She’s startled. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Grey. I didn’t hear you arrive. Can I get you some coffee?”
“Yes. You may. A macchiato.”
I shut my office door and, at my desk, switch on my computer. There’s an e-mail from the Saab dealership: Ana’s car will arrive today. I forward the e-mail to Taylor so he can organize delivery, thinking that it will be a nice surprise for Ana this evening. Next, I e-mail Ana.
* * *
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Boss
Date: June 13 2011 08:24
To: Anastasia Steele
Good morning, Miss Steele
I just wanted to say thank you for a wonderful weekend in spite of all the drama.
I hope you never leave, ever.
And just to remind you that the news of SIP is embargoed for four weeks.
Delete this e-mail as soon as you’ve read it.
Yours
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc. & your boss’s boss’s boss
I check Andrea’s notes. The replacement’s name is Montana Brooks. She knocks and brings in my coffee.
“Ros Bailey is running a little late, but Vanessa Conway is here.”
“Let her wait for Ros.”
“Yes, Mr. Grey.”
“I need some ideas for wedding presents.”
Ms. Brooks looks taken aback. “Well, it depends how well you know the person and how much you’d like to spend and—”
I don’t need a lecture. I hold up my hand. “Write them down. It’s for my PA.”
“Does she have a bridal registry?”
“A what?”
“A bridal registry at a store?”
“I don’t know. Find out.”
“Yes, Mr. Grey.”
“That will be all.”
She leaves. Thank God Andrea’s back tomorrow.
Welch’s report on Jack Hyde is in my inbox. While I wait for Ros, I take the opportunity to look it over.
MY MEETING WITH ROS and Vanessa is brief. Vanessa and her team are conducting a thorough audit of all our supply chains, and they are proposing we source our cassiterite and wolframite from Bolivia and our tantalum from Australia to avoid the conflict mineral problem. It will be more expensive but will keep us on the right side of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. And it’s what we, as a company, should be doing.
When they leave, I check my e-mail. There’s one from Ana.
* * *
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Bossy
Date: June 13 2011 09:03
To: Christian Grey
Dear Mr. Grey
Are you asking me to move in with you? And, of course, I remembered that the evidence of your epic stalking capabilities is embargoed for another four weeks. Do I make a check out to Coping Together and send to your dad? Please don’t delete this e-mail. Please respond to it.
ILY xxx
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Jack Hyde, Editor, SIP
Am I asking her to move in with me?
Shit.
Grey, this is a bold, sudden move.
I could look after her. Full-time.
She’d be mine. Really mine.
And deep down I know there is only one answer.
A resounding yes.
I ignore all her other questions and respond.
* * *
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Me, Bossy?
Date: June 13 2011 09:07
To: Anastasia Steele
Yes. Please.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
While I wait for her response I read through the rest of the report on Jack Hyde. On the surface, his background check seems fine. He’s successful and earns a decent salary. He’s from humble beginnings and seems bright and ambitious, but there’s something unusual about his career path. Who, in publishing, starts in New York, then works at various publishers across the U.S., ending up in Seattle?
It makes no sense.
He doesn’t seem to have had any long-term relationships, and he never keeps an assistant for more than three months.
That means Ana’s time with him is limited.
* * *
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Flynnisms
Date: June 13 2011 09:20
To: Christian Grey
Christian
What happened to walking before we run?
Can we talk about this tonight, please?
I’ve been asked to go to a conference in New York on Thursday.
It means an overnight stay on Wednesday.
Just thought you should know.
A x
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Jack Hyde, Editor, SIP
She doesn’t want to move in with me. This is not the news I wanted.
What did you expect, Grey?
At least she wants to discuss it this evening, so there’s hope. But then she also wants to fuck off to New York.
Well, that sucks.
I wonder if this is a conference on her own.
Or with Hyde?
* * *
From: Christian Grey
Subject: WHAT?
Date: June 13 2011 09:21
To: Anastasia Steele
Yes. Let’s talk this evening.
Are you going on your own?
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
Jack Hyde must be a prick to work for if he doesn’t keep an assistant for more than three months. I know I’m an asshole, but Andrea’s worked for me for nearly a year and a half.
I didn’t know she was getting married.
Yes. That’s pissed me off, but before her there was Helena. She was with me for two years, and now she works in HR, recruiting our engineers.
While I wait for Ana’s answer, I read the final page of the report.
And there it is. Three hushed-up harassment claims at his previous publishers and two official warnings at SIP.
Three?
He’s a fucking creep. I knew it. Why wasn’t this in his employee file?
He was all over Ana at the bar. Invading her space. Like the photographer.
* * *
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: No Bold Shouty Capitals on a Monday Morning!
Date: June 13 2011 09:30
To: Christian Grey
Can we talk about this tonight?
A x
Anastasia Steele
Assistant to Jack Hyde, Editor, SIP
Evasive, Miss Steele.
It’s a trip with him.
I know it.
She looked sensational this morning.
He’s planned it, I bet.
* * *
From: Christian Grey
Subject: You Haven’t Seen Shouty Yet.
Date: June 13 2011 09:35
To: Anastasia Steele
Tell me.
If it’s with the sleazeball you work with, then the answer is no, over my dead body.
Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.
I hit send and then buzz Ros.
“Christian,” she answers immediately.
“There’s a lot of unnecessary expenditure at SIP. They’re hemorrhaging money and we need to put a stop to it. I want a moratorium on all nonessential peripheral spending. Travel. Hotels. Hospitality. All the T&E. Especially for junior staff. You know the drill.”
“Really? I don’t think we’ll save much money.”
“Just call Roach. Make it happen. Immediately.”
“What’s brought this on?”
“Just do it, Ros.”
She sighs. “If you insist. Do you want me to add it to the contract?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks.” I hang up.
There. Now, that should put a stop to Ana and New York. Besides, I’d like to take her there myself. She told me yesterday that she’s never been there.
There’s a ping and Ana has responded.
* * *
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: No YOU haven’t seen shouty yet.
Date: June 13 2011 09:46
To: Christian Grey
Yes. It is with Jack.