she’s fourteen. I know that she should be writing her Valedictorian speech, but it seems El-

liot is more important. What is it about the Grey men? What is it that makes them totally

distracting, all-consuming, and irresistible? I 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. José and Christian, they both want something from me.

José is easy to deal with. But Christian… Christian takes a whole different league of han-

dling, of understanding. Part of me wants to run and hide. What am I going to do? His

burning gray eyes and that intense smoldering stare come 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 it? I recall his gentle banter this morning at breakfast, his joy at my delight with

the helicopter ride, him playing the piano – the sweet soulful oh-so-sad music.

He’s such a complicated 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 naïve to know exactly what, but the research should shed some

light. But do I really want to know? Do 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 to last

night, and this morning… and the incredible, sensual sexuality I’ve experienced. Do I

want to say goodbye to that? No!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 glad you’re back in one piece. There’s something about Christian,” she adds qui-

etly, 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 the last day and from the complete and utter dilemma that I’m faced

with. I sit on my bed and gingerly extract the manila envelope from the bag, turning it over

and over in my hands. Do I really want to know the extent of Christian’s depravity? It’s

so daunting. I take a deep breath, and with my heart in my throat, I rip open the envelope.

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 Escala, 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 occurs 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 pro-

cedures may be agreed in writing.

4 The Dominant and the Submissive each warrant that they suffer from no sexual,

serious, infectious or life-threatening illnesses including but not limited to HIV, Her-

pes and Hepatitis. If during the Term (as defined below) or any extended term of this

contract either party should be diagnosed with or become aware of any such illness he

or she undertakes to inform the other immediately and in any event prior to any form

of physical contact between the parties.

5 Adherence to the above warranties, agreements and undertakings (and any addition-

al limits and safety procedures agreed under clause 3 above) are fundamental to this

contract. Any breach shall render it void with immediate effect and each party agrees

to be fully responsible to the other for the consequence of any breach.

6 Everything in this contract must be read and interpreted in the light of the fundamen-

tal purpose and the fundamental terms set out in clauses 2-5 above.

ROLES

7 The Dominant shall take responsibility for the wellbeing and the proper training,

guidance, and discipline of the Submissive. He shall decide the nature of such train-

ing, guidance, and discipline and the time and place of its administration, subject to

the agreed terms, limitations and safety procedures set out in this contract or agreed

additionally under clause 3 above.

8 If at any time the Dominant should fail to keep to the agreed terms, limitations and

safety procedures set out in this contract or agreed additionally under clause 3 above

the Submissive is entitled to terminate this contract forthwith and to leave the service

of the Dominant without notice.

9 Subject to that proviso and to clauses 2-5 above the Submissive is to serve and obey

the Dominant in all things. Subject to the agreed terms, limitations and safety pro-

cedures set out in this contract or agreed additionally under clause 3 above she shall

without query or hesitation offer the Dominant such pleasure as he may require and

she shall accept without query or hesitation his training, guidance and discipline in

whatever form it may take.

COMMENCEMENT AND TERM

10 The Dominant and Submissive enter into this contract on The Commencement Date

fully aware of its nature and undertake to abide by its conditions without exception.

11 This contract shall be effective for a period of three Calendar Months from The

Commencement Date (“The Term”). On the expiry of The Term the parties shall dis-

cuss whether this contract and the arrangements they have made under this contract are

satisfactory and whether the needs of each party have been met. Either party may pro-

pose the extension of this contract subject to adjustments to its terms, or to the arrange-

ments they have made under it. In the absence of agreement to such extension this

contract shall terminate and both parties shall be free to resume their lives separately.

AVAILABILITY

12 The Submissive will make herself available to the Dominant from Friday evenings

through to Sunday afternoons each week during the Term at times to be specified by

the Dominant (“the Allotted Times”). Further allocated time can be mutually agreed

on an ad hoc basis.

13 The Dominant reserves the right to dismiss the Submissive from his service at any

time and for any reason. The Submissive may request her release at any time, such

request to be granted at the discretion of the Dominant subject only to the Submissive’s