Welcome to my new story.

I wrote the chapter summaries for this story between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Manchester, while on my way home from my weekend with Donald Duck. This is what happens when my mind wanders while observing everyone going about their day, I hope you like it.

As always E. L. James owns everything fifty, I'm just having fun with them.

It's UN-betered so all mistakes are my own.

CPOV

I took a sip of my coffee, being an observer in my own meeting as I watched my team butt heads over what will turn out to be a dud company if we don't act soon. New York publishing, a profitable company when I bought it, had gone downhill fast since we put the latest manager in charge.

Through his incompetence and ego, he had managed to lose us some very profitable authors. Yes, Jerry Roach was good at his job, he used to be anyway but now he was becoming a dead weight, a noose around my neck and he needed to go.

"Ros, I don't want to hear excuses any more. If he can't do the job, get rid of him" I said, stopping the bickering.

"Finally, I have been trying to tell you that for months, but you said he had a family and that we should give him a chance."

"Yeah well, I have changed my mind. Find someone within the original company if we can, who can take over. I want him gone by the end of the week and I want the company back to the way it was."

It's my own fault, I let family dictate who I put in charge. Miranda Roach was a friend of my mothers, an acquaintance more from one of the book groups she attended. When I purchased New York Publishing due to the original owner's retirement, I was looking for someone to run it. Having worked in publishing for a number of years, Jerry Roach came highly recommended to me. I thought N.Y.P could be a sister company to Seattle Independent Publishing that I already owned. S.I.P is one of the first companies I purchased, more to deal with GEH's publishing needs than the small book publishing side of the business back then. I put the best people in charge and it has flourished. I thought with N.Y.P it would be the same but at the moment, it's lost its way.

Dismissing my staff once the meeting was over, I told Ros to wait behind.

"Never mix business with pleasure," she said, as soon as the door was closed to the boardroom and only the two of us were inside.

"I would hardly call anything to do with Jerry and Miranda Roach, any type of pleasure," I stated, a look of disgust no doubt on my face.

"You know what I mean. Keep family and friends out of business, it gets messy when you have to fire their arse. Who are you going to get to do it."

"I will," I said, shocking her.

"What, are you firing him by phone."

"I've done it before but no, I will fly there. Mendleson called, wanting to finally talk about his business. I can kill two birds with one stone, fire Roach and buy a shipyard while I'm there."

"What's changed his tune," she asked.

"No idea, maybe his wife is getting fed up of his dithering. She was all for retiring to the beach, but she can't unless he sells the company. Her luxury lifestyle is on hold because they don't have money coming in from anywhere else."

"When are you going," she asked.

"This evening. I will deal with Roach in the morning and set a meeting up with Mendleson for the afternoon. I might be there a few days, making sure N.Y.P is in safe hands. If no one is capable of running the company in New York, I will ask Kay to take over it temporarily until we can find a full-time replacement for Roach."

"And when do you sleep in all this" she laughed.

"On the flight. I have a perfectly comfortable bed on the jet."

"I know, Gwen and I used it last time I was away on business," she said, waiting for my reaction, one she got too.

"I think I will sleep in the hold then. Gwen's fine, you… no" I told her.

"Have a good flight" she laughed. "Enjoy yourself while you're away and have some fun."

"I'm away on business Ros, no fun involved," I said, as she shook her head, knowing me well.

"One day, you will let loose and have some fun."

"Don't hold your breath" I told her.

Knowing she was asking for miracles, Ros told me she was going back to her office to do some work. I had a lot of that to do too, most I needed to finish before I left this evening.

Making my way back to my office, I told Andrea to contact Mendleson to arrange a meeting for tomorrow afternoon. I also asked her to make sure the jet was ready for this evening. It's short notice but having a crew always on standby, they will have plenty of time to be ready.

My afternoon was spent in meeting after meeting, wading through paperwork and ignoring phone calls from my mother's friend.

Ever since my mum's friend Elena had announced that her daughter was getting married it was all, ask Christian what he can do. First, it was asking if they could borrow the Grace to have their wedding reception on. That was the first no I gave, one that they agreed with when they realised that their wedding party wouldn't fit. Second, was to ask if they could hold the wedding and reception at my house in Aspen after my mother had told them how lovely it was there. Yes, it was lovely, but that's only because our family were all I would allow there. It was for family only and Elena and her brood were certainly not that.

Why they seemed to want to involve me in this wedding, I have no idea but I'm staying well away from any of it.

Leaving the office that evening, I headed back to Escala and into a warm shower. I had spoken to my mother on the way, informing her I was not impressed with the constant barrage of calls from her friend. She insisted that she would speak to Elena and make it stop. I also informed her of the Roach's fate. I didn't want Miranda Roach harassing my mother so being forewarned to ignore her calls is best.

"Can I get you anything to eat?" Gail asked as I stepped from my room, bags packed.

"I'm fine Gail, thank you, I'm sure there will be food on board. I'm unsure of my return date yet, so I will probably see you on Monday" I told her.

"Have a safe flight" she said, before disappearing back into the kitchen.

With bags packed, mine and Taylor's, they were loaded into the car before I got inside.

Leaving Escala behind, the light was just starting to fade. I pulled some papers from my briefcase, prospective companies that Ros was looking into that she had given me before I left.

"Sir, Stephan informed me before we left Grey House of a change in the crew for this evening. Natalia is unable to fly due to illness, so he has contacted an associate of his who will be the flight attendant on board."

"That's fine Taylor, make sure she signs an NDA" I sighed, hoping I wasn't stuck in my jet for hours with a simpering woman desperate for attention. If that turns out to be the case, I will have Stephan land at the next available airfield and leave her behind.

The last thing I need at 30 thousand feet is to be fending off unwanted looks and advances.

"She already has sir, and I asked Welch to run a quick background check. She's clean, very efficient, having worked with some of the major airlines for many years."

"Good, let's hope for a smooth flight then."

Pulling up to Boeing field, the pride of my fleet was there before me. My company had three jets, but this was the biggest, the fastest and the best. One day I will learn how to fly it, but that day was not today.

"Mr Grey, welcome" Stephan greeted me, coming down the steps.

"It's good to see you, Stephan," I said, grabbing my briefcase while Taylor managed our bags. "I hear we have a change in the crew," I added, approaching the steps.

"Yes sir, she's a good friend of mine and we have worked together many times before. I'm grateful she can help us out at such short notice, as despite there only being a few of us on board, I prefer to have someone in the cabin."

"I look forward to meeting her then. Come, introduce us," I told him.

I climbed the steps and into the cabin which was empty at the moment. Stephan who was right behind me stepped into the cockpit for a moment before coming back out with someone following closely behind.

"Mr Grey, I would like to introduce you to a very good friend of mine, Anastasia Steele. Ana, this is Mr Christian Grey."

She looked at me, a beautiful smile coming to her lips, as her outstretched hand reached mine. As our fingers touched, I felt the electricity flow between us, something I had never felt before.

As all my words disappeared, I looked at the woman before me, who didn't cower under my gaze. It was her who spoke first, welcoming me on board.

"Welcome aboard Mr Grey, can I take your bag," she asked, nodding to my briefcase which I just handed over to her.

I heard Taylor chuckle from behind, but he was quickly silenced with a look. The laughter may have stopped but the smile remained as I told him quietly that I wanted to see the background check he had gained earlier. I wanted to know more about this woman, who she was and just as importantly how she came to be here.

Taking my seat, I managed to thank Anastasia for her help before she closed the door and made the jet ready to leave.

She spoke to Stephan, laughing at whatever he had said. Being the professional that she was, she also did the safety demonstration, making sure we knew the exits, ignoring the smirk on my face.

As Anastasia took her own seat, ready for take-off, I thought back to what Ros had said earlier today. Relax, have some fun. Maybe my trip might just be interesting after all.

Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it.

Future chapters should be a bit longer although I am trying to keep them around 3000 words as it helps me fit it in around my other story.

Until next time, take care.

Caroline.