We drop Elliot back at his apartment after assuring him I will think very carefully about today and the proposal before heading home. I have much to think about; numbers to crunch and I have to weigh up the pro's and con to make a good business decision. I have the weekend to decide but I feel like expending some energy so I go to the gym for a thorough work out with Phil, my personal trainer.
I shower and eat the dinner Mrs Jones has prepared before opening up the information that Ray Steele sent over again. The financial implications on a team are huge with $20,000 per set of tires per race and there are potentially 37 races per season-ouch! A new engine is between $45,000-$80,000 each and the actual car body and inner equipment is a further $70,000 so that's $150.000 just for the car without any of the staff wages, fuel, and travel expenses from race to race and various miscellaneous expenses. $20 million was a conservative estimate in my opinion.
The advertising possibilities are there but what are the chances of recouping the cost of sponsoring the team? I guess the driver's also have good exposure not just NASCAR but they go to events and advertise beer or other sponsors products. Hmm, debatable. I have had enough for this evening so I head to bed.
The following morning I set off to see Mom and Dad. I tell Taylor I will drive my-self, I do better thinking when I am alone besides he will follow behind me anyway. It's only an hour's drive to the house but it's like entering a different world. It's far enough out of the city to feel like the countryside, quiet, green, fresh and beautiful especially when the sun is shining and when the spring flowers are blooming in a few month's time.
Mom and Dad are as ever, pleased to see me, Mom greets me with open arms.
"It's so good to see you Christian darling" Mom hugs me so tightly.
"Hi Mom, how are you?" I ask
"All the better for seeing you, except you have lost weight, I hope you are eating properly…"
"Mom, I'm fine" I cut in.
"Good to see you son" Dad finally gets a chance to say hello.
"Hey Dad, How's it going?" we hug briefly.
"Good son, what's this I hear about you investing in a NASCAR racing team?"
"Oh boy, I see Elliot has been blabbing again" I laugh although a small hint of annoyance creeps into my voice "I really wish he wouldn't especially as I haven't decided what to do yet"
"It's not something I thought you would show an ounce of interest in to be honest Christian" Dad says.
"Well it is quite interesting but I am not sure it's a good investment and it is so different to my normal business, I feel way out of my comfort zone" I say as we walk into the conservatory.
"Tea dear?" Mom asks.
"Coffee if you have it please" I reply, a few moments later Mom comes in with a tray with a coffee for me, tea for them and a whole bunch of biscuits on a plate.
"Biscuit darling?" Mom thrusts the plate under my nose and I know I will not hear the end of it if I don't have one so I pick a ginger and dark chocolate cookie.
"What do you think of NASCAR Dad?"
"I know very little aside from watching a race or two on the television. The cars are covered in advertisements and the racing looks dangerous but beyond that I know no more"
"Would you see it as a good opportunity for GEH?"
"If I am honest I would say no but that's only based on my limited knowledge"
"I would say I am leaning in the same direction, I told the team owner I would let him know on Monday so I still have a little time to consider his proposal" I say.
The rest of the weekend passes quietly; I swear I will go home half a stone heavier with Mom constantly pushing little snacks at me whenever she feels like it but it has felt good to relax for a couple of days. I say farewell and I am reminded about the charity ball next weekend.
Monday morning brings an anxious call from Elliot.
"So bro, have you made up your mind?" he asks nervously.
"Yes I have and the answer is no" I reply.
"WHAT! Are you crazy? You do realize this will mean the end of Steele racing with your decision" he is shouting at me now.
"Yes I do Elliot but it doesn't make business sense"
"But you are a billionaire for fuck sake Christian!" He is really pissed off with me as he doesn't swear very often.
"It has nothing to do with that Elliot; I just don't see it as…."
"Whatever Christian, you are obviously not going to change your mind…bye" and he hangs up. Well that went well…not. I now face the unenviable task of telling Mr Steele my decision and hearing his life falling apart but I have done this kind of thing before, I cannot be held responsible for things not working right in other people's lives. I think because of Elliot's interest in this team, it is making it a little harder for me. I dial Mr Steele's number…
"Ray Steele speaking"
"Hello Mr Steele, its Christian Grey"
"Good morning Mr Grey"
"Mr Steele, I want you to know how impressed I was with the set-up of your team and the commitment by your staff. I have weighted up all the information you forwarded and have done a lot research my-self but I am afraid I am going to turn down your proposal. I wish you and your team every success for the future" I feel like a tool.
"Thank you for your honesty Mr Grey, I am obviously disappointed but I understand and I am grateful you took the time to look into our team"
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity Mr Steele"
"Goodbye Mr Grey"
"Goodbye Mr Steele"
And that is that. I will have to give Elliot time to come around and speak to me again hopefully before the charity ball this weekend otherwise it will be a bit frosty.
The rest of the week passes smoothly except for a small niggle at the back of my mind regarding Steele Racing. I travel to Mom's Friday evening as I really hate 'arriving' at these events under scrutiny, I can get ready at my leisure and not look like I have been dragged through a hedge backward from driving in the car beforehand. Mia is also arriving on Friday so I have a chance to catch up with my baby sister and find out how she is and what she is doing with her life at the moment.
I hang my tuxedo up in my old room when I lived at home, put my other clothes and bits and pieces away. I have changed into my casual clothes and go back downstairs to find Mia has arrived and is her usual bubbly vibrant self. She throws herself at me for a hug and partially winds me…
"Christian! How's my big brother doing? I hear you have been upsetting our bigger brother, tsk tsk what's that all about? I hope you get along this weekend as it's an important event for Mom…"
I put my hand up to halt the verbal tirade from her…
"Hello Mia, I am fine thank you, yes Elliot and I have had a business disagreement but I am hoping he won't hold it against me forever and I fully intend to be 'normal' with him this weekend. Anything else?"
"Oh Christian" she hugs me tightly again.
"Besides, I want to know more about you Mia, what have you been up to the last few months? I missed not seeing you at Thanksgiving and Christmas; I love our little chats you know"
"I know, I do too but I have been busy working and studying however I am feeling soo tired right now, can we continue tomorrow?" she backs it up with a huge yawn.
"Go to bed, see you tomorrow sis" she goes through the door with a wave.
The following morning I am met by total chaos downstairs, caterers, organisers, flowers, alcohol, staging, an entertainment system installation in the huge but not quite yet up fully marquee, waiters and waitresses being briefed on protocol and much much more.
I search for Mom and find her calmly overseeing everything going on.
"Shit Mom, how do you deal with all of this? Its driving me crazy and I have only just come downstairs"
"Language Christian, please!"
"Sorry Mom, is there anything you need help with?" I ask slightly reluctantly.
"If you could help your father move some flower pots on the patio to aid the marquee building I would be most grateful"
"Of course Mom, I will go now" I head out of the double doors, dodge some marquee poles and find Dad around the corner.
"Here to help me son?" I nod and we begin moving the pots.
The event starts at four o'clock so at 2pm I head upstairs to get showered and changed. I bump into Mia who is already in her evening dress, hair done and make up perfect.
I make it back downstairs in my tuxedo, starched shirt, cummerbund and bow tie. My shoes are feeling tight already; damn I should have worn them in before coming today.
Guests are arriving, some familiar faces and some new faces but Mia and I stand together meeting and greeting everyone and the waiting staff are ready to serve champagne and hors d'ouevres.
Elliot arrives alone; he hugs Mia and frostily acknowledges me before going to find Mom.
The evening is progressing smoothly; everyone is eating, drinking and having a good time. The main event for the evening is a little different, instead of 'auctioning' the eligible bachelors, it's 'auctioning' the bachelorettes for charity and it will start at 8pm. I am using the time to grill Mia on her life when she waves at a lady on an adjacent table. I glance over and am immediately struck by this beauty, blond hair, blue eyes and an amazing figure that is enveloped in a pale yellow dress with matching shoes and clutch bag.
"Close your mouth Christian, you are embarrassing me" Mia nudges my elbow.
"Whhattt? Oh sorry, who is that you were waving too?"
"That's Ana Steele, I have only known her for a short while but she is lovely" Mia replies.
"Steele? Not Steele as in Steele Racing?"
"Yes Christian and you're dribbling" she laughs.
"But, I didn't know he had a daughter" I stutter wiping the non-existent dribble from my mouth.
"Obviously" Mia giggles.
"I must meet her, what do you know about her Mia?"
"Not much really, she has done a little modelling but she has a degree in mechanical engineering and she is single at the moment. In fact she is going up for the 'auction' tonight"
"Fantastic" I exclaim. Wow what an opportunity and how fortuitous she is here this evening.
The Master of ceremonies calls everyone's attention as the auction is about to begin. He asks all of the bachelorettes to come up to the staging area. I have eyes for only one lady.
She is forth in line to be 'auctioned' and I am getting twitchy waiting. The other ladies are auctioned for fantastic amounts, each getting a huge round of applause when the bidding is over. Then Ana comes to the front and I tense up as the bidding starts, $10.000, $20.000, $30.000, $40.000, who am I bidding against I wonder? And it seems to be going on for ages, $80.000, $90.000 until my bid reaches $100.000, going once, going twice, all done thank you. I have to wait until the auction is finished before meeting Ana; I fidget in my seat until Mia nudges me to sit still.
"Thank you ladies and gentlemen for your most generous contributions this evening, now if I could ask the gentlemen to come and meet the ladies they 'won'" The MC tells us.
I grab a glass of champagne to take up for her; I am practically running to the stage.
"Ah Mr Grey, thank you for your donation tonight and here is Miss Steele"
She walks toward me, she is taller than I expected, she is a natural blond and her eyes are piercing blue, she is slender and not muscular as such but toned to perfection.
"Good Evening Miss Steele" I kiss the top of her hand before offering her the champagne and I hear a feint aaaaahhhh from the guests.
"Good Evening Mr Grey and thank you" her voice is soft yet strong.
"Just a reminder that all of our auction couples will take the dance floor for the first dance in 30 minutes" The MC announces.
"Please come and sit at my table" I say pointing the way.