Chapter 6
"Ana! You''re back." Kate sits in our living area, surrounded by books. She''s clearly been studying for
finals - though she''s still in her pink nnel pajamas decorated with cute little rabbits, the ones she
reserves for the aftermath of breaking up with boyfriends, for assorted illnesses, and for general moody
depression. She bounds up to me and hugs me hard.
"I was beginning to worry. I expected you back sooner."
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"Oh, I thought I made good time considering the interview ran over." I wave the mini-disc recorder at
her.
"Ana, thank you so much for doing this. I owe you, I know. How was itWhat was he like?" Oh no - here
we go, the Katherine Kavanagh Inquisition.
I struggle to answer her question. What can I say?
"I''m d it''s over, and I don''t have to see him again. He was rather intimidating, you know." I shrug.
"He''s very focused, intense even - and young. Really young."
Kate gazes innocently at me. I frown at her.
"Don''t you look so innocent. Why didn''t you give me a biographyHe made me feel like such an idiot for
skimping on basic research." Kate mps a hand to her mouth.
"Jeez, Ana, I''m sorry - I didn''t think."
I huff.
"Mostly he was courteous, formal, slightly stuffy - like he''s old before his time. He doesn''t talk like a
man of twenty-something. How old is he anyway?"
"Twenty-seven. Jeez, Ana, I''m sorry. I should have briefed you, but I was in such a panic. Let me have
the mini-disc, and I''ll start transcribing the interview."
"You look better. Did you eat your soup?" I ask, keen to change the subject.
"Yes, and it was delicious as usual. I''m feeling much better." She smiles at me in gratitude. I check my
watch.
"I have to run. I can still make my shift at yton''s."
"Ana, you''ll be exhausted."
"I''ll be fine. I''ll see youter."
I''ve worked at yton''s since I started at WSU. It''s thergest independent hardware store in the
Pornd area, and over the four years I''ve worked here, I''vee to know a little bit about most
everything we sell - although ironically, I''m crap at any DIY. I leave all that to my dad. I''m much more of
a curl-up-with-a-book-in-afy-chair-by-the-fire kind of girl. I''m d I can make my shift as it gives
me something to focus on that isn''t Christian Grey. We''re busy - it''s the start of the summer season,
and folks are redecorating their homes. Mrs. yton is pleased to see me.
"Ana! I thought you weren''t going to make it today."
"My appointment didn''t take as long as I thought. I can do a couple of hours."
"I''m real pleased to see you."
She sends me to the storeroom to start re-stocking shelves, and I''m soon absorbed in the task.
When I arrive hometer, Katherine is wearing headphones and working on herptop.
Her nose is still pink, but she has her teeth into a story, so she''s concentrating and typing furiously. I''m
thoroughly drained - exhausted by the long drive, the grueling interview, and by being rushed off my
feet at yton''s. I slump on to the couch, thinking about the essay I have to finish and all the studying I
haven''t done today because I was holed up with ... him.
"You''ve got some good stuff here, Ana. Well done. I can''t believe you didn''t take him up on his offer to
show you around. He obviously wanted to spend more time with you."
She gives me a fleeting quizzical look.
I flush, and my heart rate inexplicably increases. That wasn''t the reason, surelyHe just wanted to show
me around so I could see that he was lord of all he surveyed. I realize I''m biting my lip, and I hope Kate
doesn''t notice. But she seems absorbed in her transcrip-tion."I hear what you mean about formal. Did
you take any notes?" she asks.
"Um... no, I didn''t."
"That''s fine. I can still make a fine article with this. Shame we don''t have some original stills. Good-
looking son of a bitch, isn''t he?"
I flush.
"I suppose so." I try hard to sound disinterested, and I think I seed.
"Ohe on, Ana - even you can''t be immune to his looks." She arches a perfect eyebrow at me.
Crap! I distract her with ttery, always a good ploy.
"You probably would have got a lot more out of him."
"I doubt that, Ana. Come on - he practically offered you a job. Given that I foisted this on you at thest
minute, you did very well." She nces up at me spectively. I make a hasty retreat into the kitchen.
"So what did you really think of him?" Damn, she''s inquisitive. Why can''t she just let this goThink of
something - quick.
"He''s very driven, controlling, arrogant - scary really, but very charismatic. I can understand the
fascination," I add truthfully, as I peer round the door at her hoping this will shut her up once and for all.
"You, fascinated by a manThat''s a first," she snorts.
I start gathering the makings of a sandwich so she can''t see my face.
"Why did you want to know if he was g*yIncidentally, that was the most embarrassing question. I was
mortified, and he was pissed to be asked too." I scowl at the memory.
"Whenever he''s in the society pages, he never has a date."
"It was embarrassing. The whole thing was embarrassing. I''m d I''ll never have toy eyes on him
again."
"Oh, Ana, it can''t have been that bad. I think he sounds quite taken with you."
Taken with me Now Kate''s being ridiculous.
"Would you like a sandwich?"
"Please."
We talk no more of Christian Grey that evening, much to my relief. Once we''ve eaten, I''m able to sit at
the dining table with Kate and, while she works on her article, I work on my essay on Tess of the
D''Urbervilles. Damn, but that woman was in the wrong ce at the wrong time in the wrong century. By
the time I finish, it''s midnight, and Kate has long since gone to bed. I make my way to my room,
exhausted, but pleased that I''ve aplished so much for a Monday.
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