Christian moved his chair loudly towards Ana's earning a giggle from her. Her laughter put beaming smiles on the faces of the Greys. Elena Lincoln had high hopes her daughter would end up with Christian… that was until this young lady turned up out of the blue. "Christian, do you know anything about Kavanagh Media, rumor is it has been acquired by another media house," Linc asked. The only time Linc ever talked to him was regarding business. The man thought of nothing else but money, so much so he sold a large percentage of Lincoln Timber to Christian.

"Yeah, and I was promptly fired." He said with a chuckle.

"How can they fire you, you have shares in the company," Carrick said looking perplexed.

"I gave them away." He replied nonchalantly.

"You gave them away," Carrick repeated looking at Christian as though the boy had lost his mind. "To whom?" He questioned.

"Katherine Kavanagh." Was his answer.

"Why?" This time it was Grace with the question.

"She brought my girl and me back together, so I gifted them my shares giving her and Ana controlling interest of Kavanagh Media." He said his attention now on Ana.

"You own Kavanagh Media?" Linc asked Ana.

"Yes," Ana answered with a nod. Everyone looked at her clearly waiting for her to elaborate. "Kate and I own the Steele Media Group."

"Holy shit." Linc murmured.

"Who is that?" Mia asked.

"You know that fashion magazine you love reading so much… the one you said catered more to your generation. She publishes it." Linc answered.

"Damn," Mia said proudly. "Go, Rose."

"Well done," Carrick said proudly.

"When you have nothing but work you'd be surprised what you can achieve." She murmured. "We currently print the US edition from our printing press in England, right now with the increasing number of subscriptions and purchases it is more feasible to have a base of operations here in the US."

"Did I tell you she bought SIP from right under my nose," Christian told the room.

"You own SIP." April blurted out.

"Yes, it opens tomorrow, and hopefully everything will be sorted out staff wise by the end of the week," Ana added.

"I'm a copy editor at SIP… wait when you say staff wise… do you mean not everyone will keep their job?" April asked.

"It's the nature of acquisitions, sometimes some people have to be let go," Christian said draping his arms over the back of Ana's chair.

"SIP was a mess, and that wasn't just down to Roach, the staff played a part… most of them are not qualified for their positions, and some are overqualified. That is what Sarah Milton the new president tells me. It's her job to make sure everyone is where they are meant to be, and it appears not everyone will still have a job when she is done." Ana said with a shrug.

"So Roach is out," April mumbled.

"April here is brilliant at her job, was promoted to copy editor within three months of starting." Elena intoned proudly. Ana ignored the statement, what Elena thought meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.

"So… Ana, are you seeing anyone, a beautiful intelligent and clearly wealthy girl like you must have them lined around the block." August asked his lascivious stare not lost on Ana.

"I didn't get to where I am by indulging men lined around the block, fortunately for them, I didn't notice them even if they were… no one likes to be rejected." She grumbled.

"Come on, you know the saying all work and no play…"

"Makes Rose a billionaire." Christian finished. That statement had Elena damn near choking on her piece of beef. April stared at her in shock, so did the rest of the Grey's.

"How are you on legal representation?" Carrick asked earning a giggle from Ana.

"We need to talk." She said with a smile.

"Anytime." Carrick sat back with a smile of his own.

"Mia is looking for a job if you have any vacancies." Elliot teased earning a glare from Mia. Ana wasn't going to say anything unless Mia asked.

The conversation between Ana and the Greys flowed as though no time had passed at all. The laughter rang around the table to a degree the Lincolns had never seen. Ana had impressed Linc with her business know-how and fortitude to get things done. He wished his kids were more like that instead of relying on his money. April had a job she was no good at no matter what Elena thought, and was most likely about to lose it. She had her sights set on Christian and by the looks of things that was not going to happen. August had his sights set on Ana, which only served to annoy Christian and the young lady herself. His lewd comments and misogynistic attitude were damn right appalling, and he had quietly told the boy to shut up.

April was still angling for more information on how Rose, Ana or whatever the fuck her name was known to the Greys, but so far not much had been divulged. "You mentioned you where Childhood friends." She asked hoping to get the ball rolling.

"Yes, my mom and I moved to San Diego after my father died, but then she got married again we moved and lost touch," Ana said her eyes on her tiramisu.

April knew by the looks on their faces there was more to the story, but she wasn't ever likely to find out what it was.

"Ten years later your best friends find me, and here you are." Christian murmured his face practically buried in Ana's neck.

"Speaking of your best friends…" Elliot started.

"Oh yes, Mia you have to come join us tonight for a few drinks, you will love Kate and Emilia." Christian lost it at the look on Elliot's face.

"I'd love to, I'll drive back with you," Mia chirped.

"What about me?" Elliot growled.

"What about you?" Ana asked.

"Rosie aka Anastasia, there was a time your world revolved around me. There was a time you looked forward to me coming home from college. There was a time I gave you piggy back rides, you become a billionaire, and old Elliot is forgotten."

"I think you will find your world revolved around hers." Christian countered.

"Seriously El, forget about Kate or Emilia, you are just asking to make your life difficult. " Ana advised though she knew he wouldn't listen. "Emilia might look like the nice one, but trust me she is not. The last person that crossed her spent months trying to convince the IRS they did pay their taxes." Ana warned.

"We better get going," Linc said much to the displeasure of the rest of the Lincolns and to the pleasure of the Greys.

"I need to use the bathroom before we leave," August mumbled. As he walked up the stairs it was evident to him Christian had eyes on Ana, and the chances of him getting Ana over him was lower than zero unless he diverted Christian's attention. First, he had wanted Ana because she looked like she would be a good fuck, but now knowing she had the kind of money he could only ever dream of had raised the stakes. With his dad always threatening to cut him off and that threat looking likely everyday Ana was the answer to his prayers.

He looked at himself in the mirror as he washed his hands. He was a handsome fucker, tall, and well built with his dad's blond hair, not the peroxide aided shit his mother and sister sported. He opened the door only to slam into Elliot Grey.

Elliot pushed him back into the bathroom and slammed him against the wall. "Tell me something Aug, when was the last time you saw my brother this happy… this engaged?" August didn't need to think about it, the answer was never. "Your silence speaks volumes. The reason for his demeanor right now is Rose, and I know that fact isn't lost on you. Let me make this clear, she is off limits… it's that simple. Look at her inappropriately again with those beady eyes of yours and I will gouge them out and feed them to you. Do I make myself clear?" Elliot asked menacingly.

"Just having a little fun Elliot, it's obvious Christian's into the girl. You've got nothing to worry about." He said with a smile though he was beyond pissed. The Grey boys pissed him off to no end, but he put up with them. Ever since they came to town, getting laid had become very difficult as all the girls had their eyes on them. He was no different to them, he had money, looks and could charm the pants off any girl so what was it about them that made them so special.

"Glad we cleared the air," Elliot said walking out.


"Finally." Grace murmured the minute the door shut behind the Lincolns.

"Christian, are you aware you have a stalker?" Ana asked a surprised looking Christian. "I guess it's a no." She added.

"Who, and how do you know?" He asked.

"That was how Kate found you. In SIP's servers, we found several files belonging to a Jack Hyde. The day we announced the acquisition he was desperate to get to the servers the minute we mentioned overhauling their system. One of the files is on this family, primarily you. He has several pictures of you, most of them are just too up close… anyway, I brought the file. You have your people deal with it."

Christian didn't wait he grabbed a laptop and inserted the data stick. "Shit, how is this possible, even the paparazzi aren't this good and yet some guy I don't know as been successfully stalking me with all the security around me," Christian grumbled. "He seems to know everywhere I am." He murmured.

"Son, this is very disturbing," Carrick said as he looked through the surveillance pictures of his family.

"Thank you, Ana," Christian said his attention on the laptop screen.

We have other files but those are heavily encrypted, and Emilia hasn't had time to deal with those with everything we have to do work wise." Ana sighed, for the first time since the inception of SMG, she had no desire to spend umpteen hours at work. She knew come tomorrow morning his security team would be in for some serious grilling.

"Do you think… maybe just maybe, he's getting his information from April." Mia asked.

"Mia, you might just be onto something. That girl talks too much that is why I'm always careful what I say around her. But looking at most of these, I will say the possibility is high because most of these are from the last ten months. April started work at SIP around the same time. In a conversation I'd usually tell her I where I'm going to avoid her trying to monopolize my free time or asking to spend time together, fuck." Christian growled. "No one says anything until we are sure that this is just her talking too much and nothing else." Ana breathed a sigh of relief that Christian was thinking along the same lines she was. This might not be just April talking too much, there was something about the entire Lincoln family that didn't sit will with her.

"What is with the Lincolns?" Ana asked as they walked the grounds.

"When we first moved here, we knew nobody, and the Lincolns were very welcoming. Soon it became quickly apparent that we didn't need them to introduce the family to the various social groups, but you know Grace she never wants to toss anyone aside unless they give her a reason." Christian had the distinct feeling the Lincolns were about to burn their bridge with the Grey's soon enough.

"Yeah," Ana says with a chuckle. "I meant to talk to you about Hyde at a more appropriate time, but it was evident Grace was going to ask questions I just could not talk about today."

"I get that, and I understand." He wrapped his arms around her.

"Who do I need to talk to about using SMG's printing press?" Christian asked with a smile.

"That would be me," Ana answered with a smug grin.

"Well then, when can I come and see you to hash out the details." He asked pulling her closer.

"How about you bring me lunch tomorrow, and we can talk. The SIP office, okay with you?"

"Beggars can't be choosers." He quipped.


Elena barely paid attention to whatever Linc was saying on the drive home. From the minute she laid eyes on Christian Grey, she had been scheming and engineering a union between April and Christian and all that was wasted because of that girl. For a time she looked like she had succeeded when Christian asked April to be his date to every social gathering on the calendar and even the occasional dinner. She had made it a point to make sure the press had been there to take pictures and write articles about the two. Unfortunately for Elena that backfired spectacularly when Christian distanced himself from her because of the articles alluding to the two being a couple. That realization had her wondering why Christian was so concerned he had most of the articles pulled and the ones on the net completely disappeared. Evidently, he didn't want someone reading the articles, and that someone was Rose. The question was why Christian would care so much about a childhood friend reading about his dates with April.

"Darling." Elena purred earning an eye roll from Linc who knew she wanted something.

"Yes dear." He knew Elena hated that moniker, which according to her made her sound old. Linc had never met anyone so intent on beating the unbeatable fact that was aging.

"I want a background check on the Steele girl." April and August who had been paying more attention to their phones looked up.

"Why?" His dismay was evident for all to see.

"Because this whole childhood friend thing is bullshit," Elena answered.

"Really, because what I saw a family who longer looked like they had lost something. Did you not see the joy, the laughter… that feeling of loss that clung to them like death was gone." Linc countered.

"You just made my point… all that could not possibly have been because of a childhood friend. There is more to the story." Elena insisted.

"So what… what do you care? Christian isn't going to marry April because you uncovered some secret that is not there." August couldn't help the chortle that left him as April bristled at her father's words.

"Shut up." She growled. "Don't pretend you didn't have your eyes on her. You could do so much better." She added with a snort of derision.

"Please, let's be realistic, August doesn't have a job, has got zero plans to get one, flanked out of college and is as lazy as a walrus. Every cent he spends his because I gave to him. He'd be lucky if a woman like that even looked his way." Linc words angered August to no end, even if it was true. "Believe me if Christian was interested in April I would foster it, but he's not, and if that is not obvious to you lot then I suggest you open your eyes." He added as he pulled into the driveway of the family's home.

Elena on her part was determined to find what the Grey's were hiding.

Christian straightened out his tie, his hair was unruly as ever, and he smiled. He couldn't remember the last time he wanted to look his best for anyone, he usually dressed to assert his dominance and intimidate business rivals. Taylor opened the door for him, and he stepped out looking at the modernized façade of SIP. He remembered the worn out exterior the building used to have.

"Raymond Carpenter Publishing House." He read out loud and felt some degree of pride he'd never felt for his own achievements.

"Christian!" He looked down to find April staring at him with such hope, and strangely, he had no qualms about shattering it.

"Hey, April." He greeted nonchalantly.

"You brought… what are you doing here?" She asked quickly realizing he wasn't there for her, but for Ana.

"I have a lunch meeting with Ana." He made no effort to hide his beaming smile.

"Alright… enjoy." She said walking away.

"Oh, I will." His tone left little to the imagination.

He walked up to the reception desk with a spring in his step. "Hello… Claire, I'm Christian Grey, here to see Miss Steele."

"Yes, Mr. Grey she is expecting you." Her level of professionalism surprised him. She wasn't stuttering, fluttering her eyelashes or staring at him as though he was a piece of juicy steak. "Take the elevator up to the seventh floor, someone will be waiting for you." She says politely.

"Thank you." He said with a genuine smile.

Indeed a young lady named Hannah walked him down to the corridor to Rose's office.

I have to remember she's Ana now, although she doesn't mind Rose, everyone now calls her Ana.

"Mr. Grey." Ana greeted, and Christian quickly realized she wasn't alone.

"Good afternoon Miss Steele." He replied with a sly grin.

"I will leave you two to it, I have people to demote, promote and unfortunately for some… fire."

"Mr. Grey, this is Sarah Milton she will be running the Seattle and Portland branches of my publishing house." Ana introduced.

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Grey, what you've done with GEH is as impressive as Ana's work with Steele Media."

"Thank you." With that, she was gone.

"Should I be prepared for April getting fired?" He asked with a smirk surprising Ana. "Oh please… the only one that thinks April is capable of anything more or less the position of a copywriter is her mother." He added with a scoff earning a giggle from Ana.

"Yeah, she has to go, and even more so, I'm questioning why Jack Hyde fought to give her the position. From what I understand the girl wasn't much of an assistant to begin with."

"As in the same motherfucker stalking me," Christian asked.

"One and the same," Ana answered.

"The man stalking me and seem to have known my every move in the same time April has been working here... fought to promote her to a position she is wholly incapable of holding." Ana nodded although it wasn't a question.


Dr. Garcon was all smiles when he walked towards his practice, he had received an email that made his day, hell his month. His wife couldn't help the squeal that left her when he showed her the email. His smile quickly disappeared when he saw the woman standing outside his practice waiting for him. If there was one person in the world he never wanted to lay eyes on ever again it was her. What were the chances of hearing from Christian Grey the same morning that Rose's mother turned up on his doorstep?

"Dr. Garcon."

"Yes, how can I help you." Carla realized the man in front of her didn't recognize her.

"I was here ten years ago with my daughter, she was fifteen and pregnant..."

"Unfortunately, the patient was your daughter, and I cannot give you any information as she is no longer a minor."

"No, that is not why I'm…" He knew why she was there, but it would be a cold day in hell before he helped her, not that he had the files from Rose's abortion. He had long ago helped Christian destroy them.

"Madam, you are going to have to book an appointment I have patients waiting for me. Have a good day." He said turning his back on her.

"Do you know a Christian Grey?" With his back turned he had time to compose his features.

"The name doesn't ring a bell… as I said madam you have to book an appointment." As he walked into his office, he sent a quick email to Christian.