“Elena, this is a courtesy call. I’m gifting you the business. I’ve been in touch with Debra Kingston; she’s drawing up the paperwork. It’s over. We can’t do this anymore.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I mean it. I no longer have the energy for your bullshit. I asked you to leave Ana alone and you ignored my request. We reap what we sow, Mrs. Lincoln. It’s over. Don’t call me.”
“Chris—” I hear the alarm in her voice as I hang up.
My phone buzzes immediately, her name flashing on my screen. I switch it off and look over my to-do list.
I have about an hour before the press conference, so to take my mind off Elena, I pick up my office phone and call my brother.
“Hey, hotshot. Having second thoughts?”
“Fuck off, Elliot.”
“She’s having second thoughts?” He snickers.
“Could you silence your inner asshole for two minutes?”
“That long? Dubious.”
“I’m buying a house.”
“Whoa. For you and the future Mrs. Grey? That was quick. You knocked her up?”
“No!” For fuck’s sake.
He cackles on his end of the phone. “Don’t tell me. It’s in Denny-Blaine or Laurelhurst?”
Ah, the tech millionaires’ suburbs of choice.
“No.”
“Medina?”
I laugh. “That’s far too near Mom and Dad. It’s on the water just north of Broadview.”
“You’re kidding.”
the sun sink into the Sound,
knew you were such a
I certainly didn’t. “It
interest. “You
dude. I want you to do it. I want something sustainable and environmentally friendly. You know, all
He sounds surprised.
yet, but we’re going ahead with
need an architect. I can
was the name of the woman who oversaw
cool. She’s now at
at the house in Aspen. And I seem to remember
“Yeah. Um… Sure.”
“You sound hesitant.”
know. She’s the kind of woman who
“What do you mean?”
Driven to get what she
got no problem with
“In fact, I rather like a predatory
do?” Well, Kavanagh fits that
I…” Elliot
roll. My brother suffers from sexual incontinence. “Will that be
not. She knows her
take a look at her updated portfolio.” I scribble
Let me know when
“Will do. Laters.”
“Dude.”
has designs on him? Could he not see that over the weekend? I hope he doesn’t end up with her. She is possibly the
is in half an hour. I review it and make some changes; as usual, his prose
he’s knocking on
“Christian. Are you ready?”
that this could be sabotage?” the journalist from The Seattle
are keeping an open mind
your engagement, Mr. Grey. How did you meet Anastasia Steele?” I think this woman is
private life. I’ll just reiterate, I’m