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

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

"...and then Dad said I was rushing into this on a whim and I wasn't experienced or knowledgeable enough to go with my gut instinct." Christian downs his shot of Lincs best Armagnac and pours himself another. "I thought mom might have given me the benefit of the doubt...she does tend to listen to me more...but even she thought it was a bad idea." He sighs dejectedly.
I take a long slip of Sancerre. "Darling...I'm not taking sides, I promise...but you can see why they'd be worried when you've been doing so well..."
"I've not been doing well, I've been going through the motions." He interrupts. "I was dropping politics this semester because I'm going to hang myself if I don't. I thought it would be all about campaigns and debates - picking your opponent and pitching your ideas against his. I wanted to blow them off the fucking park. Instead, I'm being drip-fed policies from our forefathers which lead to the American Civil War - which seems to have gone on for an eternity!" He snarls in annoyance.
I shake my head. "It took four years, Christian. It was the reconstruction era straight after that took seventeen years."
Christian closes his eyes and groans deeply. "I can't cope with it. I'm just finding it mind-numbingly boring. I'm much better at Economics and I've proven I've got good business instincts on my Internship. Ros has enough faith in me to invest her life savings into getting this project off the ground. I just want an investment to buy shares in Henderson Holdings, so I can become a shareholder before the company goes under. That's why it has to be now." He sighs deeply and sits back on the couch gazing up at the ceiling. "But nobody believes in me." He says in a sad tone.
I'm torn. Really torn. He's such a bright boy - when he got into Harvard despite all his issues, I was ecstatic for him and really proud - especially when he said I'd contributed greatly into getting him there. I had no doubt in my mind he'd be brilliant and go onto great things...but to give it all up now...To not get his degree and graduate just so he can take on this project, with no guarantee of success...
...But this was Christian. These past few years had proven to me he wasn't your average individual. He was bright, clever, insightful, driven, focused and capable of achieving great things. I push to my feet. "Wait there."

Was this a good idea? It would mean postponing my dreams so Christian could achieve his. And if it all went tits up...Well...Linc has always said business is all about risk-taking and he should know, the bastard. I walk back into the lounge and take a deep breath.
"This is for you." I hand Christian the folded piece of paper. He sits up leisurely and takes it from me. His expression turns from disconsolate to shock in a nanosecond.
"Wh-What's this?" He breathes as his gray eyes alight with wonder.
"It's the money you need to get started." I say trying to stop my fingers shaking.
He stares at me, then at the check, then back to me. "But...Why?"
"I want you to know that I believe in you, Christian. I always have."
He blinks in disbelief then folds the check and hands it back. "Elena, it's incredibly generous of you, but I can't accept it. I came here for solace, not to ask for your financial help."
"But you didn't ask. I'm offering. Take the money, Christian and invest it in your future."
Christian gapes at me. "But it's a hundred grand! You can't just write it off. Surely you were using it for something..?"
I look away. I know if I tell him he'll just refuse it further. I feel his long fingers grasp my chin and turn my head back towards his.
"Tell me," he insists.
I sigh. "Okay. It...It was money Linc gave me for the beauty venture."
"What?" Christian reels back. "Elena, no! I'm definitely not taking it. This is your first step towards independence. There's no way..."
I grab his face in my hands. "And it's also yours! Val and I can put the salon on hold, she'll understand. She thought you were amazing - she was gushing all over you remember?"
Christian's cheeks redden. "How could I forget with that cleavage being constantly thrust at me?" He shakes his head. "I still don't want you take the financial hit, Elena. It could be months before I can start paying you back any kind of instalments...Years before I'm turning a profit..."
I squeeze his hand. "Darling, I have collateral, I'm not going to starve. I've even got jewellery I can sell if necessary to make the difference," I smirk. "Starting with a diamond and emerald bracelet Linc gave to one of his hook-ups - which was accidentally returned to me!"
Christian screws his face. "Miserable excuse for a human." He sighs. "Do you really think we could make it work?"
I shake my head. "I KNOW we can. I have every belief that your new venture will be a huge success and you'll be able to pay me back sooner rather than later. We will get both ventures off the ground and we will both be successful. We've both worked too damn hard and suffered too much for it not to be."
He takes both of my hands in his. "I don't know what to say...You astound me..."
"Simple." I smile. Just say yes to my offer and take the first step in becoming one of Seattle's youngest and best businessmen! You don't need to mention me - just say you found an investor who wants to be a silent partner. They don't need to know any more."
"I will pay you back every penny Elena - with interest, I promise." He says earnestly.
"Oh darling I know you will."
Hmmm...I have just had an idea...
"Actually...There may be a way to start your repayments tonight..."
"Name it!" He blurts out in a slur - the double Armagnac obviously doing its job.
"Go to the boudoir. I want you naked and hard on the bed by the time I get there. I need to grab the red wine and meet you in there."
"Red wine?" He queries. "There's an open bottle of Sancere we could finish."
I shake my head. "Oh no. For what I have in mind, you're going to need a good bottle of Barolo..."