SEATTLE NOOZ
Well folks! What do you make of Katherine Grey's recent interview of Seattle's own Christian Grey?
Enquiring minds want to know what Mr. Grey has to hide and feels the need to call upon his sister-in-law to do a PR fluff interview. Co-incidence that evidence concerning a hit and run accident which took place almost 40 years ago, suddenly came to light just a short time after Christian Grey's company purchased a certain car dealership? I think not. Or was the finding of said evidence assisted by some means. I mean, what business keeps documents around that long in this day and age?
Surely Katherine Grey has enough journalistic experience and clout to not have to depend on family members for material. Why should she be beholden to her billionaire brother-in-law for work? What has he ever done for her?
Speaking of Mr. Christian Grey. Or should it be Mr. Christian Reynolds? Now we know where he got his infamous temper. It's all in the blood lines. I mean, one must have quite a temper to disown your pregnant teenage daughter, fire your housekeeper because her son impregnated said daughter and then a few years later refuse to acknowledge your orphaned grandson. Bet Frederick Reynolds Senior is kicking himself now that he knows that said grandson is worth billions. And the temper must continue in the blood line with Frederick Junior. If what the Detroit Police are saying is true, one must have quite a temper to recognize your sister's boyfriend crossing the street and decide to run him down, leaving him behind in the street.
This does not bode well for the children of Christian Grey. Or I guess I should say anyone they ever have a relationship with. I mean, sweet Ana Grey, I'm sure will do her best to control the tempers of her children. But blood lines obviously do not lie. I feel for you Ana.
Kate tosses her ipad aside as she reads the latest story on the Nooz website. She picks up her phone to call Ana.
"Hi Kate." Ana says as soon as she answers. "I assume you've read the latest Nooz?"
"Yes. I want to kill that bastard Simon." Kate says through clenched teeth. "Or even better castrate him or hang him up by his balls."
"You'd probably have Christian's assistance." Ana says. "Christian is talking with his legal department about what recourse he has."
"Unfortunately, unless they are able to prove, in court, that what is said is lies, the Nooz is able to skirt around the freedom of the press laws." Kate says with a sigh. "I know the Nooz shouldn't qualify as 'press', but they do fall into that category in the eyes of the law. And Simon was very careful to not actually state anything as fact, just a lot of innuendo."
"I told Christian that the best thing is to just ignore the article." Ana says. "If he issues any statement, it just gives more publicity to the Nooz."
"I know. That's my thought too." Kate responds. "But if I do run into Simon at any press event, I probably won't be able to restrain myself."
"On a happier note, Kate, have you got a gown for tomorrow night's fundraiser for the children's wing of the hospital?" Ana asks.
"You mean the Christian and Anastasia Grey Children's Wing?" Kate says with a smile. "I still don't know why Christian didn't have the architects design a Grey suite. You know, a private room like the private boxes at Grey Stadium. I mean, between all of your pregnancies, Mia's and mine, it would be occupied most of the time."
Ana giggles. "Don't laugh, Kate." Ana says. "Christian DID give instructions to the architect for just that. It was all I could do to talk him out of it. I pointed out that it would be a shame for such a suite to be vacant except for a few days every year or so. I played to his efficiency needs and he finally relented – on the condition that we get priority on such a birthing room when we need it. And all of the children have the same priority for a private child's room if the need ever arises."
"I can just imagine what you had to do to talk Mr. Control Freak out of his original plans." Kate says with a smirk. She laughs when she hears Ana's giggle. "I knew it. But I won't ask for specifics – some things are just TMI."
"You haven't answered my question." Ana tells Kate. "Do you have a gown for the fundraiser?"
"Yes. I planned on wearing one I already had, but when I tried it on yesterday, it wouldn't fit." Kate says with a sigh. "I'm already gaining weight with this pregnancy."
"Maybe you're having twins!" Ana says excitedly.
"Oh gawd! Please don't wish that on me." Kate says. "I'm not SuperMom like you."
"Oh come on…kids are great and twins are twice as fun." Ana says with a laugh.
"Anyways, as I was saying…" Kate quickly changes the topic. "I had to go shopping yesterday for a new dress and shoes."
"I bet that was a real arm twister!" Ana says with a smirk. "I mean, Kate Kavanaugh Grey being forced to go shopping."
"Ha ha!" Kate returns. "It's one thing to want to go shopping, but it's another to have to go shopping because nothing appropriate for the event fits."
"But I'm sure you managed to find a fantastic outfit." Ana says.
Kate laughs. "Of course. Otherwise, I would still be out there. I assume you have something appropriate?"
"Yes." Ana says. "I'll be wearing one of the dresses Christian picked out for me in Paris."
"Long gone are the days when I had to force you to shop in my closet." Kate says with a laugh.
"Yes. But your wardrobe was quite effective." Ana says with a smile, thinking back to Christian's reactions when she various dresses borrowed from Kate's closest.
"Yes, it did serve to hook Mr. MoneyBags, didn't it. But the way he has always looked at you, you could wear a burlap sack and still get the same reaction." Kate says. "However, I don't think any of them ever had the effect that the little silver number did that night in Aspen ten years ago.
Ana groans. "Don't remind me. That was the first, and last time, I will let Mia talk me into buying a dress."
"It is a wonder Christian even let you out of the house with that dress on." Kate says.
"Oh believe me, he didn't want to. But he thought there would be safety in numbers with the six of us." Ana says. "He just didn't factor in me on the dance floor without him."
"Ana, sorry to cut short the ride down memory lane, but I have to go." Kate says reluctantly. "I have a press lunch to attend."
"Okay. See you tomorrow night." Ana says before disconnecting.
Kate is running late for the press lunch and finds the reception room quite crowded. She heads to the bar to pick up a juice before mingling among her peers en route to her table. Her eyes narrow as she spots someone on the other side of the room. As she tries to make her way across the room, an announcement is made for people to take their seats. She groans when she realizes the subject of her focus is heading to the same table.
"Kate! It is good to see you." Simon Rogers says as he takes the seat next to Kate.
"You're fucking kidding me, right?" Kate says in amazement. "After that tripe you published today in your sleazy tabloid?" She shakes her head. "I can't believe you have fallen so low to write for that rag. And then to have the nerve to attend Press functions."
"Well, I have to make a living." Simon responds. "Your illustrious brother-in-law ensured that I wasn't employed at The Seattle Times. Or at any other regular newspaper, for that matter."
"I don't blame him, after those articles you wrote about him and then his children." Kate tells him. "I always thought you were above such sleaze. Hell, you've won journalistic awards in the past."
"If you only knew the story behind some of those pictures, Kate." Simon says.
"I do know." Kate informs him. At his raised eyebrows, she continues. "Christian and Ana were trying to keep me from knowing that Elliott had originally rented the hotel room. Elliott was being set up and I hope to God that I never find out that you were one of the instigators."
Simon reaches over to grab Kate's hand before she is able to pull it out of his reach. "Kate, darling. I still have feelings for you. That bastard Grey doesn't deserve you. He's cheated on you before, and it was evident that he would have done so again if not for the intervention of his fucking brother." Simon looks Kate in the eye. "I'm sure it will just be a matter of time before another opportunity presents itself to him."
Kate jerks her hand away from Simon. "The status of my marriage is between my husband and me. It is certainly not open for exploitation in some tabloid." She looks at Simon. "And if my marriage were to end, for whatever reason, I certainly wouldn't turn to you for comfort."
"Why do you hate me so much?" Simon asks. "I thought we had a good thing going until that bastard managed to whittle his way back into your heart when you were vulnerable after Ava's accident."
"It took almost losing our daughter for both Elliott and me to acknowledge that we still loved one another and, despite the past, wanted to try again." Kate informs Simon.
"I still think that it was just his jealous streak getting the better of him when he found out that you had obviously moved on and you planned to marry me." Simon responds. "If you had stayed with me, you wouldn't need to worry every time I walked out the door if I was heading to the arms of another woman."
"No, I would have just had to worry what bullshit you would be writing and publishing." Kate says. "And don't get me started about your latest article." She hisses.
"You mean the one about your recent interview with the illustrious Christian Grey." Simon laughs. "Kate, you are too good a journalist to be used as a personal PR person for your brother-in-law. Why did you do such a fluff piece instead of your usual investigative report?"
"NOT that I need to answer to you, but I was the one that approached Christian and offered to do it. The regular media was slamming him with a lot of innuendo and half-truths. I thought I would use my media resources to get facts out, as well as Christian's stance on his newly discovered biological family."
"I still think it belittled you, Kate." Simon tells her.
"And I think you should be castrated or hung up by your balls for your article today." Kate hisses back.
Simon smirks. "I'm glad to hear that you still think of my balls. Hopefully, you think of other parts of my anatomy as well. Given that you have had extensive, up close and personal, experience with my body."
"Go. To. Hell." Kate says forcefully as she stands up and leaves the room. "I hate to let that bastard see that he can get to me. But if I stayed, I'm not sure what I would do to him and the publicity that would cause." She tells herself as she heads to her car.
