Chapter 2

Ana POV

"Are you really sure you want to do this?" Diane asked me for the millionth time. "You can pretend you're sick or blame it on me. Tell them your big bad boss said you have to work." I just shook my head and continued gathering my purse and phone.

"It'll be fine, I honestly doubt I'll even see Christian. I'm sure this isn't his thing and besides it supports a good cause." I'm really trying to talk my self in to this. Why did I ever agree with Mia? I am no model. I don't have a single model gene in my body. "Are you sure you don't want to come? You know how well I get along with heels and walking a straight line." I tell her with a slight giggle. She's known me long enough to know that I am the most clumsy person on planet earth.

"Oh Ana, you'll do great. And like you said it is for a good cause. Maybe you'll get lucky and some guy will win you in the auction and sweep you off your feet." Diane tells me while making a sweeping gesture with her arm. This woman she cracks me up. I thought I was a hopeless romantic, but she takes the cake.

"You make it sound so romantic, someone will 'win me'. I'm not sure I want to even be auctioned off. I've done that before, last time there was a bidding war and I thought Christian was going to beat the guy for bidding on me. He won so it worked out, but just imagine if it hadn't." I will never forget going to that gala, another one Mia roped me into. " I have to go now, if I don't I will never make it on time. Have fun today. Good luck with your first round of meetings with SIP. " I gave Diane a quick wave and made my way to the lobby of the hotel. I called in advance to make sure a cab would be waiting. It was freezing out today and I wasn't really in the mood to wait on a cab.

The ride to Bellevue was quite, the cab driver didn't say much. I'll be honest hopefully I can convince Kate and Elliott to give me a ride back to the hotel, I'm all for getting some work caught up in the drive, but I'm a ball of nerves and right now it would really be great to talk to someone. Pulling up at Grace and Carrick's I feel an odd longing I haven't felt in years. I've missed this place and all of the wonderful times I've spent here. I tip the cab driver and get out of the car, I think my nerves have gotten even worse. I could still turn around and leave, but as I turn back I notice the driver's already driving back down the driveway. So much for that idea.

It takes me a couple of minutes until I finally get the nerve to knock and when I do I'm met by a familiar blonde. I know her name starts with a G. Greta, Gertrude, no Gretchen. I think that's it. "Hi I'm Ana Steel, I'm here to see Mia." I would think she would remember me, but I'm not sure. If anything I'm sure she loved it when Christian and I broke up. I could always tell she had the hots for him. Right as she's getting ready to answer I hear,

"Ana, I had no idea you were going to be here today. How are you my darling girl? You look well." I look off to my right and see the other motherly figure that used to be in my life walking towards me. She is dressed in a gown that is to die for. It's a dark navy blue with iridescent beads covering the top, her dark hair swept off to the side with a slight curl. She gives me a hug and a kiss off the check.

"Grace, it's so good to see you. I am doing great. I cannot believe Mia didn't tell you she invited me. I ran into her last night while I was meeting with Kate and you know Mia, wouldn't take no for an answer."

"That does sound like my Mia. Gretchen please take Ana's coat." See I remembered. "Ana I will show you were the girls are. They are doing hair and makeup. Oh you should see all the dresses Mia has designed for tonight. I know she just cannot wait to show them off."

I follow Grace through the house and up the stairs I know all too well. She stops outside the door to Mia's room. It's now or never, maybe I should just make up that Diane needs me back at the hotel. I don't know what my I'm so nervous. I know these ladies, heck I'm best friends with Kate, well I was at least, I even dreamed about Mia one day being my sister. I don't know why this is just eating me up. Grace pushes open the door and I see that Mia's whole room has been transformed into her own personal backstage. There are privacy screens off to the side for people to change, she has several hair and make up stations with various people at them. You has gone all out for today.

"Ana I am so glad you made it. I cannot wait for you to put on my dress. I think you are going to look amazing." Mia tells me before I even get through the door. She is dressed in a gown of course, her's is a shimmery purple, with one shoulder. It's cut very straight, but he shape of her dress makes her legs look a mile long. Her blonde hair pin straight. She looks like she walked off the runway at New York Fashion Week.

"Mia, you said you were doing a fashion line, I assumed you were doing normal dresses not ball gowns. These are to die for." I tell her as she led me to a rack of gowns. I let my hand skim across the different fabrics, these are amazing. She has put so much detail into them, it's no wonder Grace looked so fancy, the Greys sure know how to throw a party. I look around the room trying to find a familiar face and I don't see Kate anywhere, but I do see my favorite little Grey sitting at one the the stations getting her hair curled. "Elizabeth Grace, I cannot believe you haven't said a single word to me."

With that the youngest Grey hops off her seat and rushes towards me. "Ana I can't believe you're here. I've missed you so much." Elizabeth says as she wraps her arms around me. I cannot believe what a little lady she has become. It seems like just yesterday she was seven and we were playing dress up. I knew I missed her, but I think it's finally setting in just how much I've missed her. I return her hug and as a smile plays on my lips. She is beautiful. Her copper locks have gotten so long halfway down her back now. She looks so grown up in the dress Mia designed just for her. It's bubble gum pink and crazy poofy, I swear there has to be fifty layers of tulle on that dress. But it looks fabulous.

"Oh, Libby I've missed you too. You'll have to tell me everything I've missed." Knowing that Elizabeth is here is making me worried that Christian is here as well. I glance around nervously and it's like Elizabeth can tell. She's always been an intuitive little one.

"Dad's not here, he's at work today, he had Sawyer drop me off. I wanted to spend the day with Aunt Mia. She promised me dress up. Please tell me you're staying today." She tells me and I immediately feel relieved. At least I don't have to deal with him.

"I am, your Aunt Mia asked if I could help you guys out. I'll be here all day." Elizabeth takes my hand and leads me over by where she is sitting to get my hair done. Frankie introduces himself and I am immediately relaxed with him. He has such a fun personality. He sways his hips with the music playing as he curls my hair. I remember back in the day when I had those silly bangs. I don't know why I thought those were a good idea, it took forever but they have finally grown out. My mid-back length hair looks great with Frankie's curling. It has just the right bounce and I'm not sure how he managed to get it so shiny. It's amazing how confident you feel with great hair.

My next stop is makeup, unfortunately my time with Frankie came to an end. The next station is manned by a woman named Abby. She has spiky pink hair and looks a little punkish dressed in black leather leggings and a white tank top. "How are we doin' your face today pretty lady?" She has this crazy, unexpected southern drawl to her voice, honestly not how I thought she would talk. I tell her to keep it simple and natural.

I've never been a huge makeup fan, but living in New York and having to constantly attend events for Woodson has taught me that I have to dress up and step up my A game. Back when I was still in Seattle I never had more than a little bit of mascara. If Kate saw me on a normal day in New York. I guarantee she would be in shock. Little Ana Steele is all grown up and killing it. Last year I made the top 25 up and coming millennials in publishing, it was a crazy prestigious thing. Diane was so excited that someone from Woodson made the list. We had gotten a hold of this great writer and her book called 'Love, Life, and Tacos' hit it big. It was number one on Amazon the week it was released. I think I read blog after blog and it was crazy popular, everyone who was anyone was reading it. Even Dakota Johnson tweeted about the book. It was silly, fun, and heartwarming. It took off like a weed, but because of that book I got more recognition in the publishing industry than I ever dreamed possible. I think half of the publishers in New York put calls in and tried to steal me away from Diane. But I stayed with Diane and managed a raise and the new title of Vice President. I honestly couldn't be happier with my life right now.

While I getting my make up done, I finally see Kate walk in. She gives me a wave and then is whisked off to get her hair done, all while Mia was going on about how she was late. Once she was situated Mia wandered back over to me. "So here's the best part of tonight, it's masked. I designed every detail in the masks. This one goes perfect with the dress you are wearing." She hands over a black masked that has swirls and beading and some crystals, the mask it to die for. "Are you ready to see your dress?"

I nod and follow Mia over to the rack and she pulls out a black satin gown. Looking it over I notice that it has a high neckline and a plunging back. The dress is very straight in design, but simple. It suits me so well. I tell Mia I absolutely love the dress. "You did amazing, almost like you designed it with me in mind." I know if sounds silly, but this dress just screams Anastasia.

"Here, this is the necklace I want you to wear." She hands me long box once I get the gown on and step into some sky high black Louboutins. Louboutins are my weakness, every girl needs to fell like a goddess and these red soled bad boys do the trick. I open the box she handed me and see that it's a long stranded diamond necklace. The kind that will peek over the front of the gown and almost touched my butt in the back. How does this woman expect me to sit wear this getup? I give myself a once over in the mirror and decide I look pretty damn hot right now. Stepping out from behind the privacy screen, I turn to Mia "You outdid yourself. This dress, the hair, it's all amazing. I honestly don't even feel like myself right now." I truly feel like my inner goddess at this point in time. She pulls the mask out of the box and ties it to my head. She gives my ass a quick slap and tells me to know em dead.

Walking that runway was exhilarating. The crowd cheered as every girl walked across showing off their gowns. I tried to see if there was anyone in the crowd I recognized, but the masks were a great identity hider. It was a great experience and I'm so glad I didn't back out of it. After everyone had walked we went back out and bowed with Mia. She is truly talented, everyone of her dresses was a showstopper. I was chatting with the girls afterwards when Elizabeth came running up. I'm pretty sure she is the only child here tonight, but perks of being family right. I give her a smile and she starts rattling on about how great everyone did.

As I was listening to her I felt the hairs on my neck start to stand. I know this feeling. He's here. Not a minute later I see those familiar eyes coming towards me. My blue eyes locked with his grey for a moment and I swear time just stood still. What are the chances he will recognize me? I still have my mask on. I take a second to look him over. He looks the exact same, still toned, I can see it through his tux. His face might be a little more chiseled, can one get hotter over time? I feel my knees start to get weak, but I quickly compose myself. I turn away and keep listening to Elizabeth talking, maybe if I don't look at him he won't see me.

"Anastasia."

Too late...