fifty-shades-of-grey

and Christian makes me uncomfortable. I have to say I don’t know which of them I wouldput my money on.Kate concludes her speech with a flourish, and spontaneously everyone stands, applaudingand cheering, her first standing ovation. I beam at her and cheer, and she grinsback at me. Good job, Kate. She sits, as does the audience, and the Chancellor rises and introducesChristian… holy shit, Christian’s going to give a speech. The Chancellor touchesbriefly on Christian’s achievements: CEO of his own extraordinarily successful company,a real self-made man.“And also a major benefactor to our University, please welcome, Mr. Christian Grey.”The Chancellor pumps Christian’s hand, and there is a swell of polite applause. Myheart’s in my throat. He approaches the lectern and surveys the hall. He looks so confidentstanding in front of us all, as Kate did before him. The two girls beside me lean in, enraptured.In fact, I think most of the female members of the audience inch closer and a few ofthe men. He begins, his voice soft, measured, and mesmerizing.“I’m profoundly grateful and touched by the great compliment accorded to me by theauthorities of WSU today. It offers me a rare opportunity to talk about the impressive workof the environmental science department here at the University. Our aim is to develop viableand ecologically sustainable methods of farming for third world countries; our ultimategoal is to help eradicate hunger and poverty across the globe. Over a billion people, mainlyin Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, live in abject poverty. Agriculturaldysfunction is rife within these parts of the world and the result is ecological and socialdestruction. I have known what it’s like to be profoundly hungry. This is a very personaljourney for me… ”My jaw falls to the floor. What? Christian was hungry once. Holy crap. Well, that explainsa great deal. And I recall the interview; he really does want to feed the world. I desperatelyrack my brains to remember what Kate had written in her article. Adopted at agefour, I think. I can’t imagine that Grace starved him, so it must have been before then, asa little boy. I swallow, my heart constricting at the thought of a hungry, gray-eyed toddler.Oh no. What kind of life did he have before the Greys got hold of him and rescued him?I’m seized by a sense of raw outrage, poor, fucked-up, kinky, philanthropic Christian –though I’m sure he wouldn’t see himself this way and would repel any thoughts of sympathyor pity. Abruptly, everyone bursts into applause and stands. I follow, though I haven’theard half his speech. He’s doing all of these good works, running a huge company, andchasing me at the same time. It’s overwhelming. I remember the brief snippets of conversationshe’s had about Darfur… it all falls into place. Food.He smiles briefly at the warm applause – even Kate is clapping, then he resumes hisseat. He doesn’t look my way, and I’m off-kilter trying to assimilate this new informationabout him.One of the Vice Chancellors rises, and we begin the long, tedious process of collectingour degrees. There are over four hundred to be given out, and it takes just over an hourbefore I hear my name. I make my way up to the stage between the two giggling girls.Christian gazes down at me, his gaze warm but guarded.“Congratulations, Miss Steele,” he says as he shakes my hand, squeezing it gently. Ifeel the charge of his flesh on mine. “Do you have a problem with your laptop?”