E L James - Fifty Shades of Grey

First published by The Writers Coffee Shop, 2011

Copyright E L James, 2011

The right of E L James to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part maybe reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

The Writers Coffee Shop

(Australia) PO Box 2013 Hornsby Westfield NSW 1635

(USA) PO Box 2116 Waxahachie TX 75168

Paperback ISBN-978-1-61213-028-6

E-book ISBN-978-1-61213-029-3

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the US Congress Library.

Cover image by: Papuga2006 | Dreamstime.com

Cover design by: Jennifer McGuire

www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/ejames

E L James is a TV executive, wife, and mother of two, based in West London. Since early childhood, she dreamt of writing stories that readers would fall in love with, but put those dreams on hold to focus on her family and her career. She finally plucked up the courage to put pen to paper with her first novel, Fifty Shades of Grey.

E L James is currently working on the sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey and a new romantic thriller with a supernatural twist.

I am indebted to the following people for their help and support: To my husband Niall thank you for tolerating my obsession, being a domestic god and doing the first edit.

To my boss Lisa thank you for putting up with me over the last year or so while I indulged in this madness.

To CCL Ill never tell but thank you.

To the original bunker babes thank you for your friendship and constant support.

To SR thank you for all the helpful advice from the start and for going first.

To Sue thanks for sorting me out.

To Amanda and all at TWCS thank you for taking a punt.

I scowl with frustration at myself in the mirror. Damn my hair it just wont behave, and damn Katherine Kavanagh for being ill and subjecting me to this ordeal. I should be studying for my final exams, which are next week, yet here I am trying to brush my hair into submission. I must not sleep with it wet. I must not sleep with it wet. Reciting this mantra several times, I attempt, once more, to bring it under control with the brush. I roll my eyes in exasperation and gaze at the pale, brown-haired girl with blue eyes too big for her face staring back at me, and give up. My only option is to restrain my wayward hair in a ponytail and hope that I look semi presentable.

Kate is my roommate, and she has chosen today of all days to succumb to the flu.

Therefore, she cannot attend the interview shed arranged to do, with some mega-industri-alist tycoon Ive never heard of, for the student newspaper. So I have been volunteered. I have final exams to cram for, one essay to finish, and Im supposed to be working this afternoon, but no today I have to drive a hundred and sixty-five miles to downtown Seattle in order to meet the enigmatic CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc. As an exceptional entrepreneur and major benefactor of our University, his time is extraordinarily precious

much more precious than mine but he has granted Kate an interview. A real coup, she tells me. Damn her extra-curricular activities.

Kate is huddled on the couch in the living room.

Ana, Im sorry. It took me nine months to get this interview. It will take another six to reschedule, and well both have graduated by then. As the editor, I cant blow this off. Please, Kate begs me in her rasping, sore throat voice. How does she do it? Even ill she looks gamine and gorgeous, strawberry blonde hair in place and green eyes bright, although now red-rimmed and runny. I ignore my pang of unwelcome sympathy.

Of course Ill go Kate. You should get back to bed. Would you like some Nyquil or Tylenol?

Nyquil, please. Here are the questions and my mini-disc recorder. Just press record here. Make notes, Ill transcribe it all.

I know nothing about him, I murmur, trying and failing to suppress my rising panic.

The questions will see you through. Go. Its a long drive. I dont want you to be late.

Okay, Im going. Get back to bed. I made you some soup to heat up later. I stare at her fondly. Only for you, Kate, would I do this.

I will. Good luck. And thanks Ana as usual, youre my lifesaver.

Gathering my satchel, I smile wryly at her, then head out the door to the car. I cannot believe I have let Kate talk me into this. But then Kate can talk anyone into anything.

Shell make an exceptional journalist. Shes articulate, strong, persuasive, argumentative, beautiful and shes my dearest, dearest friend.

The roads are clear as I set off from Vancouver, WA toward Portland and the I-5. Its early, and I dont have to be in Seattle until two this afternoon. Fortunately, Kates lent me her sporty Mercedes CLK. Im not sure Wanda, my old VW Beetle, would make the journey in time. Oh, the Merc is a fun drive, and the miles slip away as I floor the pedal to the metal.

My destination is the headquarters of Mr. Greys global enterprise. Its a huge twenty-story office building, all curved glass and steel, an architects utilitarian fantasy, with Grey House written discreetly in steel over the glass front doors. Its a quarter to two when I arrive, greatly relieved that Im not late as I walk into the enormous and frankly intimidating glass, steel, and white sandstone lobby.

Behind the solid sandstone desk, a very attractive, groomed, blonde young woman smiles pleasantly at me. Shes wearing the sharpest charcoal suit jacket and white shirt I have ever seen. She looks immaculate.

Im here to see Mr. Grey. Anastasia Steele for Katherine Kavanagh.

Excuse me one moment, Miss Steele. She arches her eyebrow slightly as I stand self-consciously before her. I am beginning to wish Id borrowed one of Kates formal blazers rather than wear my navy blue jacket. I have made an effort and worn my one and only skirt, my sensible brown knee-length boots and a blue sweater. For me, this is smart. I tuck one of the escaped tendrils of my hair behind my ear as I pretend she doesnt intimidate me.

Miss Kavanagh is expected. Please sign in here, Miss Steele. Youll want the last elevator on the right, press for the twentieth floor. She smiles kindly at me, amused no doubt, as I sign in.

She hands me a security pass that has VISITOR very firmly stamped on the front. I cant help my smirk. Surely its obvious that Im just visiting. I dont fit in here at all.

Nothing changes, I inwardly sigh. Thanking her, I walk over to the bank of elevators past the two security men who are both far more smartly dressed than I am in their well-cut black suits.