Freed (Fifty Shades as Told by Christian #3) - E.L. James Page 0,122

wave back, and I notice they’re wearing their passes, too. It’s reassuring.

Andrea and Sarah look up as the elevator doors open; each have ID lanyards. “Welcome back, Mr. Grey,” Andrea says.

“Good morning. How are you? Oh, these are for you and Sarah.” I place a bag that contains a large box of chocolates—from Ladurée, near the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris—that Ana insisted I buy for them on the desk. Andrea blushes, speechless.

Yes. I don’t blame her. Apart from her wedding present, this is a first.

“Thank you,” Sarah blurts, eyeing the bag with keen interest.

“You’re welcome. I would have bought some of their world-famous macarons, too, but was advised that the chocolates have a longer shelf life.”

“Thank you, Mr. Grey,” Andrea says, recovering her composure. “Coffee?”

“Please. Black.”

“Coming up.”

I head into my office, leaving Sarah’s giggles and Andrea’s quiet hushing behind me. Rolling my eyes, I shut the door and cut off their chatter.

At my desk, I call Welch for an update on Jack Hyde.

Once that call is over, I e-mail Ana, wondering how she is adapting to life back at SIP.

From: Christian Grey

Subject: Bubble

Date: August 22 2011 09:32

To: Anastasia Grey

Mrs. Grey

Love covering all the bases with you.

Have a great first day back.

Miss our bubble already.

x

Christian Grey

Back in the Real World CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

My phone buzzes. “Mr. Grey, I have your father on the line,” Andrea says.

“Put him through.”

“Christian, you called?”

“Dad.” I tell him everything that has happened with Jack Hyde since I fired him in mid-June. “His vendetta against me is out of hand. We’re submitting the server room footage to the FBI and the police. They can press charges. They just have to locate him first. But given what we found on his hard drive, I think I should extend our security protocols to you, Mom, Mia, and Elliot.”

“That seems excessive.”

“Dad, he’s a bright guy. I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

Carrick blows out a breath. “Well, if you think it’s necessary.”

“I do. We were followed from your house yesterday. He knows where you live.”

“Fuck!”

Dad!

My father sighs. “Get on it. I’ll talk to Mom and Mia.”

“I’ll tell Elliot.”

“Thanks, Christian. I’m sorry it’s come to this.”

“Me, too.”

With my father’s reluctant agreement secured, I phone Welch back to implement enhanced security measures for my family.

I just have to tell Elliot. I don’t know how he’ll take the news.

When I look at my e-mails I notice the one I sent to Ana has bounced. Maybe she hasn’t had a chance to change her e-mail address at work.

Let’s have some fun with this.

I forward the e-mail I sent her.

From: Christian Grey

Subject: Errant Wives

Date: August 22 2011 09:56

To: Anastasia Steele

Wife

I sent the e-mail below and it bounced.

And it’s because you haven’t changed your name.

Something you want to tell me?

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

Andrea knocks on the door with another coffee.

“Thanks, Andrea. Shall we go through the schedule?”

She takes the chair opposite my desk and we discuss my appointments for the week and the coming month.

“…You have the Seattle Assistance Union Gala for Hope on Wednesday evening, I have two tickets. Your mother is involved with that charity,” she says.

“Okay.”

“And the Telecommunications Alliance Organization fundraiser is on Thursday evening in New York,” Andrea continues. “I have tickets for two. The Gulfstream will be back. Everything has checked out. Stephan is flying in from Maine tomorrow.”

“My plans aren’t set yet. I’ll talk to Ros to see if a visit to GEH Fiber Optics is still required.”

“Okay. Stephan will be on standby should you decide to go. And I’ll have your Tribeca apartment serviced, too, unless you’d like me to make a reservation at The Lowell.”

My mind whirrs. “If I do go to New York, then I could come back via DC. There are two meetings we could set up for Friday, one with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the other with Senator Blandino.”

“Do you want me to arrange those?”

“I’ll talk to Vanessa about the Securities and Exchange Commission. But provisionally yes for Blandino.”

“Sir.”

“Okay. I should see Ros, and can you get Flynn on the line for me? Oh, and find time for Bastille tomorrow. Please.”

“Will do.” She gets up and leaves, and I turn my attention to my computer. An e-mail from Ana arrived a short while ago.

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Don’t Burst the Bubble

Date: August 22 2011 09:58

To: Christian Grey

Husband

I am all for a baseball metaphor with you, Mr. Grey.

I want to keep my name here.

I’ll explain this evening.

I am going into a meeting now.

Miss our bubble, too…

PS: Thought I had to use my