Author's note: I'd like to thank AnonymousGirlOne. When I wrote Chapter 2 originally, I felt like there was something I didn't have right. Her review pointed out that I kept shifting perspective from Kate's to my normal (in other things I've written) to a more narrative style. Therefore, Chapter 2 has had some edits, though nothing significant. Thank you AnonymousGirlOne. I really appreciate it!
Chapter 2
After a few years as part of the Grey family, one thing I've learned is, like me, they are obsessed with cars. Everyone has their brand – well, almost everyone. Ana will drive anything. She still misses her old Wanda – the classic baby blue VW Beetle that matched her eyes. Or as I like to call it – the death trap on wheels and Jose's way to see her more during our college years. Christian loves his Audis. Grace and Carrick love their Mercedes, just like my parents. It must be an old person thing. Mia is an Acura girl. My ball and chain, Elliott, loves his trucks- preferred brand the Chevy Silverado with all the bells and whistles for work; yet when he's not working, like me, he loves his BMW. We each drive BMW X5 xDrive50is – mine is blue, his is grey. I love that man!
It's been a long last few weeks. Elliott's business has taken off in the past year with half a dozen new large-scale commercial projects and as of last week, the addition of a new wing to the hospital and Parkway. It was tough watching him stressed out at the fundraiser last night, knowing he had signed on to tear down Parkway and rebuild in its place, especially once he learned Christian was in the running for the building. Ironic how for the past year Elliott has been living in the world of non-disclosure agreements, normally limited to his brother's life. Four of his larger projects were with companies who received large government grants, so as the selected contractor, he had to sign an NDA both personally and as the Grey Construction owner, along with all of his employees.
I ran my fingers through my blonde hair as I pull up to the security gate to Ana and Christian's home. "Crap, I'm turning into Christian." After a quick sneak peek back at my sleeping blonde-haired daughter, my clone as Christian called one-year-old Ava, and couldn't help but smile. Opening the window and pushed the gate's speaker button.
"Welcome to Grey Compound," Ryan's voice came through the intercom. "How may I help you?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Come on Ryan. I know you can see me. Get the stick out of your backside and buzz me through or you'll be on the receiving end of a Kate Kavanagh bitch-out!"
"I'm sorry Mrs. Grey, but you'll need an appointment or at the very least today's password," he replied mockingly.
Ryan is an ass. Love him! "The password is Ryan is asshole. Now open the gate or I'll tell my cousin the man she's dating has a boy toy on the side."
Ryan's laughter boomed through the speaker. "You wouldn't Kate." Clearly he knew better as he added, "You'd probably print it in the paper with compromising Photoshopped pictures."
"You know me too well," she replied laughing as he triggered the gate to open. Every time I drive up to this house, I love it more and more. Ryan greets me as I park near the front door. "Nothing like a hug from the bear of a man who is stringing my cousin along for a year and a half," I taunt him after he hugged me.
"So," I couldn't help but ask as he passed me Ava and the baby bag, "when are you going to make an honest woman of my cousin? You guys have been dating for what, eighteen months. It's about time, don't you think?"
Ryan laughed. "All in due time. Just don't go printing any engagement announcements just yet."
"So tempting," I sighed as he opened the front door to the main house. "We'll have to catch up at dinner later this week."
"Definitely," he replied before he turned and left.
"Aunt Kate! Aunt Kate!" Teddy cried out happily as he ran to her and grabbed her leg. God I love this little guy even if he is a pint-sized version of his fucking father. "Can Ava play with me?"
One look at Teddy and it was clear what Christian looked like as a small child, except Teddy had Ana's blue eyes, rather than his father's grey ones. This boy was his father's child in every way, shape and form. He loved his toy helicopters and airplanes, ran his fingers through his wavy copper colored hair when he was anxious, and was smart as all hell. After Ana read him the books she'd gotten him, he used them to build a landing pad for his toy helicopters.
"Sure sweetie, once she's awake. Where's your mom?"
"Cooking," Teddy exclaimed as he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the kitchen. "Faster Auntie Kate!"
Definitely Christian's son – control freak, I couldn't help but laugh. He had to lead the way to the kitchen and set the pace. Genetics are a fascinating thing.
"Mommy!" Teddy screamed causing Ana to startle and drop the box of eggs she was holding. Sue me - I couldn't help but snicker. "Auntie Kate is here!"
"Teddy, use your inside voice," Ana informed him while I tried to control my laughter. Once again my friend was lost in her thoughts, probably about the latest manuscript she was reading, when she was brought out of her alternate universe with a shout. Over the years I'd seen it happen dozens of times, yet each time it was still funny to see.
"Sowwy mommy," he replied sadly staring at the mess on the kitchen floor.
"Ick," Ava mumbled as she attempted to wipe the sleepiness from her eyes. "Eggs bwoken," she added.
"Yes sunshine," I mumbled kissing her cheek.
"Down mommy?" Ava asked. The second her tiny ballet flats hit the floor, Teddy dragged her to his toy room.
"Not so fast Teddy, she's smaller than you," Ana called to her son.
"Okay" At least he slowed down.
After cleaning up the leaking box of eggs from the floor, Ana pulled a tray from the oven. It smelled and looked wonderful. "What's breakfast?"
"Egg scrambles in croissant shells," Ana replied. "I gorged myself on these at a bakery near work while pregnant with Phoebe and I still can't get enough of them. "I was going to make another batch for the freezer but the eggs went skydiving."
"At least the eggs survive the trip from the grocery store now," I reminded her. "Remember how many dozens of eggs you broker on your way home from the grocery store during college. Wanda needed new shock absorbers but you didn't want to monopolize Jose's time with the old junker."
Yeah, I deserved Ana's glare. I knew it was coming when I insulted her Wanda. We sat at the breakfast bar together and had their egg croissant, tea, and fruit. Damn it, I wish I could actually cook like this.
"So how are things with Elliott?"
"He's swamped at work. Grey Construction has tripled in size this year due to new contracts. He's good though but he feels guilty about Parkway," I explain.
"Even Christian can't win them all," Ana commented. "He's got bigger fish to fry than losing Parkway. All I know is KMA Acquisitions moved from the east coast to Seattle in the past year and it seems they are constantly going head-to-head after the same companies. At least they both lost Parkway."
"I'm interviewing the she-bitch that runs KMA this week," I inform her as Christian enters the kitchen to refill his coffee cup.
"You're interviewing KMA's CEO, Tina Mubarek?" Christian asked with interest. "That bitch has been a thorn in my side for the past year."
"Swear jar now," Ana ordered as she pointed toward the large ceramic jug on the kitchen counter. "Swearing should be checked at the door." She turned to me and added, "You too. You know the rules – you called her a she-witch, minus the W plus the B."
Reluctantly I handed Christian a ten-dollar-bill to add to the jar, then added a few twenties. "Now I have jar credit. That bitch, I'd use the c-word but that's still too nice and there are tender ears around here… where was I… that bitch made the interview contingent that I was the interviewer. I don't know what you did to piss the cow off Christian, but not only am I doing a print piece, but before that I have to do an on-camera interview for my father's new television station."
"Really?" Christian asked.
"At work I use my maiden name, even though legally I'm Kate Grey. She would only sign the damned agreement if I used my legal name for both interviews. So, what did you do to piss the nasty cow off?"
"M&A can be a competitive, gritty world. My guess is she takes losing as poorly as I do," he replied with an embarrassed smirk.
"You do realize her ultimate goal is to bring GEH to its knees, right? I met with her on Friday to set the interview parameters. She's arrogant and manipulative, with the intelligence to back it up. She knew I would tell you," I offered. "How much have your security team dug up on her? Anything I could use to make her squirm during the live interview?"
Christian laughed. "Glad your reporter instincts are pointed toward humiliating her and not me for a change. She's thirty-eight, Stanford-educated with a master's in business. She returned to Stanford after taking five or so years working for an international think-tank and completed law school. Her life growing up was unremarkable, as were her parents. She's single, never married and no children. She founded KMA a year ago in Delaware. Where the financial backing for the company came from I don't know and haven't been able to find out, but within sixty days of forming the corporation, she moved it to Seattle and began pursuing the businesses GEH has been targeting. Her first few attempts weren't successful, but her last three were, if you don't count Parkway."
"It just doesn't make sense. I mean, she's knew to the M&A world," Ana comments. "Why would she take on a giant? That's beyond arrogance. It's a huge gamble because if she fails, she appears to be a reckless businesswoman."
"That's a point I plan on driving home during our live interview. I mean her lack of experience and the unknown source of her funding. Those two things should make her squirm a bit," I respond. "Finding the source of her funding has been difficult. I have my dad reaching out to his government contacts to see what he can find out. I mean, when you started Christian, didn't the government check into your funding sources and the nature of your deals?"
He nodded. "They did but everything was above board. I can't imagine the government allowing her to proceed if they didn't have all the answers on KMA. It has me intrigued."
"You and me both Grey, so if you think of any embarrassing questions for her before Wednesday evening, let me know."
"You can always ask her is she's gay," Ana taunted with a smirk. They all broke out laughing.
"She's a bad-ass bitch, but if you'd heard about her reputation outside of work, she's clearly not into women," I reply with disgust. "There are even rumors about her when she worked for the think-tank that she screwed half the guys there as she walked over them career-wise. I would love to be able to confirm that so I could confront her live on the air with names and dates, to ask her what it felt like to work her way up the ladder on her back. My dad is trying to get me an employee list for the think tank for the years she was there. We're hoping that might shed a better light on her. My gut is telling me I'm missing something and it's something big."
"Any idea what?" Ana and Christian asked at the same time.
"I'm not sure. I feel like I'm at the planetarium and each point of light over-head is another piece of the puzzle and they are spinning around me taunting me to connect the dots. There are just so many pieces," I respond as I rub my eyes. "I just can't shake the feeling this is potentially the biggest story of my career and I need to tread lightly because the Grey name is part of the puzzle. Around every corner, she's pulling the Grey name into it. There's got to be more than this. When it comes to not knowing something, I'm worse than you will ever be Christian. Right now, I'd like to tie that bitch up and beat her with a stick until she told me, but I can't help but feel she'd laugh in my face."
Taylor entered carrying a small box though it was his day off. It was odd to see the normally serious and well-dressed Taylor in jeans and a tee-shirt. The suit hid an awfully fine piece of man meat, I thought. Gail was one lucky woman.
"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Grey, and Mrs. Gray," he stated. The look on his face revealed the phrase sounded odd. "This package just arrived by messenger addressed to me, but the note indicated once I scanned it, that I should give it to you unopened.
My curiosity was peeked as Christian took the box from Taylor and opened it. After removing what felt like endless packing material, he removed a four-by-six inch hard vinyl-like material and examined it closely. A moment later he was grinning like a Cheshire cat as he did his best to bend the material, then cut it, and finally melt it. In the box was a note and I was curious. I hoped he'd read it aloud. I couldn't help but tap my foot on the marble floor as I waited impatiently for him to share the knowledge.
When he put the short note onto the countertop, Ana and I couldn't resist a peek. It read:
Not quite there yet, but getting closer. Six to eight weeks tops…. Luke
"Is that what I think it is?" Jason asked as Christian handed him the material. Christian nodded. "And Luke developed this?"
"Apparently so," Christian grinned. "Once he has the final polymer, I'll have to negotiate with him for use of the formula. He's going to be a very rich man."
"He already is," Jason replied.
"If he manages to finalize this material, he could potentially become a billionaire in under a year. There will be so many uses for it," Christian commented still looking at the material in awe. "I mean, I've had a team working on something like this for five years and we haven't even come close to what he's accomplished in under a year."
"What are you planning on using it for?" I ask curiously.
I was surprised when Ana replied. She usually stays out of GEH business. "Christian has been attempting to develop a new type of cellular phone that will withstand all different types of climates, self-charging, inexpensive to manufacture, so he could distribute them to the poor who live a more nomadic lifestyle in the third world – mainly in Africa."
"And I want to give them away for free to those who need them; especially given the situation in Dafur," he added. "Human Rights violations could be reported in real time, along with thefts of humanitarian relief supplies."
Taylor's cell phone rings, interrupting the conversation. "Taylor, he replies sternly. After a brief pause, he replies, "hang on Luke. I'll put you on speaker."
"Are there ladies present or can I swear up a storm," Luke asked with a chuckle.
"Good morning Luke," Ana responded. "If you swear you need to give me a twenty for the swear jar. All the money goes to charity."
"So what you're saying is that your husband's mouth will fill a food pantry?" he asks.
"Probably," Christian replies with a laugh. "This polymer is amazing. What is left to do to it?"
"Honestly, I think it's ready, but I want to run a few more tests. It passed heat, water, ax, hammer, but since it will have a few other uses other than yours, it needs to pass the firearms test, explosives test, and a few acid tests," he replied.
"What other uses?" I ask.
"Hey Kate! Where's that husband of yours with the blueprints for our facility addition?" Luke taunted me. "I know he's busy, but tell Elliott if he wants me to allow him to win at pool, I need my blueprints. After all, I'm cheap, not easy."
"Get your head out of your ass Luke," I reply tartly. "I can beat you at pool any day, even drunk."
"Challenge accepted. Friday night, my place, bring Elliott and anyone else you wouldn't mind being embarrassed in front of with you. The more the merrier," Luke laughed. "I'll even make that sister of mine cook us dinner."
"Get yourself a wife and let your sister have a life," I couldn't but reply.
"Taking care of me keeps her from dating and let's be real, Mia has been a bad influence for the past few weeks dragging her out clubbing."
"You're an overprotective asshole, you know that right?" I laughed at him.
"And proud of it," he replied. "Now shut up blondie. I have business with Mr. Grey that doesn't concern your sorry ass. So Mr. Grey, we're doing the firearms and explosive tests Tuesday afternoon. Care to join us? Feel free to bring Ros, Taylor, Welch, and the rest of the team. Also, bring Barney. I want him to meet my IT guy. I'll give you more details about that then."
"Deal, just get Taylor the details," Christian replied.
"Bring your checkbook Mr. Grey. You'll need it," Luke laughed before he hung up.
"It's hard to believe that is my Luke Sawyer," Ana commented with a smile. "When he was my CPO I saw hints of it, but he was good at keeping up the façade, though there was always mischief in his eyes. I like this side of Luke. He's amusing. Heck, I'm jealous, he really seems to be comfortable in his own skin."
"Why the hell did he work as a CPO if he had these type of skills?" I muttered aloud. I didn't mean to say what I was thinking but it slipped causing all three of them to stare at me. After a few uncomfortable seconds, I had to elaborate. "I'm sorry, but he's filthy rich, good looking, well-educated and hilarious. Elliott and I have spent a great deal of time with him this past year. So, why work as a CPO? He was a spy for God's sake. He stepped back when he was twenty-six and I get the situation then, but he was one of the best. He broke into an Iranian prison and freed another spy and was on the run for two weeks through Iran and Iraq before crossing the border into Kuwait. He worked mainly in Africa building an intelligence network over the course of three years. He had the espionage world at his feet. He was a fucking prodigy at fifteen. All of the intelligence agencies were fighting for him. They all wanted to educate and train him to be more. He told the head of the FBI to fuck off when he was fifteen years old, followed by the CIA I might add. A fucking prodigy. It was worth repeating. Why work as a CPO?"
The look on Christian, Ana, and Taylor's faces was priceless. Shock didn't cover it. I wanted to reach out and push each of their jaws up to close their mouths.
"How do you know all this?" Taylor asked. "All of our background checks on him provided hints of his education but otherwise they were vague, like his sisters."
"Did you run checks on mommy and daddy Sawyer?" I couldn't help but gloat. My inner bitch was dancing around yelling, I know something Christian and his goon squad don't! It as almost better than sex… well, almost… well not really, but it oh so fucking good! "His mother and her forbearer's were connected in the intelligence community since the eighteen hundreds. It was a family of prodigies. He's a legacy and a damned good one. So why would this legacy, who had the world at his feet, work as a CPO for a billionaire, when he doesn't need the money?"
"How long have you known all this?" Christian asked. Clearly he was still in shock. His fingers were tilling that head of hair like it was planting season.
"I started to realize that he was different from the other CPOs when he started protecting Ana," I informed them. "So I did some digging, pulled some strings, and then had my father pull some strings. I've been keeping a folder on Luke for years, slowly adding to it. I have to admit, I was concerned when he dragged Jose into his business but then I realized they started talking about it when Ray had his accident years ago and the fact that Jose was top of his engineering program, so it kind of made sense. I know you don't care for Jose, Christian, but beyond that shy, awkward, insecure exterior is a brilliant mind."
There was no missing the glances exchanged between Christian and Taylor. They'd had similar thoughts lately, with less data. Hopefully Christian and Taylor won't ask me if I have folders on them. I'm a reporter, they should know better.
"Luke promised me he would never do anything to harm me or my family," Ana informed us unhappily. "He's a good man. I trust him."
"Don't be naïve Ana. Espionage and lying go hand-in-hand," I inform her. "GEH's success probably caused good old Uncle Sam to send him in to determine how Christian was so successful. When he found nothing, they pulled him."
"No," Ana sighed trying and failing to keep the bitterness out of her voice. I felt bad, but she was just so innocent sometimes. "I refuse to believe that. I mean, he was Taylor's second-in-command. He knew everything – the good, the bad, the ugly and the embarrassing. He promised me he would protect our family and as far as I'm concerned, if he was here to spy on us, he didn't share the information with anyone. I mean, his own sister didn't know he was my CPO for two years."
"We're still going to check," Christian informed her. "If you're right, we'll find nothing. For the record, I want to believe you are right."
My mind drifted back to the nighttime sky as all of the data elements swirled around me head, like tiny planets trying to penetrate my thick skull. Most people assume blondes are stupid. Those are the people I want to make feel stupid. I'm a natural blonde and I'm anything but stupid. I wear my intelligence and inner bitch attitude as badges of honor. I couldn't resist closing my eyes and rubbing my temples. KMA, GEH, Sawyer – KMA, GEH Sawyer – nothing like a mantra to achieve a meditative-like state – KMA, GEH, Sawyer… "Fuck! I have to go. I need to be consumed by my Smart Board. Watch Ava for me. I'll be back in a few hours," I exclaimed as I grabbed my purse and ran out the front door.
I hop into my BMW and get through the gate as fast as I can. Knowing my dear brother-in-law, he try to have Taylor follow me. Not today Jason – today I'm doing my best Mario Andretti through Seattle's finest neighborhood. Damned the speed limit. It's Sunday, so there should be no traffic as I head to my office downtown. I need my Smart Board. Outside of work, Elliot is my husband. At work, I'm married to my Smart Board, which resides at my father's newspaper building – penthouse naturally. Man, am I spoiled.
Twenty minutes later, I stand before my precious 55-inch Smart Board. I'm a technology whore just like Christian; yet I'll never admit to being anything like him, or him like me. A few seconds later, my KMA data is on the screen. I pull one of my many flash drives from my wall safe and plug it into the board and split the screen into upper and lower regions. Bringing my Sawyer timeline onto the screen, I begin comparing it to the KMA timeline I developed. Luke left GEH 1 year ago, and KMA filed incorporation papers in Delaware thirty days before that. Coincidence? I think not. I'm a reporter. I don't believe in coincidences. My spidey sense is tingling so hard if it heads into my pants I'll have a big O without trying.
I can't help myself. I bring up Luke's bio-timeline that I was able to compile for his life and underneath it I place the compiled timeline for Tina Mubarek. "Well fuck me," I mutter under my breath.
Immediately, I grab my phone and dial Christian. To hell with pleasantries, when he picks up all I can say is "I got it. I found the link."
In a split second my excitement over my discovery turns to terror as I'm grabbed from behind and immediately feel a needle inject something into my neck. "Let go," I manage to scream.
"Sorry Grey, you're collateral damage now. Say good-bye to your friends. Leave her here, this penthouse is going to blow in under five minutes." This was the last thing I heard other than Christian's concerned voice calling out to me from my cell phone. I realize my life is over a darkness overtakes me.