A little warning: This is the longest A/N I have ever written...
Hi, first thank you all for your feedback and I just want to address a few things. So, let's start with the easier things first... Some of you were concerned that Ana would end up as Christian's doormat because she is a sub. However, that is not going to happen. I needed Ana to be a part of the lifestyle for a reason, which is going to be revealed as the story progresses. And no, she is not going to become his sub, though of course they will end up together.
Another thing I would like to address is that I feel like I need to explain why I said this is kind of a cheating story... I know many people have different opinions where cheating starts, for me it starts if one partner makes the decision to get involved with someone else. So, at this point, to me, Christian has already cheated on his wife, because he wants Ana as his sub.
Someone left a review telling me that I have made Ana a whore... not sure what to say about that. She is a twenty-two year old woman who had sex with two men so far, yes, she was not in love with those men, but she liked and trusted them enough to become their submissive. I don't see how that makes her a whore, because to me a sub is not a whore, but I guess we can just agree that we have different opinions on that topic...
I was also told that I had stolen this story and that the idea comes from SmileRose, who wrote a story called Unfaithful under a different penname... All I can say about that is that I know the story and other than it starts out with Christian being married and having a child my story and her story couldn't be more different. For example, in Unfaithful, Ana is married and if I remember it correctly, her husband was a great guy. My Ana is not married; she never even had any kind of relationship other than the two previous mentioned D/s relationships. My Christian did not marry his wife to please his parents; he married because to him his wife was a breath of fresh air, coming into his life at a time where he grew bored of being a Dom... And as my story progresses you will see that these two stories couldn't be more different...
To the guest Alexandra - Yes, I know which story you mean, and I guess it seems like my Ana and the other Ana have quite a few similarities in the first chapter of my story, but that is also going to change soon...
To Grey Steele Fan - Don't worry this Christian is not going to treat Ana poorly, he will be a bit sneaky to get her within his reach, but he is not going to do anything like the Christian from Broken or The Journal...
And lastly I want to address the two guests who basically called me a bad mother and wife who spends all of her time writing/reading and reviewing FF...
I spend roughly an hour or two a day writing or reading FF, while I am doing that my children are in school/ kindergarten and my hubby is at work. And if I am writing/reading in the evening my kids are already asleep and I am in the living room with my hubby and while he enjoys to watch TV for an hour or two, I am on my laptop, because I couldn't care less about TV. So, excuse the hell out of me if I am taking an hour or two a day to do something I enjoy. And just for the future, if either of you two decide to leave me a review that has nothing to do with my story and is only meant to insult me as a person again, I will simply delete those reviews...
Disclaimer: All characters belong to E. L. James
6 weeks later - Ana
Oh please, please let me get this job. I keep repeating this mantra over and over in my mind. I just need this job. For the last three years, I have worked as housekeeper for a very nice older couple, but now that they are both retired, they decided to move to Florida where their only daughter lives. They are moving in five days and that means I need to find a new job within five days. My agency tried to find something for me, but either it wasn't a live in position or the people who wanted to hire me needed more of a caretaker than a housekeeper. Then yesterday I was called and asked if I wanted to work as an interim housekeeper for a wealthy family. Their housekeeper fell down the stairs and has a broken leg, which required surgery, so they need someone who can start ASAP.
It's just for six to eight weeks, but it's better than nothing. My alternative would be to move back to Montesano to live with my Dad until I am able to find a new job. I love my Dad, but I am twenty-two and I don't want to move back to my Dad every time I am without a job. Not that I couldn't afford to sign a short-term rent for a nice apartment, but the sad truth is that I can't live alone. I have tried it once when I enrolled at WSU and after a week I found myself in the hospital and knew that I had to leave college and move back to Montesano.
It was sheer luck that I got my first job as housekeeper. I was working in a small restaurant in Montesano and one night the cook called in sick. The owner was completely freaked out, so I offered to cook. The same night my first employers stopped at the restaurant to have dinner on their way home to Seattle. They enjoyed my food so much, that they offered me to work for them and it just went from there. Sadly, three years ago, they both passed away in an accident and I found a new employment with the couple I am working for now. I just hope I get this interim position, so I have some more time to find something permanent.
This just has to work out, I mean, since I haven't found a new Dom so far, I could at least get the job, right? After the Christian Grey debacle my friend Mike found someone else who was interested in taking me on as his sub. I've met with him and while he was nice and very polite, he suddenly lost all interest in me. I have no idea why, the interview went well and he asked me to meet him at the club the next day for a scene to see if we are a good match, but then he never showed up. That has never happened to me before. I asked Mike if he had any idea what happened, but he didn't really want to say anything.
Just my luck, no job, no Dom and if I don't get this job, I have to move back to Montesano.
You have reached your destination! My GPS announces and I look at the huge metal gate. Looks like the Taylor's really like their privacy. I press the button of the intercom and wait.
"Yes?" a harsh voice snaps.
"Hi, umm... I am here for the job interview. My name is Anastasia Steele"
There is no answer, but after a few seconds, the gate opens and I drive up the long driveway. Christ, is there even a house? So far, all I can see are trees and neatly trimmed lawn. When the house finally comes into my view, I am not so sure I want to work here. At least not if it will be my job to clean the windows. The house is huge; ten bedrooms would be my guess. It's very modern, all glass walls and steal. God, I hope I have a room in the basement. How can anyone live like this? It is like being an animal in the zoo.
Telling myself that I need this job, I park my car by the garages and walk over to the front door. To my surprise, someone opens it before I can even ring the doorbell. I take a quick look at the woman, judging by the cast on her leg and the fact that she is on crutches; she must be the housekeeper.
"Good afternoon, I am Gail Taylor, you must be Miss Steele, right?" she says kindly and I like her immediately, but I am a little confused, I thought the family who lived here was called Taylor. Maybe I got that wrong.
"Yes, it's nice to meet you, Mrs. Taylor."
"Well, come in" she says and leads me into the huge kitchen of the house.
"If you get the job, this is where you are going to spend a lot of time. My boss is all about eating healthy, I don't think he has missed one meal since I've started to work for him seven years ago," she says. So, she is the housekeeper...
"I'm sorry that I have to ask, but my agency told me only your name, so... who exactly is your boss."
She looks a little embarrassed. "Before I can disclose this information with you, Miss Steele, I need you to sign this NDA"
Oh hell no, her last name is Taylor and she is making me sign a NDA before she is going to tell me who her boss is? In the back of my mind alarm bells go off. It can't be or can it? No, he wouldn't...
"I see, well I guess we should get that out of the way first."
I sign the NDA and she smiles kindly at me. "So, do you want to see the house?" she asks and I nod.
After I have seen most of the house and the room that would be mine for the time I am here, I feel a little better. My room is in the basement and only has normal windows, not those all around floor to ceiling windows, which are making me somewhat nervous.
She tells me about my duties as the housekeeper and to my great relief she informs me that window cleaning isn't one of them. They have a cleaning crew who does that and two more cleaning ladies who come by once a day, so my main job is cooking, laundry and apparently taking care of the families two year old son. I love children, so that shouldn't be any trouble.
"There is one more thing, before I can finalize my decision, Miss Steele. My boss is a very private person and he goes a long way to protect his family from any harm. Therefore he ran a background check on you, before we invited you to come here," she explains.
"Would you mind to tell me where you have been in the six months before you graduated from high school?"
I know all the color has just drained from my face and my breathing has spiked up. Shit, get it together, Ana. You've been asked this question before!
"Oh dear, do you need a glass of water, Miss Steele?" Mrs. Taylor asks and I take a deep breath.
"No, thank you. I have spent four of those six months in the hospital and the other two with my Aunt Sarah and her family in Iowa, where I also graduated."
"May, I ask why you were hospitalized for four months?"
I swallow hard, but somehow manage to get the words out. "While my parents were away for the weekend I was alone at home. A group of people broke into my parent's house. I barely survived the weekend."
"I am so sorry, Miss Steele. I shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's alright, you had to ask. After all I could have been treated for drug abuse or some kind of mental disease and seeing that I will also look after a child, it is only natural that you had to ask."
"Good, so I would say, if you want the job, I am going to get the contract now." she says and I am just about to say yes when I remember that I still have no idea who the family is. In addition, how odd is it that none of them has come in to see me? I mean, I wouldn't want to hire a complete stranger who is going to live in my home and look after my son.
"That would be wonderful, Mrs. Taylor. But, I still don't know who your boss is."
"That would be me" I hear a slightly amused voice behind me. No! No, no, no! He has got to be kidding!
Turning around in my chair, I see him, Christian Grey. He is leaning against the kitchen island and looks at me with a very smug expression.
"Christian Grey and you are?" he asks as he steps closer to where I am sitting and I want to slap him. Has this man no boundaries? How can he even think that I would work for him and live in his home... under the same roof as his wife!
"Anastasia Steele, it's a pleasure to meet you, Sir." If anything, his grin gets even bigger when he hears my clipped tone.
"So, Miss Steele, I hope you are as good as the agency says."
"Yes, about that, I need to call my agency, would you excuse me for a moment?" I ask and step out of earshot when he nods politely.
Five minutes later, I end the call and I am sure I have never been so frustrated and angry in all of my life. Of course, Lisa, the owner of the agency told me that it is my decision, if I want to take the job or not. Although she didn't say it aloud, it was implied that if I refuse to work for such a high profile client as Christian Grey, I would have to look for a new agency.
I take a deep breath and think about it for a moment. It's only for six to eight weeks and he is a very busy man. In addition, with his wife around, he surely isn't going to make a pass at me. He can't be that stupid. Or maybe this was just a coincidence and he has already found himself a new sub? Plus, if I decide to work for him, it will look very good on my resume and might even help me to get a really good job next.
In the end, I walk back to where he and Mrs. Taylor are waiting for me.
"I'm sorry that the call took so long, I know you are a very busy man, Mr. Grey," I say as politely as I can.
"Well, I hope you calling your agency doesn't mean that you are not interested in the job, Miss Steele."
"Actually, I would love to work for you, until Mrs. Taylor can work again."
"Perfect! Gail, I take it from here, thank you for doing the interview. Please, follow me, Miss Steele" he says and so I follow him into one of the rooms on the second floor, which turns out to be his study.
"Well, Miss Steele, it looks like I am getting you to sign a contract after all" he says smugly and I continue to smile, but I am sure he can tell how fake my smile is.
"Please, take a seat." he says. I sit down and read the contract, but almost choke when I see my salary. This must be a mistake.
"Something wrong, Miss Steele?" he asks.
"I... excuse me, but I think there is something wrong with the salary. Surely, you are not going to pay me 12k per month." This is just ridiculous, I mean he still has to pay the agency and the contract states that he is going to provide me with a new car that I can keep once I am leaving after Mrs. Taylor can work again.
"No, that is exactly what I am going to pay you, Miss Steele. You see, I expect a lot from my employees; therefore, I am paying them well. Plus, you have to look after my son, who just reached the terrible two's. He is a delightful child, but he will keep you busy in the times you'll have to watch him."
"Well, I guess I should tell you then, that while I love children, I never had to take care of children before."
"It is not that hard, Miss Steele. The golden rule is, never let him out of sight and there is always security in the house, so if you need help, let them know. Is there anything else that you would like to discuss?" he asks and I can't help it.
"Is it coincidence that I am here, Mr. Grey?"
"Yes, or do you honestly believe that I would push my housekeeper down the stairs, just to get you here. You made yourself clear, I have to accept it." he says and though he sounds sincere, something about his expression tells me that there is more to the story than he wants to admit.
"Alright then" I murmur, take the pen he placed next to the contract and sign it.
"Very well, Miss Steele. I will have one of the members of my security team help you move tomorrow. You can start tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, Sir... umm Mr. Grey" I stutter, somehow calling him Sir is awkward.
"Oh, I like it when you call me, Sir, Miss Steele" he smirks and I press my lips together, but we both jump in our seats when hear the piercing scream of a child and the next second the door to his study flies open. I turn around and have to suppress the urge to gasp as Mrs. Grey storms in and she is dragging her son behind her on one arm so that his little feet are dangling in the air. Before I can do anything, Mr. Grey is out of his chair, storms over to his wife, takes his son in his arms, and glares at his wife.
"Don't you dare and glare at me like that, Grey! Your little brat just spilled milk all over my new dress. I'm done watching him for today," she hisses at him and I am momentarily taken aback.
I have read about the wife of Christian Grey on some gossip blogs and she was always depicted as sweet and lovely woman. Well, teaches me not to belief the tabloids...
"Leila, he is two years old, he didn't do it on purpose. Why did he scream like that?" Mr. Grey asks and I know if he would ever take that tone with me or look at me like that I would most likely piss my pants, but his wife is laughing.
"Just keep him" she is just about to leave when she notices me.
"Who is that?" she asks her husband and I try to look anywhere but at them.
"Leila, meet Anastasia Steele, she is our new housekeeper until Gail is able work again."
She steps closer and stares at me for a moment. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-two, Ma'am."
"Well, I hope you can cook, we are having a dinner party on Sunday, if you mess up, and you are fired." And with that, she turns and leaves Mr. Grey's study. If I thought that working for Christian Grey would be a challenge, then I have just learned that it is Leila Grey who will be the real challenge for me.
"I must apologize, my wife can be... difficult," he says and I decide that it would be best to leave now.
"You don't have to apologize, Mr. Grey. I'll be leaving now, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Of course, I'll send someone to your place at say 8:30 tomorrow morning?"
"Yes, that would be perfect. Have a good day, Sir." I leave his study and outside I find Taylor waiting for me.
"I'll walk you out, Miss Steele."
"Please, call me Ana"
"Ana" he says and gives me a small smile, though I frown when we hear Mrs. Grey yelling upstairs.
"Ignore the bitch, Ana," he mutters and I stop mid-stride.
"Follow me," he says and I follow him outside and to my car. He seems a bit nervous, but clears his throat and looks at me.
"Since you are going to work here now, there is one rule that everyone who works for the boss has. It's nothing he told us to do... just make sure that the bitch is never alone with Teddy."
"Teddy?" I ask confused.
"Mr. Grey's son. She is a lousy mother and each time she is alone with him Teddy ends up hurting himself, because she doesn't give a fuck. So, just have an eye on them, the security does, too."
"Okay, sure" I whisper. Taylor nods and goes back to the house. I get into my car and shake my head. Oh, what have I gotten myself into now?
Okay, before you all lay into me for naming the son of Christian and Leila, Teddy. Think about it for a moment. Theodore is his grandfather's first name. So, clearly, his grandpa means a lot to Christian and he would name his first son after him, no matter who the mother is...
And just two more small things for those who are wondering now, Leila was never Christian's sub and Ana wasn't raped when she was attacked in her home.
