Christian's POV.
I stand at the window of my office watching the sprawling Seattle skyline. The sun is beginning to set and the rapidly diminishing sun plays a game of hide and seek with the few clouds that have formed in the sky. I love the fact I can look out without fear of being watched, photographed or harassed, it's the one place I feel really secure other than when I am flying the skies in Charlie Tango.
Business has nearly concluded for the day, I have a few documents to review for legal before my brother Elliot is coming to take me to some car thing he thinks will be interesting to me. I could do without this to be truthful, I know I need a new hobby, Mom, Dad, Elliot and Mia have all been hassling me to err what was it Mom said 'expand my horizons' but unless we are talking quality cars like Bugatti, Maserati, Aston Martin I am just not interested. I know whatever this is with Elliot is it's going to cost me a lot of money.
Elliot rat ta-ta tats at the door
"Hey Bro, you ready?" he walks in, sits on the sofa in my office and flicks through a GEH brochure that's on the coffee table
"Give me 5 Elliot" I say as I go to freshen up in my bathroom.
"Come on Christian, we are going to be late" Elliot grumbles.
"What is this thing tonight anyway?" I ask not really knowing what the answer is going to be.
"Racing Bro"
"Racing? Where?" I ask him.
"Evergreen Speedway stadium" he looks excited as he says it.
"You're taking me to a fucking banger race!?" I shout out of the bathroom "what a waste of my fucking time".
"No not banger racing but I am meeting someone with a very interesting business proposal and I think it may be of interest to you as well" he explains.
"It better be fucking interesting Elliot, this isn't my kind of scene" I feel extremely irritated and my temper is boiling very close to the surface.
I grab my jacket, hand the documents to Andrea my PA, say goodnight and walk to the elevator with Elliot.
"Chill bro, you need to relax more, it's Friday night, and we will go and have a few beers afterwards" I can see he is trying hard so I take a deep breath and relax a little.
Taylor is waiting for us in the parking garage
"Good evening sir, Mr Grey has filled me in on where we are going" he says as he opens the rear door for me.
"Thank you Taylor" the door closes behind me.
The roads around the stadium is packed and we sit in a traffic jam for what seems like forever and I can feel my patience running thin again.
"What's going on here tonight Elliot?" I ask
"There is some competition happening but it's also a time for team bosses to scout for potential new drivers and sponsors"
"So are you going to tell me exactly what WE are doing here?" I snap.
"I met an associate of racing team owner who is looking for some financial backing. Tonight we meet the owner to discuss what may be involved" Elliot ignores my growing irritation.
"Basically he needs money to continue running his team, right?" Elliot nods "and how is this a good financial investment for us?"
"Well there are lots of advertising opportunities but don't you find the prospect of being associated with a NASCAR team, err well, exciting?" Elliot looks so enthusiastic I can't dampen his eagerness.
"I suppose association with NASCAR racing would be interesting but I will need shit loads of information before I make any commitments" I contemplate the possibilities whilst we park.
"I think you will find it very interesting Christian. We are meeting Ray Steele of Steele Racing Team"
"You mean Ray Steele the former NASCAR racing driver?" I ask.
"Yes as a matter of fact, why Christian, you know more about racing than you are letting on" Elliot teases.
"I remember Dad had an interest and used to watch racing on the television. If I recall correctly he had moderate success as a driver himself before injury forced him to retire a few years ago"
"You are absolutely correct bro, he manages the team and according to my sources, he has a new young driver with great potential but for them to compete with the bigger corporate teams, sponsorship is needed to improve the car and team facilities"
"Hmm, we will see, I won't be making any commitment tonight Elliot, I need to do some more research and of course speak to legal"
As we near the entrance to the stadium the volume of noise increases significantly and all I can smell is fumes, oil and fast food, I wish now I had changed out of my Hugo Boss black suit.
Elliot has tickets and we enter into the park before heading over to the VIP area, well if you can call if a VIP area but at least it is quieter and less smelly in here. We are shown over to a table situated by the vast window, the pit wall is directly below us and it is surprising how much I can actually see. A waitress comes over, hmm petite, nice figure, great ass and beautiful long blonde hair. My mind wanders for a moment and I imagine her tied up to the bed, writhing in pleasure as I use a crop on that delicious ass of hers.
"….you happy with that Christian?" Elliot's voice snaps me out of that fantasy.
"Huh?"
"Beer?" Elliot asks and I nod before watching the waitress walk away from me, I feel a twitch in my pants but need to quell that quickly. It reminds me though that I need to schedule a session with Victoria and soon!
TANNOY- Good evening and welcome, just a few moments away from the start of this evenings racing (a loud cheer goes up from the crowd). This evening is sponsored by Walmart; don't forget to visit the concessions stands all ready to serve you delicious hot food and drink. And here we gooooooooo.
I am not sure how much of this I can stand, I hastily take a drink of beer that appeared while I was watching outside, may be this will make things a little less painful.
"Christian, this is Ray Steele of Steele Racing" Elliot announces, I spin around, stand up and look at a slightly greying, middle aged but fit man who looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"Mr Grey, it's a pleasure to meet you" he offers his hand and I shake it.
"Mr Steele, please take a seat" I indicate towards the vacant seat at our table "Would you like some refreshment?"
"Thank you, a beer will hit the mark" Ray says as I summon the waitress.
"So Mr Steele, my brother tells me you have a business proposition" there is the businessman in me, no niceties, just straight in for the information.
Elliot smirks; I think he knew it would be no messing around.
"I own Steele Racing, every year we have to renew our sponsorship deals, costs rise, fuel, tyres and crew as well as paying test drivers and the drivers themselves. Our biggest sponsor has pulled out which leaves me unable to afford to run the team for the next season. I have a very very good new driver who needs the chance to breakthrough to the big league. Steeley has huge potential but lacks experience so no big teams will offer a drive. Basically I need to replace the sponsor to continue racing"
He looks despondent and I don't have the heart to say no at this moment.
"For me to even consider your proposition Mr Steele; I need information, all of your running costs, income from races, salaries; I want to know projected fees for the season. I want to know what races you intend to compete in and where they are held. Have it correlated, sent to my office and I will make a decision based on what I find" I give him my business card.
"Thank you for your time Mr Grey, I really appreciate it" he holds his hand out again
"You're welcome Mr Steele" I say shaking his hand, he shakes Elliot's hand too and then he goes out of the VIP area.
"What do you think Christian?" Elliot eagerly awaits my reply.
"Can't see much in it to be honest, financially or otherwise" I respond much to Elliot's displeasure.
"Well if nothing else you would be saving a whole bunch of people's jobs but I guess that wouldn't even register on the Christian Grey scale of reasons to give it a chance maybe" Elliot is fuming.
"I have not said no yet Elliot, I will look over the figures and information as well as doing my own research and then I will form an opinion" I calmly reply "But for now the matter is closed, I want to watch what this is all about" I turn and look over the speedway track, it's illuminated by 8 huge flood light lamps and gives the impression of daylight until you glance up and see the moonlight.
I look over at Elliot who is totally absorbed in the race, after watching the race I am still struggling to figure out why he likes it so much. It's just a bunch of cars going round a track hoping not to crash or have some kind of mechanical issue and whoever is first past the chequered flag and not dizzy from going around in circles for however long is the winner, they get a huge winner's wreath of leaves and a trophy they can hardly carry before popping the champagne and getting wet! This is definitely not my kind of sport.
I signal to the sexy waitress that I would like another two beers and she promptly returns with our drinks, she flashes her smile and winks as she walks away.
"Did you enjoy that Christian?" Elliot is bubbling over like a five year old at Christmastime.
"It was ok but not my kind of sport" I reply.
"Ahh Christian, you will never let yourself enjoy something just because you can!"
"Not in my nature big bro" I counter before drinking my beer.
"Pah, you're no fun Christian, why don't you see the skill of the drivers and the pit crew, how hard they work to keep the car in great condition, the smells and dirt and oil are just evidence of hard work and team work" Elliot is mighty passionate about this.
"When did you become so interested in motorsport?" I ask.
"I have loved it since I was a teenager, don't you remember the posters I put up in my room?" He questions.
"No" I am shaking my head "I don't remember Elliot"
"One of the guys at Uni had a souped up racer that he raced on the weekends, he let me drive it on a couple of occasions and it was liberating but Mom and Dad wouldn't allow me to pursue it any further" he looks disappointed.
But you have followed it ever since?" I say and he nods back "Why don't you invest in Steele Racing then? It seems right up your alley, you obviously have a passion for racing"
"I couldn't afford it alone, I spoke to a team owner after I talked to Ray initially and he gave me some figures, oh boy, the financial side is huge, more than I ever realized" he admits sadly.
"Well I am not making any promises but I will look over the details that Mr Steele sends over with an unbiased view and see what I think, ok?" I offer.
"Ok bro" Elliot reluctantly accepts, even he knows I cannot be persuaded by emotion, it's purely business.
"Ready to go?" I ask Elliot a few moments later.
"Sure, it's all but over now, we might beat the exodus" he tries to be cheerful.
The dutiful Taylor is waiting; we drop Elliot off at his apartment before heading to Escala. I bid Taylor thank you and goodnight before heading upstairs to finish my evening off with Victoria…