2/1/18
A/N: This is just the first of two chapters covering Christian's birthday party. The next chapter will be the juicier of the two. After the party, things will start to speed up as we're already a third of the way through this story. Remember Steele Love is pt. 2 of a 4 part series.
Those of you that are reading the newest addition to my story roster, thank you. There should be a bonus for you followers tomorrow.
As always, I don't own FSoG, or the Seattle Mariners. The Pinterest boards are updated with everything for the party so far. Unavowed's got a board going now.
Thanks for all the favorites and follows, leave a review and let me know what you like so far, or don't like.
Laters
A Steele Love
Chapter 10
Christian's POV
Ana and I walk hand in hand toward the great room. I know she's worked hard to make tonight something special. Mia's always tried to throw birthday parties for me and Elliot, but they always contained more of her friends and I'm always bombarded with people wanting to do business with me or talk business. When Ana told me her plans and that not only was she making everyone consent to a background check and sign an NDA to be able to attend, but she was making a no work rule. She told me she truly wanted me to just enjoy being the center of attention. She even asked people to donate to Coping Together in lieu of gifts. I know the gift thing won't apply to my family, but hopefully everyone else will stick with it.
Speaking of gifts, I can't wait to tell Dad and Elliot about the one Ana got me today. She says she still has one more, but she wants me to open in with the family. I'm actually excited for this party. I've never want to celebrate my birthday, but I do today. I see my mom and dad followed by Mia as they exit the elevator. Mom immediately starts gushing over the way the place looks.
"Oh Ana, you've done a marvelous job. You were right, those flowers look perfect and masculine." I finally take note of how everything looks. Mom's right, the flowers on the tables look wonderful. I love the muted tones. I bet anything my sister hates them though. Looking at her outfit, I'm sure we're about to here it too. She's in a pale mint green mini dress with long sheer sleeves and little flowers embroidered all over the place. I hope she doesn't bend over tonight, we'd all see her ass. Ana told me she's bringing a new boyfriend tonight. So far, he's passed Ana's system, so we'll see if her gets past me tonight.
"There should have been more color. I told you it didn't need to be pink, yellow or red would have done just fine." Mia is her usual petulant self tonight I see. I'm going to need to talk to Ana about her. I want my sister to succeed in life, and I think I might be indulging her too much. We'll see what her credit card statement looks like when it comes in this month.
"Mia, I told you, this is a party for Christian. He doesn't like bold colors like that. Now, where is Elliot and Brooklynn. I wanted to do our gifts with Christian before everyone else got here." Ana is very matter of fact with my sister, and I know she had a hard time planning this party with her.
"He was right behind us." Mia looked like she was about to say something else, but then the elevator dings signaling the arrival of another. When we turn to look and see who it is we're greeted by my niece and her not as good looking as me father.
"Uncle Christian!" My legs are suddenly attacked by a little blonde bundle in a purple tutu.
"Hey Monkey." I instantly bend to pick her and Brooklynne is quick to reward me with a kiss to the cheek. "I'm so happy you're here. I here there's going to be a cake. Think you can help me with the candles?" The thought that one day it could be my daughter in my arms blowing out her own birthday candles makes my heart swell. I'm going to get there. That Bitch Troll, as Ana refers to her, will not rule my life anymore. If love is for fools, then call me king fool. I was going to make more of an effort. I was going to be there with my family. I was going to show them I loved them. Now to figure out how to do that exactly.
"Well we're all here now. How about we get to the presents before the rest of the guests start showing up." Ana tries to corral everyone back toward the great room, where she's got a present for me set out on the coffee table in from of the large sectional.
"Uncle Christian, I picked you out a present all my own today. Daddy to took me to the store and told me to get whatever I want. I wanted to get you a stuffed panda, but Daddy talked me out of that. I found something awesomer and you can take it to work with you. Daddy don't like it, but he said I could pick what I wanted, and I know it's perfect!" Her excitement at the end of that was a shrill and in my ear.
"Well let's go see what's in the bag you brought." Elliot is carrying a happy Father's Day bag, and I suddenly remember today is Father's Day. I feel like crap. I forgot all about it and we have Ray and Dad here.
"Ray, Dad, I forgot today was Father's Day. How about next weekend we take the men out on the boat and do some fishing, or if you prefer we can all go to Aspen for the weekend. I feel terrible." I catch Ray's eye and I see the smirk covering his face.
"Son, I'll admit I forgot about Father's Day myself. I won't turn down Aspen. I think it would be relaxing, you think you can get everyone on that fancy jet of yours?" Ray looks contemplatively at me and I can see he's up to something. "I'm going to let you enjoy yourself tonight, but you and I need to have a discussion tomorrow." Ray steps to me and places a hand on the shoulder that Brooklynne isn't hanging onto. Leaning into my ear he whispers, "I have something you might like and I'd like to see Annie with it before I go home." Ray pulls back and firmer and confidently so everyone hears him he hits me with his next statement. "I was approved this morning to take some leave for the two weeks starting tomorrow. I'm exploring some options." Now I'm perplexed.
"What are you talking about Daddy?" Ana looks at her father with her head tilted a bit to the side. It's a look she learned from me.
"I'm meeting with the Mayor of Seattle Thursday. The Chief of Police here is looking to retire." With that statement Ray turns and walks to the sectional. Ana scurries after him. This is perfect. If he can get this, then he can be here for everything. He can join us for Sunday dinners at my parents. Maybe Ana and I should ask to host at our home as well.
"Christian, come on. I can't wait for you to see what I bought you. It wasn't the first present that I got you, but I saw it yesterday and I knew that you needed it." Mia is bouncing more that Brooklynne did with her excitement.
"All right let's do this. Who wants to know what I got from Ana earlier today?" Elliot's hand shoots up and I can't wait for them to see it. Setting down on the white sectional, I pull my phone from my pocket and show everyone the photo that Sawyer took of us in front of the house on the point.
"Dude, is this what I think it is?" Elliot looks ready to bounce down to the garage.
"She bought me Ferris Bueller's car." My smile is from ear to ear and I look right at Ana and wink. Elliot drool a little more and ask about some of the specs on the cat before he passes the phone to my mother. I watch her do something then I hear the ding of someone's phone.
"I sent the photo to myself. I'm printing that for my office desk. It's a good photo, but where was it taken Christian?" I wondered who would notice the house behind it.
"That's the house Ana and I bought today out at Hunt's Point. Elliot, this is the only time I'm allowed to discuss business this week. We're gonna need to meet with you this week, Ana's got some renovations she's gonna need, and we'll need a list of designers." I watch Mom hand the phone back to Elliot and watch as he zooms in on my phone.
"This house looks huge." Elliot hands the phone to Mia so that she can see the car next.
"I know it's going to be a big project, especially since she wants to tear down a couple of the bedrooms, completely redo every floor, and she wants to build an addition to house our security offices and quarters for the security team above the offices. We were promised closing before the end of the week since we're paying the full asking price and in cash."
Elliot whistles, and pulls out his phone looking something up. "I can come to Grey House Tuesday and see what you want to do. I'll get the blueprints tomorrow. How's lunch and then a meeting at the house sound? Once I know what you want I can get you a list of designers. Do you want to see use the same one you used here and for the Aspen house?" I shudder thinking of that woman. Gia Matteo is good at her job, but she's a man eater.
"We'll see. She'll need to pass the Ana test. Now enough about that, let's get to the presents." I want to move this along. I don't want anyone intruding while we have our little family time.
"Me first! Me First, Uncle Christian." Brooklynne is bouncing on my knee trying to get my attention.
"Okay Monkey. I'll open yours first. Can you get it for me?" She doesn't answer, she just slides of my lap and runs to her father to get the bag. I finally take note of her full outfit. She's in a dress with a black top featuring a unicorn and a sparkly tutu bottom. She's earing black tights and sparkly converse tennis shoes. I wonder how disappointed Mia's going to be when she finds out Brook likes mud better than lip gloss. "Here you go. Open it, open it!" Her excitement is infectious.
I take the small red bag from her and remove the blue tissue paper inside. I see that it's a coffee mug. When I pull the mug from the bag I smile even brighter, if that's possible. The handle is a light blue and the mug is orange and has what looks like a child's writing and coloring on the mug. The mug proudly says, "Uncles are like Dads, only cooler!" The colorful lettering of the Uncles and cooler and the stars dotted around the bottom, make even more adorable.
"Thank you Brooklynne. I'll be sure to take it to work with me tomorrow. I'll have Andrea use it for my coffee from now on." I give her a kiss to top of her head and she bounds to her father.
"I told you he would love it Daddy." Elliot shakes his head and looks at his daughter trying to look hurt.
"Do you really think he's cooler than me?" Brooklynne looks at her father and then at me and then she starts laughing.
"Daddy, you're the greatest. I love you the mostest in the whole wides world, but Uncle Christian doesn't make me wash the dirt on hands or tell me I can't have candy." I laugh then, because I will absolutely tell her those things if the situation arises. I'm sure that we'll eventually get the opportunity. Ana mention making sure that we have a child friendly guest room in the house for when she's over. She's already counting on Brooklynne sleeping over.
"All right monkey. How about you hand me another present." I try to get her to focus on something else. She walks to the table and grabs a small box about ten inches by ten inches and is covered in plain brown butcher paper. There is a white tag on it. The gift is from Ana. I start to tear the package open and then open the box. Inside is a toy helicopter that looks strikingly like Charlie Tango.
"It's solar powered. The R & D department and Barney helped me with it." I smile and plan to take it to the office tomorrow with my mug. There's even a stand in the box to hold it.
"Thank you Snow White." She smiles at me and next thing I know Brooklynne is shoving another box into my hands.
This next gift is from Ray. I open the red package and wonder what could be inside. When I get the box opened I laugh. Inside is a pair of MMA boxing gloves. "You need to get a little more practice in. It's embarrassing to have a… ugh, consider you my son knowing my daughter can kick your butt." Ray chuckles to himself and I know he was close to saying son in law.
"Thanks Ray. I'll use these when I meet with Bastille tomorrow." And I will. These gloves are sweet. Black Skintex leather, wrist support, and foam padding. My hands will be protected, and I can do more damage to him.
"Brooklynne, sweetheart, will you take Grammy's gift to your uncle?" Mom looks at Brooklynne and pulled out an envelope and gave to my little niece. That girl has wormed her way into my heart much like Ana. I don't know what kind of father I'll be, but I want to be a father. I know it's probably too soon, but I would love to have Ana pregnant for the holidays. It would be the perfect Christmas gift. I've got to make her a Grey first though.
Taking the envelope from Brook, I open it and pull out a set of passes. "Mom, what is this?" I'm looking a s set of MBL passes for the World Series.
"Well son, the Mariners have only lost one game so far this season. They're looking at the World Series. Those passes give you access to a box for the World Series for you and eleven other people. I fully expect you to make it a family event. I know that you can get tickets to regular games with just a phone call, but I don't think even you can get those. By the way, you have to add John Stanton and his wife Theresa to your wedding list whenever you and Anastasia get around to that." My mother sounds rather flippant about it, but it sends a thrill through me thinking about marrying Ana. But what the hell, she's already working on a wedding list. I won't have our wedding turned into a circus production.
"When the time comes Mom, we'll talk about it." Ana is looking me wide eyed. We're going to have some serious discussions in the coming weeks. I need to get ahold of that jeweler tomorrow. I want a ring in hand immediately. If she tells me she doesn't want to wait I'll propose tonight. Damn it, I should have just gone down to Cartier and picked one out. No, Anastasia deserved a rare gem and I won't pick out a setting that a hundred other women have.
"Well, okay, it's my turn. I had bought you some ties because I thought you needed to add some color to your wardrobe, but I saw this when I was shopping for a new dress to wear today. I know you'll love it. Everyone will see it and know that you rule the boardroom. Open it Christian." Mia hands me a bright orange box only about five inches by five inches.
Carefully opening the paper, you'd think I was opening a bomb. I'm actually scared to see what is in this box. I know that Mia is excited, but for some reason I'm completely apprehensive about this gift. Mia is always over the top and I don't think that this will be any different. When I get the paper off I'm greeted with a polish wood watch box. Okay, a watch, it can't be that bad. I really like this box. It a dark cherry wood, shiny. I lift the lid and gasp.
I gasped. I'm a dominate CEO who rules the business world and I gasped like a wanton little girl. I know this watch. I asked Andrea to look into the specifics for me last week, I wanted to get one for me and have a women's version made for Ana, so they would match. That means that I know how much this watch cost and I want to know how Mia paid for me.
"Mia this is a Louis Moinet Vertalor Tourbillon watch. How did you get this? And how did you pay for it?" I have a feeling, but I can't figure out how she would do it, her card has a limit.
"Well yeah, I know what it is. It's like the best watch in the world right now. I hear there is going to be a waiting lists for them soon. Anyway, I used the credit card you gave me, I had to call your PA's assistant to get her to call the credit card company and raise the card limit for the day. Isn't marvelous?" Andrea's assistant is fired. I can't remember her name, but she's fired.
Closing my eyes, I count to ten silently and take deep breathes. Remember she's your little sister Grey. You've never hit a girl, not going to start now. Don't yell at her in front of your mother. "Mia, you mean to tell me that I am paying for my own gift. You won't be paying that bill. Furthermore, it was frivolous for you. This is a $200,000 watch that I essentially bought for myself. You will be in my office tomorrow at 10am. You will bring your card with you. We're going to have a serious chat. This was a nice thought, but you went over board this time." I can't look at my sister.
"Christian, why don't we take these to the bedroom for now, and then we can all get a drink. The others should be arriving soon." Ana is talking to me in her most soothing voice. She sounds melodic and it's an instant balm on my irritated mood.
"Christian, are you going to take away my card?" Mia looks like she's ready to burst into tears and I know my mother will kill me if I make her cry.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow Mia." I stand and help Ana grab the gifts and we head to the bedroom to put them away for now.
Ana's POV
I can't believe Mia. Andrea is going to flip come tomorrow. She's going to be pissed when Christian fires her new assistant. The poor woman has gone through three other assistants since the Olivia fiasco. Maybe I should suggest a male replacement this time. Someone who won't gawk at Christian. That's the main problem, his pretty face makes all the girls flustered and they look incompetent at their jobs and then he just fires them. We need an Andrea clone. I think again about just how much I lucked out with Hannah, she's amazing.
"Christian, forget about the watch for tonight. Just enjoy being with your family and our friends. I'll warn you though, I did allow Grace to invite a few of her society gals and their families. However, I nixed every gold-digging friend Mia wanted to invite. There should be no desperate daughters looking for a husband to take care of her tonight." I know that's the real reason Christian hates these sorts of things. He doesn't like the women who throw themselves at him. I think there is one daughter coming with her parents, but she's engaged already. Grace invited a divorcee that moved to Seattle from New York. She wants to introduce her to people and she's thinking about asking the woman to help with Coping Together. If my reports were correct, and they always are, Adrienne Fleming got a $75,000,000 settlement in her divorce and she plans to spend the rest of her days doing lunch and volunteering.
"I'm fine with that Snow White. Just stick close to me tonight. We have to meet Mia's new boyfriend tonight as well. Did you do a background on him as well?" I'm not new at this of course I did.
"I told Mia the only way he'd get past the lobby is if he complied like everyone else. Taylor will have his background check and a copy of his signed NDA and ID. He's clean. He's a trust fund boy that works at his Daddy's insurance firm. He likes to party, never has anything left in his bank account at the end of the month. He gets a salary from his job, and then an allotment from his trust fund. He doesn't get full access until he marries and has a kid. Other than that, there isn't much to see on the report." I did ask Griffin to go a little deeper this week though since he's with Mia.
Christian kisses the top of my head and places a hand to my back. "Let's go join everyone else. I've got cake to eat with a monkey." Christian gives me that smile that I love. His grey eyes are bright and sparkling. He's happy and that's all I wanted.
Walking back to the rest of the family, we hear the elevator ding, and the first of the guests start to arrive. There is a DJ set up by one of the bars. He starts playing some top 40 song, softly. I asked him to play an eclectic mix of music. I want to dance with Christian tonight when we're not mingling.
Grace is in her hosting element when she sees the first people off the elevator. We join her near the entry way to get an introduction. I've only met a few of these people at the Coping Together gala. "Lance, Janine. It's so good to see you." Grace greets the first couple. They didn't get the memo that this wasn't a formal affair. Lance is in a Black tux with a black bow tie, and Janine is in a red one shouldered gown that has a black sash tied around the waist with a bow on her left hip. Her light reddish-brown hair is polished and cut just below her ears. Lance has a close-cut head full of grey hair. "Lance, Janine, you know my children, but I want you to meet Christian's girlfriend, Anastasia Steele." Both members of the couple shake my hand and offer genuine greetings as I ask how they know the Grey family.
"Grace and I went to the same college together. We lost touch after graduation, but I think Mia was about four years old when Grace and I ran into each other at the mall one day. It was great to see an old friend just after moving to Seattle. I've watched all these kids grow. I'll tell you, it's good to see Christian so happy." I instantly like Janice.
"We'll have to lunch sometime, and you can tell me some stories." She nods her head in the affirmative as she moves on to talk to Carrick with her husband. The next couple behind them I know. I love these two. "Grandma Trevelyan, Grandpa Trevelyan, it's good to see you."
Christian loves his grandparents. Theo is his greatest inspiration. He's the man that Christian tries to emulate the most. His grandmother is a refined lady who will turn into a dirty minded sailor after her third drink. It's going to be a fun night. "Ana, I seem to remember promising not to call you little girl anymore in exchange for you calling me Edie. The lug beside me is Theo. Now I know everyone here except that man over there in the green shirt?"
"That is my father Edie. Let me introduce you." I take her arm and steer her toward Dad who has just returned from the bar with a scotch in his hand. "Daddy, let me introduce Christian's grandmother to you. Edie Trevelyan, meet my father, Raymond Steele. The gentleman behind us next to Christian is his grandfather Theo."
Grandpa speaks up and looks dad up and down. "Former Marine, right?" He holds his hand out to Daddy, and I can see the firmness of the handshake. Theo is trying to decide what kind of man Daddy is, but I could have told him, he's the best kind.
"Yes sir. I served for nearly twenty years before I retired and took a job with the Naval Criminal Investigative Services." Daddy volunteers just enough information to pull Theo into a conversation that neither Christian nor I are needed for. Edie has already moved beyond our little group and is now talking to Janine and Grace.
I hear the elevator ding and go to greet the next round of guests. I leave Christian with his grandfather and my father and make my way over. Before I can get to the entry though I'm stopped by a little blonde mess. "Aunt Ana can I hang out with you. Daddy's talking to some man and I don't know what they're talking about. It's something down in the town, but I don't know. It's boring." I hold my hand out to Brooklynne and let her tag along.
I wait see who is stepping off the elevator and I grin when I see my best friend. She's dressed to kill in a black deep v-neck dress that fall to just above her knees. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a loose bun just above her neck. Her makeup is light, with the exception of s dark smokey eye that makes the green of her irises pop. "Brookie, wanna meet my best friend?"
"You have a BFF Ana? I want a BFF, the girls at my school are mean though. I don't want a mean BFF." She smiles at me and I have to bend down and hug her.
"I'll be your BFF monkey. You can always count one me. Now I want you to meet Kate. She's the best." I stand back up and we walk to Kate as my girl grins.
"Looking ace Steele. Who's the little poptart?" Kate stops in front of us and gives me a hug before squatting down eye level with Brook. "I'm Kate, what's your name?"
"Brooklynne Elizabeth Williams Grey and I'm not a poptart." Brooklynne has her hands on her hips now and looks like she's about to throw a diva fit.
"You most certainly are. Don't you know poptarts are awesomely cute and sweet morsels that you can never get enough of? That's what you are. It's meant only in the kindest ways." Kate tries to reason with her, tapping her little nose, and I laugh when I watch Brook cock her to the side and rub her chin contemplatively in a very Christian Grey manner.
"Okay. I like you. Wanna be my best friend too? Aunt Ana said she's gonna be my best friend. I want lots of best friends and since you're her BFF that means you gots to be mine too." Brook is very matter of fact about the whole thing, even tapping her foot, and I can't help the smile that crosses my face.
"Well poptart, if we're gonna do the BFF thing that means we have to have girls' night. You know what that means right?" I can't help but watch in amazement at this bizarre conversation that Kate is having with Brooklynne.
"No what's girls' night? My Aunt LeeLee has what she calls me nights. That means I go to bed an hour earlier and she watches tv and drinks the nasty juice." Kate looks at me over Brook's hair and lifts an eyebrow. I shake my head at her silent question. I'll tell her more tomorrow.
"Girls' night is lots of fun. It means that we get to do girly things, like do our nails and our hair. We can go to the spa if you want. Oh, and we can go shopping. Girls' night also means lots of really good food, including candy and a cheesy girly flick. Then we stay up all night talking about how disgusting boys are." I like Kate's way of explaining, but I can't wait for Brook's answer.
"Umm, no on the hair. If we do our nails I only want purple or green. I don't like shopping unless it's for toys, and if we're having good food that means lots of pizza and macaroni and cheese. Daddy says no candy at night. But boys are gross. I can tell you alllllll about Nathan Simpson and how many boogers he eats every day." I shouldn't have tried to take a drink while she was talking. Kate's lucky my champagne isn't on her.
"The beauty of girls' night means no boys, so that means no daddy. You and Aunt Ana can come to my place for a sleepover." And right then Kate earned herself a new best friend. Brooklynne throws her arms around Kate and proudly proclaims me right.
"Aunt Ana was right. You're the bestest best friend ever. You have to tell my Daddy I can sleepover with you. But we can't tell him about the candy, he'll say no." Brooklynne is quick to grab Kate's hand and drag her toward her father. I follow behind, because I can't wait to see this. I've been wanting to introduce Kate and Elliot for weeks.
Kate is three feet from Elliot waiting for him to turn around. I see he's talking to a younger man that had come in on the same elevator with Kate. When Elliot turns around finally, Brook starts talking, but I don't think that her father is hearing anything she says. I know Kate isn't.
"Wipe your chin Kavanaugh. Elliot, let me introduce you to my best friend, Katherine Kavanaugh. Kate meet Christian's big brother, and Brooklynne's father, Elliot Grey." Elliot holds out his hand and just continues to stare.
Kate finally sees his hand and clasp it and you see her eyes dart up to his quickly. "Aunt Ana, are they gonna kiss? He's looking at her like Uncle Christian does you." And I need to laugh once more. Brooklynne you are too much.
"Let's let them talk monkey. I'm sure your Grandma has some other people she wants to introduce you too." I grab Brook's hand and we go in search of Grace. I didn't pay enough attention while talking with Kate and Brooklynne. It's seems almost half the guest list has arrived in the last fifteen minutes.
I get Brooklynne handed off to her Grandmother and go in search of the birthday boy. When I find him, he's talking to the gentleman I saw Elliot talking to earlier and a couple around the same age as Grace and Carrick. "There you are Christian. I was looking for you." I slide an arm around his waist as I come up behind him.
Christian is quick to place a kiss to my forehead as he wraps an arm around me and starts the introductions. "Anastasia, this is Albert and Sheryl Chambers and their son Clay." Sheryl is a blonde I would guess around the age of 55 dressed in a simple white three-quarter sleeved sheath dress and black red soled Louboutins. Albert looks closer to sixty and is in a black suit with a denim colored shirt and dark blue tie with some kind of white pattern on it. He's got a salt and peppered head of hair with more salt than pepper and a receding hair line giving him a pronounced forehead. Their son, Clay, is in a dark denim colored suit that has a bit of a shine to it in the light. His shirt is navy silk and his tie is black. I don't remember Clay's report, but I would say he's mid twenty in age. His hair is dark, his eyebrows are pronounced and groomed. His eyes are small and beedy. His jaw is small and covered with a couple of days' worth of growth. He looks like he wants to be just about anywhere. I can't help the niggling of recognition in the back of my mind when looking at him though. I'm almost positive I've seen him before, not recently though.
I turn toward the parents and shake their hands. "It's nice to meet you. I wanted to greet you earlier with Grace."
"Actually Ana, I added them to the list. Albert is the deputy Mayor, and Sheryl here is the director of Seattle Legal Aid. She also helps mom with Coping Together, although she refuses to take a seat on the board." Christian smiles warmly at the couple and I have to think to myself that this party was a most excellent idea.
"Christian, I've told you that I don't have the time. Not with the shortage we've been having down at the center. The police department has been on this stop and frisk witch hunt and we've got more clients than we can handle." This is steering dangerously close to work talk, but it's not Christian's work so I let it slide.
"Call me this week and tell me what I can do to help. As for the problems with the SPD, you should talk to Ana's father, Ray Steele. He's around here somewhere and he informed us less than an hour ago that he's interviewing with the mayor this week for the police chief's replacement spot after his retirement." Christian's pride in my father isn't disguised in his voice and it only makes me smile brighter and love him more. I would love for Daddy to move to Seattle. Maybe I can convince him to live with us at Hunts Point.
"Colonel Raymond Steele is your father?" That question comes from Albert. He looks awed and his eyes have grown wide.
"Yes sir. Would you like me to introduce you?"
"It would be an honor Anastasia." I have to shake my head at the man.
"It's just Ana. Come on, he's over here talking with Christian's grandfather." I take Albert's offered arm and steer him toward the corner of room where Theo and Dad are standing talking rather conspiratorially together. "Daddy, Theo, this is Albert Chambers Deputy Mayor of Seattle. Albert, my father Raymond Steele and I'm sure that you know Christian's grandfather, Theo Trevelyan."
Albert holds his hand out to Dad and stares at him a starry eyed. "Sir, Colonel, it's an honor to meet you. I was in Kosovo in 1993 when you conducted a rescue raid. You and your team saved my life. Thank you, sir." Well hell, no wonder he's starry eyed. My father is his literal hero.
"Mr. Chambers, the pleasure is all mine. I remember the Kosovo mission. It was one of my first with the Special Ops team. Annie was a baby then and I was freshly commissioned the week before we deployed." I leave the men to talk a little while I circulate and try and greet more of the guests.
I can see my team has arrived. I debated on inviting Finn, but I figured there was no harm in it. If Christian knew about the mission he wanted to send me on to London, he wouldn't have appreciated Finn's appearance, but it should be fine for tonight. I'll be sure to tell find time to tell Christian about it this week. Frank catches my eye and raises a glass to me as he turns back to Bev and continues talking to her. CeCe is there and has an arm draped around Griffin's shoulder. I love CeCe, but if she's going to do her usual thing, I'm going to have to arrange an escort home for her.
The elevator dings again and I see Barney and his wife exit the elevator along with Andrea and a few other people from GEH. I head off toward Andrea because I want to warn her about Christian and her newest assistant before he gets anywhere near her.
"Andrea, you look lovely. I want to introduce you to someone." I grab her arm and wrap it around mine and steer here toward Christian's office. Just as we get to the hallway, I see the assigned security detail and enter the office shutting the door behind us.
"I thought you wanted to introduce me to someone." Andrea looks perplexed and I have to chuckle and shake my head.
"Yeah sorry, I wish I had someone to introduce you too. Frankly, if said person could be a competent assistant to you, it would make both our lives easier. You had your assistant answering the phones yesterday instead of the service. You're going to have to replace her come tomorrow. She called Christian's credit card company and authorized for Mia to purchase a $200,000 watch yesterday afternoon." Andrea's eyes bug out and I really lose it then. The laugh starts as a small giggle and then before I know it's a full belly laugh. The absurdity of Mia did, and her act of innocence is comical. Andrea watches me for a moment before her eyes start to water from restraining herself and soon she's joining in with me.
"Leslie is an airhead. I explained everything to her the first day. I knew she wouldn't last. I set up a few interviews last week for this Wednesday. I asked Griffin to get the general checks done for me on Thursday. I gave that girl a full day and then I called HR and demanded the application stack they pulled her from. I found twenty better qualified applicants in the stack and I don't know how she landed even an initial interview. She has no office experience. She was a clerk at Hot Topic last month. Before that, she walked dogs in her grandmother's neighborhood." Andrea walks to Christian's mini fridge and pulls a bottle of water out. "Ana, I'm overworked. I need someone who can keep up and not stare at Christian like a juicy T-bone steak every time he walks by. I've pulled six people for interview. Half of them are men and half are women. I plan to conduct the interviews myself, HR has failed too many times. I talked to Taylor about it and we're going to interview outside Christian's office. I want to see them answer the phone and I want to see how they react to Christian before they get a security badge."
Andrea has a good head on her shoulders. She does more for Christian than he realizes. "You find someone that doesn't drool over Christian and I'll buy you lunch at the Mile High everyday for a week. Find someone that Christian doesn't threaten to fire in the first week, and I'll hand you my black AmEx and send you down to see Ms. Acton." Andrea's eyes sparkle at the mention of Caroline Acton. "Now I imposed a no work rule for tonight. I just didn't want you blindsided when he's ThermoChristian tomorrow."
Andrea and I join the rest of the party and I see the great room has filled up nicely. The waiters are circulating. I see people mingling near the food tables, there are several couples sitting around one of the tables. I can see my father still talking to the deputy mayor. Grace has the ear of some new woman. Elliot is glued to Kate, who is glued to Brooklynne. Mia's boyfriend seems to have joined her and they are talking to a few of the people from GEH. I weave my way through the crowd looking for Christian and when I see him, I see red.
Some woman in the skimpiest dress here has just kissed his cheek, leaving a big shiny red print, and she's hanging onto his arm. I can see he's uncomfortable and in need of rescuing. Sometimes the princess needs to rescue the prince. I just hope that I don't have to ruin the party by slaying the dragon tonight. I have many plans for an after party of two. I'm feeling just enough anger and jealousy to make for a night full of angry sex. My brains starts working overtime as I plan an attack as well as my victory celebration.
