Wounds to Bind Chapter 20 – 'I live my life until I start the cycle of my dreams, then I leave and search for you.' – Molly Bryant, Wandering Souls
September 1 – CPOV
I stroke her soft, rich mahogany hair, which shines in the glow of the sconces in the playroom. She smells of Ana and apples. Her hair is loose, a little wild and sexy. She's wearing a plum-colored silk teddy which reminds me of the dress she wore to our negotiation dinner at the Heathman. I approach her, asking her to dance with me. She tosses her hair over her shoulder like she does before confronting me. Her curious eyes center on something behind me...
The playroom ensuite door is open. Mommy sits before the built-in vanity, on a bench, looking at me in the mirror. She brushes her hair with the special wide, flat-backed brush I use for spanking. I remember Mommy teaching me to brush her soft hair…which smelled like flowers. She braids her hair like a long bumpy snake down her back. 'There,' she says, 'almost ready.' However, she stares at Ana's reflection in the mirror.
Ana lifts her hand, and instantly the darkness rises from my chest and twists around my throat, threatening to choke me if she touches me. But Ana places her fingers on my cheek and gently skims them down to my chin. The darkness melts away and I close my eyes, feeling her gentle fingertips caress me like a lover. With her other hand she ruffles my hair, running her fingers through it.
'Ah,' I moan, and I don't know if I feel fear or longing. I'm breathless; my heart pounds in my chest. When I open my eyes, Ana looks up at me from under her full, long, dark lashes. Before I lose myself, soaring in those eyes, Ana steps forward, pushing her body flush against mine. She fists both hands in my hair and tugs gently, raising her lips to mine. Our lips touch and I close my eyes as she forces her tongue into my mouth, and I panic. She's touching me, she's kissing me, she's dressed in lingerie…not just her panties. Her hair is wild and sexy and looks like she's just been fucked.
What did you expect, Grey? She's not accustomed the playroom. She's not like the other brunettes which have been here. I end the kiss. I take a deep breath and kiss her forehead, then bury my nose in her hair, inhaling her sweet, autumnal scent, committing it to memory. I am haunted by her giggle, the feel of her silky hair, the alabaster of her skin, the pink of her blush, and her pouty rosy bottom lip she likes to bite. I'm haunted by her fingers entwined in my hair and I want those long legs wrapped around my ass.
My mother disappears from the mirror. Ana disappears from my arms, and there is a breeze I don't understand. My playroom has no windows to open. The summer breeze teases my hair, it caresses me like the nimble fingers of a lover. My lover…my Ana.
I wake suddenly, confused. My bedroom is shrouded in darkness, and I am alone. The CCTV tape of Ana plays on the laptop next to my bed. I watch for a minute. Strange dream…will I remember enough to relate to Flynn? I could swear someone touched me…but my desperation to have Ana to touch me rises from my dreams and walks my life.
I stare at the ceiling, and realize I remember the smell of Leila's citrus perfume. Leila invades my mind. Fuck. My mind shakes off the dream and engages in thoughts of things to do: find Leila, terminate my partnership with Elena, reconcile with Ana, and conduct some business other than SIP/GP, Grey Calendars and the damned brownfield site in Detroit. I know I won't get back to sleep. I sit up in bed and reluctantly switch off the laptop. Getting up, I shower, washing the sweat and need from my body. When I dry, I dress in sweats and sneakers. I head into the living room to play my piano and watch the early morning sky until I can run at six. Leila…maybe we need to focus our search on Esclava Post Alley and the subs.
XXX – 3PPOV
I slip out of Escala after Sir goes for a run. I don't understand why he has a video feed of Anastasia on his laptop. I don't understand why she sleeps in his bed. I did not take time to look for clothes or money, but I had to touch him. I don't understand…her car is in the garage, but she is not at Escala with him. Did she terminate and return her car? Were the diamond earrings in the safe a signing bonus? I have to return over the holiday weekend when Mrs. Jones is gone and when Sir is gone with Taylor. There are three brunettes hanging around Esclava, Post Alley. Are they potentials? I have to find a way to follow them. I must warn them about Elena.
XXX
The Steele Woodworks website went live. The well-built site wasn't flashy, provided good information, and offered great before and after project pictures. Raymond Steele included a Q&A page with thoughtful questions and answers. He had an easily accessible contact page with adequate space to ask a question or request a quote. Barney forwarded information about the site to Grey.
Steele was listed on Northwest Network's class roster to take an Introduction to Microsoft Office class during September. Classes would become Basic Microsoft Office in October and Intermediate Microsoft Office in November. The roster for September, October and November was a week each for Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Steele didn't register for the December class in Genealogy. Northwest Network's January, February and March classes were spreadsheet classes with an introduction to electronic tax filing applications. Steele wasn't signed up for those, either.
Barney finished the financial background check on Harley Harrison. Excellent grades in college, double majors in economics and mathematics with a master's degree in business administration, all completed in five years. He finished the financial background for Shawn Stanton. Excellent grades in college, double majors in technology and accounting with a master's degree in accounting forensics, all completed in five years. He and Harrison bought a house together last year.
Barney was in a committed relationship with a man and a woman. He knew without explanation there was more than roommate status between Harley Harrison and Shawn Stanton. Ana Steele's part in the mix was the question. He accessed her credit card, noting the purchase of an airline ticket. He printed the flight information. She was flying to Savannah, Georgia over Labor Day weekend, departing SEA-TAC at ten p.m. on Friday and arriving at SEA-TAC at six a.m. on Tuesday.
Barney tried to access Miss Steele's personal emails…and ran into a firewall which made him swear with admiration and frustration. Three separate incursions into the Internet service at the Kavanagh/Steele condo came back with playground bully force. The harder he pushed…the harder the firewall pushed back. He attempted to hack Kate and Ethan's email and ran into the same firewall. Someone installed one hell of a firewall for Miss Steele and her roommates. Barney didn't know whether to be pleased they were being proactive about their internet and email usage, or curse because his access was cut off. Damn, now he needed to spend his spare time trying to hack the firewall. This was an adventure and a headache in the making.
Barney tried to hack Ana Steele's smart phone, and ran into the firewall again. Grey would not be a happy man. He would explain the firewalls were keeping other creepers out, which would please Grey. However, he anticipated Grey would demand he try to hack the firewall.
September 2 – CPOV
"If you are finished inquiring if I'm having a pleasant morning..." I waited for Elena to end her effusive questions about my life, health, business, etc. "Have you been in contact with Leila?"
"Not Leila, but the others come to me, of course, to obtain introductions to new Doms. I provide them with references since you are unable to do so." Elena chided me.
"You don't discuss me?" I want assurances but have no guarantees when Elena is in the mix.
"I provide references; you are never mentioned," Elena assured me. "Are you rethinking Ariana? She has excellent references from two previous Doms. Well-trained in Shibari, clean medical history, and minimal hard limits. She won't be available much longer."
Who is she kidding? Taylor told me Miss Wellman told Elena to fuck off. Enough of her bullshit. I cut her off. "I need you at Grey House within the hour or I'm sending Taylor and a few of his men to escort you here." I ordered before hanging up the phone.
"Barney, I need audio and visual in the conference room next to my office. Tape the meeting taking place in the next hour, drop to flash drive for me and delete from the servers. Don't mention the existence of the video to anyone." Once Barney repeats my directives, I'm off to another task.
XXX
"We're not meeting for coffee and to socialize," I warned Elena. "We have business to discuss. I am ridding myself of personal business investments. My future interests will center solely on the expansion of Grey House. I'm gifting my shares in Esclava Salons to you. I paid outstanding debts for the chain. I removed my name from all legal paperwork, bank accounts and charge accounts. Sign at the sticky notes..." I slid the paperwork to her. "My legal team informed all banks and lending institutions within 800 miles about the dissolution of our partnership. With the economic down turn, think twice about mortgaging the salons to support your lifestyle."
"All your personal interests?" Elena feigned disinterest.
"Yes, Esclava to you, restaurants and nightclubs to Mia, and construction companies and empty buildings to Elliot. I have no other personal investments." I adjusted my cufflinks. Months ago, Taylor explained my tells. This one indicates I'm uncomfortable in a business situation.
"What about SIP/GP – are you gifting it to Anastasia Steele?" Elena sniped.
"Grey House purchased Grey Publishing. Grey House business arrangements are not topics for discussion." I extended one of my expensive Mont Blanc pens. "Sign."
Elena hastily signed the paperwork in eight places without reading and shoved the paperwork at me. I handed the paperwork to the Notary Public who witnessed the signatures and verified Elena's identification. He took the paperwork with him and departed.
"You just signed the dissolution of our business arrangements. My Legal Department will file these documents and the stock transfer will be finalized before September 30. You have less than 28 days to determine what Esclava Salons will do without my financial backing. I plan to claim the debts and stock return as losses on my personal federal taxes for next year. Grey House will not prepare the taxes for Esclava Salons next year. Legal advised consulting your tax advisor regarding your tax debt for the year. I won't pay your personnel or business taxes, either. When you leave today, we are done. You will not contact me for business reasons again."
"Business reasons? Does that edict assume we still have personal business with one another…such as vetting your women?" Elena purred.
"No, we are terminated. I trusted you when you recommended Miss Martin. She was an eye-opening experience. My days of paying you to find submissives for me is over." I unbutton my jacket; Taylor claims this tell means I'm completely at ease.
"Fine," Elena hissed. "When you realize you need an experienced submissive, I don't know if I CAN find someone on short notice. You'll have to make do with WHO I can provide. Plus, since you've been stupid and torn out your playroom, you'll need to use mine or hire one at a club. I'm sure Sabine would be discreet and let you use a playroom at Locke and Keyes."
I hated the way Elena stated those issues...like she would sub for me at a moment's notice. "I will never use or want you as a submissive. I will never discuss my personal life with you again. I was stupid to think you were faithful to me while I was at Harvard. The truth is, you found Isaac when he was 17 and I was 19. You groomed him to be your next boy toy. You were fucking him while you were beating me for not obeying you. Christ I was stupid. I should have put you on your ass the first time you touched me." I take pleasure in watching her polished façade slip.
"If I had known someone as wonderful as Ana was in the world and she would want me…I never would have let you touch me. I want Ana more than I ever wanted you when I was a stupid, horny, impressionable fifteen-year-old. I'm a grown man who knows his life will be empty without Anastasia Steele." I pause, noting the look of shock and surprise on her face.
"This is a miserable way to treat the person who made you into the businessman you are today…" Elena started to rant before I interrupted her.
"I made me into the businessman I am today. I went to college. I learned what I needed to know, and I left college to start my life. Granted, you gave me startup funds, which I repaid several times over. You had nothing to do with my building Grey House into a multi-billion-dollar international enterprise." I state calmly.
"I encouraged you, you self-centered little bastard," she snapped. "I gave you start-up funds when your parents refused to give you access to your trust fund."
"I repaid your start-up funds ten times over with the start-up funds for the first salon, and investing my profits to improve and upgrade the businesses. I paid the payroll and property taxes on Esclava Salons for the past six years. I have paid all the current outstanding debts the chain has. Technically, you owe me about three million dollars. If I were you, I'd accept full ownership of the salons and keep my mouth shut." I snarl at her. "I considered selling my shares to one of your competitor. If you think I don't know who they are…" I slid a piece of paper at her which listed her top five competitors and the amount of money they'd be willing to pay for my shares in her salon chain.
"I taught you control. You never would treat me this way if you hadn't met Anastasia Steele. She's got you twisting in the wind. You need a real submissive who has minimal limits. Once you get your hands on a cane… you'll remember you dominate in the playroom and in the boardroom. Once you have yourself under control, I'll forgive your stupidity and your ungrateful attitude." Elena straightened her shoulders and assumed her Domme persona.
"Really? You want to discuss my lack of control. We never discussed your inappropriate touch when I was fifteen. We never discussed a submissive's power in a relationship. We never discussed how I could walk away from you and the lifestyle without repercussions. We never discussed how I could have safe words or hard and soft limits. We never discussed how you were duty-bound to provide aftercare when we completed a scene. We never discussed how you beat the fuck out of me when you were angry, proving you never had control like a good Domme should. So don't sit there and lecture me about how I'm out of control. Your problem is I'm no longer under YOUR control."
"She put that shit in your head," Elena started to say.
"…that shit? You mean all the basic tenants of BDSM which you failed to teach me?" My voice is cold. "We will never discuss Ana. Not now, not in the future. I pay John Flynn to discuss my issues, even the ones I wish I could change...like you! You are not my friend and savior. You used Mom in order to use me." I say in a carefully controlled voice. "Don't push me on this, Elena. Because if Mother or Father ask, I will no longer lie to protect either of us. Our intimate relationship was over long ago. Our personal and professional relationships end today."
"I can't believe you are walking away from me," Elena snapped. "I can't believe you are willing to out us to your parents."
"We're finished. Through. Done. Ended, both personally and professionally. You will not have access to any Grey House properties. You will not have access to me or my residences. You will step away from any charity work which involves underprivileged youth. I don't want to see you at social events."
"Are you threatening me?" Elena's body stiffened and straightened in the chair, her Domme voice eerily calm. That voice made me fall to my knees in the past and beg for forgiveness for whatever transgression I had committed. My biggest transgression in our time together was attending Harvard, against her direct orders to remain in Seattle and attend UDub. That voice made me accept any kind of punishment she gave me for my infraction. However, Elena is not my Domme, and I don't obey. I was always honest with her about my life...there's no sense lying to her now.
"I'm serious as a heartbeat, Elena," My Dom voice matches hers. "As usual, you didn't read the paperwork I handed you. You signed the agreement to dissolve our partnership. You signed to receive stock from the four locations. You signed a backdated nondisclosure agreement. You signed an agreement to stay away from me or face legal consequences. I have a no-contact order prepared which explains our sexual history. Either you leave me alone or the no-contact order will be filed. I will have you served. I will have the no-contact order enforced. I will have the no-contact order prepared for Father, Mother, Elliot and Mia. You stay one thousand feet away from us. Don't think our past history being discovered will stop me." I retrieved my expensive pen before she acquired my property.
"You wouldn't dare!" Elena threatened.
"This is not a dare, bet, or scare tactic. I'm severing ties, Elena. Smile; you have 100% of your company, with all your debts paid. You're faring better than any other adversarial entity managed this year!" I stepped toward the door.
"Don't you want to know why I touched you?" Elena tried a different tactic.
"No…I don't want to know why you groomed me." I walked out of the conference room connected to my office. I addressed Taylor. "Escort Mrs. Lincoln to Security. Photograph her and include her name in the prohibited files at all residences and businesses. Escort her to her car, ensure she leaves my property."
'For you, Ana…for me…for the chance we can be happy together,' I thought. 'I'm sending flowers to her mother's home in Georgia over the weekend. She won't be able to return them. Perhaps Carla can influence her to call and thank me for them. Perhaps Carla and the flowers are the 'in' I need.'
"Andrea, I'm desperate for coffee, large, black and please don't send Olivia in with an extra carafe of coffee. Please find my brother and sister and send them to my office. Also, can you ask Elliot and Mia about their preference for food and libations? Please ask if they want to eat in or should we go somewhere? Then will you order in or make reservations for us. Also, I need someone from Legal to witness some paperwork and the Notary again."
"Yes, sir," Andrea surprised voice answered me.
Flynn will be shocked I said please. I think the effect of my meeting with Elena will thrill him. I think my next move will surprise Elliot, Mia and Flynn. I should start calling him John, after all Sela calls me Christian, and I call her Sela. John deserves the same level of familiarity after all we have been through.
If there's backlash about giving Elena complete ownership of the salons, I'm prepared. Mia won't have controlling interest in any of the clubs or restaurants I give her. However, she can take the profits or roll them back into the business to help them expand. She must guarantee I have a private table when I need one. I will help offset any taxes she has to pay on her federal income tax return. I will also help her incorporate Grey Calendars as an LLC to protect her business interests.
I'm giving Elliot my interests in his construction firm and subsidiaries in addition to gifting him a dozen empty buildings in Seattle. I personally purchased them from GEH, including the SIP building. Grey Construction can renovate and rent or sell the buildings. I will also offset any tax burden from my gift to Grey Construction. I send an email to Sam, my PR guru, asking him to see me this afternoon to discuss a press release on September thirtieth.
I fire off an email to Jake Striker. I explain the services of Second Strike Investigations are no longer needed. I apologize I broke the burner phone and have not been in touch. I ask him to forward all information he has to me at my personal email, which I send him, and submit a final bill. My actions will make Taylor happy. Today I will tell Taylor I'm giving him a week off at Thanksgiving and Christmas to spend with his daughter. I will do the same for Mrs. Jones – perhaps they can have a family vacation together.
Additionally, I'd need to meet with HR. I want an edict to go out October first to Grey House and all our subsidiaries. If the schools are closed due to bad weather, then GEH and subsidiaries are closed with full pay for all staff. I want parents to be able to stay home with their children and not worry about finding sitters and enduring the weather to get to work. If school has a late start…so do my employees. Actually…I'm praying for snow…a blizzard…where I can cuddle for the entire day in bed with Anastasia…but, until she's talking to me…I think my plan has a snowball's chance in hell.
XXX
Grey email to Flynn: Attached is the video of my removing Elena from my life. You might say Christian Grey had an epiphany. For the first time in my life, I was almost hysterical with laughter at her Domme persona. I walked past the control boundary which previously made me think Elena saved me. I am ashamed of my actions – which Elena taught me. I'm ashamed I thought I ever wanted or needed this woman. I was a stupid horny teenager who enjoyed learning how to fuck for hours. She used me to satisfy her needs. She tried to separate me from my family by using my shame and my needs to keep me quiet. She used Ella and her mistakes to ensure my subservience. I think I grew up some today…see you at Sela's office tonight.
XXX
"I enjoyed watching you hug your sister last week. I'm not convinced she understood the events on Friday night. Remind me why you are doing this? You said you can hug your sister and grandmother, kiss your mother, accept pats on the back from your father, fisticuffs with your brother, high fives from your grandfather…" Sela stops listing acceptable touches.
"I met a woman. She wants to touch me without being hurt physically or emotionally." My face flames from embarrassment. "Grabbing her hand after we've had sex, when she's stroking my face…worried about where she will touch next…not a smart or good move. I should be enjoying the endorphins with her in my arms."
"I'm not judging you. Humans are physical creatures. We do what we have to do to endure touch. I can't stand to have my husband touch my neck while we are engaged in sexual acts…but I like having the back of my neck kissed when I'm at the stove cooking or when I'm doing dishes. He has a shrapnel scar on the inside of his left thigh. I'm careful not to apply pressure to his scar when I'm performing certain sexual acts. I don't think I need to get graphic." Sela blushed.
"No, you don't." I instantly think of Ana's mouth on my cock our first morning together at Escala. "How do you keep him from kissing or touching your neck during intimate times?"
Sela grinned, wickedly. "I wear a wide, thick velvet collar. Seth has been conditioned to kiss that little hollow under my ear or nibble on my collar bone."
John blushed and I laughed.
"Did you blindfold your submissives so they couldn't see your scars?" Sela was still uncomfortable asking questions about submissives.
"Yes. I bound their hands so they couldn't touch me. BDSM allowed me to experience physical release with touching I could control or accept," I admitted.
"Again, I think part of the reason you could accept touch during your BDSM scenes while you were a Dominant is because you initiated it. When you are touched inadvertently, do you feel strong pain – reminiscent of what you felt when the wounds were inflicted?"
"Yes." I pause. "If someone inadvertently touches my chest or my back, I freeze from the pain. But not with Ana. She saw my body, several times. We discussed my scars; she knows how I received them."
Flynn's face was smooth as glass, but he took notes like a demon.
"Reputable research has linked teenage aggressive, violent and antisocial behaviors to early childhood touch deprivation. Those children grow up with a diminished ability to feel, a diminished ability to initiate or receive touch. With touch therapy you can demonstrate a marked decrease in self-loathing, violent behaviors or aggressive sexual behaviors. Traumatic touch therapy can alleviate depression, reduce pain and reduce stress. We'll use touch therapy to overcome your aversion to touch and tactile stimulation. Over time touch therapy can decrease issues with night terrors and sleeping disorders." Sela paused for a minute, looking at my chart. "Massage puts the system into a more relaxed state where the heart rate and blood pressure decrease, and your physical system runs at a slower pace."
"The massage is part of the traumatic touch therapy?" I ask.
Sela nodded. "Flynn…"
"John," I corrected her. "He's been through enough with me, he deserves my trust and to have me call him John."
He raises his eyebrows and smiles. "So does this mean you are Christian and not Grey?"
"I think that's fair." I agreed.
"John says he's your latest therapist. Is he the only one you've had who hasn't made you relive your childhood terrors?" Sela watched John's face while I answered.
"Yes," I explained. "John's approach is Solution Based Focused Therapy."
John explained his approach to Sela.
"Your night terrors remained before, during and after your previous therapists?"
"Yes," I respond before I facetiously added, "The worst they have been lately was the three days I spent in Detroit on business. What do you think about that?"
"As Detroit is where you were originally traumatized, I am not surprised. However, I still believe your previous therapists retraumatized you. I believe your Domme traumatized you." Sela reiterated.
"You don't intend to traumatize me?" I question her comments from our first meeting.
"My goal is for you to accept your body and your feelings as a safe place. You're a brilliant businessman, Christian. I know part is training and the other part is instinct. I want you to be able to believe in your body, believe your body will not freeze and fail you during important moments. I feel you should gain something at the end of each session. My goal is to have you advance each session, but the results are is acceptable if we solidify the advances you've made. I want you to advance to the point you don't need me anymore." Sela grinned. "Well, when your life progresses to that point, I wouldn't mind teaching you how to massage your baby."
Does my face show how amazed I am? Baby massage? Do I trust Sela…and what the hell would I do with a baby? Wait…Ana…pregnant with my baby. God, I would be fucking lucky.
"Baby massages can reduce crying and fussiness. Massaged babies relax and sleep better. Baby massage has more benefits – research if you are interested. I teach my postpartum mothers to massage their babies. Massage helps them bond with their child. You need to discuss your night terrors with John, but I need to know if they are increasing in occurrence and intensity. I need to know if there is a change in your sleeping habits, work habits, daily anxiety levels or if you are having difficulty caring for yourself."
"I've had fewer night terrors lately, except for the Detroit trip," I admit. "John suggested I get a CCTV tape of Ana sleeping, get a body pillow, and spray it with her cologne. I'm not sleeping all night, but I'm sleeping in six hour stretches when I don't have a night terror."
"If that work-around really works for you, then continue to do so. Tonight's topic and exercises are playful touches. Playful touches with a child could be ticking, hugging, ruffling someone's hair, a pat on the head, and body contact while playing a physical sport like football or basketball." Sela massaged me while we discussed sports which I enjoyed. I explained about rowing in both high school and college. I explain outdoor sports with Elliot, golfing with Grandpa Theo and Dad, and kickboxing with Bastille. I explain learning to rock climb with Sawyer is kicking my ass. The warm blanket she covers me with is comforting. I pulled the warm blanket up to touch my face.
Our ten-minute hold session is life rules. I'm apprehensive. I don't quite understand the topic. John assures me I will be fine. He agrees to join the exercise with us. He stirs the alphabet sticks and draws 'P'.
"Make peace with your past," Sela advises.
"Progress not perfection," John adds.
"Be productive early in the day." I venture. Both Sela and John agree I mentioned a good life rule. John pulls 'T'.
"Time heals all wounds…or rather…time makes wounds easier to bear." Sela opines.
"Tell the truth, unless the truth hurts someone…then prevaricate with panache." John intones.
"Avoid putting toxic food or substances in your body…and avoid toxic people in your life," I offer. Sela and John agree. John pulls the 'C' stick.
"Don't compare yourself to others…especially St. Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa. You'll always lose." Sela grinned.
"Compare yourself to who you were yesterday," John advises.
"Never try to bathe a cat," pops out of my mouth without thinking.
"That's one way to avoid pain," Sela quips and John laughs. John pulls the 'S' stick.
"Smile…you don't own all the problems in the world," Sela comments.
"Save money…debt causes extra problems," John counseled.
"Simplify your life," I repeat what I've heard before.
Our ten minutes are up. "Let's go outside boys." Sela picked up a basketball and ushered us out the door. "Come on Jason, we're playing basketball. That's why I asked you to wear jeans and a sweatshirt." She threw him the ball and bounded down the stairs to the open hoops at the south area of the building. "First, we do a team hand stack, shoulder to shoulder. Then I get Christian as a teammate and John gets Jason. First team to score twenty-one without cheating wins."
"What do the winners get?" I doubt that we're betting cash money.
"Pizza, eaten at a loud, noisy pizza parlor with children running amok. We're like teenagers bunking off from school – playing video games, eating pizza, hanging out." Sela grinned at John.
"I promise to be on my best behavior. At least I get to keep my clothes on for this group activity." I snarked.
"I need time to call in more security. I need a vetted pizza parlor." Taylor objects.
"Get moving, Jason," Sela advised, "because we have outdoor lights for…" she checked her watch, "one hour. Jason, when you have the place selected, tell Christian. Perhaps you will ask Elliot to join you for pizza and video games. Jason, you may have one other security person inside. You can have as many security outside as you want."
"Great," Taylor intoned. "I'd better have Anders bring $100 in quarters if Elliot is coming out to play."
"I'll call Rhiann to bring the boys," John suggested.
"I'll call Seth," Sela laughed. "We may as well go large."