fifty-shades-of-grey

No… no… he can’t leave me hanging like this.“Please put these drinks on my tab, room number 612. I’ll call on you in the morning,Anastasia. Until tomorrow, Carla.”“Oh, it’s so nice to hear someone use your full name.”“Beautiful name for a beautiful girl,” Christian murmurs, shaking her outstretchedhands, and she actually simpers.Oh Mom, – et tu Bruté? I stand, gazing up at him, imploring him to answer my question,and he kisses my cheek, chastely.“Laters, baby,” he whispers in my ear. Then he’s gone.Damned control-freak-bastard. My anger returns in full force. I slump into my chairand turn to face my mother.“Well strike me down with a feather, Ana. He’s a catch. I don’t know what’s going onbetween you two though. I think you need to talk to each other. Phew – the UST in here,it’s unbearable.” She fans herself theatrically.“MOM!”“Go talk to him.”“I can’t. I came here to see you.”“Ana, you came here because you’re confused about that boy. It’s obvious you two arecrazy about each other. You need to talk to him. He’s just flown three thousand odd milesto see you, for heaven’s sake. And you know how awful it is to fly.”I flush. I haven’t told her about his private plane.“What?” she snaps at me.“He has his own plane,” I mumble, embarrassed, and it’s only two and a half thousandmiles, Mom.Why am I embarrassed? Her eyebrows shoot up.“Wow,” she mutters. “Ana, there’s something going on between you two. I’ve beentrying to fathom it since you arrived here. But the only way you are going to sort the problem,whatever it is, is to talk it through with him. You can do all the thinking you like – butuntil you actually talk, you’re not going to get anywhere.”I frown at my mother.“Ana, honey, you’ve always had a tendency to over-analyze everything. Go with yourgut. What does that tell you, sweetheart?”I stare at my fingers.“I think I’m in love with him,” I mutter.“I know darling. And he with you.”“No!”“Yes, Ana. Hell – what do you need? A neon sign flashing on his forehead?”I gape at her and tears prick the corner of my eyes.“Ana, darling. Don’t cry.”“I don’t think he loves me.”“I don’t care how rich you are, you don’t drop everything and get in your private planeto cross a whole continent just for afternoon tea. Go to him! This is a beautiful location,very romantic. It’s also neutral territory.”I squirm under her gaze. I want to go and I don’t.