Author's Note: Here it is, folks, and thanks to those of you who let me know you're hanging in there. Until next week! BTW, I'm not sure anyone caught my mistake... It's Cadillac that makes the Escalade, but Christian's car is a Mercedes SUV. Nope, not an Audi. :)

Chapter 32: Dealing with Sally Jacobson

By the time Christian arrived at the Mile High Club, Barney had found out more about Sally Jacobson than should have been humanly possible in such a short amount of time, but Barney always had been exceptional. Then again, he'd started working on it Friday as soon as Anastasia had alerted Christian that Mrs. Jacobson was going to be a problem. They just hadn't realized how big a problem she'd turn out to be.

Barney's research had uncovered the fact that Mrs. Jacobson had been married to attorney-at-law Geoffrey Jacobson for eight years. They had two children, a nine-year-old boy named Charlie and a six-year-old girl named Claire. By all appearances, they were a happy family, with two cocker spaniels, a tabby cat and a hamster. They attended the same Presbyterian church in Bellevue that Mr. Jacobson's parents and twin brother did every Sunday, after which they had brunch.

However, the Jacobsons weren't the perfect family they appeared to be. Sally had skeletons in her closet that her in-laws almost certainly knew nothing about. Geoffrey also had a secret life that his wife apparently knew nothing about. In fact, the two of them appeared to be keeping big secrets from one another.

By the time Anastasia arrived at Christian's private room at the Mile High Club, he'd already worked out a strategy with his brilliant security team. Anastasia went straight to Christian's arms, and he welcomed her into an embrace that caused Taylor, Welch, and Barney to glance at each other in surprise. When had the boss ever hugged… well, anyone? He wasn't this affectionate, even with his sisters. Taylor had noticed changes in Mr. Grey's behavior towards Ms. Steele compared to his previous submissives, but the man had been full of surprises over the past few days. The flowers on Friday had been the biggest surprise. Everything after that had been icing on the cake.

"What am I going to do?" Anastasia lamented.

"Let me take care of it," Christian replied. "I know it's your work, and I promised not to interfere with your professional life. Honest to God, Ana, I don't want to dominate your work. But this is personal. She's a problem because of your relationship with me, so let me take care of it. I've got things worked out with my security team, and it's under control."

Anastasia wanted that to be true. She loved the idea of being able to turn to her Dom with her concerns, knowing he'd do what he could to solve her every problem. Moreover, she didn't believe Christian wanted to control her work life in general. This was different. He was right. She was in this predicament because of her relationship with him.

"I trust you," Anastasia assured Christian.

"If that's true, let's have lunch. Welch will fill you in since he's going to take the lead."

A few minutes later, a server had brought them all Thai chicken salads, and Welch reviewed the strategy. Anastasia felt relieved that Christian's team had figured out a solution so quickly. There's no way she could have dealt with Sally Jacobson on her own because she simply didn't have the wealth of information that Welch had. But now that she learned Sally's secrets, she felt confident that she could pull off her part of the plan. She liked that her Dom was putting the power in her hands, but it really came down to him having these resources.

Christian paid more attention to Anastasia's eating than to Welch's talking since he already knew the plan. He reminded her several times to eat. He needed to be sure his Princess didn't skip her lunch because she felt anxious. He had plans for her later tonight that would require her to be well nourished. Once they got through this distraction, which was really all Sally Jacobson was, they'd get on with their merry lives. Anastasia was planning to order pizza before they watched a movie at her place, but he doubted they'd eat much pizza or watch any movie. No, he had other plans that he knew she was going to enjoy more.

It was during this lunch that Anastasia learned that Christian owned the entire building, making him her landlord. Her shock didn't last long, as it made sense. He didn't reveal the fact that she wasn't actually paying rent, as he doubted she'd react with the same easy acceptance. That big revelation could wait. Since GEH had operated out of this building during its first two years, Christian knew it well, including Anastasia's floor. Welch knew it so well that it took him no time at all to set up the surveillance after lunch that they needed for the meetings with Sally Jacobson.

Anastasia first called Lydia into her office, thanked her for the prompt written report, alerted her that their meeting was being monitored and recorded for security purposes, and warned her that she had decided that Sally had to be fired, today. Lydia agreed since she didn't trust Sally to handle any classified information discretely, and that included all their authors. If she was surprised that Anastasia was having their meeting monitored, she didn't say so. Once again, Anastasia admired Lydia for her professionalism. She hoped she'd continue to act as professional after today's revelations, but she agreed with Welch that Lydia needed to be there as a witness, particularly because she was Sally's direct supervisor.

As planned, Anastasia sent Hannah to get Sally. A few minutes later, Sally joined Lydia and Anastasia, and began talking before even taking a seat. "I feel like I've been called to the principal's office. Seriously, I already apologized, and it won't happen again. I got the write-up. I'm sorry, OK?"

Anastasia responded, "Before we continue, I need to alert you that this meeting is being monitored and recorded."

"What?" Sally screeched. "Why?"

Anastasia didn't respond. Instead, she asked Sally, "Would you mind telling us who you were talking to on your personal cell phone in the office this morning, where anyone passing by could overhear you? The reason I ask is because Lydia has reported hearing you discussing BDSM, the manuscript that we rejected last week, Memoir of a Submissive, and Christian Grey in particular. This is a serious breach of confidentiality. I need to know who you were talking to."

"Just a friend," Sally responded. "She won't tell anyone. I don't want to get her in trouble."

Yeah, right, Anastasia thought to herself. Just a friend, my ass.

Anastasia told her, "You should have thought of that before talking to her from the office about such sensitive information, which you never should have repeated to anyone outside of Bennington Steele. You've seriously breached our confidentiality and security rules, and we can't have that, Sally. I'm sorry, but we have to terminate you."

"You might want to know what my friend told me," Sally told Anastasia. She didn't sound surprised or worried that she was being fired.

"It's highly unlikely that you have any information I need that I don't already know," Anastasia told Sally. "And before you continue down this rabbit hole, I want to remind you that this conversation is being monitored and recorded."

"If that's supposed to frighten me, I should remind you, Anastasia, that you have more reasons to hide… certain information… than I do."

Anastasia chuckled. "It's going to be like that, is it?" she asked lightly, not showing any of the anxiety she felt. Lydia was about to hear more than she wanted her to. Would she continue to act as professional as always?

"I know more than you realize," Sally warned Anastasia. "And if you fire me, I won't have the same incentive to keep it under wraps."

Anastasia snorted. "Keep it under wraps, Sally? Like you've kept Christian Grey's so-called identity as the Grey Wolf 'under wraps'? You posted that so-called fact on Instagram before verifying its truth. You only took it down Friday morning before our meeting. If I'd found it when I checked your account on Friday, you'd have already been fired."

"You can't prove I posted anything on social media," Sally argued.

"Wrong," Anastasia corrected her. "I've got screenshots." Anastasia handed both Sally and Lydia printed copies of screenshots of Sally's instagram account from last Wednesday and Thursday. The post announcing Christian's secret identity as the Grey Wolf, a BDSM Dominant, had been there for two days before she'd deleted it. Barney was, indeed, a genius at finding this information.

While Sally stared in horror at the copies of the screenshots, Anastasia continued, "I know everything you think you know, Sally. I also know that you have no evidence. I know where you've gotten your so-called facts, and I know the sources aren't reliable."

Sally raised her eyebrows. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Princess Rose."

Thanks to Welch's preparation, Anastasia barely flinched at Sally's revelation. She neither affirmed or denied it. Instead, she informed Sally, "You were talking to Cassidy Cornwall this morning. You said she was your friend, but the truth is that you've never met her, and you spoke with her for the first time yesterday. After word got out about your post, she contacted you because she claims to have been a submissive for the Grey Wolf at the club Leila Williams wrote about, and she wants to sell her story. But she never saw the Grey Wolf's face. The only evidence she has that the Grey Wolf is Christian Grey is the information that YOU gave her, based on the manuscript you read, which you were required to keep confidential. The fact that you've revealed that information will cost you more than your job. Prepare for legal action."

Sally ignored Anastasia's warning as she revealed, "Cassidy was THERE Saturday night. She told me in detail what he did to YOU! Everybody knows that you and Christian Grey are dating now. And everybody at that club saw the Grey Wolf claim Princess Rose. That's you! You can't deny it. I'm sure your ass is still sore!"

Anastasia responded with a level tone that didn't betray her fears that the truth would get out, "I can deny it because you don't have any proof, but my goal at the moment is neither to deny or affirm your foolish allegations. Where I was Saturday night is none of your business. What about you, Sally? Does your husband know where you were Saturday night?"

Sally's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, but then she smirked. "He should know, since I was at home with him and our children."

"Hmm, interesting," Anastasia said with a bored tone. "That lie makes it clear that your husband doesn't know you're having an affair. I'm only curious if you know where he was while you were in Tacoma spending the night with his best friend?"

Sally sounded too defensive as she responded, "That's not true, and you don't know where either of us was."

Anastasia shrugged. "I really don't care where either of you were. It's nothing to me that your husband is in the very lifestyle that you're accusing me of being in, as if it would be any of your business if I were. Nor do I care that you're cheating on him with his best friend. I'll say this, though. If you're truly interested in submission, your husband could probably give you some tips. One thing's certain, he isn't likely to be as eager to out other people in the lifestyle as you are."

Sally looked completely confused and horrified. "My husband wouldn't know BDSM if it bit him in the ass. That man only knows vanilla. And you're wrong about me cheating on him!"

"TMI," responded Anastasia. "I really don't care about your husband's secret sex life or yours, either. I don't care that you've been fucking your husband's best friend, Peter Hagan, or that you were with him Saturday night while your in-laws babysat your kids and dogs."

Now Sally was turning red. "That's preposterous!"

Anastasia handed Sally and Lydia another paper, this time of a time-stamped printed out grainy photograph of pretty blonde wearing too much make-up and a slutty outfit. There was no denying that it was Sally, kissing a man who wasn't her husband. Anastasia said, "I realize that the quality isn't great, but that's you, Sally. I've never met Peter Hagan, but my source tells me that's him."

"Where'd you get this?" Sally demanded. "Shit! Geoffrey can't find out!"

"It's not my concern," Anastasia said with a shrug. "My only concern is that you don't go spreading rumors about me or my boyfriend. If you do," Anastasia held up her copy of the revealing photograph, "you'll regret it."

Now Sally was more green than red. She understood the threat immediately. She sighed. "I won't," she promised. "Can I empty my desk before I leave?" she asked.

"Of course," Anastasia assured her. "Actually, before you go, we need you to have an exit interview with a member of security, just to cover a few basics, to make sure you don't forget." Anastasia only implied that it was a member of HER security. She didn't need to mention that Welch worked for Christian.

Anastasia got Prescott to escort Sally to the small conference room, which Welch had already prepared for the "exit interview." As soon as Sally left her office, Anastasia asked Lydia, "Can I continue to rely on you to keep everything you just heard confidential?"

"Of course, Ana," Lydia promised. "She didn't even have any proof. Even if she did, your private life is just that, private. I'm sorry we had someone like that working here. We're a team here at Bennington Steele, and we respect each other's private lives."

"Thanks, Lydia," Anastasia said sincerely. She believed Lydia, not only because she'd always been a trustworthy and honest employee, but also because Welch's background check had shown her to be a person of integrity.

As soon as she'd dismissed Lydia, Christian and Barney entered her office and closed the door behind them, assuring her that they hadn't been seen. Barney set up his laptop on Anastasia's desk while Christian embraced and kissed her.

"You were brilliant," he assured her.

She let out a deep breath. "That was intense. I knew what she was going to do, but I was still surprised by how blatant she was."

He responded. "Now that she knows what we have on her, she'll be a fool not to keep our secrets, especially when she doesn't have any proof, and we have photographic evidence."

"She didn't have any idea about her husband," Anastasia noted. "I probably gave her the impression that he's a submissive."

Christian said, "I'd feel bad for outing him if I didn't know he's gotten at least one underage sub from Elena. Barney found that little detail. Rat bastard."

"Excuse you," Barney snarked.

"Not you, asshole," Christian clarified. "Geoffrey Jacobson's the rat bastard. I want every one of those sick motherfuckers who've abused children to pay for it, including him."

Barney said, "Let's focus on the present, shall we? Welch just entered the conference room."

The three of them looked at the laptop screen. Barney adjusted the sound, so they heard Welch as he introduced himself.

"Mrs. Jacobson, I'm Alex Welch, the security officer assigned your exit interview. Do you understand why you're being terminated?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Could you summarize it for me?" he asked.

"I had a private conversation at work, where other people could overhear confidential information I wasn't supposed to repeat. I talked about Christian Grey. I should've known it would get me fired."

"Did you attempt to extort Anastasia Steele?" Welch asked.

"What? No!" she squeaked.

Welch consulted his notes. "So, you didn't tell Ms. Steele, and I quote, 'I know more than you realize… And if you fire me, I won't have the same incentive to keep it under wraps'?"

"You're taking those words out of context," Sally claimed.

Welch raised his eyebrows. "Really? Explain it to me, then. What was the context?"

She sighed. "I thought if she knew that I'm aware of her private life, she'd let me keep my job. I didn't mean anything bad…"

Welch ignored her stupid response. He pushed some papers in front of her and explained, "These are nondisclosure agreements. The first is a copy of your signed NDA from working here at Bennington Steele. It is still valid after your employment is terminated, for the next hundred years. If you break it, Ms. Steele will have the right to sue you, which she won't hesitate to do. The additional NDAs are more personal in nature. They aren't necessary, since your work NDA covers everything they do. However, since you've shown a lack of intelligence today, we're including them to be sure you understand. You will sign them before you leave today. The first one states that you agree not to disclose anything of a personal nature about Anastasia Steele. That's anything at all, whether it's true or mistaken. It includes all the hearsay you were spouting at her a few minutes ago. She could sue you even without this agreement and easily win, but this is more for your benefit, as a reminder."

"What if I refuse to sign it?" she asked.

"Do you really want to find out?" he asked. His tone was nonthreatening, but the implication behind his words was clear. He added, "You might be interested to know that your affair with Peter Hagan is just one of the bits of information we know that your family doesn't appear to know. Yet."

"What do you mean?" she asked. She tried to sound neutral, but Welch could see the sweat on her forehead.

He raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… Well, does your husband know, for example, that his twin brother is actually the father of your daughter?"

Sally looked horrified. "That's a lie! There's no way Geoffrey would believe that!"

"It's not a lie, though, is it?" Welch continued. "We aren't like you, Mrs. Jacobson. We don't make accusations that we can't back with proof. We've got copies of emails between you and Mitchell Jacobson. You do realize, don't you, that they aren't identical twins, so they don't have identical DNA. A paternity test would prove the truth. We don't need it, but your husband will probably want it when he sees the interesting correspondence we have covering several years. I'm only curious as to whether Mitchell and Peter know about each other. I mean, I'm fairly certain that your husband doesn't know about either of them, but do the two of them know you were fucking them both?"

"Shit," Sally muttered. "You can't… How is this possible? No. I'll sign anything you want me to. Just… Make sure Ana knows I won't tell anyone anything. Nothing at all. My lips are sealed. And… I hope hers are, too."

"Ms. Steele has no interest in you," Welch told her, sounding bored. "If your secrets get disclosed, it'll be because of your own stupidity. Keep their secrets, and they'll keep yours. That includes Mr. Grey. This third NDA is for him. It doesn't matter if the shit you think you know is true or false. The point is that you aren't going to talk about it. To anyone. Ever. We'll know if you do."