Oh no—Mia! In all the excitement I have forgotten about our lunch. I fish out my

Blackberry and try frantically to find her phone number.

My phone buzzes.

“It’s him, in reception.” Claire’s voice is hushed.

“Who?” For a moment, I think it might be Christian.

“The blond god.”

“Ethan?”

Oh, what does he want? I immediately feel guilty for not having called him.

Ethan, dressed in a checked blue shirt, white T-shirt, and jeans, beams at me when I

appear.

“Wow! You look hot, Steele,” he says, nodding appreciatively. He gives me a quick

hug.“Is everything okay?” I ask.

He frowns. “Everything’s fine, Ana. I just wanted to see you. I’ve not heard from you

in a while, and I wanted to check how Mr. Mogul was treating you.”

I flush and can’t help my smile.

“Okay!” Ethan exclaims, holding up his hands. “I can tell by the secret smile. I don’t

want to know any more. I came by on the off chance you could do lunch. I’m enrolling at

Seattle for psych courses in September. For my master’s.”

“Oh Ethan. So much has happened. I have a ton to tell you, but right now, I can’t. I have

a meeting.” An idea hits me hard. “And I wonder if you can do me a really, really, really big

favor?” I clasp my hands together in supplication.

“Sure,” he says, bemused by my pleading.

“I’m supposed to be having lunch with Christian and Elliot’s sister—but I can’t get

hold of her, and this meeting’s just been sprung on me. Please will you take her for lunch?

Please?”

“Aw, Ana! I don’t want to babysit some brat.”

“Please, Ethan.” I give him the biggest-bluest-longest-eye-lashed look that I can man-

age. He rolls his eyes and I know I’ve got him.

“You’ll cook me something?” he mutters.

“Sure, whatever, whenever.”

“So where is she?”

“She’s due here now.” And as if on cue, I hear her voice.

“Ana!” she calls from the front door.

We both turn, and there she is—all curvaceous and tall with her sleek black bob—

wearing a short mint-green minidress and matching high-heeled pumps with straps around

her slim ankles. She looks stunning.

“The brat?” he whispers, gaping at her.

“Yes. The brat that needs babysitting,” I whisper back. “Hi, Mia.” I give her a quick

hug as she stares rather blatantly at Ethan.

“Mia—this is Ethan, Kate’s brother.”

He nods, his eyebrows raised in surprise. Mia blinks several times as she gives him

her hand.

“Delighted to meet you,” Ethan murmurs smoothly and Mia blinks again—silent for

once. She blushes.

Holy cow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her blush.

“I can’t make lunch,” I say lamely. “Ethan has agreed to take you, if that’s okay? Can

we have a rain check?”

“Sure,” she says quietly. Mia quiet, this is novel.

“Yeah, I’ll take it from here. Laters, Ana,” Ethan says, offering Mia his arm. She ac-

cepts it with a shy smile.

“Bye, Ana.” Mia turns to me and mouths, “Oh. My. God!” giving me an exaggerated

wink. Jeez . . . she likes him!I wave at them as they leave the building. I wonder what Chris-

tian’s attitude is about his sister dating? The thought makes me uneasy. She’s my age, so

he can’t object, can he?

This is Christian we’re dealing with.My snarky subconscious is back, hatchet-mouthed,

cardigan and purse in the crook of her arm. I shake off the image. Mia is a grown woman

and Christian can be reasonable, can’t he? I dismiss the thought and head back to Jack’s . . .

er . . . my office to prep for the meeting.

It’s three thirty when I return. The meeting went well. I have even secured approval to

progress the two manuscripts I was championing. It’s a heady feeling.

On my desk is an enormous wicker basket crammed with stunning white and pale pink

roses. Wow—the fragrance alone is heavenly. I smile as I pick up the card. I know who

sent them.

Congratulations, Miss Steele

And all on your own!

No help from your overfriendly, neighborhood, megalomaniac CEO

Love

Christian

I pick up my Blackberry to e-mail him.

From:Anastasia Steele

Subject:Megalomaniac . . .

Date:June 16, 2011 15:43

To:Christian Grey

. . . is my favorite type of maniac. Thank you for the beautiful flowers. They’ve arrived in a

huge wicker basket that makes me think of picnics and blankets.

x

From:Christian Grey

Subject:Fresh Air

Date:June 16, 2011 15:55

To:Anastasia Steele

Maniac, eh? Dr. Flynn may have something to say about that.

You want to go on a picnic?

We could have fun in the great outdoors, Anastasia . . .

How is your day going, baby?

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

Oh my. I flush reading his response.

From:Anastasia Steele

Subject:Hectic

Date:June 16, 2011 16:00

To:Christian Grey

The day has flown by. I have hardly had a moment to myself to think about anything other

than work. I think I can do this! I’ll tell you more when I’m home.

Outdoors sounds . . . interesting.

Love you.

A x

PS: Don’t worry about Dr. Flynn.

My phone buzzes. It’s Claire from reception, desperate to know who sent the flowers and

what happened to Jack. Holed up in the office all day, I have missed the gossip. I tell her

quickly that the flowers are from my boyfriend and that I know very little about Jack’s de-

parture. My Blackberry buzzes and I have another e-mail from Christian.

From:Christian Grey

Subject:I’ll try . . .

Date:June 16, 2011 16:09

To:Anastasia Steele

. . . not to worry.

Laters, baby. x

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

At five thirty, I pack up my desk. I can’t believe how quickly the day has gone. I have to get

back to Escala and prepare to meet Dr. Flynn. I haven’t even had time to think of questions.

Perhaps today we can have an initial meeting, and maybe Christian will let me see him

again. I shrug off the thought as I dash out of the office, waving a quick good-bye to Claire.

I’ve also got Christian’s birthday to think about. I know what I’m going to give him.

I’d like him to have it tonight before we meet Flynn, but how? Beside the parking lot is a

small store selling touristy trinkets. Inspiration hits me and I duck inside.

Christian is on his Blackberry, standing and staring out the glass wall as I enter the great

room half an hour later. Turning, he beams at me and wraps up his call.

“Ros, that’s great. Tell Barney and we’ll go from there . . . Good-bye.”

He strides over to me as I stand shyly in the entryway. He’s changed now into a white

T-shirt and jeans, all bad boy and smoldering. Whoa.

“Good evening, Miss Steele,” he murmurs and he bends to kiss me. “Congratulations

on your promotion.” He wraps his arms around me. He smells delicious.

“You’ve showered.”

“I’ve just had a work-out with Claude.”

“Oh.”

“Managed to knock him on his ass twice.” Christian beams, boyish and pleased with

himself. His grin is infectious.

“That doesn’t happen often?”

“No. Very satisfying when it does. Hungry?”

I shake my head.