Chapter 6 – Three Faces of Grey

More than anything, I want to ask Ana if we can start this friendship… relationship… or whatever this is, over. Part of me is terrified that she is able to see past my outer façade to the real me. Yet my words to her during the interview are haunting me – I want to deserve to possess them. Business is one thing, but in my limited personal life I'm a sadist, a monster – I don't deserve someone like her. I want to deserve her, desperately, but I know I don't and never will. So does that make me terrified of wanting her? Control Grey, control! I don't allow people in, but those big blue eyes have super powers creating a no bullshit zone. I need to be in control, not feeling vulnerable. I need to gain cool, calm, rational control over myself because if I don't, I'll ruin her and never forgive myself. She's pure, innocent, and deserves better than the fucked up shell of a human being I am. I'll ruin her, fucking ruin her. I have to protect her from the likes of me. Is this what happened to my mother? Did I ruin her too?

I sense that both Ana and Flynn have been staring at me, waiting for me to respond to Ana's story about her friend Susan. Intellectually, I know she's right. It makes sense. Yet you try having a rational conversation between the three personalities that reside within me - the fucked up four-year-old in me is cowering in the corner, paralyzed by nearly half a decade of abject dysfunction; the angry, horny teenager just wants to take her; and the adult man who just wants her to be happy. If I had a stun gun, I'd use it on myself at this point. God, I disgust myself sometimes and no quantity of ten thousand dollar Italian suits will hide the monster who wears them, even from me.

The fear normally reserved for my nightmares is like bile in my throat. No amount of deep breathing will quell it. The more I dwell on it, the harder it becomes to breath and the more detached from my body I feel. In my mind I'm back in Detroit, hiding in the back of my mother's closet, terrified beyond belief. The closet was my safe place. Twenty-three years later, the closet exists in my mind, the place where I've compartmentalized my life. The locks in this new biocloset for lack of a better word are my own denial, conflicts, and all-around fuckupness. I'm a prisoner in my own dysfunctional mind.

"No Anastasia," I vaguely hear Dr. Flynn warn her as I felt her slowly kneel down next to me. She winced in pain when she finally steadied herself on the floor before me. With each of her movements, I'm vaguely aware of her sharp intake of breaths from the physical discomfort she must feel after her accident. She then began rubbing small circles on my shoulder and slightly down my back in an attempt to soothe me. With that small contact my breathing calms and the fear begins melting away. Suddenly I stiffen with shock – her touch on my back didn't cause me to panic, rather it calmed me. What the fuck!

"I'm sorry I pushed you too far," she whispered sadly removing her hand from my back. "When I came back from Texas, Ray would rub my back and shoulder when I had anxiety issues. It made me feel like I wasn't alone. It helped more than any anti-anxiety medication, because I knew I wasn't alone. It made me feel safe - cherished. Are you okay?"

I nodded. I know Flynn was once again gaping at me because I didn't overreact when Anastasia rubbed my back and shoulder. He saw it too. If my mother were here, she would have fainted or cried. Elliot would have been astounded for a split second, then taunted me about rocking a chubby as he so vulgarly calls it. I have no explanation for lack of my standard overreaction to that type of intimate contact, but I can't dwell on it now.

Flynn and I carefully helped her get to her feet as she winced with the movement. By the time we had her comfortably back in her chair, there were tears in her eyes. "What's your pain level on a scale of one-to-ten Anastasia? When was the last time you had pain medication?" John asked as he handed her a few tissues from her bedside table.

"A seven or an eight," she sighed wiping tears from her eyes. "I'm not certain about the last time I had pain medication. I'm just tired. I over-did it today walking the hallways with Sawyer. He told me to slow down, but I didn't listen because I want to be able to collect my college diploma with Kate at the end of next week. I'm going to spend my weekend studying so on Monday and Tuesday or next week I can take my finals remotely."

"Are you sure you are up to that?" I ask.

She nods, which caused a sharp intake of breath from the pain the movement caused her. "I want to take my finals. I know I will graduate either way, but I don't want to allow this accident to ruin my GPA."

Flynn presses the nurses call button and they immediately answer over the room's speaker. "How can I help you?" the female voice replied.

"This is Dr. Flynn. Miss Steele is in significant discomfort. Can you tell me when she is due another course of pain medication?"

"Miss Steele is two hours past due. The order is written so it is at her request now, but no earlier than every four hours. Miss Steele hasn't requested any medication since mid-morning. I'll be in shortly with a dose."

"Thank you," John replies. He then turns to Ana and helps her from the chair into her bed. "While you are highly amusing when you are medicated, I'd rather move you now since you are already exhausted."

"I appreciate it Dr. Flynn," she whispers as he covers her with a blanket.

"Did you have dinner? You can't take that type of medication on an empty stomach," he queries. My jealously is flaring up – it should be me taking care of her, not him.

"My dad mentioned earlier that it's baked potato soup night at the brew house down the street and he arranged for a delivery of soup with homemade cheesy-garlic croutons, and sandwiches for me and Sawyer. It should be here shortly," Ana informed us.

At least Ray took care of his daughter, which is more than I can say about her mother. He's shown his appreciation by taking care of my security team's meals as well. I'm feeling greener than Oscar the Grouch – jealousy is consuming me and it sucks. I should be taking care of Ana. My thoughts are interrupted by the nurse, who enters with medication in hand along with a small glass of orange juice. Sawyer is right behind her carrying a brown paper bag with food.

"Ready to eat Ana?" Luke asks as Ana swallows the pills and the nurse leaves.

"How about when it's just us? Did you read through chapter fifteen of Heir to the Empire?" Ana asks with excitement. Yup, I'm green with envy.

"All the way through chapter twenty, so I'm ready to discuss them over dinner," he replies as he shakes his cell phone at her. "Ray wants in the discussion so I promised him when we started it, I'd dial him and put him on speaker phone."

"I appreciate your assistance in finding books that Ray and I would both enjoy," she replied happily. "It's nice to have read a good book that crosses over the gender barrier. Zahn is king!"

"That he is," Sawyer replies with a smirk. "You know, you described him to me as taciturn, but he's anything but when he's talking about the military - typical ex-soldier."

She's gotten too close to her CPO. You never cross that line. Well I never cross that line. I sigh inwardly. I need to remember that, to Anastasia, he's just someone watching her in case the nutcase that ran her off the road attempts a repeat performance in terms of threatening her life. He's nothing more than a quazi-police officer on duty in her mind. Anastasia comes from a military family, so she's kind to soldiers and civil servants alike. Hell, even after the debasing sexual lifestyle I attempted to lure her into, she's even nice to me. I deserved the beating she gave me in my playroom, but it almost appears as if she forgives me. I can only hope.

"Hi Taylor!" she chimes in as he stands in the doorway. "How has your day been?"

"Good Ana. It's nice to see you getting back on your feet," he replies with a quick, gentle smile before returning to his impassive work facade.

"Ana," I begin cautiously, "we need to discuss your security plan beginning when you are discharged tomorrow. Taylor is my head of security and Sawyer his second."

"My dad will be with me. This really shouldn't be your concern," she replies distantly.

I glance at Flynn, who nods in understanding. "There is a chance that the person who attacked you did so because of my lifestyle out of jealously."

"Why would they do that?" There's no missing the horror on her face.

Flynn replies, "Jealousy, mental health issues, there are any number of potential reasons."

"Why would anyone be jealous of me? I'm just a college student – a nobody."

I sigh. I don't want to have to explain it to her, but I really don't have a choice. "I've terminated my submissive contracts multiple times when they've wanted more from me. They get attached and I move on. You've said it yourself, these women need help. Perhaps you are correct. It could be one of them, though we haven't identified a threat from any of them, but since you describe your attacker as a female, it's only logical to not preclude the possibility that this is somehow related to my lifestyle."

"More?" Ana asked uncertainly. Leave it to Anastasia to focus on more.

"They want a full-fledged, hearts and flowers, romantic relationship, so I end it. Sometimes the women don't handle it well. Until we determine who harmed you, I'd rather not put lives at risk – especially yours, but not excluding your father's, Miss Kavanagh's, or any of your friends."

The tears well up in her eyes as her brain attempts to process the information. "The only problem is, you took me to the penthouse in your helicopter. I was there for all of an hour when I left. If the person parked downstairs was waiting for you, they had no way of knowing if anyone was in the helicopter with you unless somehow they breached your security and had a way to see into the apartment. If it was someone after me, how would they know I was in Seattle? I mean, I've never been to Seattle before."

Turning to Taylor, I can see he's already texting Welch and Barney to head to Escala to oversee a total security check. "Security system check should be completed by morning Sir."

What Ana is saying makes logical sense, reinforcing that the attack on her had to do with me. It's only logical they were after me, not her, but when they saw her resemblance to my submissives their plan must have changed. How can I tell her that all of my submissives resembled my dead birth mother as she does? That would really let the cat out of the bag and show how utterly screwed up I am. Right now, I just want to smother that cat.

"I agree with what you are saying, but it further indicates that you were attacked because of our interaction. I know we got off on the wrong foot, but would you consider recovering at Escala rather than at your apartment? I can keep you safer there as we have the latest in security systems, and your father is welcome to remain there as well to care for you." I can see Flynn cringing out of the corner of my eye.

Ana merely laughs awkwardly as tears flow from her eyes. "I will politely decline your offer. I think you can understand why."

"I promise to behave."

"How can I get over what happened if I have to look at you all the time? Once you walk out that door, I have no intention of seeing you again unless by some miracle Kate marries your brother."

I feel like I've been slapped in the face with a two-by-four. Then she glances at Sawyer for reassurance.

"Ana," Sawyer begins cautiously. "I'm not going to lie to you. You know I work for Mr. Grey, right?" She nods. "There are two ways to get over things – deal with them at your own pace, or you can die because you allow your emotions take control over common sense. Someone tried to kill you, there is no question about that. You were specifically targeted. I know you'd chose option one and deal with this at your own pace, which is what we all hope you select, but being out there without some level of security until we figure out what is going on is fool-hardy and suicidal. Whoever attacked you attempted to murder you, not scare you, but murder you. You were lucky. In my experience, they will make another attempt. We are not dealing with a rational person. We're dealing with a crazy person and you can't easily predict crazy. If you don't want to recuperate at Escala, then allow Mr. Grey to put a team at your apartment. It's for your safety and your father agrees. Ray is terrified that you'll be attacked again. You won't even know we're there."

"You spoke to my father about this?"

"No, your father spoke to both Taylor and I about this," Sawyer replied as Taylor nodded in agreement. "It was one ex-military guy to another. He's worried Ana. He knows he can't be around to protect you twenty-four seven. He also mentioned to me that your friend Kate is heading to Barbados for two weeks after she moves to the apartment and her family insists she not cancel the trip."

"And he won't come around?" she whispered anxiously motioning toward me.

"You set the visitor list," Taylor assured her.

Ana turns toward me and I'm unable to hide my displeasure at what Taylor and Sawyer are proposing. It's a good plan, but I want to see her.

"Mr. Grey, I will agree on a few conditions," Ana replies cautiously.

"Which are?" I ask bracing myself for what was to come.

"If I say you can't come in, and then you can't come in - there is no penalizing Sawyer, Taylor, or your security team when they enforce those wishes – no retribution in any way, shape, or form. I want that in writing and all concerned parties sign it," she states without pulling her eyes from mine. "I appreciate the offer of security – I really do because I'm not going to lie to you, I'm afraid – heck beyond afraid, but I won't allow this fear to control my life. While I feel after our time with Dr. Flynn today that I know you a bit better, you make me nervous. Granted, it's not as nervous as you made me before, but still. I need to process everything that happened when I'm not high as a kite on pain medication and giggling like an imbecile."

"Can I call to see how you are doing?" I ask.

I can't help but sigh as she shakes her head negatively. "Text message or email only once I figure out how to set up my new call phone. It's over my head, as prior to this one, which Kate picked out, I had an old flip phone. This one is space age." She shakes her Samsung Note 3 at us. "Right now I need to focus solely on my studies and Kate picked out this phone because I can get my school books on it along with e-books." She's ridiculously excited to be able to study and read off her phone. It's amazing how the things I take for granted make her smile like a kid on Christmas morning. "I apologize Mr. Grey, but having contact with you will remind me of what happened; thereby causing me to lose focus on what's important right now, which is achieving a sense of normalcy, acing my finals, and graduating with my peers. I hope you understand and aren't offended."

"You're a tough negotiator Miss Steele." I smirk. Who would have thought that shy, quiet, Miss Steele would speak her mind with such detail and force. She was raised in a military family with her step-father, so she's protective over Taylor, Sawyer, and my security team, which I respect and almost wish I was one of them so she's look at me with the admiration she does them. I know they respect her as well. I can understand why both Taylor and Sawyer are protective of her. She's like a kid sister to them - one military family after all.

"I think it's time we allow Anastasia to rest, don't you Christian? After all, we've been in here talking to her for two hours. She needs dinner and sleep," Flynn commented having watched most of the recent interaction from the sideline. I know he's going to have fun at our next session after today. He doesn't miss anything, so it will be uncomfortable for me, but highly amusing for him. Sometimes he's such a shithead.

Reynolds knocked lightly, and then poked his head in the door. Gazing at my watch, I realized it was seven-thirty. It was time for Sawyer to go off-shift.

"Good evening Reynolds! How's your little sister? Is she feeling better?" Anastasia greets him happily. He replies that he's well and his sister is doing better with a quick grin. If I were any greener, I'd be changing into the Incredible Hulk.

"Just checking to make sure all is well in here since Sawyer wasn't at the door," Reynolds commented before nodding at Sawyer. He then closed the door and took his post for the night. Yup, Anastasia Steele has my entire security team wrapped around her delicate finger. Me? I'm just getting greener by the second. Kermit the Frog said it best – It's not easy being green.

After finally seeing Anastasia, I feel like I'm learning how to emotionally surf and I'm all over the place. The woman, barely a woman though only five years my junior, brings serenity and a sense of family to everyone else, but in my case, she throws my balance off. It feels like I'm trying to walk on a bed of marbles; ironically, while it feels like I'm losing my marbles. I wonder what her mother feels toward her. Does she love her amazing daughter? Or is she just apathetic or resentful toward her? She gave birth to her at nineteen after all.

My life was simpler before Anastasia Steele. It's difficult and to say the least uncomfortable when you realize it was also empty – devoid of any real emotional attachments. My emotions were limited to anger, frustration, and occasionally rage. I appreciate my parents and siblings, but love? For Grace it's more like devotion and admiration, but love? I wouldn't know love if it came up to me and hit me with a giant sex toy.

"Taylor, let's stop at the brew house Anastasia mentioned for dinner," I ordered as the rain began to fall. "Soup sounds good tonight."

"Yes sir."

Fifteen minutes later we are seated at a semi-private table waiting for our order of baked potato soup with an extra serving of the croutons along with large hoagies. "How do you think we should proceed in our investigation Taylor?"

"I have Welch and Barney at Escala now reviewing the security. Ryan has a team out checking up on all previous submissives, and a few other women," he replied uncertainly.

"What other women?"

Taylor shifts uncomfortably. "Any woman you know and interact with on a fairly frequent basis who has breast implants sir."

"Implants? I don't follow." Don't follow? Hell, I'm astounded.

He smirks. "Miss Steele nicknamed her attacker at Juggs McFetish." I can't help it, I smirk right along with him as our soup and croutons are served. "She also joked with Miss Kavanagh that they had to be fake because they didn't jiggle when the two cars were side-by-side going off the road. So Sawyer, Reynolds, and I compiled a list of women you interact with at GEH and beyond that we suspect of having had implants."

"Agreed." After we taste the soup and the croutons, we both dig in heartily. "We've got to get an order of soup and croutons for Mrs. Jones to see if she can duplicate this," I comment and Taylor agrees.

"Permission to speak freely sir," Taylor requests cautiously as our hoagies arrive.

I nod.

"We need to increase security on not only Miss Steele, but also surrounding yourself and all of your family, along with Ros Bailey and her immediate family in case the threat is GEH related. My best guess at this point is that Miss Steele is the main target, but I would prefer to act now than retroactively regretting not increasing our security presence for your family. I also would like to add covert surveillance on Miss Kavanagh due to her relationship with both Miss Steele and your brother. My concern is that she will not accept someone following her around and she's a potential pawn to be used again both Miss Steele and your brother, so she needs to be protected. Not to mention, if something happens to Miss Kavanagh, it could harm your relationship with Kavanagh media. I have a female operative ready to watch over Miss Kavanagh in Barbados if you approve."

"As much as I'm not a fan of Miss Kavanagh, I agree. I don't know what my brother sees in her other than breasts."

Taylor laughed. "She's not my cup of tea either sir, but she's fiercely loyal to Miss Steele, which is impressive considering they come from two very different upbringings. Even Miss Kavanagh's parents and brother have visited Miss Steele at the hospital. Sawyer was left with the distinct impression they thought of her as family and knew her quite well. He went so far as commenting that the elder Mr. Kavanagh tends to be cold, but when it came to his children and Miss Steele he was a completely different person."

"He's an ass unless you know him well, then he's just tenacious, loud and abrupt like his daughter."

"Barney is changing all of the security codes at Escala tonight. There is also a crew there right now changing all of the locks just in case," Taylor informed me. "Also, Miss Steele has given me the approval to review security in the building she'll be living in with Miss Kavanagh. I was there earlier and I would like to approach the building's board about adding security camera's to the lobby, rear exits, and other public areas. Miss Kavanagh's father purchased the apartment and two parking spaces. Mr. Rodriguez is bringing her vehicle up from Portland tomorrow night."

"And?" It's clear there's something about the vehicle that Taylor is apprehensive about disclosing. "Just say it Taylor."

"Miss Steele's current vehicle is a forty year old Beetle convertible that's seen better days. Given the current need for security, at the very least, once she is permitted to drive, she will require a safer car that can travel at higher speeds when needed, and have a hard top as opposed to a convertible," Taylor replies knowing I'll just send him to the Audi dealership to purchase a vehicle for her. "Knowing Miss Steele, and Sawyer agrees, she won't accept a new car from you. Since she's at least three weeks away from being permitted to drive, we thought a better solution would be to take her Beetle and restore it, while adding some power. We can tell her the restoration power would take two to three months and in the interim she can use one of your fleet vehicles; more specifically, not an Audi."

"Why not an Audi?" I snap. "They have the highest safety ratings."

He shifted uncomfortably before me. When his eyes finally met mine again, I could see reluctant determination in them. "You've bought all of your submissives Audi's. If the perpetrator is one of your former partners, the Audi will be a beacon toward Miss Steele. Also, eventually, Miss Steele might be made to understand that in your previous relationships Audi was the vehicle of choice, so if you want a chance to make things right with Miss Steele, Audi isn't the way to go. You want her to stand out from those before her."

I sigh. He's right. I have a great deal to learn about relationships. "What do you recommend?"

"The BMW Active Hybrid 5, preferably blue. It's the middle vehicle in their hybrid line, an excellent vehicle, and it shows that you are environmentally aware. Miss Steele and Miss Kavanagh volunteered on a committee at school to help make the university more environmentally aware," he replied. "It's a win-win. I've also arranged with Mrs. Jones to stock the apartment freezer with pre-made, microwavable meals at Miss Steele's apartment. Sawyer mentioned that Miss Steele's father commented that he can't boil water and that she did all the cooking growing up. I thought it would help her recuperate and still be taken care of. I provided Mrs. Jones with the apartment keys and she filled the refrigerator and pantry, but also had the third bedroom set up so Mr. Steele would have a place to sleep, along with other incidentals for the apartment. Coincidentally, Ryan lives in a building on the same block, so he compiled a folder of restaurants that deliver food and the location of the nearest book store."

"You've thought of everything," I replied. It was impressive.

"Actually sir, this was a team effort between Mrs. Jones, Sawyer, Ryan, Reynolds, and I. There is one more thing I need to add though." I nod for him to proceed. "Miss Steele doesn't own a computer, which makes it difficult for her to take her finals next week. I would like to have Barney deliver a laptop to her; otherwise she'll risk traveling to the university for her exams, which isn't medically advised."

"I would like to deliver the laptop to her tomorrow. Make sure it's top of the line and have a good desk and comfortable chair at the apartment for her; preferably a chair that will support her injured arm while she studies." This will be my excuse to see her, even if it's at the hospital before she's discharged.

"Sir, I don't believe it's prudent for you to deliver the laptop as Miss Steele is still apprehensive in your presence and your limited encounters with Mr. Steele have been awkward. Perhaps you will win more points with the elder Steele if you respect his daughter's wishes of limited contact," Taylor explains uncomfortably.

Reluctantly, I agree. "Have Welch and Andrea begin researching local publishing companies. Once Miss Steele is healed, she will be job hunting. I would like to be able to ensure her security if she finds employment."

"The information is already on your desk at home waiting," he replies with a smirk.

For the first time, Taylor surprises me. "You've been working for me for too long Taylor. It's unnerving that you can predict my actions so well. I'm certain that anyone who knew me growing up would ever say I was predictable." I can't help but smirk.

"It's what security does sir. We need to be able to predict your actions to guarantee your safety," he replies.

After dinner, Taylor took me to the apartment Anastasia would share with Kate Kavanagh. The three-bedroom flat was located five blocks from Escala and Ryan's building was just next door. While it wasn't the largest apartment, the location was perfect. It had the feel of a loft apartment with concrete countertops and exposed brick, yet it still felt like home. I was surprised to find Mrs. Jones and Sawyer unpacking boxes of new housewares in the kitchen. While she greeted me with a pleasant smile, her eyes and a special smile were reserved for Taylor when she thought I wasn't looking. I just want Anastasia to look at me like that. Taylor is a lucky man.

Mrs. Jones continued the tour of the apartment. "From what Sawyer understood from Mr. Steele, Miss Kavanagh and Miss Steele were going to be purchasing a new living room set when they moved here along with a dining room table. In order to make things more comfortable for Miss Steele and her father, Taylor had me decorate the living room and dining room."

The furniture was modern that fit with the loft feel, yet comfortable. I was impressed. They left no detail undone – wine and beer coolers side-by-side, stocked in a corner of the dining room, large LCD television set up with cable, additional pillows and throws, coasters, and even an array of publishing, women's, fishing, and sports magazines fanned out on the coffee table.

The guest bedroom was set up simply with a queen-sized bed, nightstands, dresser, and yet more fishing and sports magazines. The décor was unisex with the room accessories making it feel masculine. Next to the leather recliner in the corner was a small book shelf filled with books. There also was a small side-table.

Anastasia's bedroom was stunning. It had a beach-like theme filled with different shades of blues and crème colors. The headboard of the queen-sized bed was white-washed and the bedding assorted soft blues and yellows. Like Anastasia, the room felt serene. I glanced at Taylor when I saw the large wicker chair and matching ottoman in the corner covered with large soft cushions. Next to the wicker chair was a matching book case already stocked with her many books, strategically located on her uninjured side. I couldn't help but the top shelf included the collective works of Timothy Zahn, matching those in the guest bedroom for Ray. The small wicker side-table included a box of tissues, a Bose iPod dock, a sea mist candle, and a Costco-sized tub of assorted colored Swedish Fish. In the opposite corner was a white-washed desk that matched the bed. Before it wasn't a standard black or grey office chair, but a sleek, modern, rounded, crème-colored chair that would support her arm, neck, shoulder and back that was the perfect height for the desk. They even had a small drink cooler in the room with flowers and tropical plants scattered around the room. They thought of everything.

"We had to replace Miss Steele's bed," Gail explained. "It was twin-sized and was in need of a new mattress. We replaced it with a slightly higher bed so it would be easier for her to get out of. We also added extra pillows so she could support her injured arm. We went with the beach theme as all her belongings indicated she preferred the Cape Cod style." She paused until I smiled approvingly at her. "In the ensuite, we added a few sturdy temporary support bars in the shower and bath in case Miss Steele slips or needs additional support when she isn't feeling well."

I'm in awe at what they've accomplished in such a short period of time. "Gail, would you accompany Taylor to the hospital tomorrow to visit Miss Steele before she's discharged? With Miss Kavanagh still in school, Miss Steele will be surrounded by men and I thought it might help if she had a female around. I can't help but feel after everything she's been though, she needs a mother figure available and unfortunately her own mother isn't the appropriate person to provide that support. You can also be her contact person when she needs to vent about the testosterone overload surrounding her. You could also give her a tour of the apartment and walk her through the kitchen."

"I would be happy to sir," Gail replies with a massive smile. "I completely understand about being overwhelmed by too much testosterone. It's nice to see it acknowledged." I've never seen Gail smirk before – it's adorable. Yup, I've said it before, Taylor is a lucky man.

"And security?" I turn my attention toward Taylor and Sawyer.

"Each room has an alarm button in case of a problem. We've added an alarm system to the entire apartment, including all windows and doors. If anything happens here, we're notified at both Escala and GEH's security suites," Taylor explains.

"We've also replaced the apartment door with a steel-reinforced door for additional security," Sawyer explains. "Also, one of Ryan's friends lives two floors up. His security clearance has checked out and he's signed an NDA. In an emergency, he is willing to help out. If the emergency button is pushed in this apartment, he'll receive a text and most likely be one of the first responders. He's got a concealed carry permit and is retired from the New York City Police Department. He's our contingency plan."

As Taylor, Mrs. Jones, Sawyer, and I head back to Escala for the evening; I can't help but email my Human Resources team to increase their salaries by ten percent and include a bonus of ten percent of their annual salaries in that same check for Taylor, Sawyer, and Mrs. Jones. Yup, my people are that good.