyourfriends.butithoughtshewas
comingbacktotheapartment.”
“okay,”iacquiesce.“we’llstayin.”
“onlywhilethislunaticisoutthere.please.”
“i’vesaidokay,”imutterinexasperation,rollingmyeyes.christiansnorts
softlydownthephone.
“ialwaysknowwhenyou’rerollingyoureyesatme.”
iscowlatthereceiver.“look,i’msorry.ididn’tmeantoworryyou.i’lltell
kate.”
“good,”hebreathes,hisreliefevident.ifeelguiltyforworryinghim.
“whereareyou?”
“onthetarmacatjfk.”
“oh,soyoujustlanded.”
“yes.youaskedmetocallthemomentilanded.”
ismile.mysubconsciousglaresatme.see?hedoeswhathesayshe’s
goingtodo.
“well,mr.grey,i’mgladoneofusispunctilious.”
helaughs.“mrs.grey,yourgiftforhyperboleknowsnobounds.whatami
goingtodowithyou?”
“iamsureyou’llthinkofsomethingimaginative.youusuallydo.”
“areyouflirtingwithme?”
“yes.”
isensehisgrin.“i’dbettergo.ana,doasyou’retold,please.thesecurity
teamknowswhatthey’redoing.”
“yes,christian,iwill.”isoundexasperatedagain—butjeez,igetthe
message.
“i’llseeyoutomorrowevening.i’llcallyoulater.”
“tocheckuponme?”
“yes.”
“oh,christian!”iscoldhim.
“aurevoir,mrs.grey.”
“aurevoir,christian.iloveyou.”
heinhalessharply.“andiyou,ana.”
neitherofushangsup.
“hangup,christian,”iwhisper.
“you’reabossylittlething,aren’tyou?”
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eljames
“yourbossylittlething.”
“mine,”hebreathes.“doasyou’retold.hangup.”
“yes,sir.”ihangupandgrinstupidlyatthephone.afewmomentslater,an
e-mailappearsinmyinbox.
from:christiangrey
subject:twitchingpalms
date:august25,201113:42edt
to:anastasiagrey
mrs.grey
youareasentertainingaseveronthephone.
imeanit.doasyou’retold.
ineedtoknowyou’resafe.
iloveyou.
christiangrey
ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.
honestly,he’sthebossyone.butonephonecallandallmyanxietyhas
disappeared.he’sarrivedsafelyandhe’sfussingaboutmeasusual.ihug
myselfmomentarily.god,ilovethatman.hannahknocksonmydoor,
distractingme,andilandbackwithathumpinmyoffice.
katelooksgorgeous.inhertightwhitejeansandredcamisole,she’sready
torockthetown.she’schattinganimatedlytoclaireinreceptionwheni
makemyentrance.
“ana!”shecries,scoopingmeupinakatehug.sheholdsmeatarm’s
length.
“don’tyoulookthemogul’swife?whowouldha一vethought,littleanasteele?
youlookso...sophisticated!”shegrins.irollmyeyesather.i’mwearinga
palecreamshiftdresswithana一vybeltandna一vypumps.
“it’sgoodtoseeyou,kate.”ihugherback.
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fiftyshadesfreed
“so,wherearewegoing?”
“christianwantsustogobacktotheapartment.”
“aw,really?can’twesneakaquickcocktailatthezigzagcafe?
i’vebookedusatable.”
iopenmymouthtoprotest.
“please?”shewhinesandpoutsprettily.shemustbepickingthisupfrom
mia.sheneverpoutsnormally.i’dreallylikeacocktailatthezigzag.we
hadsuchfunthelasttimewewentthere,andit’sclosetokate’sapartment.
iholdupmyindexfinger.“one.”
shegrins.“one”shelinksherarminmine,andwestrollouttothecar,which
isparkedatthecurbwithsawyeratthewheel.we’refollowedoutbymiss
samanthaprescottwho’snewtothesecurityteam––atallafrican-american
withano-nonsenseattitude.i’veyettowarmtoher,maybebecauseshe’s
toocoolandprofessional.thejury’sdefinitelyout,butliketherestofthe
team,she’sbeenhand-pickedbytaylor.she’sdressedlikesawyer,ina
darksomberpantsuit.
“canyoutakeustothezigzag,please,sawyer?”
sawyerturnstolookatme,andiknowhewantstosaysomething.he’s
obviouslybeengivenhisorders.hehesitates.
“thezigzagcafé.we’llonlyha一veone.”
igivekateasidewaysglanceandshe’sglaringatsawyer.poorman.
“yes,ma’am.”
“mr.greyrequestedyougobacktotheapartment,”prescottpipesup.
“mr.greyisn’there,”isnap.“thezigzag,please.”
“ma’am,”sawyerreplieswithasidewaysglanceatprescott,whowisely
holdshertongue.
kategapesatmeasifshecan’tbelievehereyesandears.ipursemylips
andshrug.okay,soi’malittlemoreassertivethaniusedtobe.katenods
assawyerpullsoutintotheearlyeveningtraffic.
“youknowtheadditionalsecurityisdrivinggraceandmiacrazy,”
katesayscasually.
what?igawkather,baffled.
“youdidn’tknow?”sheseemsincredulous.
“knowwhat?”
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eljames
“securityforallofthegreyshasbeentripled.gazillioned,even.”
“really?”
“hehasn’ttoldyou?”
iflush.“no.”damnit,christian!“doyouknowwhy?”
“jackhyde.”
“whataboutjack?ithoughthewasjustafterchristian,”igasp.jeez.why
hasn’thetoldme?
“sincemonday,”katesays.
lastmonday?hmm...weidentifiedjackonsunday.butwhyallthe
greys?what’sgoingon?
“howdoyouknowallthis?”
“elliot.”
ofcourse.
“christianhasn’ttoldyouanyofthis,hashe?”
iflushoncemore.“no.”
“oh,ana,howannoying.”
isigh.asever,katehashitthenailsquarelyontheheadinherusual
sledgehammerstyle.“doyouknowwhy?”ifchristian’snotgoingtotellme,
thenmaybekatewill.
“elliotsaidit’ssomethingtodowithinformationstoredonjackhyde’s
computerwhenhewasatsip.”
holycrap.“you’rekidding.”asurgeofangerpulsesthroughme.howdoes
kateknowaboutthiswhenidon’t?
iglanceuptoseesawyereyeingmefromtherearviewmirror.theredlight
turnstogreenandhesurgesforward,focusingontheroadahead.iholdmy
fingeruptomylipsandkatenods.ibetsawyerknows,too,andidon’t.
“how’selliot?”iasktochangethesubject.
kategrinsstupidly,tellingmeallineedtoknow.sawyerpullsupattheend
ofthepassagewaythatleadsdowntothezigzagcafé,andprescottopens
mydoor.iscootoutandkatescramblesoutafterme.welinkarmsand
meanderdownthepassage,followedbyprescott,who’swearinga
thunderousexpressiononherface.oh,forhea一ven’ssake,it’sjustadrink.
sawyerdrivesofftoparkthecar.
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fiftyshadesfreed
“sohowdoeselliotknowgia?”iask,takingasipofmysecondstrawberry
mojito.thebarisintimateandcozy,andidon’twanttolea一ve.kateandi
ha一venotstoppedtalking.ihadforgottenhowmuchilikehangingwithher.it’s
liberatingtobeout,relaxing,enjoyingkate’scompany.icontemplatetexting
christianthendismisstheidea.he’lljustbemadandmakemegohomelike
anerrantchild.
“don’ttalktomeaboutthatbitch!”katesplutters.kate’sreactionmakesme
laugh.
“what’ssofunny,steele?”shesnaps,butnotseriously.
“ifeelthesameway.”
“youdo?”
“yes.shewasalloverchristian.”
“shehadaflingwithelliot.”katepouts.
“no!”
shenods,herlipspressedtogetherinthepatentedkatherineka一vanagh
scowl.
“itwasbrief.lastyear,ithink.she’sasocialclimber.nowondershehasher
sightssetonchristian.”
“christianistaken.itoldhertolea一vehimaloneoriwouldfireher.”
kategapesatmeoncemore,stunned.inodproudly,andsheliftsherglass
tosaluteme,impressedandbeaming.
“mrs.anastasiagrey!waytogo!”weclink.
“doeselliotownagun?”
“no.he’sveryantigun.”katestirsherthirddrink.
“christian,too.ithinkitwasgraceandcarrick’sinfluence,”imutter.i’m
feelingalittletipsy.
“carrick’sagoodman.”katenods.
“hewantedaprenup,”imuttersadly.
“oh,ana.”shereachesacrossandgraspsmyarm.“hewasonlylookingout
forhisboy.aswebothknow,youha一vegold-diggertattooedonyour
forehead.”shesmilesatme,andipokemytongueoutatherthengiggle.
“mature,mrs.grey,”shesaysgrinning.shesoundslikechristian.
“you’lldothesameforyoursononeday.”
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eljames
“myson?”igapeather.ithadn’tevencrossedmymindthatmykidswillbe
rich.holycrap.they’llwantfornothing.imean...nothing.thisneedsfurther
thought—butnotrightnow.iglanceatprescottandsawyerseatednearby,
watchingusandtheeveningcrowdfromasidetablewhiletheyeachnursea
glassofsparklingmineralwater.
“doyouthinkweshouldeat?”iask.
“no.weshoulddrink,”katesays.
“whyareyouinsuchadrinkingmood?”
“becauseidon’tseeenoughofyouanymore.ididn’tknowyou’dupand
marrythefirstguywhoturnedyourhead.”shepoutsagain.
“honestly,youmarriedwithsuchindecenthastethatithoughtyouwere
pregnant.”
igiggle.“everyonethoughtiwaspregnant,”imutter.“let’snotrehashthat
conversationagain.please!andiha一vetousetherestroom.”
prescottaccompaniesme.shesaysnothing.shedoesn’tha一veto.
disapprovalradiatesoffherlikealethalisotope.
“iha一ven’tbeenoutonmyownsinceigotmarried,”imutterwordlesslyatthe
closedtoiletdoor.imakeaface,knowingthatshe’sstandingontheother
sideofthedoor,waitingwhileipee.whatpreciselyishydegoingtodoina
baranyway?christianisjustoverreactingasusual.
“kate,it’slate.weshouldgo.”
it’stenfifteenandiha一vedownedmyfourthstrawberrymojito.iamdefinitely
feelingtheeffectsofthealcohol,warmandfuzzy.christianwillbefine.
eventually.
“sure,ana.it’sbeensogoodtoseeyou.youjustseemsomuchmore,i
don’tknow...confident.marriageobviouslyagreeswithyou.”
myfacewarms.comingfrommisskatherineka一vanagh,thisisindeeda
compliment.
“itdoes,”iwhisper,andbecausei’veprobablyhadtoomuchtodrink,tears
prickthebackofmyeyes.couldibeanyhappier?inspiteofallhis
baggage,hisnature,hisfiftyness,iha一vemetandmarriedthe191|page
fiftyshadesfreed
manofmydreams.iquicklychangethesubjecttostemmysentimental
thoughts,becauseiknowiwillcryotherwise.
“iha一vereallyenjoyedthisevening.”igraspkate’shand.“thankyoufor
draggingmeout!”wehug.asshereleasesme,inodatsawyerandhe
handsprescottthekeystothecar.
“i’msuremissgoody-two-shoesprescotthastoldchristiani’mnotat
home.he’llbemad,”imuttertokate.andmaybehe’llthinkofsome
deliciouswaytopunishme...hopefully.
“whyareyougrinninglikealoon,ana?youlikemakingchristianmad?”
“no.notreally.butit’seasilydone.he’sverycontrollingsometimes.”mostof
thetime.
“i’venoticed,”katesayswryly.
wepullupoutsidekate’sapartment.shehugsmehard.
“don’tbeastranger,”shewhispersandkissesmycheek.thenshe’soutof
thecar.iwa一ve,feelingstrangelyhomesick.iha一vemissedgirltalk.it’sfunand
relaxing,andremindsmethati’mstillyoung.imustmakemoreofaneffortto
seekate,butthetruthis,ilovebeinginmybubblewithchristian.lastnight
weattendedacharitydinnertogether.thereweresomanymeninsuitsand
well-groomedelegantwomentalkingaboutrealestatepricesandthefailing
economyandtheplungingstockmarkets.imean,itwasdull,reallydull.so
it’srefreshingtoletmyhairdownwithsomeonemyownage.mystomach
rumbles.jeez,istillha一ven’teaten.shit—christian!iscramblethroughmy
purseandfishoutmyblackberry.holycrap—
fivemissedcalls!onetext...
*wherethehellareyou?*
andonee-mail.
from:christiangrey
subject:angry.you’venotseenangry
date:august26,201100:42est
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eljames
to:anastasiagrey
anastasia
sawyertellsmethatyouaredrinkingcocktailsinabarwhenyousaidyou
wouldn’t.
doyouha一veanyideahowmadiamatthemoment?
i’lseeyoutomorrow.
christiangrey
ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.
myheartsinks.ohshit!ireallyamintrouble.mysubconsciousglaresatme,
thenshrugs,wearingheryou-made-your-bed-you-lie-in-itface.whatdidi
expect?icontemplatecallinghim,butit’slateandhe’sprobablyasleep...
orpacing.idecideaquicktextmaybeenough.
*i’mstillinonepiece.ihadanicetime.missing
you—pleasedon’tbemad*
igazeatmyblackberry,willinghimtorespond,butit’sominouslysilent.i
sigh.
prescottpullsupoutsideescalaandsawyergetsouttoholdthedooropen
forme.aswestandwaitingfortheelevator,itaketheopportunitytoquiz
him.
“whattimedidchristiancallyou?”
sawyerflushes.“aboutninethirty,ma’am.”
“whydidn’tyouinterruptmyconversationwithkatesoicouldspeakwith
him?”
“mr.greytoldmenotto.”
ipursemylips.theelevatorarrives,andwerideupinsilence.i’msuddenly
gratefulthatchristianhasawholenighttorecoverfromhissnit-fit,andthat
he’sontheothersideofthecountry.itgivesmesometime.ontheother
hand...imisshim.
thedoorstotheelevatoropen,andforasplitsecondistareatthefoyer
table.whatiswrongwiththispicture?thevaseofflowerslies193|page
fiftyshadesfreed
smashedintofragmentsalloverthefloorofthefoyer,waterandflowersand
chunksofchinaarestrewneverywhere,andthetableisoverturned.sawyer
grabsmyarmandpullsmebackintotheelevator.
“staythere,”hehisses,drawingagun.hestepsintothefoyerand
disappearsfrommyfieldofvision.
ohno!icowerinthebackoftheelevator.what’sgoingon?
“luke!”ihearryancallfrominsidethegreatroom.“codeblue!”
codeblue?
“youha一vetheperp?”sawyercallsback.“jesush.christ!”
iflattenmyselfagainsttheelevatorwall.whatthehellishappening?
adrenalinespikesthroughmybody,andmyheartleapsintomythroat.ihear
softvoices,andamomentlatersawyerreappearsinthefoyer,standingin
thepuddleofwater.hereholstershisgun.
“youcancomein,mrs.grey,”hesaysgently.
“what’shappened,luke?”myvoiceisbarelyawhisper.
“we’vehadavisitor.”hetakesmyelbow,andi’mgratefulforthesupport—
mylegsha一veturnedtojelly.iwalkwithhimthroughtheopendoubledoors.
ryanisstandingattheentranceofthegreatroom.acutabovehiseyeis
bleeding,andthere’sanotheronhismouth.helooksroughedup,hisclothes
disheveled.butwhat’smoreshockingismr.jackhydeslumpedathisfeet.
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eljames