Chapter 2

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           Myheartispounding.Theelevatorarrivesonthefirstfloor,andIscrambleoutassoonasthedoorsslideopen,stumblingoncebutfortunatelynotsprawlingontotheimmaculatesandstonefloor.Iraceforthewideglassdoors,andsuddenlyI’mfreeinthebracing,cleansing,dampairofSeattle.Raisingmyface,Iwelcomethecool,refreshingrain.Iclosemyeyesandtakeadeep,purifyingbreath,tryingtorecoverwhat’sleftofmyequilibrium.

           NomanhaseveraffectedmethewayChristianGreyhas,andIcannotfathomwhy.Isithislooks?Hiscivility?Wealth?Power?Idon’tunderstandmyirrationalreaction.Ibreatheanenormoussighofrelief.Whatinheaven’snamewasthatallabout?Leaningagainstoneofthesteelpillarsofthebuilding,Ivaliantlyattempttocalmdownandgathermythoughts.Ishakemyhead.Whatwasthat?Myheartsteadiestoitsregularrhythm,andwhenIcanbreathenormallyagainIheadforthecar.

           ASILEAVETHEcitylimitsbehind,IbegintofeelfoolishandembarrassedasIreplaytheinterviewinmymind.SurelyI’moverreactingtosomethingthat’simaginary.Okay,sohe’sveryattractive,confident,commanding,ateasewithhimself—butontheflipside,he’sarrogant,andforallhisimpeccablemanners,he’sautocraticandcold.Well,onthesurface.Aninvoluntaryshiverrunsdownmyspine.Hemaybearrogant,butthenhehasarighttobe—he’saccomplishedsomuchatsuchayoungage.Hedoesn’tsufferfoolsgladly,butwhyshouldhe?Again,I’mirritatedthatKatedidn’tgivemeabriefbiography.