Chapter 89 (1/2)

Kate answers the door and is nearly knocked off her feet by Elliot. He seizes her in a Hollywood-style clinch that moves quickly into a European art house embrace. Honestly...

get a room. Jose and I stare at each other. I'm appalled at their lack of modesty.

”Shall we walk down to the bar?” I ask Jose, who nods frantically. We are too uncomfortable with the unrestrained sexing unfolding in front of us. Kate looks up at me, flushed and bright-eyed.

”Jose and I are going for a quick drink.” I roll my eyes at her. Ha! I can still roll my eyes in my own time.

”Okay,” she grins.

”Hi Elliot, bye Elliot.”

He winks a big blue eye at me, and Jose and I are out of the door, giggling like teenagers. As we stroll down to the bar, I put my arm through Jose's. God, he's so uncomplicated

- I hadn't really appreciated that before.

”You'll still come to the opening of my show, won't you?”

”Of course, Jose, when is it?”

”June 9.”

”What day is that?” I suddenly panic.

”It's a Thursday.”

”Yeah I should make that... and you will visit us in Seattle?”

”Try and stop me.” He grins.

It's late when I arrive back from the bar. Kate and Elliot are nowhere to be seen but boy can they be heard. Holy shit. I hope I'm not that loud. I know Christian isn't. I flush at the thought and escape to my room. After a brief not-at-all-awkward-thank-goodness hug, Jose has gone. I don't know when I'll see him again, probably his photographic show, and once again, I'm blown away that he finally has an exhibition. I shall miss him and his boy-ish charm. I couldn't bring myself to tell him about the Beetle, I know he'll freak when he finds out, and I can only deal with one man at a time freaking out at me. Once in my room, I check the mean machine, and of course, there's an email from Christian.

From: Christian Grey

Subject: Where Are You?

Date: May 27 2011 22:14

To: Anastasia Steele

'I am at work. I will email you when I get home.'

Are you still at work or have you packed your phone, BlackBerry and MacBook?

Call me, or I may be forced to call Elliot.

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

Crap... Jose... shit.

I grab my phone. Five missed calls and one voice message. Tentatively, I listen to the message. It's Christian.

'I think you need to learn to manage my expectations. I am not a patient man. If you say you are going to contact me when you finish work, then you should have the decency to do so. Otherwise, I worry, and it's not an emotion I'm familiar with, and I don't tolerate it very well. Call me.'

Double crap. Will he ever give me a breakI scowl at the phone. He is suffocating me. With a deep dread uncurling in my stomach, I scroll down to his number and press dial. My heart is in my mouth as I wait for him to answer. He'd probably like to beat seven shades of shit out of me . The thought is depressing.

”Hi,” he says softly, and his response knocks me off balance because I am expecting his anger, but if anything, he sounds relieved.

”Hi,” I murmur.

”I was worried about you.”

”I know. I'm sorry I didn't reply, but I'm fine.”

He pauses for a beat.

”Did you have a pleasant evening?” He is crisply polite.