Dad is there waiting as I get off the bus. I'm so relieved to see him. He doesn't say anything but just guides me to the car.

'You ok?' he asks once we're driving home.

'Yes, I just lost track of the time and when I realised it was so I late panicked a bit about getting home. I'm sorry dad for calling you so you had to collect me.'

'Hey, don't worry about it. The amount of times I've had to pick Elliot and Christian up when they couldn't get home. At least you were working and not out drinking.'

'Is mom cross?'

'No, she was worried though. We just assumed you would be staying at Christian's. Was he really angry with you?'

'Yes, so angry that he wouldn't speak to me.' I say

Dad actually laughs 'Only Christian can get that angry. I'll speak to him. He has to realise that you need to make mistakes and learn from them. He can't control every minute of your life.'

'Thanks dad.' I say as he pulls onto the drive.

'I'm leaving about eight in the morning if you want a lift to work.'

'That would be good, I'd better try and get up a bit earlier and have some breakfast. I made him mad about that as well. How does he know which questions to ask to make me feel guilty enough to tell him everything?'

Dad doesn't answer just smiles as mom opens the front door.

'Hi darling boy, are you ok?'

'Yes mom, I just panicked when I realised it was so late and I was still at work. I'm sorry for making you worry.'

'That's ok. As long as you're fine. I'm off to bed as I've got a long shift tomorrow. Don't stay up too late.' She says, giving me a hug and kiss.

Mom and dad climb the stairs and go to bed. I head to the kitchen to find something to eat. Making a drink and some toast I sit at the kitchen table and get out my phone. There are no new messages. I email Christian; perhaps this is the only way to communicate with him at the moment.

From: Matthew Grey

To: Christian Grey

Subject: SCARED

Christian,

Yes I am scared of you, you terrify me at times but you're not half as scary as the girl I saw outside Grey House when I left work at 11pm tonight. I lost track of the time and had to get the bus home because you were too angry with me so I couldn't ask you for a lift or to stay with you and I didn't have the keys to the new car. Luckily I was already on the bus because as it drove off the girl smiled at me and then pulled a gun from her coat. That was FUCKING SCARY! I don't want to know all the shit that went on with you and this girl but hell Christian I'm fucking angry with you now for getting me involved with all this.

You told me that you would be there for me, I called but there was no answer. I needed you tonight but you weren't there, dad was and he came and collected me from the bus stop. Don't worry I haven't said anything to mom or dad about the girl, I only told them that I panicked a bit about getting home when I realised it was so late and with all my past insecurities they believed me.

Dad is dropping me at work tomorrow, though we are leaving here at 8am so I will be late. He might call you because I told him that you were angry with me about Friday. I had to tell him something so don't take it out on me, I was covering for you!

Matt.

I switch the phone off; I don't want to know whether he's going to reply tonight or not. It's too late for him to be there for me now when it was earlier that I needed him. I go to bed totally exhausted and I'm asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

The alarm goes off and I'm quite surprised at what a good night's sleep I've had. After quickly showering and getting dressed I go to the kitchen for some breakfast. Mia is already up.

'Hi Matt, do you want some pancakes.'

'Thanks Mia that would be good, where's mom and dad?'

'Mom's already left for work and dad is in the shower. Do you think we should do something for Christian's birthday on Saturday? I could organise a party. You could invite Hannah.'

'Whatever Mia, I'm not fussed and you know what Christians like. He hates anything to do with birthday celebrations.' I don't tell her we're not speaking again, hopefully we'll have made up by the weekend. If he doesn't already have plans then there's no stopping Mia once she gets going.

'I'll call him later and ask him. What is he like to work for? Does he watch everything you do?' she asks.

She never shuts up, but she's waiting for an answer. 'He's ok, leaves me to get on with stuff most of the time.'

'That's good then, I thought he'd be watching your every move. Do you think Hannah would like to hang out at the mall sometime?'

'I'm not sure, you'll have to ask her but I think she's quite busy most of the summer because she's working in her mom's florist, even I don't see that much of her. Thanks for making breakfast, I'd better go cos dad's giving me a lift and I don't want to make him late.' I say as an excuse to get away so that she doesn't question me any further. I go to clean my teeth then get all my stuff together, wallet, phone and house keys. I leave the car keys on the side.

I'm actually ready at the same time as dad this morning, I think even he is surprised. It's always been a long standing joke in our family that I am always rushing around at the last minute trying to get ready and I am rarely early for anything. We listen to the traffic news as dad drives, I'm not sure why he does this every morning, it always sounds the same, the traffic is always queuing in certain places it's called rush hour, surely even the reporter must get bored saying the same thing time and time again.

He turns to me and says 'Will you be ok at work today?'

'Yes dad, I'll be fine.'

'I'll be finished at 6pm and you mom at 8pm, please call one of us for a lift home. I don't want you working later than that after last night.'

'OK, I'll set an alarm on my phone to remind me.' I smirk at him.

'It would help if you actually switched your phone on. You must be the only person I know that isn't permanently attached to one.'

'I don't see the need for one all the time. Christian even uses his in meetings, it's a bit rude.'

'Since when did you start getting annoyed with Christian, he's always been your hero. I'll call him later and ask him to leave you alone on your personal life with Hannah. Remember though the security and anything to do with work he's just looking out for you.'

'OK, we're here now. I'll call later. Dad, will you wait until I'm in the building like yesterday?'

He gives me a puzzled look but doesn't ask why. He just says 'Sure, see you tonight, don't forget to phone.'

I grin at him and say 'Thanks for the lift, see you later.'

I see him wait and then drive away as I enter the foyer. I make my way over to the elevator and my desk on the 17th floor. Just after nine the phone on my desk rings. It's Andrea,

'Mr Grey would like to see you in his office now.'

'Morning Andrea, I'm busy at the moment, can it wait until later?' I ask her. I can hear her sucking in her breath; she probably hasn't had anyone say that before when Christian wants to see them. I think she's almost lost for words. I smile at myself, I'm not really that busy but it would be good to make him wait for me, then I start having doubts maybe I should just see him and get this over with.

'Well I could check with him.' She answers nervously.

'Andrea, don't worry, I'll just finish what I'm doing and then I'll be up to see him, I shouldn't be too long.'

'Thank you Matthew' she says and puts the phone down. I smile again as I click for another game of solitaire to start on the computer.

I can feel his presence before I see him. He's stood behind me. I look at the clock on the computer and it's now 10am. Shit where did the time go.

'So a card game is more important than I am. We can either talk here with the rest of the office listening in or you can be in my office in five minutes.' He says quietly in my ear. I turn and look at him; he must see the fear in my eyes as he says softly. 'Don't be scared; follow me up to the office in five, ok.' I nod and he disappears.