"Welcome back Mr. Grey." Taylor greats me, I'm not surprised that he's the one who came to pick me up from the airport. God knows my parents are busy business people. And my sister, Phoebe- well she's probably at work, she's a math teacher at Garfield High School. And she's just 24.
"Thank you Taylor," I say as I sit at the back seat of the car. I pull out my phone and send a text to my mother. 'Just arrived, on my way home.'
"Where will we be heading to Mr Grey?" Taylor asks me.
"Escala" I answer. And just on cue, my phone rings. And don't even need to see the id to know who it is.
"Hello mother," I answer on the second ring.
"A text?" my mother asks with a bit of edge to her voice. "You arrive from L.A. after almost five months that I haven't seen you, and all I get is a text?" gees she sounds like a needy girlfriend. I run my hand through my hair with exasperation, and take a deep breath.
"I'm sorry if I offended you mother. It's been a long weekend and I've barely slept." I say tiredly. My mother doesn't need the glory details of my weekend. That all my energy was spent on Amber and Katy, they had a great 'good-bye' present for me. They gave themselves.
"Oh you didn't offend me dear; it's just that I've missed you so much. We'll see you this evening? Everyone is dyeing to see you." I roll my eyes. Oh fuck me, I forgot about the fucking meal. Every dinner that includes the whole family is an invite for them to put their noses in my business.
Taking another deep breath I ask my mom with curiosity, "And who exactly is included when you say everyone?"
"Everyone is everyone. Dad and Phoebe. Grandma and grandpa. Kate and Eliot with Ava and Mia and Ethan with Monique and George. So yea, I think that everyone."
Heals bells; Phoebe, Ava and Monique together. This is going to be a long night. Well I know for sure that wine will be running tonight. Better bring an extra bottle just in case.
"I'll be there at six." I say, just actually noticing how tried I really am. I can actually almost smell the perfume of my sheets at Escala. It will be weird living at Escala again. Sure, every time I visit my family or work here at Seattle I would stay at Escala. But now I'm moving for good back to my old apartment.
My parents officially moved out when I needed a place in the city after I've graduated college. After graduating Harvard with honors for Politics and Economics, it wasn't such a surprise that I started working for my father. Now at the age of 26, I'm the COO of Grey Enterprising Holding INC. And for the last two years I've been living in L.A. were we've expanded the company.
I'm telling you, coming back to Seattle was not my idea. Leaving sunny and bikini paradise Los Angelis was never an option, but my father said that the COO and the CEO of the company should be working together. And I'll be damned if my mother hadn't had anything to do with this, knowing that she hated the idea of me leaving Seattle. Ros will now be the head of GEH in L.A. God knows she's been working for my father for years. We both trust hear with closed eyes.
"Oh Teddy dear, you sound so low. I'll let you get some rest. See you tonight love." My mother says on the over line and I'm glad she got the hint. Don't get me wrong, I love my mother more that anything in the whole world. And yea, I guess you can call me a mama's boy, but I'm so tired right now I don't think even sex will make me wann'a get out of bed. Or my sleep, whatever, you get the idea.
"See you tonight mother." I hang up and rest my head against the headboard of the seat with my eyes closed. Before I can even drift of the car stops, and Taylor enounces that we've arrived. Opening my eyes I see the familiar garage of Escala. Stepping out of the car Taylor hands me my suitcase with one hand and three separate car keys. My car keys. If there is something I missed in L.A. it's been my cars.
"Thank you Taylor, I guess I'll see you tonight." I say with a smile, while all I can think is; my cars are back to me. "Sure will Mr Grey." Taylor says with amusement, obviously noticing my reaction from my car keys. Lifting my eyes up, he's already in the car. And as I head to the building, I can see them, my three beautiful babies. I guess it won't be that bad after all.
Parking my car outside my parent's house, I see at least nine cars in the driveway. Looking down at my watch I see that it's 17:48, Early as usual, but it seems like I'm not the first to arrive. I recognize my parent's cars, Phoebe's and two others telling me that my grandparents are here so as Kate and Eliot. There are two others I do not recognize.
Well. I guess I'm the last to show up. Weird, I'm never the last to arrive, I hate it. I don't get a chance to open the door before it flies open with Phoebe in the doorway with a wide grin.
"Teddy-bear's here!" Phoebe shouts, I roll my eyes. I hate it when people call me that. But if she's gonna play that game with me, "Well if it isn't my little sister Peebe!"I say with a fake smile that transforms into a genuine one once I see her face looks like a growling dog.
She still hugs me though, and when I return the hung I see in the corner of my eye my whole family approaching to me. Mom running in the front.
I hate this king of reunions. They're so awkward.
Finally we're sitting in the dining table, and I'm halfway through my second glass of wine. As promised, my father and I don't talk about work. Sitting with my mother at one side and George; my youngest cousin (Mia and Ethan's second child, born three years after their first daughter Monique.) I start a conversation with him talking about his last year in high school and college. The conversation isn't very deep, but they never are when the whole family is together.
After dinner, we all sit in the main room and drink coffee. Its 20:08 and it's the third time the last half an hour that I looked at my clock.
"Are you being late for a very important date, little Teddy- bear?" Phoebe asks loud enough to get everyone's attention on me, obviously she notes me staring at my Rolex every five seconds. The one topic I'm not interested bringing up tonight. God knows my family would like the details.
"No," I answer calmly, "just checking if it's time for you to go potty Peebe…" Ha, that shut her up for good. Though she wasn't that wrong. I'm heading to Kelly after this diner. When she heard I was back for good in Seattle, she wanted to give me a 'welcome back home' gift. And who am I to reject a gift like that.
As I've been told, my mother was the first girl my dad brought home to introduce to the family. Apparently, they thought he was gay or something. I'm the same. Since my high school sweetheart and I broke up, I haven't brought a girl over. Not that it was a tough break up, or that she scared me in some way. I went to Harvard She went to Yale, it wasn't really that dramatic. I think she lives in Chicago now. I know for a fact that she's an ER doctor. Emma Brooks, My first lay.
And not like my dad, there was never a doubt if I was gay. The tabloids gave me enough headlines on the gossip page both in Seattle and L.A.
"Watch your tongue Ted," my father threatened, "or I won't tell you the big news at GEH that will start tomorrow." He said with a smile pulling his drink to his lips. Well that got my attention.
"Well what is it?" I ask, a bit irritated that my father does big decisions in GEH without me. But I don't know why I'm surprised. At the end of the day he's the biggest control freak I have crossed.
"Well starting tomorrow Ms. Nina Jones and you will be officially introduced, and will be working together on all of the accounts as equal. And before you get pants up your ass, you're still COO, she's not taking your job, but you need to learn some of her moves 'cause she's absolutely genies."
The room was silent for a few seconds. My mind was literally blank at this point. Once I was able to say anything, I found myself say the word aloud. "WHAT!" Ok, maybe shouting the word aloud.
It seemed like my father was expecting that reaction, since he didn't look surprised. He just put his empty glass on the coffee table and says in a relaxed tone. "I think it's about time you two be introduced to each other, somehow every time you came to Seattle she found herself…"
"What?" I shouted again, slamming my own glass against the coffee table, causing a bit of brandy to spill and almost everyone in the main room to jump. But my father still seemed cool and in control. Damn him.
He knew why I interrupted him. Yes I agree that it was about time Ms. Jones and I finally were officially introduced. But that wasn't that part of all he said that made me react like I did. And he knows it. So, he answers what really bothered me.
"May I remind you, That Ms. Jones was the one to clean up the mess you've left with Mr. Mills and the multi millions deal you almost ruined; and who was the one cleaning that mess?" he asks it his business tone.
Ok, that shithead Mr. Mills was the biggest mind fucker I've ever met. For an hour he sat in front of me telling me he found a better offer than GEH. I have no idea how this Ms. Nina Jones made him sign the damn deal.
"And what about Mrs. Bloom?" my father goes on, "I don't think I need to remind us that you've almost lost me my fist client ever with your stupid cocky attitude."
Ok, that might have been my fault. I never should have used sarcasm with a woman who clearly doesn't have any sense of hummer. Hell those two were the only times I've ever messed-up any deals. Any time we disagree he has to bring those two up. Hell I'm not gonna sit here letting him trash me in front of my family.
"All right," I say, finally managing to say a word that's not what. "I'm going to be the bigger man here and not highlight Ms. Jones's fuck ups, or mention my last deal in L.A. that with all the money it will bring us in we'll probably have to open another new bank account." I say matter of factly. Rising up and heading to my mother. Plus, I should really head away to Kelly's place. Don't want to be late for that reunion.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the office were I'll finally meet this Ms. Jones." I say to my father without looking at him. Giving my mother and grandmother a good bye kiss on their cheeks, they start to protest me leaving so early. Phoebe silence's the two of them by saying; "He's not really upset, it's an excuse to leave to his sexy date."
That girl, as much as I hate her some time's, she gets me. When my mother sees my smile on my face, and understands the true mining for my leaving she just says "Oh". "Have fun!" Ava calls as I start to leave. "And don't forget protection!" Phoebe shouts after her. Gees can this be any more embarrassing.
"I'll see you tomorrow at 9 o'clock sharp in my office, were you'll meat Ms. Jones." My dad says. And with that, I leave and close the front door behind me.
Stepping in my car, I put the radio on as loud as I can and make my way to central Seattle were Kelly lives. But all the way there, all I can think about is that bitch Nina Jones.
God that Ms. Jones, I don't know her but I already hate her. I bet she's this fat miserable woman in her late 40's. Single obviously, maybe even gay. I mean why she would be called Ms. and not Miss. I'm guessing really ugly, low self confidence. She probably hate's men, especially handsome successful and rich, like me. Has several cats' that keep her company between working her ass off and watching cheesy corny romantic movies like 'The Notebook', or 'Pride and Prejudice'.
Driving way over the speed limit, thinking of the witch Ms. Jones and having the music on high, I make it to Kelly's in less than 15 minutes. Standing outside her apartment door, I'm a half hour early but when she opens the door; she seems to be ready enough, and not surprised by my early presence.
She's wearing a red satin corset with a matching satin thong. Black stocking with a black seam at the back and the black Louboutins pumps I've bout her.
And with that vision, I forget all about Ms. Jones…
