Christian's POV

May was insane month. On one hand, there were more deals to finalize at GEH than ever. On the other hand, I talked more with people from WSUV. We started a new program grant, reviewed the scholarships we had established, and they asked me to be the primary speaker at the graduation ceremony in addition to helping distribute diplomas.

Then there was this cat and mouse game with Elena. The police were overjoyed about the tip we gave them. Detective Clark explained they were keeping a close eye on the human trafficking ring already but there was still no breakthrough. So I volunteered to be bait. I was rich enough and famous enough to not draw too much suspicion from the ringleaders. Plus the world already knew I wasn't the softest person. Nah, I was an intimidating dick. My cover story was the best there was available.

"They'll be waiting you next Sunday," Elena stated quietly on Tuesday. It was a tradition to have a dinner with her on weekly basis. Tuesday nights were meant to discuss her salon business, where I was an investor and silent partner. It was also the time we used to talk about my submissives and all kinds of other subjects. Until this spring; these were dinners shared by two friends.

"Okay, I'll be there but you have to be a little more specific: where and when?"

"I don't know yet. But please, tell your bodyguards that weapons are not allowed. You can take your dogs with you but they can't create problems."

"You can trust me about that." I could tell Elena was distracted by some twisted problem. I just couldn't pinpoint it yet. "Is there anything else bothering you?

"You know," Elena stood; preparing to walk around the table.

"Elena, sit down!" I commanded and she obeyed.

"How can you be sure your staff will not chatter to the police?"

"Oh, like you think my thorough background searches are all legal? Or that Taylor can provide his service on his level using only legal techniques? I don't operate GEH on that level and you know it. My business transactions are absolutely legal." I tried hard to convince Elena but not rat on my best people. Barney probably used illegal sources half the time. Even if Taylor had knocked someone out on the road, he was still the best security is in the world. He knew everything there is to know about me and he still stood next to my door.

The next problem we faced was police. When we were finally told the location and exact time of the meeting; it appeared that the police could not react as quickly as my team and I. Well at least not a way that kept my name untouched.

"Can we say you are not ready yet?" Detective Clark suggested.

"No! That is unthinkable." Elena indicated there is a perfect girl for me – a petite brunette with big blue eyes. Every description she provided reminded me the girl from Kate's photo. If there's a chance Anastasia Rose Steele was still alive and being held by that ring of human traffickers, this would be the perfect opportunity to get her out. And fuck, I wanted her. "I'll go. You can coordinate details with Welch. If any of your guys or my guys can come up with wiring that won't get us caught, I'll use it."

Clark smiled: "I was hoping you would say so. We will be there right after you leave. You will take the woman you buy to Seattle. A few hours later we will step in, take the woman and you give your full statement of the events. We will add the trafficking deal into their charge folder and the leaders will go down for very long time. Right now it looks like a simple deal, but you have to remember: stay alive! That can be trickier than you think."

On Sunday morning Taylor, Sawyer and I headed out of Seattle. We didn't wear any wires; but my SUV was heavily monitored with cameras and sound recording devices.

"We are almost there," Taylor reported.

"Let's do it!" I sighed. Taylor stopped in front of an old factory and opened the SUV door for me. We were manually frisked and then scanned with some electronic device. When no electronic recording devices were revealed; we were allowed to enter.

"Mr. Grey, it's nice to finally meet you!" A sleazy scumbag greeted me. "I'm Master Joe and I really hope to finalize our pending business arrangement. I was told you prefer brunettes. Is that right?"

"That is correct," I nodded.

"Although you have high references; I need to ask few things before I can offer the best deal. This way please!"

We entered a room that looked like some kind of office. The room was old and tired like the rest of the building; but there were some comfortable chairs and an expensive dark wood desk. We sat, he offered a drink, and I declined.

"Ask your questions!" I was already annoyed.

"Well," he started slowly. "First I want to know if there is a budget I have to consider?"

"If you've heard of me, you should know I don't have budgets. When I want something. I want the best!"

"Well, but best means different things to different people."

"I need to see the girls to know 'the best'. But if you have to consolidate the offerings, then I'd like to see brunettes, younger than 25, preferably light skin with minimal experience. You know I like to mold them to meet my unique needs."

"Understandable!" He smiled. He fucking smiled and forwarded my expectations by phone a moment later. "It will take few minutes. If I may be curious; what's the bag for?"

Like he didn't know! The bag was searched as well (if not better) while we were.

"I know you offer full service but I prefer to see my property looking like mine as soon as possible." There bag held one simple blue dress and shoes I thought were about Anastasia's size. It was a guess based on photos Barney and Welch were able to pull up. But to be sure I picked a shoe style that had convertible back straps. The bag contained a leather collar and a lead chain to clip on the collar.

"We are ready to show you our products now. I have to warn you; they can't talk right now. It's for everybody's benefit that we muted them for few weeks. When the drug wears off you can choose the mode of her communication or continued silence but right now they are, thankfully, silent."

I nodded and he led me to another room. There was a row of women kneeling in front of me. One after another they held perfect positions – hands tied behind them, knees wide apart, heads down. And it was repulsive. I'd seen this particular pose so many times. Yes, I knew that all my submissives experienced anticipation sitting in that particular pose. Right now; when I saw a row of humble women, I thought that maybe I didn't like that position as much as I thought. I definitely didn't want it, if it was forcibly, unwillingly given.

I started from the left, tilted a head up, looked into the slave's eyes and moved to the next one. One of the girls was a previous submissive of mine. She had always been more to slavery than me and it was the reason we ended our contract.

"Voluntarily?" I asked and she nodded.

I was beginning to curse my position. If all the slaves were here voluntarily, I was really fucked. Yes I knew there were twisted minds in the world, but it still felt repulsive. I lifted the next face and there she was! The most beautiful blue eyes I'd ever seen. She trembled a little and I tried to smile comfortingly. So, this was a mix of voluntary and forced submissions. I found Anastasia Rose Steele after all! I lowered myself, putting weight on one heel and took a closer look. There was a round scar on her left thigh but it seemed to be older than few months. I lifted my hand and she visibly stiffened while my fingers got closer to her scar. I didn't think it was possible, but her terrorized eyes pleaded.

"I won't touch it," I whispered. She looked at me, but remained as stiff as possible. Just as promised I only moved my hand. I touched her clear skin like I was inspecting her. Then I stood and pronounced: "I'll take her. Tell me the price!"

Joe nodded in some freaking smug way. "You should be pleased with her. Let's talk about the payment in my office."

I ordered Sawyer to stand behind my new acquisition. "I can't risk any further damage, inspection or touching of my property." I informed everyone in the room.

Joe, or Master Joe as he referred to himself, told me the price. I received a birth certificate for Alanna Swayne. There was also a standard D/s contract as a cover up for the fact that I just bought a slave. I received a copy of the contract. We concluded negotiations for the amount I was going to pay and after a quick money transfer we headed back where Sawyer stood guard.

"As you noted," Joe stated, "we provide full service. Just as added insurance; we will observe you and your slave perform a scene in about a month. We will analyze your scene; then provide you advice or help if needed. We will also perform a full medical exam and again, if needed, we offer advice or help."

I simply nodded. A month was so far away. I knew the police was already on their way so it made no big difference right now. Ana was still kneeling on the same spot. I took the collar and secured it around her neck.

"Stand!" I commanded and she obeyed. I handed her the dress. "Put it on!" When she finished I commanded her sit on the nearby bench and once again I lowered myself to put the shoes on her. They were perfect size. I stroke her foot when I put the first shoe was on and she tried to giggle. But just as quickly as she started giggling it was already over. Her hands flew to her throat and tears fell from her beautiful eyes.

I wondered why she started giggling, because I didn't get the point. So I shrugged, fastened the chain to her collar and led her to the car. At least she was out of that pit of the hell. However, from my own life full of scars, I knew that her struggles were far from over. I just hope that she can eventually come out of this.