Summer Quest
Ted's POV:
"Actually Ros and Dad if it's okay, why don't we all go out for lunch" I suggest. Lily eyes me off cautiously. Not knowing the game I am playing. I look at her casually, careful not to give anything away. To be honest, it is the look that Dad is giving me that is my biggest has an uncanny ability to look at someone and make it as if he can look straight through you. Maybe Dad knows exactly what I am doing.
"I don't think it would be polite for us to intrude, but thank you, it was a particularly sweet gesture" Lily states in her best manners. Much to my annoyance, Ros is nodding in agreement. I narrow my eyes, knowing that my next move will be crucial.
"You both will not be intruding! Plus Ros, I know you and my father both have a lot of projects going on and I am interested in hearing about them. In fact, if Lilly and I are both going to undertake summer internships here, then we should learn as much as possible about the company." Dad looks overjoyed, and I know I have just hit the bull's-eye. Even Ros looks persuaded. I doubt I could make my father any more excited than telling him I am interested in Grey Enterprise, even if he knows that I just want to spend time with Lily.
"Ros, are you okay with this?" Dad raises his eyebrows and Ros has a calculated smile.
"Actually I think it is a brilliant idea. Lily, it might make you more interested in the company and maybe even reconsider your college major." Ros states. My father and Ros had walked out of the office when Lily turns and glares at me a little. I can't help but offer a small salacious smile at her.
We take two cars to the restaurant. Taylor is driving, my father and I, with Sawyer, whilst Ros and Lily are driving in another car. I am sitting a little tense. I am hoping that my antics didn't ruin any chance I have of getting to know Lily more and still hoping my father doesn't know my true intentions of this lunch. Dad looks pensively at me and his phone.
"Is something wrong?" I query.
"Huh?" Dad says uncharacteristically.
"You are extremely focused on your phone, more than usual anyway."
"I am just making sure your mother's first day at Grey Publishing is going well, but it is taking her a long time to respond" Dad is scowling.
"You know mom is probably just busy. It is her first day as CEO." I try to placate him.
"Yeah, maybe." Dad puts his phone back in his pocket and is now focusing solely on me.
"Ted, I am curious to know why you asked Ros and Lily to join us for lunch" Dad asks.
"I told you in your office, I am interested in the company. Also, I think it would be a polite way to say thank you to Ros." I remark.
"And it would have nothing to do with the fact. That you haven't been able to keep your eyes of Lily, right?" Dad smirks.
"I can't explain it Dad, but there is something different about her. I have never felt like this before. All I want to do is look at her, and be with her. It is the most uncanny feeling. I can't and don't want to fight it." I tell dad. "It must seem weird considering I just met her, right?"
"No, it isn't weird and trust me I more than understand that feeling." Dad says softly. I notice that he is playing with his wedding ring and checking his phone again. Dad's lips thin, still no reply.
"Ted you should keep in mind that Lily's mothers, Ros and her other mother Gwen, are rather protective of their daughter, which is one of the reasons why she is doing a summer internship…" I feel the need to stop my dad.
"I won't hurt her" I promise. Dad looks shocked by my statement.
"I know that." Dad looks at me as if he is analyzing me and doesn't stop until we arrive at a restaurant, which isn't that far from Grey Publishing.
"We are close to Grey Publishing. Is mom joining us also?" I enquire.
"No, she seems to be stuck in some meeting." Dad mumbles distastefully.
When we get out of the car we see Ros and Lilly enter the restaurant, and I am about to head to the door when dad grabs my arm to stop me.
"Ted the best piece of advice I am ever going to be able to give you, is to go and work for whatever your heart desires. Never deny your true feelings and emotions. Never let your fears and demons stop you. Don't make the same mistakes I made." Dad looks me in the eyes. It is there that I see all his pain of the past seventeen years and the promise of the future. I nod so Dad knows I understand.
Ros and Lily are already seated when we reach them. Dad takes the seat next to me and Ros. They have quickly busied themselves talking about some new project they are working on. I sit next to Lily. She is busy reading the menu, or rather trying to ignore me.
"Anything look good?" I ask quietly. Lily shrugs. Damn she isn't going to make this easy.
"Personally I would prefer to have pizza or a burger" she quietly mutters.
"Okay, Friday night. I can take you for a pizza or burger then." I am shocked myself at my audacity.
"No," She replies and glares at me for a few minutes, telling me to stop.
"Fine we can skip the pizza and burger and just go out." I state. Lily looks at me, still unimpressed but I can tell is trying not to laugh.
"No," She states again.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" I enquire.
"No"
"A girlfriend then?" She looks at me and rolls her eyes. Shit, I want to hit myself now. Just because her parents are gay, doesn't mean she is.
"No," She says again maintaining her monosyllabic stance. This is getting a little infuriating.
"Then why won't you go out with me?" I ask. Before she can answer we are interrupted.
"Have you both decided what you would like for lunch?" Ros asks.
"Yes, I have Mom." Lily answers politely. It is as if there is two of her. We all order lunch and sit quietly for a few minutes.
"Ted, have you decided on your major?" Ros asks.
"I am pre-Law, but I am thinking about enrolling in some economics and commerce courses." Dad's interest is peaked again. He can't hide his excitement, first I tell him I am interested in learning about Grey Enterprise and now I am going to do some classes that relate directly the corporation.
"You never mentioned that" Dad states.
"I have only just been thinking about it." I confess and then look to Lily. "Have you decided what you are majoring in? Actually, which college are you going to?"
"MIT, I am doing civil and environmental engineering." She finally offers up some decent information about herself, and I can't hide my smile.
"You won't be far from me then" I comment.
"Where are you going to college?" Lily's face is scrunched up.
"Harvard, we are likely to be around forty minutes apart." I am honestly excited about this development.
"Nice," she says sarcastically. I roll my eyes then notice my dad is grinning a bit. I decide to pull back a little.
"Dad and Ros, what projects are you working on?" I ask.
"We are in the process of purchasing a company, but the current owner is taking their time and holding out on an overly inflated price. It is taking us a lot longer than desired." Dad runs his hands through his hair.
"In fact Lily, when you return to the office, I need you to collect several files on this acquisition. I have to go to a meeting across town after lunch, ask Elisabeth for a list of the files that I need. It is going to take you awhile to get them, but it is crucial that I have them. Tell Elizabeth that you may need some help." Ros informs her. I can tell that Lily is extremely displeased at this prospect. She won't be able to hide away somewhere in the office today, listening to her iPod.
"I can help, that is if Andrea doesn't have anything that I need to do." I enquire. Dad looks like he wants to laugh at me.
"No, that is fine. Lily will need the help. Plus, Lily you are more familiar with the layout of the company and will be an immense help to Ted to work his way around." Dad gives me a little smile. Thank you Dad!
Lunch goes smoothly, and I decided it best to participate in conversation with Ros and my Dad, rather than trying to set up a one on one conversation with Lily. Best to give her some room and talk to her when we are in the file room. Dad's phone beeps and the largest smile forms on his face. He calls the waiter over and mumbles something to him that I can't make out. Ten minutes later the waiter brings a bag over and we all exit the restaurant.
"Sawyer, Can you take Ted and Lily back to Grey House? They have allocated work. Ros has gone to a meeting" Dad asks Sawyer.
"Yes Mr. Grey" Sawyer is professional as usual. Dad quickly heads off in the direction of Grey Publishing, with Taylor by his side. No prizes for guessing where he is off to. Lily and I sit in silence for a few minutes, I try to make eye contact, but she is avoiding me. I sigh
"Why didn't you tell that you were Christian Grey's son?" Lily is fuming, but at least she is talking.
"Why didn't you tell that you were Ros's daughter?" I throw back at her.
"There is a difference between your dad and my mother" She rebuts.
"Not to me," I tell her. She looks out the window, but curiosity gets the best of her. The thing is I am just as curious about her.
"I didn't know that Mr. Grey had a child. Where did you go to school? I just graduated from the same school that your cousin Ava attends, and it is rated as the top school in the state. Why didn't you go there?" Yes! Maybe Ava knows Lily and can help me decipher the mystery that is sitting next to me!
"I went to school in New York. I have been living there with my mother. It is a long story, but my parents broke up a long time ago, but have gotten back to together, so here I am." There, I figure that sums it up in a nut shell.
"I have never heard anyone talk about you" Lily states.
"I know. If it makes you feel better not even my grandparents knew about me until the beginning of this year." I shrug.
"Grace and Carrick Grey?"
"Yes that is them.
"Shit that is heavy!" I nod. It is a fair assessment.
"Yes, well now that I have told you essentially about me. What about you?" I probe.
"What about me?" She shrugs.
"You have a mixed ethnic background don't you?" I ask. I have been trying to work out her ethnicity but can't seem to put the pieces together.
"Yes. My birth mother was from the Philippines, and my father was half American and half Portuguese. So I am a mixture." Lily seems a little uncomfortable. Her Asian heritage explains her large dark eyes and straight black hair that frames her perfect face. Her gorgeous olive skin is probably due to her dad's Portuguese background.
"You're gorgeous." I tell her. Lily looks away, though I think this is because she is blushing. However, she is hiding it exceptionally well. "How old were you when you were adopted?"
"I was only a few weeks. It was an open adoption at first, but my birth parents were extremely young, and went off to college, got married to different people, had families etc., So, I haven't heard much about them for a long time. When I was about five, the letters my parents, well my mothers, sent them ended coming back, 'return to sender' or 'no longer at this address.' I have no idea where my birth parents are." Lily explains.
"I am sorry," I tell her sympathetically.
"Really? I am not. My mothers have been brilliant. They have provided everything I ever wanted, made sure I was loved and raised me exceptionally well." There is a real sense of pride in Lily's voice.
"So what did you do be forced to work at Grey Enterprise for the summer?" I ask. Lily then gives me the most beautiful laugh I have ever heard.
"Got caught drunk, smoking, and dating a guy my mothers were particularly unhappy with. I told them I wasn't dating him and went on a few unapproved excursions. I went through a little rebellious stage you could say"
"Oh, I guess that would do it." I comment.
We arrive at Grey House and spend the next couple of hours, collecting the required files and chatting casually. Little by little she opens up a bit more and surprisingly so do I. Before we know it is 4pm and we have finished. Lily is about to take off and deliver the files we have collected.
"Lily, before you go. I have something I want to ask you" I tell her
"What is it?" She seems so comfortable talking to me that I pray I don't ruin this.
"My grandparents host a charity event every year. It is this masked ball"
"I know about it. I went last year with my mothers." Lily tells me.
"Are you going this year?" I ask hopefully.
"Yes" She nods at the same time.
"Do you have a date?" Please say no, please so no I beg.
"Not at the moment" Lily almost laughs as she answers me.
"Neither do I. So if you don't have a date, at the moment, and neither do I, at the moment, would you like to come with me?" I ask hopeful….
Christians POV
After instructing Sawyer to take Ted back to Grey house, with Lily, and ensuring he will be busy, I head to towards Grey Publishing, with a takeout bag of freshly cooked pasta. I wonder if Ted will be more preoccupied by his assigned tasks, or getting Lily to talk to him.
I have been sending Ana emails throughout the day but have had very few replies. In fact, the last one I received was at 10am. I miss our regular sexual banter. It keeps me going through out a day of mergers and acquisitions.
I re-read Ana's email that she just sent me before I send her a reply.
To: Christian Grey
From: Anastasia Grey.
Subject: Frustration?
Thank you for you numerous emails! I detect some level of frustration from your side of Seattle as the day has worn thin. I am afraid my Boss keeps me rather busy and I had a heads of department meeting to attend to. I wouldn't want to upset my new boss he may think I am not working to his high expectations.
Love,
Anastasia Grey
Busy CEO Grey Publishing and hungry baby kicking me.
To: Anastasia Grey
From: Christian Grey.
Subject: Definitely Frustrated!
Anastasia,
Your boss, who also happens to be your husband, would rather that you un-busied yourself with work matters right now. I take it from your signature that the baby is hungry as an admission that you haven't eaten. I believe it is my role to rectify the situation.
High expectations? I will also check your performance to see if it meets my high expectations as soon as you have eaten.
Love
Christian Grey
Missing his wife, CEO Grey enterprise.
I waltz right into Grey publishing, straight up to Ana's office. I stand at the doorway, rather pleased with the redecoration of the office. I had hired an interior decorator and gave them detailed instructions into Ana's style.
"Mr. Grey, what a rather impromptu visit," Ana says leaning back on her chair.
"You may have forgotten, but I rather like to make the odd impromptu visit, it keeps management on their toes." I grin.
"And wives in their place, if I recall correctly" Ana raises her eyebrows at me as she recalls the visit I once made to her here after we got married.
"Eat" I tell her passing her the pasta I ordered.
"Now that is one thing I can obey right now. I am starving"
"I wish you would obey in more areas." I tease though know Ana is not the same twenty one year old I met years ago.
"But then where would the challenge be?" Ana tilts her head to the side.
"Are you mocking me Mrs. Grey?"
"I wouldn't dare." Ana puts her hand on her chest and acts shocked. I laugh out loud and concede the point.
"You need to hurry and eat, Anastasia." I warn
"Why, what's the rush? I don't have a meeting for another hour. Do you have an appointment" Ana ask casually.
"No, But I don't know how long I am going to be able to sit here, and not take you over this magnificent desk.
"Christian I am at work. Hannah is right outside" Ana states blushing. I get up and lock the door and ensure all the blinds are fully closed.
"Now we have privacy"
"Christian no, we can't have sex here. But I am happy to relieve some of your stress." Ana removes her jacket and walks over to me. She pushes me down on to the couch.
"So dominant and controlling of you Anastasia" I tell her as she undoes my belt, and pants and zip.
"I had a brilliant teacher" She replies.
"I sure hope you mean me," I remark. Ana looks at me from under her long eyelashes. She looks rather sweet.
"Getting jealous Mr. Grey?" Ana is teasing me, but even the thought of another guy having touched her when we were separated for so long is enough to get a reaction out of me. I am so glad that I had security watching her and giving me almost daily reports.
"You are making my palm twitchy Anastasia and you know I can't do anything about it while we are here." Ana laughs at me. "You know Mrs. Grey you may be pregnant, but I can still spank your backside. The baby won't be in danger."
Ana is placated a little and wisely focuses on other tasks. She takes me deeply into her mouth. Her tongue is massaging my tip. Teasing and exciting me.
"Oh Ana… that feels incredible" I lean my head back for a few moments but then look down at Ana. She is looking up at me. Oh how I love it when she does.
"I am going to come Ana. You are going to have to stop now if you don't want me to come" I caution her, but it only makes her suck harder and deeper. "Oh Ana" I call out as I gloriously come. I pull Ana to her feet, lift her pencil skirt up and remove her panties.
"Oh you are so ready Ana" I grab my cell phone and ring Hannah outside to instruct her to go and seek out Taylor. Taylor will keep her busy.
"Lie back on your desk" I order. Ana's legs hang off the edge. "This is likely to be quick. I can't seem to get enough of you" I start to tease, moving slowly in and out of her.
"Christian, please" Ana begs.
"Need some release, Mrs. Grey?" I ask
"YES!" She groans.
"My pleasure" I increase my speed, and as she tightens around me, we both find our releases.
#####
I had been sitting in my office for thirty minutes when Ted arrived after finishing the task assigned by Ros to him and Lily.
"Did you manage to locate all the files?" I enquire.
"Yeah, it took a while, but we managed it" Ted looks rather perplexed.
"What is bothering you?"
"I asked Lily to go to the Coping Together ball with me"
"And what did she say?" I ask. Ted put his head in his hands. I can't tell if he is worried that he has to escort her to a high society event or if she said no.
Authors note:
Thanks for reading, and reviewing. Cheers to Crystal9034. Off to write the next chapter now.