-CHAPTER TWENTY-


FIREWORKS


Saturday 21st November 2009 cont

CHRISTIAN

"WHAT THE FUCK NOW?" I groaned at the quivering object.

My cell was vibrating something chronic. Crystal champagne flutes whirled it's bubbling contents and cutlery clanged as the device on the table continued to pulse Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

The screen flickered a name I needed a significant break from.

Roslyn Hard Bitch Bailey.

The options were simple. Accept or decline.

Fuck! I'm certain I was clear cut. No business. No contact until the conclusion of Thanksgiving.

"Grey." I answered curtly.

"Ahem… well what's got your balls tangled?" As always, inappropriate references to my testicles.

"Don't start, Ros. What's going on?"

"Remember B&D IT Networks."

My eyes closed, waiting silently with the cell to my ear, she knew there was no need for comment. Her pause was draining my patience as fingers pinched the bridge of my nose.

Together we exhausted two weeks for the prep regarding the initial meeting. B&D IT caught our rookie scent immediately. Our stench must have been vile, picking up the odor from a mile away. It didn't help when Ros spilled her obnoxious coffee order over the CEO. The Triple, Venti, Half Sweet, No-Fat, Caramel Macchiato it was the karma that took a huge chunk out of our ass.

The dramas never ended. My nose bled. So, it's always great giving first impressions to significant business with red bodily fluids on your suit and a Kleenex shoved up your nose. To make things worse, our presentation didn't save properly. My nerves almost crippled me, unable to string sentences together. The remaining option was to wing it, using way too many hand gestures and brow lifts.

It was inevitable GEH would be bumped, utterly pushed out of contention.

I held my nose tighter groaning at the memories and Ros' answer was not looking promising.

"Why so quiet Grey?" Her smug voice made me chuckle.

Ms Roslyn Bailey knew me well, since stumbling into one another on my first day at Harvard. It was obvious tonight she was unaware my focus wasn't on our business partnership, rather a woman in white.

Where the hell is she? It's been far too long, she should have been back.

Inhaling the warm air of the evening tent, my fingers moved from my nose to clutching my aching brow. It was time to talk business and not think about pleasure.

"Your silence is deafening Ros. Don't tell me we need to prep for a further two weeks." Closing my eyes, exhaling, "I don't want to get kicked in the ass again. I'm…" trying to compose myself, "we are trying to build a positive presence in Seattle. No bullshit coffee ever again. Okay?"

"Hey I'm still having my coffee it's nice, it makes me feel… sophisticated." A groan escaped my mouth. Really Ros!

"We still have the word rookies tattooed all over us. We need to step up our game!"

"Oh please," she sputtered in the cell speaker, "Can you shut up for one minute." Her sigh was overt.

"And…" I complained.

"We won. We won the fucking offer!"

Astounded, lost for words. I'm actually floored by her announcement.

It was impossible to stay still. I squealed jumping six feet from my chair, pumping my fist high above my head that I almost lost my footing during the whole commotion.

Several men, wearing mysterious masques covered in black tiles and feathers, gaped at my enthusiasm. Embarrassed regarding the situation I quickly returned to my chair, ducking my fist under the table pumping them tight back and forth in my lap.

"You're kidding—" my voice rose to an awkward octave.

"Whoa, hold on…" Ros paused to clear her throat, "Did you just squeal like a school girl? The image of Mia comes to mind Grey, you're going weak at the knees." I held my breath hoping my lapse of concentration would pass.

"Grey? Christian…"

This calls for a celebration.

Waving my second and third digits catching the attention of the blonde hostess, she urgently clinked the green bottle to my crystal. The bubbles flowed. Raising the flute to the dim candle light it made the golden liquid glimmer. My solo celebration began. In a single gulp I inhaled the bubbling nectar.

Excellent.

A loud wail from the dance floor on the opposite side of the tent caught my attention.

"He'll bong it, he'll chug it, get wrecked and he'll love it."

For a second-time, Elliot cupped his hands amplifying his voice to compete with the music surrounding him yelling his chant.

Rolling my eyes like an immature child, only Elliot would turn Champagne into a beer chug.

"Nice Chug Bro… You need mo—" mortified, watching Elliot scream his brotherly advice. My death stare made no effect but he was quickly stopped by a slap on the shoulder by mom.

Thank you was the only reply I could mouth back to Mother.

"Christian? You still there?" Ros repeated.

"Sorry I must have lost the connection for a moment. Roslyn how the fuck did we accomplish this, I didn't think we had a chance since…"

…..

DISCUSSING OUR MISHAPS, our call continued as I made my way to the exit. It was obvious the main tent was not appropriate space for the conversation. Competitors were ten feet away. The asshole Graham Wolfe with his piercing green eyes has never left my sight all night.

Enough was enough. I wasn't going to indicate to our vicious opposition that the rookies of a shy teenager and lesbian had scored a deal of a lifetime.

With my cell to my ear, Ros rambled away. Short steps formed into large strides away from the crowded tent. Destination - Grey mansion.

Home.

The leather of my soles slipped with every step over the dewy lawn. As my pace picked up, the faint scent of irises and peonies filled my nose.

Ana.

"Ahem." Ros cleared her throat again.

"Grey are you even listening to figures and platforms I'm listing? Are you taking this offer seriously?" shaking my head, trying to focus.

"Ah yeah… continue Ros."

Instantly an image of my girl dressed in white clouded my vision. Accidentally, I lost my footing within seconds I was facing the tent again. Maybe I had too many bubbles, but something tugged deep within me to run back in. There was no way this conversation would last the entire evening. I'll be right back I thought to myself.

So, as planned, I continued my pace to the mansion.

…..

GEH HAS SUCCESSFULLY PURCHASED a business which was failing. Now with our individual skills we will be able to break the company down and achieve a hefty profit. For the first time in our short careers we are pushing seven fucking figures.

Millionaires!

I'm going to be a fucking millionaire before Christmas.

"Ros, I could kiss you."

"Oh God… or don't." My laughter was evident and unavoidable, "Cut that ugly dick off and then I'll think about it."

"Hey I need that!"

"Speaking of your sex life…"

My lips formed a straight line. Does my personal life need to come up constantly in conversation?

"What happen to the mystery girl? You've been moping over her for the last month or so."

"Anastasia." I blurted out in one quick breath.

"Ahh mystery girl has a name…so you found her?" she began to laugh. "Well, Mr Grey you will have plenty of money now to shower her with diamonds."

"Ros, she's not like that. Not even close. Plus, we need the capital to get larger offices, maybe something more permanent? More employees? Thoughts woman."

"Oh I'm woman now. Christian, don't rush things we are still a little fish in this infinite ocean."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Rolling my eyes at Ros' advice.

"I'm not talking about GEH. I mean it, don't rush. I don't want a heart broken partner."

My dress shoes, too long for my feet scuffed the hard floors. The staircase railing was cool to the touch and my hand gripped it as I climbed the two flights of stairs.

It was eerily quiet. Peaceful.

Being surrounded by family images was nice. It made me realized I'm missing them. Seeing Elliot as a dirty kid with me in a head lock and Mia in a fairy dress made me happy.

I'm going to be a dad. A father to twins. Holy Shit!

As I held a firm grip around the brass handle, I turned to push open the door. There in front of me was a snapshot in time.

My childhood bedroom.

"Grey, I'm crunching the numbers as we speak. I will email you the figures…How about we say Tuesday?"

"Yeah, perfect." I mumbled not even paying attention to her chitchat.

"Now I need to prep." Her professional rigid voice was replaced instantly to a sultry hum.

"What are you going on about? We have the deal, clearly no need for prep." Confused by her odd code.

"God, Christian…I need to prepare for turkey week to gobble some of my lady Gwenevere. Gob, gob, gobble" Ros made her best impression of a turkey.

"Oh fuck too much information…Ros gotta go."

…..

SIGHING AS MY SHOULDERS SLOUCHED, I was in need of sleep.

The aroma of my bedroom gave me a happy feeling. Joy.

Sandalwood and cinnamon.

My walls were crisp with a recent fresh coat of aegean blue and accents of glossy white. The exact color I remembered arriving as a small child. Removing my charcoal leather shoes, my fingers skimmed the edge of the stitching. I meticulously placed the pair side by side at the end of an oversized bed.

The Barber of Seville vibrated. Turning the screen,

ROS: You're an asshole Grey, it's common courtesy to say thank-you and good bye. Your woman'x

The message was far from shocking, somewhat common prattle between us.

Chuckling to my self at the emphasized word woman, I went to an immediate halt once the time stamp read; 10:45pm.

The cell fell from my palm onto the duvet. Shit, we were talking for over an hour.

My arms grew heavy and hung either side of my body, rolling my head to ease the tension in my neck. Either side of my room posters were still intact, placed in the same position as I left them over eighteen months ago. I'm puzzled how mom could keep everything the same.

She missed me.

I was certain the day I left for college, Dad would have made it a guest room. Elliot, on the other hand was bombarded with floor plans and swatches before he even left for college. My parents were eager for his departure.

Strolling into the small en-suite, my hand slid up the timber door frame finding the light switch. The incandescent globes brighten the bathroom. My nose continued to fill with the overwhelming scent of sandalwood and cinnamon.

Home.

"I missed you too," whispering the words to myself. I grinned as my cheeks grew taut.

The dark brown tiles underneath my feet were cold and with a single press of a button they began to warm. Old habits of wiggling my toes never cease.

My reflection was unavoidable. Slipping off my masque the image of tired bruised man was blaring back at me.

Fuck. I deserved every punch.

Carefully peeling my jacket and unbuttoning my shirt, I placed them on the counter. As the faucet turned to a gentle flow I waited for the water to warm. Splashing my face was a refreshing wake up from the last day and a half.

Fingers crawled down my face as my nails scratched my skin. My eyes caught the attention of the view of my nightstand behind.

…..

OPENING THE DRAWERS everything had been precisely folded and placed. Mom was thoughtful almost to an obsessive nature. Everything was perfect and nothing had changed.

A vivid memory flashed before my eyes.

Condoms.

I secretly kept a 12 pack of ribbed/studded condoms tucked in-between the bottom drawer and the floor. The void compartment was quite handy as a teenager and the ever so snoopy older brother. Dragging the timber drawer out of the stand there was my secret hollow space.

Nothing

Not a single thing from my first observation. My hand rummaged in the space to be pleasantly surprised with a small poorly written note.

Bro new u had sum. now is the time they must be used. sorry bro need the lot.

Ell, ur sex god brutha 06/2007.

Laughter isn't the correct word to use to describe what my body was doing. The pure force of the air leaving my face was causing me to gargle, almost choke on my thick saliva. I wasn't sure if it was his spelling or the "sex god brother" sign off. Whore comes to mind and would have been a clearer way to conclude the message.

Turning the note to see if the paper was from a college text, it only got better.

This is your mother. Elliot is receiving a sexual health check. Christian there is no need to hide these things. July 2007. GG X

Even though as hilarious as it is, my chuckling subsided quickly. It's true; Mom and I were and still are quite open about most things. Honestly, she is a little over-protective. Something I embrace after how my life started.

Looking back two years ago, it was obvious I was a nervous teenager. A virgin hoping to find someone special, but it never came. What the fuck am I rambling about, I'm still as nervous as ever when it comes to the opposite sex.

I'm lucky I only have one to worry about, the one on my mind.

…..

HEARING SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE LOUD WHISTLING SOUNDS, my eyes were drawn outside my window. The delayed overwhelming flash made my room glow with reds and yellows quite the contrast to the aegean and white and the rumbling of the glass started the sequence again.

Rushing like a moth to the flame, my damp face cuddled the cold pane. The crowd was large along the Sound's water-edge. Most huddled in small groups or pairs.

Fuck. This means the Ball is over.

My eyes couldn't avoid the flight of the light. The firing of each explosion was rhythmically connected with the orchestral music playing. It was difficult to identify the work, possibly something classical.

It was beautiful as the black sky was saturated with layers of falling sparks.

Shit. The fireworks have started.

The light was dim in between each burst. My heart clambered when I saw him watching a single woman standing alone.

A woman dressed in white holding her heels.

My Pixie


A/N:

SONGS MENTIONED/INSPIRED:

1. Rossini's Barber of Seville, melody. Christian's ringtone for Ros.

2. Ma Vlast by B Smetana. Heard during the Coping together Fireworks.

Thank you for reading the new reworked/beta-ed "Misplaced & Found." If you haven't already done so, please favourite, follow, review and PM me regarding any M&F questions or concerns. Hopefully I can sneak another chapter in before the end of the month. If not it will be down to one update per week due to NaNoWriMo. See you soon for chapter 21.

missmusicteach