setting up ethernet shield

im using xp , the ip address of the computer is 172.18.10.53, and its a works computer. in the end i want the arduino hooked into the works network so that it can send a email internally but i have no clue on this. i have been told a free available ip address within my company is 172.18.5.52 so thats why i put that into the ethernet shield. any information on what i need to do will be appriacted. i have the email and all info of the receiver e.g their ip address plus other stuff that might be needed for security