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The memory comes to me in waves. I am in my mother's closet, searching for my bathing suit. We always pack up our summer cloths into huge storage tubs. Since the winter is so long and frigid we have a lot more winter cloths and the summer ones need to be put away to make room for the heavy jackets and sweaters. Our flat is not large and my mother is the only one with a walk in closet so all of our tubs go into her room. My bathing suit is probably packed far below one of the four boxes, I dig and dig to no avail. My father has surprised us with a trip to Wisconsin Dells and I need my bathing suit for the indoor water park he promised. Just as I am about to give up a box shoved far into the corner catches my eye.
I know exactly what it is, a keep sake box. My mother gave me one just like it when I was 8, she told me that I should keep everything I wish to remember and everything I should never forget inside the box. I quickly dislodge the box from the corner and rip it open. The box is filled to the brim with papers and a grotesque amount of pictures. I go for them first. I see faces I have never seen before. A young blonde is staring back at me in the first pictures with her arm wrapped around my mom's shoulder, both smiling excitedly at the camera from the background it looks like graduation. The next picture confirms that, this one showing both of them in gowns and caps standing with a blonde male which must be the blonde girl's brother from the resemblance. I turn the photo over. Yes! My mom labeled it: Kate, Ethan and I. Never heard of them I think to myself, just then I think I hear the front door open. I quickly pack the pictures back in the box. I am about to shove it directly where I found it, before my mother can catch me snooping, when I see a picture laying on the floor.
The back is facing up and I can see the inscription on the back reads Christian. I flip the photo over and see a young man with stunning features smirking back me. He has on a white button down shirt, which is perfectly pressed, with the two top buttons undone and his grey tie slightly loosened. He looks somewhat playful like he doesn't want the picture taken but the person holding the camera left him no choice but to take one. The last thing I notice is his stunning grey eyes that look mischievous and happy.
I am snapped back to reality by the same man, only slightly aged, staring back at me, I think he has asked me a question so I respond with an elegant "Huh".
He clears his throat and repeats himself. "My name is Christian Grey, nice to meet you, Phoebe right," he then extends his hand.
I take it and respond, "Yes, Phoebe… I am sorry but, my mother is away perhaps I could help you", I let go of his hand. Maybe this is an old friend? Perhaps a friend who is willing to invest in my mom's company. I berate myself to be helpful, my mom is so close to starting a small publishing company. With the success of her first and second author people seem to be realizing her skill of finding authors and helping books become best sellers.
"Do you know when she will be back", he questions.
"Not for two more days, she is in London visiting an author," I respond quickly and politely. Maybe a little smug, I am very proud of my mother for making her dreams a reality and never giving up.
"Oh I see", he seems to be thinking very hard on his next move and before I can say another word he continues, " she left you hear to manage the store, unsupervised", he looks to Jared who is pretending to be dusting or cleaning the book shelves to our immediate right.
I turn to Jared and give him a harsh glare and he quickly mumbles something about boxes and books and then disappears, to clean up the mess we both left when this man came in I can only assume. I can sense Christian seems to disapprove of the situation, like my mother left me all alone in a big city, with a boy who looks like he can barely take care of himself.
"No, unfortunately the store is pretty dead when the college kids are gone and when the weather is this bad", I gesture outside to the wind and slow blowing around, "and my father is supervising me, here and at home. He had to go into his other job today".
This gets a reaction out of him. I have no idea why but, he seems to tense up and his grey eyes seem to change from cool and concentrated to a stormy and unpredictable. I must let on I can tell a difference because his face transforms into a mask of indifference almost immediately.
"How old are you Phoebe", he questions.
"Sixteen", I respond
"You have lived in Chicago your whole life".
"Yah, well I spend the summers with my grandparents. They have a farm about two hours away. Most people do not realize when you get out of Chicago and head south you are in a different world after about thirty minutes", I stop suddenly. I am having a classic episode of word vomit, to a complete stranger to boot, I quickly digress.
Christian seems to realize I am slightly embarrassed and done talking because after about thirty seconds he closes the conversation. "Well Miss…. I am sorry I did not get your last name".
"Harms", I respond softly.
"Miss Harms, thank for your time", he reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a card and gives it to me "I look forward to speaking to your parents but if you ever need anything, please give me a call". He begins to walk out and I turn to watch him leave just realizing now that there is another man who has been standing by the door the whole time. Does he travel with a servant or butler? As soon as Christian and the other man leave I see that they have started a heated conversation while walking to their black Audi SUV parked across the street.
I see Jared appear from behind the book shelf and we both stare as the men enter their car and drive away. "Butler definitely, he drives him around, probably picks up the dry cleaning and cleans the bat cave", I say.
"Knows all of his secrets but keeps them because he knew his parents and wants justice too", Jared adds.
"Business man by day, and
at dusk becomes the dark knight", I whisper.
"Dun, dun, dun," Jared adds. We both laugh. "If only, maybe he could take out Mr. Jackson for cruel and unusual punishment in calculus…. Let's get going we can finish this stuff up tomorrow I told my mom I would be home by 5:30". Jared walks into the back to grab our jackets and locks up the register. I am stuck in my position looking at the parking spot that is now vacant. Who are you? I wonder. I know that man I have seen him in a picture he must be someone of importance. While I am lost in thought Jared walks up behind me and plants a kiss on my cheek.
"Ready"?
"Yup", I respond.
We leave the store and head north. Jared lives two blocks up from me so I never have to walk home alone. Which is nice but today I am lost in thought. He asks me a couple of things but I give vague answers and he starts humming to himself so I can be left in my own world. After mulling it over I decide I will ask my dad when I get home.
As we approach my house I ask Jared if he will pick me up tomorrow so we can head to the store to finish the books since we will be closed on Sunday and will not have to deal with the pesky Bruce Wayne types. He laughingly agrees. Jared takes me in his arms, squeezes me tight, pulls away and plants a kiss on my lips. Then he is off. About ten paces into his walk he turns around and yells "I love you Phoebe Harms".
"Love you", I yell back. Then I take my key out and walk up the steps to my house.
Nothing goes as planned. I did not realize some family would be waiting for me. My uncle Mike and Aunt Sarah have drove up to spend time with my father and I. These are just two out of the five siblings my dad has. All of them stayed in the small town in which they grew up, except for my dad. He went to college and got a Masters in computer information systems, realized he hated his job, quit and now works construction. He still knows way too much about computers so he fixes friends and families on occasion. I know he can do a lot more than fix computers probably knows more about messing them up. No one can be that good at getting rid of viruses and wiping computers without knowing how to make viruses and why you would need to wipe a computer.
The night is filled with lots of food and laughs. My cousins miss me and cannot wait for the summer to come so we can all hang out again, my uncle and aunt inform me. My grandmother has sent a package with my aunt for me filled with homemade cookies, jam and a note. Same old grandma thing she loves me, misses me, hopes I am eating enough and that she will see me soon. My grandfather even wrote a small paragraph about a new rifle he got. The night passes by me, I never even mention the man with the grey eyes. I go to bed that night with a light heart, full stomach and sleep peacefully.
Christian POV
"I should have said something", I snap at Taylor.
"I do not think that would have been wise sir. She seems completely oblivious to who are and Ana and this….. Harms man have evidently never told her about her father", Taylor states calmly.
I let out a frustrated huff of air. This was not supposed to be complicated. When Kate ran into Ana at Midway airport she never mentioned a daughter or a husband. Just that Ana was definitely living in Chicago. After all these years of false leads, bogus addresses, bogus credit cards and confusing information, I was finally going to get answers. Why? Was that so much for me to ask of her. Now the questions seem to be piling up. A daughter? A daughter so apparently mine that I cannot even deny that is my child. No not child, teenager. How could she do this? Was I that mean, heartless and messed up for her to never even give me a chance to be a dad?
And this Harms guy. How long has this been going on? Venom rises in my throat, she passed him off as Phoebe's father. I promised John I would not lose my temper no matter what I found when I came here but, I cannot contain this much hostile energy inside of me, I take my glass and whip it across the room. It shatters. Taylor rushes in. "I'm fine", I bark at him. He studies the broken glance and walks away. I need to do something, I pick up the phone and dial my father's number.
"Christian", he answers.
"Dad I think I am in need of legal counsel and some advice".
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