I bound out of my chair feeling effervescent. Flirting with Ana is always a joy. And so is discussing the latest prototype of the GEH solar tablet with Fred and Barney. I head out of my office, wondering if I should have studied engineering at school.

As I’m eating my lunch, my phone flashes with Elliot’s goofy face.

“Bro?”

“Hey, dude, we still on for later today?”

“Yes. Ana and I are looking forward to it.”

“Cool.” He pauses.

“What is it?” I ask. “Gia? She’ll be there, too.”

He scoffs. “Like that would ever be a problem. I’m talking bachelor party, hotshot. Saturday.”

“Elliot—”

“Don’t be an uptight asshole,” he interrupts. “It’s happening. Even if I have to kidnap you.”

“Fuck—”

“No ifs or buts, bro. I’ve got the construction crew on standby with duct tape and a cargo van. Suck it up.”

My sigh is as exaggerated as I can make it.

Elliot laughs. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

“I don’t know, Elliot. It depends what you have planned.”

“It will take your mind off your woes.”

Woes? “What fucking woes?”

“I dunno. Someone trying to kill you?”

Oh, yes. That. “You’re so crass. Hard to believe we’ve been raised by the same people.”

He laughs. “Laters, dude.” And he hangs up.

Asshole.

But he has a point. Welch has made no further progress in uncovering Charlie Tango’s saboteur. I’ve fired the entire team responsible for her care and maintenance, and I’m still waiting for the report from the NTSB. I’m beginning to wonder if the original FAA assessment was hasty in suspecting malicious interference, or if the damage was a random act of vandalism. Both these outcomes are possible, and give me a modicum of hope, but I don’t want to drop my guard yet. Ana’s safety is all that I care about. I’ve had security ramped up around the GEH Gulfstream and she’s been on two test flights since Charlie Tango’s demise. She’ll be taking us to Europe for our honeymoon.

I’m still waiting to hear from Burgess about the yacht, but I have my fingers crossed that I’ll get the one I want. I imagine Ana stretched out on deck in a bikini.

Wait. Does she own a bikini?

I don’t remember including swimwear in the clothes the personal shopper at Neiman Marcus sourced for Ana. That was a lifetime ago. As my wife, Ana is going to need more clothes—for her vacation, functions, her work… I scroll through my contacts, and when Caroline Acton’s name appears, I press call.

From: Christian Grey

Subject: Dedicated Follower of Fashion

Date: July 18 2011 15:22

To: Anastasia Steele

My darling Anastasia

I have made an appointment for us to meet Caroline Acton at 10:30 on Saturday morning to furnish you with a new wardrobe for our honeymoon.

No arguments.

Please.

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Threads?

Date: July 18 2011 15:27

To: Christian Grey

Me? Argue?

Do I need a new wardrobe?

I don’t think so. I have plenty of clothes.

See you at 5 p.m.

Ax

I frown. This is not going to be easy.

From: Christian Grey

Subject: New Threads

Date: July 18 2011 15:29

To: Anastasia Steele

Yes. You do.

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Men with more money than sense…

Date: July 18 2011 15:32

To: Christian Grey

Is brevity the soul of wit?

Ana

From: Christian Grey

Subject: That’s Me.

Date: July 18 2011 15:33

To: Anastasia Steele

Yes. ;)

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Grrr…

Date: July 18 2011 15:34

To: Christian Grey

I am late for my meeting.

Stop being so funny.

Laters. Baby.

Axx

My phone buzzes. “Yes, Sam.”

“Christian, Star magazine has gotten hold of some shots of Anastasia and want to run a story on her; a rags-to-riches kinda thing.”

“What the fuck?”

“I know.”

“What kind of shots?”

“Nothing salacious.”

Thank fuck.

Wait. There shouldn’t be any salacious shots of Ana. Should there?

“Tell them to fuck off. Rope Ros in. Threaten them with legal action.”

Sam takes a deep breath. “They’ll be published while you’re away on your honeymoon. The photos are okay. If you want my advice, let them run and ignore them. It will be more of a story if you don’t.”

I can almost hear his I told you so vibe over the phone. He wanted us to do a photoshoot; maybe I should have conceded.