Fifty Shades Freed (38 page)

It’s one o’clock and I’ve managed to immerse myself in work all morning. There’s a knock and Elizabeth pops her head around the door.

“Can I have a moment?” she asks brightly.

“Sure,” I mutter, surprised at her unscheduled visit.

She enters and sits down, tossing her long black hair over her shoulder. “I just wanted to check you’re okay. Roach asked me to pay you a visit,” she adds hurriedly as her face reddens. “I mean with all that went on last night.”

Jack Hyde’s arrest is all over the newspapers, but no one seems to have made the connection yet with the fire at GEH.

“I’m fine,” I answer, trying not to think too deeply about how I feel. Jack wanted to harm me. Well, that’s not news. He’s tried before. It’s Christian I’m more concerned about.

I glance quickly at my e-mail. There’s still nothing from him. I don’t know if I were to send him an e-mail, whether I’d just be provoking Mr. Burning Rage further.

“Good,” Elizabeth answers, and her smile actually touches her eyes for a change. “If there’s anything I can do—anything you need—let me know.”

“Will do.”

Elizabeth stands. “I know how busy you are, Ana. I’ll let you get back to it.”

“Um . . . thanks.”

That has to have been the briefest most pointless meeting in the Western Hemisphere today. Why did Roach send her here? Perhaps he’s worried, given I’m his boss’s wife. I shake off the dark thoughts and reach for my BlackBerry in the hope that there might be a message from Christian. As I do, my work e-mail pings.

From:
Christian Grey

Subject:
Statement

Date:
August 26, 2011 13:04

To:
Anastasia Grey

Anastasia
Detective Clark will be visiting your office today at 3 pm to take your statement.
I have insisted that he should come to you, as I don’t want you going to the police station.

Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

I gaze at his e-mail for a full five minutes, trying to think of a light and witty response to lift his mood. I draw a complete blank, and opt for brevity instead.

From:
Anastasia Grey

Subject:
Statement

Date:
August 26, 2011 13:12

To:
Christian Grey

Okay.
A x

Anastasia Grey
Commissioning Editor, SIP

I stare at the screen for another five minutes, anxious for his response but there’s nothing. Christian is not in the mood to play today.

I sit back. Can I blame him? My poor Fifty was probably frantic, back in the early hours of this morning. Then a thought occurs to me. He was in his tux when I woke this morning. What time did he decide to come back from New York? He normally leaves functions between ten and eleven. Last night at that hour, I was still at large with Kate.

Did Christian come home because I was out or because of the Jack incident? If he left because I was out having a good time, he would have had no idea about Jack, about the police, nothing—until he landed in Seattle. It’s suddenly very important to me to find out. If Christian came back merely because I was out, then he was overreacting. My subconscious sucks her teeth, wearing her harpy face. Okay, I’m glad he’s back, so maybe it’s irrelevant. But still—Christian must have had one hell of a shock when he landed. No wonder he’s so confused today. His earlier words come back to me.
“I am still fucking mad at you, Anastasia. You’re making me question my judgment.”

I have to know—did he come back because of Cocktailgate or because of the fucking lunatic?

From:
Anastasia Grey

Subject:
Your Flight

Date:
August 26, 2011 13:24

To:
Christian Grey

What time did you decide to come back to Seattle yesterday?

Anastasia Grey
Commissioning Editor, SIP

From:
Christian Grey

Subject:
Your flight

Date:
August 26, 2011 13:26

To:
Anastasia Grey

Why?

Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

From:
Anastasia Grey

Subject:
Your Flight

Date:
August 26, 2011 13:29

To:
Christian Grey

Call it curiosity.

Anastasia Grey
Commissioning Editor, SIP

From:
Christian Grey

Subject:
Your flight

Date:
August 26, 2011 13:32

To:
Anastasia Grey

Curiosity killed the cat.

Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

From:
Anastasia Grey

Subject:
Huh?

Date:
August 26, 2011 13:35

To:
Christian Grey

What is that oblique reference to? Another threat?
You know where I am going with this, don’t you?
Did you decide to return because I went out for a drink with my friend after you asked me not to, or did you return because a madman was in your apartment?