'Bye mom'

'Bye darling boy, have a good day'

'Thanks, you too, see you tonight.' I kiss mom on the cheek and then make a dash to dad's car, he's sat waiting for me, wipers going as it's pouring with rain.

'Morning dad.'

'Morning Matt, breakfast?'

'I didn't have time' I say as I bite into an apple.

'Don't let Christian hear you say that.'

'Don't worry, I won't. Though if I'd eaten I'd have been late for work so he'd be angry either way. Dad, did Taylor say why you had to take me to work?'

'Yes, it's to do with your security.'

'Is that it, don't you think Taylor and Christian are being a bit over the top.'

'No.' he replies. I look at him in the hope that he will tell me more but he switches on the radio to listen to the traffic news. I don't think I will get any more out of him so will have to ask Christian later.

There's no view to look at today the visibility isn't great as we cross the bridge and head downtown.

As we near Grey House dad says 'I'll be finishing work about 4pm today and going straight home, I think your mom will be finished at the hospital about 7pm so let us know if you need a lift back. Otherwise I think Taylor said he would give you a lift.'

'Why can't I drive my own car?'

'We're here now; you'll have to ask Christian. See you tonight.' He says.

He's parked by the sidewalk and waits until I enter Grey House before he leaves. I'm surprised I was actually allowed to do that on my own the way everyone has been reacting lately. As I cross the foyer to the elevators I hear Christian call out to me. He's just entered the building.

'Matt, 20th floor.' So I move across to call that elevator

'Why isn't your phone on?'

'Why are you tracking me so early in the morning?' I tut with annoyance.

'Hey, I'm asking the questions. Are you in a bad mood?'

'Well I wasn't until you started asking your stalker questions. My phone isn't switched on because I overslept and was running late. Dad was on the drive, engine running so I was rushing and I just shoved the phone in my pocket and forgot about it.'

'Did you eat?'

'I knew you'd ask that question, so yes I did. Dad let me eat in the car.' I'm not telling him it was only an apple. We arrive at the 20th floor and he ushers me into his office.

'You ate in the car? And dad let you?' he smiles. 'I was only trying to get hold of you this morning because I want you to attend the 8.30a.m breakfast meeting with me.'

'Does that mean we get breakfast?' I ask.

'I thought you'd eaten.' He growls at me. I look away. 'What did you actually eat?'

'Food' I reply and smile at him. He raises an eyebrow at me. 'An apple. Did you have a good day with Ana yesterday?'

'Don't try and change the subject. You should have eaten properly. But yes we did have a good day, we did the same as you, we went sailing.'

'On The Grace?' I ask, slightly shocked. He's never taken any of the family out on the water in her, always sailing alone.

'Yes, I needed her somewhere safe.'

'So I'm not the only one you're being over protective with at the moment then, can you tell me why?'

'Maybe, later, we have this meeting now. I'm pleased you called Taylor yesterday for help, at least you're thinking about your safety. You could have called me.'

'I didn't want to interrupt your day with Ana' I say quietly.

He puts a hand on my shoulder 'Matt, I'll still be there for you if you need me. Come on let's get this meeting over with, Andrea has scheduled you in at 11.30 later, we can have lunch together as we've got a couple of hours.'

I enter the meeting room, it's only 8.20a.m, Ros is already there, her and Christian stand at the side of the room discussing something whilst we wait for the other people to arrive. I pick up a pad of paper on the way in and a pen in case I need to make notes. Andrea brings in some coffee.

'Hi Matthew, I didn't realise you'd be attending this meeting. Do you want coffee or would you prefer something else?'

'Morning Andrea, coffee will be fine today. Is there anything to eat?'

'Follow me, there are some blueberry muffins. You've got five minutes before the others arrive.'

I follow Andrea back through reception and to a room that's concealed on the other side off her desk; it's quite small but functional sink, fridge, coffee machine and a couple of cupboards for storage. She hands me a plate and passes me a box with the muffins in, I only take a couple as I think this is all I can eat in this short time, she also gives me a glass of water.

'I'm going back to my desk now, just leave your glass and plate on the side and I will clear them away, you haven't got long.'

'Thank you.' I say

I feel better once I have more food inside me and after draining the glass of water I make my way back through reception into the meeting room. It's still just Christian and Ros but the others have just arrived in the elevator. Christian raises an eyebrow at me as if to question where I've been but I just smile back. He can't question me as there are now four people entering the room. They shake hands firstly with Christian, then Ros and finally me as Christian introduces me as 'Matt whose here on work experience.'

The meeting starts, I'm not sure how much attention Christian is paying as he's either sending or receiving messages on his blackberry. He doesn't look too happy though so it can't be good news. I doodle on my pad as firstly a man then a lady give a presentation about some turbine technology that they want Christian to fund. Ros is the only one concentrating as she does most of the questioning and taking notes. At one point Christian looks to see what I'm doing, he shakes his head but smiles. I drift off, getting a bit bored now as they close the presentation.

'So Matt, have you got anything to add to the meeting.' Christian says as he meets my eye and smirks. He thinks just because it looks like I've been in my own world that I haven't taken anything in.

'Yes Mr Grey, the numbers don't add up, if the predicted cost of installation is correct along with the current price of the land, then you will not see any profit from this project for at least 18 years and not the two years that was suggested.'

There's a sharp intake of breath from the four people, they scrabble around with their bits of paper and frantically look at the spread sheets on the computer. Ros is looking at me as if I'm from another planet.

'Ladies, gentleman. Perhaps you need to go away and rethink this proposition.' Christian says quite calmly considering they've wasted just over an hour of his time. He shakes their hands as they leave and they thank him for his time. Shutting the door behind them, he says.

'I didn't think you were paying attention, you looked like you were somewhere else.'

'Well at least I wasn't emailing the whole way through.' I retort.

'Is that bad mood still there?' he asks

Ros clears her throat as if to remind us that she's still there, I don't think she wants to witness us having an argument.

'I've got work to do, I'll be back for the 11.30 meeting, see you later. Bye Ros'

'Bye Matthew.' Ros says, as Christian just looks on. I think he's slightly shocked with all my answering back. Well it serves him right he said the other day that I needed to toughen up.