I love you.

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

Captain Stephan and First Officer Beighley are on hand, and we’re soon airborne for NYC. I strip down in the small bedroom, hoping to catch an hour or so of sleep. As I lay down, I recall our evening. Ana and I went to the Seattle Assistance Union Gala; she looked elegant in her pale pink dress and second-chance earrings. She looked even more elegant when I undressed her last night.

She should be with me now. I close my eyes and my mind drifts to our honeymoon night, on board this Gulfstream.

Hmm…I hope to dream of my wife.

I wake when we’re about an hour out of New York and, feeling refreshed, dress quickly. Taylor is in the main cabin, eating what looks like a ham-and-cheese croissant.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Hi. Breakfast. Great. Did you get some sleep?”

Taylor nods, looking his usual, immaculate self. “I did, thank you.”

I take my seat as the captain joins us.

“Sleep well, sir?” Stephan asks.

“Yes. Thanks. Everything okay?” I ask.

“We’re being rerouted to JFK. There’s been an incident at Teterboro.”

“An incident?”

“As far as I know, it’s nothing major, it’s just hit our landing time.”

“This will give me less time at GEH Fiber Optics,” I say to Taylor.

“I’ve been in touch with the ground crew at Sheltair, and we’re rerouting your car from Teterboro,” Stephan says.

“Good. Will you get the Gulfstream to Teterboro after we land? It’s more convenient to leave from there.”

“I’ll see what we can do.” Stephan smiles and heads back into the cockpit.

Forty minutes later we land at JFK. As we taxi to the terminal, I check my e-mails. There’s one from Ana.

From: Anastasia Grey

Subject: Behave Yourself!

Date: August 25 2011 09:03

To: Christian Grey

Let me know when you land—I’ll worry until you do.

And I shall behave. I mean, how much trouble can I get into with Kate?

Anastasia Grey

Editor, SIP

Kate? I imagine she could get into a lot of trouble with Kate. The second time I met Miss Kavanagh, Ana was inebriated. That’s how we spent our first night together. Shit! I press call.

“Ana St—Grey.”

It’s such a pleasure to hear her voice. “Hi.”

“Hi! How was your flight?”

“Long. What are you doing with Kate?”

“We’re just going out for a quiet drink.”

Out? With Hyde at large? Fuck!

“Sawyer and the new woman—Prescott—are coming to watch over us,” she says sweetly.

Then I remember. “I thought Kate was coming to the apartment.”

“She is, after a quick drink.”

I sigh. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I’m not in Seattle. If something happens to them…to her, and I’m not there, I’ll never forgive myself.

“Christian, we’ll be fine. I have Ryan, Sawyer, and Prescott here. It’s a quick drink. I’ve seen her only a few times since you and I met. Please. She’s my best friend.”

“Ana, I don’t want to keep you from your friends. But I thought she was coming back to the apartment.”

She sighs. “Okay. We’ll stay in.”

“Only while this lunatic is out there. Please.”

“I’ve said okay,” she mutters, and I know by the tone of her voice she’s exasperated.

I chuckle, relieved that she’s reverting to type. “I always know when you’re rolling your eyes at me.”

“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I’ll tell Kate.”

“Good.” I blow out a breath. I can go about the rest of my day and not worry about her.

“Where are you?”

“On the tarmac at JFK.”

“Oh, so you just landed?”

“Yes. You asked me to call the moment I landed.”

“Well, Mr. Grey, I’m glad one of us is punctilious.”

“Mrs. Grey, your gift for hyperbole knows no bounds. What am I going to do with you?”

“I am sure you’ll think of something imaginative. You usually do,” she whispers.

“Are you flirting with me?”

“Yes.” She sounds breathless and even from this far away, and over the phone her voice is arousing.

I grin. “I’d better go. Ana, do as you’re told, please. The security team knows what they’re doing.”

“Yes, Christian, I will.” I sense more eye rolling.

“I’ll see you tomorrow evening. I’ll call you later.”

“To check up on me?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, Christian!” she chides me.

“Au revoir, Mrs. Grey.”

“Au revoir, Christian. I love you.”

Hearing her say those three words will never get old. “And I you, Ana.”

Neither of us hangs up.

“Hang up, Christian,” she murmurs.

“You’re a bossy little thing, aren’t you?”

“Your bossy little thing.”