Пятьдесят оттенков серого
Chapter 1
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Oh!Thisisnewstome,andI’mtemporarilypreoccupiedbythethoughtthatsomeonenotmucholderthanme—okay,maybesixyearsorso,andokay,mega-successful,butstill—isgoingtopresentmewithmydegree.Ifrown,draggingmywaywardattentionbacktothetaskathand.
“Good.”Iswallownervously.“Ihavesomequestions,Mr.Grey.”Ismoothastraylockofhairbehindmyear.
“Ithoughtyoumight,”hesays,deadpan.He’slaughingatme.Mycheeksheatattherealization,andIsitupandsquaremyshouldersinanattempttolooktallerandmoreintimidating.Pressingthestartbuttonontherecorder,Itrytolookprofessional.
“You’reveryyoungtohaveamassedsuchanempire.Towhatdoyouoweyoursuccess?”Iglanceupathim.Hissmileisrueful,buthelooksvaguelydisappointed.
“Businessisallaboutpeople,MissSteele,andI’mverygoodatjudgingpeople.Iknowhowtheytick,whatmakesthemflourish,whatdoesn’t,whatinspiresthem,andhowtoincentivizethem.Iemployanexceptionalteam,andIrewardthemwell.”Hepausesandfixesmewithhisgraystare.“Mybeliefistoachievesuccessinanyschemeonehastomakeoneselfmasterofthatscheme,knowitinsideandout,knoweverydetail.Iworkhard,veryhardtodothat.Imakedecisionsbasedonlogicandfacts.Ihaveanaturalgutinstinctthatcanspotandnurtureagoodsolidideaandgoodpeople.Thebottomlineisit’salwaysdowntogoodpeople.”
“Maybeyou’rejustlucky.”Thisisn’tonKate’slist—buthe’ssoarrogant.Hiseyesflaremomentarilyinsurprise.
