Christian POV

Why why why did I agree to confer the degrees at WSU this week. My deal with the Chinese looks it is about to fall through. Poor Ros is going to have to fly to China on my behalf to try and salvage this deal. I pick up the phone and call the security office to ask Taylor to come to my office. As I wait for Taylor I try and think of a way to get out of conferring the degrees. I hear a gentle knock at the door. "Enter Taylor". Taylor enters and stands in front of my desk in his usual stance feet shoulder width apart and hands behind his back.

"Sir you asked to see me" Taylor exclaims.

"Taylor I need to discuss exactly what has been organised for the conferring of degrees at WSU on Friday."

"Sir, I have spoken with the Dean and he has assured me that the ceremony will be 2 hours long and that includes the handing out of degrees. He also advised to keep your speak to a maximum of 15 minutes in length."

I nod my head. Shit I had bloody forgotten about having to give a speech. What the hell am I suppose to say to them. Considering my past and dropping out of Harvard much to my dad's disgust. Maybe I can ask Andrea to write me a brief speech so that I can concentrate on this Chinese deal and maybe just maybe I can save Ros from having to fly to China.

"What about security measures Taylor?"

"Sir, I have organised for Sawyer, to accompany us. I will be seated beside you on the stage and Sawyer will be in the front row on the far right hand side to observe the students as they make their way up onto the stage to collect their degrees."

Hmm I wonder if this will be enough security. Not sure I want to be in an auditorium full of graduates and their families with only 2 CPO's. I know Taylor would do anything to protect me but I feel a little uneasy about this situation. "Taylor, do you still have your contact in Portland that we sometimes use for security purposes?"

"Yes sir." Taylor states.

"Can you please call him and organise 3 more CPO's for Friday. They will be required for 5 hours."

"Yes Sir"

"Taylor once you have vetted the CPO's I expect to be briefed on their Names, background checks and recent job history. We don't need another fuck up like the last time we used CPO's from a security firm. I know that was NOT your fault."

"Will that be all, Sir?"

"For now that is all Taylor"

I cringe at the thought of having history repeating itself. We were in Thailand and had to organise extra security as I was only allowed to take Taylor with me if I agreed to the terms outlined by Customs. Customs gave us a list of security Firms that I was able to use and if I did not use one on the list then Taylor would not be granted permission to enter the country. Vetting security firms in Thailand is not the easiest task. After doing background checks we went with 'Thai Operations and Protection (TOP)'. Taylor liaised with them and obtained the services of a CPO who were also vetted and had a clean history. Or so we thought. Little did we realise that in Thailand not ALL history is actually recorded by the judicial system. The CPO had a drinking habit and even though he was working security his firm turned a blind eye and never once did they give a written warning or document their findings. But what pissed me off even more was after the fact I found out that he had been arrested recently for DUI whilst on duty. How the FUCK can a security firm turn a blind eye and keep the fucker employed. Let alone the judicial system not making any record of it on their files.

After dismissing Taylor I get back to work. Something about this Chinese deal is still bugging the crap out of me. If only I could put my finger on what it was. Maybe I should ask my legal department to look over the contracts again I know for fact that we have had the contract altered, then I have a 'Light bulb moment'. "That is it." I state to myself.

Picking up my phone I dial Ros. She answers after the third ring. "Ros, do you still have the original contracts that were drawn up for this Chinese deal?" I wait for the reply.

"Yes Mr Grey I do actually. They are in the file along with the new contract that was sent to us with the contract alterations that were made at the last meeting" says Ros.

"Documentation was made during the meeting regarding ALL alterations that were agreed on correct? The alterations were printed off and the document signed by both GEH and the Chinese?" I emphases all when I ask this question. Silence, then I hear Ros flicking through a file. This is why I am glad that I made it company policy that all alterations are documented, printed in duplicate and signed by both parties and a copy retained by each party before a meeting is dismissed. Never know when you may rely on information during contractual negotiations.

"Yes I have the notes, signed alterations here along with the contracts both original and revised contract."

"Ros are you able to get that file to me as soon as possible?"

"Yes, if you send Olivia or Andrea down they can have the file now."

"I will send Olivia down in the next 5 minutes. Ros I will keep you updated as to what I am actually up to with this situation." I hang up the phone and Buzz Olivia on the intercom and instruct her to collect the file from Ros's office.

When I have checked over the file notes regarding the agreed changes I am going to get legal to have a look over the old and new contracts along with the file notes regarding the agreed contractual changes to see if anything is amiss.

In the past I have learnt to go with my instincts and my instincts never let me down. If my gut instincts are right then neither of us will be heading to China and I will not be going ahead with this deal. As much as I hate losing out on a deal I do will not tolerate deceitful and unethical behaviour.

A knock at my door alerts me to the file having arrived. "Enter" Olivia enters bats her eyelashes at me and struts into my office and hands me the file before she exits. God I hate the way she swoons over me. Nothing to see here I think to myself. If she isn't careful she will be finding herself on the unemployment list real soon if she doesn't get her shit together and stop ogling me and fucking up on simple tasks.

It gets the better of me and I decide to have a look at the file. After reading over the signed alterations documents I have a look at the new contract that was sent to GEH by the Chinese. Something isn't right with the wording of some of the alterations in the contract. I will send the file to legal for them to look into the legal side of the wording of the altered clauses of the contract. If I am the altered clauses are implying what I think they are implying then that will be it. No more contract negotiations or talks will be had. I quickly send an email to the legal Department.

From: Christian Grey

To: Daniel Smith

Subject: Chinese Contracts

Daniel,

I will be sending down the Chinese Deal file for your team to go over with a fine tooth comb. Something doesn't sit right with the way the new clauses have been worded in the new contract. The file will contain the original contract, the signed contract alterations document and the new contract that we received yesterday.

Christian Grey

CEO Grey Enterprise Holdings

Hmm since I can't do anything more about the Chinese deal until legal have dug deeper into the new contract I can't put off writing my own speech for the graduation ceremony. Where do I start?