Chapter 25: Bringing Down the House
CPOV
"Mr. Grey, I have Mr. Welch on the line for you."
"Thanks, Andrea. Put him through."
"Here you go."
"Welch?"
"Mr. Grey, I have news."
"Hold on, let me get Taylor in here." I buzz Taylor to come into my office. When he does, I put the phone on speaker. "OK Welch, I have you on speaker."
"Sir, Taylor. We have found out who it was that leaked the story of your engagement."
"Spit it out, Welch! I don't have all damn day! Who was it?" I hate the long drawn out answers.
It sounds as if Welch braces himself. "Elena Lincoln, Sir."
"Elena? What the fuck?"
"There's more Sir. Apparently, she was shopping the story to the highest bidder and promised them more exclusives, especially about your past."
I feel sick. I knew she was a jealous bitch but this is devious, this is downright evil. "Sir, no worries. We were able to squelch any other stories and prove Elena to be a less than credible source."
"Thank you, Welch. Listen, I want to take this bitch down but I need to make some preparations first. Taylor, I need more protection for Ana, covert and open. Welch, I need you to get people on Elena covert 24/7. Got it?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Keep me updated, Welch."
"Of course."
I hang up with Welch look at Taylor. "Taylor, Ana is the most important thing to me. I need you to make sure she is protected at all times. She's not to go anywhere by herself. She is to not know about Elena. Understand?"
"Yes, Sir. I'm going to rendezvous with Sawyer and make a plan."
"Thanks, Taylor."
I page Andrea. "Andrea, get my lawyers on the line… please."
"Sir, I have Mr. Bartram on the line."
"Bartram, thanks for taking my call."
Mr. Grey, of course. You're our biggest client. What can I do for you today?"
"Have you completed the paperwork for gifting the salons to Ms. Lincoln?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Grey, I have not." He sounds nervous.
"Good. There's been a change of plans. I will not be gifting the salons. I want to sell all majority shares I have. Since I am the main financial shareholder we will liquidate everything. Sell them off in pieces. I want them to be worthless when it's said and done."
"Mr. Grey, pardon me for speaking out of turn but doing that is going to cost you a lot of money. Are you sure?"
I normally hate it when people question me like this but under the circumstances, I appreciate it. "Absolutely. Let me know when it's completed."
"Will do, Mr. Grey."
APOV
Sawyer told me that because of the media attention I'm going to have more protection assigned to me. I guess I can deal with that. At least it means that Christian is agreeing to let me go back to work.
Both Kate and Mia are in the wedding party so tonight we're meeting for dinner and drinks to start the planning. Hopefully, Mia understands what I mean by simple.
We get to the restaurant. Sawyer stays close but tries to make himself invisible. I see Mia and there is no way in hell simple is in her vocabulary. She has stacks and stacks of binders and what looks like fabric samples. Kate looks up at me, rolls her eyes and mouths "help". I laugh as I go up to the table. We spend the next couple of hours talking about the wedding.
I get in the car with Sawyer. "Luke, those were the longest couple hours I've had. I should have agreed to elope." He laughs. "Miss Steele that is the smartest thing I've heard all night."
"Miss Steele, I'm going to escort you to the front doors while Prescott parks the car. They are performing maintenance the garage."
As Sawyer and I run inside the paps yell questions. I'm getting used to them but one sticks out
Ana! How do you feel about Christian paying off your student loans?!
That's a very specific question.
We get to the apartment and while Christian has a meeting with security I go to change in the bedroom. That question still stuck in my mind. I get my phone and check my student loan balance. Zero. My loan was paid off last week in one payment.
What the fuck? How did he even get that information? Is there anything he doesn't know about me? I check my bank account, $50,482. That is $50,000 too much!
To say I am furious would be an understatement. Unlucky for Christian, he walks in at that moment. "Christian! I can't believe you! Did you do this so I wouldn't return to work?! You had no right to do this! No wonder everyone thinks I'm a gold digger. That's exactly what I look like!"
"Ana, I did this for you. So you wouldn't have to worry about it. I make money and I want to share it with you. I don't want to sound arrogant but what I make in an hour is about triple your annual salary. I can afford it."
"Christian, the thought was… well intended… but you went about it all wrong. Please, next time you want to do something for me like this, please ask. So I don't have to hear about it from the paparazzi. OK?"
"Yes, Ana, I'm sorry. Are we OK?" He gives me his puppy dog eyes. I can't stay mad at him for long.
I step up on my tip toes and give him a kiss. "Of course. I can't stay mad at you for long."
He kisses me on the forehead. "I have to finish up some work. I won't be long, sweetheart." I'm sorry."
CPOV
I only have about an hour or so of work to finish. Hopefully, I can get it done quickly before Ana falls asleep.
Just then my cell phone rings. I look and see it's Elena. I smirk, I know exactly why she is calling.
"Grey."
"What the fuck are you getting at, Christian?"
"Oh, Elena. How are you?"
"Cut the shit. You're selling my salons out from under me? You're going to ruin me! I'm your friend!"
"Elena, you were never my friend. I was misguided. Anyway, you shouldn't be afraid of losing the salons and money, I heard you got quite the sum for your exclusive on my engagement."
"I'll get even with you. I've got so much dirt on you. I can bury you and demolish everything you love!"
"I know you HAD dirt on me but you have nothing now."
"Like you know where I have it."
"As a matter of fact, while you were busy getting your pedicure today my people were at your house clearing everything you have about me."
"So smart yet so cocky. I don't keep it all in one place."
"I know. Why do you think I even picked up your call. While you are at home talking on the phone with me I have someone in your office at Escala cleaning that out too."
"You're lying Christian. I've changed the security code. You can't get in."
"Elena, so soon you forget that I was the one who installed your security system."
"You fucking bastard. I will get you back and I'll get you where it'll hurt you the most."
"Elena, enjoy the free time you're about to have. Maybe you can act your age and go to bingo or play bridge."
I don't wait for her response. I hang up the phone reveling in what just happened.