Chapter 14 – Going Viral
Just over two weeks had passed since my first LARPing experience, as Anastasia called it. Since then we'd exchanged a few text messages, but beyond that radio silence. Kate and Elliot were back and both of them had accompanied her to have the pins removed from her arm last week. From what I understand she was recovering nicely. More than anything, I wanted to see her.
I paced around my home office wondering how I could make that happen without scaring her away. She'd open the door for communication, but until now I allowed her to set the tone. Hell, I almost wish Sawyer were here to provide some advice, but it would be at least another four weeks before he returned to work, perhaps more. I know now that Anastasia is living in Seattle, he sees her less as he's back at his apartment, going to regular physical therapy appointments and starting to work out again.
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in."
Taylor enters, as always dressed in his suit and tie even though we are in for the night.
"This envelope was delivered to the front desk for you Mr. Grey," he states apprehensively.
"Do we know who left it?"
"Miss Steele sir."
I take the envelope from his hand and open it. Inside it contains a brief note and a cashier's check made out to me in the sum of fifty-thousand dollars. The note reads:
Dear Mr. Grey,
Contained herein is a cashier's check equal to the sum you transferred into my bank account
without my consent. As you are well aware, I insisted you remove said funds from
my bank account. Since you have failed to perform said task, I have taken the liberty
of remitting said funds to you. (Hmmm, I really like the word 'said' today)
I hope you understand why I am unable to accept said remittance, but if you feel
you are unable to accept these funds, please note there are many wonderful charities
in the Seattle area, which are able to do more with them than I can. For example:
- Northwest Food Bank
- Cancer Lifeline
- Coping Together (Near & dear to both our hearts)
- Adventures in Literacy
Hope all is well.
Your friend and fellow secret-keeper,
Anastasia Steele
~feeling like she needs to get the stick out of her backside after writing this snooty letter
As much as I try, I can't help but smile. I pass the note to Taylor, who smirks. "She's something else Mr. Grey," Taylor laughs. "Sawyer said while she was home in Montesano, she spent a few days volunteering at a senior center."
"Nothing that confounding woman does will ever surprise me," I reply.
"Sir, I know this is short notice, but would it be possible to take a few hours off this evening?"
"Is everything okay Taylor?"
"Miss Steele is insisting on confronting one of her demons and invited Sawyer and I to accompany Ray, your parents, and Dr. Flynn to the Brew House this evening," he replies apprehensively. "According to Miss Steele, and I quote, I'll die without their croutons, so I'd better get my sorry ass back in there and confront my inner beast. She wants to recreate the evening to a certain degree and give it a different outcome – or as she puts it, make a new memory."
"Does Sawyer believe she's emotionally ready to handle that?" I can't help but ask. What if returning damages her further emotionally?
Taylor explains his belief that both Sawyer and Anastasia need to do this together. They bonded at the hospital originally, and then shared a life-altering experience. He believed it would be rough on all involved that night, but a necessary action on their part.
"Take all the time you need tonight Taylor. Please make certain both Anastasia and Sawyer don't over do it this evening."
He nods before leaving.
It's almost midnight and Taylor hasn't returned from the Brew House. I can only hope things went well. I decide no wait no further and head to bed, as I knew tomorrow was an early morning – seven a.m. appointment with Flynn, followed by a ten a.m. flight to Chicago to negotiate a contract on my latest acquisition. I knew Flynn wouldn't tell me anything about his sessions with Anastasia, though I ask every time. His textbook reply is: 'Miss Steele told me to tell you she is doing better.' Fucking Flynn!
Once I'm dressed, I head to the kitchen and take my place at the breakfast bar. As usual, Gail has my omelet and coffee waiting. "Good morning Gail."
"Good morning Mr. Grey," she replies with a smile.
"What time did Taylor get back last night?" I can't help but ask as I read a contract on my iPad.
"Unfortunately, I didn't hear him return, but other than being tired, he appeared quite happy this morning."
A few minutes later, Taylor joins me at the breakfast bar and Gail hands him a cup of coffee. "All of our luggage is in the Audi for our flight this morning Mr. Grey."
I nod. "How were Anastasia and Sawyer last night? Did everything go as planned?" I can see a smirk on Taylor's face. I know from five years of experience with him, when he can't maintain his practiced, impassive look there is usually a good story associated with it.
"I would say it went better than expected during the first hour or two," he chuckled, "but the one thing I've learned from Miss Steele over the past month or so is nothing she does is ordinary."
"For example?" I ask watching him closely.
"Well, when it came time for Miss Steele to venture into the ladies room where the shooting took place, Sawyer stood by the door and Miss Steele insisted on going in alone. Luke and Dr. Flynn wanted to accompany her, but she flatly refused them. She was in there for ten minutes when word leaked to the media that not only that both she and Sawyer were there, but also why they were there. One of the local television news crews appeared with video cameras at the ready. Sawyer just about had a stroke when the female reporter pushed her way into the ladies room."
"How did they get past Sawyer?"
"Have you seen Luke lately? He still looks like hell. We're going to be lucky to get him back for another six to eight weeks according to Dr. Trevelyan."
I'm glaring at Taylor now, yet he's still smirking. "Are you going to tell me what happened Taylor? I snap at him.
"Would you both like to see? A picture, or video in this case, is worth a thousand words." Taylor grins broadly now as he takes my iPad and goes to YouTube. With a click of a video on the front page, he turns the screen toward Gail and I.
This is Jenna Garrity reporting from Seattle's own Brew House, where shooting victims, Anastasia Steele and Luke Sawyer returned to the scene of the violent crime that took place exactly four weeks ago today. We've arrived just after Anastasia Steele re-entered the ladies room where the shooting took place for the first time. According to our sources, Miss Steele has been in there for roughly ten minutes. Luke Sawyer, who nearly died from multiple gunshot wounds that night, was ever present at the door, peaking in occasionally.
We watch as Luke peaks in the ladies room once again and chuckles. We even hear him say, "Oh Ana! You are really being naughty tonight."
A male member of the news crew pulls Luke away from the ladies room and we see him stumble and hear a pronounced crash, before the reporter and her camera crew burst into the ladies room. They find Anastasia sitting on the floor, surrounded by quarters and a pair of scissors, as she stares at her original artwork on the wall. The grin plastered on her face is priceless.
"Is that what I think they are?" I ask Gail. I'll admit it – Ana's original.
"Yes Mr. Grey, those are feminine hygiene products," she replies blushing.
We laugh loudly as the camera focuses on the wall where Ana spelled out:
The Brew House
Great Food
Great Beer
Great People
Don't allow the actions of one poor soul
to destroy a local business!
SAVE THE BREW HOUSE!
Signed: Ana S. & Luke S.
"Miss Steele, how are you feeling?" the reporter asks her.
"Good thanks," she replies as Luke, Ray, and Taylor enter the restroom.
"And Mr. Sawyer, how are you feeling?" she asks him.
"I'd say no comment, but if you are live on the air, I hope you enjoy the lawsuit I'm going to file against your company and your lackey assaulting me out there," he replies with a smirk. "Clearly, I've felt better."
The reporter rolls her eyes at him before turning her attention to Anastasia, who merely glances up at her serenely. "So Miss Steele, any comments on your accident, the shooting, or your relationship with Christian Grey and his security team?"
She smirks before replying, "Accident – ouch! Shooting – ouch again! Christian Grey – the smoking hot ginger man was an interesting interview, but that's about it. I haven't seen him since the shooting and even then, only because Luke is a member of his security team. I don't anticipate seeing him again in the near or distant future. But Ladies – this hottie is single, straight, and pictures don't do him justice." She giggles hysterically. "Sorry gay men of Seattle, but that should end the gay rumors. Enter the mourning period now."
"How do you know he's not gay?" the reporter asked excitedly.
She laughs again. "We're live on the air, right?"
The reporter nods. "Based on my limited exposure to Mr. Grey, he has a thing for gorgeous blondes, preferably those who don't dress like whores. Case in point, where did you get that awful shirt? I mean really? They allow you to go on the air like that? All that's missing is the price tag." She giggles, as does everyone around her.
The reporter is clearly speechless as Ana gets to her feet with Ray's assistance and approaches the woman. "Please do not allow one incident destroy this wonderful local business that happened to be the restaurant where my father purchased my dinner nightly while I was recovering from my car accident. If we didn't enjoy the food so much, then this establishment wouldn't have been a commercial victim of a senseless crime. Oh and Ms. Garrity, perhaps you should check facts before you print or go on air and spread unsubstantiated rumors and innuendo about people. I'm sure both my family and Mr. Grey's family didn't appreciate your shoddy, hurtful, and made up stories. Clearly, you are unaware of how a professional journalist is supposed to behave."
The video ends when the scene is cut and returned to the local newsroom and the anchor announces they are experiencing technical difficulties.
"Holy shit," I exclaim with a grin. "She was high as a kite, wasn't she?"
"Yup," Taylor replies. "One pain pill and two shots of her father's beer was all it took was for our Miss Steele to become a Youtube viral video, save a restaurant, and take down a reporter."
"Plus I'm out of the closet," I smirk.
"According to the news station, the reporter was placed on administrative leave early this morning and they've issued apologies to the Grey, Sawyer, and Steele families. Luke texted me and said they offered him a six figure settlement this morning for the assault captured on film," Taylor laughed. "After the news crew left, the Brew House owners locked the doors and we partied until about two in the morning. Elliot picked up your parents at about one a.m., Dr. Flynn dropped Ana, Sawyer, and Ray off at Sawyer's house somewhere around two thirty, and I walked back here right after that. All in all, it was a great night."
"Ana and Luke probably saved that business," Gail commented happily.
"Saved it? I'd give it two years and they'll be franchises in major cities. I might have to buy in before it grows."
Our conversation is interrupted when Taylor receives a text and shows it to us:
Sawyer: Viral video, hounded by media, new contact numbers for us are in your email until this blows over. GMA and Today Show are annoying as all fuck. They've called both my phone and Ana's dozens of times overnight. Assholes! Media is already in Montesano, by Ana's apartment, and my apartment. Ray headed home, but Ana and I heading to the Rodriguez hunting cabin in Astoria until this blows over.
A week has passed and the GEH Public Relations Department has fielded requests for interviews from me by every major news outlet in the country, all due to the viral video. While it's amusing, it's also frustrating because it's consuming too many man-hours for my team.
"Hey Bro!" Elliot barges into my office with Taylor right behind him.
"What is it Elliot? I really don't have the time or patience for games today," I snap.
He helps himself to a beer from the mini-frig in my office and a bag of nuts from the cabinet before plopping himself unceremoniously into a chair before the video monitor. With a click of the remote, the television turns on and he begins machine-gunning it through the channels before stopping at the locally owned Kavanagh Media station, which is currently playing advertisements.
"I think you'll quite enjoy the interview Kate is doing today," he retorts.
"Welcome back to the Kavanagh Media national network of stations, where we will bring you and exclusive interview with unwitting Internet sensations, Anastasia Steele and Luke Sawyer. This is Kate Kavanagh reporting and I will admit, interviewing Ana, my college roommate of four years is going to be fun."
Anastasia and Sawyer both appear nervous as they sit side-by-side with Kate. Even I have to admit, their strategy seems like a good one.
"So Ana, we've known each other for a long time now, how did it feel interviewing the enigma that is Christian Grey for the college paper? What were your first impressions?"
"Well, after I literally fell into his office and he helped me up, I felt he was a bit arrogant, but as the interview went on, it became abundantly clear there was more to the man. When he spoke about hunger relief and his grants at WSU, you could see the passion in his eyes, yet he didn't want to take credit for his wonderful actions," Ana replied. "It didn't take long to see that the big bad businessman, Christian Grey, had a heart of gold underneath the physically perfect, yet foreboding exterior."
"Mr. Sawyer, any comments on your boss?" Kate asked.
"He's a good man," Luke commented.
"You're taciturn," Kate laughed. "You remind me of a younger, hotter version of Ana's dad."
"Not after a few beers he's not," Ana replied with a smirk.
"What was going through your mind Ana during the car chase that led to your accident?" Kate queried.
Ana rolled her eyes at Kate and replied, "As I recall 'I'm going to die' was a never ending loop in my head. Since we are live, on the air, I'm leaving out the F-word that was in the middle of that repeating phrase."
"Do you remember what you said when the rescue team found you at the river's edge?"
"I just remember being surrounded by hunky angels with badges," she replied blushing.
"Oh Ana, you're never going to live this down. Let's play the tape," Kate laughed.
A moment later, we heard Ana's disoriented voice from the police recording, "Holy heck I died and I'm the only virgin in man-candy heaven"
"Thanks Kate," Ana said blushing profusely. "Remember my friend, revenge is a dish best served cold. I know where you live roomie."
"What's your relationship with the hunk here?" Kate asked pointing at Luke.
"He's an old friend of my father's who happens to work for Mr. Grey," she replied.
"No romantic feelings?" Kate asked.
Ana and Luke looked at each other the broke out laughing. "He's sixteen years older than me. I might have developed some issues after the past month, but definitely not daddy issues. Ladies, this handsome man is six foot six and single."
"Ana!" Luke snaps at her. "I can't keep changing my number every time you do this." Ana merely laughs at him.
"So Luke, you guarded Ana after the accident. Was it as a favor to her father or Mr. Grey's orders?" Kate pushed.
"Honestly, it was a bit of both. Since the attack on Ana happened immediately after she came to Seattle and did a photoshoot for the article on Mr. Grey, we, the members of his security team felt it prudent to keep an eye on her. Given his status, he receives threats, which is why he has a security team. When I realized the woman in the accident was Ray's daughter I couldn't leave her without security. We're like family. Until the SPD found out who was responsible for this targeted attack, we couldn't leave her unprotected. Mr. Grey agreed."
"So Ana, I hear you aced your finals just over a week after your accident," Kate congratulated her. "That night you, Luke, your dad, and another member of Mr. Grey's security team ventured out to celebrate the end of your university career at the Brew House, correct?"
"Yes, and as you know, all hell broke loose," Ana sighed. "All laughing matters aside, I can sit here and recount what happened that night, but the reality is, Luke and I weren't the only victims. Our respective families suffered, but let's not forget the Jamesons, who based on my conversations with them over the past few weeks are struggling. Don't judge them because their daughter suffered from a mental illness. While society today is more understanding of those who's lives are made difficult due to mental illness, we still have a long way to go overall in making certain those who need treatment receive it without financial barriers. The Jamesons shouldn't be looked upon with disdain, fear, and hatred. Maggie Jameson needed help and wasn't able to receive it. I think I speak for both Luke and our families when I say, more needs to be done to help people like Maggie. As a society, we need to have more compassion."
"Agreed," Luke added. "I was fortunate enough to be offered a settlement and I've accepted it from the local news station who filmed the viral video." He pulls out a check from his pocket and shows it to the camera. "This check will be donated to the Youth Mental Health Counseling Service for the Greater Seattle Area. We have to help those, who can't help themselves."
"Kavanagh Media would like to announce a matching two-hundred and fifty thousand dollar donation to the Youth Mental Health Counseling Service for Greater Seattle," Kate announces.
"So Ana," she continues, "Luke and I have had the privilege of seeing you first hand after your accident and the shooting. You're what - Five-three, maybe ninety-five pounds dripping wet. Tell us, how did your post op medications affect you?"
Luke laughed and Ana smacked him on the arm. "Well Kate, I guess you can say my inhibitions lower and my artistic ability increases."
"That's an understatement," Luke laughs.
"Dammit Luke, I know your secrets too," Ana snaps at him. "Okay, so the truth is the post op pain medications took me from Clark Kent to the snarky, free-spirited SuperAna."
"Care to provide any examples Luke of how our demure little bookworm here transformed?" Kate asked with a smirk.
"Our little Ana here suffered from major brain to mouth filter issues, but revealing them would be embarrassing to some," he replied blushing.
"You mean like wanting to have you replace David Beckham's picture in Times Square standing there in your skivvies?" Kate asked as she checked him out.
"Kate!" Ana snapped and Luke blushed profusely.
"Or her blabbering on and on about doing a calendar of Mr. Grey's security because they all had rather attractive backsides," Kate continued. "Or the ramblings when she was on a morphine pump after the accident when she wondered if South Park was right about gingers having no souls and how it affected Mr. Grey and 'his sweet ass'. And let's not forget her rant about breast implants."
"Remember Kate, I roomed with you for four years at college and we still share an apartment," Ana threatened barely able to contain her laughter.
"So explain to the viewers, what made you go back to the Brew House last week?"
Luke and Ana glanced at each other, before Ana replied, "We could either live with the emotional demon the night of the shooting created, or slay it. We opted for the latter, so we gathered those that were with us that night, a therapist, and one of the doctors from the hospital who treated me, along with her husband to return the same night of the week, same basic time we went the day of the shooting."
"We sat at the same table," Luke continued softly as he held Ana's hand, "ate the same food, and tried to create a new memory. We had no idea when Ana went into the bathroom that rather than burst out crying, she's redecorate it with feminine hygiene products. Honestly, I expected her to break down, but none of us realized before she went she took a pain pill as she's still having issues with headaches and her arm. We didn't think twice when she had two shots of her father's beer sampler and the other side of Ana came out – her artistic, snarky side.
"Over dinner," Luke continued, "we'd all discussed the news coverage and speculation surrounding the accident, Mr. Grey, and all the other verbal diarrhea people wrote to sell papers and increase viewership. It really was infuriating, but if you'd told me that our quiet, little Ana would send a message with hygiene products and trash a reporter live on the air, well, I would have bet my life savings against it."
"You would have lost, big time," Kate replied. "Roll the viral video!"
We watched the video play once again. It was just as amusing the second, third and tenth time for all of us.
"So Steele, what was going through that twisted brain of yours when you told off the reporter?"
Ana sighed before becoming bitter and angry, "I'd seen and read a bunch of her work covering the accident and then the shooting. There is nothing worse than not having a voice when you hear someone fabricating stories without a basis in fact about people you care about or people you know. I mean, people can dig all they want about me, there's nothing there to be found, so there wasn't much for them to invent other than a relationship with Mr. Grey.
"I found the treatment of Mr. Grey by the media to be absolutely abhorrent," she continued as she rubbed the back of her head. "He's a private guy, who happens to have worked hard and became filthy rich. That doesn't give the media the right to treat him as they did. I mean, calling my accident Grey's Chappaquiddick? Really? What the hell was that? Accusing him of misleading the police? I mean, come on – it's preposterous. The Bookworm and the Billionaire? Okay, I'll admit, that one, to me, was hilarious. I mean, what the hell would someone like Mr. Grey see in someone like me. I mean, I'd say we run in different social circles, but heck, I don't even run in a social circle. He flies a state of the art helicopter, and me, well, I drive a forty year old Beetle named Wanda. The media, with few exceptions, had no respect for the truth and Ms. Garrity was one of the worst offenders with her stories about kink and Chappaquiddick. So much for journalistic integrity."
Ana stopped, lowered her head and once again, rubbed the back of her head for a few seconds. Luke immediately knelt before her and asked if she was okay.
She nodded and looked at Kate, who also made sure she was feeling up to continuing.
"Two major concussions and one skull fracture in a month will leave you with headaches," Ana sighed in reply. "So now, imagine me at the restaurant last week having taken a pain pill, two shots of beer, and being royally pissed off at the media based on our dinner time conversations. I might be little, but you know me Kate, I hate liars, so when the opportunity presented itself with Ms. Garrity live on the air, I was already unfiltered and snarky, and I seized the moment. Did I intend it to go viral? No. All I knew was that woman and her fabrications caused a great deal of emotional pain to some really good people, and I just let the words just flow."
"Way to call the media out on their methods Steele," Kate replied laughing. "I'd say I speak for most journalists when I say, I hope we don't piss you off."
Ana laughed and rubbed her head again.
"So Ana," Kate teased her friend. "What's next for you – world diplomacy?"
"First and foremost, this is my first and absolutely last interview ever, so the media need to stop calling me. The last thing I want is attention of any type. If they don't leave me alone, who knows, maybe a restraining order will work," Ana replied quietly. "Right now, I'm going to get myself the help I need in order to process the events of the past month, find a job, read a few books, and annoy the hell out of my roommate – that pain in the butt reporter for Kavanagh Media."
"And you Luke?"
"Finish recovering, visit my family in Texas, and then head back to work."
"Ana and Luke, I want to thank you on behalf of Kavanagh Media for giving us this exclusive interview. It's refreshing to see people stand up for truth and ethics in media."
"Ana's awesome," Elliot laughed. "I swear, the only thing that would have made it better is if she'd been on pain meds during the interview with Kate."
Elliot and Taylor's phone vibrate at the same time. For Elliot it's Kate, and for Taylor it's Sawyer, but the message is the same; they are taking Anastasia to be checked out by my mother due to her headaches.