Wounds to Bind Chapter 17 – 'Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.' –Martin Luther King, Jr.
August 6 – APOV
We enjoyed consignment shopping except for the last store we visit. I found items at the three other stores we visited. I found a navy twin set, and a light blue sweater, purse and heels to go with the navy column dress. I found a short-sleeve red silk shirt which will go with navy and grey items in my closet. Emily, Amber and Claire also found items.
At the last consignment store, I cursed with a brunette saleswoman who is approximately thirty. "Hot pink, sage and yellow are NOT your colors," she snipes, criticizing the clothes in my arms. Her overt hostility makes me speechless.
"She's holding things for us," Amber takes the clothes from my arms and hands them off to Emily and Claire. I return to the racks to look at clothes. The bitchy saleswoman follows…voicing her thoughts about each item I examine…not my color…wrong style for my body type…too trendy…too stuffy…an odd color which will limit its coordination with other separates…not appropriate for office wear…too slutty for casual wear…
"What part of size TWO don't you understand?" Claire loses her cool when the bitchy saleswoman keeps trying to give me size six clothes to try on. Two customers snap pictures of the bitchy saleswoman. They urge us to leave while she argues with them over the pictures. Claire and my coworkers grab me by the arm and we leave. Every one of us declare we'll never return.
Part of me feels guilty about not shopping with Kate, but she is spending quality time with her parents. Claire tweets our horrible shopping experience. Amber yelps a scathing review of the place. Emily facebooks a snarky review of the saleswoman and names the store. I don't understand social media at all and apologize to my coworkers. I blame my attitude on low blood sugar. They understand. They read responses from their posts and we all have a good laugh. After a wonderfully fun lunch at Hard Rock Café, I take my coworkers home.
I shop for next week's groceries. The big grocery store near Kate and my condo has shrimp pasta salad on sale. I find a wonderful recipe for White Wine Sangria with Strawberries and Lemon Slices. I get the items I need for it. The store features lime, cucumber and mango relish and I can't resist buying a pint. I found wonderful Portobello mushroom caps to grill along with marinated rib-eye steaks. Additionally, they have a prepared strawberry kiwi shortcake dessert. I grab salad items and a tub of fresh creamy avocado ranch dressing. Their prepared garlic bread will heat in the foil wrapper.
Ethan grills while he and Harley have a conversation about Ethan's part of the SEC investigation. Shawn and I make pitchers of the white sangria in the kitchen. He's hilarious! I never laugh so hard in my life. I tell him about the workout clothes and hard bodies in the gym. He laughs with me.
Over dinner, we all talk – and not about business. Ethan describes his upcoming classes. He enrolled in online summer classes. Shawn and Harley share painting the family room of their house. After a month and seventeen quart-size cans of paint, they've settled on evergreen and sage with cognac leather and oak furniture for their 'man cave'. I talk about girls' night, shopping this morning and lunch at the Hard Rock.
Shawn asks about my issues with shopping, and I reply with an exaggerated eye roll. I explain Kate and Mom knew how to shop from birth. Shawn swears Ethan to secrecy, and offers to shop for me when I'm meeting Harley. He said I can claim I spent the time shopping. I can blame my shopping on the upgraded wardrobes appearing at Grey Publishing. He'll give me the receipt each time. This is really a good deal for me, other than I have another person trying to dress me. Plus, I can tell Mom what I purchased when we have an uncomfortable silence on the phone. I accept Shawn's offer and we establish rules – no prints, no pastels and nothing which starts mid-bosom or ends mid-thigh. I promise him a tour of my closet before he goes so he knows what I have for clothes. In return, he has to teach me about assembling wardrobes.
Shawn and Ethan excuse themselves to do the dishes and clean the kitchen while Harley and I linger on the balcony, enjoying the sunset, and talking about Hyde and Lincoln. The SEC is investigating Hyde's stockbroker.
XXX – CPOV
Striker to Grey: Day with girls, shopping and lunch. One of my operatives intervened at one of the stores. Picture of the brunette saleswoman attached. She was bitchy to Miss Steele. My operative and her cover intervened so Miss Steele and her coworkers could leave. We have a name for the saleswoman, Kendra Trask. Perhaps she recognized Miss Steele from the WSUV and the Grey Publishing photos and treated her badly because of them.
On the fun side – Miss Steele's friends did a torch and scorch on the consignment store via social media. My IT staff researched their social media and there were over 500 responses from three forms of social media. I'm doubt Miss Trask will have a job at the consignment store once the owners react to the poor reviews. Miss Steele's coworkers counseled her on using social media. She explained she'd rather spend her time reading. Laughter all around.
Miss Steele grocery shopped. Harrison and roommate Stanton at Kavanagh condo. Dinner on balcony, with A. Steele and E. Kavanagh. Guests left before ten o'clock. They drove Stanton's car. Photos and license plate attached. Preliminary check on Stanton – he met Harrison in college, and they are daytraders for the same firm.
XXX
Sawyer takes Taylor and me wall climbing Saturday morning. We lunched at the club and golfed with Bastille, Dad and Grandpa Theo. Mia and Mom shopped, using Mom's CPO. Taylor and I stopped at the BBQ place by Elliot's condo before returning to Escala. Taylor worked on background checks in the security office while I worked on preliminary research for M&A.
I get Striker's message and I want to go kick Kendra's ass. I tell Taylor about Kendra. He said he's not surprised. She's been socializing with Susannah Martin lately. He's surprised Leila hasn't been in contact with them. Taylor reports Kendra asked Dominic a lot of questions about the furniture and toys which he and Louis sold to various customers of Locke and Keyes. Dominic said she could ask all she wanted, but he wasn't telling.
Taylor suggests we go down to Escala's pool and swim until we exhaust ourselves. My legs are rubber when we return to the penthouse after midnight. I barely dry off from my shower before falling into bed.
August 10 – 3PPOV
Sir is in the news again. Why does he have pictures taken with Miss Steele? They are both wearing grey. What's with the coordinating outfits? Is she trying to tell the world she belongs to Sir? He's wearing the same tie from her graduation picture. Is the tie a thing between them?
Since Sir owns the company where she works, and since SIP/GP moved, I must research which buses she might take. I can tell she had a salon day from the pictures in the paper. I didn't see her red Audi A3 parked at Esclava, Post Alley this weekend. I must counsel her. Salon days may be in her contract, but she can't trust that bitch Elena Lincoln.
My rent by the week motel is not in the best part of Seattle and costs me $600 a month. My room has an exterior door to a courtyard. I bought and installed a heavy duty chain lock with key. I don't pay for maid service. I don't want anyone in my room. The bed and bath linens are thin and overwashed. The hot water is tepid early in the morning or late at night. When I leave, I place dowel rods in the window tracks to keep someone from popping the sliding windows open. I turn the crappy TV on low, lock the chain, and lock the door. Hopefully, that will prevent intruders. When I'm alone at night I tuck a chair under the doorknob – but the chairs are so rickety, they'd break apart with force.
The eight days of clothes I took from Anastasia's closet means I won't buy clothes until the weather turns. I'm careful to do my laundry away from the motel. I don't want anyone seeing my nice clothes and breaking into my room to take them. I bought a hoody and a backpack from a thrift store to help me disappear in a city of over half a million. The cross-body bag I took had a matching wristlet. I stuff my ID, bus e-pass, motel room keys, mailbox key and money in the wristlet. I'm grateful Sir anticipated the need for such a handy thing.
I bought a new burner phone and a refurbished HP mini laptop from a second-hand tech store. Several fast food franchises and malls in the city have free WIFI. I know keeping anything in my motel room is not safe. I rented a 12x12x6 drawer at a mail express business. Six months cost me $150. I can keep my laptop, jewelry and spare cash there. No one can see the contents; I have a key for access. All I ever get is junk mail, so I don't mind staff accessing the mail slot. The lobby where the boxes are located is available 24/7.
XXX – CPOV
Flynn and I have a rough session with one another. We discuss my schedule. He wants proof I'm lunching with at least one family member a week and attending at least one family dinner a month. We talk about my Labor Day Weekend plans. I want to invite Ana to go sailing with my family and we argue. My parents always have a barbeque on Labor Day. In the past, Mom has invited Elena. Flynn claims Ana in the same vicinity as Elena is like dropping nitro glycerin on top of a lit match. He wants to discuss my options for turfing Elena.
"I've been thinking about Elena and other people who have access to my life. After researching my options, I have decided to gift the Esclava Salons to Elena. Barney researched the Esclava Salons financials. My legal team will pay off outstanding debts and then remove my name and influence from the Esclava Salons. I plan to tell my parents Elena gave me the startup money for my business. I will explain I repaid her loan when I gave her the startup money for the chain of salons. I will tell them I've given her my share of the salons to terminate our business relationship. I will ask Mom to cease inviting Elena to family dinners and events. I will ask Mom, Mia and Grandma to use a different salon."
"Ambitious plan," Flynn considered my points. "But why do I think there is more?"
I outline my plan for giving my stock in restaurants and clubs to Mia, in addition to establishing her event planning company. I outline my plan to give my stock in Grey Construction and its subsidies to Elliot, plus the deeds to several buildings. I explain eliminating personal stock from my life closes back doors and access to me. I've discussed this plan with Welch and Taylor and received a green light from my security team.
August 12 – APOV
"I'm the boss," Jack offered his hand to shake with Harley at Swine and Wine.
"I'm the new person of interest in Ana's life, Harley Harrison," Harley turned to me. "I placed and paid for our order to go. If you pick up our order, I can get acquainted with your boss. Our order under my name with the last four digits of my phone number."
"How long have you known Ana?" Jack watched Ana walk away.
"We just met in July. Her roommate Ethan is a college friend of mine." Harley didn't like the way Hyde watched Ana.
"So, what do you do for a living?" Jack didn't take his eyes off Ana's ass.
"I'm a stockbroker," Harley noted Hyde's immediate interest. "Are you interested in economics? Ana is simply bored to tears when I discuss my work. My family is clueless about economics, finances, stock market, etc."
"I've read a few books about economics," Jack commented. "Ana may not have told you but I have an eidetic memory. I remember everything I read."
"Wow!" Harley enthusiastically responded. "That talent would be so handy to have at my job. I could look at the opening stock prices and be able to respond faster to my clients. I have a fast database and double laptops going at all time, with Google alerts on my smart phone. We've just come off a run on stock for companies which manufacture school supplies, uniforms and books. Stocks are cyclic. If you look at the 'to buy' list for every month, then you know which stock to buy eight to twelve weeks in advance. New car models come out in September, so the time to buy stock in car companies is June or July. Now would be a good time to invest in jewelry, electronics, and gourmet food markets because everyone gears up for the holidays by October first. Airlines, transportation and high-end hotel chains are safe bets also."
"So, if you and Ana don't talk economics or your job – what do you discuss?" Jack's question was too casual.
"Literature, art, wines – she likes white wine. We go to museums and events," Harley pretended to look at a flyer. "We stay in for quiet nights, with wine, movies, fun and games…" He intentionally sounded smarmy.
"All done," I approached the table. "Thank you for ordering dinner."
"Thank you for having dinner with me tonight," Harley dropped a kiss to my cheek before shaking Jack's hand goodbye. "I found a flyer for the Run, Sweat and Beers 5K run the Saturday before Halloween to support Safe Streets. I'm thinking we could run or walk together for a good cause." He handed me the flyer.
"You're welcome here any Friday night with Ana. She doesn't socialize with her coworkers very much. I think you will be good for her." Jack smiled at Harley and slapped him on the back. He watched us as we left.
Harley and I discussed his introduction to Jack. We talk about the acquisition of SIP by Grey House. He tells me about the two sizeable SIP purchases by Jack's brokerage house. Someone had advance information about the SIP merger. Harley thinks Jack got the information about the buyout from hacking upper management emails at SIP. He says the second purchase was probably from Jack's stockbroker, although he is still researching Elena Lincoln.
I tell Harley about Christian establishing an event planning company for Mia, but I don't know if Grey Calendars a startup or if Christian is buying and relocating an established firm for Mia to run. Harley agrees to keep an eye on stocks purchased by Jack's brokerage house in case there are more large stock purchases they can tie to Grey House.
I give him the picture of Claire's boyfriend. I explain he looks familiar, but I can't place him. I want to know who he is for my peace of mind. Harley wants to install a firewall on our computers at the condo. He says we use a commercially rated product, which is good but not great considering the program is hackable. He will install a top of the line firewall recommended or used for small federal offices. He also wants to install an audio jammer which will keep our SEC conversations from being recorded when he's at the condo. He recommends carrying a personal audio jammer if I don't want lunch conversations overheard, recorded or filmed.
"I found some wardrobe basics," Shawn reported over dinner. "If Kate asks, you consignment shopped after work. Black light wool slim trousers, a red silk long-sleeved blouse, a cream linen blazer, and a grey cashmere blazer. I found a navy light wool pencil skirt and a navy cashmere cardigan. These pieces will give you more work ensembles, and should coordinate with other things in your closet. Additionally, they help fill gaps in your fall capsule."
"Everything is great – thanks for the alibi! How much do I owe you?" I have $200 stashed for emergencies in my wallet. I gladly paid the price he named and still have folding money in my wallet.
Shawn taught me to coordinate two weeks of fall/winter apparel with the clothes he bought and separates I had. I agree to email him pictures of my shoes and handbags, and my shoe size. He promises to email me URLs for sites where I can learn about different kinds of purses, shoes, skirts, coats, etc. He says my education has to be expanded beyond the basics. GROAN.
XXX – CPOV
"Tonight, we begin touch tolerance progression. I will massage you on areas which are not sensitive to touch. A few weeks will pass before we are ready to massage sensitive areas. My massages will be like water on rocks. I'll wear away at large untouchable areas until we can pinpoint the exact smaller areas where you cannot bear to be touched. I have a large torso bandage for you to wear. The torso bandage will cover your front and back scars. When I massage, I will massage up to the line created by the bandage. Once you are desensitized in those areas, I will give you 2x2 adhesive patches to put on your scars. I will desensitize the area around the scars."
"Then what will happen?" I ask.
"I will try burn therapy massage with you. Patients with burn scars are sometimes introduced to massage therapy as a way of reducing the pain and anxiety connected with burn scars. Sometimes I use guided therapy – you determine the strength of my touch on your scars. Sometimes those sessions can take several weeks. I needed forty weeks to work through 28 scars. But I worked from the least bothersome scars to the really difficult ones on my chest. I needed half a dozen massage sessions for the scar on my neck. I learned the hard way with my neck scar. I went sunbathing and didn't put sunscreen on my neck because I didn't want to freak out and ruin the fun of the day. I had to apply aloe sunburn gel for a week afterward, and I didn't forget my sunblock again."
"Been there, done that," I grimaced. "Mom bought cases of spray-on sunscreen for me when I was younger."
"You will determine the order of how I massage your scars. I will massage the area until you can bear to touch without the massage. The process takes time – we have no deadline. If you miss a therapy session, we start at the beginning. Not the beginning with the PowerPoints, but the beginning of massage therapy."
I nodded. While I understood her methods, I was still apprehensive.
"I don't touch you if your eyes are squeezed closed. I stop touching if you clench your hands, or jaws or if your limbs freeze. I watch your breathing, eye movements and body language. I'm not doing sports massage to ease muscle pain. I'm not doing intimate massage to give you a happy. I don't work in isolation. You are never alone with me. Flynn and Taylor are here during every session." Sela ensured we had eye contact during this statement. "During TTT your visible wounds are touched and massaged. The area of centralized pain is explored. But miracles won't happen tonight. Miracles won't happen next week. We will build up to sensitive touch areas, like you had to build up to certain scenes with submissives. This week I will massage hands, arms, feet, and legs. If at any time you become uncomfortable, let me know."
"I will," I promise.
"You need something to restore your equilibrium after a session. Physical pursuits, not sex, are acceptable. Running, kick boxing, playing music…do whatever calms your mind after a session and before bed. Soaking in a hot tub is acceptable. Do your equilibrium exercise regularly, when you are overwhelmed or stressed, and always after a session."
"I choose the piano," I refrain from humming a soothing tune.
"Allow time to breathe in your life; don't overbook yourself. If you throw yourself into work, you become isolated and fatigued. Don't use work to escape from your personal issues. You need to build your interpersonal bridges. Engage in family support. Attend social gatherings. Work on attending events as long as possible. Shake hands. Engage in small talk. Pay it forward. There's always someone worse off than you who could use a helping hand. Each of us has the opportunity to face our lives and difficulties with courage."
Flynn suggested a bathroom break and Sela sent us off with a wave. "We'll meet in there," she indicated the adjoining room. "You need to strip down to the shorts and sleeveless t-shirt I asked you to bring. If you want, you can bring Jason into this room to wait for you."
XXX
"Lay down on the table, face up." Sela directed. "We'll begin with hand massages. Stretch your fingers and hands to warm them up. Make a tight fist, and then fling your fingers out as far as you can." She demonstrated. "Repeat five times."
Sela watched my hands carefully. "Now, make a loose fist with each hand and roll your wrists in circles five times in each direction." She demonstrated. "Are you allergic to nuts or to lavender?"
"Not that I know," I ponder her question.
"My almond oil, scented with lavender, doesn't feel greasy and the scent reportedly relaxes you. I will begin with massaging the back of your hand, followed by the palm of your hand, followed by massaging your fingers. Then I will massage the second hand. Then I will move to your wrists and forearms, followed by elbows and biceps. I will not go past the area where your sleeveless t-shirt ends. If you are still comfortable, we will progress to your feet, ankles and legs."
XXX
"Christian…"
I barely wake up. Why is Mia calling me…there's no school today?
"Christian…"
I am more awake. I'm not at home. Mia is not with me. I'm not a teenager.
"Christian…" Sela speaks, but she moved away from me and closer to Flynn. "Are you awake?"
"What?" I'm becoming fully alert. "What happened?" I sit up abruptly.
"You fell asleep while I massaged your right bicep," Sela explained. "Once I realized you were asleep, Flynn watched you. I finished your right arm massage. I didn't want to start on your feet or legs without you being fully conscious."
"I appreciate you pausing, but I think we'll stop for the night. I can't guarantee I will stay awake for a foot, ankle and leg massage." I stretched. "I feel amazing," I told her.
"You obviously needed to nap at least thirty minutes." Sela reached for the blanket. "When I'm done massaging, I cover you with a warm blanket to keep the muscles warm and relaxed, and prevent cramping. If you are having trouble sleeping, consider an electric blanket set on low levels. Sometimes the warmth helps you to sleep." While Sela tidies the massage room, Flynn talks to me to ensure I'm wide awake.
"We need to do the ten-minute holding practice. I will cup your biceps. You may hold my shoulders or my waist." She stood toe-to-toe with me and touched my biceps. I held her waist. Flynn asked silly questions like favorite ice cream, movie, book, color, holiday, vacation spot, band, actor, etc. Those ten minutes flew by fast, and I didn't mind Sela having her hands on my biceps.
"I planned to introduce you to inadvertent touch when bouncing around on a trampoline. However, the hour is too late. We'll start with your feet and legs next week." Sela offered her left hand for me to shake.
XXX
Striker to Grey: AS met up with Harrison at Swine and Wine. Harrison conversation with Hyde – introduced himself as new person of interest, and a stockbroker. She followed Harrison to his home. Alone, unable to use directional mike to determine what they discussed. He has electronic dampening field in his home office. Unable to hack the home computer systems. Unable to track their phones or texts. Which makes sense considering their careers. Stanton (roommate) returned home after consignment store shopping. A. Steele ate dinner with them, placed a bag of clothes Stanton bought in her car and drove home. A. S. not followed, nor someone watching her arrival. K. Kavanagh out with E. Grey. E. Kavanagh out with parents. Forwarding basic information package on Harrison and Stanton: where they work, financial information, relationship status.
I want Welch to conduct a deep investigation, but how? I'm not supposed to have Ana followed. My explanation is Harrison seems to know Hyde. I suggest Harrison and Stanton be investigated because they are in proximity to Ana. I know the excuse is thin, but I can't think of a better one.
Because Striker's burner phone is my only link to him – I didn't destroy the phone. Instead, I went to the Escala gym and kickboxed a punching bag. Taylor looks exhausted, letting me burn off two hours of aggravation. After a hot shower, I barely made reached my bed by midnight and slept through to six. Since I slept; Taylor did also.
Saturday, August 13 – CPOV
Went for a run by Ana's condo. The parking spaces for the condo are full with Ana, Kate and Ethan's cars and Elliot's truck. Harrison and Stanton cars are nowhere to be seen. Part of me is pleased until Taylor receives a text from Ryan. Some asshole tweeted I bought coffee at Pike Place Market Starbucks and headed to the Kavanagh condo to see Elliot. Taylor and I decide to run to the park near Pike Place. Ryan can track our phones and pick us up there.
I text Elliot about mountain biking today if he's not busy with Kate. If he is maybe we can go wall climbing with Sawyer at Stone Gardens on Sunday morning. I remind him I plan to go to Mom and Dad's for dinner.
Taylor leaves me alone with Ryan while he has child visitation with his daughter. I hope he has a good visitation. About this time of year, Taylor buys his daughter's back to school uniforms, fall and winter wear, backpack, lunchbox, etc. He already paid for her tuition. I hope Taylor and Sophie have lunch at someplace fun. I won't see him until after six. I gave him the night off. He may need the time to decompress after dealing with his bitch-ex-wife.
Sunday, August 14 – CPOV
Luke put us through our paces while climbing. Elliot insisted we swim at Mom and Dad's before dinner. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted – which led to a round of intrusive questions from Mom about if I'm taking care of myself. I am miserable since Ana turned down Elliot's invitation to dinner. Elliot explained the girls had a spa day, followed by shopping and dinner with Kate's family at the condo. He proudly announced he made Ana promise not to make lasagna.
I depart via the back door with Taylor as Elena entered through the front door to have dessert. She sent ten texts and emails about avoiding her. She demanded to know when I planned to interview potential submissives. I ignored her texts and emails, but they pissed me off. I emailed Flynn before I destroyed a smart phone in the process.
Monday, August 15 – CPOV
"WHO IS SHE KISSING?" I roared at Barney and Welch.
"I don't think we are viewing Miss Steele. I think we are viewing Jessica who is support staff for IT at Grey Publishing." Barney zoomed in on the car. "Yes, the yellow and black Mini Cooper is Jessica's. She calls her car Bumblebee. Her license plate is Buzz Me. Miss Steele drives a blue Ford Focus hatchback, no personalized plates. She must share the space with Jessica."
"Why would she share a parking space?" I demanded to know.
"I'll ask Jessica, but I'll bet Miss Steele shares the space because she is a NICE person and because she can share her space if she wants," Barney retorts. "As for who Jessica is kissing – not my woman, not my man, not my business."
"Fine, get the fuck out; go do something to earn your keep," I growled at him.
"Like the solar tablet?" Barney asked cheekily and left.
"Are you adding Jessica and the kisser to the list of people to research?" Welch queried.
"Fuck no. I don't care who Jessica is kissing – unless her kissing partner works at Grey Publishing," I growled. I quiz Welch about the current investigations he and staff are conducting. I know Striker is checking into Harrison and Stanton's backgrounds, but Striker's investigations don't have the depth and breadth of Welch's investigations. However, Striker's investigations always seem to find microscopic dirt in amazing places.
When Welch leaves, I access the CCTV feed of Grey Annex which Barney sends to me. Dressed in workout clothes, Ana arrives at work an hour early with Claire. I access the CCTV feed from the Grey Annex Gym. Creepers are watching Ana's long legs while she runs on a treadmill. Her ponytail bounces along with her ass and makes me jealous. I want a list of who is in the gym with her so I can fire their asses. Taylor intervenes and tells me to stop obsessing or he will tell Dr. Flynn and Miss Steele.
The elevator CCTV shows Ana and Claire on their way to work at Grey Publishing. She wears navy trousers which show off her long legs and her great ass. She has on low heel pumps and a blue short-sleeve twin set. Fuck me! Is she wearing the blue lingerie Taylor bought? I want to race over to Grey Annex, drag her into an executive bathroom and have my wild, wicked way with her. But she wants me to stay away. I bang my head a few times on the desktop. That wasn't as much fun as it sounded, plus, nothing shook loose and fell into place.
I choose one of the possible M&A folders from the pile on my desk and send orders to Ros to begin a hostile takeover. The CEO is in the midst of a divorce from Mrs. CEO because he couldn't keep his zipper zipped. She and the employees of his firm deserve better. His company is an offsite media storage firm, but Barney hacked their server faster than cracking an egg. We have space to integrate their clients into Grey House's offsite media storage firm. GEH will provide his clients with more secure media storage than they have now. He employs six work-study tech students from UDub. The buyout will allow Mrs. CEO adequate funds to reboot her life. With proof of his infidelity, she owns 53% of the stock in the company. Ros has marching orders to contact Mrs. CEO regarding the preliminary buyout offer.
XXX – 3PPOV
I hide near Escala. I watch Sir leave with Taylor to go to work. I wait for Mrs. Jones to go shopping. I use her elevator code which is still active. I sneak into the condo. I reset the CCTV cameras to the balconies again. The submissive suite still looks the last time I was here. With a large gym bag hidden in my backpack, I take half a dozen casual outfits, a nice outfit for interviewing with Sir, two yoga outfits with matching t-shirts, underwear, socks and trainers. I take a pretty pair of ballerina flats from the closet. I help myself to more lingerie from the drawers. I access the linen closet for the submissive bedroom. I take two sets of high thread count bed linens and a white thermal blanket which will fit my bed. I take two sets of high thread count bath linens.
I access the safe. The submissive pictures are still gone. The electronics and diamonds are still there. I help myself to two $50 bills from a tray of loose cash in the safe. I access the wine cooler and help myself to two bottles of wine, and one of the corkscrews. I slip through the parking level. I disappear into the shadows of the parking garage and exit in the direction of a coffee shop. I buy something to drink, something to eat. I buy two cards with prepaid postage envelopes.
"WHY?" I write in big block letters on both. I address one to Miss Steele at Grey Publishing. I address the other to Sir at Grey House. I open my computer and begin looking for information on Suzi (Susannah). Suzi is still friends with Elena, but I need to know where's she's living. I hope if I talk to her, she would be willing to help me warn Sir about Elena. If Suzi won't help me, perhaps Sabine will. She hates Elena and Elena hates her. She was one of the longest submissives, besides me. I can always visit Locke and Keyes to see her.
August 17 – CPOV
Striker meets me in the public bathroom at Flynn's office. I hand off $20K to him. He hands off a flash drive containing scanned background files for Hyde and Morgan. Striker found the Chicago Catholic Church and charity where Hyde worked on weekends when he attended Catholic high school on a scholarship. He graduated in the top ten of his class. They provided references for him to receive a Princeton scholarship. They recommended a Catholic Church and charity in Philadelphia where he worked Friday evening to Monday morning in exchange for weather appropriate clothes, school clothes, basic necessities and minimum wages. Chicago paid his train fare to Philadelphia. The Philadelphia parish helped Hyde get settled at Princeton.
Striker noted Hyde was a favorite of three elderly women in his church. They provided room and board plus a small stipend when he stayed with them over long weekends and college breaks. He was listed on their taxes as a paid companion and reader. The trio left Hyde small bequests of $5K which were paid toward his student loans when they passed. Striker smiled when he reported Hyde was not as popular with their families as he was with the ladies.
Hyde was reprimanded twice for overt flirting with female students at his work study job during his freshman year. His work evaluations were exemplary the rest of his college years. He had an eidetic memory and graduated in the top ten students in his class at Princeton. The President's List at Princeton were the only references to him in East Coast papers. There was a mention of him in the alumni newsletter when he joined the Boston publishing house and when he moved from the Boston publishing house to SIP in Seattle.
Elizabeth Morgan was born in Lexington, VA to two school teachers. Average student, married briefly in her senior year of high school to a trust fund boy attending Virginia Military Institute. Their divorce papers included confirmation she was not pregnant in exchange for a $250,000 divorce settlement. She used the funds to attend management and personnel classes at University of Virginia, Richmond. On a graduation cruise to Alaska, she saw Seattle and decided to relocate. She worked as support staff and personnel staff at a large company in Seattle before she was hired at SIP six years ago. When the SIP HR director retired five years ago, Morgan stepped into his position. She wasn't responsible for hiring Hyde, but they became thick as thieves shortly after her promotion to HR Director.
I thank Striker for the information. He tells me there is an issue finding further information on Harley Harrison and his roommate Shawn Stanton. He suggests they are ex-military dependents which would explain the difficulty in investigating them. I thank Striker and head for Flynn's office. I don't want him to come searching for me.
Topic one with Flynn today is my failure to sleep for a decent amount of time and the impact on my staff.
"I can write you a prescription for sleeping pills. I'll recommend the lowest dosage I can. If the prescription doesn't work, we'll go to a higher yield." Flynn offered. "Or you can try over-the-counter sleeping pills."
"I don't want pills," I argue. "I want her!"
"Ask Taylor to come in," Flynn ordered.
I frown but comply, asking Taylor to leave the SUV in the parking lot and come to Flynn's office.
"Taylor, do you have any CCTV footage of Miss Steele sleeping in Mr. Grey's bed at Escala?" Flynn asked.
"Yes, I didn't destroy good footage of Miss Steele," Taylor replied.
I'm stunned. He means he destroyed the CCTV of the piano playing, chase around the dining room table, arm dragging up to the playroom, her leaving the playroom naked and in tears, my indecision and helplessness standing outside her bedroom door, and the numb man who dressed and waited for her to come to the great room where she broke my heart when she left. I'm glad the real footage is gone, but I swear that Saturday replays an endless loop in my head.
"I need you use your good tapes to create a continuous loop for about six hours," Flynn requested. "Do you know what kind of perfume she wears?"
"Yes," I admit. "I still have some of it at Escala."
"Of course you do," Flynn refrained from rolling his eyes. "Buy a body pillow, spray with Ana's perfume, and access the loop via your laptop. See if this idea makes you sleep."
"I'll take care of the loop and the pillow," Taylor exited the office.
"So, what else do you want to discuss?" Flynn leaned back in his chair.
I told him about the 'lottery' for support staff at Grey Publishing. I didn't know how else to ensure Ana had a decent parking place out of the weather and where CCTV could protect her. I don't like her using public transportation. Flynn states Ana suspected I had something to do with her winning the parking lottery, which is why she shares the space with someone whose schedule is compatible with hers. She obviously plans to take the bus to work Monday-Thursday, and only use the space when she drives on Friday. We talk about why she drives on Friday.
Flynn postulates driving on Friday either helps her avoid the drinking crowd after work on Friday or she plans weekends in Montesano.
I vent about the asshole Ana left the bar with on Friday night.
Flynn tells me to cool my jets…I'm not supposed to follow Ana. He tells me the asshole she left with on Friday night might just be a friend of Kate's or Ethan's and not a hookup! I silently vow to keep Jake Striker and his crew following Ana and reporting back to me. I'm not sharing with Flynn. He feels he is duty bound to report stalking to the police.
Flynn makes me review the list of goals to accomplish before I can ask Ana to come back to me. Then he makes me discuss some of the tasks to accomplish for each goal on the list. I want to skip Friday night's therapy to follow Ana. I will restart TTT from the beginning he will consider my following Ana as stalking! The thought of starting TTT all over depresses me. I'm supposed to be building on the basics Sela is teaching me.