"She thought you were joking?"
"At first. But I convinced her I was telling her the truth."
"How did she take it?" I was worried Kate would tell Ana she was too young and was ruining her life. While we'd come a long way since the early days back in their old apartment, I knew Kate wouldn't hesitate to say it as she saw it.
"She's actually very excited about being an auntie! She said she's always known I'd find someone special and settle down young. She's still going to read you the riot act about taking care of the baby and me and all that, but fundamentally she's thrilled for us."
"And you told her not to tell Elliot?"
"About six times… She knows."
"So, what else did you talk about?"
"Elliot's asked Kate to move in, and she's found his porn stash."
"Which one?!"
"Yes. Exactly! There was something else while we were there…"
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Drinks?
Date: July 8, 2011 15:17
To: Christian Grey
Christian,
The girls at work have invited me to work drinks this afternoon. Of course, I won't be drinking, but I'd like to go to socialize with the other SIP staff. I'll take Prescott with me, but I was wondering if you'd like to join me? You said the announcement about SIP's new ownership will occur on Monday; I thought it might be nice if the people I work with know you first as my boyfriend before they find out you're their new boss?
Anastasia Steele
Editorial Assistant, SIP
I growled softly, my eyes narrowing. I hated the terms boyfriend and girlfriend. I couldn't wait until I could call Ana my fiancée, or better still my wife. Speaking of fiancée, I'd received a very pleasing phone call a couple of hours ago. On Saturday I was due to meet with New York's three biggest diamond merchants. Two of them I'd dealt with before, but one I knew only by recommendation and reputation.
Levi Ziegler was probably the biggest name in the New York diamond scene, despite servicing a relatively small market share. Strictly catering to the upper echelon of clientele, Ziegler only dealt in conflict-free stones worth over half a million. He'd called to explain he'd be unable to see me tomorrow as he observed the Shabbat, but he had a range of stones for me to look at and had arranged for a colleague to show them to me.
There was one, in particular, that sounded ideal. D color, and internally flawless, the eight-carat oval-shaped diamond sounded perfect for Ana's finger. She was so petite; a round stone would be too ostentatious. An oval diamond set lengthwise upon her finger would give her the size I wanted without being tastelessly showy. I had an idea for the setting. A stylized infinity symbol forming the arms to support the stone. What I had in mind would be substantial, but with an elegant simplicity. I couldn't help the smile that came to my lips as I imagined the perfect ring on Ana's beautiful finger - showing every fucker out there that she was mine.
I nodded and smiled at the team from the small startup, here to pitch for a minor contract in our solar division. They were freaking out that 'the' Christian Grey was present to hear their pitch. They didn't know it, but the technology they were sitting on was worth hundreds of thousands. Maybe more. Far beyond what they were asking for it. I looked back at my phone.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Re: Drinks?
Date: July 8, 2011 15:29
To: Anastasia Steele
Anastasia,
It would be my pleasure to escort you to this afternoons after work drinks for SIP. Is the venue still Fifty's? Please let me know what time to collect you from SIP. I will escort you to the venue – this is not negotiable.
We have dinner with Kate and Elliot at eight at Canlis. We will leave from there to fly to New York. It is a six-hour flight on the GEH jet, and a three-hour time difference, so if we leave at 10:45 pm we'll arrive at 7:45 am New York time.
I'm very much looking forward to our weekend in New York together. I love you,
Christian Grey
Totally Besotted CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings
The most important business taken care of, I tuned back into the meeting.
"You're wasting your time, here." I interrupted their spiel, seeing nervous young people deflate under my words. "Your technology is worth a lot more than you think it is. A good businessman looks after himself first, always with an eye to the bottom line. A better businessman recognizes and encourages talent when they see it. I'm interested in what you're here to show me today. But I'm more interested in what you have in development. Our interests align – I'd like to speak about how we can work together to both profit from an ongoing relationship rather than screwing you over for every cent for what you've come up with so far."
Leaving my head of technology to take over the more specific discussions, I shook the hands of the young men and women, knowing I'd just changed their lives in a significant way. Then I headed back to my office to settle as much as I could ahead of our weekend away.
"Mr. Grey? Your father is on line one."
Carrick rarely rang me; usually only if he was arranging something for Mom or Mia's birthdays. However, those were far enough away that I knew it wasn't about that. Given that Ana had seen him and Elena at the Mile High Club, I was willing to bet Elena had been in his ear about me selling my share of the salons.
"Grey," I said picking up the telephone handset.
"Christian," my father said, and I could hear the slight hesitation in his tone.
"Dad. I don't have a lot of time – I'm about to go to pick up Ana. What can I do for you?"
I don't know why, but I just knew this conversation would not go well.
"I heard you sold your half of the Esclava salons to Sam Silvers?"
"STAN Silvers. And yes, that's right."
"Why? Were they not profitable?"
"Not as profitable as they should have been," I said, letting that hint linger in the air before I continued, "and it was a sideline not worth pursuing. I got a good offer, and there was no reason to refuse."
"Elena Lincoln's loyalty was not enough? It's not all about money you know, Christian." He paused, and I knew my father well enough to know he was considering his next words before he spoke them. "I thought I'd taught you better than that? Selling to Silvers has all but ruined Elena's business. She's one of your mother's best friends. Surely the profit you made wasn't worth humiliating her?" I wasn't sure which her he meant. Grace? Or Elena?
My relationship with my father had always been complicated. While Grace had offered unconditional love and acceptance from the get-go, my father had always been a different kettle of fish. He'd struggled during my rebellious teenaged years more than Mom, and when I'd wanted to quit Harvard and start GEH my mother had been all for giving me the modest stake I'd asked for, but Carrick had been the one to insist on refusing me, forcing me even closer to Elena.
"I will say this once, and once only. Whatever you think you know about the history of Mrs. Lincoln and me isn't the truth. I needed to end our business relationship, and I needed to end it quickly. Stan Silvers was the right man with the right offer at the right time. Nothing more and nothing less. Now excuse me – I need to pick up Ana and then we're dining with Elliot and Kate before the four of us head to New York for the weekend. Please give Mom my love."
I replaced the handset in the cradle without waiting for a response. There was nothing Carrick could say to make me feel remorseful for what I'd done.
"Hey," I said when Ana appeared in the foyer with Prescott. She was wearing a pleated skirt and top with a cardigan around her shoulders for dress down Friday at SIP. She looked absolutely beautiful.
"Hey yourself," she replied, letting me brush my lips across hers before I put my arm around her shoulder, and she her arm around my waist. "Christian? This is Casey Rogers – she's an editorial assistant in romance. Casey this is my boyfriend, Christian Grey."
"Hey," Casey said gawking at me. At least this was the gawk of 'I'm standing next to a billionaire' not 'I want into his pants.' Over the years, I'd grown adept at differentiating between the two.
Another group joined us, and Ana introduced a few other editorial assistants before we crossed the street to 'Fifty's.' A discreet nod from Taylor on the way in indicated the place had been checked and cleared.
"Ana, I don't want you to accept a drink from anyone other than myself or security, ok?"
She looked at me, understanding flickering in those beautiful blue eyes. "Ok."
I sidestepped the issue by buying the first round, watching as Ana accepted an unopened bottle of soda from Prescott. We stood around, making small talk, some guy called Mark hanging off Casey's every word. It was boring as hell and reminded me why I avoided GEH drinks like the plague, but Ana seemed to be enjoying herself, and so it was worthwhile hanging around just to see that.
By 6:00 pm things were winding down, so it was time to take our leave.
"I'll see you on Monday," Casey said to Ana as we said our goodbyes. "It's going to be a big day. There's a meeting at 11:30 for us to meet the new owners of SIP." Ana's smile didn't falter, but I knew this was news to her.
"It's the standard when we buy a new company locally," I explained to Ana once we were in the back seat of the Audi. "A quick meet and greet to assure everyone their jobs are secure and to explain our plans to the workforce. I can send Ros if you want?"
She sighed. "No. If that's what you always do when you take over a company, then that's fine."
"Maybe I can take you for lunch afterward?"
"We'll see," she replied her lips twitching, so I knew not to push it.
Canlis was amazing. I'd called ahead and asked for pregnancy-safe foods, and sure enough – everything on the customized menus we received was safe for Ana and our precious bub.
I could tell from Elliot's usual silly demeanor that he had no idea Ana was pregnant, but when Elliot wasn't looking, Kate gave me a couple of smiles that confirmed that she knew. Every gentle touch Ana and I shared caused Kate to grin, and I swear she nearly swooned when I stood to help Ana with her chair when she needed to use the bathroom.
By the time we'd finished, it was time to head to the airstrip. We met Ryan and Sawyer there, trading off with Taylor and Prescott who'd drive my vehicle back to Escala and Elliot's truck back to his place. The practicalities taken care of, we settled on board, quickly lifting into the night sky. Once we'd leveled off, Ana took Kate on a tour of the jet while I poured Elliot and me a scotch.
"Are we all set for tomorrow?" Elliot asked nervously, checking the girls weren't in earshot.
"Yeah. I have three appointments set up. I gave them your specs and price range, so they'll have a range of stones to show you."
"And then I get one made up into a ring?"
"That's the idea. The diamond merchant can put you in touch with a good designer. Some will already have settings they can modify, or you can get them to design something. Did you get an idea of her ring size?"
"I knocked off one of her dress rings," Elliot said proudly. "So, when are you thinking about proposing?"
"As soon as possible," I replied instantly. "I want Ana to be Mrs. Anastasia Grey before Christmas."
"That fast?"
He didn't know about the baby, and I wasn't ready to tell him, so I couldn't explain why it was so important to me that Ana become a Grey as soon as possible.
"When I want something, I want it now. You know that about me, Ell."
"And you think she's ready to say yes?"
Was I? Ana had agreed to have my child, and that was pretty much the biggest commitment someone could make. I was fairly confident when I asked her to spend her life with me she'd say yes.
"I hope so."
The girls were back from their tour, then, and I could see Ana was starting to flag.
"Sorry, guys, only one bedroom on board, but those seats recline into beds. It's been a long week – I'm going to get this one to bed," I said picking Ana up and carrying her to our bedroom in the sky. Ana giggled, waving at Kate and Elliot over my shoulder.
"Flying to New York on a private plane for a weekend of shopping. You don't do anything by halves, do you, Mr. Grey?" Ana mumbled as she changed into one of my TShirts that she'd appropriated as her nightdress. She had silk nightgowns worth thousands, but Ana preferred my Harvard rowing shirt.
"My job is to make all your dreams come true," I whispered, turning off the lights and slipping into bed beside Ana, wrapping my arms around her, and resting one hand on her lower belly.
For a look at Ana's dress down Friday outfit, check out the 'And So I Ran' album on my Facebook Page:
www facebook com / swimmingthesamedeepwaters