Chapter Fourteen #2
Suddenly, the room erupts into applause as Miss Katherine Kavanagh has taken the stage.
The chancellor sits, and Kate tosses her lovely long hair behind her as she places her papers on the lectern.
She takes her time, not intimidated by a thousand people staring at her.
She smiles when she’s ready, looks up at the captivated throng, and launches eloquently into her speech.
She’s composed and funny, the girls beside me erupting on cue at her first joke.
Oh, Katherine Kavanagh, you can deliver a good line.
I am so proud of her at that moment, my errant thoughts of Christian pushed to one side.
Even though I have heard her speech before, I listen carefully.
She commands the room and takes her audience with her.
Her theme is “What Next After College?” Oh, what next indeed.
Christian is watching Kate, his eyebrows raised—in surprise, I think.
Yes, it could have been Kate who went to interview him.
And it could have been Kate who he was now making indecent proposals to.
Beautiful Kate and beautiful Christian, together.
I could be like the two girls beside me, admiring him from afar.
I know Kate wouldn’t have given him the time of day.
What did she call him the other day? Creepy.
The thought of a confrontation between Kate and Christian makes me uncomfortable.
I have to say I don’t know which of them I would put my money on.
Kate concludes her speech with a flourish, and spontaneously everyone stands, applauding and cheering, her first standing ovation.
I beam at her and cheer, and she grins back at me.
Good job, Kate. She sits, as does the audience, and the chancellor rises and introduces Christian, touching briefly 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.
My heart’s in my throat. He approaches the lectern and surveys the hall.
He looks so confident standing 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 of the men.
He begins, his voice soft, measured, and mesmerizing.
“I’m profoundly grateful and touched by the great compliment accorded to me by the authorities of WSU today.
It offers me a rare opportunity to talk about the impressive work of the Environmental Science Department here at the university.
Our aim is to develop viable and ecologically sustainable methods of farming for developing countries; our ultimate goal is to help eradicate hunger and poverty across the globe.
Over a billion people, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, live in abject poverty.
Agricultural dysfunction is rife within these parts of the world, and the result is ecological and social destruction.
I have known what it’s like to be profoundly hungry.
This is a very personal journey for me…”
My jaw falls to the floor. What? Christian was hungry once.
Holy crap. Well, that explains a great deal.
And I recall the interview; he really does want to feed the world.
I desperately rack my brains to remember what Kate had written in her article.
Adopted at age four, I think. I can’t imagine that Grace starved him, so it must have been before then, as a 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 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 sympathy or pity.
Abruptly, everyone bursts into applause and stands.
I follow, though I haven’t heard half his speech.
He’s doing all these good works, running a huge company, and chasing me at the same time.
It’s overwhelming. I remember the brief snippets of conversations he’s had about Darfur… It all falls into place.
Food.
He smiles briefly at the warm applause—even Kate is clapping—then he resumes his seat. He doesn’t look my way, and I’m off-kilter trying to assimilate this new information about him.
One of the vice chancellors rises, and we begin the long, tedious process of collecting our degrees. There are more than four hundred to be given out, and it takes just over an hour before I hear my name. I make my way up to the stage between the two giggling girls.
Christian gazes down at me, his look warm but guarded. “Congratulations, Miss Steele,” he says as he shakes my hand, squeezing it gently. I feel the charge of his flesh on mine. “Do you have a problem with your laptop?”
I frown as he hands me my degree. “No.”
“Then you are ignoring my emails?”
“I only saw the mergers and acquisitions one.”
He looks quizzically at me. “Later,” he says, and I have to move on because I’m holding up the line.
I go back to my seat. Emails? He must have sent another. What did it say?
The ceremony takes another hour to conclude. It’s interminable. Finally, the chancellor leads the faculty members off the stage to yet more rousing applause, preceded by Christian and Kate. Christian does not glance at me, even though I’m willing him to do it. My inner goddess is not pleased.
As I stand and wait for our row to disperse, Kate calls to me. She’s heading my way from behind the stage.
“Christian wants to talk to you,” she shouts.
The two girls who are now standing beside me turn and gape at me.
“He’s sent me out here,” she continues.
Oh…
“Your speech was great, Kate.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” She beams. “Are you coming? He can be very insistent.” She rolls her eyes, and I grin.
“You have no idea. I can’t leave Ray for long.” I glance up at Ray and hold my fingers up indicating five minutes. He nods, giving me an okay sign, and I follow Kate into the corridor behind the stage.
Christian is talking to the chancellor and two of the teaching staff.
He looks up when he sees me. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” I hear him mutter.
He comes toward me and smiles briefly at Kate.
“Thank you,” he says, and before she can reply, he takes my elbow and steers me into what looks like a men’s locker room.
He checks to see if it’s empty, then locks the door.
Holy shit, what does he have in mind?
He turns on me. “Why haven’t you emailed me? Or texted me back?” He glares. I’m nonplussed.
“I haven’t looked at my computer today, or my phone.” Crap, has he been trying to call? I try my distraction technique that’s so effective on Kate. “That was a great speech.”
“Thank you.”
“Explains your food issues to me.”
He runs a hand through his hair, exasperated. “Anastasia, I don’t want to go there at the moment.” He closes his eyes, looking pained. “I’ve been worried about you.”
“Worried, why?”
“Because you went home in that death trap you call a car.”
“What? It’s not a death trap. It’s fine. José regularly services it for me.”
“José, the photographer?” Christian’s eyes narrow, his face frosting.
Oh crap. “Yes, the Beetle used to belong to his mother.”
“Yes, and probably her mother and her mother before her. It’s not safe.”
“I’ve been driving it for over three years. I’m sorry you were worried. Why didn’t you call?” He’s completely overreacting.
He takes a deep breath. “Anastasia, I need an answer from you. This waiting around is driving me crazy.”
“Christian, I… Look, I’ve left my stepdad on his own.”
“Tomorrow. I want an answer by tomorrow.”
“Okay. Tomorrow. I’ll tell you then.”
He steps back, regarding me coolly, and his shoulders relax. “Are you staying for drinks?” he asks.
“I don’t know what Ray wants to do.”
“Your stepfather? I’d like to meet him.”
Oh no…why?
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Christian unlocks the door, his mouth in a grim line. “Are you ashamed of me?”
“No!” It’s my turn to sound exasperated. “Introduce you to my dad as what? ‘This is the man who deflowered me and wants us to start a BDSM relationship’? You’re not wearing running shoes.”
Christian glares down at me, and then his lips twitch up in a smile. And in spite of the fact I’m mad at him, my face is unwillingly pulled into an answering grin.
“Just so you know, I can run quite fast. Just tell him I’m your friend, Anastasia.”
He opens the door, and I head out. My mind is whirling. The chancellor, the three vice chancellors, four professors, and Kate stare at me as I walk hastily past them. Crap. Leaving Christian with the faculty, I go in search of Ray.
Tell him I’m your friend.
Friend with benefits, my subconscious scowls. I know, I know. I shake the unpleasant thought away. How will I introduce him to Ray? The hall is still at least half full, and Ray has not moved from his spot. He sees me, waves, and makes his way down.
“Hey, Annie. Congratulations.” He puts his arm around me.
“Would you like to come have a drink in the pavilion?”
“Sure. It’s your day. Lead the way.”
“We don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Please say no…
“Annie, I’ve just sat for two and half hours listening to all kinds of jabbering. I need a drink.”
I put my arm through his, and we stroll out with the throng into the warmth of the early afternoon. We pass the line for the official photographer.
“Oh, that reminds me.” Ray drags a digital camera out of his pocket. “One for the album, Annie.” I roll my eyes at him as he snaps a picture of me.
“Can I take the cap and gown off now? I feel kind of dorky.”