Book 1 - Page 11 (1/2)

I slap her down.

”Don't you have a family dinner or something for your brother?”

”That's tomorrow.”

”Maybe some other time, Paul. I need to study tonight. I have my finals next week.”

”Ana, one of these days, you'll say yes,” he smiles as I escape out to the store floor.

”But I do places, Ana, not people,” Jose groans.

”Jose, please?” I beg. Clutching my cell, I pace the living area of our apartment, staring out of the window at the fading evening light.

”Give me that phone.” Kate grabs the handset from me, tossing her silken red-blonde hair over her shoulder.

”Listen here, Jose Rodriquez, if you want our newspaper to cover the opening of your show, you'll do this shoot for us tomorrow, capiche?” Kate can be awesomely tough.

”Good. Ana will call back with the location and the call time. We'll see you tomorrow.” She snaps my cell phone shut.

”Sorted. All we need to do now is decide where and when. Call him.” She holds the phone out to me. My stomach twists.

”Call Grey, now!”

I scowl at her and reach into my back pocket for his business card. I take a deep, steadying breath, and with shaking fingers, I dial the number.

He answers on the second ring. His tone is clipped, calm and cold.

”Grey.”

”Err... Mr. GreyIt's Anastasia Steele.” I don't recognize my own voice, I'm so nervous. There's a brief pause. Inside I'm quaking.

”Miss Steele. How nice to hear from you.” His voice has changed. He's surprised, I think, and he sounds so... warm - seductive even. My breath hitches, and I flush. I'm suddenly conscious that Katherine Kavanagh is staring at me, her mouth open, and I dart into the kitchen to avoid her unwanted scrutiny.

”Err - we'd like to go ahead with the photo-shoot for the article.” Breathe, Ana, breathe.

My lungs drag in a hasty breath. ”Tomorrow, if that's okay. Where would be convenient for you, sir?”

I can almost hear his sphinx-like smile through the phone.