***FREE FANFIC***@Hg2806 "I loved this start to finish. It's so different to the original, but kept the key aspects. A very addictive read."
@FeliciaSpears2 "This is such a great story I love the way you're making it your own."
***CHRISTIAN GR...
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My phone vibrates. Taking it from my pocket the words 'Bill Welch, PI' display on the LCD panel.
"Yes," I answer.
"Anastasia Steele has a history of social activism against the exploitation of women and children. Her social network page has an invitation from a college friend to protest against child labour in agriculture last weekend. I'll run a full background check and send you a situation assessment report in an hour."
"Were there costs related to the incident?"
"I'm waiting for college administration to get back to me Mr. Grey."
"I look forward to your situation assessment," I terminate the call, my attention reverts back to Miss Steele.
"Could you repeat your last question Miss Steele?"
"I asked if you wield immense power," she says with an air of defiance and incredulity.
She has thrown down the gauntlet. I'm not one to back away from a challenge. Rising from behind my desk, I sit at the edge of my mahogany desk. Unconsciously my fingers drum then clench the edge of my desk pondering how best to answer. Rather than lean on the desk, I sink into the white leather chair directly opposite Miss Steele.
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"In the last twelve months, I reported total revenue of over sixty five billion dollars of which over twenty three billion was operating income. If I stopped all company activity today, not only would the IRS miss taxes from Grey Enterprises projects in telecommunications, emerging technologies, renewable energy, manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, finance, security etc, unemployment numbers would rise overnight by forty thousand. There would be a knock on effect on contactors and organisations I collaborate with in the supply chain. I estimate another fifty thousand jobs could be at risk. If the philanthropic work of the Grey foundation ended, millions of vulnerable people could die from lack of essential supplies, like food and medication. Power and responsibility go hand in hand."
She purses her lips and continues, "If nearly one hundred thousand jobs and millions of lives rely on you, do you have contingencies? If something happened to you, do you have others to make decisions or do you answer to a board?"
