Ana nodded politely to Sawyer and got into the waiting car downstairs. She quickly texted her husband to let him know she wouldn't be coming, bracing herself for his reaction.

What to say though?

She did legitimately need to stop by her office, so she figured that was as good an excuse as any other. It was more like a white lie, but Ana needed time to get her bearings in order — and her breast milk under control.

So sorry but I can't make it to lunch. Something came up at work and I have to go in. Don't be mad. I'll take a rain check and make it up to you later — I promise ;)

The little smiley face did little to temper Christian's frayed nerves. Fuck! It was like an ice-cold bucket of water had just been poured down his pants — and it still hadn't done the trick.

He paced his office like a caged animal and was about to call his wife to command — no beg — her to come in but backed off. Maybe his incessant harping was starting to irritate her. Tonight, he told himself, he can make it to tonight. But as he sat down to text her back, he gave their lunchtime rendezvous one last college try.

Are you sure? Do you want me to come to you?

Oh God no, Ana panicked. Sex in Christian's palatial, private office was one thing. Sex in her cramped, crowded office was quite another.

No I'm really swamped. Tonight please?

He relented, literally banging his head against the desk.

Ok baby. I'll see you tonight. Be ready.

She was greeted warmly by Hannah the minute she walked into Grey Publishing, her home away from home.

"Hi Ana! No Phoebe? When do we get to meet her?" her devoted assistant asked.

"Soon, I swear. This is just a quick visit to get some paperwork in order before I come back in two weeks. I'll bring her around then. How is everything here?"

Before Hannah could reply, a tall man with a wavy mop of black hair approached Ana, interrupting their conversation.

Stephen Blaine was a prolific author, and a smooth talker. He was attractive, no doubt. He knew it and thrived on it, preying on his looks to get ahead in his life and career.

"Ana what a wonderful coincidence," he beamed, pulling her in for an awkward hug, his exuberance practically knocking her over. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned handshakes? "It's been far too long. How have you been? I heard you just had a daughter. Congratulations. My goodness, you look absolutely amazing."

"Thank you," she replied — for that completely inappropriate compliment, she thought to herself. "I've been good. I'm just here for a quick visit. Claire tells me the new book is coming along well," she said, motioning to Claire, who exchanged a knowing wink with her boss at Stephen's expense. All the ladies knew he was an incorrigible flirt.

"It is, it is. But I still need your output. When you're back full time how about we grab lunch to personally discuss it?"

"Sure that sounds good," she replied brusquely. Not going to happen, she thought as she gave Hannah a look that said, "Don't you dare schedule this."

"I'll see you later Stephen," she turned before he could kiss her on the cheek, leaving him hanging, literally, as Hannah and Claire snickered behind him.

Combing through the pile of papers on her desk, Ana shook her head in amusement at the suave but blatantly transparent author. "I suppose Christian is right. He's not the only one who has to deal with unwanted attention at work," she thought, feeling even sillier for running out of his office like a coward.

She resolved to make it up to him and make their reunion special, picturing the skimpy lingerie she would wear for him tonight.

Ana shot Christian another note reminding him that she loved him and that she couldn't wait to see him.

Her text mollified him somewhat, but Christian wasn't waiting until 5 to leave the office. He quickly made his way out of GEH early, eager to get home. He ignored the deferential nods and farewells his intimidated staff gave him as he barreled through the lobby, except for Calvin's. He always had a soft spot for the old man.

"Goodnight Calvin. Go home to your wife," he said.

"Goodnight Mr. Grey. And tell your wife it was nice seeing her today."

Christian stopped in his tracks. Ana hadn't been in the office for weeks. "What?" he asked, rounding on the kind security officer.

"Mrs. Grey. I spoke with her today before she went up to your office," he answered matter-of-factly, unaware of the implications of his revelation. Hiding his surprise behind his CEO mask of impassivity, Christian merely nodded and gave Calvin a terse goodbye.

"Taylor, was Ana here today?" he bellowed the minute he reached the car.

"Yes sir, for your lunch appointment. But Sawyer said she left early to go to Grey Publishing. We assumed she spoke with you," his trusted head of security told him, unsure of where this line of questioning was going.

"No she fucking didn't. I didn't see her. Let's go," Christian barked.

After calling Sawyer only to hear the same story, Christian sat in the backseat, seething with rage — and with a litany of questions. Why the fuck had Ana lied to him? Why had she shown up and not even told him?

"What time did Mrs. Grey arrive?" Christian abruptly asked.

"Approximately noon," Taylor replied stoically.

Right when my meeting was ending, Christian thought. Did those bitches say something to her? And where the hell was that new intern, Lydia, Linda, Lindsey? Whatever her name was, she would be fired tomorrow.

He doubted even Angelique and Tiffany would be dumb enough to blow a multimillion-dollar deal by disparaging his wife, so he moved onto his next theory. Was there something going on at her office that she didn't want me to know about? Was it more important?

He called Hannah demanding that she email him Grey Publishing's schedule for the day. When he scoured the appointment log, he noticed the noon booking: Stephen Blaine. What the fuck! That pretentious sack of shit has been trying to get into Ana's panties for two years now. Christian had given her grief every time she met with him until he finally wore her down and she agreed to hand over all of his manuscripts to Claire.

Jumping to all the wrong conclusions, Christian ordered Taylor to step on it as he raced home to confront his evasive wife.