This is my story using some of the characters and lifestyles from Fifty Shades:
Grammar is not my forte: including the placement of these suckers!,:?.
I have a Pinterest page, go to their site and type this into the search bar.
WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS... (All caps & dots)
WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS...
Chapter 37:Lord, the walking dead hit Paris:
Christian's POV:
Ana's hand suddenly clenches mine, tightly, I look at her and realise she is nervous. I look out of the window as we await our turn for getting out of the cars and heading to the red carpet.
"Ana, Baby it will be fine. It looks worse than it is."
"Oh really? Well, I think I will be fine. Only it seems my brothers are here? Well, Alexander is, he said he was going to a ball, I just didn't think it was this one."
"He must be a late addition, Mr Grey. He was not on the guest list." Luke assures me. "We still have a couple of our security in there. Any instructions?"
"No, don't be silly Luke, I am sure my brothers, if that is Anton, they don't look too alike though, even if it's not, they will be fine. I am giving them money and property not keeping it from them. Christian, he was very nice to me at the brothel."
"Ana, please don't say it like that."
"Okay then The House of Death, is that better?" I am not sure what to make of this? "Isn't that what you lot call it? Anyway, we have security. I hardly doubt they are here to cause trouble, do you?"
"No, no I don't, well let's go and meet the family, I guess they are your step brothers? I mean she was legally married to their father after all?"
"She was. Though according to them they only met her the once and after she married their father. Before I explained that she had a multiple person disorder they were a little confused about who all the women in his father's life were?"
"How did they not know? I mean they are wealthy men, because they like me, have security though theirs seem a little, I don't know a little, would you say, Beefier Luke?"
"Sir, I could take offence. But they look like they do look to have overdosed on steroids!" I have to agree.
"Stop it they are probably body builders. or you know. Russian seals, or their special forces guys. As to my mother we all know, she was very manipulative, and she was a master at it, she had to have been to get away with it for so long. Now, stop name calling their chunky monkey's, Gage you can take the big one with the veins in his head, right?" Ana laughs. Okay, overreaction on my part I guess?
"I will leave that one to you, Ana. Luke, it's okay, we will protect you from the huge Russian weight lifting Olympians."I look again and she could be, right, because they are a little huge.
"Right, you to get your security heads back on, my husband and I, yikes I said it, my husband and I, and I love it. We have to get into the big-wig-hand-shaking mode now. Christian, if I say red roses, it means I am struggling to converse, do not leave me alone, please?"
"I won't do, I promise you. Now, Luke, their concierge parking will take the car to the reserved spot please make sure you stand by Ana and me, Gage when they open the door..." Like I have to tell him this, but normally Taylor is way ahead of me. He has been with me for many of these functions, but for Luke, this is his first big assignment on his own, as the wedding was covered by Ironside.
"I will already be there by Ana's side, and Ana, if I say, Ma'am..." Gage, I have said this before, but she is the best find Jason could have made, to keep my Ana safe. I thank God that they have immediately settled into what will be a very close relationship, much like the one Jason Taylor and I have, and one I know recognise as a friendship.
"You mean business, I know." The car stops and the door is opened. Luke steps out step out first and then Gage, I step out and hold my hand out for Ana. It is then the flashes begin. This is a first for the paps; they are seeing me with a date...
"Grey, Grey, Grey over here, over here Grey. This way for the camera's Grey."Ana scowls, that will not be a good photo Baby, and then she turns her head to face them, and smiles. Okay that one will be.
"Wow, how bad mannered are they, not one please or thank you and it is Mr Grey, did they not get their memo?"
"No, but they are to get their money shot. Kiss me, and lets got this walk over and done with." She smiles and lays a chased kiss on my lips as I help her out of the car. "Well, that will definitely make some of the front pages of the gossip rags I seem to find myself in." We walk past the baying hoards of cameras. I am tempted to push one and see them fall like dominoes, making the ones on the step ladders fall too, the idiots.
"Does the date know it is a ball man, and not a wedding?" I want to punch this turds lights out.
"Who is the date, Grey...?" Let it go. I tell myself and I hold my bride.
"What are you called, over here mystery date. This way. Look at the camera Miss...Miss...Miss over here?" I am about to lose it when Ana, puts paid to turd one and two's questions.
"That would be Mrs to you, and it's Mrs Christian Grey," I smile and hold her tightly. "And the dress has a dual function today, both as a wedding gown and a ball gown, now if you would please move, and be nice, because we are running late." Wow, she put that snarky little turd in his place.
"You got married Grey or had too? What is she a gay man's wife, what's the deal is she pregnant?"
"I am no mans gay anything, we got married because we wanted to, not because we had to! Now, take the shot because as I said, we are late, moron!"
"Ana, I thought you said you couldn't handle them, you seemed pretty darned fine to me?"
"He pissed me off. Now, let's run the rest of this carpet, Gage are you okay, they got a little close to you?"
"I am fine, he sorry they, however, will be walking home. I pocketed someone's keys see?" She dangles several key fobs.
"Oh, that was what you were doing. You are a Pickpocket too; your gifts and talents are endless. Good work."
"Yes, very, Gage you have to show me how you did that," I say as we head in and stop for photos, as we get to the end Ana's new family are there smiling.
"Ana, you didn't say you were coming." They hug her and then they kiss her cheeks, I get a little over protecting and I will admit annoyed.
"You must be her fiancé; I am her step brother, Alexander."
"I know who you are, my wife explained you're meeting her at her mother's house here."
"She did, did she? Well, this is my younger brother Anton, Anton this is Anastasia and her husband did you say. Ana you got married without us?"
"Yes Alex, we got married earlier today. I would have invited you had I known where you were staying. Hello Anton, it is nice to meet you." Ana says in her sing song voice.
"I arrived an hour ago, I had to meet you. I did not believe you when Alexi said you were gifting us back our father's property and assets."
"I am, but we will talk tomorrow, tonight there is definitely no business talk, because we are celebrating. I am pleased to meet you!"
"And I Ana you, and I am pleased you didn't kick my balls into the next room too." I look at him and scowl. "She attacked my brother when he scared her at the house. She kicked him twice in his man area it seems, before he answered her." I look at Ana and give her the look.
"She did, did she?" Ana smiles. We will be having words Mrs Grey, later...
"I only tapped him, besides it was dark. Now, who's table are you at?" Alex answers.
"We are at the Russian delegates table. We are here to put right the thefts from the building fund for the New Russian Orthodox Church here, I believe your mothers friend helped himself to some funds, which was rather a stupid thing to do, given whose money they stole. We will talk about that later, now, you look very happy little sister."
"I have never had siblings before, well, I guess you are a step sibling?"
"We may not be blood but, a member of our family you are. Christian, I have heard a lot of good things about you too. Your name in the business is heard, even in Moscow." I smile, really and I thought Gregory Boynikov, was just blowing smoke up my ass. It seems he wasn't or he was, and this other Russian is doing it too? "We have to talk, tomorrow perhaps?"
"Perhaps, Ana and I are working from home tomorrow. Join us for lunch. It was nice meeting you, we are holding up the line again and our parents are awaiting our arrival." We walk and talk and end up only a few yards in when we stop again.
"Come and meet them, please? My father would love to meet you both, is that okay Christian?" I smile, then when she blinks her Baby Blues at me, she gets everything she wants.
"Sure, come on then. Anton, have we met before?"His face is a sort of a hazy semblance of someone I may have met once before, but its the voice, the Russian-English-Oxford voice, I know I have heard before.
"I don't know, we could have, I have heard the name before today, of course, but seeing your face, I just know I have seen you before too, but not in business, but where that is the mystery?" We are interrupted by Elliot.
"Bro, what's the holdup? Whoa, what are you doing here Ant, dude you look different, where's the face fluff Bro?" I look at them and wonder why they are so friendly towards each other, and then it hits me. Anton or Ant, he was with Elliot once, on a surfing holiday in the same place I was doing business, okay it's a small world, or is it?
"Eli, why in god's name are they allowing you into this fancy suit and tie dinner, they do know you don't know how to use cutlery, right?" They shoulder bump and horse around.
"How do our brothers know each other, or let me hazard a guess, your brother too would prefer to be surfing rather than working?" Alex asks me.
"It would seem so. I guess they don't call themselves by their correct names?" I ask, because we both seem truly confused.
"Possibly not, my brother makes a lot of money, and he enjoys his down time spent surfing, both he and his wife, and their children, they too like the surfing life. They are in Australasia at the moment house hunting, though he would much rather be there surfing, he left them to it and came to meet Ana. They are there because that is where they are moving to when he finishes the sales of his banking group. They say surfing is in your blood, and I am sure this to be true of Anton, I am sure if they open a vein, my brothers blood will have waves in it!" I laugh.
"Well, it seems their world is a very small and unusual world, who knew they were friends?"
"I just wish sometimes he acted his age, I should say most of the time I wish he was more..."
"...You don't have to explain, I know where you are coming from. They need to be more responsible? At least your brother has a family, yes?"
"Yes, a very fun loving and energetic family, I have two nieces. Anastasiya and Yana, then there is my nephew, he is called Alexander too. I am thrice blessed with children, who I adore. His wife, the Australasian girl he met surfing of all places, actually Alice and he met on the surfing tour, where I believe these two met too? Now, I have the prospect of having to travel to see them. He sold his banking group and has taken early retirement. He has had enough of this rat race of politics and ever changing markets, the Euro Crisis and everything else that takes him away from the water, now he has enough money to do as he wishes."
"I have to wonder sometimes, why do I work so hard too? Until I met Ana, I didn't know why I did it?"
"I do it because I get the thrill, I like the adrenaline rush of the deals and the whole start of negotiations, alas I too have been feeling the call to take things easy. Try perhaps to find someone to settle down with, alas, as yet, nobody has found their way to my door as they say!" He is me in Russian form...
"I felt the same, and then in walked Ana, who tripped through my door."
"Well, there is hope for me then." I think I like the guy. Elliot thumps my shoulder.
"Bro, you remember Ant, right?" Elliot finally remembers he came to find me.
"No, when last I saw Ant, he was heavily bearded, wore board shorts and had slightly longer and unkempt hair. I think you and he spent more time together than we did, I was there working and you tagged along for the ride remember?"
"Yeah, that was an epic Asian tour. Surf, sea and plenty of shenanigans were had, well by me anyhow, you worked a lot."
"Elliot I was there to work, you moron." My brother is a fool, god help his kid and poor Kate, I see plenty of holidays in their future, alas with surfboards playing a major part, their kid may even come out surfing, poor Kate indeed...
"I know, I am just saying. But me and this clean shaven jobs worth, we still had a great time, didn't we?"
"Yes we did Elliot. That is why I didn't recognise him as the surfer dude, he is very different now. The voice is the thing I remembered!" I haven't met many Russian surfers with a twang of a British accent.
"He needed to be taken seriously at a recent takeover meeting and needed to look the part of the head of the bank, not a surfing dude."Alex tells me. I see the same look I have when I speak of Elliot, I may be very proud of his business, but the surfer dude, is another Elliot altogether...
"Is your brother a workaholic bore too Eli?"
"Yup, he was until he met my new sister Ana here. Ana meet...
"...My step-brother Anton, I already have, thank you Elliot."
"Dude, wow, I mean way to go Ana, you have brothers. Cool, anyway the olds are wondering where the love birds are, we have to take our seats, see you laters Ant, man..." He headed back and I am amazed at what has just transpired.
"Laters Eli, wow that was unexpected, meeting Eli here and you know my old friend too Ana, that is crazy. Sorry, I guess I have what your mother had, a non crazy way, of course, sorry, I did not mean to offend you, we did not meet her as such, so we , sorry I, I am digging the hole for myself as we speak! This personality disorder Alexi says she had, it explains a lot. We thought my mother was hallucinating, I may have had a joke with you about many people in one body, and that is me, I am businessman when I have to be, and surfer and fun loving dude when I don't and a family man all of the time? Anyway, I want to ask you many questions. We need to talk, save a dance for your big brother Anastasia?"
"I didn't know what she was like Anton, mixed up or sick, I never knew her and yes she was many people but she was never my mother, so you did not upset me."
"Good, you may be interested to know, I have a daughter called Anastasiya too, though her name has the Y, the same as our mother and sister."
"When Nene registered me, she wasn't very good with her English and the poor man he dropped the Y by mistake, but it's no biggie! Alex, he never told me about your sister, nor did I know your mother's name, I am named after my Nene, her with the Y in her name too. Wow, I cannot believe you have a sister called Anastasiya too, can I meet her?"
"No, I am sorry, we had a sister, she died in infancy, she slept and didn't awake, and our father was so lost, whilst our mother, she pretended it didn't matter? But our father he was so hurt. Perhaps that is why he was eager to meet your mothers daughter Anastasia; he told us she was very proud of her Little Babushka. I think hearing her call you the same thing he called his daughter, it made him want to see you?"
"I think she played on that, my mother and I were never close, I did wonder how she got a hold of him. She was good; she found a weakness and hooked her men that way. I am sorry to say my having the same name as your sister may have been why he died."
"Umm and why our mother died. Though we were told by the doctor who did the-autopsy?" He stuttered. "She wouldn't have had much longer, and she would have been in pain. Maybe she did what my mother asked her to do and stop the pain? I have to hope so. Now less of this depressing story, we have a sister and that is all that matters and we it seems have a brother-in-law to scrutinise, to see if he is good enough for our Baby Sister. What do you say Alexi?"
"What, oh right your humour is not too good Anton. Leave them alone, they are in love. Like you and Alice, Now, we need to be seated."
"Yes, we will talk tomorrow or later. We need to let the others in. Alex, we will speak later I promise. Besides you have to meet my father." They kissed cheeks they hugged and I had my hands shaken. I smile at the guests as we pass their tables, and it is then I have to do a double take, how the fuck, what the fuck. I step back and grab Ana.
"Ana, we have to get out of here, now." What the fuck, who the fuck, why the fuck is he here?
"Why?" Ana asks, just as Luke arrives at my side.
"Ma'am, do as Mr Grey asks, Gage get her out of here now..." Luke asks. I look at Gage and she shrugs her shoulders, but she does as she is asked and we do a swift turn and walk away from the dining area of the ball. "Sir, we are heading to the security suite, our guys are tracking him."
"Good, Ana I am sorry but I think we may have to leave, all of us." I call my father, I have him on speaker, so Luke can hear our conversation, he is busy on his phone too, I guess to Taylor? "Dad..."
"Son, where are you, they are waiting for you to start. They can't without their guest of honour?"
"Dad, stop fucking talking, sorry, but please turn your head to the left to the mirrored wall and tell me who the fuck is that at the table?" I wait...
"Fuck, he looks good for a corpse?" I sway. "Where are you Son?"
"In the hotels security suite, can you make your excuses, we may have to leave?"
"Sure, give me a minute, he is laughing and joking with someone. I could fucking kill him." My father makes his way. I turn and see Ana, she is spinning on a swivel chair and waiting for news. She smiles. Thank God I have her, or I would be out there making sure, my now not dead father, is actually dead. My dad arrives, fuck this dad and father thing is going get old before too long.
"Dad, how the fuck is Henry Harlow still alive? He died two years ago of a heart attack, whilst visiting his relatives, in Israel. What the fuck is Jorgia playing at?" I scream at my father.
"She wasn't able to get there in time, you know he had to be buried within the day. We flew there with her, to see to it all, you and I were with her, she was genuinely distraught, when they passed her his ashes, he was meant to be buried. She was not responsible for any of the funeral arrangements; it was all done when we got there, and all according to Henry's wishes. You were there Chris when she kicked off, that was not an act."
"No it wasn't, it is the only time I have seen her defeated, well apart from losing all her money and her father's company. Luke can you zoom in on him, let's make sure its him first and not a fucking doppelganger, please?" Their guys zoom in as he is leaving the hotel. They can't get a clear picture, but they get the registration of the town car he leaves in, good we have something at least. It would seem, my sperm donor is alive, or he had a twin? Ana coughs.
"Can we go and eat if he has left the building, please, I'm starving. Your father will still be a part of the walking dead tomorrow. Besides you have security to get you the information and if needs be you can do it later, it seems he knew you were here, or why else would he break cover?" Says my wife, the voice of calm and reason!
"Why indeed Ana. Now Ana is right, you are here to be honoured Son, they cannot hold the ball without you."
"Okay I guess?" I am stunned; perhaps I should spin around in the chair like my wife and relax? She smiles and heads us back to the ball. When we get there the chatter stops, as Ana apologises quite loudly. Way to go Ana... She walks towards the table and we take out seats. I note the now empty chair over by the wall and feel oddly sad; my father has walked out on me, again. As I sit My grandmother is laughing.
"Ana, Annie, Anastasia, you have just told half of the rich and the fabulous people of Paris, you were late because you needed to pee, classic move girl, here's to you. I only wish I had the gonads, when we were late, to come up with that excuse? So, what really happened, did my grandson get amorous, like his Pops? I used to do that walk of shame a few times a year, now not so much; my arthritic hip isn't that flexible anymore, despite my pirates class and the Zambia lessons?" Fuck, is that what they all think we were doing, Elliot is grinning, Kate is shaking her head and Pop's gives me the thumbs up, it would seem they think we were fucking and my father came to get us. I wish that's what we were fucking doing. Because this thing has me confused am I sad am I angry, how the fuck is he here and why, The Flintstones had better be good.
"Mother, it's called a Pilates class and a Zumba lessons you take, I think we need to enrol you in rehab classes Mother. Stick to juice. Please." Wow, Mom is angry, at who though? Ana for telling the big-wigs-she needed to pee, loudly as it seems, she was riled as the poor lady who tapped her watch at us, she got more than she bargained for tonight. Or at me? I will find out later that's for sure, The food makes its way and I smile as Ana nods her head.
"Mom, it is was not what Gram's thinks, it is a serious matter, we will need to discus after dinner. I am sorry they delay was needed."
"I am not mad at you, that table over there are being obnoxious and loud about my son's and their girlfriends."
"It's because they need to enrol with Grams in rehab. Mom, it happens all the time, why is it upsetting you now?"
"Because they called Ana a whore." She whispers and I take note of the women and their table partners.
"Did they? Well don't worry about it, I will see to it their married lovers keep them in line, perhaps they need to learn a lesson the hard way. They should never have brought their mistresses to a social ball, three of the table I do business with are married and they are not their wives, and two of them lost their shirts to me, and they are only jealous Mother. Now, how many drinks has Grams had?" I text Luke to take their photos and send them to their wives with my complements. He smiles and does as I ask. This is unusual for security to eat with us, but they were not allowed to be in here unless seated. I think they will like it, I hope so anyway.
"Too many, anymore and she will need her stomach pumping. I am so sorry Christian, but she is acting really weird this trip. I am worried about her."
"She is ill?"
"No, at least I don't think so or hope not. I thinks she's bored."
"Okay then, why, did the pottery class not float her boat?"
"No, she was banned."
"What, from a pottery class?"
"Well I guess when she took to making phallic handles on her tea cups; they didn't see the funny side."
"What?"
"Umm, the tea spout was amusing too. I don't think I can look a teapot in the eye anymore, not without, you know, imagining tea coming of something resembling a phallus." I roared with laughter. "The sugar bowl, well, let's just say, the two naked people she moulded into some sort of impossible sex position, isn't were I'd like to get my sugar from I can tell you. I gather the milk 'jugs' leant a whole new meaning to breast fed is best fed. They were meant to be for Elliot's birthday. The church group have banned her from all their groups now. She is... She is heck; I don't know what she is..."
"Bored probably. I will find a project for her; perhaps she can start one of her own cottage industries, like book Grams?"
"No Emu's and no pets Christian..."
"I think they were ostriches mother."
"Where they? I like goats, Ana has a goat according to Ray and a pig."
"She does, we could get Grams a pig?"
"No, she isn't a lover of bacon."
"I meant to race mother not eat!"
"I can't see that, Seattle's finest pig racing, Christian really?" I laugh. It could be a fundraiser I would attend willingly and bring in Winnie, to race and win, as a ringer?
"It could work for a charity night."
"I think it's more than boredom my darling boy, I think this is serious. As in dementia."
"Oh crap." I say and hold my mothers hand tightly.
"Indeed it is a mess." I look at Grams and see what my mother sees, a change in her eyes. This is all bravado. "I have her in to see the specialist on Tuesday. We will know more then, until then enjoy her fun times. There may be a lot of dark times with her yet to come." I hug my mother. My wife has been chatting to Gage, and hopefully did not hear us talking? She would only worry, and I am doing enough of that for the two of us.
"Christian, I thought you said the food is awful, this soup is great, and hot. Is Grace mad at me?"
"It normally is, so eat up then. And no not mad at you, she has a few things on her mind. And by the way, thanks for distracting the crowd earlier Baby; you could have said we were running late."
"They saw us come in you duffer. I think they are good, I mean everyone gets caught short, rich or poor we all need to pee."
"That's it; you could have said I needed to use the rest room."
"Okay Professor, peeing lesson learned. This is great soup."
"It is. What will we do Ana?"
"Eat soup and worry about him tomorrow. It may be a lookalike, until we know Henry is dead still. What do you think about my new family?"
"I like them, I am sure they are good people, Elliot likes Anton and he is really choosy about his friends, girlfriends not so, I will rephrase that, pre Kate he was not choosy about the women."
"Nice save Christian. I wonder, when do you think she will tell him?" I look over and Kate is not eating. Elliot is worried, because she is drinking water too. Can he not guess? I guess not... Funny, I am still not. Dinner is over and for a change it was very nice. The speeches are to begin.
"Christian, what is this ball in aid of? I think I should have asked?"
"Its supports orphaned children of war torn countries, it feeds them, homes them and educates them. In hopes that one day they give back to their country. I sponsor one such school in Africa. Hence the award tonight."
"Oh yes, yes Alex said something similar. Do your family do a lot of charity work?"
"They, and now so do we Ana, will have to attend the occasional fundraiser. My parents also run a charity called Coping Together."
"Oh that one is in the book they wrote and it is real. Hence the charity bungee jump... Good, I do like a masked ball."
"Really Ana?"
"No, I have never been to one actually. I liked the thought of attending one and finding my Prince. Alas, the ones I did attend were the ones that Kate's parents threw and let me tell you there were no Prince's in attendance, many slimy toads, but no Frog Princes."
"The road trips, I remember. Three days to go to a ball must have been a little bit of a buzz kill?"
"It was, that's why they stopped inviting me and she took Mia instead, I knew it was coming, the end of the road trips, and so when they were due, I said I had to work, so Kate wouldn't feel bad. It is where Kate first saw Elliot too. Perhaps you were there?"
"No, I can assure you I didn't ever attend their parties. I only went to ones which had a work place need."
"You were it seems a boring, man... So, Henry?"
"Yes, indeed until I met you very boring, and what about Henry?"
"He could have all the answers you need about Ella, and he could have gone to ground for a reason, do you not think there is something hinky? I mean, Elena dies and suddenly he turns up? What's betting there is a story to it? If it his him, let him speak first, put your haltered of him aside, I mean if hatred is what you feel? Christian, what do feel about him, because I don't think you don't hate him, or do you?" Ana waffles when nervous, but these thoughts have merit. Perhaps she is right?
"No, I am disappointed in him Ana, he was a friend and an uncle of sorts. I just don't know what happened two years ago to change him and for him to go on the run and hide away from us, from me, from Jorgia? God Jorgia, what will I tell her?"
"I don't know if you have to tell her anything Christian, she ruined his company and she was and is a grade A bitch. Putting her aside for a moment, think about it, was there anything hinky with Elena back then? Or the girls, hers or yours?"
"Yes, she suddenly shut one of her clubs; she said it was after someone accidentally choked during a scene. She had a latex allergy but to me that never ran true, she could have called it in as an accident. People die of allergies all the time. But I don't know for sure, because it wasn't one of my clubs; this one was hers and an investors, obviously the investor was Henry, he went to visit relatives in Israel a few days later, where he died!"
"Perhaps he had something to do with that?"
"Possibly, but I thought he was a good man Baby..."
"The world is full of good people who do bad things Christian."She says and I have to agree.
"Quite... We will know soon enough, he didn't exactly hideaway did he? Perhaps he thought we had left?"
"Do you not think that perhaps he left, because he thought you had left?" I smile, and kiss my ladies hand. She is one smart cookie."
"You two, what are you whispering about?" Mother asks.
"The food and charity work." I say.
"Well you talked all the way through the meal. It has been noticed."
"When I pay a hundred grand for the table Mother I think, if I wanted to, I could start a conga line and they could stick that up their butts too. Besides we are not the only ones talking."
"Quite, but you are the guest of honour and being very unlike yourself Christian. The Mayor is at our table, please, could you try not to sound and look so rude?"
"Okay, we will stop talking and join in the table conversation mother." Ana smiles as I am told off by Grace.
"It is too late, because now they are calling your name and Ana is smiling. Did she not know this is why you are here?"
"No, wish me luck Mom, Ana I will not be long Baby."
"Okay, I will still be here, I had a pee earlier..." I smile kiss her face and go and accept my award... "I think I may have to wing this I think, because I left my speech at home.
"Tonight, it is my honour to be presenting to our biggest benefactor from the last Grand Parisian Ball, the Parisian Humanitarian of the year, this year it goes to Mr Christian Trevelyan Grey, his company Grey Enterprise Holdings, last year contributed ten million Euro's to our 'Keep them safe. Keep them Educated' program. Without benefactors like these, the very children we are saving and helping are children who without guidance and help could be the next ones fighting the war, and making other children orphans too!" Oh god that is an awful thought. I climb the three steps and shake hands with the president of the charity.
"Thank you, this is indeed an honour for both my company and myself. I believe that we need to help these children to live a beneficial life for themselves and for their villages and communities. They need to feel safe and loved first and foremost. They need to be able to enjoy a freedom that we in this room take for granted. For a child to be safe and to enjoy life.
First and foremost, they have to be in a safe environment, away from the toxicity of war, they should be playing with tin soldiers and plastic play figures, and should not be holding a real gun and shooting real bullets at real people. They should not be taking life, but living their life. I know from personal experience what living in a bad place can do to a child, it can fill you with hate and with fear. Believe me it's not a good feeling being afraid, being hungry and feeling abandoned. Take it from me; no child needs to live a nightmare as I once did, and as these children are still doing. These children we sponsor, they need the same chances that I was given, they need to fed, to be kept warm, and to know what it is like to be wanted and cared for, they need to know they are loved. Unfortunately the help I was given, I cannot give them. I had, and still have a loving mother, father and a caring and loyal family.
However, you and I, we, we can give them somewhere to at least be safe, somewhere they can be loved and be educated. We can and do give them a roof to sleep under, food to feed them, clothes to cover their bodies, toys to play with, toys that help them to learn again what it is like to be a child. We are able to provide counselling to those children need more than a teddy bear to comfort them, children who have seen things no child should ever see. We see to their medical needs too, we help children to see again, walk again and live again. In the schools we build, we provide them with the books and equipment they need to gain a great education.
Your donations tonight, they will help to pay for the house matrons to care for them, the school doctors and therapists to heal them and caretakers to make sure their homes are clean and tidy. But most of all we need to provide these children teachers whom feed their imagination and cooks whom feed their growing bodies and see to it their food is good and nourishing. Tonight, I am asking you to dig deep and fund a future for these children. Is there anyone here right now who can, and who cares enough to fund a school in a new district? Ten million Euros it was is needed, it will build them a home campus, and it will keep that school, home and medical unit open and thriving for many years to come?" I Watch as my step brothers stand. My husband, has had me in tears during his speech. What are these two up to?
"We would like to do just that, we would like to donate twenty million Euros for two new communities, and a further twenty to help fund the ones you already have, for a few more years, and we would like it done in the names of four wonderful ladies called Anastasiya, our mother, our two sisters, and a beloved Nene. We would also like to donate a further twenty million dollars to Coping Together. My sister Anastasia Steele-Grey asked that should we have money we didn't need nor want, then we should perhaps like to donate it to a good cause, so Ana, we decided we would." I am handed a handkerchief as I sob. Christian leads the round of applause. I blow my nose like I have a snot monster in there.
"These generous people are the brothers of my wife, Anastasia Steele-Grey, and if you don't know them they are two very generous and caring men, Alexander and Anton Brusilov. Ana, my wife, is the very shy lady who needed to pee earlier, delaying the wonderful meal we all ate. Ladies and gentlemen as she made quite the entrance, as I am sure you all saw, she doesn't need to stand and take a bow. I hope you agree that her two brothers have been amazingly generous. Now, in the envelopes on your tables, please place in your donation, and perhaps next year it could be you receiving this award. Remember those children are working for themselves and to give their country a hopeful tomorrow... Thank you for this, and thank you for all you are about to give. Gentlemen, the children thank you too." I watch as Christian leaves the stage and greets my step brothers, the three billionaires high five each other. I am very glad they donated the darned money. I am just speechless and blushing from the pee comment.
"Ana, you do realise that is a small fraction of the billion dollars US, you have given or are about to give them back right?" Carrick says as he sips his whiskey. Grace is in shock, she is overwhelmed that their charity was given such a public boost and here in Paris too. "Leaving you Ana, with about the same amount still left in your account darling."
"What? Holy Fizz Balls. How much did she Fizz Bombing steal Carrick? Really, okay, we will talk when I get back home."
"A lot..." He says and smiles...Fuck, I am not book Ana...
Christian comes back from the stage and he chats to the others on the table, others that have stared and spoken French all night. Parlez Vous Francais? Well that was met with a very loud non. So they chatted on and ignored me. I watch the room and Gage and I stare at the obvious wealth here.
"Gage, I don't think I am ever going to fit in."
"You look as good as all these people Ana, and you are kinder than most of them in here too. Don't worry you are doing fine."
"If you say so. So what's the word on Henry?"
"They drew a blank at the car firm it was hired by the folks at the table he was sat at the Freedom Electronics and Communications table, they are here from Hong Kong."
"Oh and any clues?"
"They are working on it." I see a lady at the table the man was sat at, get up and tell her fiends she needed to powder her nose.
"Gage, I need to pee. Sorry, I need to use the rest room."
"Okay, you lead I will follow. Ma'am."
"Okay, I am doing what you say, Gage." We head off, after I signal to Christian where I am going. When we get there, the lady who I am interested in is washing her hands. I go to fix my lips. Gage is outside and we seem to be alone. I smile and redo my lips.
"That dress is beautiful. You look very regal. I am so sorry I don't know if I am allowed to talk to you?"
"Ha, of course you can talk to me. I like your dress too."
"My boss bought it for me; I can't afford clothes like these. He was the man who brought me, but he left me, because he felt ill."
"Oh, is he okay now?"
"I don't know, because I don't know his number. To be truthful we don't know a lot about out boss. Mr Gersham Horowitz, but I can tell you he has never been seen at any functions before, or headed up a new business meeting before, we are here to bid for a contract with GEH Europe, did you see the hottie getting the award, Christian Grey? Well it is his company, we are seeing on Monday."
"Have you worked for him long, this Mr Horowitz did you say his name was?"
"About seven years, two in Grand Rapids, Michigan and then nearly five in Hong Kong, he closed his company down there and moved a few of us with him when he relocated to Hong Kong, the market there was much better and I wanted the adventure."
"Is it a big company?"
"No, not really, there are large companies out there, but we are a good solid company. we are very big in Asia and have a great foothold thanks to his old business connections, but he is a very strange and private man, we haven't seen him a lot in the past two years. However, he wasn't ever a 'big in the office boss', he was, and still is more likely to do business on the phone or by video links, because he is an elusive and mysterious CEO. We call him Howard, behind his back that is, because he is very reclusive."
"Really does he have a family?"
"You are asking a lot of questions, for a stranger? Who did you say you were?" I smile.
"I didn't, but my name is Anastasia Grey, and it's my hottie you're in the meeting with, Christian Grey CEO of GEH. my husband?"
"Oh crap. I mean oh sorry, I mean..."
"...It's fine, you haven't told me anything that Christian's team won't already know. It was nice speaking to you, what is your name?" She looks like she is going to be sick.
"Jane Plane, and yes that's my real name, Plane Jane Plane, my parents thought it would be funny. Alas it has been anything but for me. Will our chat harm our chances of getting the contract?"
"It all depends on how you answer these really strange questions I ask you." She nodded her head! "Do you know where Mr Horowitz comes from?"
"His family were Russia originally, the family moved to Poland, where he was born, and after escaping from his home in Poland during the war, when was just a small boy, they landed in America as Jewish refugees. His family then settled in Michigan, they managed to hide their money and valuables and were able to set up in business, they were radio engineers, I think he said? He likes to talk when you take him papers; he seems a very lonely man, but he is a kind and a very sweet man."
"Thanks Jane Plane, you can change your name you know, many people do, I should know, my mother did it all the time. It may make you feel better, because you really are no plain Jane, Miss Jane."
"Thank you, but it's kind of who I am now. I have a blog, you should read it, and it's called Plain Jane: Paper Plane Rider."
"Interesting why that name?"
"Oh god, because I spend days on the real damned planes. I have more air-miles than I can ever use. You see, I ferry old fashioned paper work here to Paris all the darned time. My boss is old-fashioned despite working in a high-tech world."
"Okay, where else do you take paperwork?"
"Hong Kong to either Paris or Seattle and back again sometimes."
"Okay, I was just asking in case he is doing anything dodgy? Like laundering money, or you know something he shouldn't?"
"No, nothing illegal, I opened the package once and it was just pages of numbers and Russian writing."
"Where can I ask did you take the paperwork here in Paris or in Seattle?"
"A place on the Avenue de Versailles, I had a package to deliver this time too, but the Boss took it back on the plane here."
"Where in Seattle?"
"Umm it depended there were a few addresses there, a place in Belleview, an upmarket salon, Esclava, an apartment in Escala, why?"
"Escala, the penthouse?" I ask and I think I am making her worry.
"No, the tenth floor, I don't know who got those packages I left them with the doorman there. Why are you asking me these questions Mrs Grey?" I stop for a moment and listen as she calls me Mrs Grey and I swear my heart did a flip?
"No real reason, it's just my mother, you remember her, the name chameleon? Well, she died recently and we have been finding out she had properties everywhere, some she obtained not very nicely too. When you mentioned Seattle, it is where we live, and my husband has properties there. Who did you give the packages too?" Fake it till you make her talk Grey, I tell myself.
"Two women, both hard faced women, both bleached blondes, both botoxed to blazes and both had more surgeries than I cared to see. Why?"
"You have just described my mother and an old business partner of my husband. Elena Lincoln and Vladlena Kirlian, they either lived or worked in some of the paces you mentioned, and to be honest with you your employer looked familiar that's all?"
"Okay I guess, but my employer, he hasn't been to American in at least two years."
"The women's names do they sound familiar?"
"Yes to the Vladlena woman, but no, the woman at Escalava and a couple of those sleazy clubs, she was an Italian woman, Giuliana Accardi. Yes Italian, she had a very cringy, awful Jersey Shores voice." O.M.G. Elena's book name... Fuck-a-duck... Gage came to see what the holdup was. I smiled and motioned for a minute.
"Thank you. I will keep this conversation quiet, if you do? I think no I know you will get the contract. See you later Plane Jane." She smiled and I headed to get my husband and fill him in... We have some more gaps filling in nicely, so the man that is or was Henry, he knew my mother and he knew Elena and her old self, I need to read that f-in book and the files need to be retrieved from the Avenue de Versailles, death house, and ASAP. I am so frigging good at doing my Daddies job...
So, is that edge of seat stuff...?
Hahahahah, I live to tease...
Read and review and please let me know what you think?
Needy, that's me... Laters... Going to eat my Easter Egg, an egg that I promised myself one when I finished re writing the lost chapter, I couldn't remember a lot of it so it came out this way. Now I am happily munching on a Cadbury Mini egg, egg, yummy... My reward for a hard days writing...