Chapter 102


    A+  A++


    “Yes, sir.”


    “Who’s the lucky guy?”


    “Damon Parker; he works in engineering.”


    “The Australian.”


    “He needs a green card. He’s on an H1 visa at the moment.”


    “I see.” A marriage of convenience. For some strange reason, I’m disappointed for and in her. She sees the


    censure on my face and hurries on.


    “That’s not the reason I married him. I love him,” she says in a most uncharacteristic way, and she blushes. The


    stain on her cheeks restores my faith in her.


    “Well, congrattions. Here you go.” I hand her the “happily ever after” card I signed yesterday and hope she


    doesn’t open it in front of me. “How’s married life so far?” I ask, to prevent her from doing just that.


    “I rmend it, sir.” She’s glowing. I recognize that look. It’s how I feel myself. And now I’m at a loss as to what


    to say.


    Andrea shifts back into work mode. “Shall we go through your schedule?” she asks.


    “Please.”


    MARRIAGE. I CONTEMPLATE THE institution when Andrea leaves. It obviously agrees with her. It’s what most


    women want. Isn’t it? I wonder what Ana would do if I asked her to marry me. I shake my head, feeling ambushed


    by the thought.


    Don’t be ridiculous, Grey.


    In my mind I rey this morning. I could wake up every day beside Anastasia Steele and I could close my eyes


    beside her every night.


    You’re smitten, Grey.


    You’ve got it bad.


    Enjoy this while itsts.


    I e-mail her.


    * * *


    From: Christian Grey


    Subject: Sunrise


    Date: June 14 2011 09:23


    To: Anastasia Steele


    I love waking up with you in the morning.


    Christian Grey


    Completely & Utterly Smitten CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.


    I grin when I press send.


    I hope she’ll read this on her ckBerry.


    Sarah brings me my coffee and I open thetest draft of the SIP agreement and start to read.


    My phone buzzes. It’s a text from Elena.


    ELENA


    Thank you for being so understanding.


    I ignore it and go back to my document. When I look up, there’s a response from Ana. I take a swig of coffee.


    * * *


    From: Anastasia Steele


    Subject: Sundown


    Date: June 14 2011 09:35


    To: Christian Grey


    Dear Completely & Utterly Smitten


    I love waking up with you, too. But I love being in bed with you and in elevators and on pianos and billiard tables


    and boats and desks and showers and bathtubs and strange wooden crosses with shackles and four-poster beds


    with red satin sheets and boathouses and childhood bedrooms.


    Yours


    Sex Mad and Insatiable xx


    Shit. Laughing and choking at the same time, I spit coffee onto my keyboard at “Sex Mad and Insatiable.” I can’t


    believe she’s written that in an e-mail. Fortunately, I have tissues left over from yesterday’s coffee fiasco.


    * * *


    From: Christian Grey


    Subject: Wet Hardware


    Date: June 14 2011 09:37


    To: Anastasia Steele


    Dear Sex Mad and Insatiable


    I’ve just spat coffee all over my keyboard.


    I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before.


    I do admire a woman who concentrates on geography.


    Am I to infer you just want me for my body?


    Christian Grey


    Completely & Utterly Shocked CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.


    I continue my read of the SIP agreement but don’t get very far before there’s a new e-mail from her.


    * * *


    From: Anastasia Steele


    Subject: Giggling—and wet too


    Date: June 14 2011 09:42


    To: Christian Grey


    Dear Completely & Utterly Shocked


    Always.


    I have work to do.


    Stop bothering me.


    SM&I xx


    * * *


    From: Christian Grey


    Subject: Do I have to?


    Date: June 14 2011 09:50


    To: Anastasia Steele


    Dear SM&I


    As ever, your wish is mymand.


    Love that you are giggling and wet.


    Laters, baby.


    x


    Christian Grey


    Completely & Utterly Smitten, Shocked, and Spellbound CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.


    LATER, I’M IN MY monthly meeting with Ros and Marco—my M&A guy—and his team. We’re going through a list


    ofpanies that Marco’s people have identified as potential targets for takeovers.


    He is discussing thest on the list. “They are floundering, but they have four patents pending, which might be


    useful in the fiber-optic division.”


    “Has Fred reviewed them?” I ask.


    “He’s excited,” Marco replies with an avaricious grin.


    “Let’s do it.”


    My phone buzzes and Ana’s name shes on my screen.


    “Excuse me,” I say as I pick up the phone. “Anastasia.”


    “Christian, Jack has asked me to get his lunch.”


    “Lazy bastard.”


    “So I’m going to get it. It might be handy if you gave me Sawyer’s number, so I don’t have to bother you.”


    “It’s no bother, baby.”


    “Are you on your own?”


    I look around the table. “No. There are six people staring at me right now wondering who the hell I’m talking to.”


    Everyone looks away.


    “Really?” she squeaks.


    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “Yes. Really,” I pause. “My girlfriend.” I tell the room. Ros shakes her head.


    “They probably all thought you were gay, you know.”


    Iugh as Ros and Marco exchange a look. “Yeah, probably.”


    “Er—I’d better go.”


    “I’ll let Sawyer know.” Iugh at the reactions around the table. “Have you heard from your friend?”


    “Not yet. You’ll be the first to know, Mr. Grey.”


    “Good. Laters, baby.”


    “Bye, Christian.”


    I get up. “I just need to make a quick call.”


    Outside the boardroom, I call Sawyer.


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