A/N: Thanks to MrsCTGrey and Muah to Peace1000. You girls rock.

To the 100 people who favourited my story: Wow. I feel thrilled and humbled at the same time. Thank you.

To LoveYourStyle: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. You wanted to know if I knew 'this BAND' in real life? No, my dear, not the one in my story. However, the one I do know in real life is just as kick-ass. :-D

LuvFiftyShades: Tantra is far more intense in practice than anything else I have known. However, it is more calming and hence some readers who want to see passion may not admire it. I am glad you do. :-)

Shwede and Anga Larte (angie): A bit more needs to happen before Saturday. Do bear with me as I tell you about it in this chapter.

Christian618: I think so too.

Pookiebear3: Yup, it's interesting, isn't it?

FoggyNights: Thank you

EL0306: I really enjoyed reading your review. He's a sly one, isn't he? ;-) We already know some one from CG's team is digging Ana's past. Question is, how will she react when she find out. What do you think will happen?

Dseiladmnd: You are absolutely right. However, trust is a big issue for some one with Ana's history of an attempted rape by someone really close, and then a heartbreak from someone she finally opened her heart to. Let's see how it develops.

thearistocrat: Glad you found his goof-up 'human'. :-)

Rachel: Love, sign up so you can get updates. I posted the story about three months ago and in the twelve weeks, I have posted 23 chapters (this is 24th). Believe me, writing a chapter a week while managing a host of real-life things aint easy. I'm so sorry you had to read it all again but also glad you enjoyed it all over again. If you sign up and follow the story, you will get links in your email every time I update the story. Think about it. Else, try checking over weekends. I will strive to post every weekend from now on. Thank you for your heart-warming words.

1962: Yup, high time she got back to her friends. About Christian digging her past, 'wait for her reaction' is all I can tell you if I don't want to spoil it for you.

CMA:All past disclaimers apply.

Chapter 24.

Ana's POV

What the hell was that? I can't believe I was behaving like a teenager who thinks she is love-struck. This was ridiculous. I cannot allow myself to behave like this.

First a damsel in distress and now a lovestruck teenager. Way to make an impression, Witch.

Shut up. Couldn't you have nudged me when I was behaving absurdly? Now you want to take a dig at me?

I did nudge you. If not, you would still be holding the silent line, embarrassing me further.

The music from 'I'll be there for you' by the The Rembrandts rings on my phone, bringing a smile on my face. Kaanshi. It's always nice to get her calls.

"Hey babes."

"Get your ass here. I'm waiting for my paneer and parathas at Escala."

"Yes, Ma'am" I say to the now disconnected line and then call Luke.

"Get the car" I say and disconnect.

XXX

"So, what did you two discuss on your flight?" I can't resist asking her after she has relishingly finished her favorite food and we are settled in my large white living room.

"This and that."

"Kaanshi, stop playing around and tell me."

"First accept that you have some feelings for him."

"Of course I have some feelings for him. He went out of his way and helped me find mom. He proved to be a good friend. A very good friend… " And your Tantric partner.

"What are you not telling me, girl?"

"Nothing." I grimace and remove an imaginary lint from my trouser. She can read you.

"I will let it pass. For now. Of course, I will expect full disclosure after I tell you about our in-flight discussions."

"Okay" I sigh, knowing she will wriggle it out of me before the end of the day, which isn't many hours away now. Might as well accept the inevitable.

"So, I reached the airport and there was your guy looking all hunky. I'm sure he works out religiously and has managed to keep himself fit, despite what I think must be really long hours at work.

"You were right about him. Based on my research, he does seem to be richer than you, although amongst independent women, my research proved you to be possibly the richest woman on this coast. He seems to have a penchant for hostile takeovers and that is something that bothers me. For one, I don't want him to consider you or your business as something to be acquired. That is the one big question in my head that is making me really skeptical of him. He has charms galore and he doesn't refrain from using them to his advantage." She takes a pause here reflecting on what she has just told me.

Perhaps she wants you to reflect on what she has just told you. After all, it's true. He has charms and he uses them all to his advantage. The big question is, is he using it deceitfully on you?

I'm surprised TheBitch is questioning Grey. She has tried on every opportunity to push me towards him. Well, maybe she has realized she made a mistake when pushing me towards Gideon and is now being cautious. In any case, I do need to think of all the charms Grey is using and the whys of it. It needs more time to process and for now, I need to gather more information from Kaanshi. I look at her to show her I'm ready for her to go on.

"The flight itself wasn't very long, but we got delayed at the airport. Some issue with the runway. Which is why we had ample time to talk.

"It started with the general talk about flights and as always, I couldn't help pointing out the carbon footprints we leave every time we fly. That led to a discussion about why carpooling is a great idea. We did get into an argument over why it does not work and I must say the guy has great logical thinking. Some of the points he put across were simple but very real. We spent a fair amount of time discussing the solutions and the hurdles to those solutions. He listened to me carefully and when he did put his point across, he was very articulate with it. It made me think of you. You have the same trait, you know.

"Anyway, back to the in-flight conversation. We spoke a bit about my work but that was very brief. I didn't want to bore him with the technical details and I could sense that he was getting anxious to talk about you."

"What did you tell him about me?" I sit up anxiously, my spine rod straight.

"Relax, geez. You are behaving as if I would rat on you. I told him that you were a fantastic person with a brilliant mind and an awesome heart, which is true, by the way. I also told him to take care of you. I might have mentioned, very softly and politely but firmly, that if he ever hurt that beautiful heart of yours, I would surgically take out his balls, mince them, marinate them in Indian spices and shove them right down his throat."

"You did not!" I say aghast.

"Of course I did. I know he's charming you through and through and I will be more than happy for you to find true love, but I also know that you have safeguarded your heart for a very long time now. If he succeeds in sweeping you off your feet only to cheat on you or to break your heart in anyway...well lets just say, he needs to know that it won't be easy on him either."

I honestly have no idea what to say to her. I love her for caring for me like this. She's all mother hen when it comes to my well being and me. Who'd believe that she's otherwise a docile but genius nerd who cares for the environment and is driven by her love for her research work? I just shake my head and try to switch to some other topic. No point over thinking something she has already done. That reminds me, "Did you also tell him that I tend to overthink things?"

"Don't you?"

"Don't try to deflect. What made you say that to him?"

"For one, you do tend to overthink things. In any case we were talking about you. He mentioned you had come up with some brilliant business proposition. He said was thinking about it since he was concerned there were a few points where you had thought of some really micro things too. He was worried that you might try to micromanage things after the collaboration. I told him you would never do that and that you just tend to overthink things and hence that must've come out in the discussion. I thought I was doing you a favor by eradicating his doubt" she says with a frown. Uh-oh. I got it all wrong. I thought she was bitching about me overthinking things while here she was, helping me out.

"Sorry. He just mentioned today that you were right about me overthinking things and I simply got pissed. I hadn't realized there was a context to it and so…" I shrug.

"Yes, I figured. So, your turn now. Tell me what's up with you and him. Is this deal for real? What does it mean for you in layman terms, please. Oh, and do you speak to him everyday."

"Slow down. You are barreling all your questions in one go. Let me answer them, at least."

"Go on. I'm not stopping you" she smirks.

"Okay, so first of all the deal... Basically, I'm trying to collaborate with his online business to take SIP to the next level. I want to get into e-books and e-library and he has the platform. So it'll be a win-win situation for us. Basically means more revenues and more profit without any major investments.

"Do I speak to him everyday… Well, it's just Thursday today. I landed a few hours after you but it was around midnight and he came to pick me from the airport. There were too many paps and I almost fainted on him." Gasp!

"He carried me to his car…"

"Oh how romantic…"

"Do you really want to hear the whole thing or not?" I ask, frustrated about her interruptions.

She just gestures with her hand for me to go on and I give her all the details telling her about how he wants to try Tantra with me and how I did energy flow ritual/ meditation with him.

"Oh wow. That sounds so beautiful. I have to do this with Chad and you must teach me more as you learn, alright?"

"You mean you are okay about this?" I ask, surprised. I thought she might not want me to get into it.

"Girl, I didn't stop you from your BDSM lifestyle, though I didn't agree with it. This Tantra, and more importantly Christian, is your chance at happiness. There is no way I will not be okay with this, though if he tries to hurt you…"

"...You will surgically take out his balls, mince them, marinate them in Indian spices and shove them right down his throat. I know, I know." I grimace as I imagine the act and then smile at my mother hen.

"You and he better believe that I shall do it." The threat and the care is very really in her voice.

"I know, love. Thank you for caring so much about me. I know you were never comfortable about my BDSM lifestyle. So here's one more newsflash for you. I gave up my lifestyle. I ended my contract with Gary and there will be no more subs."

"Really? Wow. I'm so happy to hear that." I can feel the joy in her voice. She's practically jumping on the sofa. I don't know how to tell her I'm meeting the BAND. Maybe now is not a good time.

Suddenly she's looking at me with narrowed eyes and staring as if trying to read the truth on my face. Ah might as well tell her.

"I'm meeting the BAND on Saturday."

"Why?" just one word, said impassively, that makes me feel like a student about to be punished by her principal.

"Kaanshi…" I take in a deep breath and continue. I don't want to hurt her feelings but she needs to know. "... I realized you were the only friend I was still in touch with and that was all because of your efforts. I needed to get my friends back in my life. So I figured I would contact them. I had bumped into DJ at the gala so I called her. She will be in town on Saturday and we agreed to meet. I also called Peaches and Angel and they agreed to join us though Angel may not be able to come. She also mentioned that someone was asking her about knowing me. I have alarm bells ringing in my head and I want to make sure things don't get out of hand. So it's basically meeting them is killing two birds with one stone."

"You mean someone's digging your past and you are meeting the past to ensure they can't dig it? Something here doesn't make sense to me. Aren't you taking a very risky step? Please don't get me wrong. I'm glad you are finally getting out of your recluse world and meeting up with friends. I'm secure enough in our friendship not to get jealous of your other friends. I'm just concerned that this might not be a good time to meet the girls."

"Which is why I'm meeting them at the Mile High Club. Christian owns it and he has assured me that it will be safe since it has a 'members and their guests only' policy. In fact he's taking me there for lunch and will stay with me till I meet up with the girls. That way, even if there are paps around, they will only see me going in with him around lunchtime. I will ask the girls to leave a few minutes before or after I do. No reason for us to be associated."

"I'm still skeptical of this, but if you think it's safe, I will believe you. Just promise me you will be careful."

"I will, I promise."

"Good. Now I better get home to my better half and see how your Tantra ritual feels. I will see you around."

"Good luck and tell me what you felt after that."

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't," she says with a wink as she steps into the elevator.

I hope she doesn't share all the details, TheBitch says emphasizing 'all'. I know she won't.

A/N2: I look forward to your feedback. You could check out a few pics on pinterest dot com/overthebrink/anas-shades/