Пятьдесят оттенков серого

           Oh,Kate…IwishIcouldtellyoueverything,everythingaboutthisstrange,sad,kinkyguy,andyoucouldtellmetoforgetabouthim.Stopmefrombeingafool.

           “Iguessit’sallalittleoverwhelming,”Imurmur.That’stheunderstatementoftheyear.

           BecauseIdon’twanttotalkaboutChristiananymore,IaskheraboutElliot.Katherine’swholedemeanorchangesatthemerementionofhisname.Shelightsupfromwithin,beamingatme.

           “He’scomingoverearlySaturdaytohelploadup.”Shehugsthehairbrush—boy,hasshegotitbad—andIfeelafamiliarfaintstabofenvy.Katehasfoundherselfanormalman,andshelookssohappy.

           Iturnandhugher.

           “Oh,Imeanttosay.Yourdadcalledwhileyouwere…er,occupied.ApparentlyBobhassustainedsomeinjury,soyourmomandhecan’tmakegraduation.ButyourdadwillbehereThursday.Hewantsyoutocall.”

           “Oh…mymomnevercalledme.IsBobokay?”

           “Yes.Callherinthemorning.It’slatenow.”

           “Thanks,Kate.I’mokaynow.I’llcallRayinthemorning,too.IthinkI’lljustturnin.”

           Shesmiles,buthereyescrinkleatthecornerswithconcern.

           Aftershe’sgone,Isitandreadthecontractagain,makingmorenotesasIgo.WhenI’vefinished,Ifireupthelaptop,readytorespond.

           There’sane-mailfromChristianinmyinbox.

           ***

           From:ChristianGrey

           Subject:ThisEvening

           Date:May23201123:16

           To:AnastasiaSteele

           MissSteele,

           Ilookforwardtoreceivingyournotesonthecontract.

           Untilthen,sleepwell,baby.

           ChristianGrey

           CEO,GreyEnterprisesHoldings,Inc.