A/N: This chapter is short but wow….it has a bang at the end. Hold onto your bloomers folks….secrets are about to spill!
Chapter 6:
She woke up in a dripping wet in sweat. Her bed and nightgown was soaked. She grabbed her heart fearing that it would beat out of her chest. She sat up and turned on her bedside lamp. Within seconds, she was finding her phone and calling her Dad.
"Hello." Ray Steele's hoarse voice said giving evidence that Ana woke him up.
"Daddy?" Ana's voice broke with a sob. "Daddy, I had a nightmare."
"Oh, baby…just take a few deep breaths…through the nose and out the mouth. You can do it honey." Ray was now awake. His baby girl needed him. "Keep breathing. Slow and easy."
"Daddy, he was in my room. I could feel him."
"It was just a dream, baby. He can't hurt you anymore."
"It wasn't HIM, Daddy…it was Christian Grey."
"Carrick's boy?"
She nodded silently as she kept breathing. "I saw him this evening at the Christmas Party. He's been following me and he wanted to take me home. I was so furious that I slapped him."
Ray had to laugh. "Honey, he probably thinks you are a beautiful woman, which you are, and he was just trying to get to know you. I never let you get to know Carrick's children because I wanted you to stay focused on your studies." He smiled to himself that his little girl was so accomplished. "Don't worry about Christian. He's harmless. I'm sure that his behavior frightened you and I will have a talk with the young man."
"Dad, don't. Let me take care of this." She couldn't have her Dad confront Christian. She had to take care of this problem. " Dad, will I ever … you know be able to…you know….fall in love?"
"Yes, baby, you will when it's time. Don't concern yourself with that now. You have Staci and your career. Those are your two main goals right now."
"I know, Dad." She softly said. Her heart rate was slowing down and she could breathe without that dull ache in her chest. "I feel better."
"That's good, baby girl. Now just lie down, relax and don't worry." Ray's voice was soothing and Ana found her eyes getting heavy. "I love you, Annie Bananie"
"I love you, Daddy. Sweet dreams." She clicked off her phone and slipped into a dreamless sleep.
Ray closed his eyes and said a quick prayer. His little girl was so far away and in need. He felt helpless. He wondered what really set off her nightmares. He thought that she was finally over them since it had been years since she one. He remembered her waking up in a terror and screaming in a high-pitch tone that could peel the wallpaper from the walls. He would hold her close rocking her until she calmed down and fell back asleep.
The phone ringing worked through the sleep of Grace and Carrick. The good Doctor answered because usually a phone ringing at night was for her.
"Sorry to call so late, Grace, but it's Ana. She had one of those nightmares." Ray said wiping his brow. "I hate to ask…"
"Not a problem, Ray. I'll go over right now and make sure she is alright. I'll call you when I get there and see how she is."
"Thanks Grace."
They hung up as Carrick came fully awake. "Who was that, Grace? The hospital?"
"No, honey, it was Ray. Ana had one of those nightmares."
"Shit." Carrick slid out of bed and quickly dressed. "I'll drive you over."
When Ana moved to Seattle, Ray insisted that she give Carrick and Grace a key to her home in case of emergencies. Grace was ushered through the door after Carrick unlocked it. They were quiet not to wake Ana or Staci. Grace turned on a lamp and smiled to see little girl toys on the sofa and on the coffee table. She missed having a little girl running through the house.
"Let me go in first, Cary so not to frighten Ana." She said outside the girl's bedroom door. "Listen, I know you are concerned for her, but she will be alright. Just stay calm."
My Lord, she is a pretty thing. I touch her silky brown hair and gently caress the curve of her cheek. Our little Ana, so pretty, so intelligent, and so talented. She has overcome pain to become such a success. She has exceeded our expectations. Who knew twenty-one years ago that this little girl who with her birth stood our worlds on end? Her birth could have ruined our family, but it seems that she has only enhanced our lives, and now Christian. She has caught the attention of Christian. Maybe…who knows…maybe there will be a future for them…a mother can only hope. Of course, I will have to have a little talk with Christian on how to properly court a lady. I do love this little angel. How could I not? She is beautiful and sweet. Even though I can't stand her mother, I am grateful to her father for saving us. Ray will always have my heart and gratitude for all that he has done for us. Taking care of Ana is the least that I can do. I will not see her hurt by anyone.
Grace gently wakes Ana with a soft smile and gentle words. "It's alright, honey. Ray called me and asked me to come over and check on you and Staci."
"Is she alright? Did I wake her?"
"No, honey, she is fast asleep." Grace touches Ana's forehead then takes her pulse. "You seem to be alright. Do you remember the dream, honey?" Ana shook her head. This was common. Once she had the dream then calmed down, the memory of it went away. Grace didn't know if that was a blessing or a curse. "Do you want Carrick and I to stay for awhile?"
"Carrick's here."
"Yes, honey."
"Oh, Grace, I am so sorry. You didn't need to get out this late at night. I'm fine, really."
"It's alright, honey. We would do anything for Ray and you, you know that."
Ana did love this woman. She was the mother figure that she never had in Carla Wilks whatever her last name is now. "Thank you, Grace."
Grace leaned forward and gave Ana a motherly kiss on the forehead. "Now you just rest and we will take care of Staci. I'll call Ray and tell him that you are fine now."
Carrick and Grace fall asleep on the sofa with Staci's monitor sitting on the coffee table. When the first light of day begins to spread over the sky, Staci wakes and cries out for her Mama. Grace disengages her husband from her body and makes her way down the hall to Staci's room. Staci smiled up at her, but kept asking for her Mama. "It's alright little one, Mama is asleep. Are you hungry or thirsty?" Grace hugged the little girl. She did miss having her own children. She missed having babies around the house. She prayed every night that her boys would settle down and start having some babies for her to rock and for Carrick to bounce on his knee. "Let's go see what we have in the kitchen."
Ana was grateful that Fallon was on time for work. She kissed her daughter goodbye and ran out the door to her car. She would have to drive fast and pray that traffic is light. By the time she got to the office, she had forgotten about the dream and kept her attention on the briefs that she was reading. Ana sipped on her tea and wondered if Mia was going to show up for her first day on the job. It was a little bit after seven.
At nine, Mia was still absent. Ana shook her head in frustration. "Danya, will you please get Mia Grey on the line. If you don't have her number, call Carrick's secretary and she will get it for you."
After six rings Mia answers the phone with slurred speech. "Hwello."
"Good morning, Miss Grey. Did you not have an appointment this morning, bright and early?"
"I over slept. It will never happen again."
"Oh, I know it will never happen again. If you ever do this again, do not bother to come in. You have one hour to get your ass in here." Ana hung up the phone. "Danya, I will be in Mr. Grey's office if I am needed."
Ana could not keep her mind on the associates meeting with Carrick and two of the senior associates. Her mind drifted to the memory of Christian telling his father that he wanted her. He said he sent security to protect her and Staci. Why was he worried about their security? Unless…he knows about Staci … about Amanda… Fuck! She felt her chest tighten as she tried to catch her breath. He knows! It took all of Ana's strength not to break down and fall to pieces in front of her colleagues. She fought the panic attack that was threatening her. Just a few more moments and this meeting will adjourn. When Carrick excused them, she ran back to her office to find Mia waiting for her.
"Mia, you need to go to HR and get your paperwork finished and pick up your security credentials. Danya will show you the way. I have to run a personal errand." She found her purse, phone and stepped out of her office with Mia following. Ana motioned to the newly placed desk to her right. "This will be your desk, Miss Grey. I don't mind personal items but let's not be too messy. You will need to be organized and able to provide me information when I need it. Understand?"
"Yes, Miss Steele."
"Alright, I will see you later." Ana turned to Danya. "Make sure I have my afternoon clear and get me an appointment with Mr. Carrick Grey." She turned to Mia. "Watch and learn, this is what you will be doing while Danya moves into a new position as my paralegal."
"Thank you, Miss Steele." Danya said happily shocked by this turn of events.
Ana sat in a leather chair across from Carrick with a large envelope of papers before her. She was extremely nervous. "I thank you for seeing me on short notice."
"Ana, is this about last night?" He was very concerned.
"It is tied into it." She opened the envelope and withdrew the papers. "This is very uncomfortable for me to bring this to you, but I need your advice and help. You know how I got Staci. Her mother, Amanda was my best friend and I loved her like a sister. When Carla took me away, Amanda and I lost touch and by the time you and Dad found me and brought me back from Texas, Amanda was gone. I never knew that Amanda had a child but when I learned that Amanda made me Staci's guardian in case of her death, I knew I had to keep her. I couldn't let go of the last piece of Amanda. I love Staci so much. I can't lose her."
"Why do you think you will lose her? If I remember correctly there was no father listed on the birth certificate."
"I think he knows." She took a deep breath and found her courage. She could not chicken out now. "Carrick, you and Grace adopted three children and you love them unconditionally as if they were your natural children. I feel the same way about Staci." She bit her lip as she considered her next words that would change all their lives. "Amanda was involved with someone, a very wealthy man who has very dark tastes within his relationships. Carrick, do you know anything about the BDSM lifestyle?"
"I am well versed because of certain clients…I don't understand it, but I know about it."
"Amanda was involved with a man in such a relationship. From what I have learned through these papers, she became his submissive in a contractual relationship. They were only together for a short time, but when she told him that she was in love with him, he terminated the contract and sent her away. He never knew from what Amanda writes that she was pregnant."
"What makes you think that this man knows? Has he contacted you?"
"Carrick, this is the hardest thing to tell you. It's Christian. He was in a relationship with Amanda and I believe he is Staci's biological father. I, also believe that he knows and that's why he has been sending gifts to me and Staci."
Carrick took the papers that Ana offered him and looked through them quickly. His face drained of all color when he saw the contract with Amanda and Christian's signatures and her NDA. "Oh, god." He moaned as he sat back. He had to absorb all this information. "Ana." He didn't know what else to say. His son was a Dominant and he may have fathered a child. "What makes you think that he knows?"
"I don't, but it would explain why he has sent all those gifts for Staci and me, and he has been following me. He knows too much about me and we have only met once before last night. I've seen him watching me and the other night he was watching me with Staci at the Winter Wonderland." She felt her heart racing. "Maybe Amanda told him something about me. I to tell you the truth, I don't care, I just won't give up my daughter. Staci's mine."
"The adoption is final, Ana." Carrick said lowly. "Even if he does know, it's too late."
"Not for someone like your son. Christian is used to getting what he wants. He has enough money and power to have the adoption overturned." She stood up. "Listen, I know he is your son and you love him, but he can't be a parent to Staci like I am. He has a lifestyle that does not go well with childrearing."
"Ana, I'm going to keep these…if you don't mind. I will have a talk with Christian and try to find out if he does know anything. He could be interested in you for other reasons than Staci."
"Even if he was, do you honestly think I would participate in such a relationship?"
Carrick shook his head. "No, I don't think that you would." His eyes were full of unshed tears. He didn't understand why his son would be in this kind of lifestyle. "Ana, I won't let you lose Staci."
"Carrick, I love her so much. She's all that I got left of Amanda." She pushed a wayward curl from her face. "If he does know, what do you think he will do? And, what about my job here at Grey? Will I lose my job because of this?"
"You have nothing to fear, Ana. Your job is secure here." He smiled tenderly at her. He would never let her go over this matter. She was too good of a lawyer and he too much invested in her. Ana was more than just a gifted young woman…she was his biological daughter!