just want to know you’re okay, Ana,” she whispers.

“I’m fine, Kate. More than fine. Please, Christian and I are good, really good—this is

old news. Please ignore it.”

“Ignore it?” she says. “How can I ignore that? What’s he done to you?” And her green

eyes are so full of heartfelt concern.

“He hasn’t done anything to me, Kate. Honestly—I’m good.”

She blinks at me.

“Really?” she asks.

Christian wraps an arm around me and draws me close, not taking his eyes off Kate.

“Ana has consented to be my wife, Katherine,” he says quietly.

“Wife!” Kate squeaks, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“We’re getting married. We’re going to announce our engagement this evening,” he

says.“Oh!” Kate gapes at me. She’s stunned. “I leave you alone for sixteen days, and this

happens? It’s very sudden. So yesterday, when I said—” She gazes at me, lost. “Where

does that e-mail fit into all this?”

“It doesn’t, Kate. Forget it—please. I love him and he loves me. Don’t do this. Don’t

ruin his party and our night,” I whisper. She blinks and unexpectedly her eyes are shining

with tears.

“No. Of course I won’t. You’re okay?” She wants reassurance.

“I’ve never been happier,” I whisper. She reaches forward and grabs my hand regard-

less of Christian’s arm wrapped around me.

“You really are okay?” she asks hopefully.

“Yes.” I grin at her, my joy returning. She’s back onside. She smiles at me, my happi-

ness reflecting back on her. I step out of Christian’s hold, and she hugs me suddenly.

“Oh, Ana—I was so worried when I read this. I didn’t know what to think. Will you

explain it to me?” she whispers.

“One day, not now.”

“Good. I won’t tell anyone. I love you so much, Ana, like my own sister. I just

thought . . . I didn’t know what to think. I’m sorry. If you’re happy, then I’m happy.” She

looks directly at Christian and repeats her apology. He nods at her, his eyes glacial, and his

expression does not change. Oh shit, he’s still mad.

“I really am sorry. You’re right, it’s none of my business,” she whispers to me.

There’s a knock on the door that startles Kate and I apart. Grace pokes her head around.

“Everything okay, darling?” she asks Christian.

“Everything’s fine, Mrs. Grey,” Kate says immediately.

“Fine, Mom,” Christian says.

“Good.” Grace enters. “Then you won’t mind if I give my son a birthday hug.” She

beams at both of us. He hugs her tightly and thaws immediately.

“Happy birthday, darling,” she says softly, closing her eyes in his embrace. “I’m so

glad you’re still with us.”

“Mom, I’m fine.” Christian smiles down at her. She pulls back, looks at him closely,

and grins.

“I’m so happy for you,” she says and caresses his face.

He grins at her—his thousand megawatt smile.

She knows! When did he tell her?

“Well, kids, if you’ve all finished your tête-à-tête, there’s a throng of people here to

check that you really are in one piece, Christian, and to wish you a happy birthday.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Grace glances anxiously at Kate and me and seems reassured by our smiles. She winks

at me as she holds the door open for us. Christian holds out his hand to me and I take it.

“Christian, I really do apologize,” Kate says humbly. Humble Kate is something to

behold. Christian nods at her, and we follow her out.

In the hallway, I gaze anxiously up at Christian. “Does your mother know about us?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” And to think our evening could have been derailed by the tenacious Miss Ka-

vanagh. I shudder at the thought—the ramifications of Christian’s lifestyle revealed to all.

Holy cow.

“Well, that was an interesting start to the evening.” I smile sweetly at him. He glances

down at me—and it’s back, his amused look. Thank heavens.

“As ever, Miss Steele, you have a gift for understatement.” He raises my hand to his

lips and kisses my knuckles as we walk into the living room to a sudden, spontaneous, and

deafening round of applause.

Crap.How many people are here?

I scan the room quickly: all the Greys, Ethan with Mia, Dr. Flynn and his wife, I as-

sume. There’s Mac from the boat, a tall, handsome African American—I remember seeing

him in Christian’s office the first time I met Christian—Mia’s bitchy friend Lily, two wom-

en I don’t recognize at all, and . . . Oh no.My heart sinks. Thatwoman . . . Mrs. Robinson.

Gretchen materializes with a tray of champagne. She’s in a low-cut black dress, no

pigtails but an updo, flushing and fluttering her eyelashes at Christian. The applause dies

down, and Christian squeezes my hand as all eyes turn to him expectantly.

“Thank you, everyone. Looks like I’ll need one of these.” He grabs two drinks off

Gretchen’s tray and gives her a brief smile. I think Gretchen’s going to expire or swoon.

He hands a glass to me.

Christian raises his glass to the rest of the room, and immediately everyone surges for-

ward. Leading the charge is the evil woman in black. Does she ever wear any other color?

“Christian, I was so worried.” Elena gives him a brief hug and kisses both his cheeks.

He doesn’t let me go despite the fact I try to free my hand.

“I’m good, Elena,” Christian mutters coolly.

“Why didn’t you call me?” Her plea is desperate, her eyes searching his.

“I’ve been busy.”

“Didn’t you get my messages?”

Christian shifts uncomfortably and pulls me closer, putting his arm around me. His

face remains impassive as he regards Elena. She can no longer ignore me, so she nods

politely in my direction.

“Ana,” she purrs. “You look lovely, dear.”

“Elena,” I purr back. “Thank you.”

I catch Grace’s eye. She frowns, watching the three of us.

“Elena, I need to make an announcement,” Christian says, eyeing her dispassionately.

Her clear blue eyes cloud. “Of course.” She fakes a smile and steps back.

“Everyone,” Christian calls. He waits for a moment until the buzz in the room dies

down and all eyes are once more on him.

“Thank you for coming today. I have to say I was expecting a quiet family dinner, so

this is a pleasant surprise.” He stares pointedly at Mia, who grins and gives him a little

wave. Christian shakes his head in exasperation and continues.

“Ros and I”—he acknowledges the red-haired woman standing nearby with a small

bubbly blonde—“we had a close call yesterday.”

Oh, that’s the Ros that works with him. She grins and raises her glass to him. He nods

back at her.

“So I’m especially glad to be here today to share with all of you my very good news.

This beautiful woman”—he glances down at me—“Miss Anastasia Rose Steele, has con-

sented to be my wife, and I’d like you to be the first to know.”

There are general gasps of astonishment, the odd cheer, and then a round of applause!

Jeez—this is really happening. I think I am the color of Kate’s dress. Christian grasps my

chin, lifts my lips to his, and kisses me quickly.

“You’ll soon be mine.”

“I am already,” I whisper.

“Legally,” he mouths at me and gives me a wicked grin.

Lily, who is standing beside Mia, looks crestfallen; Gretchen looks like she’s eaten

something nasty and bitter. As I glance anxiously around at the assembled crowd, I catch

sight of Elena. Her mouth is open. She’s stunned—horrified even, and I can’t help a small

but intense feeling of satisfaction to see her dumbstruck. What the hell is she doing here,

anyway?

Carrick and Grace interrupt my uncharitable thoughts, and soon I am being hugged and

kissed and passed around by all the Greys.