Fifty Shades Darker (book 5) novel Chapter 102

“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, congratulations. 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 recommend 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 replay 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 it lasts.

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 BlackBerry.

Sarah brings me my coffee and I open the latest 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 my command.

Love that you are giggling and wet.

Laters, baby.

x

Christian Grey