Chapter 18:
Esclava was closed! The once high-end salons were bankrupted and the banks slapped locks on the front doors while an army of accountants over ran the establishments with the task of investigating the books. The computers were taken into custody to be examined. Elena was not allowed entrance into what she considered still her property and was making quite a scene on the sidewalk. The police had been called and the once proud and haughty owner was threatened with arrest if she did not leave. Elena stomped to her car. She angrily dialed numbers and reached a new level of anger when her calls went unanswered.
Elena started her car and tore out of the parking lot not caring if she squealed her tires. She drove like a madwoman through the streets of Seattle until she was in front of GEH headquarters. She parked herself on the sidewalk, scattering people who were coming and going into work. She pushed through people cursing them for being in her way. Elena ignored the receptionists and marched toward Christian's private elevator. She punched in the code but the doors remained shut. The sounds of her cursing filled the annex. She turned to the people who stopped to look at her. "Oh, go fuck yourselves!" Elena screamed. She wildly searched around the room for the stairwells. If she couldn't use the elevator she would hoof her way up to Christian. That boy was going to answer to her today! He had no right to abandon her and let her fall into bankruptcy. He owed her his life and wealth! When she reached the fourth floor landing, Taylor was waiting for her with a smug smile.
"Mrs. Lincoln, you are not allowed on GEH properties. I have to ask you to leave on your own accord, or I will be forced to take this matter into my own hands…" His eyes went dark and cold. "And, you will not like the kind of pain that I can impose on you."
"You and what army?"
"Mrs. Lincoln, I do believe that it is very dangerous to be climbing stairs with such high and skinny heels. You could take a tumble down these steps and I am pretty sure you will break your neck."
"Are you threatening me? Do you think you can …" Elena started before she felt a very strong hand grab her upper arm. Without any effort, Taylor had picked her up and let her dangle over the first two steps.
"I never threaten, Mrs. Lincoln….I fulfill promises." His voice was calm yet foretold of the danger that she was in. "I have never liked you. I always figured that someday that Grey would figure out what a bitch you are and I would have this opportunity to fuck you up."
Elena laughed even though she was truly scared. Jason Taylor was a man that she could never dominate. "Everyone saw me in the lobby….you can't."
"Yes, they did see you in the lobby and they saw you go to the stairs because the elevator code would not work for you. They all saw how pissed off you were." He looked into her cold eyes. "No one will think a thing if you are found in the stairwell with a broken neck. You must have tripped and fell. The authorities will call it a terrible accident caused by an emotional, deranged old pedophile who lost everything." His laugh was deep and dark. "Of course, your death will save the State of Washington a ton of money to take you trial, convict and sentence you. But, then again, maybe I should let you be arrested. Think of the fun the inmates would have with you. You know pedophiles are the lowest scum among scum in prison? Did you know that, Mrs. Lincoln? Did you know that most pedophiles die in prison, usually at the hands of one that was sexually abused by a sick fuck just like you?" Taylor was amused as the fear raced across her face. This woman was now very, very afraid. "How many steps do you think you need to fall before you break your boney little ass and neck?"
"I'll go! I'll leave, I promise. I … won't bother Christian." She pleaded. "Please, Taylor."
"I do like to hear a bitch moan in apology." He pulled her close and gave a sniff. "I can smell your fear, Mrs. Lincoln. Are you afraid of dying?" A deep guttural laugh filled the stairwell. "Afraid of the devil?" Taylor toyed with her by acting to let her go but then holding fast to her arms. "Hell will burn hot for you, bitch."
"Taylor, please…I said I would leave. I will never bother Christian again."
"Not good enough." Taylor's eyes went dark. Cold with no feeling. He watched her try to reconcile her own death, but she could only close her eyes and cry. The tears were as phony as a three dollar bill. She felt no regret. She saw nothing wrong with beating teenage boys into submission and then raping them. Taylor let her go and watched as she tumbled down the stairs. She came to rest on the landing. He smiled as she groaned in pain and tried to sit up. He watched as she tried to find her bearings and struggled to get up. She shook violently as she reached out her hand to use the handrail as an aide to take her first step. The weight of her body landing on the skinny heel of her shoe as it met the first step made the heel break with an echo. Her scream echoed as she fell down another set of steps. This time, Elena Lincoln did not move.
Taylor nodded then turned and took the stairs up two more floors. He opened the door to the Sixth Floor where the main Security Hub was stationed with all the video equipment. Barney looked up at him and they just shrugged their shoulders.
"Can you see me?" Taylor asked lowly.
"Nope, I turned the camera away before you stepped into the stairwell. All that it is seen is Mrs. Lincoln running up the steps, stopping on the landing, then falling. She must have gotten dizzy. I mean, a woman at her age trying to run up steps with heels like that! It's just inviting a horrible accident!" Barney pushed a palm-sized radio toward Taylor. "Ask for a report on her whereabouts so we can get a search going. I would like to go to lunch before three today."
"Smartass." Taylor said under his breath. He hit the talk button. "Anyone have a visual on Mrs. Lincoln?"
"Mrs. Lincoln was seen entering the stairwell in the lobby." A voice replied.
"I know that. Since then."
"Our surveillance screens have gone down. We are in a dark hole."
"Damn it, get those screens back on line! I will check with Mr. Grey. We have to find that woman before she finds Mr. Grey. She is considered dangerous."
"Yes, sir." A desperate voice replied. Taylor could imagine the boys downstairs at the public security hub scampering around trying to get their screens back on.
"You can turn them on now, Barney."
With a few computer strokes, a few very convincing screen flutters got the crew excited then a blue line sped across a black screen before it went to a gray screen then morphed into the GEH logo. "They are back on-line, and in about 5…4…3…2…1." The phone rang at the main security suite.
"Sullivan." Barney growled.
"Mrs. Lincoln is on the landing between Floors 5 and 4. She's not moving."
"Call for an ambulance, check the tapes and get back to me. I'll send Welch down."
"Yes, sir."
"Okay, we are in the clear, old man." Barney said. "And, Mr. Grey and Miss Steel will not be bothered ever again by the old witch." Barney looked at the screen. "Take the freight elevator up to Grey's floor. I will loop the footage and remark the time stamps."
"I owe you one, Barney."
"Just keep Grey and Miss Steele safe, Taylor. We all are very fond of that little lady. She makes Grey almost pleasant to work for."
For the next week, GEH was inundated with press calls requesting any information about the accidental death of Elena Lincoln. Once again the old witch was the talk of the town. There was no shortage of theories of why Elena Lincoln was at GEH and most were not in her favor. She was there for no good. The official explanation was that Elena was intoxicated, drove her car into pedestrians then demanded to see Christian Grey. She was denied entrance when her codes did not work. She decided to use the stairs and in her intoxicated state, fell on the steps and broke her neck and several bones. Found on her body was a syringe with enough sedative in it to kill a horse. It was assumed that Mrs. Lincoln was either going to attempt to kidnap Grey or kill him.
The police and the D.A. was informed immediately when the investigative accountants from the banks informed them that Elena Lincoln was stealing from her own company, however it was the disturbing photos of minor boys that shocked all of Seattle. Mrs. Elena Lincoln would be remembered as being a pedophile. Her death was officially ruled accidental by the coroner's report and the case closed. Her ex-husband was contacted to take responsibility of her body and burial, but he refused and told the government officials to bury her in a pauper's grave or donate her skanky plastic body to science. Elena became cadaver #78430 and was sent to The Washington State University's Willed Bodies Program. Hopefully in death, she could be a productive member of society.
Life continued with wedding plans coming together for the very private nuptials of Ana Steele and Christian Grey. The press had not a clue that there was a wedding about to be performed, but then again, Christian was a master of secrecy.
All the wedding paraphernalia was sent to Montesano and stored in Ana's father's home. A few days before the wedding, Ana, her maid of honor, bridesmaid and her personal attendant, Mia left for Montesano. Grace and Grandmother Trevelyan followed a couple of days later. It was decided that the men would arrive the day before the wedding to attend the wedding rehearsal and the BBQ that Ray insisted on hosting.
The setup crew that Christian hired was already vetted and had signed his NDA without question. This crew had worked the Coping Together events and were trusted. In just a few hours, Ray's backyard was turned into a beautiful outdoor chapel and a giant tent was set up down the trail from the cabin beside a beautiful pond. On the deep blue waters a pair of snowy white swans swam together making a lovely photo opportunity.
The next vendor coming in was the caterers and servers. Gail was in charge of that and had them set up in the brand new pavilion that Ray and his buddies had built to become an outdoor kitchen. It was finished out with the best appliances that would make a MasterChef extremely happy. The bartending crew were sat up in the tent as well as the band. Ray did not spare any expense on his little girl's wedding.
The night before the wedding after the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, Christian gifted his wife to be with ownership papers of Grey Publishing. Ana was speechless.
"It's yours to do what you want." Christian said softly. "You can run it or let it be. It's your decision, sweetheart."
"Christian, this is far too much. Besides, I already have a job."
"Ana, you can do whatever you want as long as you are happy. If you want to stay at the law offices, fine. Or, if you want to go back into publishing, that's fine. It's what you want to do when you want to do it."
"You know, you are crazy?" She smiled up at him. "Let's leave everything in its place for now. We can discuss this after we get back from the honeymoon that I have no idea where we are going."
Christian gathered her into his arms. "Trust me, Baby." He kissed her softly.
"Gee, you two, get a freakin' room." Elliot called out making Ana blush as everyone turned to see what Elliot was bellowing about.
"Can we mail him to Timbuktu?" Ana asked wide-eyed.
"I have asked myself that same question many times in my life." The Groom answered making his bride laugh out loud.
"C'mon, Romeo, we have to get you out of here before midnight. No kissy wissy on the Bride until she is your wifey-poo." Elliot laughed himself silly thinking he was hilarious.
Ana sighed. "Are you sure we can't mail him? I'll buy the stamps." Christian held her up off the ground and swung her around as he laughed. This woman made him so happy and laughing was now an enjoyable part of his life. They kissed some more before Ana pulled away. Elliot was singing "Chrissy and Ana sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g" over and over and Ana was pretty sure that if he didn't shut up Christian was going to shove the tree up Elliot's backside! "I hate to admit it, but he is right. You have to get out of here before midnight."
"I promise I won't turn into a pumpkin."
"Christian, go with Elliot, but make sure the Taylor drives." She caressed his soft curls. "I'll meet you at the altar wearing white. You won't be able to miss me." With a few more kisses to hopefully tide them both over, Christian left Ray's home with only a moment to spare.
Taylor drove them to the cabins that they rented on Lake Sylvia in complete silence. Not exactly complete silence because Elliot was snoring. Christian was lost in his thoughts about tomorrow. He would be a married man and his precious Ana would be his Mrs.! He leaned back in the back seat with his hands behind his head. He knew he was one lucky SOB that Ana even gave him another chance let alone marry him.
"I must have done something right." He said more to himself, but he knew that Taylor heard him. Taylor gave a slight nod and drove on.