Christian's POV:
By the time the benefit rolled around I still wasn't sure what to do about Phoebe. I think Ana could sense my hesitation so she didn't push me into making up my mind before I was ready. All in all Phoebe seemed in a better mood, but that is a teenager for you, or it was the fact that she had school all week with that boy. I was pretty confident that she was still seeing Adam behind my back, actually because of the increased security I KNEW that she was seeing Adam behind my back and I guess in a way I let it go on in order to see if I could even deal with them being together before I put my official stamp of approval on it.
"Christian I am going to go make sure Phoebe is getting ready, just in case." Ana said with a wink as she slipped on her shoes and I smiled at how put together my wife looked in the gorgeous red dress that she had picked out.
"I'll make sure Gail is set with Blake and Ryan and then I will grab Teddy and meet you and Fee down stairs." I said and she nodded before she retreated from our room.
I could sense that Gail found some humor in me making sure she had everything that she needed for the boys. I knew that she always watched them but I liked to be prepared, just in case something happened, not that anything would. When I was done there I went in search of Teddy to find that he was sitting on the couch in a nice Tux with his mask lying next to him.
"No date tonight?" I asked and he shook his head.
"No date tonight, I figured that bringing the girl grandma hates to her benefit would only upset her." Teddy said and I nodded.
"It would, you're a smart man Theodore." I remarked and he smirked.
"I like to think so. Where is mom?" He asked and I sighed.
"Helping your sister get ready."
"We're going to be late." Teddy said and I let out a small laugh.
"More than likely."
Phoebe still wasn't downstairs by the time Ana had joined Teddy and me and I was growing frustrated.
"What is taking her so long?" I bellowed at Ana who had just come from helping our daughter.
"She will be down in a minute, just relax Christian." Ana cooed as she straightened my tie.
"She has been getting ready for two hours already. What else could she possibly have left to-" I was cut off by the beautiful figure descending down the stairs.
Phoebe's brown hair cascaded in loose curls down her back, which was open due to a lack of material from the strapless charcoal gray dress that's bodice was covered in rhinestones. Her lovely face was at this time being covered by a gorgeous mask that matched her dress to perfection, paired with a bright colored lip and to top the entire outfit off she had on a pair of matching gray peep toe Louboutin pumps, which were accentuated by the exaggerated slit in the dress.
"That is one slit." I said as she finished walking down the stairs and she looked over to her mom and rolled her eyes.
"I told you he was going to say that." Ana said as Phoebe lowered her mask and joined us all at the bottom of the stair case.
"Well other than that, do you like it?" She asked and I nodded as I pulled her into a hug and placed a kiss on the top of her head for good measure.
"I love you." I said and she looked up at me.
"You didn't answer my question." She said and I nodded.
"I love your outfit Fee, now lets get a move on or your grandmother is going to be down my throat for being late." I joked and Phoebe let out a small laugh as Ana, Teddy, Phoebe and I headed out to the car.
"I would love to see that." Fee remarked and I just shook my head as I got in the driver's seat as Ana got in the front passenger side. This was one of the few times that I did not travel with security in my car. If it was just me and one other person I would have no problem with letting Taylor or Sawyer drive us but when there were four of us in the car there was no way that security could drive us and we all be comfortable in one car.
In total there were three SUV's that night. The first one had Taylor and Brant in it and the one behind us had Sawyer and Greene. I figured that tonight we only needed one security personal per person, it was a benefit after all.
Luckily we were able to get to my parent's house before the thick of the crowd arrived so my mother wasn't too upset by our late appearance.
"Christian, you're here! Your father wishes to speak with you but I insisted on him waiting to talk business with you until after the event tonight so I would like to to respect my wishes as well." My mother said and I nodded with a smile knowing that I would be one unhappy camper if I didn't follow my mother's instructions.
"I understand, where are we to sit?" I asked and my mother pointed to a table in the center of the room where Mia was seated talking to Kate.
"Over there, Phoebe you look gorgeous!" My mom gushing having just seen Phoebe for the first time tonight.
"Thank you Grandma, is Ava here?" She asked and my mom nodded.
"She just stepped out to make a phone call she should be inside shortly or I'm sure if you want to go find her she would love some company." My mom said and Phoebe nodded as she walked past us towards the back where she was sure to find Ava.
"Teddy why don't you help your grandfather finish up whatever he was working on in his office?" My mom added and Teddy nodded as he walked off leaving my mom alone with Ana and me.
"What did you want to talk to us about that our kids couldn't be here?" I asked and my mom sighed as she guided Ana and I to the kitchen so we could talk with a little more privacy.
"What is the deal with Elena?" My mom asked after checking to make sure that the room was clear.
"We don't know Grace." Ana said gently as she intertwined her fingers with mine in an effort to keep me calm.
"Does Phoebe know?" She asked and I shook my head.
"No mom she doesn't and we don't want her to know unless she has to, the same thing goes for Theodore."
"Don't you think her wanting to date her son counts as a reason to know?" My mother asked and I shook my head.
"Not at the moment-"
"Is that because you think she isn't seeing that boy against your wishes? Wise up Christian she is a teenage girl, it happens-"
"It's not that mom. Look can we wait to discuss this until later at a more appropriate time?" I asked as my mother sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
"Of course, lets get back out to the guest, we shouldn't keep them waiting." My mom said as she slipped out of the kitchen and I went to follow when Ana pulled me back to where she was standing.
"So now your mother is getting involved?" Ana asked and I smirked.
"Would you expect anything else? Come on, there is a dance floor out there calling our names Mrs. Grey." I said and Ana smiled.
"Well if the dance floor is calling our names then we must go, it's rude to keep it waiting." Ana joked and I smirked as we emerged from the kitchen to a party that had taken on a life of its own in the short time that we were away.
Ana and I stayed on the dance floor until everyone took their seats for the speeches. I didn't really pay attention when the speeches were given. I had lived through the events they were describing, there was no need for me to listen to some speaker ramble on about it. Of course I paid a little more attention when my mother got up to talk but in reality I spent most of my attention on observing my family.
Ana was comfortably settled in the seat next to mine, leaning into me ever so slightly. Teddy was sitting between his mother and Phoebe, looking absolutely bored out of his mind, benefits never were his thing. Phoebe on the other time was having a great time. Her and Ava were whispering about something and after a look from me both girls quieted down and went back to paying attention to the speeches, although I didn't expect it to last too long knowing the girls.
When the speeches were done we were all served dinner, nothing short of spectacular was served by my mother. It was a delightful meal and the dinner conversation was decent as well, not that I paid it too much attention. It was only when the women disappeared from the table that my interest was peaked.
"Theodore where are your mother and your sister?" I asked and he pointed to the stage.
"They are going to be auctioned off in a moment. Didn't you hear when mom told you that they were going?" Teddy asked and I shook my head as I shot up out of my seat, trying to get to my girls before the auction started but it was too late.
"First up would be my lovely daughter-in-law, Anastasia Grey-" That was all I needed to hear from my dad before I started the bidding.
"One hundred thousand dollars!" I barked and I saw Ana smirk from the stage. I guess she knew that I didn't like to share my things with others.
"I haven't even set the price for the bidding yet, someone is a little eager." My dad joked causing a few men in the crowd to chuckle but that was not deterring me from making sure no one out bid me for my wife.
"One hundred fifty thousand!" Elliot yelled as he smirked my way causing me to glaring being as I knew what sort of game he was playing.
"Two hundred thousand!" I countered knowing that in all likeliness Elliot was just trying to bid me up, like he did every year.
"Three hundred thousand!" Elliot replied and I rolled my eyes and sighed knowing how to end this once and for all.
"One mill-" I started only to be cut off.
"One million, five hundred thousand!" Someone yelled from the back and the room fell into complete silence as I turned to give who ever had just bid a glare to warn them to back off, but I wasn't able to place where the voice had come from.
"Going once?" My dad asked and I realized I had never out bid the asshole who bid on my sweet Ana.
"Two million, and I will double anything that comes in over that!" I said trying to deter anyone from trying to out bid me again.
There were some hushed whispers from the crowd but nothing else as my dad did the final count, and after what seemed to be a bidding fiasco my wife was safely escorted off stage and into my arms.
"Who bid on me other than you and Elliot?" She asked and I shrugged still looking around to see if I could figure out who it was.
"I don't know, but it wasn't Flynn that is for sure, he is out of the country on vacation this weekend." I said as Ana retreated further into my embrace.
"Well I am glad that whoever outbid you learned his lesson, I would hate to think that you would have wasted our entire fortune on me." She said with a slight blush to her cheeks and I smiled lovingly at her.
"I would gratefully give up everything if it meant that I could have you and the kids with me now and forever." I said locking our lips in a passionate kiss.
"I'm glad you said that because all this talking distracted you from Phoebe's auction and she just sold for a pretty penny." Ana said and I snapped my head up to see Phoebe walking off stage towards some punk who had the nerve to bid on my sixteen year old daughter.
"Excuse me one moment." I said as I tried to march over to where the two were standing when Ana grabbed my arm and held me in place.
"It's one dance Christian, let her have some fun." Ana pleaded and I sighed.
"Fine but if she leaves the dance floor with that fucker he is all mine." I snapped and Ana let out a small laugh.
"Deal, now pay attention Kate is coming up and I would like you to repay the favor your brother paid us." Ana joked and I smiled as I got ready to enter into another friendly bidding war.
Phoebe's POV:
I was surprised that my dad didn't march over and demand that the man who purchased me return me to him. I guess sometimes your parents aren't going to be there to rescue you, not that I needed rescuing, but I just really did not want to dance with this man. He just gave me the creeps and the amount that he paid to dance with me was obscene.
"So you're Phoebe Grey, the little princess?" He asked as I stood by him as the rest of the bidding was carried out.
"Yeah I guess I am." I said trying not to be rude, but at the same time trying not to carry on a conversation with this creep.
"I hope it's a slow song, it would be a rip off if I paid all that money and then didn't get at least a slow song don't you think?" He asked and I sighed.
"Sure." I said looking up to the stage where Ava was now walking on.
"Your cousin is pretty, not as pretty as you are though. I must say your dress is stunning, did you pick it out?" The man asked and I bit my lower lip hoping this guy would get the hint that I didn't want to talk to him. "You didn't answer my question." He snapped after a few minutes of being ignored.
"I'm sorry what did you say again? My hearing has been a little off the past few days." I said trying to make him feel bad about himself for snapping at me.
"I asked if you picked out your own dress little girl." He said with anger evident in his voice.
"Little girl? I'm sixteen, that's hardly a little girl." I retorted completely offended by the way that he was talking to me.
"You little bitch!" The man said as he grabbed onto my wrist tightly and pulled me towards him. "Do you even know who I am? You're just like your father you little-"
"Is everything alright over here Miss Grey?" Taylor asked as he walked up to us and the guy nodded as he dropped my now throbbing wrist and plastered a smile on his face.
"Everything is great, right Phoebe? You can leave now." He said and Taylor smirked.
"Sir, I believe I was asking Miss Grey if she was alright." Taylor said and I shook my head as tears threatened to spill into my eyes.
"No I am not alright, I want my dad." I said and Taylor glared at the man before he said something into his headset and pulled me aside.
"SIr I think you should go ask for a refund, Miss Grey will not be dancing with you tonight." Taylor said diplomatically but the guy refused to listen.
"I paid a lot of money to dance with her being as he father refused to let me purchase his wife." The man snapped and Taylor stood between me and him.
"Sir I will only tell you once more to move on before it gets ugly." Taylor said with a bit more edge to his voice.
"She's mine, I won her in the auction!" The man gritted between his teeth reaching around to grab my arm again.
His hand was on my wrist for a mere second before my dad was behind me and the hand was dropped.
"Taylor I will take it from here." My dad said in a dangerously low voice as his eyes never left the man.
"Christian, your daughter is a delight-"
"Stop trying to suck up Gregory. I saw you grab my daughter and if you think I won't press charges because we used to work together, you can think again. Now I would have to ask you to step away from my daughter and NEVER lay a hand on her again." My dad said as to not draw attention to us being as we were in the middle of the auction still.
"I'm sorry for any trouble I caused and tell your parents they can think of what I paid as a donation." The man said as he backed a way and disappeared into the crowd.
"Are you alright?" My dad asked and I nodded slightly as I gently shook out my wrist.
"I'll be fine." I said and my dad lightly grabbed my wrist and looked it over.
"You need to get some ice, its already bruising-"
"Dad you have your dance with mom that is about to take place. I can take care of it-"
"Your brother is taking my dance with your mom, you missy owe me a dance. I think I paid enough." My dad said giving me a wink as music started and he took my hands and guided me in a slow dance like only he could.
"Daddy are all the people you used to work with like that?" I asked and he sighed as I rested my head on his chest.
"Not all of them, but most of the people that I used to work with got fired or I dropped their business for a reason. Gregory had anger issues that anger management couldn't solve. I can't believe that fucker bid on you." He said as he shook his head and I smirked.
"He was the one who tried to bid on mom originally." I said and my dad tensed for a second before he relaxed into dancing again.
"I have half a mind to go find him and teach him not to mess with my things." My dad whispered and I rolled my eyes.
"Mom and I aren't things dad, we're people." I remarked and my dad smiled.
"I'm sorry, I have half a mind to find him and teach him not to mess with my family, better?" He asked and I nodded.
"Much better." I said as we went back to dancing.
When we were done with the dance my dad led us off the dance floor in search of my grandmother who almost lost it when she saw my wrist and heard what happened.
"Just take her to the kitchen and get her some ice, and I want the man's name Christian, he is being taken off the guest list permanently!" Grandma said and dad nodded.
"Already taken care of, come on kiddo." Dad said as he ushered me into the kitchen where mom was sipping on a glass of water.
"Christian, what are you two doing in here?" Mom asked as she walked over to us and dad held up my arm.
"You know when I had something to go take care of, yeah the man who won our daughter bruised her wrist." My dad said, clearly still pissed that this happened.
"Come here baby." My mom said as she held her hands out to me and I walked over to her while my dad went about gathering ice for me to put on my wrist.
"It's not that bad." I said as I looked at my large discolored wrist and my mom let out a small laugh.
"You and your father are so alike, always down playing your injuries." My mom said as she ran her thumb over my wrist lightly.
My dad handed my some ice and I held it to my wrist as my mom played with my hair, planting soft kisses on the side of my head.
"I think it might be time to go." My mom finally said and my dad nodded.
"I'll go find Teddy-"
"No, let me." I said and my parents gave me a weird look but they let me go in search of Theodore as long as I promised to keep the ice on my wrist.
It wasn't hard to find Teddy. The one thing about Teddy was that he was a creature of habit and anytime we came to one of these things and got tired we always went to the same place; the dock.
"What's eating you?" I asked as I sat next to Ted and he let out a small sigh.
"Just tired, that's all. Those drafts are killing me Fee, I don't know how much longer I can keep this up."
"Just a little longer big brother, just a little longer. Plus now that I slipped the contact info that mom needed to her you are so close. All these drafts just mean you are that much closer to the final thing."
"I guess you're right, so why did you come out here to find me?" Teddy asked and I smiled.
"Mom and dad are ready to go, how about you?" I asked and he nodded.
"I've been ready. Come on, I'll race you." He said as he hopped up and I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, race me now that I am in heels and a dress." I said and he laughed as he crouched slightly forward and coaxed me into getting on his back.
"You know you aren't as light as you used to be." Teddy said as he carried me towards the house and I laughed.
"Yeah, well you aren't as handsome as you used to be." I joked and he shook his head as he started running causing me to almost fall off. "Mean." I spat and he laughed.
"I'm glad you're my sister Fee."
"I'm glad you're my brother too Ted."