Authors note:
So this story came out from me reading stories of how Ana and Christian separated in some form after she got pregnant with Ted. In all the stories, I have read, they have Ana and Christian reuniting while Ted was rather young. It got me wondering what if, what if they never got back together and Ted had to confront his dad when he was past his early and teenage years and about to enter college.
Ted's POV:
'Grey Enterprise Holding' I look at the large letters on the building. Even they look intimating. For a second I consider not entering, but the envelope in my hand, forces me inside. The glass door automatically opens, and I approach the large reception desk, which is manned by a well groomed platinum blonde woman.
"Good morning. Can I help you?" politeness pours out of her. I am instantly uncomfortable as she looks up at me. I know what she is thinking. Yes, I look like him!
"I have an appointment with Christian Grey for 10am" I tell her, ignoring the look she is giving me.
"Oh yes" She directs me to the elevators and tells me that I need to go to the twelve floor. As the elevator pings and opens, I again hesitate. Maybe I should just exit the building. If I don't proceed then what are the chances of Christian Grey seeking me out? Much higher now that he would have seen my name on his daily appointments schedule. Good one Ted!
Shivers go up my spine as I walk to my father's office. A few more people stare at me, actually more than a few. I look to my left I see a picture of a young Christian Grey. Damn I look so much like him. Hell I am him, at least physically.
I am ushered in, Christian Grey is behind his desk on his phone. He looks deep in conversation and intense. My eyes catch a large portrait to the side, and I recognise it as my mother. She looks so young and happy. In one picture she is pouting and in the other she is smiling and carefree. I don't see her smile like that often, though she is still rather beautiful and young. She isn't even 40.
Dad looks up and ends his phone call. He comes over to me. Gosh this is tense. Do I hug him?
"Teddy, its good see you" he states. He and I are focused on each other in an uncomfortable deadlock. Neither of us knows whether to shake hands, hug, there is little precedence for this type of situation.
"Ted. No one has called me Teddy for a really long time" I state coldly. Dad looks like I have stabbed him. Of course he wouldn't know that I prefer to be called Ted these day, it has been so long since I have been in the same room as him.
"I am sorry. I didn't know" he states sorrowfully. "Please sit down" I take a seat on the dark leather couches so we are facing each other. It feels like we are playing an intense game of chess.
"Can I get you a coffee or something to drink?" Dad offers.
"No, I am fine" I state, but then regret as it commences a period of silence between us. I don't even know what to call him, dad? Christian? Mr Grey?
"Did I ever come to Grey House as a young child?" I ask curiously.
"Not that I know of. Your mother left me when she was pregnant with you, so I don't think so. Does it look familiar?" dad seems rather hopeful that maybe I have been here.
"I don't know. I asked my mother about Grey House when I read an article about you in Forbes, years ago. You were standing in front this building. I asked her so many questions that she had to go into great detail. Maybe I started to picture it in my mind." I said shrugging.
"Did your mom talk much about us?" He probes. He is really asking if she spoke much about him. I am not about to dignify his question with an answer.
"So I came to see you about this" I tell him passing him the envelope. He looks at the printing on the envelope, which causes his lips to form a hard line. He is humouring me by reading the contents. He knows exactly what it represents.
"I don't see what the issue is" He states formally. His eyes narrow and he is trying to intimate me, but it won't work. It's far too late for that.
"The whole contents of that letter is the issue. I don't want it" I tell him. Dad looks furious at the thought. Hasn't anyone ever said no to him before?
"Ted, don't be all high and mighty over this. You are my son and I want you to have this. It is your trust fund. I set it up when you were born to receive when you graduated from high school and went to college. You are going to college in the fall so you are to accept this."
"I am the son that is standing in front of you that you haven't seen in years. Damn I don't even know what to call you anymore." I know there is an essence of hatred in my voice. Dad is not moving, rather his eyes are deadly focused on me.
"Dad. I am your father, you refer to me as Dad" he says sticking his finger up.
"Fine, DAD" I emphasis. I didn't come here to argue with him. This gesture seems to make my father happy.
"So I hear that you have been accepted to several colleges, most of them IVY league, have you decided which one you want to attend?" How does he even know this?
"I have been considering either MIT, Yale or even Harvard"
"Harvard?" Dad's interest is peaked. I shrug my shoulders. I know Dad attended there for a period of time before dropping out. "Any college would be lucky to have you" Dad is so sincere. This must be the most civil conversation we have ever had. Hell I don't even really remember talking much to him before this moment.
"I have been offered a scholarship to Harvard and Yale, so the trust fund isn't necessary." I inform him,
"You will still need money. What about accommodation and living costs? Have you factored that into your equations?" Dad is talking to me like a child.
"Mom is going to help me and I can get a part-time job" I rebut
"But you don't need to. I can and want to provide for you. I have been doing it for you for years."
"Yes, Dad I know that. You paid for my prep school education, you paid for me to learn to play the piano."
"I would have paid for more if your mother allowed" Dad mumbled, interrupting me.
"I don't care about money dad" I stress
"I am not accepting this trust fund back." He states. He is trying to intimidate.
"It is worth millions" I hiss.
"I know. I have been putting a set amount of money in it each month, since you were born"
"Even though you weren't there when I was born. Wow, Dad you are a saint!" I say sarcastically.
"Ted, I won't accept disrespect" This is going really badly and I promised mom I would keep thing civil. I do not want to disappoint my mother.
"Since I am in Seattle, there are a few people I want to meet" I inform him. He raises his eyebrows at me.
"Such as?"
"My mother often spoke about my grandparents, Grace and Carrick Grey. I really want to meet them, are they still alive? Do they still live in Bellevue" I ask hopeful
"Yes they do. They don't know about you. They just believe that Ana, your mother, and I just broke up." Dad tells me softly. He is at great pains saying that last statement.
"I don't have to go, I don't want to make things hard for you" I tell him.
"No, please see them. It will make them happy to know you. They will be furious that they were not aware about you beforehand but they will get over it. Eventually, they will be overjoyed. I will either need to warn them beforehand or go with you. Which would you prefer?"
I couldn't believe that dad was being so accommodating. "I don't know. What would be easiest on my grandparents?"
"I think either way is going to be rather shocking to them. I would recommend ringing them, though I would still like to go with you, if that is suitable."
"I don't mind"
"Good. What else do you want to do while you are in Seattle?" Is dad trying to connect with me? I think its 17 years too late!
"Hang on, you are seventeen and a senior in high school, are you alone here Seattle?" dad enquires concern.
"No" I tell him. "Dad we haven't solved the issue of the trust fund…"
"Yes, we have" dad interrupts. He has adopted his dominant stance once more. "I set it up for you, I am your dad, you are my son, and it is yours. In fact, I want to purchase you a safer car. I do not like that car you are driving"
"It is a classic. I searched for months for one. How do you even know what car I drive?"
Dad raises his eyebrows at me. I don't even bother to ask why, I know now that my mother's suspicions are now correct. Dad did constantly have someone watching us, partially for security and probably to keep tabs on us.
"When was the last time you saw me?" I ask for a point of reference. "I can't recall" I remember that I did see him once and awhile, though I don't think he was really part of my life
"You were five. It was when your mother told me that she was going to move to New York and work at a publishing house there. I went to the airport, thinking I could talk her out of it, but when I got there she was with Jose and they looked so… comfortable." Dad looked angry and sad at the same time.
"Jose? Jose Rodrigues?" I ask surprised
"Yes"
"Uncle Jose is married to Sofia Rodrigues. He and my mother were never involved" I say with indignation.
Dad runs his hand through his hair. I want to laugh at the scene. My mother has told me about how he did this once when she caught me doing it over several occasions.
"I thought… I was told" he gives up a loud sigh of relief.
"He and Aunt Sofia are just close family friends. That is all" I tell him. Do I tell him that in all this time, mom has never been with anyone else? That there has been tonnes of admirers but she has never been interested in any of them, because none of them ever meet the standard that you once set. Oh how I wished mom would just move on, but she couldn't.
"Dad, have you been with anyone else?" I ask
"I tried a couple of times. But it never worked out. I just gave up after a while." Dad seems frustrated. I knew then that he probably still loved mom.
"I need to go. This is my cell phone number. Ring me about meeting my grandparents, I am staying in the city. Goodbye Dad" I hand him the piece of paper and shake his hand. I know we haven't solved the issue of the trust fund and decide to leave it in a stalemate for the time being. I walk towards to the door not looking back.
"Ted, Thank you. Thank you for coming to see me." My dad says. There is a strong emotional tone in his voice now.
"I am not here alone" I state
"Excuse me?" Dad says. I turn around to face him.
"I am not in Seattle alone. Mom is here with me. She is in Seattle" I tell him
Dad looks frozen. I have startled him. I have told him that the only and only woman he has ever loved in the world is in close proximity to him. For the first time in twelve years.
Christians POV:
Ana is in Seattle? I get on the phone to ring Taylor after Ted has left my office. I must know where she is exactly. I want to talk to her. No I need to see her. Would she even agree to see me?