I decide I really want Taylor with me when I speak with Ros. I text him an invite for a ride along and explain Sawyer and he can just exchange places. He nods in agreement. Dressed casually in jeans, mine blue, his black, we are both wearing black tees and we don't look anything like our normal selves. Taylor is carrying a weapon in plain sight, no holster. I know Ryan is wearing a gun under his suit jacket. I start to wonder if Taylor carrying a weapon is really necessary; then I remember why we are here. He's right. It really is fucking necessary.

I walk over to the car while Taylor's eyes constantly scan the garage. Gate's guy is seated in a car right next to the elevator so his large automatic weapon doesn't scare the shit out of innocent Escala residents. We both nod at him and he nods back. I open the door on Ros's side and offer my hand, saying simply "please." I completely avoid looking at Gwen. She is not nearly as strong as Ros and if our eyes should meet, she will completely break down.

Ros steps out but before she can say anything, I clutch her close and hold her tight. "Thank god," I whisper into her hair. I feel my eyes tear up and blink rapidly. This is not what I planned to do, but all I can think of is how much this tough little woman means to me and my business.

"Christian, what the fuck is going on?"

"Ros," I say softly, my voice is trembling with emotion, "There was a gas explosion. Your home was destroyed."

She gasps in shock and pulls back so she can see my face. Her eyes are filled with horror. I feel ashamed that I brought this terror to her door. She's done nothing to deserve it. She closes her eyes so I can not witness her anguish. I hug her close again. She lays her head on my chest and weeps. I am aware of her cheek resting on my chest, yet there is no pain and no fear of pain. I must remember to tell Flynn. I pat her back, the way you do a child, and after a few moments she lifts her tear streaked face, " but we're alive, aren't we?" I smile and nod in agreement. She asks me then if I will take them to see the scene. Of course, I agree, while behind her I can see Taylor vehemently shaking his head no. Then immediately using his phone. Ros asks for a few minutes alone with Gwen to explain what has happened.

Twenty minutes later we are stopped at the scene, at least as close as we can get. Her long driveway is filled with emergency vehicles that have spilled over to cover most of the estate that faces the road. PSE vehicles, fire engines, and police cars, all with flashing lights. We are still some distance away, but flames are visible shooting through the roof. Ros reacts instinctively by pulling out a cigarette. Gwen silently lays her hand across Ros's and shakes her head no with just the slightest nod to me. I would not have stopped her from lighting up, not this time, but I am so relieved she did not.

Instead, she looks at me and says, "You did say the Cascade Suite?"

"Of course. For as long as you need it. Would you like Caroline Acton to assist you, with replacing your wardrobes? I can arrange it in the morning. I'll have some replacement clothes delivered first thing in the morning as well, just to get you both through the day. "

Ros leans over and kisses him sweetly on the cheek. "Thanks, kid," she mutters gruffly.

i look in the rear view mirror and catch Ryan's eye and nod for him to leave.

Taylor checks ahead with the night manager at the Fairmont and advises the media is present. Taylor makes arrangements to use a delivery entrance and a service elevator. We arrive to see a guy, 6'4 with a buzz cut waiting with a hotel employee by the elevator.

Taylor gets out of the car and grabs the guy in a half hug, favoring his left arm which is still in a sling.

"Thanks man. You don't know how much I appreciate this." he says, then turns to me and says "Christian Grey, meet Michael Sullivan, newest member of your close security team."

I shake hands and wonder how the fuck Taylor did it. I check my watch, its 9:30. We should be back to Escala in plenty of time for the. Security meeting. We leave Ryan with the ladies and let the new guy drive. I hope Barney and Welch have some good news for a change.

I see Welch's car when we pull into Escala. Gate's guy gives me an update on his crew that is covering the roof, the entrance to the penthouse, the elevator, the stairwell and the parking garage. They have had no issues and nothing suspicious. I thank him as sincerely as I can.

Upstairs, Taylor takes off with Sullivan. I remind him the meeting is at ten. He nods and leads Sullivan into the security office. Gail has set up the dining room table with a platter of subs, sandwiches,salads, fruit, cheese and crackers. There is coffee, fruit juice and wine on the table.

Just before ten, Barney wanders in, grabs a sandwich and a cup of coffee and sits. Then Taylor and Sullivan return. Sawyer walks in and grabs a chair. I nod to Welch.

He explains Reynolds is officially no longer employed. He also explains how Ros's home has been blown sky high. Ryan is currently providing her with close security at the Fairmont Olympic. He then introduces Taylor's buddy, Michael Sullivan, who for now will be based in the penthouse. Then he looks at Barney, who has just managed to finish his sandwich. He holds one finger up in the air as he takes a long sip of coffee. After wiping his face with a napkin, he begins.

"Except for Mr Sullivan, you all know I have trying to find out information on a hacker known as Warbird 1. There were firewalls installed around Ms Bailey's computer that appeared to implicate him. I then found the same firewalls on Ms Steele's work computer at SIP. Warbird 1 was brilliant and very unique. No one has ever been able to duplicate his work. He disappeared from the hacking community about five years ago. No one has ever heard from him or seen new work by him until now.

While I am working on the Warbird problem, I start eliminating disgruntled competition over the last two years. I concentrated on small businesses where there was known animosity. One name stood out immediately. Klingon Industries.

At this point Barney realized he had lost his audience. "Klingons? Klingon Warbirds?" He asks to his dumbfounded audience.

Finally, Taylor makes the connection, "Are you kidding? Fucking Star Trek?"

Barney looked at me, "Do you remember them, sir? Klingon Industries?"

"Yes, I remember them now. They fucked me over three times in a row, lowballing my bid because they had hacked our system. I warned them after the second time if they did it again, I'd destroy them. After the third time, that is exactly what I did. "

"Well, I think that's what set him off. He wants revenge. He wants your company destroyed and he wants your money. I am checking now to see if there is any connection to Schneiderman because that's the only thing that makes sense. I also want to see if Mrs Linccoln's computer shows any signs of Warbird. "

"What is Warbirds real name?"

"According to the. paperwork i found,the CEO and owner is listed as Jack Hyde. He was Ana's boss. I've emailed everyone a copy of his photograph, including the outside security. "

"Barney, why Ros? Why try to murder her like that?"

"To weaken you, to weaken. GEH. He is ruthless and coldblooded and he wants to make sure you suffer. Everything boils down to that. Destroy you and destroy your company. If he is in league with Schneiderman, that's going to make it a whole new ballgame. "

"When will you know?"

"Hopefully by mid morning sir."

"Call everyone in for a conference as soon as you know. Does anyone have anything else? Then we will meet again tomorrow."