Пятьдесят оттенков серого
Chapter 1
MydestinationistheheadquartersofMr.Grey’sglobalenterprise.It’sahugetwenty-storyofficebuilding,allcurvedglassandsteel,anarchitect’sutilitarianfantasy,withGREYHOUSEwrittendiscreetlyinsteelovertheglassfrontdoors.It’saquartertotwowhenIarrive,greatlyrelievedthatI’mnotlateasIwalkintotheenormous—andfranklyintimidating—glass,steel,andwhitesandstonelobby.
Behindthesolidsandstonedesk,averyattractive,groomed,blondeyoungwomansmilespleasantlyatme.She’swearingthesharpestcharcoalsuitjacketandwhiteshirtIhaveeverseen.Shelooksimmaculate.
“I’mheretoseeMr.Grey.AnastasiaSteeleforKatherineKavanagh.”
“Excusemeonemoment,MissSteele.”ShearcheshereyebrowasIstandself-consciouslybeforeher.I’mbeginningtowishI’dborrowedoneofKate’sformalblazersratherthanwornmynavy-bluejacket.Ihavemadeaneffortandwornmyoneandonlyskirt,mysensiblebrownknee-lengthboots,andabluesweater.Forme,thisissmart.ItuckoneoftheescapedtendrilsofmyhairbehindmyearasIpretendshedoesn’tintimidateme.
“MissKavanaghisexpected.Pleasesigninhere,MissSteele.You’llwantthelastelevatorontheright,pressforthetwentiethfloor.”Shesmileskindlyatme,amusednodoubt,asIsignin.
Shehandsmeasecuritypassthathas“visitor”veryfirmlystampedonthefront.Ican’thelpmysmirk.Surelyit’sobviousthatI’mjustvisiting.Idon’tfitinhereatall.Nothingchanges.Iinwardlysigh.
