A/N: I have had this idea for a while and thought I would have incorporated into one of my other stories, but it never fitted. The good thing about a story with one-shots is it all works!
Boyfriend Criteria
Phoebe's POV
Mason and I are sitting on my couch eating ice cream out of the tub while we watch movies. We have just finished watching our first movie when he starts scrolling through the list of movies.
"Feel like watching something different?" He asks.
"No. I like romantic movies." I say dipping my spoon into the tub and then in a moment of boldness, playfully tap his cheek with it, so there is ice cream smeared over him. Mason looks at me shocked. "Oops! Let me get that for you." I lick it off and then kiss him.
"Just for that, I am choosing a horror movie." A mild shiver runs down my back just at the thought. It's just a movie I remind myself.
"I haven't watched one since I was almost thirteen with my cousin Ava. We watched the first Ring movie with our fathers, and then when we went to bed, we watched the second movie in the series. We freaked out that we struggled to sleep, and I believe I also panicked out over my father pajamas the next day." Mason look at me questioning my last statement. "I know it doesn't make sense to me now either. Don't worry about it."
"Okay, I won't worry about pajamas when I sleep over," Mason states playfully but almost chokes when he hears security behind us. "That is if we umm.. ever get to that point "
"Don't worry about security. It's all okay. They were just answering a phone call. Also remember, they don't report my every move to my families head of security or my parents themselves. They just make sure I am okay." I try to reassure Mason. I haven't lied. Not all of my movements are reported, but I suspect any with Mason is. We have been seeing each other for over a month now. We met in chemistry class. Mason is pre-med like I am. Though I am headed to Yale medical school while he will remain here at Harvard. I was offered places at both schools, but I want to follow in my grandmother's footsteps and graduate from Yale Medical school.
"Okay," Mason replies. He is not convinced but maintains his relaxed nature. "So movies. I used to watch horror movies with my older brothers growing up. The Ring movies are classics. The third movie is a personal favorite of mine. Are you sure you are okay to watch it?" After I agree, he selects the movie. I take a deep breath and remember that it is just a movie. Mason, noticing that I am distracted, flicks a small amount of ice cream at me. Revenge for my previous action. The cold ice cream lands just above my chest. I look at Mason, shocked at his brazen behavior considering he was reserved over security behind us.
"Did you aim for this area intentionally?" I ask pointing, raising my eyebrows.
"No!" Mason says seriously, but then grins. "However, if I am honest, I am not completely unhappy that I did. Can I clean it up for you?" I take deep breathe in and exhale when he holds up the napkin. Neither of us are virgins, but together we haven't done much more than heavy kissing, and a casual feel.
"Sure." Mason isn't even breathing while trying to clean me up. His nerves over this simple task means he spreads the ice cream, making it worse. Mason stops suddenly when he hears a knock at the door.
"I'll get the door," I say as I grab a napkin and wipe the ice cream off me, unfortunately, while opening the door.
"Father?" I say overly formal as I see him standing at the door. He looks like he has walked out a meeting, having controlled world dressed in one of his perfectly tailored suits.
"Phoebe. Hello princess." My dad smiles and then hugs me tightly, before looking at me concerned. "You looked perplexed. Also, you have some ice cream under your neck." Dad cocks his head to the side. Shit, when Dad walks in the first thing he is going to see is Mason with the ice cream. He would probably put one and one together. I wonder if I can keep him outside, in the doorway of my apartment.
"Some ice cream dribbled off my spoon. Also, I am not perplexed.. just surprised to see you. I didn't know you were coming." At least the latter is true.
"Neither did I until last night. The acquisition of a company I have been working on was going south, so I flew out here to deal with it. Their headquarters is in Boston. I managed to fix the problem quickly and I am flying back to Seattle tomorrow. I thought that since I was in the same neck of the woods as my one and only daughter, I would drop in on her and take her out. It has been a long time since we had a father and daughter date." Okay, the reason for dads appearance on the other side of the country is plausible. He always liked to face an issue face to face when it wasn't going his way.
"Before I forget, Gail made a batch of your favorite cookies for you. She wanted me to delay my flight for another hour, so she could make more." I don't even hide my joy when dad hands over the airtight container. I know exactly what these are. White chocolate and Macadamia cookies. Gail and I were looking through a cookbook when I was in elementary school and found this recipe. She and I have made them countless of times over the years, but whenever I made them alone, they never turned out as well.
"Can I enter?" My dad asks.
"Yes.." It suddenly hits me that I am not alone. I forgot where I was as I was being nostalgic over a cookie. "No.. umm.."
"Yes or no?" My father asks me sternly. I feel like a kid again.
"Yes, you can come in, but I have company. Mason is with me." I figure I should warn my father, and also inadvertent Mason.
"I look forward to meeting him." Dad stands there waiting for me.
"Come inside then." I gesture. I don't know how, but my father can make any room feel small. I swear the living room of my college apartment is becoming smaller in front of my eyes with my dad here.
"Dad, this is Mason Hunter. Mason, this is my father, Christian Grey." Mason who had been looking comfortable on my couch, now sits up with no coordination at all and practically stumbles walking towards us.
"Mr. Grey.. umm..." Masons voice is low, nothing like it usually is. I sigh. My boyfriend can't even string a sentence together.
"Mason, it's good to meet you." My dad holds his hand out, Mason shakes it, though reluctantly. I can tell from my father's expression that he grips it weakly.
"I.… I didn't know you were coming." I close my eyes and breath out. Mason finally manages to string a sentence together and he says that?
"I was in town on business and decided to take the opportunity to visit my daughter. Maybe take her out for dinner. Though from the look of it, it seems that she has already eaten." My dad spies the ice cream tub, but it is when he narrows his eyes when he looks at me. "Phoebe you still have ice cream under your neck and…. lower. "
Shit, I was wiping off the ice cream when I was answering the door. I cover the top of the chest where Mason hit me with the ice cream, then rub it off with my fingers. "As I said I spilled some on me. Mason and I were just watching some movies."
"I see. Though I thought you didn't like horror movies." My dad asks me suspiciously. I don't know how to answer that one.
"I chose the movie. Mr. Grey" Mason responds guiltily.
"Are you aware that my daughter isn't fond of those types of movies."
"Yes.. but .. I will turn it off"
"No, Mason you don't need to". I stress. I am not a pre-teen anymore. I know that these movies are fake. It won't cause me any stress or nightmares anymore. At least I don't think so.
"It's fine. I will stop the movie," Mason practically shrivels in front of us as he turns off the TV. He only turns the TV when he seems to have forgotten how to switch out of the movie selection menu.
"Security has informed me that you haven't eaten dinner yet. Which I would then assume neither have you Mason."
"No, we were going to eat later," I explain before Mason attempts to. My normally confident and self-assured boyfriend has seemed to have left the building.
"Then my arrival is fortunate. Let me take you two out. Mason, do you live far from here? "
"I live on campus."
"Good, my security will take you back to your place. You can change your clothes and we will pick you up. I will stay with Phoebe and wait for her to get ready. I have made dinner reservations at a modern French restaurant not far from here. Taylor will contact the restaurant and change our booking to three people. Phoebe, can you be ready to leave in half an hour?" Do I have a choice?.
"Most likely," I say resigned. I may have no choice, but Mason does. He doesn't have to attend. Though I would like to know. Maybe there is still hope. I look at my dad. Sometimes I think he knows. I pray he doesn't. "Though Mason if you have somewhere else to be tonight or a busy day tomorrow, you should prioritize it. You don't have to come."
"I do have a paper to…" Dad does even let Mason finish his sentence. Damn, it was the most coherent sentence Mason had uttered since dad arrived.
"Mason, you will not be intruding. It is obvious that you are free tonight as you were having a movie night with Phoebe." Dad looks at the movie again and narrows his eyes. "And tomorrow is Saturday, which means no classes for you both. Let me make it up to you for crashing your evening by buying you dinner."
"That's very generous of you Mr. Grey, but I am sorry. I cannot make it" I know dad is about to insist Mason accompany us, but he commences to walk out quickly. Faster than I ever have. I race to the door where Mason is about to walk out, somehow managing to stop him.
"Mason, you don't need to rush off or makeup excuses. Come to dinner with my father and me. I know it wasn't our original plans for tonight, but you are welcome to come." I tell Mason quietly. I figure it might encourage him to say yes.
"Umm.." Mason Looks at my dad and breathes out. 'No. sorry, Phoebe. I will umm.. Call you later. okay?"
"Sure" I respond. I force a smile but as soon as he is walking down my corridor to the elevator.
Christian's POV
Phoebe closes the door and looks over to me. She shakes her head and flips her hair to the side. I smile, remembering when Ana use to do the same thing around the same age. Fuck, Phoebe is the same age Ana was when I met her. A few months later I married her. I can't imagine Phoebe being married to a guy half as bad as I was. I shake off my thoughts.
"You look proud of your yourself. Did you come here to chase Mason away and then force me to eat?"
"No, though taking you to eat was part of my plan." Phoebe looks thinner than she did when she was home for Christmas, but at least she hasn't lost as much weight as she normally does when she is away at college. Phoebe tends to focus so much on school that she doesn't eat as much as she needs.
"I don't believe this… I am going to get dressed." Phoebe says agitated, but I am not sure if it is at me or the situation.
"Phoebe…" I softly take my daughter's arm, so she isn't able to walk away from me just yet. "I am glad to see you. I have missed you." Phoebe doesn't respond but at least nods.
Twenty minutes later, Phoebe walks out of her room. I narrow my eyes at the length of her dress. While her Beaded Trapeze Sleeveless Mini Cocktail Dress is beautiful, it shows off too much of her legs and bending over will not be possible.
"We still have time before we need to leave. You can change your dress." I state, not suggesting at all.
"Dad, you bought me this dress" I narrow my eyes at Phoebe's statement and cock my head to the side. There is no chance in hell that I bought this dress. "Not directly anyway. Last Christmas you sent Ava and me to Nieman Marcus with instructions to purchase several new outfits with shoes, as a congratulatory gift after I was accepted medical school and Ava ranked top of her class at college. This dress was one of my many purchases. Ava bought a matching dress, in red."
"I will have to be more specific next time and set down guidelines."
# # # #
"Hey dad, is this a good time to update you the merger of Sacramento IT resources and Webnet?" Ted only calls me dad in the office if its only him and I or Ros or Andrea. He settles himself into the closest chair next to me on the smaller meeting table in my office. I find it humorous and comforting that whenever Ted meets with me alone, or when Phoebe comes to see me at work, they both sit at this very spot. It's the same table they both use to sit when they were kids or came here after school. I used to help them do homework there when they needed it and colored numerous pictures with them. It is actually one of the few pieces of furniture I have refused to replace.
"Absolutely. Coffee and lunch? Your mother is on her way up from her office to have lunch with me also."
"Sounds good, I am famished." I narrow my eyes at Ted's statement. He has got into a pattern of working so hard on his allocated projects that he forgets to eat during the workday. I get on my phone and instruct Andrea to organize our lunch order and coffee.
While we wait, I listen to Ted debrief me on his progress. He has made a lot of headway with the integration of the two companies. He is using the technological developments of the Sacramento based company to improve the performance of Webnet, an internet provider. I offer suggestions on how to handle human resources. Ted is trying to avoid redundancies, but I don't think it will be possible, especially as half of the staff of IT resource company don't wish to relocate.
"Good work Ted, but you need to eat. Your mother is joining us." I stop Ted and signal to our lunch that has just been laid out by Andrea.
"Did Andrea organize this?" I cock my head at his strange question.
"Yes. of course. She is still my assistant"
"Has Andrea become some sort of ninja? I didn't hear or see her"
"My concern exactly. In the past several months, you have become so engrossed in your work that you are becoming blind to everything around you. I am considering having security confiscate your car keys just in case a work call comes through while you are behind the wheel." Just the thought of him getting a work call via his Bluetooth system or distracted with a deal while driving, makes me die a thousand deaths.
"I rarely drive to and from work anymore, and trust me on the weekends, when I am out with friends and girls, I leave work behind. In terms of me ignoring everything around me at work, it's just that I am loving the thrill of these mergers and acquisitions. I feel like I am actually making a difference."
"You are. Though to make a difference you need to remain healthy. Eat…..Where is your mother? She needs to eat too. " I walk to my door to ask Andrea to take my signed documents downstairs when my office doors open, and in enters Ana. I swear my world stops every time I see her. Age has only made her more beautiful. Ana walks towards me and kisses me passionately.
"I still can't believe that you didn't wake me up when you got home last night. Though you made it up…" I had intended to fly back on Saturday from my impromptu trip to Massachusetts but ended up until Sunday afternoon to spend more time with Phoebe as opposed to one evening. I was going to interrupt Ana when Ted speaks up.
"Mom, do you want a glass of water or maybe a bucket?" I grin while Ana blushes hearing Ted's voice and seeing that he is in my office.
"I didn't know you were going to join us for lunch," Ana says.
"I can leave if you both are seeking some private time," Ted says comically.
"No, stay. I don't see you enough." Ted stands and kisses his mother and pull out a chair for her. Our son is witty and loves to mock anyone but is always chivalrous especially with the female members of our family.
"I was over on the weekend." Ted reminds Ana. Noah and Liam, are only eight so they will be home for at least ten more years, but we miss having our two eldest kids at home. " I can't believe how good the twins are at baseball. They can hit, catch and throw a ball better than I ever could at the age or even in middle school!."
"If only Noah or Liam, could be as concerned over their school work as you were at that age." Ana comments. I sigh quietly. Our twins are a lot of fun, extremely athletic and bright, but they take school and life, as it comes. Nothing bothers them. They could get an A or a D grade and react the same way.
"I don't recall being intense about school. Phoebe, on the other hand, she was almost obsessed about her grades and school work." Ted recalls. That is true. Phoebe once got a B grade on a paper and she came home and rewrote it three times, to learn on how to improve the next time.
"That is true. After your sister's first day of preschool, she came home with a sight word book and level one reader and sat in my study with me learning them all." Ana reminds us. "The next day, I picked her up from school, she walked out proudly clutching a new early reader book and reported that she was the only one who was able to read all the sight words out to her teacher."
"Actually, talking about the academic overachiever, herself, how was Phoebe when you saw her on Friday? I called her this morning, but I didn't get to talk to her long. She about to take a gym class." Ted asks me.
"She was well.. and with Mason."
"He seems nice. Phoebe has spoken to me about him." Ana adds curiously. "What did you think of him Christian?"
"Similar to the previous boyfriends and boys that Phoebe has been interested in. He looked very interested in Phoebe. Though he acted a little ... sheepishly." I don't know how else to describe Mason.
"Christian, you didn't try to intimate him, did you? Phoebe likes Mason" I raise my hands innocently but internally grin. I never intend to do, but it tends to be the natural result of the combined effect of meeting your girlfriend's father and the CEO of the biggest privately-owned company in America.
"Probably not for long" Ted murmurs quietly. I look at him quickly, but he has looked away. I wasn't supposed to hear that.
"More importantly, Phoebe was doing well. She and I spoke about her move to Yale next year."
"Phoebe said she wanted to talk to me about that when she is in Seattle next. I suspect she is going to opt to live on college grounds at least for the first year. I wonder how she will manage her relationship with Mason if they are still together. I guess they can meet in the middle. Actually, I want to meet him. We should send the jet and bring them over during their next break. Or maybe I will go over and see Phoebe. I could meet Mason then."
"Better get on the jet this very second then." Ana and I look at Ted, who has only realized that he spoke out loud.
"Theodore Raymond, what are you talking about?" Ana asks and scolds him at the same time.
"Surely you both know, by now." Ana looks confused while I narrow my eyes. "You don't?"
"Explain what you are talking about!".
"Phoebe and Mason are not together anymore."
"What? Did Phoebe tell you this when you spoke to her this morning?" I probe.
"No. I haven't properly spoken to her since last week on Monday. We only spoke for a minute this morning. I have been too busy on this merger and was out all weekend with a girl I met a few weeks ago. Her name is Megan." Ted advises us. He never tells us about the girls he is seeing. Ted is doing this on purpose to change the topic of conversation. I get on my cell phone and send a text, stating it is urgent.
"Okay, and if you can manage to stay with Megan for more than three hours, then you should bring her over to the sound. But before that monumental moment, tell us how you have concluded that Phoebe has broken up with Mason. What is it that we haven't worked out" Ted puts his fork down and takes a sip of his coffee.
"I know that Phoebe has broken up with Mason, because of his reaction when he met your dad. She doesn't like to be with guys that are intimated by the great Christian Grey." I cock my head to the side, causing him to elaborate. "Phoebe will never be with a guy long term if he isn't able to keep his head up and composure when around you. Think back to the guys she has ever dated; Lachlan, Alexander, Ethan, and Joseph. Each time they met you, they either lowered their voice or raised it to act differently. They seemed awkward or tried to act overconfident. They didn't behave like themselves. Phoebe hates that. When you met Mason, he started to act .. 'differently'.. 'off'.. right?"
"Yes." I have to admit.
"Presto," Ted replies at the same time I received a text message.
"Ted is right. I just received a text message from Taylor. I had him consult with Phoebe's security team who have confirmed that our daughter has ended her relationship this morning."
"Ted, how long have you known about Phoebe's criteria for a boyfriend?"
"Not long after she started becoming interested in boys and was allowed to date. Phoebe had this major crush on this guy when she was a senior. What was his name… Jon? James? …"
"Jackson. Jackson Smith" I remind Ted. I remember this kid. Phoebe was smitten by him. Jackson played football in varsity team and a major player. He walked into our house, like the confident little shit he was. I didn't blink as I stared him down and 'interrogated' him. I won't deny that Taylor and Sawyer helped by making sure their presence was known.
"That's his name. Phoebe loved how confident he was. It was what attracted her to him, and Jackson liked how the daughter of America's richest and powerful couple was interested in him. Of course, it helped that Phoebe was pretty. When Jackson came over that first and only time to meet you both, and take Phoebe to the movies, it didn't take long for him to 'misplace' a chunk of his cocky manner. He lowered his voice, didn't walk as tall. He was intimated. Phoebe said that even after they left for the movie, he wasn't as confident or smooth. It put her off. Phoebe soon realized that she didn't want to be with a guy that would at differently around your dad." Ted looks at Ana and me as if this should be common knowledge. "Phoebe wants a guy that isn't putting on a show and is able to maintain themselves around Dad and the family."
"That actually explains Phoebe's relationship history," Ana says. "Christian, you need to talk to Phoebe about this …..situation"
"Why? Our daughter is mature and level-headed. This is just another example of her being independent and knowing what she wants." I don't see an issue in this at all. In fact, I pray it lasts forever.
"Fine, then I will call her tonight after she has finished her classes," Ana replies smartly. Mentally I plan a distracting evening that will make Ana forget to call our daughter. Red room here we come.
The three of us finish our lunch, thankfully not discussing Phoebe's past relationships. Curiously it is Ana that ensures the conversation doesn't revert to our original topic.
"Thanks for lunch mom and dad. I am going to go back to my office and keep working on this merger. Is that offer for Sunday lunch still going?"
"Yes. You can bring Megan." Ana states, making Ted stop in his tracks.
"We will see." Ted kisses Ana goodbye and nods at me as he makes a quick getaway. I chuckle recalling when I did the same thing to my mother when she met Ana for the first time.
"We are all alone," I tell Ana. I remove my tie and undo the top buttons of my white shirt. Ana bites her bottom lip. She isn't looking at me, but she knows the effect that her lip biting has on me. Plus, she has on the most superb pale blue dress making her blue eyes shine even more.
Though I should have paid more attention to Ana's demeanour. I grabbed Ana's hand, expecting her to stand willingly and be on the same page as me. My wife has become a minx as she has aged. Instead, Ana doesn't move. There is only one reason for this.
"Anastasia…."
"Don't Anastasia me. Christian, I can't believe that you have been keeping this secret for me for years." I narrow my eyes at Ana statement. Secret? No! I learned from that mistake early in our relationship.
"What?"
"You knew. Didn't you? You knew that Phoebe breaks up with any guy that was intimated by you, didn't you?" Oh.. that... "Ted's revelation, wasn't so much so for you was it?"
"No. I have known for about three years. Before Phoebe left for college. Taylor mentioned something to me and I put the pieces together. I haven't told Phoebe that I know… the second she does, then it's a dead deal." Phoebe is headstrong. Once upon a time, she was my little princess but that seems so long ago. This one aspect gives me at least a small amount of control in her life.
"Christian, I want you to tell Phoebe. It shouldn't be me. It has to be you!" I almost pout at Ana's request as I shake my head. Ana stands and pulls out her cell phone. Never have I despised quick dial as I did just then. Phoebe's. "If you won't then I will have to." As fate would have it, our daughter picks up the call on the first ring.
"Hi Phoebe, I am with your dad. I am going to put you on the loudspeaker" Ana doesn't even give Phoebe a chance to reply.
"Okay. Hi mom and dad. I should let you both know that my Applied Physics class starts in less than five minutes and I can't walk in late. This class could be the death of me. Is everything okay?"
"In a manner of speaking, but your father needs to tell you something that he should have told you before." Ana holds the phone out for me forcibly. Damn, I wish she didn't look sexy as hell when she is angry. I run my hands through my hair, and reluctantly take Ana's phone.
"Alright. Dad, what's going on?"
"Phoebe, you don't need to break up with your boyfriends or stop seeing them because they are intimated by me." There I said it.
"Have you two been drinking? Isn't it lunch time in Seattle?"
"No, we haven't been drinking. We just want you to make decisions based on your wishes, especially when it comes to your love life." Ana explains.
"I do." Phoebe starts to laugh but composes herself quickly. "I don't necessarily break up with my boyfriend's because they are intimated by dad, though it helps. Dad intimates ninety-nine-point five percent of the population. I end my relationship with them because I determine that they don't have a backbone. It isn't my style. I want a guy that can hold his own in our family. Maybe one day I will find a guy that I like or love enough that it won't matter how they react, or I will get lucky and find a guy who isn't intimated by dad. Right now, I am not focused on finding a life partner. I am concerned about entering my class on time, and med school. Now, Mom and Dad, I hope you both don't mind, but I really need to go into class. Can I talk to you both later?"
"Of course. I will phone you later. We love you Phoebe" Ana replies and then sits down. My beautiful wife's head is spinning.
"Love you both too, Bye." Phoebe ends the call.
"So now that is sorted, and we have a good thirty minutes before my next appointment, how about we make good use of our time?" I pull Ana close to me and run my fingers over her back. Instead of her reacting, she looks confused.
"Ana, what's wrong? You have spoken to Phoebe. She is fine and more focused on school and in control of her love life. Phoebe also confirmed that I am not the main culprit in the death of her relationships." I ask when Ana expression fails to change.
"Christian I don't understand our two oldest children. I thought I did. But I don't. Noah and Liam are only eight, but the time will come when I don't get them also. I…." I kiss Ana's lips stopping her from speaking.
"Ana, you are an amazing mother. We don't have to understand our children all the time, just support and love them." I look into Anas eyes ensuring she understands me.
"Thank you. You are an amazing father also, just like I told you, you would be when I was pregnant with Ted… But next time you meet any boy Phoebe is interested in, I am going with you. You are never to meet any guy without me. Understood."
"Yes, Mrs. Grey. Understood."