perhapstoconsidermyrequest.
“okay,”hesayscautiously.
ireachforthesecondbuttononhisshirtandhearhim
catchhisbreath.
“iwon’ttouchyouifyoudon’twantmeto,”iwhisper.
“no,”herespondsquickly.“do.it’sfine.i’mgood,”
hemutters.
igentlyundothebuttonandmyfingersglidedownhis
shirttothenext.hiseyesarelargeandluminous,hislips
partedashisbreathingshallows.heissobeautiful,evenin
hisfear...becauseofhisfear.iundothethirdbuttonand
noticehissofthairpokingthroughthelargevoftheshirt.
“iwanttokissyouthere,”imurmur.
heinhalessharply.“kissme?”
“yes,”imurmur.
hisgaspsasiundothenextbuttonandveryslowly
leanforward,makingmyintentionclear.he’sholdinghis
breath,butstandsstock-stillasiplantagentlekissamong
thesoft,exposedcurls.iundothefinalbuttonandliftmy
facetohim.he’sgazingatme,andthere’salookof
satisfaction,calm,and...wonderonhisface.
“it’sgettingeasier,isn’tit?”iwhisper.
henodsasislowlypushhisshirtoffhisshouldersand
letitfalltothefloor.
“whatha一veyoudonetome,ana?”hemurmurs.
“whatha一veyoudonetome,ana?”hemurmurs.
“whateveritis,don’tstop.”andhegathersmeinhis
arms,fistingbothhishandsinmyhairandpullingmyhead
rightbacksothathecanha一veeasyaccesstomythroat.
herunshislipsuptomyjaw,nippingsoftly.igroan.
oh,iwantthisman.myfingersfumbleathiswaistband,
undoingthebuttonandpullingdownthezipper.
“oh,baby,”hebreathesashekissesmebehindmy
ear.ifeelhiserection,firmandhard,strainingagainstme.
iwanthim—inmymouth.istepbackabruptlyanddrop
tomyknees.
“whoa?”hegasps.
itughispantsandboxerssharply,andhespringsfree.
beforehecanstopme,itakehimintomymouth,sucking
hard,enjoyinghisshockedastonishmentashismouth
dropsopen.hegazesdownatme,watchingmyevery
move,eyessodarkandfilledwithcarnalbliss.ohmy.i
sheathmyteethandsuckharder.hecloseshiseyesand
surrenderstothisblissfulcarnalpleasureissoarousing.i
knowwhatidotohim,andit’shedonistic,liberating,and
knowwhatidotohim,andit’shedonistic,liberating,and
sexyashell.thefeelingisheady,i’mnotjustpowerful—
i’momniscient.
“fuck,”hehissesandgentlycradlesmyhead,flexing
hishipssohemovesdeeperinsidemymouth.ohyes,i
wantthisandiswirlmytonguearoundhim,pulling
hard...overandover.
“ana.”hetriestostepback.
ohnoyoudon’t,grey.iwantyou.igrabhiships
firmly,doublingmyefforts,andicantellhe’sclose.
“please,”hepants.“i’mgonnacome,ana,”hegroans.
good.myinnergoddess’sheadisthrownbackin
ecstasy,andhecomes,loudlyandwetly,intomymouth.
heopenshisbrightgrayeyes,gazingdownatme,and
ismileupathim,lickingmylips.hegrinsbackatme,a
wicked,salaciousgrin.
“oh,sothisisthegamewe’replaying,misssteele?”
hebends,hookshishandsundermyarms,andpullsme
tomyfeet.suddenlyhismouthisonmine.hegroans.
“icantastemyself.youtastebetter,”hemurmurs
againstmylips.hetugsmyt-shirtoffandthrowsit
carelesslyontothefloor,thenpicksmeupandtossesme
ontothebed.grabbingtheendofmysweats,hetugs
abruptlysothattheycomeoffinoneswiftmove.i’m
nakedunderneath,sprawledacrosshisbed.waiting.
wanting.hiseyesdrinkmein,andslowlyheremoveshis
remainingclothes,nottakinghiseyesoffme.
“youareonebeautifulwoman,anastasia,”he
murmursappreciatively.
hmm...itiltmyheadcoquettishlytoonesideand
beamathim.
“youareonebeautifulman,christian,andyoutaste
mightyfine.”
hegivesmeawickedgrinandreachesforthe
spreaderbar.grabbingmyleftankle,hequicklycuffsit,
strappingthebuckletightly,butnottootight.hetestshow
muchroomiha一vebyslidinghislittlefingerbetweenthe
cuffandmyankle.hedoesn’ttakehiseyesoffmine;he
doesn’tneedtoseewhathe’sdoing.hmm...he’sdone
thisbefore.
thisbefore.
“we’llha一vetoseehowyoutaste.ifirecall,you’rea
rare,exquisitedelicacy,misssteele.”
oh.
graspingmyotherankle,hequicklyandefficiently
cuffsthatoneaswell,sothatmyfeetareabouttwofeet
apart.
“thegoodthingaboutthisspreaderis,itexpands,”he
murmurs.heclickssomethingonthebar,thenpushes,so
mylegsspreadfurther.whoa,threefeetapart.mymouth
dropsopen,anditakeadeepbreath.fuck,thisishot.
i’monfire,restlessandneedy.
christianlickshislowerlip.
“oh,we’regoingtoha一vesomefunwiththis,ana.”
reachingdownhegraspsthebarandtwistsitsoiflipon
tomyfront.ittakesmebysurprise.
“seewhaticandotoyou?”hesaysdarklyandtwists
itagainabruptly,soiamoncemoreonmyback,gaping
upathim,breathless.
“theseothercuffsareforyourwrists.i’llthinkabout
“theseothercuffsareforyourwrists.i’llthinkabout
that.dependsifyoubeha一veornot.”
“whendoinotbeha一ve?”
“icanthinkofafewinfractions,”hesayssoftly,
runninghisfingersupthesolesofmyfeet.ittickles,butthe
barholdsmeinplace,thoughitrytowritheawayfromhis
fingers.
“yourblackberry,forone.”
igasp.“whatareyougoingtodo?”
“oh,ineverdisclosemyplans.”hesmirks,hiseyes
alightwithpuredevilment.
holycow.he’ssomind-bogglinglysexy,ittakesmy
breathaway.
hecrawlsupthebedsothathe’skneelingbetween
mylegs,gloriouslynaked,andi’mhelpless.
“hmm.youaresoexposed,misssteele.”herunsthe
fingersofbothhishandsuptheinsideofeachofmylegs,
slowly,surely,makingsmallcircularpatterns.never
breakingeyecontactwithme.
“it’sallaboutanticipation,ana.whatwillidoto
you?”hissoftlyspokenwordspenetraterighttothe
deepest,darkest,partofme.iwriggleonthebedand
moan.hisfingerscontinuetheirslowassaultupmylegs,
pastthebacksofmyknees.instinctively,iwanttoclose
mylegsbutican’t.
“remember,ifyoudon’tlikesomething,justtellmeto
stop,”hemurmurs.bendingover,hekissesmybelly,soft,
suckykisseswhilehishandscontinuetheirslowtortuous
journeynorthupmyinnerthighs,touchingandteasing.
“ohplease,christian,”iplead.
“oh,misssteele.i’vediscoveredyoucanbe
mercilessinyouramorousassaultsuponme.ithinki
shouldreturnthefa一vor.”
myfingersclutchtheduvetasisurrendermyselfto
him,hismouthgentlyheadingsouth,hisfingersnorth,to
thevulnerableandexposedapexofmythighs.igroanas
heeaseshisfingersinsidemeandbuckmypelvisupto
meetthem.christianmoansinresponse.
“youneverceasetoamazeme,ana.you’resowet,”
hemurmursagainstthelinewheremypubichairjoinsmy
hemurmursagainstthelinewheremypubichairjoinsmy
belly.mybodybowsashismouthfindsme.
ohmy.
hebeginsaslowandsensualassault,histongue
swirlingaroundandaroundwhilehisfingersmoveinside
me.becauseican’tclosemylegs,ormove,it’sintense,
reallyintense.mybackarchesasitrytoabsorbthe
sensations.
“oh,christian,”icry.
“iknow,baby,”hewhispers,andtoeaseuponme,he
blowssoftlyonthemostsensitivepartofmybody.
“arrgh!please!”ibeg.
“saymyname,”hecommands.
“christian,”icall,hardlyrecognizingmyownvoice—
it’ssohigh-pitchedandneedy.
“again,”hebreathes.
“christian,christian,christiangrey,”icalloutloudly.
“youaremine.”hisvoiceissoftanddeadlyandwith
onelastflickofhistongue,ifall—spectacularly—
embracingmyorgasm,andbecausemylegsaresofar
embracingmyorgasm,andbecausemylegsaresofar
apart,itgoesonandonandiamlost.
vaguely,i’mawarethatchristianhasflippedmeonto
myfront.
“we’regoingtotrythis,baby.ifyoudon’tlikeit,or
it’stoouncomfortable,tellme,andwe’llstop.”
what?iamtoolostintheafterglowtoformany
sentientorcoherentthoughts.iamsittingonchristian’s
lap.howdidthathappen?
“leandown,baby,”hemurmursatmyear.“headand
chestonthebed.”
inadazeidoasi’mtold.hepullsbothmyhands
backwardandcuffsthemtothebar,nexttomyankles.
oh...mykneesaredrawnup,myassintheair,utterly
vulnerable,completelyhis.
“ana,youlooksobeautiful.”hisvoiceisfullof
wonder,andiheartheripoffoil.herunshisfingersfrom
thebaseofmyspinedowntowardmysexandpausesa
beatovermyass.
“whenyou’reready,iwantthis,too.”hisfingeris
hoveringoverme.igasploudlyasifeelmyselftense
underhisgentleprobing.“nottoday,sweetana,butone
day...iwantyoueveryway.iwanttopossessevery
inchofyou.you’remine.”
ithinkaboutthebuttplug,andeverythingtightens
deepinsideme.hiswordsmakemegroan,andhisfingers
movedownandaroundtomorefamiliarterritory.
momentslater,he’sslammingintome.“aagh!gently,”
icry,andhestills.
“youokay?”
“gently...letmegetusedtothis.”
heeasesslowlyoutofmetheneasesgentlyback,
fillingme,stretchingme,twice,thrice,andiamhelpless.
“yes,good,i’vegotitnow,”imurmur,relishingthe
feeling.
hegroans,andpicksuphisrhythm.moving,
moving...relentless...onward,inward,fillingme...
andit’sexquisite.there’sjoyinmyhelplessness,joyinmy
surrendertohim,andtoknowthathecanlosehimselfin
methewayhewantsto.icandothis.hetakesmeto
methewayhewantsto.icandothis.hetakesmeto
thesedarkplaces,placesididn’tknowexisted,and
togetherwefillthemwithblindinglight.ohyes...blazing,
blindinglight.
andiletgo,gloryinginwhathedoestome,finding
mysweet,sweetrelease,asicomeagain,loudly,
screaminghisname.andhestills,pouringhisheartand
soulintome.
“ana,baby,”hecriesandcollapsesbesideme.
hisfingersdeftlyundothestraps,andherubsmyankles
thenmywrists.whenhe’sfinishedandi’mfinallyfree,he
pullsmeintohisarmsandidrift,exhausted.
whenisurfaceagain,iamcurledbesidehimandhe’s
gazingatme.iha一venoideawhatthetimeis.
“icouldwatchyousleepforever,ana,”hemurmurs
andhekissesmyforehead.
ismileandshiftlanguorouslybesidehim.
“ineverwanttoletyougo,”hesayssoftlyandwraps
“ineverwanttoletyougo,”hesayssoftlyandwraps
hisarmsaroundme.
hmm.“ineverwanttogo.neverletmego,”imutter
sleepily,myeyelidsrefusingtoopen.
“ineedyou,”hewhispers,buthisvoiceisadistant,
etherealpartofmydreams.heneedsme...needs
me...andasifinallyslipintothedarkness,mylast
thoughtsareofasmallboywithgrayeyesanddirty,
messy,copper-coloredhairsmilingshylyatme.
hmm.
christianisnuzzlingmyneckasislowlywake.
“morning,baby,”hewhispersandnipsatmyearlobe.
myeyesflutteropenandcloseagainquickly.brightearly
morninglightfloodstheroom,andhishandissoftly
caressingmybreast,gentlyteasingme.movingdownhe
graspsmyhipasheliesbehindme,holdingmeclose.
istretchoutbesidehim,relishinghistouch,andfeelhis
erectionagainstmybehind.ohmy.achristiangrey
wake-upcall.
“you’repleasedtoseeme,”imumblesleepily,
squirmingsuggestivelyagainsthim.ifeelhisgrinagainstmy
jaw.
“i’mverypleasedtoseeyou,”hesaysasheskateshis
handovermystomachanddowntocupmysexand
explorewithhisfingers.“therearedefiniteadvantagesto
wakingupbesideyou,misssteele,”heteasesandgently
pullsmeroundsothati’mlyingonmyback.
“sleepwell?”heasksashisfingerscontinuetheir
“sleepwell?”heasksashisfingerscontinuetheir
sensualtorture.he’ssmilingdownatme—hisdazzling,all-
american-drop-dead-male-model-perfect-teethsmile.he
takesmybreathaway.
myhipsbegintoswaytotherhythmofthedancehis
fingersha一vebegun.hekissesmechastelyonthelipsand
thenmovesdownmyneck,nippingslowly,kissing,and
suckingashegoes.imoan.he’sgentleandhistouchis
lightandhea一venly.hisintrepidfingersmovedown,and
slowlyheeasesoneinsideme,hissingquietlyinawe.
“oh,ana,”hemurmursreverentiallyagainstmythroat.
“you’realwaysready.”hemoveshisfingerintimewith
hiskissesashislipsjourneyleisurelyacrossmycla一vicle
andthendowntomybreast.hetormentsfirstone,then
theothernipplewithteethandlips,butoh-so-gently,and
theytightenandlengtheninsweetresponse.
igroan.
“hmm,”hegrowlssoftlyandraiseshisheadtogiveme
ablazinggray-eyedlook.“iwantyounow.”hereaches
overtothebedsidetable.heshiftsontopofme,taking
hisweightonhiselbows,andrubshisnosealongmine
whileeasingmylegsapartwithhis.hekneelsupandrips
openthefoilpacket.
“ican’twaituntilsaturday,”hesays,hiseyesglowing
withsalaciousdelight.
“yourparty?”ipant.
“no.icanstopusingthesefuckers.”
“aptlynamed.”igiggle.
hesmirksatmeasherollsonthecondom.“areyou
giggling,misssteele?”
giggling,misssteele?”
“no.”itryandfailtostraightenmyface.
“nowisnotthetimeforgiggling.”heshakeshishead
inadmonishmentandhisvoiceislow,stern,buthis
expression—holycow—isglacialandvolcanicatonce.
mybreathcatchesinmythroat.“ithoughtyoulikedit
whenigiggle,”iwhisperhoarsely,gazingintothedark
depthsofhisstormyeyes.
“notnow.there’satimeandaplaceforgiggling.this
isneither.ineedtostopyou,andithinkiknowhow,”he
saysominously,andhisbodycoversmine.
“whatwouldyoulikeforbreakfast,ana?”
“i’lljustha一vesomegranola.thankyou,mrs.jones.”
iflushasitakemyplaceatthebreakfastbarbeside
christian.thelasttimeiseteyesontheveryprimand
propermrs.jones,iwasbeingunceremoniouslydragged
intothebedroomoverchristian’sshoulder.
“youlooklovely,”christiansayssoftly.i’mwearing
mygraypencilskirtandgraysilkblouseagain.
“sodoyou.”ismileshylyathim.he’swearingapale
blueshirtandjeans,andhelookscoolandfreshand
perfect,asalways.
“weshouldbuyyousomemoreskirts,”hesays
matter-of-factly.“infact—i’dlovetotakeyoushopping.”
hmm—shopping.ihateshopping.butwithchristian,
maybeitwon’tbesobad.idecideondistractionasthe
bestformofdefense.
“iwonderwhatwillhappenatworktoday?”
“iwonderwhatwillhappenatworktoday?”
“they’llha一vetoreplacethesleazeball.”christian
frowns,scowlingasifhe’sjuststeppedinsomething
extraordinarilyunpleasant.
“ihopetheytakeonawomanasmynewboss.”
“why?”
“well,you’relesslikelytoobjecttomegoingaway
withher,”iteasehim.
hislipstwitchandhestartsonhisomelet.
“what’ssofunny?”iask.
“youare.eatyourgranola,allofit,ifthat’sallyou’re
ha一ving.”
bossyasever.ipursemylipsathim,butdigin.
“so,thekeygoeshere.”christianpointsouttheignition
beneaththegearshift.
“strangeplace,”imutter.buti’mdelightedwithevery
littledetail,practicallybouncinglikeasmallchildinthe
comfortableleatherseat.christianhasfinallyletmedrive
mycar.
heregardsmecoolly,thoughhiseyesarealightwith
humor.“you’requiteexcitedaboutthis,aren’tyou?”he
murmurs,amused.
inod,grinninglikeafool.“justsmellthatnewcar
smell.thisisevenbetterthanthesubmissivespecial...
um,thea3,”iaddquickly,blushing.
christian’smouthtwists.“submissivespecial,eh?you
ha一vesuchawaywithwords,misssteele.”heleansback
withafauxlookofdisapproval,buthecan’tfoolme.i
withafauxlookofdisapproval,buthecan’tfoolme.i
knowhe’senjoyinghimself.
“well,let’sgo.”hewa一veshislong-fingeredhand
towardtheentranceofthegarage.
iclapmyhands,startthecar,andtheenginepurrsto
life.puttingthegearshiftintodrive,ieasemyfootoffthe
brakeandthesaabmovessmoothlyforward.taylor
startsuptheaudibehindusandoncethegaragebarrier
lifts,followsusoutofescalaontothestreet.
“canweha一vetheradioon?”iaskaswewaitatthe
firststopsign.
“iwantyoutoconcentrate,”hesayssharply.
“christian,please,icandrivewithmusicon.”irollmy
eyes.hescowlsforamomentandthenreachesforthe
radio.
“youcanplayyouripodandmp3discsaswellas
cdsonthis,”hemurmurs.
thetoo-louddulcettonesofthepolicesuddenlyfill
thecar.christianturnsthemusicdown.hmm...“king
ofpain.”
“youranthem,”iteasehim,theninstantlyregretit
whenhismouthtightensinathinline.ohno.“iha一vethis
album,somewhere.”icontinuehastilytodistracthim.
hmm...somewhereintheapartmentiha一vespentvery
littletimein.
iwonderhowethanis.ishouldtrytocallhimtoday.i
won’tha一vemuchtodoatwork.
anxietybloomsinmystomach.whatwillhappen
whenigettotheoffice?willeveryoneknowaboutjack?
willeveryoneknowofchristian’sinvolvement?willistill
ha一veajob?sheesh,ifiha一venojob,whatwillido?
marrythegazillionaire,ana!mysubconscioushas
hersnarkyfaceon.iignoreher—rapaciousbitch.
“hey,misssmartmouth.comeback.”christian
dragsmeintothehereandnowasipullupatthenext
stoplight.
“you’reverydistracted.concentrate,ana,”hescolds.
“accidentshappenwhenyoudon’tconcentrate.”
oh,forhea一ven’ssake—andsuddenlyi’mcatapulted
backintimetowhenraywasteachingmetodrive.i
don’tneedanotherfather.ahusbandmaybe,akinky
husband.hmm.
“i’mjustthinkingaboutwork.”
“baby,you’llbefine.trustme.”christiansmiles.
“pleasedon’tinterfere—iwanttodothisonmyown.
christian,please.it’simportanttome,”isayasgentlyasi
can.idon’twanttoargue.hismouthsetsoncemoreinto
ahardstubbornline,andithinkhe’sgoingtoberateme
again.
ohno.
“let’snotargue,christian.we’vehadsucha
wonderfulmorning.andlastnightwas—”wordsfailme,
lastnightwas—“hea一ven.”
hesaysnothing.iglanceoverathimandhiseyesare
closed.
“yes.hea一ven,”hesayssoftly.“imeantwhatisaid.”
“what?”
“idon’twanttoletyougo.”
“idon’twanttogo.”
hesmilesandit’sthisnew,shysmilethatdissolves
everythinginitspath.boy,it’spowerful.
“good,”hesayssimply,andhevisiblyrelaxes.
idriveintotheparkinglothalfablockfromsip.
“i’llwalkyoutowork.taylorwilltakemefrom
there,”christianoffers.iclamberoutofthecar,restricted
bymypencilskirtwhilechristianclimbsoutgracefully,at
easewithhisbodyorgivingtheimpressionofsomeoneat
easewithhisbody.hmm...someonewhocan’tbearto
betouchedcan’tbethatatease.ifrownatmyerrant
thought.
“don’tforgetwe’reseeingflynnatseventhis
evening,”hesaysasheholdshishandouttome.ipress
theremotedoorlockandtakehishand.
“iwon’tforget.i’llcompilealistofquestionsforhim.”
“questions?aboutme?”
inod.
“icanansweranyquestionsyouha一veaboutme.”
christianlooksaffronted.
ismileathim.“yes,butiwanttheunbiased,
expensivecharlatan’sopinion.”
hefrownsandsuddenlypullsmeintohisembrace,
holdingbothmyhandstightlybehindmyback.
“isthisagoodidea?”hesays,hisvoicelowand
husky.ileanbacktoseetheanxietyloominglargeand
wideinhiseyes.ittearsatmysoul.
“ifyoudon’twantmeto,iwon’t.”istareathim,
blinking,wantingtocaresstheconcernoutofhisface.i
tugononeofmyhandsandhefreesit.itouchhischeek
tenderly—it’ssmoothfromsha一vingthismorning.
“whatareyouworriedabout?”iask,myvoicesoft
andsoothing.
“thatyou’llgo.”
“christian,howmanytimesdoiha一vetotellyou—i’m
notgoinganywhere.you’vealreadytoldmetheworst.
i’mnotlea一vingyou.”
“thenwhyha一ven’tyouansweredme?”
“answeredyou?”imurmurdisingenuously.
“youknowwhati’mtalkingabout,ana.”
isigh.“iwanttoknowthati’menoughforyou,
christian.that’sall.”
“andyouwon’ttakemywordforit?”hesays
exasperated,releasingme.
“christian,thishasallbeensoquick.andbyyourown
admission,you’refiftyshadesoffucked-up.ican’tgive
youwhatyouneed,”imutter.“it’sjustnotforme.but
thatmakesmefeelinadequate,especiallyseeingyouwith
leila.who’stosaythatonedayyouwon’tmeetsomeone
wholikesdoingwhatyoudo?andwho’stosayyou
won’t,youknow...fallforher?someonemuchbetter
suitedtoyourneeds.”thethoughtofchristianwith
anyoneelsesickensme.istaredownatmyknotted
fingers.
“iknewseveralwomenwholikedoingwhatiliketo
do.noneofthemappealedtomethewayyoudo.i’ve
neverhadanemotionalconnectionwithanyofthem.it’s
onlyeverbeenyou,ana.”
onlyeverbeenyou,ana.”
“becauseyouneverga一vethemachance.you’vespent
toolonglockedupinyourfortress,christian.look,let’s
discussthislater.iha一vetogotowork.maybedr.flynn
canofferushisinsight.”thisisallfartoohea一vya
discussionforaparkinglotateightfiftyinthemorning,and
christian,foronce,seemstoagree.henodsbuthiseyes
arewary.
“come,”heorders,holdingouthishand.
whenireachmydesk,ifindanoteaskingmetogo
straighttoelizabeth’soffice.myheartleapsintomy
mouth.oh,thisisit.i’mgoingtogetfired.
“anastasia.”elizabethsmileskindly,wa一vingmeintoa
chairbeforeherdesk.isitandgazeatherexpectantly,
hopingthatshecan’thearmythumpingheart.she
smoothesherthickblackhairandregardswithmewith
somber,clearblueeyes.
“iha一vesomerathersadnews.”
sad!ohno.
“i’vecalledyouintoinformyouthatjackhasleftthe
companyrathersuddenly.”
iflush.thisisn’tsadforme.shoulditellherthati
know?
“hisratherhastydeparturehasleftavacancy,and
we’dlikeyoutofillitfornow,untilwefinda
replacement.”
what?ifeelthebloodrushfrommyhead.me?
“but,i’veonlybeenhereforaweekorso.”
“but,i’veonlybeenhereforaweekorso.”
“yes,anastasia,iunderstandbutjackwasalwaysa
championofyourabilities.hehadhighhopesforyou.”
istopbreathing.hehadhighhopesofgettingmeon
myback,sure.
“here’sadetailedjobdescription.ha一veagoodlook
throughit,andwecandiscussitlatertoday.”
“but—”
“please,iknowthisissudden,butyou’vealready
madecontactwithjack’skeyauthors.yourchapternotes
ha一ven’tgoneunnoticedbytheothercommissioning
editors.youha一veashrewdmind,anastasia.weallthink
youcandoit.”
“okay.”thisisunreal.
“look,thinkaboutit.inthemeantime,youcantake
jack’soffice.”
shestands,effectivelydismissingme,andholdsouther
hand.ishakeitinacompletedaze.
“i’mgladhe’sgone,”shewhispersandahauntedlook
crossesherface.holyshit.whatdidhedotoher?
backatmydesk,igrabmyblackberryandcall
christian.