me some slack. I race into the shower, unable to shake my face-splitting grin. He emailed
me.I’m like a small, giddy child. And all the contract angst fades. As I wash my hair, I
try and think what I could possibly ask him via email. Surely it’s better to talk these things
through. Suppose someone hacked into his account? I flush at the thought. I dress quickly,
shout a hasty goodbye to Kate, and I’m off to work my last week at Clayton’s.
José phones at eleven.
“Hey, are we doing coffee?” He sounds like the old José. José my friend, not a – what
did Christian call him? Suitor. Ugh.
“Sure. I’m at work. Can you make it here for say twelve?”
“See you then.”
He hangs up, and I go back to restocking the paintbrushes and thinking about Christian
Grey and his contract.
José is punctual. He comes bounding into the shop like a gamboling dark-eyed puppy.
“Ana,” he smiles his dazzling toothy all-Hispanic-American smile, and I can’t be an-
gry with him anymore.
“Hi José.” I hug him. “I’m starving. I’ll just let Mrs. Clayton know I’m going for
lunch.”
As we stroll to the local coffee shop, I slip my arm through José’s. I’m so grateful for his
– normality. Someone I know and understand.
“Hey Ana,” he murmurs. “You’ve really forgiven me?”
“José, you know I can never stay mad at you for long.”
He grins.
I can’t wait to get home. The lure of emailing Christian, and maybe I can begin my re-
search project. Kate is out somewhere, so I fire up the new laptop and open my email. Sure
enough, there’s an email from Christian sitting in the inbox. I’m practically bouncing out
of my seat with glee.
From:Christian Grey
Subject:Working for a living
Date:May 23 2011 17:24
To:Anastasia Steele
Dear Miss Steele
I do hope you had a good day at work.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.
I hit reply.
From:Anastasia Steele
Subject:Working for living
Date:May 23 2011 17:48
To:Christian Grey
Sir… I had a very good day at work.
Thank you.
Ana
From:Christian Grey
Subject:Do The Work!
Date:May 23 2011 17:50
To:Anastasia Steele
Miss Steele
Delighted you had a good day.
While you are emailing, you are not researching.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.
From:Anastasia Steele
Subject:Nuisance
Date:May 23 2011 17:53
To:Christian Grey
Mr. Grey, stop emailing me, and I can start my assignment.
I’d like another A.
Ana
I hug myself.
From:Christian Grey
Subject:Impatient
Date:May 23 2011 17:55
To:Anastasia Steele
Miss Steele
Stop emailing me– and do your assignment.
I’d like to award another A.
The first one was so well deserved. ;)
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.
Christian Grey just sent me a winking smiley… Oh my.I fire up Google.
From:Anastasia Steele
Subject:Internet Research
Date:May 23 2011 17:59
To:Christian Grey
Mr. Grey
What would you suggest I put into a search engine?
Ana
From:Christian Grey
Subject:Internet Research
Date:May 23 2011 18:02
To: Anastasia Steele
Miss Steele
Always start with Wikipedia.
No more emails unless you have questions. Understood?
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.
From:Anastasia Steele
Subject:Bossy!
Date:May 23 2011 18:04
To:Christian Grey
Yes… Sir.
You are so bossy.
Ana
From:Christian Grey
Subject:In Control
Date:May 23 2011 18:06
To:Anastasia Steele
Anastasia, you have no idea.
Well, maybe an inkling now.
Do the work.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.
I type Submissive into Wikipedia.
Half an hour later, I feel slight queasy and frankly shocked to my core. Do I really want
this stuff in my head? Jeez – is this what he gets up to in the Red Room of Pain? I sit
staring at the screen, and part of me, a very moist and integral part of me – that I’ve only
become acquainted with very recently, is seriously turned on. Oh my, some of this stuff is
HOT. But is it for me? Holy shit… could I do this? I need space. I need to think.
For the first time in my life, I voluntarily go for a run. I find my nasty, never-used sneakers,
some sweat pants, and a t-shirt. I put my hair in pigtails, blushing at the memories they
bring back, and I plug in my iPod. I can’t sit in front of that marvel of technology and look
at or read any more disturbing material. I need to expend some of this excess, enervating,
energy. Quite frankly, I have a mind to run to the Heathman hotel and just demand sex
from the control freak. But that’s five miles, and I don’t think I’ll be able to run one mile,
let alone five, and of course, he might turn me down which would be beyond humiliating.
Kate is walking from her car as I head out of the door. She nearly drops her shopping
when she sees me. Ana Steele in sneakers. I wave and don’t stop for the inquisition. I
need some serious alone time. Snow Patrol blaring in my ears, I set off into the opal and
aquamarine dusk.
I pace through the park. What am I going to do?I want him, but on his terms? I just
don’t know. Perhaps I should negotiate what I want. Go through that ridiculous contract
line by line and say what is acceptable and what isn’t. My research has told me that legally
it’s unenforceable. He must know that. I figure that it just sets up the parameters of the
relationship. It illustrates what I can expect from him and what he expects from me – my
total submission. Am I prepared to give him that? Am I even capable?
I am plagued by one question - why is he like this? Is it because he was seduced at such
a young age? I just don’t know. He’s still such a mystery.
I stop beside a large spruce and put my hands on my knees, breathing hard, dragging
precious air into my lungs. Oh, this feels good, cathartic. I can feel my resolve hardening.
Yes. I need to tell him what’s okay and what isn’t. I need to email him my thoughts, and
then we can discuss these on Wednesday. I take a deep cleansing breath, then jog back to