A/N: Hello! This story came out from one interesting and rather long discussion I had with my boyfriend, about the mafia and the European countries where they had families based (including my own country.) As usual, I began drawing a plot in my mind and this time I decided to give it a shot, and try to turn it into a decent story.
It is a FSOG fan-fic but only the characters are the same. Though their personalities and physiognomy might change a little, they're pretty much similar to the originals. But that's about it, the rest is totally original.
The story takes place in my fictional town of River Walker, a small location in Louisiana, close to New Orleans. Anastasia is 21 one but due to unfortunate accidents, she didn't get the chance to go to college. She lives with her grandmother and cleans houses for a living.
Christian is Italian and his family moves to an old house in River Walker. He's obviously a criminal. A charming, sexy as hell criminal, but a criminal nonetheless. The Grigio family (it means Grey in Italian, just so you now) moved to the USA due to some business they needed to do and they decided to pick a small location in order to go under the radar.
A lot of messy and complicated twists will be bond to happen and it will turn Anastasia's life upside down. Will she manage to deal with Christian's nature? It will be very trick and complicated, that's for sure.
1.
I saw commotion everywhere, folks where excited about the news that travelled town. The old River house was being cleaned, as it was apparent that some family of foreigners had bought it some time ago and wanted now to exercise their right of using it.
I stared at the great-house façade, it had been restored since the buy-out. The significant traces were still there: the grand entrance between two enormous and polished pillars, the big door still built of intimidating dark-wood with delicate patterns on the center, the majestic and now trimmed gardens still extending in both the front and the back of the house and fading away along the margin of the town river. It was the biggest, grandest and most breathtaking house I had ever laid eyes on, yet I still preferred it when its walls were not so shiny and its white ancient-stones not so polished. It had a different appeal, a mysterious aura that hovered the lonely habitation and that faded away with the mist of the close river.
Now it was just a restored house, ready to take in some, obviously, incredibly rich family who decided that some backwater town in Louisiana would be a good place to take upon some rest from their normally busy life elsewhere.
I almost shrugged but Albee passed by me at the moment, his forehead beamed with drops of sweat but a positively sweet smile laid on his familiar face.
"Hey Annie!" He greeted with the drop of his working hat. He and his crew were finishing fixing the garage of the house. "Are you here to start the cleanings?"
I nodded reluctantly. I wasn't a great talker nor one for mildly chitchat.
"Heard everyone coming in to help," He scratched the back of his neck. "'Course everyone being paid but so, it's a heck of a job to do. Such a big house, don't know if I'd like to live here all by myself."
Somehow that peaked my attention, I wasn't keen on gossiping but even the River House events had appeal to my curiosity. "Is it only one person that's coming in?" I asked, trying to keep the surprise out of voice.
"Don't know yet," Albee corrected himself, apparently his thought had just been speculation. My shoulders tumbled, so much for novelties. "But it better be a big family for such a darn place."
"Perhaps it is." I added before keeping on my way to the back entrance.
I sighed when I got there, one thing Albee was right about, it was a damn big house and it would be a heck of a trouble to clean it all before the newcomers. That is what I do for living, clean houses of the inhabitants of River Walker, a small location, all the way southern from its people to its traditions. I was raised here but moved when I was little and when a favorable job opportunity appeared to my mother. We went to live in Shreveport and later on in New Orleans, when I was already a teen. Unfortunately and due to drastic events my life turned upside-down and I had to come live with my grandmother.
My mother died in a car accident one autumn's afternoon, I was back in school enjoying my junior high when the fatidic news came upon me. It changed my whole life. Grandmother was the closest and dearest relative I had and she was all but hoping to take me in, both for her and my sake. Our income is not the best, she receives a little pension as her reform and if it wasn't for the money my mother had bared to save up and the sale of our house in New Orleans it would have been very hard to sustain both of us. I never got the option to go to college as it was an expensive luxury. Instead and following my grandmother footsteps, I'm in the cleaning business. Not that I'm a business myself, but I do the cleaning that's for sure.
Usually I work alone, I prefer so, I'm not overly social and I was an outcaste when I came back to town. My mother had not held great reputation after dumping my father for cheating on her, and leaving town with a small child on her own hands. Like I said, River Walker is southern all the way and that includes both the worst and the best implications. I found that hard to deal with at first, but now I manage to come to terms with the fact that you can love a place even if you don't agree with its mores, and even if you don't relate to every tradition you can still be proud of the positive aspects. It was a sneaky balance to find, but I did found it eventually.
I was never the town sweetheart, yet some folks still like me enough to be gentle and kind. If it's due to true affection or just simple pity out of my destiny, I don't know but I guess it doesn't matter either.
This time around, I'd be working with almost half the town's women. The house was so big it would be impossible for a single person to clean it in a week's time. The family was trying to hire some cleaning service to do that, but Mr. Farwell – the town's oldest habitant – managed to persuade the buyers that instead of hiring professional and expensive crews for the small jobs (such as cleaning the house and fixing garages and pavements), they should employ local people. They did agreed to it and after the major working on the structure of the mansion, they hired every River Walker resident that was available. Of course that meant half of the town population. Not only did the family pay well but everyone wanted a chance to snoop around the house and get some fresh gossip to talk about on every social gathering that came up.
The old River House was the topic of the day, every day, as it was probably the biggest event of the year.
I got to the back of the house and saw the servants' door already open, I casted a quick glance around the surroundings and my breath got caught on my throat. Damn, the place was bigger than I'd ever believe it to be. It had centenarian trees all around the space that separated the private property from the town's pride, the river. There was a big terrace covered in windows from the ceiling to the floor with a grand pool, comfortably looking chairs and couches and a five-star worthy grill and bar.
After the terrace the gardens extended until the water line and there was a path that conducted to a private dock. Every bush was perfectly trimmed and I wonder briefly how much money this family could possibly have. I didn't wonder much after that because Beanie Berrywhite came rushing out, looking excitedly at me.
"Oh my gosh," She gushed, waving her hands around. "Have you seen inside the house?"
I shook my head, but she was too excited, looking everywhere to notice my gesture. I had to speak. "No. Just got here, I thought it was supposed to be here after lunch to start cleaning…"
One thing I'm proud about is that I always arrive on time. So seeing some workers, of the cleaning department, already there made me wonder. "Oh yes," She giggled, almost blushing. "But we wanted to come earlier so we could check on the house."
My eyes widen but I said nothing, it was typical behavior, after all. I just nodded signalizing I understood what she said.
"Wonder who'll come live here…" She shared, more to herself than me. I had the same wonders and I guess everyone nearby was dying to have the answer for that.
"Doesn't Mr. Farwell know the buyers?" I asked after a while. I admit it, I was indeed too curious about the old house proprietaries.
"No," Beanie said, clearly disappointed. "He only talked to their lawyers." My eyes almost popped out of their orbits. They needed a lawyer to handle their deals? Now, I was really wondering how much money they could possess. "But he suspects they're not Americans." Beanie continued.
"Oh." I whispered, that could explain the need for a lawyer but it still appeared that they were filthy rich.
"I know!" She squeaked, all excitement back in her.
I've decided to go on in, Beanie was keen on exploring the gardens but I thought that was invasion of property. They were paying me to clean their house and make it look livable, not to go around and spy on their things.
When I arrived, I stepped from a short hallway to the kitchen. It was big, shiny and brand new just as the rest of the house. It was also almost the size of my bedroom, my gran's and our living room all together but no point in saying that aloud. There were already a lot of people there, sitting, pacing, looking fascinated at the surroundings. Cordelia Thibodeaux, the wife of the town's sheriff, was the one that seemed to be leading the pack – as usual.
"Ana," She called in a way of greeting. "Glad you already here, do you care to see the house?" She was being the charming host as if that was indeed her own home. I almost snorted but managed to hold back.
"Shouldn't we be cleaning?" I asked instead.
"We will," Cordelia resumed to her admiration of the kitchen when she saw I didn't held the same excitement they had. "Let's just wait for everyone and will divided tasks."
And that was that.
"Okay."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The days passed by as a blur, during the week of the River House cleanings I was forced to schedule all my other appointments to followings weeks because it was impossible to keep all jobs at the same time and get it done. My clients were more than happy to let me change the timetables because they were beaming with the prospect of new and fresh information about the house and its owners.
I wasn't one to share private stuff and all the while I worked there, I resumed to my own tasks and avoid any kind of snooping. I wasn't a very educated person but I still had my own morals and values. I did what I was paid to do, and I did it damn well.
But the cleanings of the River House were two weeks ago and after that the owners had already moved in, but I was so busy with all the compensations I had to made to my other clients that I still hadn't got the time to try and see them. Much to the town's dismay, it appeared that they were private folks. I didn't listen much to gossiping so whenever they were talking about them, I tried to not listen to anything it was being said, but after a whole week it was impossible not to know some things that were being shared between the people.
For once they were Italians and it was a whole family that moved in, and it appeared that they were a very big family. They were handsome, wealthy and everyone was thrilled with their exotic appeal. Most exotic and innovated things aren't well appreciated in River Walker but they had just a bit of strangeness that was enough to be accepted and interesting.
It was almost noon when I stepped inside my house. I walked through the back door that leads immediately to the kitchen. My house was one of those old, typically southern houses with a back and a front porch built out of decking material, with two stories in height and a gabled roof. It was all white and all historic, as it was built sometime along the foundation of the town by some great-great-great-great-grandfather or so. It is in desperate need of some work, but we're managing to get along only making small reparations when it's absolutely indispensable.
The smell of home cooked meal hit me first and I instantly drop my bag with cleaning supplies on the counter and went to the table to get some much needed nutrition back in my body.
"Oh goodie," My Gran said, turning around from the stove. "You're here. There's something I want to talk to you about. Are you hungry?"
"A little," I answered. I was hungry but if I said so, my grandmother would force me to eat a whole pan of whatever she made, all by myself and even though I wasn't a very large person, I still like to watch out for my body. It is one of the few things I have absolutely control over.
"Now you eat that," She said putting a plate in front of me. "And I'll go make a phone call. I need to talk to Betty, church gathering is a week from now. We need to start making arrangements."
I nodded but she didn't get to see it, Gran was already out of the door and onto the hall where we had our phone. I could hear her mutter some words and arranging things with Betty Kindell – her church buddy. After a while, and when my food was almost eaten, Gran came back into the kitchen, a satisfied expression in her elder yet lovely features.
"Are you responsible for the organization of the summer gathering too?" I asked when she sat in front of me.
"Oh yes. Betty, Willie Mae and I are taking care of things. You know how pastor Prescott is, always demanding, I prefer it that way but there are some folks who aren't responsible enough for such a task."
I nodded, the seasonal gatherings in the Baptist Church of River Walker were something that people always looked for. It was held in the congregation building and it was something like a late lunch after an especial service the minister, Deacon Prescott, gave.
"I wish more youngsters would join the organization," Gran continued eyeing me conspicuity. "Perhaps even you could join in."
"I don't have time." My tone was flat and hopefully left no room for arguing with that. I didn't wish for one bit to join any group.
Gran chewed on her cheek and I knew she wanted to say something more. I sighed. "Maybe you can leave some clients… You do work a lot honey, it wouldn't be wrong to do so."
"We need the money."
"Well, perhaps we could squeeze the budget a little more," Gran fidgeted with her frail hands and looked kindly at me. I knew she was only concerned but I didn't want to argue about that. Her white, thick hair was held back in one perfectly arranged bun in the back of her neck and she took her time smoothing it before continuing. "You're still so young honey, and I don't want to rob you of your youth."
"You're not robbing me of anything Gran."
She eyed me dubious but understood that the topic was closed. Thank god.
"Wasn't there something you wanted to talk to me about?" I asked all too eager to change the subject.
"Oh yes," Gran tapped her own forehead and a smile stretched in her lips. "Have you seen the owners of River House?"
Oh great, more gossiping. To Gran's credit, she was one of most skilled gossipers in town, always onto the novelties. I shook my head, I heard about them, but I had never seen anyone.
"Well, it appears they're looking for a full-time maid." Gran was obviously excited but I failed to understand the reason.
"Okay…"
"You know… perhaps you maybe be interested."
"I already have a job." Color drained from my cheeks, I didn't like abrupt changes. I was done with that in my life.
"Yes honey, but think about it, wasn't it better if you had a full-time job in the same place, instead of having to run around from one house to another, all day? Plus, I'm sure they'd pay pretty well. You'd earn more than what you make now, I'm sure of it." She was indeed sure of it but I wasn't.
"So are you saying I should dish on my clients to go work for a family that no one knows how long is going to stay in town?" Gran's brow furrowed and I knew she hadn't dwelt much on the subject. "Who's to say they won't go away after summer?"
"Well…"
"Plus, my earning may not be much but it's stable. I can count on my clients."
"I'm not saying to dish anything just yet, I was just suggesting perhaps you may want to go to the interview and see what all is about."
"I'll think about it." I conceded, though I was sure I wasn't really thinking about anything. The idea just didn't sound appealing enough to me, it was too much trouble.
Gran smiled and I got up from my seat, ready to clean the kitchen before heading back to my usual day of work. "Do you want me to put the chicken in the fridge?" I shouted to Gran, when I saw how much food had remained.
"Yes honey, you put it away. We can still eat it during the week."
I nodded though there was nobody to see me doing so. I got my hands on the job and washed all dishes, cleaned the table, mopped the floor and placed away all traces of food that could be frozen. When all was done, I checked the big and old clock that stood on the wall next to the calendar, and saw that it was just 1.30 pm. I got to the bathroom to brush my teeth and do my necessities before going back into my working schedule. At two o'clock I had Mrs. Bedford house to clean.
I rode in my car and parked just before her driveway. Raene Bedford was a widow, old lady that lived all by herself in a big, yet in needs of handiwork, house. I came to help her organize things twice at week, on Mondays and Thursdays. She was still full of energy but her body didn't allow her to do many things and with such a big house, she needed all the help she could get.
"Hello Mrs. Bedford," I greeted when I got to her porch. She was sitting in her old swing chair, drinking ice tea and reading some local magazine. "How are you today?"
"Oh darlin' I'm so glad you're here, I'm in one of my bad days. My legs hurt and I wanted to clean that darn closet on the guest room!" Mrs. Bedford made a face that only gave away her advanced age, as her eyes were covered in wrinkles.
"I can do that today and I'll clean the rest Thursday if you want."
"I wanted to help you darlin' you know, but if you don't mind then go ahead."
I nodded and entered the house, the guest room was almost never used. Only occasionally Mrs. Bedford's daughter came to visit her and even when she came from Tennessee, where she lived, she didn't stay longer than a couple of nights.
The closet though, was full of items Mrs. Bedford had kept and storage in there during her life and now she wanted to make a selection of things she really wanted and things she could throw or give away. Her daughter was pregnant and she was in the hopes that her grandchild would come around a lot to visit and stay with her.
I opened the closet and sighed, there were a lot of things indeed. I went to the kitchen to grab some plastic bags to separate everything so that Mrs. Bedford could pick what she wanted and what not.
I went about my day like that, after finish cleaning the closet I fetched my check from Mrs. Bedford and went to Carol Pellman – a teacher with three small kids that lived in the middle of chaos. She could probably use my help more than once a week but she couldn't afford it, so I tried to make the best out of the money she gave me when I was there and clean all I could manage. My last clients were the Abernathy, one of the richest families in town. They didn't like me that much due to my mother's reputation, they were elite and so they didn't feel well blending with my kind, but they still needed a cleaning woman and I was good at what I did, so they decided they could hire me anyways.
I was about to leave their house, one of the biggest and most splendid in River Walker, when Beau Abernathy walked in. He was the oldest son of Addison and Tyrell Abernathy, he had left that year for college and was, now, on vacations. Beau was a handsome, spoiled child but I knew deep down he had a good heart.
"Hey Ana," He greeted me, placating my exit from the kitchen. "How are you?"
"Good." I wasn't much for chit-chat but he was obviously waiting on me to say something. "How was college?"
The biggest grin split on his face, he was handsome indeed. Tall, broad-shoulders, athletic body, a messy blond hair and a promising future; Beau was the town most eligible bachelor. Only I wasn't near attracted to him.
"Great, I'm really enjoying it. I'm glad I'll be able to follow my dad's footsteps." He was indeed excited so I gave him a small smile though I'm sure that didn't reach my eyes. Fathers were a sore subject for me.
"I'm sure that's great."
"Yeah…" He smoothed his hair with his left hand an actually blush a little. "Do you… Want … Uhm… I mean… Do you have a date for the church gathering?"
I furrowed my brow. "I didn't know we were supposed to go with dates."
"We're not," Now he was fully blushing. "I was just wandering if maybe you wanted some company."
"Oh," I could almost blush myself at that proposal. In fact, I was sure to be blushing too. "I think its better not, I work for you and I'm sure your parents wouldn't agree to it."
"I don't care what my parents think."
"I don't think it's that easy but… thanks for asking." That was awkward for me too.
I didn't meet his eyes again, and instead I walked around his figure and went straight to the door. Once I got to my car I breathed in relief. That was something I wasn't expecting. Sure it was nice to be noticed and even asked to go out, but I wasn't sure if going on a date with Beau would make me very happy. It would make Gran thrilled that's for sure, but not me and most definitely not Addison and Tyrell Abernathy.
On my way home I made sure to drive by the River House, I slowed down when passing by it. I tried to peek through the high gates but I didn't get to see much. I saw some motion going on and some male bodies were pacing around quietly but more than that, I didn't see.
I thought what it would be like to work in a household like that. Could my Gran be right? Could it be best for me? We could definitely need some extra money but I wasn't ready to leave my carefully build life for some job I wasn't sure I needed or wanted.
I shook my head, no, it was best to keep things as they were. The money shouldn't be that much for starts, I was a maid after all.
I was just getting home when one thick and black cloud of smoke interrupted me from my sight. My heart began to race in my chest and I walked out of the car immediately, running towards my house. The smell made my insides clench. There was smoke coming out of the back and the horrible sound of fire echoed through my head. My kitchen was burning.
I fought back the tears, "Gran!" I called as loud as I could. "Gran!"
I heard some noise from inside the house and without giving it a second though I hopped inside, covering my face with a cloth I had in my cleaning supplies. "Gran!" I kept shouting, trying to locate where the noise came from.
I heard it again and it was coming from her own room, it was in the back of the house, close to the kitchen which was now on fire. I didn't give thought to my actions because in my mind it only made sense for me to go out there and save my Gran regardless of the burning room I had next to me.
I kept walking, my eyes like two slits trying to perceive any figure that I could identify as my grandmother. Finally I managed to enter the room; she was there, trying to open her window. I run towards it and tried to open it myself. Damn, the crooked window.
I looked around, trying to see another way out but there wasn't any, the flames were now on the hallway and the only solutions was to pass by that damned window. I tried harder but it wasn't moving.
"Oh honey," My Gran cried. I fought my tears once again, it wasn't the time, I told myself.
I closed my eyes and inhaled again, damned me if I'd let some stupid fire get my Gran. I'd lost my mother once, I wasn't going to loose my grandmother too. I sucked all air my lungs could bare, even though I shouldn't breathe that smoky thing anyway. I tried opening it again, all my forces put into that gesture. I was sweating everywhere but after a helpless moment, I manage to move the frame and not long after that the window flew open.
Relief washed through me but soon I recovered, it wasn't done yet. I tried to carry Gran with me but it was impossible for the both of us to pass at the same time. "I need to go first to be able to pull you afterwards!" I shouted, unsure if she could hear me. Gran looked weaker as the seconds went by.
"Okay, you go out honey. Get out of here."
I shook my head; I hoped she wasn't thinking I'd ever leave her there. But I did what was told and hopped out of the room and onto the backyard. "Come now Gran, I'll hold you."
Gran nodded and try to lift her body but she wasn't strong as she had been and the smoky oxygen she had inhaled wasn't helping the matter. I stretched my arms and pull her along, I only lifted her a bit but I held steady. I inhaled deeply again and made force to move her a little bit more. I managed to do that too, but a loud creak made us both jump. The roof in the kitchen had fallen.
"Go honey, go," Gran pleaded me with teary eyes. "Get out of here!"
"No!" I resumed to my task of lifting her from the other side of the window.
"The fire is close honey, go!" Gran shouted again, her voice weak.
"Shut up!" I yelled too, I wasn't one to disrespect my Gran – out of all people – but now was one of those occasions where she wasn't being helpful.
I tried and tried, until finally, in one last effort and after noticing my Gran had passed out, I picked her up and pulled her out. I was weak as well, but it wasn't time to thing about that. So trembling, I brought my Gran to the front of the house as quick as I could manage.
I laid her on the grass, on her side to help the blood run and the oxygen entry. The firemen were already there, running to my kitchen with the fire-hose in hand. An ambulance was there too and once the paramedic saw the both of us they began running as well.
"Are you okay miss?" Somebody asked me.
I nodded but wasn't able to form coherent phrases. "My Gran, she…"
"We'll take care of her, don't worry," Indeed there were a pair of people, picking her up and putting her in a mace. "Now, are you okay?"
"Yes," I was still weak and my voice showed it but I didn't want to go to the hospital nor could I afford it, so I coughed and tried again, more firmly. "I'm fine."
"Let me take a look at you anyway."
"No, I'm good. Just a little tired."
The paramedic eyed me suspiciously but didn't force farther. The Sheriff was coming on at the moment so that ceased the conversation.
"Ana," He said sternly. "What happened?"
"My kitchen burned."
"I see that. What I want to know is why."
"Don't know, I was just getting home from work when I saw smoke coming out from the back."
"And Grace was in the house?"
"Yes."
"And you decided to get in and get her?"
I didn't like his tone, that's for sure. "Yes."
"Why didn't you call the firefighters?"
"Because I needed to take Gran out of the house first, that was more important."
"You could have killed both of you."
"No, the fire could have killed both of us. It wasn't me who set it."
Sheriff Thibodeaux snorted but dropped that subject. "And when you arrived that's all you saw? Smoke?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I need you to come to the station tomorrow to get your statement."
"Okay, I have time during lunch." I wasn't going to miss my work.
"That's fine."
And with that he walked away. I sighed and fought the tears once again.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
I got out from the shower, a towel rapped around my torso. I walked to the mirror and eyed me calmly, my tan was vanishing away and my skin was showing my pale tone, my eyes had dark bags under them and my hair was one big mess after all the washing I had to do, just to take the smoke out of it.
I allowed myself to cry then; it was a terrible thing to happen. The back of my house was burned down, my Gran was in the hospital recovering and we had no money to build things again. It was a bad, bad time for disasters.
After all sadness exited my body, I freshened up. I was thinking and thinking hard. Perhaps now was a good time to call that new family in the River House. I had asked Gran for their number, she avidly gave me once she woke up. If they paid well it may be what we needed after all.
I walked to my room, I had a old phone there. I avoid looking at my burned kitchen, it was a sad sight. I exhaled hard and picked up the phone. I was afraid to mark the numbers but forced myself to do it anyway.
It ringed long before someone picked it up. I was about to give up when a sudden, deep and hoarse voice spoke through the line.
"Christian Grigio." A male said with a thick Italian accent. Somehow my insides twisted. I held back a breath. Damn this velvety, sexy voice.
"Uhm… Hello?" My voice was just a whisper. "Is this from the Grigio house?" What the fuck Ana?! He just said he was a fucking Grigio, obviously it is from his house. I was too nervous to make sense.
"Yes." He said impatiently. I didn't blame him, I was being a retarded.
"Well… I'm Anastasia Steele, I… I was wondering if you still are looking for a maid…?" It was suppose to be an affirmation but it sounded more like an awkward question.
"Yes." He answered again and silence fell upon the line.
"I wanted to apply for the job." I said after a while.
"Pass here tomorrow at four o'clock for an interview." His tone was decisive and left no space for doubting.
"Okay. I'll be there."
"Good." He spoke in the same tone that made my stomach twist and burn with something I couldn't identify.
Just like that he hung up the phone. I stared at the machine for a very long time.
I had a job interview tomorrow.
I had a job interview tomorrow, in the River House for an Italian family I'd never seen.
I sighed and remembered I needed to call Mrs. Landry to tell I'd be a little late for my work the next day. I was too tired, so I brushed my teeth and pull some t-shirt over my body, not bothering to wear anything else.
I laid in bed thinking about what had happened, about the unknown Grigio family, about my Gran and my current job. For some reason I thought of Beau's invitation and for some even weirder reason, I start imagining how this Christian would look like.
I shook my head, my hair still wet. It was going to be a long night.