Reaching her office, Miss Lincoln stopped next to a pretty Chinese secretary who was playing solitaire on a brand new laptop.
"Okay, Constance, if I see solitaire on your laptop again during working hours, I'll deduct it from your salary," Elena said, deftly closing the computer.
- Miss Lincoln, your mail is in the office, you have a meeting with Mr. Nixon at two, your mother is scheduled for three, you have an investors' meeting at five, and tomorrow the French are flying in, they want to open branches for you, - Constance jumped up and reported to her boss on the state of affairs. Elena pushed a strand of hair from her face and smiled.
- You do a good job, Constie, but at work they work, and don't mess around. By the way, they downloaded a solitaire based on "Infinity War" on Google Play, - the girl smiled and entered her office.
Having gracefully sat down in the chair, Elena opened her laptop and began to look for information about her French colleagues. Surprisingly, everything was boring and bland, they had no secrets or mysteries. Exemplary family men, respectable citizens... you can't even gather decent dirt on them.
- Yes, it will be difficult to work with them, - Elena closed the tabs and quickly switched to her favorite fashion blogs.
Despite her bitchiness, Miss Lincoln was a very nice girl of about 28, who, in addition to work, was interested in fashion, men, expensive cars and motorcycles, good alcohol and much more. She skillfully managed the brainchild of her father, which specialized in the securities market. The girl made multimillion-dollar deals, got rich and went broke for several years in a row, and finally achieved everything she wanted.
- Miss Lincoln, Mr. Gray is here to see you, - the blonde was brought out of her thoughts by the voice of Constance, who looked in on her with a cup of coffee.
- Let him in, make 2 coffees and bring those delicious cookies that he likes, - Elena smiled. Only Christian Gray could soften her cold heart a little. Well, and his wife Ana, who at one time replaced her mother.
A minute later, Christian Gray entered Elena's abode. It was an imposing man of about 45 years old with a truly British appearance, refined manners and a luxurious accent.
- Elena, - he smiled at her, and the girl quickly jumped up from her seat and threw herself on his neck.
- Hello, Dad, - Lincoln hung on him.
- You're 28, and you still behave like a child with me, - Christian was pleased that Miss Lincoln was happy about his arrival as in childhood.
- Dad, come on. After all, you saved my life, - Elena let go of her father and he sat down in the chair opposite her place.
- I'm glad you remember that. Anastasia is throwing a charity reception on Saturday, and we hope to see you there with some handsome young man, - Gray looked at her over his glasses.
- Okay, Dad, I'll come, but without a boyfriend. You know what kind of relationships with men I'm interested in. And now don't talk about how I ruined my personal life in my youth. If it weren't for my choice at 17, who knows what would have happened to me. I learned control, believed in myself, became a Mistress - the topic of personal life was painful for the blonde.
She never had romantic relationships, she didn't have affairs, and in sex she preferred a whip and latex. Jack Hyde, her school friend, got her hooked on BDSM. At first, she was his submissive, and at 20 she took up the whip herself. All her sessions were by mutual consent, within reasonable limits and only with adult guys. The Grays didn't immediately understand why their daughter didn't have a permanent man. But one day, returning from work early, Anastasia and Christian found a branch of the game dungeon in their living room. Ana was given sedatives for about a week, Christian put Elena under house arrest, and Lincoln herself spent almost a month convincing both parents that BDSM is not violence and that she is mentally healthy.
"Elena, we just want grandchildren," Christian looked down.
"Not with me, Dad, not with me. I will never give you and Anya grandchildren. That's just the way I am," Elena sat down in a chair.
"Proud, free, independent... By the way, John Flynn is asking if you are taking the injections he prescribed for you," Christian abruptly changed the subject to his daughter's health.
"Of course, thanks to him. The pain is gone, the muscles don't ache and the scars hardly bother me. Say hello to him and Kate," Elena felt that the long-forgotten pain reminded her of itself with a slight tingling in her lower back and chest.