This is a short chapter. I struggled a bit with it. Longer chapters are ahead. I promise. Thank to EVERY ONE who posted a review. Y'all know how to make a girl feel special.

Chapter 2 – Thanksgiving Day

Thursday November 28th, 2019.

CPOV:

I haven't slept a wink all night. I can't stop thinking about her; she's taken a hold of me. Her voice echoes in my mind, she's like the Pied Piper and I'd fucking follow her off a cliff at this point. I close my eyes and I see her. I open them and I day dream of her. This is not normal. I need to get a hold of myself. Christian Grey does not lose focus. Christian Grey does not lose control.

I am tempted to call Welch and get all the information I can on her but that would be such a shitty move on my part given it's thanksgiving. Fuck, Flynn would kill to know this I know. Fucker, I know he means well but he's sometimes such a smug bastard... I cannot deal right now. I wonder what she's doing.

My phone pings.

EL: Christian darling, Happy Thanksgiving. I have a few new prospects for you to interview. How does Monday 2pm sound?

Ugh, fuck off Elena.

CG: Not interested. Busy for the next few weeks. Traveling etc. Will circle back if needed.

EL: Are you sure?

CG: Yes. Drop it.

Visions of Anastasia in my playroom start to fill my brain. Her porcelain skin a beautiful shade of pink baring the mark of my hands. God she'd be magnificent in there. I imagine her all trussed up and hanging her from the grid above as I fucked her perfect body till she screamed my name. She'd be sight to behold. God I need her. But first I need a cold shower to get rid of this erection.

APOV:

I'm determined to finish this season of Schitt's Creek before I leave, anything to keep my mind off being alone on Thanksgiving and off of Christian Grey. I've been packed since Tuesday night, ready to leave. Thankfully Kate agreed to take one of my bags and save me the expense of paying extra for checked luggage. She's a Godsend in my life. I'm so happy she's going to be at the wedding. She and K-apa got really close when she'd visit during my college years which means Kate is now a bridesmaid in the wedding and we've been learning all the choreographed dances for the wedding festivities. We are going to crush the guy's side at the Sangeet.

Ana's backstory:

Ana's father died shortly before she was born. Her mother Carla and her biological father were not married. Carla met Raymond Steele in Montesano and they got married and lived together for a few years till the marriage fell apart. Ana was only 7 the time. Carla married husband #2, whose name we will not say just like a certain Harry Potter character. Marriage #2 didn't last more than a year. Husband #3, Bob came into the picture around when Ana was 17 and now Carla has been married happily and seemingly is stable with Bob for the past 6 years.

When Carla and Ray got married, Ray sought to legally adopt Anastasia and during the brief and tumultuous time with husband #2, Ana begged Carla to let her live with Ray. The authorities got involved and eventually Ana was allowed to live with Ray.

When Ana was about 10, Ray met a beautiful Indian Kashmiri woman Nita. They got married and Nita embraced Ana as her own. Nita came from a wealthy industrialist family back in India that had settled in San Francisco in the 80's. Nita's family embraced Ana and brought her up as their own. As a result Ana speaks fluent Hindi and Urdu and even though she may not share an ounce of blood with them, they are her family. Ana is extremely close to Nita's mother and father who she calls Nani and Nana and Nita's sister, Alia Khala (khala meaning mother's sister or sister like friend). Kiran aka K-apa (apa means older sister) is Alia Khala's daughter and took Ana under her wing while growing up. Ana owes her life to the family for getting her through some incredibly tough times. While Nita came from money, she lived and made her own money and along with Ray they both lived a modest life raising Ana as their own.

At 17, Ana and Ray got into a horrible car accident, Ray died instantly and Ana suffered critical injuries. It took her almost two years to recuperate and she is still emotionally scarred. She still bears physical scars on her lower back and left thigh. Her relationship with her Carla is civil at best. They barely see each other. The accident caused Ana to defer college for almost 3 years till she fully recovered in Nita and her family's care. She still suffers from PTSD and depression. Thankfully she met Kate at WSU who also took her under her wing and she has a foolproof support system. She is cherished and the light of their lives. She's gone through extreme self-esteem issues, from being overweight for most of life and not feeling pretty. Always feeling average an unremarkable. It wasn't until her accident and then college that she lost weight and got in a slightly better mindset but even so she remained closed off to most.

Her cousin Kiran is marrying Daniel, they met during their college years when Kiran would go to visit her brother Vishaal at Harvard and have been dating for forever. Kiran's family is in the hospitality and real estate business while Daniel and his family are high profile lawyers, they are big players on the social scene but the guest is limited to 250 people. This is a huge feat considering it's an Indian wedding. It'll be a mix of both Indian and American cultures.

Itinerary:

Friday morning: guests arrive in Big Sur and check in. The entire resort has been booked out for the wedding festivities and to insure privacy to all the high profile attending.

Friday afternoon 3pm: Introductory lunch/dinner/cocktails with the bride and groom's closest loved ones followed by a low-key musical night with games for both sides of the family and friends to get to know each other.

Saturday: Late afternoon American wedding ceremony followed by reception with extended guest list.

Sunday: Indian wedding ceremony in the early afternoon + Sangeet (night of dancing and indian traditions) at night with extended guest list.

Monday: Send off brunch.

APOV:

KK: Steele, I just got to Big Sur and I miss you.

AS: I miss you too and everyone, so jealous. What's happening send me pictures! How is nani?

KK: She's adorable, can't wait to see you. I saw the clothes Kiran and Nani got made for you... you're gonna be the bombest MOH ever. Also I love love my indian clothes, I feel like a fucking princess.

AS: You're gonna look like a Princess I know it. Definitely going to turn a certain best man's head. Did you guys get your henna done?

KK: You think? I am so ready to jump him the next time I see him and yeah I'm about to get henna done in a bit.

AS: Jelly. I really want to get it done but I don't know how it will look once I come back to work. I don't want it to cause an issue.

KK: fuck GEH, that's an HR violation if they bring it up. This is part of your family and culture if you want to take part in it then you should. Let me know if they do say anything, I'll write a spicy expose ;)

AS: Haha this is why I love you..

KK: You know I always got your back Steele.

AS: Steele & Kavanagh forever 3

God, I can't wait to get to Big Sur.

CPOV

MG: Christian, can you get here already? Elliot is here and I miss your face.

CG: I'll be there soon Mia. What did you cook for today?

MG: It's a surprise. Tried something new, I hope you'll like it.

CG: I'm sure it'll be great; you're a wizard in the kitchen. Need me to bring anything?

MG: And risk you getting lost in the grocery store? No thanks, we're good.

CG: Okay, I'll see you soon.

I arrive at the house and Grace has gone to town with the Thanksgiving dinner. My mind keeps drifting off to Anastasia. Wondering what she's doing; if she's alone or not? Fuck, maybe she has a boyfriend. I didn't even consider the thought of that. Man up, Grey. She's your employee. You don't fuck the female employees; do not break your rules.

Grace brings me out of my reverie, "Christian, is everything okay dear? You've barely touched your food."

"I'm good mom, just a little distracted, a lot going on at work."

"Okay, well eat up, no good work happens on an empty stomach."

The room is filled with chatter, Mia dominating most of the conversation while Elliot mercilessly teases her. We discuss the flight details to for the trip this weekend over dessert and soon settle down in the family room with wine to relax. Every family gathering is like this. I tend to speak only when I'm spoken to, I have nothing to say. I don't have much of a life outside of work. I work, I workout, I fuck a submissive on the weekend or I'll fly or sail when I get the time. There's only so much conversation that can generate. Dad and I talk about general business stuff and politics here and there but on the whole I have nothing to add to these conversations. Mia is the only one to coax anything out of me. She's the light of my life. I thank a higher power, if it even exists, that Grace saved me and then brought Mia into my life but honestly, sometimes I wish she'd shut up.

The family talks about Scooter's wedding this coming weekend. We grew up with him, he's a decent kid, and we're both the same age and ended up dorming together during my short time at Harvard. He's getting married and while I was asked to be part of the bridal party, I offered to be standby should anyone drop out. Mom and Dad have known Scooter's parents since college, they're best friends so it was either I somehow be part of the wedding or suffer Grace's wrath till the end of time. I tried my best to come up with an excuse to not go but I was afraid Grace would kill me in my sleep. Elliot and Mia are fully involved in the wedding and apparently it's the biggest fucking bridal party ever. 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen with me as #11 on standby, I mean who are all these people? Honestly, this is why I hate weddings, fucking waste of time.

I say my goodbyes and give everyone the call time to meet at Boeing. I start the journey back to Escala, it's not a long drive but this late at night it'll be a breeze. I turn on the radio and I realize that top 40 music is absolute shit. Just regurgitated crap. My mind drifts to the thought of Anastasia, sitting next to me as we drive through the night as she softly sings to me, smiling and her deep blue eyes twinkling. I shake my head. No, that's more. I don't want more.

A Post Malone song comes on. Someone I don't entirely hate. The thought makes me chuckle. The song plays on.

I wan't you out of my head

I want you my out my bedroom tonight

There's no way I can save you (save you)

'Cause I need to be saved, too.

I'm not good at goodbyes.

Goodbyes (feat. Yung Thug) - Post Malone.

I need her out of my head. These thoughts are futile. I am not worthy of more.

Authors Note: What did you think? I have to say that this story will be 90% CPOV. It's very focused on Ana's story and trauma and how she herself overcomes it all. Christian goes through an emotional journey with her and realizes how much he really doens't know about life. I'm from an Indian family myself and live on the East Coast and have used some of my personal experiences to inform the story.

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