To: Christian Grey

Your e-mail has done little to assuage my concerns. I comfort myself in knowing that should it be needed, you own a shipyard and can no doubt build an ark. You are, after all, the most competent man I know.

Your loving Ana xxx

PS: Let’s talk this evening about when I move in.

PPS: Is meteorology really your thing?

Her e-mail makes me smile and I run my index finger over the x’s.

From: Christian Grey

Subject: You Are My Thing.

Date: June 21 2011 14:32

To: Anastasia Steele

Always.

Christian Grey

Madly in Love CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

It’s 5:30 when Dr. Flynn waves me into his office. “Good afternoon, Christian.”

“John.” I amble over to the couch, sit down, and wait for him to take his chair.

“So, big weekend for you,” he says, sounding affable.

I look away. I don’t know where to start.

“What is it?” he asks.

“Someone’s trying to kill me.”

Flynn pales—a first, I think. “The crash?” he asks.

I nod.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He frowns.

“My people are all over it. But I’m at a loss as to who it might be.”

“You have no inkling?”

I shake my head.

“Well,” he says, “I hope the police are involved and that you find the culprit.”

“It will be the FBI. But my main concern is Ana.”

John nods. “Her safety?”

“Yes. I’ve put additional security in place, but I don’t know if it’ll be enough.” I swallow my rising anxiety.

“We’ve talked about this,” he replies. “I know you loathe feeling out of control. I know you’re panicked about Ana, and I understand why you feel that way. But you have the resources and you’ve put measures in place to keep her safe. That’s all anyone can do.” His gaze is level and sincere, and his words are reassuring. He smiles and adds, “You can’t lock her up.”

My laugh is cathartic. “I know.”

“I also know you’d like to but put yourself in her shoes.”

“Yeah. I know. I get it. I don’t want to drive her away.”

“Exactly. Good.”

“That’s not all I want to talk about.”

“There’s more?”

I let out a long sigh and recount in the briefest of terms the argument with Elena at my birthday party, and the subsequent rows with each of my parents.

“I have to say, Christian, it’s never a dull moment with you.” Flynn rubs his chin in response to my resigned smile. “We only have an hour—what do you want to talk about?”

“I had a nightmare last night. About Elena.”

“I see.”

“I’ve cut ties with her, as per my parents’ requests. Gifted her the business.”

“That’s generous.”

I shrug. “It is. But I’m okay with that, I think. Of course, she’s still calling, but it was only twice today.”

“She’s been a huge influence in your life.”

“She has. But it’s time for me to move on.”

He looks thoughtful. “Which did you find more upsetting, the argument with Elena or your parents?”

“Elena’s was awkward, because Ana was in the room. We were spiteful to each other.” My regret is clear in my tone, and deep down I wish we’d parted on better terms. “And Grace was so mad at me. I’ve never heard her curse before. But the argument with my dad was the worst. He was an asshole.”

“He was angry?”

“Very.” I ignore the stab of guilt in my guts at my disloyalty to Carrick.

“I wonder if he’s projecting his anger at himself onto you. You can understand why he felt that way, can’t you?”

No. Yes. Maybe.

Flynn continues, “Whether you agree or not, your father probably thinks Elena took advantage of a vulnerable adolescent. It was his job to protect you. He failed. That’s probably how he sees it.”

“She didn’t take advantage. I was more than willing.” My frustration echoes in my words.

I am so done with that argument.

John sighs. “We’ve discussed this many, many times, and I don’t want to get into a debate with you about it again, but you might want to try and look at the situation from your father’s point of view.”

“He said I might not be husband material.”

Flynn seems taken aback. “Oh. How did you feel about that?”

“Angry. Worried that he might be right.” Ashamed.

“In what context did he say it?”

I wave my hand dismissively. “He was lecturing me about the sanctity of marriage. He said if I had no respect for that, I had no business being married.”

John’s brows draw together.

“Since Elena was married.” I clarify for him.

“I see.” Flynn purses his lips. “Christian,” he says gently. “Your father may have a point.”

What?

“Either you were a willing participant in a relationship with a married woman, a relationship that cost her her marriage—and much more, considering what happened to her—or you were a vulnerable adolescent who was taken advantage of. Which is it? You cannot have it both ways.”