A Reluctant Parent
By Missreadingfool
Prologue:
"Count Besty." A deep voice demanded. "Count out your punishment." The resounding echo of a riding crop meeting bare skin filled the room. The woman yelled out, "One, Sir."
"Keep counting." The man growled.
"Two, Sir."
"Why. Are. You. Getting. Punished?" He asked sternly.
"I was late for this evening's session." She said. "Sir."
He whipped her and she counted to twenty. He tightened her restraints to keep her stretched over the whipping bench. He entered her and took her hard with no regard to her pleasures. He came hard then withdrew. The ties were unbound and she went to her room with strict orders not to please herself.
Betsy cried hard as she sat against the door of her apartment. This night ended her contract with her Master. She made the mistake of telling him that she was in love with him. He sent her home but with a warning that she did sign the NDA. She could never tell a soul about their time together, but that made her laugh. Whom would she tell? She was alone in this world. She didn't even know if her parents were even alive. The last time she spoke to them, she was fourteen years old and her Dad had whipped her ass for smoking a cigarette. She ran off that night, hitchhiked her way to California, and lived on the streets. She slowly stood and walked into the apartment that her Master provided for her. She could live her for another year after their contract ended rent-free. She stood in the middle of her living room. She had one year to get her shit together and move on, maybe find another Dom to care for her. The life of a Submissive wasn't that bad. She was cared for and the sex was great. She could live with the whips, canes, and floggers; after all, she survived living on the streets as a girl.
Three days later, Betsy knew she could not have another Dom. She was pregnant!
Chapter One
Being a child prodigy was a pain in the ass. Anastasia Steele once again had to suffer through another boring interview being asked ridiculous questions such as, "How does it feel to be so smart?" or "How do you like being the youngest person to pass the Bar Exam?" and her favorite, "Do you have a boyfriend?" She rolled her eyes. Couldn't these people form an intelligent thought and produce questions that are more interesting? She only smiled with politeness and answered in the same way she answered the same questions, "It is very nice to be blessed and be awarded such a fine education."
Carrick Grey was smiling as Ana joined him after the last interview. He gave her a hug. "You did well."
"You would think that award-winning journalists could engage in more interesting questions." She replied as Carrick escorted her out of the interview room. They stepped on the elevator and rode up to the 25th floor where Grey & Associates Law Firm was located.
"You are news, Ana. We mere mortals do not see many child prodigies who graduate law school and pass the Bar Exam at the same time."
Her pretty blue eyes twinkled merrily. "I couldn't have been able to do that if it wasn't for your mentoring and of course my Dad."
"It was my great pleasure, Ana." He stopped at the reception desk to get a few messages then he continued to escort Ana deeper into the offices. He stopped and opened the door to a lovely decorated office. "As per our agreement, your office within Grey & Associates." He proudly stated. "You are the youngest member of our law team."
"And, I will do the best job that I can for you, Carrick." She offered her hand accepting his job offer.
Two weeks later Ana is listening to the traffic report, as she is getting ready for work. She brushes out her hair and makes a mental note to get a haircut this weekend. She would ask her Office Assistant where the best place was to get a good haircut in Seattle. She usually went home to Montesano and had Lillian Masters, the local beautician trim up her ends, but she figured she needed a more sophisticated hairstyle. She sipped her tea as she saw that there was a wreck on I-5 with a lone fatality. She was glad that she didn't have to get on the I-5 to get to work. Her apartment was only 10 blocks from The Law Building where Grey & Associates were located. She walked most days or drove the used Audi that her Dad bought when she turned sixteen.
Her day was hectic with client meetings until she was due in court at 10:30. At 11:00 she was walking out of court winning her first case. She laughed when she read the text message from Carrick congratulating for winning her first case on her first assignment. By noon she was having lunch with Carrick and two other associated in the conference room working on strategy for the multi-million dollar case that Grey & Associates caught against a pharmaceutical company. As the meeting ended, Danya, Ana's assistant slipped her note that she was to call Seattle Mercy Hospital and speak to a Ms. Robin Wrightson. Ana felt her heart begin to race and all she could think of was Ray. She excused herself and calmly left the room. She used her cell phone to call the number that Danya gave her.
"Hello, Robin Wrightson." A soft voice said.
"Hello, this is Anastasia Steele and I was told to call you."
"Oh, yes, Ms. Steele. Your name was given as an In Case of Emergency contact for one Miss Amanda Johnson." That soft voice answered in a cool and calm manner. "Can you come to the hospital as soon as possible?"
"Yes, of course, I can be there in twenty minutes." Ana clicked off her phone and told Danya to cancel all her appointments for the day or ask Rema Dalton, another associate to stand in and then inform Mr. Grey why she had to leave for the afternoon.
The name of Amanda Johnson brought back some sweet childhood memories. Amanda and Ana were best friends in elementary school until Ana's parents divorced and Carla took off with Ana. They wrote back and forth, and then the letters stopped. Ana learned later that Amanda ran away from home. Ana thought about her friend through the years and prayed that Amanda was safe, healthy, and happy.
Those thoughts were running through Ana's mind when she stepped into Ms. Wrightson's office. They greeted each other with a smile and handshake.
"This morning, Amanda Johnson was in a fatal car accident. I am so very sorry for your loss, Ms. Steele. Are you family?"
"Childhood friends." Ana answered trying to keep the tears from falling.
"Ms. Steele, we need for you to identify the body and I have to ask if you are willing to take responsibility for her final arrangements."
"Yes, of course." Ana never gave a second thought about that. She knew that Amanda's parents had divorced and both had passed away in the years that Amanda was missing. She would take Amanda home to Montesano and bury her next to her mother, Sandra.
"There, is more. I will have Mr. Richard Kline, of Washington Social Services speak to you about this next situation."
A tall, thin man with dark auburn hair appeared and sat next to Ana. He never smiled and went right to the explanation of why he was there. "Ms. Steele, first I would like to offer my sincere sympathies for your loss today." Ana only nodded. "Ms. Amanda Johnson, was not alone in the car accident, her one-year old daughter was also involved. The minor child received minor cuts and bruises, but the hospital will keep her overnight for observation. This is just a precautionary measure, I'm told. The reason, you are here, Ms. Johnson arranged for her daughter in case of her death or her inability to care for her child. You, Ms. Steele are the Guardian of one Ms. Anastasia Elizabeth Johnson. I can see that this is a shock to you, and you can sign away your rights and the child will go into the care of the Social Service System."
"And, that means, foster homes until she can be adopted, correct?" The stoic man nodded. Ana bit her bottom lips as she thought quickly. She could not let her childhood friend's daughter be placed into a system that is notorious for letting children fall through the cracks into abuse. "Mr. Kline, I want my daughter."
Ms. Wrightson only smiled. "I can take you to see the child, if you wish."
"First things, first. I need the child's medical records, legal records, and any other paperwork concerning Amanda and her child. I would also like to call in my attorney, Carrick Grey to handle this. I want this done quickly and quietly."
"Of course, Ms. Steele. Since this does concern a minor, all court proceedings are done behind closed doors and …."
"And, all records are sealed. Yes, I know, Mr. Kline. I am an attorney myself, so I know how the process works, however, I cannot represent myself in this matter." She stood up and walked away from the desk to place her call. After a few minutes, she returned but remained standing. "Mr. Grey is on his way and while we are waiting, I would like to see Amanda and make the final arrangements, and then, I would like to see my daughter."
Ana sat next to the bed gazing upon a little girl who now was a part of her life. Staci Johnson had brown hair that curled gently at the base of her perfectly formed head. Ana could see her friend in the features of this little angel. "Hello Staci, I'm Anastasia. I knew your mother when we were little girls. She was my best buddy. I guess you are named after me. I never knew that Amanda had a child, but I promise you, little one, I will take very good care of you. You will never know hunger or be cold. I will keep you safe. I promise, Staci, you will have a home."
The funeral was private. Only Ray Steele and Ana attended the graveside services. Amanda was laid to rest beside her mother Sandra who died two years ago of breast cancer. All expenses were paid by Ana, which included a beautiful stone that would be erected in a few days. Ana placed a single pink rose on the casket as it was lowered into the ground. Ray gripped her hand firmly and led her to the black limo where a sweet faced one-year old sat sleeping in her car seat with her new nanny, Kate Kavanagh sitting beside her.