Chapter 7
Greetings faithful readers! I apologize for the long wait in between chapters.
Snoopylover60 and I promised we would one day write an HEA, and that day has arrived! This will be a short story, and we hope you will enjoy it.
Christian's and Ana's back stories are a little different—There is no Elena or BDSM—Christian is a lonely, hardworking CEO who is leery of relationships, and Ana is a grad student at U-DUB studying forensic accounting.
Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed chapter 6 —we really appreciate it!
For Hootiebear and T Traveller—remember, we love you!
We do not own FSOG.
Taylor POV
I look at my watch and see that Grey's plane should be arriving in a few minutes.
He called me last night to let me know what time to pick them up, and also let me know that they will have 3 additional passengers on board who they had met in Aspen, but lived in Seattle, and that I was to bring the big SUV so there would be enough room for everyone and their luggage.
He was vague about his guests, but informed me one was very special to him, and he didn't want any background checks done, nor did he ask them to sign NDAs.
He hasn't shown interest in anyone since he called of his engagement to that gold digger, so I am surprised, but happy, that he may have found someone, finally.
He is a good man, and very generous, and that makes him a target for women who want nothing more but to be Mrs. Christian Grey.
His former fiancée surprised the hell out of me—nothing stood out in her background check that remotely indicated what she turned into-I actually think it was her friends' influence that turned her into the gold digging, bridezilla from hell...I think she just got caught up in all their bullshit and lost herself, and turned into one of them. I kept someone on her for the first several months after their split, and she appeared to genuinely regret her actions. She kept to herself quite a bit, and didn't socialize with the harpies much after the engagement was broken. She tried a few times to contact Grey, but her calls were rejected and her access to GEH and Escala was declined... After GEH PR put out the statement that their engagement was off, the paps were all over him for a couple of weeks, but when they realized they weren't going to get comments from him, they focused their attention on another scandal involving one of the councilman and his teen aged mistress.
I cringe when I think about what would have happened if Natalia hadn't found that phone when she did…After it all died down, Grey sent Natalia on an all-expense paid trip for 2 to Hawaii as a reward for saving him from potentially making a huge mistake, which could have cost him dearly.
I look up and see Grey's plane approaching, right on time. After Stephan gets her on the ground, he taxis over to where I am waiting, and a few minutes later the door opens and everyone starts to deplane.
First out the door are 2 young ladies—a blonde, and one with long, chestnut brown hair, followed by Grey, his brother, a 3rd young lady with short brown hair, and finally Ryan bringing up the rear.
The first 2 make their way towards me, and when I get a good look at both of them, the blonde looks at me and starts laughing…I hear her mutter something to herself, then she hollers at me "hey hot stuff! How's it hanging?"
I feel the color drain from my face when I realize who she is, and now, as I feel my face becoming as red as a tomato, I mumble 'Hello, Dr. Jellyfinger.".
She sticks her hand out, and with a massive smirk on her face says to me "Nurse Tonya—nice to see you again."
I take her hand and shake it and mutter "Jason Taylor" and open the back hatch and start loading everyone's luggage, praying that nobody heard what she said and starts asking questions.
God, I am never going to hear the end of this if these guys find out…
We get everyone's luggage loaded, and Grey calls me over, surprising me when he puts his arm around the one with long brown hair and kisses her, then introduces her as his girlfriend Ana, then introduces me to the other 2 ladies, Tonya and Paula.
Elliot walks up, puts his arm around Dr. Jellyfinger, smirks at me, and they climb in the far back of the SUV, and Grey, Ana and Paula climb in the back seat, and Ryan climbs in the front with me with a smirk on his face, too, and programs the GPS with their address, telling me they live together in an apartment in the Pike Market district, and we drive off.
Oh shit…if Elliot is with there is no way in hell this is going to be kept quiet…
As I pull into traffic, I look in the rear view mirror, and Elliot still has a stupid grin on his face, and I know I am screwed—it's just a matter of time before he opens his big mouth.
Sure as hell, we get down the road a few miles when he hollers "Hey hot stuff! has a song for you!" I hear her IPod start playing and the girls start singing a song I recognize from the absolute worst movie I ever had to sit thru, The Sweetest Thing, thanks to Grey's sister Mia:
"You're too big to fit in here
Too big to fit in here
Too big to fit in here
What a lovely ride
Your penis is a thrill
Your penis is a Cadillac
A giant Coupe De Ville
Your Penis Packs a wallop
Your penis brings a load
And when it makes a delivery
It needs its own zip code
Your penis is so strong
Your penis is so smooth
Your penis has got a rhythm
Your penis makes me groove
Your penis is a dream
Your penis is so big
Your penis is so thick
Your penis is so pretty
You've got a handsome dick"
Everyone in the SUV starts laughing hysterically, Ryan included, and I threaten him that if he says one more word I will fire him, and by the time I get done with him the only job he will be able to get is a door greeter at Walmart.
Traffic was light, and we pull up to their apartment 20 minutes later. Everyone climbs out and begins sorting out their luggage, and then heads inside the building to the elevator. I tell Grey I will wait outside in the SUV...I can't handle anymore of Elliot's shit right now—I know it will be never ending.
Christian POV
I walk into Ana's apartment and instantly I feel a sense of calm come over me—as if I belong here, with her and her crazy friends. I look around at the décor and I realize how homey and relaxed it is. I see there are several pictures all over the living room and walk over and look at them, and it's like seeing their lives and friendships unfold in front of me. There are pictures of them ranging from childhood, through high school, college, and now…they have really been friends their entire lives, just like sisters.
Ana sees me looking at the pictures and walks over, giving me a quick description of when and where each of the pictures were taken. "I'm sure we will have some new ones from this trip to frame and hang up this week, and maybe a special one that I'll keep in my bedroom" she grins at me, then tugs my arm and leads me down the hall.
We walk into her bedroom and I set her bag on her bed. Just being in her bedroom is doing things to me, and she must notice because she comes over and puts her arms around my neck and pulls me down for a kiss.
I pull her tight to me, kissing her back, while grinding my erection into her. She lets out a moan as my hands roam her body, and for a minute we forget there are 4 other people in the apartment. We finally pull apart, both of us panting, and I tell her "We better stop unless you want everyone in the building hearing you scream my name again."
She swats me on the arm and tells me "Or maybe they will hear you screaming my name again!"
I give her a sultry look, and after I get the problem in my pants under control we walk back into the living room and join the rest of the gang who are laughing hysterically about something Elliot said.
"What's so funny?" I ask Elliot.
"I was just saying that it's a good thing Ryan is dating Paula and not Tonya. I'm not sure how any man could handle his girlfriend getting up close and personal with his bosses junk!"
We all stand there talking and laughing for a few more minutes before I finally have to break up the party and head home.
The girls walk us to the elevator, but Ana and I hang back so we can talk, and I ask her "When can I see you again? What are your plans this week?"
"I have to go class tomorrow—I need to meet with my advisor to see what I missed last week—I had everything finished and submitted before I left so there shouldn't be too much to make up. Then I have to meet with my new client I signed with just before we left. I gave him a list of documents I would need to get started on his case and he is supposed to have those for me tomorrow. Give me a call in the afternoon—by then I will know what my week looks like." She tells me.
"I don't know if I can wait that long to talk to you…let alone see you again" I pout, then pull her into my arms and hug her as if I won't be seeing her for months.
She tips her head back and kisses me, with the same intensity I feel, and after listening to everyone telling us to get a room, we break apart and I walk to the elevator and the 3 of us step in and turn around for one last look at our girls.
As the doors start to close, I looked at her, smile and said "Ana," and just as the doors close I see her smile back and say "Christian."
Taylor is waiting for us in the SUV, and I swear his face is still red. I feel kind of bad for him because Elliot is never going to let this go.
We pull out of the parking lot and head to Escala—it's about a 5 minute drive from their place to Escala-I bet I can see their apartment from the balcony of my penthouse.
It's quiet in the SUV on the drive to Escala until we pull in the parking garage—Elliot started singing "Big Balls" just as we pulled in the parking garage and Taylor about ran into one of the concrete pillars. I couldn't help myself—I joined in with Elliot and started singing as loud as I could, and I see Taylor clench his jaw and grip the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white.
He parked the SUV, got out and grabbed my bags and headed to the elevator. He hit the call button for the service elevator, stepped in, turned around and I could see how red his face was as the doors closed.
Poor Taylor—Elliot is never going to let this go I laugh to myself.
Taylor POV
I step into the elevator and see my reflection in the door and see how red my face is-I have never been so humiliated in my life…Fucking Elliot is gonna pay for this.
That Walmart door greeter job sounds pretty good about now…
Ana POV
The doors to the elevator start to close and I look at my man, smile and say "Christian."
I walk into my bedroom, feeling empty and alone now that he has gone, and it's been less than 5 minutes.
Face it, Steele; you're in love with the man I say to myself.
The thought makes me smile, and as I unpack my suitcase, I find my dress from our date Friday night, and my body starts to tingle, thinking about our evening together…I can still feel his tongue, lips, and fingers on me, giving me pleasure that I never imagined possible…now I know what all the fuss is about.
I can't imagine what our first time is going to be like…
30 minutes later the 3 of us congregate back in the living room, trying to decide what to have for dinner, and we finally decide on Chinese takeout from our favorite restaurant down the street.
Tonya places our order, and about 45 minutes later it arrives...Paula buzzes the delivery guy up and pays him, and we grab a bottle of wine and sit around talking about everything and nothing—just like always, nothing is off the table with these two.
After 2 bottles of wine everyone is feeling no pain, and the conversation eventually turns to their favorite subject—sex.
"So, Ana" Tonya starts "when is the big day for you guys? When is our little Annie going to become a full-fledged woman?"
I have listened to these two discuss their sex lives in great detail for years, and have never been embarrassed, but since this time the focus is on me, and I feel my face turning redder by the second.
"Yeah, come on, Annie" Paula joins in "When are you guys going to bump uglies? Do the nasty? Hide the salami? Or, as Monica on Friends says "Give him your flower?"
After the Monica comment, we start laughing so hard we can't speak, and when I finally catch my breath I look at them and ask "Don't you guys have anything better to do than torment me about my sex life?"
Laughing, Tonya tells me "Ana, you haven't had a sex life until now! It's been 24 years in the making—and it's a rite of passage for us to educate you and demonstrate certain aspects involving the deed, and in return we get to hear all about your exploits…you are the only 24 year old virgin in Seattle, possibly Washington State, and maybe even the entire country!"
"She's right, Ana" Paula adds. "You have been privy to everything in our lives, so now it's time for you to contribute-maybe I can use some of what you say in my next class."
And just like someone was watching over me, trying to save me from the drunken boozehound roommate inquisition, my phone rings "Ah...saved by the bell" I tell them, and get up to answer my phone, and when I see Christian's name flashing, I walk to my room and close my door so we can talk in peace.
The next morning I wake up before everyone else, take a shower, fix breakfast and am headed out to school just as those 2 are dragging themselves out of bed.
Paula walks in the kitchen and I tell her there is a fresh pot of coffee on, and scrambled eggs and bacon in the warmer, and I close the door before anyone can answer or ask any more questions.
I get to school and meet with my advisor, Mr. Addison, who informs me that I am on track, well actually ahead of schedule, to graduate with my masters in 2 weeks, and to not worry about missing part of last week. He informs me that since I have already passed the CPA and ethics exams, there is no need for me to attend class until I submit my thesis, which is due by the 11th, and take my last 2 finals on the 14th.
After I submit it, Mr. Addison will review my thesis, and if he has any concerns, questions, or issues with it he will let me know before the 14th. This will give me time to defend my findings, or correct any errors before the end of the semester on the 16th.
There is no mid-term graduation ceremony, but if I want to, I can walk in May during the graduation ceremony then.
I have used 3 of my clients' cases as part of my thesis submittal, and am hoping I finish with Mr. Franco's case this week so I can include it as well. I can give a general description of the fraud, if it occurred, but it will be days, if not weeks, before an indictment is issued and charges filed against his partner.
For the 3 cases I used, I have all the violations, statutes, and laws listed, along with sub sections of the statutes and laws, and cited examples of similar cases to back my findings. I also followed up with the DA, and detailed their findings, along with the convictions, penalties and jail time, and since these cases went to court, all of the information is a matter of public record, so I can cite the cases and information without fear of violating anyone's privacy, especially since in all 3 cases they were convicted.
I leave Mr. Addison's office and text Mr. Franco, letting him know I am available and to meet me at the coffee shop across from the campus, where we met last time. His texts back and tells me he has everything I asked him for, and will be there in 30 minutes.
I am sitting at a table by myself in the back of the coffee house sipping my latte when I see Mr. Franco walk in. He orders a coffee and then walks to where I am and sits down.
"Good afternoon, Miss Steele. How was your vacation?" he politely asks, handing me a thumb drive, "I have all the copies you requested in the trunk of my car, and I was able to copy her hard drive—there is a spreadsheet which lists all of our suppliers, invoice numbers and amounts paid, and it goes back almost 10 years—just after she opened her 2nd salon. I don't know what it is, or if it's something you can use, but I didn't think it would hurt to download it. The blank invoice templates match the invoices from our suppliers as well.
The salon is closed on Sunday's and she left town last Saturday afternoon so I had plenty of time to get the copies. I watched her all week and was able to see where she hid the key to her file cabinet and I was also able to get the combination to her safe. Sunday when I was in the office I got into the safe and made copies of her checkbook ledgers, so now you have copies of the cancelled checks and the ledgers to match."
We finish our coffees and walk outside to his car, where he pops the trunk and lifts out a file box and carries it to my car for me.
I shake his hand and tell him I will start working on this tonight and will let him know as soon as possible if I find anything amiss.
He thanks me, gets in his car and drives off, and my stomach rumbles and I realize its lunchtime, so I decide to text Christian and see if he is available for lunch.
Almost immediately my phone rings, and Christian's name flashes on the caller ID.
I smile and answer the phone "Hello handsome, miss me yet?"
He laughs and says "Oh Miss Steele, you have no idea. So, how's your day so far?"
"It's going good" and I tell him about meeting with my advisor and my client. "So, since I am headed home to start working on his case, I was wondering if you had time for lunch. I can grab something for us and bring it to your office in about 20 minutes."
"Yes—I have time for lunch— but I'll have Andrea call in an order at the deli across the street and have it delivered. What would you like?"
"I'll take a Chicken Caesar salad, dressing on the side please, and I will see you in 20 minutes."
"OK, baby. I'll see you soon. Pull into the parking garage and Taylor will be waiting for you and will escort you up."
I hang up, smiling that I get to see my handsome man again, and head over to GEH.
I pull into the underground parking lot and see Taylor standing there, waiting for me. He directs me to an empty spot next to one that reads "CTG" and opens my door for me.
"Good afternoon, Miss Steele" he greets me.
"Hello Taylor. Please call me Ana."
"Yes, Ma'am" he answers. "Follow me please" and he leads me to an elevator, punches in a code and the doors open and we step in. "We are going to stop at security first and take your picture so we can get you an ID badge, then I will take you to Mr. Grey."
The doors close and I feel the elevator start to go up, and a few minutes later it stops and we step out and I follow Taylor down the hall to the security office.
5 minutes later we finish and he escorts me to Christian's office. There is a reception area and I see 2 blondes sitting behind desks, and both stand up as we approach.
Taylor introduces me to both of them— Andrea, Christian's PA, and the other is Molly, Andrea's assistant.
Andrea smiles and tells me Mr. Grey is waiting for me, and to go right in without knocking.
I walk in and see my handsome man standing and looking out the window, and I realize he is talking on his phone.
I cough and he turns around and the biggest smile comes across his face "I'll call you back, Ros" I hear him say, and he walks over, pulls me into a hug and plants an obscene kiss on me "God, I missed you" he tells me when we come up for air.
I smile at him and whisper "Me too" and he walks me over to the couch and we sit down.
"OMG this couch is comfortable…I think it's more comfortable than my bed!" I tell him.
Just then there is a knock and Andrea comes in with our lunch and sets it on the table in front of the couch, along with 2 bottles of water. "Can I get you something else to drink, Miss Steele?" she politely asks.
"I'm fine, Andrea, and please call me Ana."
She smiles and walks out of Christian's office, and we did into our lunches.
Christian sees my salad and laughs "What—no more burgers or wings or fries?"
"Nope. That was during vacation only. We burned off the calories skiing, but now sitting behind a desk all week, it's time to eat right again!" I tell him.
We chit chat during lunch, and he asks me how my schedule looks for the week.
I told him I am basically done with school except for my finals and submitting my thesis "But I have the new case I am starting as soon as I leave your office. That will take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks."
He nods and asks "Where are you working on it? Do you have an office or do you work from home?"
"I work out of my apartment for now—after the first of the year I will have to find an office, get my business license, and all that stuff, but right now my bedroom is my office."
I can see that his mind is going 100 mph, and after a minute he looks at me and tells me "Well, the 2nd floor here is vacant—if you would like, you can work in one of the offices there if it would make things easier for you. I can have Barney hook you up to the internet and set up a printer and a land line for you. Nobody else is on the floor so you won't be bothered."
I just stare at him—I can't believe what he is offering me. "Are you serious? I would love that, but I don't want to be a bother to anyone."
He chuckles at me "Nonsense. It will take Barney less than 30 minutes to have you up and running. Let me call him and we will get you going. Do you have your computer with you?"
"Yes—everything I need is in my car. All I need is my laptop and the file box that is in my trunk."
Christian calls Taylor and asks him to come to his office and then asks Andrea to have Barney come up.
Taylor walks in seconds later and Christian tells him to escort me to my car to get my laptop and whatever else I need and to meet him on the 2nd floor.
10 minutes later we are all assembled on the 2nd floor while Barney hooks up my laptop to the wireless internet and sets up a printer for me as well.
"OK Miss Steele—you are ready to go" he tells me "Please call if you have any questions or need anything else—I programmed your phone—Mr. Grey is speed dial 1, Taylor is 2, Andrea is 3, and I am 4, and to get an outside line, press #.
.
"Thank you, Barney" I smile at him, and I swear his face turns beet red. He's cute, in a nerdy way.
Barney walks out and Christian turns to me and asks "Do you have everything you need? If you need any supplies, just call Andrea and she will have them brought to you. I have a meeting in 10 minutes so I will be tied up for a while. You can work as late as you need to" and just then Taylor walks back in and hands me my ID badge.
"Miss Steele, you will need this whenever you leave your office…you have access to all the floors. To get to Mr. Grey's floor, you will need to hold it up to the scanner after you punch in the 20th floor, and the elevator will take you straight up."
"Thank you, Taylor" I tell him, and he walks out, leaving Christian and I alone in my office.
He grins, closes the door and backs me up against it and leans in and kisses me, his hand roaming all over me, making me moan. "Christian…stop, or I'm not going to be able to concentrate" giggle.
He pulls back, adjusting himself and I laugh at him "You very well can't walk into a meeting with that tent in your pants, so you better cool down, young man."
"What you do to me, Miss Steele" he smirks. "I will be working late tonight—I have a conference call at 6:30 that is going to take a while, so please stop by on your way out and say goodnight. If you want anything to eat or drink, the cafeteria is on the 1st floor—you can call them and have them deliver it to you. Andrea put you on my account so they will just charge it to me, and I had her send you the menu. They are open until 7:00."
I put my arms around his neck, pull him down to me and kiss him "Thank you, Christian. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of this-I don't know how to thank you."
"Well, you can have dinner with me sometime this week…" he suggests.
"I would love to have dinner with you, but how about if you let me cook for you?"
He grins "It's a date, baby. Now, I need to go because if I don't, I won't be able leave you, and you won't get anything done" and he gives me another one of his million dollar kisses followed by his million dollar smile.
He walks out and steps in the elevator and smiles at as the doors close.
Oh yeah…I'm totally in love with that man.
I take a deep breath, take the box into the conference room and get to work.
Hours later, I have piles of papers spread all over the large table, and after studying it all, I have a pretty good idea how his partner has been embezzling from the company.
What made Mr. Franco suspicious was, one day a few weeks ago, he found a stack of invoices on the printer by his office, which was odd because his partner had her own printer in her office, and when he went to take them to her, he saw an identical stack of invoices on the desk in her office. She wasn't back from lunch yet so he had a few minutes to look around.
He picked up the invoices on her desk and compared them to the ones he found on the printer. They were the same ones-the invoice numbers were the same, but the amounts were different—the ones from the printer were substantially more than the ones on her desk—almost double the amount.
He knew she was due back from lunch soon so he decided to make copies of both sets of invoices so he could really look at them later, and he put the one set back on the printer and acted like he never saw them, and the other set back on her desk, and waited to see what she did.
When she came back from lunch, he watched her walk in her office, and almost immediately she walked to the printer, grabbed the invoices, looking around to see if anyone saw her, went back into her office, closing the door, and a few minutes later he heard the paper shredder going.
He took both sets of invoices home that night and compared them, line by line, item by item, and everything was identical, except for the amounts.
She handled all the ordering of supplies and paid the bills old school—hand written checks. She outsourced payroll because she didn't want to deal with payroll taxes and such, but she insisted on hand writing checks to pay all the bills—all of them—utility bills, supplies, and even the lease.
He had an uneasy feeling after reviewing the 2 sets of invoices, and wanted to poke around more, but getting access to her office was tricky since the only time she left was at lunch time, and sometimes she locked her office when she left.
A few days later, when she left for lunch, she left her door open, so he rigged the lock so when she left at the end of the day and closed the door, it would appear that it was locked. He left at closing time that day, but later that night after she and everyone else had gone home for the day, he went back and went through her office to see if he could find anything else, but the file cabinet was locked as well as the safe.
After speaking with me, explaining his suspicions to me, I told him what I needed from him, and being a bit of a techie geek, he got a small camera and installed it so that when she entered the combination to the safe he would be able to see when she programmed it, and hopefully he would see where she hid the key to the safe.
He was on both the payroll and operating checking accounts, so he could access those at any time, but the ledgers were locked in the safe.
He was able to copy everything in the safe and get me copies of AP invoices from most of their vendors, and he also managed to copy the hard drive on her computer—the camera recorded her when she entered her password so he was able to transfer everything, so it was as if I had her computer in front of me.
Since he was an equal partner, he was legally entitled to all this information, so it was not illegally obtained and if it proves that she is, indeed embezzling, it can be used in court.
I look at my watch and realize that it's almost 6:00 and I can't believe I have working for over 5 hours already.
After reviewing what I have so far, I am convinced that his partner has been, and still is embezzling from the business.
I found a file on the thumb drive that contains blank invoice templates for each of their vendors, and when she gets an invoice from one of their vendors, she makes a new invoice, using one of the templates, and increases the amount of each line item, thus increasing the total of each invoice.
I gave Franco some invoice numbers and had him call the suppliers and get copies of the originals, and when I compared the amounts to the originals to the ones in the files, sure as hell, every one was different.
She has done this with every invoice from every vendor—including the utility bills and the lease.
Mr. Franco got me a copy of the lease, but it doesn't look right—something is off about it, so I'm going to ask Christian about and see what he thinks.
My head is full, so I decide to call it a night. I put everything on my desk, power down my laptop, put it in the case, grab my purse, lock the door and head to the elevator to say goodnight to my man.
I arrive on the 20th floor and am met by Taylor, who escorts me to Christian's office and tells me go in.
Christian is waiting for me in the middle of his office with a smile of his face and gives me a not-so-quick kiss "Well, how was your day, baby? Did you find anything yet?"
"I think so—his partner is definitely embezzling. Now that I know how she is doing it, I know what to look for. I should be able to wrap it all up by the end of the week and turn it over to him and your dad to take over."
"Wow! That's great. I can't believe how fast you work…I should hire you to work for me" he says, raising his eyebrows, with a devilish grin on his face
I have visions of what could, and would happen, causing my face to turn red "If I worked for you, neither of us would get anything done!"
"Why, Miss Steele, what are you thinking that has your face so red and your breathing labored?" he teases while caressing my face with his finger.
"I'm not telling you, Mr. Grey. Now, you have a call in a few minutes, and I need to go home. I just stopped to say goodnight and thank you again for letting me use the office.'
"Let me walk you to the elevator then" and we walk out of his office to the elevator. "Taylor will escort you to your car—please text me when you get home."
He gives me a kiss, and a few seconds later the elevator doors open, with Taylor already inside.
I step up and kiss him, suddenly feeling sad that I have to leave. "I'll text you when I get home, and if you can, call me when you get home."
He nods, and I step in the elevator, smile and tell him goodnight.
I open the door to my apartment and find Paula and Tonya in the living room watching TV, and Paula tells me there is leftover Chinese in the fridge if I am hungry. I tell her thanks, head to my bedroom to change and drop off my laptop, text Christian that I am home, and walk out a few minutes later and warm up some beef and broccoli and plop down on the couch and we spend the next hour gabbing about our day and our men.
Tonya is going out to dinner with Elliot Friday night, so I'm sure we won't see her again until Sunday night, and this is Ryan's weekend to work so he and Paula are going out Thursday night. I have to say, I am shocked. Neither of them have had a relationship for a few years, at least not one that lasted longer than a weekend, so seeing them in serious relationship, and a 2nd date is serious for them, is quite refreshing.
Christian calls about 9:30 and we talk for a while about everything and nothing. I told him that I would make dinner for him over the weekend at his house, so he didn't have to trouble his housekeeper.
He said he was looking forward to it, and I told him I would be at GEH in the morning about 8:00. I wanted an early start so I could start getting everything together to turn over to Mr. Franco and make an appointment with Carrick Grey. Plus, in between the case, I need to study for my finals. I decide to work from 8-4 on his case, then go home and study for the rest of the night.
By Thursday I pretty much have everything ready to turn over to Mr. Franco, so I decide to call him and ask when he will be available to meet me, and then we can schedule a meeting with Carrick.
I mentioned it to Christian, and he told me I could have Mr. Franco meet me at my office at GEH (I love how that sounds) so I scheduled a meeting with him and told him the good news.
I showed him everything I had found, and told him there was plenty of evidence to turn over to the DA, so I call and schedule a meeting with Carrick for Monday morning.
I went to shake his hand, but he was so happy and grateful, that he pulled me into a hug and kissed both of my cheeks, thanking me over and over again.
I started to box everything up, putting it in order to turn over to Carrick when Christian walks in with a bit of a frown of his face and closes the door.
"Hey handsome—why the frown?" I ask after kissing him hello.
"Hey beautiful" he says when we pull apart. "I hate to tell you this, but I have to cancel our dinner for Saturday night. I have to fly out to Taiwan tonight and won't be back until the end of next week. Ros and I have been working on this deal for months, and we weren't expecting to get into negotiations this far until after the first of the year, but they suddenly changed their mind and want to close ASAP, so we have to jump on it now. I'm so sorry" he apologizes.
I feel my face fall with disappointment, but I know this man runs a multi-billion dollar company and doesn't work 9-5.
"Its fine, Christian. I understand" and I reach up and kiss him again to reassure him that it's OK and for him to not worry.
He smiles and asks "I don't suppose you can come with me, can you?"
I see the hopeful look on his face, and hate to tell him that I am meeting with his dad Monday, and then I have to finish and submit my thesis next week, and then study for my finals.
"I will be here, waiting for you when you get back, and I will fix you dinner then. I will be done with school the following week, so after that I will be available for any spur of the moment trips that may come up"
He sticks his bottom lip out and pouts, and we both laugh. "Ok" he grumbles. "I am going to miss you, though." He says, pulling me into his arms and nuzzling my neck and nibbling my ear.
I get that tingly feeling all over my body and my knees start to weaken as he slides his hands under my shirt and gently massages my breasts.
"Christian" I moan, which spurs him on even more. He slowly unbuttons my shirt, and since I am wearing a front fastening bra, he unclasps it and leans down and takes a nipple in his mouth, sucking and biting it, then switches and does the same to the other one. I swear I am going to combust, but then he reaches under my skirt and, moves my panties over and slips a finger in me, sliding it in and out, and then adding another one while rubbing my clit with his thumb.
"God, Ana, you're so wet for me" he whispers in my ear, and I feel myself building, and I don't know if I am going to be able to be quiet when I cum.
"Let go, baby. Nobody is here to hear you" he growls in my ear, as if knew my thoughts, and few seconds later I let it go, trying to be quiet, but not being very successful. My body quivers and shakes as I ride his hand through my orgasm, and when he pulls his fingers out, he sticks them in his mouth and sucks them "God, you taste so good" he tells me, and helps me fasten my bra and then button my shirt.
When my breathing calms down and I can think clearly again, I reach down and rub the tent in his pants and tell him I want to repay the favor. I unbuckle his pants, pull them and his boxers down enough to free him, drop down on my knees and flick his head with my tongue and taste the pre cum that is leaking out. I look up at him and see the smile on his face, and take him all the way into my mouth, sucking as hard as I can. He puts his hands on my head, holding me as I take him in and out, and after few minutes he starts bucking his hips and I know he is close. Listening to him moan and call my name out makes me increase the intensity, and a minute later I feel him buck one more time, then still, and I feel his cum hit the back of my throat while he moans, calling out my name over and over.
I swallow everything, then run my tongue up and down his shaft 1 last time, making him twitch a moan again, then help him pull his pants back up.
I see the content look on his face, and I feel proud of myself that I was able to satisfy him just as he did for me.
I can't wait until we make love the first time. If he wasn't leaving tonight it would have happened this weekend after dinner Saturday night…
I rode to airport with Christian so we could spend as much time together before he left, and I had tears in my eyes as he boarded the plane and turned and waved to me. If I wasn't finishing up with school this week I would have gladly been on the plant with him.
This is going to be a long week…
Ryan drove me back to my apartment, and since Christian was now out of town, Ryan had the weekend off, so he and Paula made plans to spend it together.
When we got to my apartment, he picked up Paula and they headed to his place—there was no way I was going to be the 3rd wheel and listen to them all weekend—Tonya was already at Elliot's apartment, and I shudder to think of all the sounds that would be coming from the apartment if they were both there with Elliot and Ryan all weekend…I'm glad I missed the show when we were in Aspen!
Monday morning comes and I meet with Carrick and Mr. Franco and go over everything in much more detail.
I asked Christian about the lease, and he had his security advisor, Welch, look into it, and he found that the lease wasn't legitimate as well. There were 3 shops total, and the lease supposedly covered all 3 shops for 1 monthly amount, but when I went through all the cancelled checks, I could never find a cancelled check made out to the name on the lease; what I did find, however, was a monthly check made out to EML for the amount of the lease payment. Upon further investigation, I found that EML was his partner's initials, and she was depositing the check into her personal account every month.
I matched the cancelled check to the checkbook ledger, and she wrote the name of the lease company on the stub in the checkbook, but she made the check out to herself and kept the money. Apparently the buildings are owned by her ex-husband, and he doesn't make her pay to use them—I guess it was part of their divorce agreement years ago—he kept the buildings, and she pays the property taxes but no rent.
She did the same with all the other invoices—she changed the amount of the invoices, almost by double, entered the higher amount in the ledger, but wrote the check the lower amount, and once a month she transferred the difference into her personal account.
The fake lease payments alone were netting her $15,000.00 a month, and the supplier invoices were worth at least another $5000.00 if not more-she has been skimming at least $200k a year. Mr. Franco has been an equal partner for the past 2 years, so he has lost a decent chunk of money to her.
As soon as Carrick wraps it all up in a neat package, he will take it to the DA, who will decide to file charges and will get a subpoena for all of her records, going back several years.
And of course she will also be facing an IRS audit…it's going to be ugly and I wouldn't want to be in her shoes.
Since Mr. Franco brought it to my attention, he will not be in any hot water—hopefully he be able to recover some of the money she has hidden, and then sue her in civil court for punitive damages. Hopefully someone can find where she has hidden the money if she has wired it to an offshore account. I'm sure Welch could locate the money….
I just finished my thesis a day early and am headed to my advisor's office to drop it off am going to ask I can take my finals tomorrow instead of Monday so I can have the weekend free to spend with Christian with no distractions…
I knock on his door "Mr. Addison, are you busy" I ask.
"Come in, Ana. Is anything wrong?" he asks concern in his voice.
"Oh no—nothing is wrong, Mr. Addison. I just wanted to turn in my thesis and ask if it would be possible to take my finals tomorrow instead of Monday" I tell him as I hand him the thumb drive with my thesis on it.
He laughs and tells me "Well, that's a first—someone asking to take their finals early. I don't see a problem at all—can you be to the lecture hall at 10:00 tomorrow morning? You can take them both then, and I should be able to review them and let you know how you did by the end of the day. Besides, we both know it's only a formality for you to take them…you're the smartest, most competent student I have had the pleasure of teaching, Miss Steele."
I walk out of his office, a grin on my face and a bounce in my step…what a compliment to receive.
I'm back at home, enjoying the peace and quiet at the apartment since Tonya and Paula decided to go to a movie so I could study. My last night of studying and homework in 6 years. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when school is done…6 years of college and 12 years of public school…I don't know how to not be a student!
Christian calls about 10:00 and tells me they are leaving in a few hours and should be home mid-afternoon tomorrow. I can't wait to see him again...it's been a long week, for sure.
I tell him I finished with my case and turned it over to his dad, and then surprised him when I told him I moved my finals up to tomorrow so I will be done with school by the time he gets home.
"That's fantastic, Ana! I'm so proud of you, baby" he tells me.
I smile from ear to ear hearing his praise, and tell him "I can't wait to see you, Christian. I have missed you so much" and those pesky tears are back in my eyes.
We talk for a few more minutes, and he has to hang up as the final contract is ready to be signed, and then he can leave.
I almost tell him that I love him, but I want to wait to do it in person the first time.
Friday afternoon, after I finished my finals, I walked off the campus of U-Dub as a student for the last time. I feel sad, but beyond relieved.
As I approach my car, I see this incredibly handsome man leaning against it, and I take off running and jump into his arms. "Christian" I shout. He hugs me and squeezes me, and I bury my face in chest and inhale his scent. "God I missed you" I tell him after an indecently long kiss that takes my breath away.
My heart is racing and I can't wipe the grin off my face as we walk back to my car.
We get to my car, and he tells me he has to go to the office for a few hours, but will be by to pick me up for dinner at 6:30 to celebrate me finishing school.
"I made reservations for us at the Space Needle, if that's OK with you" he tells me.
"Really? I have always wanted to go there!" I exclaim. "But I would be just as happy having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the park with you" I laugh.
He laughs, and tells me we will do PB&J another time, and opens my car door for me and bends down and kisses me after he closes it. "I'll see you at 6:30 sharp, Miss Steele."
"I can't wait, Mr. Grey" and back out of my parking place as he and Taylor drive off in his SUV.
I step out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel and walk into my bedroom, and try to figure out what to wear tonight. I look at my wardrobe and select my sexiest dress, besides than the one Christian bought me in Aspen, and go into Paula's closest and steal her favorite Manolo Blahniks and get ready for what I know is going to be an incredible night, well, weekend.
At exactly 6:30, I hear a knock on the door, and open it to find the most handsome man holding the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, and my heart melts and my knees weaken when I look at him.
Wow.
Christian stares at me, lust in his eyes, and I know tonight is going to be…well, I can't come up with the words for what tonight, or this weekend, is going to be.
He gives me a quick kiss; telling me "Ana, you are breathtaking" and I detect a slight quiver in his voice. He hands me the flowers and I ask him to come in so I can put them in water.
"So, where are Dr. Jellyfinger and Ms. Sex Ed instructor?" He asks.
I laugh and tell him "I'll give you one guess."
Christian laughs at that as I walk back from the kitchen, grab my phone and put it in my clutch, and he opens the door for me "Shall we go to dinner, Miss Steele?"
We walk out the door and step in the elevator, and when the doors close, I feel the sexual tension between us building and I wonder how I am going to get through dinner without exploding…
Christian and I sit in the back of the SUV chatting about our weeks as Taylor weaves in and out of traffic, and before I know it, we arrive at the Space Needle.
Taylor gets out, opens the door for us and tells Christian he will be up shortly, after he parks the car.
We walk in and over to the elevator, and again when the doors close the sexual tension is back, and it's even stronger that it was at my apartment. I'm about ready to tell Christian that we should leave and get a pizza on the way to his apartment when the doors open and we step out towards the Maitre D.
He spots us and walk over immediately "Good evening, Mr. Grey—your table is ready-please follow me."
Christian puts his hand on the small of my back and guides me through the restaurant to our table, which is semi private, and has the perfect view of the Seattle skyline.
"Christian, this is beautiful" I gasp, as I take in the view. "Thank you for bringing me here tonight.'
"It's my pleasure, Ana. Finishing your masters definitely calls for a celebration."
Our waiter arrives, hands us our menus and asks what we would like to drink.
Christian looks at me and says "Well, this is a celebration, so please bring us a bottle of Bollinger and a tray of oysters to begin with."
The waiter nods and walks off, and as Christian reaches for my hand, we hear a female voice call his name
"Christian?"
We both look up, and I see him clench his jaw. Instantly I can feel the stress and tension in the air as he addresses her
"Jillian."