Authors note: Due to popular demand, here is the conversation Ted and Christian had after the phone call the night before and Taylor having the handcuffs. I have also added a conversation between Phoebe and Christian. Hope you enjoy, Christian the father to a 22 year old and a 4 year old.
Conversation's with Dad
Christian POV:
"Mr Grey, here is your coffee and your first meeting isn't until 10am."
"Thank you Andrea." I look at my watch and note that I still have an hour and a half. "You wouldn't happen to know if my son has arrived, do you."
"No, but I can ring his office and check." Andrea offers.
"Yes...no...umm" I run my hands through my hair not sure if this is such a good idea or not. Andrea is standing there in a small state of shock over my uncharacteristic indecisiveness. "Just leave a message at Ted office, that I wouldn't mind seeing him sometime today but it's not urgent."
"Will do Mr Grey. Is there anything else you need or want?"
"No, thank you Andrea." I say politely dismissing her. Once my assistant has walked out of my office, I pull out the cuffs from my suitcase that Taylor had in his hands last night. I had thought I had misplaced them, but the key thing that is bothering me is that I am rather particular about where Ana and I leave our toys in our house. Phoebe has a knack for finding things she shouldn't as demonstrated when she found Ted's engagement ring for Lily. Also, the last time we used these was at Escala a month ago and then to add another piece to the mystery there was that peculiar phone call from Ted. I just need a couple more pieces of the puzzle.
I take several sips of coffee before Ted enters my office. I look up at him and fuck he looks like he is guilty as sin and I haven't even said one word. He is doing whatever he can to avoid eye contact with me and looks as if he wants to run for the hills. The obvious hits me, but surely it couldn't be, because I am yet to account for why Taylor would have the handcuffs during the evening.
"Ted, come in. Do you want a coffee?" I offer.
"No, thanks, I am fine." Ted relaxes a little as he takes the chair in front of my desk. "Phoebe isn't with you today?" He asks then examines the corner where she usually sets herself up.
"No, Phoebe is with your mother today for the morning and then your grandmother will be collecting her." Ted nods in acknowledgment. What I don't tell him is that there is no way was I going to sit here and allow my four year old daughter hear what we are about to possibly discuss.
"Dad I have a strange question for you" Ted starts. I tense up a little, shit here it goes! Parenthood at its hardest. I swear I am going to lock Phoebe up until she is forty.
"I know this may seem strange, but I don't know what to call you here at work. I can't just call you Dad." I sit there still wondering if I heard him right and feel an uncomfortable relief.
"You can if it is just me and you, it's even acceptable when it's also Roz and Andrea for that matter." I reason. There were twelve years where he didn't want to call me 'Dad' that I rather dislike the thought of him not referring to me as such in public, but I understand that it isn't necessarily appropriate in the office. "Alternatively, you can call me Christian or Mr Grey, but only when necessary."
"That's fine." Ted says now playing with his hands. My large office becomes tense all over again. "Dad I got a message that you wanted to see me." I take a deep breath, knowing that I do not know how this conversation is going to work out.
"Yes I did, didn't I? So how are you finding Escala? Is there anything you need or have wanted? Any usual difficulties, that you and lily have encountered" I figure this is a decent lead in question. Maybe Ted will just bring up what ever happened last evening in the spirit of being open. A theme that we have adopted in our relationship over the past four years.
"Escala is brilliant, and we have everything we need. Thank you." Ted eager to get off this new topic, but fatherly instincts refuse to allow him that privilege right now.
"How are you getting on with security? Are you and Lily still able to have you own privacy as you both requested?"
"Yes" Great now he has gone all monosyllabic on me.
"And everything is going well with Lily?"
"Of course it is. You were there when we just got engaged. Remember?" Ted seems a little agitated, and I narrow my eyes at him, disliking his tone.
"Look Dad, Lily and I had a hiccup last night, over Grey Enterprise having purchased the company she is working for as you probably could tell from the phone call last night, but that has been smoothed over. However, things were a little dicey for a while." Ted rubs his forehead as he remembers the previous night and then runs his hand through his hair. As he does, I notice the familiar red bands around his wrists. Shit, I need answers and now.
"Ted, what is on your wrists? And what do you mean by things got dicey?" I demand to know. My heart is beating quickly.
"Nothing," He says dismissing me
"Cut the crap, there are red marks on your wrists and there is the matter of these" I hold up the handcuffs and the blood literally drains from Ted's face. He is so fucking pale now that him passing out is an actual possibility.
"Damn it, Taylor said he wouldn't say anything!" Ted jumps up annoyed but then sits back down and covers his face.
"Taylor didn't say anything, but you just did. I was able to form half of the puzzle when Taylor entered the house last night with these in his hands. So care to complete the other half of the puzzle for me?" I propose.
"Well that depends, want to tell me why there were handcuffs in the study of Escala?" Ted counter offers.
"You go first" I challenge. Ted scoffs, but starts to explain regardless.
"Lily found the cuffs in the study. We have both been using the study on and off. So after dinner last night, she and I went to the bedroom, and well you can guess why. She and I were…ummm… oh fuck Dad do I honestly have to say this. You're my father, I can't tell you about my sex life." Ted looks repulsed.
"Ted, I am pretty sure whatever you are going to tell me I have done it or have done it to another girl." I state to reassure him but realise that it hasn't come out that way. Oh the things I have done.
"Dad the only thing worse than me telling you about last night, is you suggesting possibly what you and mom may have done kinky stuff together" Ted is going pale again. I try hard to stifle my laugh, but I am not entirely successful.
"Okay, let's cut to the chase then" I offer.
"Fine, so cutting to the chase, Lily handcuffed me to the bed, to get me to have me admit that I knew about the purchase of the company she is employed by and if her being employed there was just because we were the new owners. She had me ask to you last night on the phone to prove I was being honest with her." I make sure my expression is unreadable as I put more pieces together.
"You sounded strange last night on the phone." I decide to make a statement rather than pose it as a question.
"So would you if you had been in the same situation, trust me" I chuckle at my son's expense as my suspicions are confirmed. I will give it to Lily, that girl has spunk!
"Then you and Lily don't regularly use cuffs or anything else while you are both intimate then?" I inquire.
"You know something Dad, considering you and me, barely talked from the age of five to seventeen, you have engaged me in some rather interesting conversations since." Ted points out a little complacently.
"Making up for lost time, now answer my question." I demand.
"Lily and I don't use add on's if that is what you are asking. We do vary our positions and have an exceptionally healthy and satisfying sexual life. I can't believe the fuck I am talking about this. Lily would do more than cuff me if she found out. She is crazy about privacy, especially since I work with her mother."
"I understand Ted, trust me I do." My son seems to be placated a little.
"Ted, one more thing. How did Taylor get these handcuffs?" I enquire.
"Well after being cuffed and Lily using her skills on me while I spoke to you, she went to release me, but the key she had, didn't work and I didn't want to request assistance from our security in the penthouse. So I rang Taylor. I figured that since he works on motorbikes and has access to everything, he would be the best person to ask help from. He came over with a key and released me. Curiously Taylor acted as if I being tied to a bed was nothing. It was like it didn't even rate on his scale." If only my son knew all the shit Taylor has seen after so many years working for me.
"Taylor is highly professional and discreet. Your secret is safe with us both" I reassure my son. We both look at each other and as unusual as it sounds, we both start laughing over the situation. I guess it is easy to find the humor in retrospect
"It's all rather funny isn't it dad? Have you ever been caught in an uncompromising position" Ted asks, in between laughs.
"I almost got caught with your mother at my grandparent's boat house but never with my pants down." I inform him.
"Well thanks dad, I better go. I am due in Ros's office soon. She has me working on a possible merger." Ted says getting up.
"Before you go Ted, this is for you, and Lily for that matter. It is just to avoid any more embarrassing situations" I pass him the item in a gift bag. Ted curiously takes it and analyses it contents. He looks at me shocked.
"It has multiple sets keys so you should be safe, next time" I point out seriously, but then grin.
"Thanks Dad. I will catch you at lunch."
# # # #
(Phoebe's first day of Kindergarten)
Ana walks into our bedroom with Phoebe, after helping her get into her uniform. Today is her first day of four year old Kindergarten. She will attend the morning session and then be collected, by Gail, Ana or myself. Today though, both Ana and I will drop her off and pick her up.
"Good morning Daddy." She says brightly.
"Good morning Princess, you look very pretty in your uniform" I tell her. She frowns and cross her arms.
"But why can't I wear a dress, some of the older kids at my school wear a dress for their uniform"
"You get to wear the school dress once you are in grade one and you are only in four year old kindergarten" I explain, and then finish putting on my tie.
"Is Ted going to work today with you?" Phoebe asks another one of her thousand questions.
"Yes. You know that he works at Grey House now, so he works with me every day." I explain. "Phoebe come here so I can plait your hair." Phoebe obediently comes and sits down in front of me. Her hair is way too long to let her wear it down for school, and I prefer it plaited than in a ponytail.
"Phoebe, you know that when you grow up you can come and work with me too. How does that sound?" I ask. Secretively I would love to have her join me also, this way I can keep my kids close to me always. I missed so much time with Ted that I won't repeat those errors again.
"Not good," Phoebe says playing with the hem of her shirt. These are two simple words, but they actually hurt.
"Why not? I thought you like coming to work with .me" I ask as I tie the end of her plait.
"I do, but since Ted is working with you, I should go and work with Mommy. It's only fair." Phoebe comments seriously. A large smile forms on my face over my little girls answer.
"Yes you are right, and you are ready for school after you eat your breakfast" I tell her.
"When Ted attended my Kindergarten did he wear a uniform?" Phoebe inquires. She is attending the same school Ted did before he and Ana moved to New York. I remember persuading Ana to let Ted enrol there due to its high standards.
"No, the Kindergarten didn't have a uniform then." I explain.
"Was Ted nervous on his first day of Kindergarten?" I suddenly feel frozen in time. This is the first question she has asked me about the past that I haven't been able to answer myself and one that highlights the true extent of my absence from Ted's life. Whilst we haven't kept the truth of the past from our daughter a secret, we also haven't highlighted it.
"I am not sure." I reply hoping this answer will satisfy her. However, who am I kindling, she is a four year old child, asking questions is her reason for living.
"Why? Don't you remember?" Phoebe asks. The thing that gets about me every time is how innocent her numerous questions are, but the topics are less than innocent.
"I wasn't there the day that Ted went to Kindergarten. Come you need to eat breakfast, and then we need to drive you to school, or you will be late." I take my daughters hand and walk with her hand in hand.
"Where you on a work trip?" Phoebe continues to probe. Gosh she is relentless. We have only gone done a few steps. I stop and sit on one of the steps and then sit Phoebe on my lap.
"No sweetie, daddy wasn't on a trip. When Ted started school, your mommy and I weren't together. Remember how we explained once."
"I don't understand" I smile when Phoebe has cocked her head to the side just like I do.
"Well your mommy was living at one house, and I was living at a different house" I realise now that she actually hasn't fully understood that Ana and I were apart for a period of time. Part of me wishes that I could bury this fact.
"Why would you both do that?" Phoebe looks confused.
"Because for a period of time Mommy and I had a few problems…"
"Do you both still have problems?" Phoebe interjects.
"No, we don't. We fixed all of that, then Mommy, Daddy and Ted moved in here to our house. Then we got extraordinarily lucky and had you" I kiss my daughter forehead.
"Where did Ted live before here?"
"He lived with Mommy. That is why I didn't see him on his first day of school" I explain.
"Teddy said he went to school in New York"
"Yes, when he was five, your Mommy and Ted moved to New York. They didn't come back to Seattle until Ted had finished school" I further explain.
"That's why he isn't in photos with you, except the few when he is little. Isn't it? " My clever girl reasons.
"Yes, that is right" I confirm.
"Are Mommy and I ever going to live in a different house to you?" Phoebe is actually quite concerned.
"No, Sweetie. Never Ever. We are going to live in the same house together. You do not need to worry." I tell her wrapping my arms around her and hugging her. I don't let go until I see her smile again.
"Okay," She says simply. I am so enchanted by Phoebe's innocence that I will do whatever I can to protect it.
"Now Miss Phoebe, it's time for you to eat your breakfast."
We walk into Phoebe's new school. It is rated as one the best early childhood schools in the state. Also, Ava attended this school as did Ted before he left for New York. Though part of me would like to send Phoebe to an all-girls school, especially as she gets older. I have to will work on Ana over that matter.
"Okay Phoebe you need to put your bag over on that hook and take your drink bottle into the class and put your fruit in the bowl. Your teacher will share it out at recess. Now you have to wear your hat when you go and play." I start throwing instructions at my daughter, not wanting to let her go.
"Christian relax, its four year old kindergarten, not boarding school," Ana tells me. I narrow my eyes, and I have a familiar twitchy sensation in my palm.
"Phoebe, have a fantastic time. Daddy and I will pick you up, when school has finished, and then we can go to lunch" Ana tells Phoebe.
"Okay. I am going into class now. Bye" Phoebe says and starts to head inside.
"Phoebe, we can go in with you to get you settled," I tell her.
"No. I can do it. Bye." I watch through the glass as, Phoebe now independently walks in and says hi to her teacher before heading to one of the small tables where colored pencils and paper have been placed.
"Well that was easy. Ted made me stay with him the whole first morning of Kindergarten" Ana tells me. I feel hate and remorse again, for not being here on Teds first day of school and depressed that my little girl doesn't seem to need me right now.
"Christian, we should go, Phoebe will be fine, and she has her Sawyer here outside the class." Ana tells me.
"I don't want to go, I want her to run out and cry for me." I finally admit out loud. "I want to delay her going to school until next year. She doesn't have to be at school until next year legally anyway. I can even employ a tutor for her, so she doesn't suffer academically." I close my eyes tightly and run both my hands through my hair.
"Daddy?" I hear the voice of Phoebe. She is standing next to me. I wonder immediately if anything just happened in the few seconds that my eyes were closed. I look at Ana, and she is none the wiser. We both kneel down, so we are at eye level with Phoebe.
"Yes, Princess. What's wrong? Do you want us to come in with you?" I ask.
"No." Phoebe says casually. "Daddy, don't worry, I will be finished at lunch time" I cock my head to the side, fazed by Phoebe statement.
"Why did you say that Phoebe?" Ana asks the question that is on my mind.
"Because Dad was running his hands through his hair and he only does that when he is upset or stressed. Don't worry daddy, I can go to your office later today, and you won't be alone long" Phoebe says. Ana giggles at our daughter's comment, whilst a large smile forms on my face.
"Thank you Phoebe, I am sure I will be alright. Now go back into class and we will pick you up later." Phoebe rushes back into class, leaving Ana and I, hand in hand.
"Anastasia, call Hannah to cancel all your appointments this morning and tell her you won't be in' I instruct her.
"Okay but why? Phoebe is doing great. Look at her"
"Didn't you hear our daughter?" I question.
"Christian doesn't talk in riddles" Ana rolls her eyes at me.
"I won't be alone long, and I think we should take advantage of this time. Plus you just rolled your eyes at me. Let's go now." I instruct Ana who willingly agrees.
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