The look on Luke's face when he lumbered into the library said it all. Ana's plans for a quiet few days were about to be shattered.
"Hunt is on his way up," she sighed, shutting her hardback copy of A Farewell to Arms with a loud thud that echoed through the otherwise serene space. "I think it's fair to warn you… if push comes to shove, I am throwing you under the bus so hard your dead ancestors will cry out in pain." Luke's response was delivered with a smirk, devoid of any hint of shame as if he relished the impending chaos. Ana knew better; Hunt was an unknown, a chaotic one no one needed.
"I can't even pretend to be hurt," Ana replied, her tone light but her eyes betraying a hint of concern as the elevator announced Hunt's arrival.
"You are not hiding, are you?" Luke teased, the amusement evident in his voice. Ana wasn't hiding, but Luke certainly was. His instinct to retreat was apparent when he gently pushed her out of the library to face her uncle. This gesture spoke volumes about his apprehensions. He knew Hunt would have no qualms about destroying Grey and GEH in the process. Why Carla Wilkes-Steele thought calling him was a good idea was beyond him.
"Hello, Hunt," she greeted, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions vying for dominance inside her. Nathaniel Hunter Wilkes, known simply as Hunt, was only three years older than Ana, a fact that surprised many, especially his parents, Carol and Albert Wilkes. They had long given up on having another child after enduring three heartbreaking miscarriages. Grandma Carol hadn't even known she was pregnant until nearly five months along, making Hunt's existence a delightful surprise. Ana had practically grown up with him, more like a brother than an uncle, spending nearly every weekend together until he left for college.
To everyone's surprise and her grandfather's dismay, Hunt had followed Ray into military service, choosing to work for him after leaving the army instead of joining the family business. This decision had always been a point of contention, but it also forged a bond between him and Ray that made Grandpa's dislike of her father all the more amusing.
"So…" Hunt began, rummaging through her freezer for ice cream. "What, no ice cream?" His head peeked out from behind the freezer door, a playful pout on his lips that made Ana chuckle.
"Bottom drawer," she replied, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"So… Grey," he said, grabbing a spoon and plopping down opposite her with a tub of ice cream. The casualness of the question had her shoulders dropping. "I was only called in to give you unfettered access to Lincoln and nothing more. It was made very clear to me that, despite his actions, Grey wasn't the issue. The pedophile is, and I agree. I commend your actions. That being said, when it's all said and done, I will have a word or two with him." He warned.
"I can live with that." It wasn't as though she could stop him.
"So...Grey."
"Yes, Grey," Ana laughed, watching him practically bend the spoon in his attempt to scoop out a large chunk of vanilla ice cream.
"I saw a picture of him at José's event." He smiled triumphantly, having gotten his ice cream.
"You could let it melt a little." Ana didn't know why she bothered; this was how he liked it.
"Where is the fun in that? The struggle aids in a caloric deficit." He said sagely. "Grey… continue."
"I hadn't taken into account his inability to handle the truth; you'd think it would be first on my mind, considering it was the truth that set this whole thing in motion," Ana said, annoyed at the oversight.
"He really is a child in a man's body," Hunt mumbled.
"He avoided me for two weeks after our conversation regarding control. I sent him a message the morning after thanking him for a wonderful day on the water and heard nothing back. Then, out of the blue, he called, citing work as his reason for the lack of communication. It wasn't as if I had bothered to call him either and was ignored. I invited him to the show, and surprisingly, he accepted.
At one point, the conversation was about a girl José's assistant Louis had been dating. His friends thought the girl was only going out with him to get close to Jose. Louis was angered by the insinuation and stormed out. He went straight to the girl and told her. She proceeded to prove his friends right over the next few weeks. According to him, she couldn't even do a convincing enough job of feeling guilty about him falling out with his friends over her. Something regarding the girl's feigned guilt had Grey incensed."
"Lincoln is probably playing the same card, and he just realized," Hunt said.
"It took me a second, but that was also my conclusion. Despite not saying a word on the matter, I haven't heard from him since. He declined my dinner invitation, citing work commitments again. As you know, the show was ten or so days ago. At this rate, we will be at this for the next year. I don't know how to get him out of hiding." Ana mumbled, her frustration getting the better of her.
Her phone rang then, "Sorry to disturb your evening, Miss Steele," Whalton drawled as soon as she answered the call.
"That's alright, Whalton. How can I help you?" Ana responded, her professional demeanor slipping back into place.
"Miss Steele, there has been a change of plans. I believe this to be a positive," Whalton said, his tone unexpectedly upbeat. "In truth, finding ways to make Lincoln's life difficult financially proved rather challenging. Her home, car, and business are insured, and any accidental damage is covered. We could engineer a breakdown of her car, but that wouldn't impose a significant financial constraint on her. In listening to her calls, we heard a conversation of significant note."
Ana leaned forward, a smile etched on her face. "What did you find out?"
"Lincoln has downgraded her home insurance policy. Specifically, she has canceled her content insurance. According to her, she has no content to insure. She is selling everything of value."
"Whalton, I am struggling to see the positive here," Ana said, confusion knitting her brows together. The thought of Elena Lincoln having access to more liquid capital was not what she wanted to hear.
"Ahh, yes, I can see why you would not since I haven't told you that the money from her initial sale is not in her bank account but in her safe. Lincoln is unwilling to risk the bank suddenly calling in her loans and taking everything she has. She is considering declaring bankruptcy.
She called her accountant, one Emmanuel Parker, who is arranging the sale of the rest of the items she wishes to sell. Parker has a courier company picking up the items tomorrow evening, and Lincoln will collect her money minus his fee from his office first thing Monday morning. I can have that safe empty by Monday evening," Whalton concluded.
"I see the positive now," Ana laughed, a sense of relief washing over her as the pieces began to fall into place.
"I'm sure you do," Hunt teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Is that you, Hunt?" Whalton's voice brightened even more if that were possible.
"It is, visiting my niece," Hunt replied. "Since you are already planning on going into Lincoln's home, I believe I will have two of my guys join you. My sister believes we need ears in that house, and frankly, so do I." He said thoughtfully.
"Will you be joining us?" Whalton asked.
"No, unfortunately, I must be back in DC by Monday morning. Got a briefing I cannot miss," Hunt explained, a hint of regret in his voice.
"Fair enough. Miss Steele, I will keep you updated. Enjoy the rest of your evening," Whalton said, wrapping up the call.
"You too, Whalton," Ana murmured, ending the call. "He sounds so sweet and polite even when he's planning your demise," she added, a playful smirk on her lips.
"It's the English accent. Especially when they sound so posh," Hunt laughed.
"So what, you came into town just to what?" Ana asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Take you out to dinner," Hunt replied, his tone casual but his eyes betraying a deeper intent.
Ana's skepticism was palpable. "I rarely have a free weekend, and as much as I would love to go to dinner, I'd rather stay in," she said, choosing not to press him on his motives.
"Grey has hired Anders for twenty-four-hour surveillance; your every move is to be reported," Hunt said, his voice low, revealing the underlying anger he was trying to suppress.
"I know he is your best friend, but I am still surprised he told you," Ana admitted, taken aback by Anders' decision to share that information.
"Let me rephrase: Grey tried to hire Anders. He told me because he informed them he would not accept the job due to not having enough men free," Hunt clarified, his expression severe. "I still don't think he would have told me until I mentioned I was coming to Seattle and why."
"I am aware of the surveillance team. Luke does not miss such things." Hunt nodded, knowing full well they knew.
Hunt waited, but his niece seemed rather slow on the uptake that evening. "Annie, you are not slow. Surveillance… out and about with this handsome face."
"Oh." Ana couldn't believe she hadn't thought to use his own surveillance against him. What else would have Christian Grey on her doorstep than pictures of her and another man, especially one he didn't know. The last time he'd called her had been mere hours after she'd gone shopping at Lowe's with JB. That alone had been enough to have Christian calling after two weeks of silence.
"So, still feel like staying in this weekend?" he asked, a smug grin spreading across his face.
"Of course not," Ana smiled, now that she knew exactly what the dinner invitation implied.