Chapter 51
He sighs heavily, sadly.
"I know, Ana. I just thought, if I kissed you, it might change how you feel."
"Jose, I love you dearly, you mean so much to me. You''re like the brother I never had.
That''s not going to change. You know that." I hate to let him down, but it''s the truth.
"So you''re with him now?" His tone is full of disdain.
"Jose, I''m not with anybody."
"But you spent the night with him."
"That''s none of your business!"
"Is it the money?"
"Jose! How dare you!" I shout, staggered by his audacity.
"Ana," he whines and apologizes simultaneously. I cannot deal with his petty jealousy now. I know he''s
hurt, but my te is overflowing dealing with Christian Grey.
"Maybe we can have a coffee or something tomorrow. I''ll call you." I am conciliatory.
He is my friend, and I''m very fond of him. But right now, I don''t need this.
"Tomorrow then. You''ll call?" The hope in his voice twists my heart.
"Yes... goodnight, Jose." I hang up, not waiting for his response.
"What was that all about?" Katherine demands, her hands on her hips. I decide honesty is the policy.
She''s looking more intractable than ever.
"He made a pass at me on Friday."
"JoseAnd Christian GreyAna, your pheromones must be working overtime. What was the stupid fool
thinking?" She shakes her head in disgust and returns to packing crates.
Forty-five minutester, we pause our packing for the house specialty, mysagna.
Kate opens a bottle of wine, and we sit amongst the boxes eating, quaffing cheap red wine, and
watching crap TV. This is normality. It''s so grounding and wee after thest forty-eight hours of...
Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.
madness. I eat my first unhurried, no nagging, peaceful meal in that time. What is it about him and food
Kate clears the dishes, and I finish packing up the living room. We are left with the couch, the TV, and
the dining table. What more could we needJust the kitchen and our bedrooms left to pack up, and we
have the rest of the week. Result!
The phone rings again. It''s Elliot. Kate winks at me and skips off to her bedroom like she''s fourteen. I
know that she should be writing her Valedictorian speech, but it seems Elliot is more important. What is
it about the Grey menWhat is it that makes them totally distracting, all-consuming, and irresistibleI take
another slug of wine.
I flick through the TV channels, but deep down I know I''m procrastinating. Burning a bright red hole in
the side of my purse is that contract. Do I have the strength and the wherewithal to read it tonight?
I put my head in my hands. Jose and Christian, they both want something from me.
Jose is easy to deal with. But Christian... Christian takes a whole different league of handling, of
understanding. Part of me wants to run and hide. What am I going to doHis burning gray eyes and that
intense smoldering staree into my mind''s eye, and my body tightens at the thought. I gasp. He''s
not even here, and I''m turned on. It just can''t be about sex, can itI recall his gentle banter this morning
at breakfast, his joy at my delight with the helicopter ride, him ying the piano - the sweet soulful oh-
so-sad music.
He''s such aplicated person. And now I have an insight as to why. A young man deprived of his
adolescence, sexually abused by some evil Mrs. Robinson figure... no wonder he''s old before his time.
My heart fills with sadness at the thought of what he must have been through. I''m too na?ve to know
exactly what, but the research should shed some light. But do I really want to knowDo I want to explore
this world I know nothing about?
It''s such a big step.
If I''d not met him, I''d still be sweetly and blissfully oblivious. My mind drifts tost night, and this
morning... and the incredible, sensual sexuality I''ve experienced. Do I want to say goodbye to thatNo!
Screams my subconscious... my inner goddess nods in silent zen-like agreement with her.
Kate wanders back into the living room, grinning from ear to ear. Perhaps she''s in love - I gape at her.
She''s never behaved like this.
"Ana, I''m off to bed. I''m pretty tired."
"Me too, Kate."
She hugs me.
"I''m d you''re back in one piece. There''s something about Christian," she adds quietly, apologetically.
I give her a small, reassuring smile - all the while thinking... How the hell does she know This is what
will make her a great journalist, her unfaltering intuition.
Collecting my purse, I wander listlessly into my bedroom. I am weary from all our carnal exertions of
thest day and from theplete and utter dilemma that I''m faced with. I sit on my bed and gingerly
extract the man envelope from the bag, turning it over and over in my hands. Do I really want to
know the extent of Christian''s depravityIt''s so daunting. I take a deep breath, and with my heart in my
throat, I rip open the envelope.
Chapter Eleven
There are several papers inside the envelope. I fish them out, my heart still pounding, and I sit back on
my bed and begin to read.
CONTRACT
Made this day_________ of 2011 ("The Commencement Date") BETWEEN
MR. CHRISTIAN GREY of 301 Esc, Seattle, WA 98889
("The Dominant")
MISS ANASTASIA STEELE of 1114 SW Green Street, Apartment 7, Haven Heights, Vancouver, WA
98888
("The Submissive")
THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS
1 The following are the terms of a binding contract between the Dominant and the Submissive.
FUNDAMENTAL TERMS
2 The fundamental purpose of this contract is to allow the Submissive to explore her sensuality and her
limits safely, with due respect and regard for her needs, her limits and her wellbeing.
3 The Dominant and the Submissive agree and acknowledge that all that urs under the terms of this
contract will be consensual, confidential, and subject to the agreed limits and safety procedures set out
in this contract. Additional limits and safety procedures may be agreed in writing.
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