Love Is For Fools - Fifty Shades Of Grey: Elena's Story #Explicit [Fifty Shades]

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

June 2002

**Happy Birthday my gorgeous man! Another year older, wiser and braver. I hope you enjoy your special day. Let me know if you are free tomorrow. I'm sure I can think of a special birthday treat... X**

**Thank you. I look forward to it, Ma'am x**

"And whats got you smiling like the cat who got the cream?"
I jerk in surprise on my sun lounger. "I thought you were asleep." I chide as I hurriedly switch off my spare cell and place it back in my purse.
Val stretches lazily, then removes her Dior shades and reaches over. "I was. But then my brain decided it wanted another martini."
I smile. Linc was away sourcing timber in Alaska so I'd taken the opportunity to have Val over to stay for a couple of weeks. During our spa break, we'd spoken fondly about  our time at beauty school and Val had mentioned setting up a small enterprise when her divorce came through, so I was helping her brainstorm.
"So..?" She queries over the rim of her cocktail glass. "Who was it you were texting? If I didn't know better with that smile, I'd say you had a new man..?"
Oh crap! Think, Elena!
"He's...He's just a business whizz from Harvard. His mom's an old friend. I thought I'd ask for his input with your new venture."
Val lifts her eyebrows in surprise. "Wow. That'd be great. What'd he say?"
"He's getting back to me with a few ideas."
Or he will do once I frantically text him to think of some.
"Is he hot?"
"VAL!" I splutter into my drink. FUCK!
Val beams. "He is! I knew it! You got a pic?"
"No! Jesus!" But I'd sell a kidney to have one. "I told you, Christian's Mom is an old friend."
Who'd have my head on a platter if she knew what I was doing with her son.
Val squeezes my hand. "I'm teasing, I'm sorry. But you deserve to have some fun."
"Fun? With a college boy!" I give her my best carefree laugh. "What do you suggest?"
"Oh you know," She muses. "Get him over here...flirt a little...get him drunk...And fuck him senseless!"
Oh, Val. If only you knew...

**********

"A gym? I didn't have you down as the Jane Fonda type!"
After an afternoon of sunbathing, brainstorming and a few too many martinis, I was giving Val the tour of the new extension.
"I'm not. But you know...You head towards your forties, muscles lose their tone..."
"Didn't you have a tennis coach?" She interrupts.
"Oh yes, I still play...This is just to keep me focused and on track with my fitness."
"But you've got so many rooms in the house - couldn't you have converted one?"
No, the boudoir was risky enough.
"Not one I could have done to this specification."
Val turns around doing a full three-sixty, her auburn hair glistening as it catches the sunlight. "Okay...You have a point. And if this is your thing, then great. It's obviously working for you - you look amazing."
I squeeze her arm. "Thanks my lovely. I also have a fabulous personal trainer who really puts me through my paces."
"Is he hot?"
I laugh. "You're incorrigible!"
Val beams. "Incorrigible and thirsty again. How about I rattle up a pitcher of my famous margaritas?"
"Sounds good to me!"
Grinning, Val opens the large oak door to the outside...and collides with someone coming in! I startle in shock, preparing to hit the intruder alarm and then I recognise the familiar head of soft, burnished waves, muscular frame...and hands all over Val's ass!
She yelps, grabbing handfuls of Christian's t-shirt as they tangle in a mass of limbs. Christian's steel blue eyes are wide in shock a they roam over Val's body and when they linger a few seconds too long on her rack, I know it's time to step in.
"I see you've met Christian, then!" I say sharply.
Christian's eyes immediately find mine, recognising the tone of his Domme.
Yes, Peachy. Remember who's in charge. And for fucks sake - let go of her butt!
Almost telepathically, Christian releases Val and she steps back and adjusts herself, but thankfully his eyes remain transfixed on mine.
"Christian Grey," he says politely, offering his hand.
Val beams in recognition and shakes it. "Valena Rossi," she responds breathily gazing at him in wonder.
Oh no. No, no, no...
"Well, now we've made the introductions, why don't you go rustle up those margaritas, Val?" I say pointedly.
"Sure thing," she smiles and to my utter horror, slips her hand through Christian's and begins to lead him towards the house.
"Lainy tells me you're studying business at Harvard. I can't wait to hear your ideas for my venture!"
Christian shoots me a look of confusion and behind them I mime getting a hair cut with my fingers which I hope gives him enough intel to join the conversation. This evening isn't panning out as I thought. I never thought he'd sneak over on his birthday...
Dammit! He was probably after a birthday fuck and now we're going to spend the evening talking about launching Val's beauty business!
Inwardly seething, I follow them inside the house.

"Why didn't you tell me you had company?" Christian whispers as I show him out.
"Because I never thought you'd find time to come over tonight!" I whisper back. "I was going to text you tomorrow about it. Val's going to the mall and I was going to feign a migraine so you could come over."
"We can still do that, can't we?"
I open the door. "No. She's already suspicious about us."
"Really? I didn't notice that." He frowns.
"That's probably because you've been too busy staring at her tits!" I hiss in annoyance.
"Well they were hard to ignore when she was constantly thrusting them towards me!" He snarls in response. "She even asked me if I was seeing someone when you were out of the room!"
WHAT?!
"Christ! She's like a dog with a bone when she thinks she's onto something." I rub at my forehead. "And now she wants me to join her in this venture."
"Which I don't think is a bad idea." He interjects. "You'd be doing something for you for once and not for that asshole you're married to!"
"Is everything alright?" Val calls from the lounge.
"Fine. I'm coming now." I call back trying not to sound exasperated.
"I wish you were coming now," Christian murmurs softly. "Then I wouldn't have blue balls for my birthday!"
I smirk and run my hand down the soft bulge at the front of his jeans. "My poor boy." I squeeze making him gasp. "I'll resolve that as soon as I can. In the meantime, no getting yourself off. I want every last drop. Do you understand?"
Christian groans in response.
"Answer me!" I hiss, squeezing harder.
"Ma'am! Yes, Ma'am!" He hurriedly replies.
"Good." I release him reluctantly. "I'll be in touch." With a last smouldering look at his gorgeous flushed face, I close the door.
He might not be getting himself off, but after tonight's stress, I sure as hell will!

**********

"Have you lost your mind?"
I frown. Ten days of no sex and having to deal with Val and now Linc have made me antsy. "What's wrong with going into business with Val?"
Linc puts down the business plan I gave him and looks at me. "For one you'd have to work with that damn woman, secondly you'd probably do all the work and she'd take all the credit and thirdly why the hell do you want to? It's not like you need the money."
"It's not about the money!" I snap. "I want to do this for me. For the past fifteen years I've done nothing but develop your dream. Now it's time to develop my own."
Linc frowns at me. "But I thought this business was your dream too. Look around you, we achieved everything beyond our dreams. Is that now not enough?"
"Materialistically, of course. Emotionally...I didn't realise how much I was going through the motions until Val gave me some perspective."
But it was Christian who saw my potential...
"And you want me to invest?"
"Become a silent partner."
"It still equates to throwing my money into shampoo and shit! If Val wants to open a business she needs to stump up the cash herself."
"And she will!" I snarl. "As soon as her divorce comes through and she gets her settlement."
Linc drums his fingers on the desk as he mulls. "Okay. I'll invest."
I gasp. "You will?"
"For a cut of the profits."
"That may take a while, but yes."
"Then get a contract drawn up and I'll open a separate business account."
"No problem."
I'll get Christian to draft-up something watertight...
"Make sure you go through it with a fine tooth comb. I don't want that bitch screwing you over."
I nod.
It's not Val screwing me over I'm worried about...

**********

Two weeks later I'm sat looking over commercial real estate brochures when my spare phone buzzes.

**Are you alone? I need to see you ASAP**

I shiver in surprise. I didn't know he was home from college.

**Yes. Come straight over.**

I put my phone away beaming. It was over a month since we'd last had sex and I was more than ready to fuck him into next week. I jump up and dash into the boudoir to get ready.

I'm descending the stairs as there's a familiar rap at the door. I adjust my dress, check my hair in the mirror and open the door,
"Hello, handsome..." I begin with a seductive purr then stop immediately. Christian looks...wrong. He's breathing heavily, his shirt is half tucked in, his hair looks like he's been fighting with it and on top of that he looks tormented.
"Christian! What's happened?" I ask in alarm reaching for him.
He comes through the door, pushes it closed with his back and leans wearily against it.
"I'm leaving Harvard."
WHAT????

**Sorry it's taken me so long to update this story my lovelies. KIDNAPPED took my attention away from it, but hopefully I can now focus on keeping them both updated as regularly as I can. Please don't forget to vote and comment. Best wishes, Beth xx**