CHAPTER 9

Ana and Christian were sitting on the couch together watching the morning local news. A news reporter came on and Christian turned up the volume:

"This is Elizabeth Hastings of the Action News 12 Team, I am at the King County Courthouse reporting on the arrest of Elena Lincoln. She is a local socialite and salon spa owner in Seattle. She caters to the elite in her salon and spa services. She has been arrested this morning by the IRS and FBI on multiple charges. She was originally in custody for disturbing the peace and making death threats pertaining to her, one time partnership in business Christian Grey with the local wealthy businessman, as you know. The formal charges are Embezzlement from her former partner Christian Grey, Possible Tax Evasion, Promoting Prostitution run out of her spa, Money Laundering, Child Pornography, Sex With A Minor, Child Abuse, Human Trafficking of Adults and Minors. The FBI also had her under multiple aliases and was to be arrested thirty years ago for Human Trafficking of Minors, but she had changed identities and evaded justice. These are multiple charges and she has been arraigned this morning in court. They issued no bail and we found out that all her business accounts have been frozen by the IRS. Her hearing was set for two weeks from now. This proceeds multiple arrests in a human trafficking and pedophilia ring run out of the city. This is Elizabeth Hastings reporting."

Ana looked over at Christian and said, "What are you thinking, Christian?"

He said completely emotionless, "Thank God she will never get out I hope and someone kills her in prison. I can't believe she evaded a thirty year old charge that terrible though." She rubbed his leg caressing him.

Taylor walked in the room with the messenger bag and Ana knew it was confession time. She was prepared and not going to admit to seeing the video recordings. She would admit that she saw a few of the pictures in the files. Then turned it over to Taylor to give to him. She didn't want him unduly embarrassed and thinking she would look at him differently.

Taylor said, "Sir, this was given to me to hand to you, it is everything Mrs Lincoln had in her possession pertaining to you."

Christian stood up fast, almost toppling over unbalanced. Ana put her hands up steadying him. He yelled, "How the hell did you come into possession of this?"

Ana said, "It was me, Christian." He snapped his head at her looking in surprise. Taylor looked relieved she was confessing her part but hoped she wouldn't go into detail on what happened in her apartment.

He said, "What the hell are you talking about, Anastasia?" Taylor handed him the bag. Christian took it and set it at his feet and sat next to her. Staring at her like trying to see the answers.

She said, "I have a program on my computer that my father gave me and I have clearances for. I just knew there was something terribly wrong with Elena Lincoln. It bothered me enough to run her name through a deep background check and cross reference reports. I didn't know the can of worms I was opening until I found it. I found out everything and gave Taylor the information to give to you immediately with the warning of what was going to happen and how to protect yourself. I contacted my Uncle's that are friends of my father and are in key positions throughout the government. My Uncle G, is in the FBI and he got on it immediately and started a full surveillance and investigation of her immediately being she made a fool of law enforcement thirty years ago and was dirty dealing now. I turned over everything to him that I found and made sure that all materials pertaining or leading to you were turned over to me prior to submitting the evidence. On the way to meet my Uncle G at a coffee shop, a man who was sent by Elena Lincoln followed me. He was waiting for an opportunity to rape and murder me on her orders sent through her lawyer. My Uncle G had him retained when we left the coffee shop. He also got the lawyer in custody. I took the bag from him and briefly looked through it to make sure it was about you. I then called Taylor and made arrangements for him to pick it up to get to you, because it was your property. I hadn't heard from you in two days and felt bad that I lit the match to cause you such stress. I thought I would be in the way after I did it all, stirring up your life. I just wanted your blackmail materials away from her and the investigation. I was trying ……" She didn't want to sound like Elena when she left his apartment both times saying she was only trying to protect him.

Ana hung her head and said, "Christian, I'm sorry. I'll leave now if you want me to get out?" She stood and started to go slowly to the bedroom. He didn't say anything to stop her, so she put on her clothes quickly, rolled up her panty hose in her purse and went to the elevator pushing the button. When the doors opened she got on the elevator. She refused to look out into the living area they had been in and pushed down. She got in her car and started crying. She wiped her eyes and drove to her condo and went straight there. She locked the door and stripped off her clothes and put her big fluffy robe and crawled in bed and cried herself to sleep for a couple hours.

Christian sat there in complete shock. He didn't know how to feel he didn't know if he should be hurt, angry or glad she protected him. He was stunned that she was behind the whole thing. Yes, she provided him immediately with the information on Elena. Yes, she had him warned ahead of time to save his business and distance himself from the legal ramifications. Yes, she had him shielded from the investigation and anything retaliatory Elena could have done. Yes, she made sure he got all of the blackmail materials back in his hands. But…

She went behind his back and did all this and had Taylor say it was from an anonymous source. He was having a nervous breakdown and she disappeared for two days while he stewed in the mess that incurred from her investigation. Yes. it was a good thing it came out like it did. But… he was still confused.

When she walked out of the bedroom and onto the elevator not even looking back at him he felt fear. When the doors closed shut he felt everything die inside. She was gone along with all her caring, touch and peace. She left him and he never said a word to stop her. It was too late she said she would leave if he wanted her too? Did he? No, but he didn't say a thing to ask her to stop, did he? Suddenly, it hit him hard. The reality that he'd never see her again. He grabbed his crutch and wasn't feeling very good. He went to bed.

—--

One week later, Ana packed up everything and left for Montesano she moved into the house. She never heard another word from Christian. She cried out everything and just couldn't cry anymore. Her heart was broken and she just had to get away from Seattle for a little while. She had her mail forwarded to here again in Montesano from the condo. She would just stay here because she felt her father here and it was home to her. She drove to the grocery store and stocked up on everything she needed. She froze most of her meals after cooking them and the ingredients she would use. It was so it would be less spoilage cooking for one like always.

A week later, she was going through her email to get caught up and got an email from an accounting firm called Moss Adams, LLC for an interview in Seattle. It was an accounting firm that was one of the top 15th largest in the country according to her research and it was on 999 3rd Ave #2800. That was twelve blocks from her condo. She figured she could drive in for the interview and see what they say before going back to Seattle permanently to work. Called and scheduled an interview for the following week on Tuesday at 2 pm. Another email offered and interview, called DBJS Financial Advisors, LLC, 1501 4th Ave #2880. It was even closer at five blocks to her condo. She called and scheduled an interview on the same day, Tuesday at 11am. The next had her perplexed about what to do. It was GEH wanting to schedule and interview for an accounting manager position. She knew this had to be a mistake, Christian wouldn't even talk to her. Why the hell would he have his company contact her for an interview? She blew it off and sent a reply to them that said nothing more than, 'No Thank You. I do not take handouts from the CEO.' Three days later she got a text message from Christian.

Anastasia, why would you not take the interview? It's not a handout. You applied and deserve a chance.-C

She ignored it and didn't respond to him. He didn't have them give her an interview before this, even after he fired the girl Elena put in place. He didn't when they were still friends. It was the question of why all of a sudden, now, a month after the accident? She decided to refuse to work for him. It would be a bad move to get a job in his company, so he could control her. Besides, she would think about him everyday and in his company would be a constant reminder. An hour later she got another message.

Anastasia, please talk to me?-C

No, you're too late. It's been too long hearing nothing from you, good or bad. You have hurt me deeply and I no longer want to feel pain from you.-A

I'm sorry, Anastasia. I miss you.-C

She was done with men. She cried for over a week and it had been over two weeks without a word from him. She was sorry too, but wasn't going to subject herself with him throwing her away again. Everything she did was to help him and protect people from a sexual predator. She would just move on.

She picked out an outfit from her new clothes to interview in. She chose her solid black Alexander McQueen's Asymmetric-Front Lace Trim Jacket and a matching black pencil skirt that came to her knee with a pair of Veronica Beard Lisa Suede Stiletto Pumps and black lace banded hold up black stockings. She decided to get her waist length hair cut. She made an appointment to get her cut to her mid back and left in the bangs and tapered side style framing her face.

After about a week on Tuesday morning she was dressed and ready to go. Her hair styled, her black Chanel 5414 Sunglasses, full makeup, her daisy diamond pendant and stud diamond earrings. She grabbed her solid black Louis Vuitton laptop bag and her black Jemma Jojo black leather clutch bag. A drove to her 11am interview in Seattle at DBJS Financial Advisors.

She went up to the receptionist at the entrance and gave her name and sat down waiting with two other people. She waited… and waited… after an hour, she asked the receptionist if there was a problem?

The woman said snottily, "You'll just have to wait until they are ready for you. You're not the only one here ya know?"

Ana said firmly back at her, "Your attitude is crap. Who do you think you are to talk to clients or potential employees like this? I don't think your company is worth working for with employees like you." She turned and went to walk out the door. Just then a forty year old looking man called her name.

She put her hand on the exit door of the waiting room and let her sunglasses slip down her nose. She turned and said, "That would be me spending more than an hour this afternoon waiting for this interview. I don't want to work for a firm with a snotty rude receptionist, the lack of punctuality and unprofessionalism in your company."

He looked shocked at the receptionist and back at her with wide eyes and said, "I'm sorry Miss Steele if we gave you that impression. We got over booked by our unprofessional rude receptionist it seems. She may not have a job here very much longer because it caused us to work through our lunch and obviously treats people rudely. Please come back and have the interview now?" The woman looked at him and blanched, putting her head down.

Ana turned around and said, "You're sure you have the time? I have a two o'clock appointment for another interview with a competitor I'd like to make?"

He smiled and said, "Yes, please come this way." She turned and walked into the interview room with three other men like a panel. Ana went in and sat at the seat he showed her too. Ana sat down gracefully and took off her glasses. She looked confidently at the men that were scrutinizing her and folded her hands in front of her on the table. One guy in his late twenties early thirties was leering at her. She thought fuck them all they put their pants on one leg at a time.

The older man in his sixties said with an air of superiority, "Good afternoon, Miss Steele. Please, tell us about yourself?"

She said, "My name is Anastasia Steele. I'm sure you read my resume and background check?" They nodded. "I'm very good with numbers and have been working since I was a twelve years old helping my father build his company Steele Financial, Inc. we built up the company from the ground up and I did all the accounting and spreadsheets of potential acquisitions, until he got it to a level where it could operate autonomously and appointed a good man as CEO. I went to college at seventeen, but had graduated highschool at fifteen while working with my father, a retired Marine Raider General." The men whispered back and forth.

The man in his sixties asked, "Why are you not working for your own corporation, Miss Steele?"

Ana said, "I am not one to use money, reputation of ownership or unearned influence to dictate where I work. I wish to work outside of the company to learn about job experience in my chosen profession. I am very good at what I do. I do not tolerate mistakes in my work production, but I know they can occur on occasion. Nobody is 100% perfect." The four men nodded.

A man in his fifties asked, "If you were to get a position of accounting team leader, specialized in forensics, how would you contribute to the team?"

And said, "I would dig deep to uncover issues and vulnerabilities, fraud and provide insights to yield the best possible outcome. I would conduct an initial analysis to detect any suspicious or suspected tampering to protect the businesses provided under investigation." The men nodded.

The man in his forties asked, "If we made you an offer, what would be your availability?"

Ana said, "I could start in a week's time." He nodded and was writing it down.

The leering man asked, "Are you single, Miss Steele?" It gave her the creeps and the other men gasped and looked at him like he lost his mind to ask her that.

Ana smiled and said, "I tolerate many things but leering immature little boys bordering on sexual harassment lawsuits I find intolerable. This firm was a mistake of complete unprofessionalism and you just drove the last nail in the coffin. Good day, sir."

She put on her sunglasses, grabbed her computer and purse, stood up and walked out of the conference room. The men started arguing and yelling at the asshole. She walked straight out the door and out of the building. She thought, 'Well that was a big waste of time.' She looked at her watch and it was almost one o'clock. She stopped at a deli and got a fresh chicken salad sandwich and a small salad with ice tea. She ate and blew off time until her second interview.

The next interview went fine but was dry as toast. The guy conducting the interview had a bored and monotone voice like he was Ben Stein. The interview dragged on and she gave him all the answers to his questions and left. She thought, 'Geez, that guy was dull with no personality.' Ana drove back to Montesano.