Okay so, this morning was a little sad. I woke up to several private messages and comments hurling abuse at me. In fact if you go into reviews you will see a certain reviewer who's basically accused me of being a terrorist and spreading the virus and belonging to a fundamentalist islamic group. Who knew that FANFICTION... that's right a FICTICIOUS story could rile up people? I mean Jesus H. Christ, this story isn't real. Is it inspired by some real life events and situations, yeah sure but in this isolated little world on the internet... IT IS NOT REAL.
This story will not be used to by think tanks to help write or influence policy. It will not be read at the UN general assembly to influence diplomacy.
Vishaal and Akash being the villans in this story is not indicative of every Indian man, of every Hindu or Muslim man or of every man on the planet. PERIOD. It is just indicative of who the characters are themselves. If I was going to bash an entire religion or country I would have made everyone in the kapadia family the villain but they are not. All I'm trying to tell you is that FAMILY IS COMPLICATED. And yes political histories can sometimes influence that.
My mother's grandfather was a Kashmiri sikh with no ties to royalty. He converted to Islam and moved Delhi before the partition of the sub-continent. I used that example for Nana's story.
Aashu converting to Islam isn't indicative of the fact that she as bashing what she grew up with. She just said that she didn't feel so strongly about those values she grew up with. She's a grown ass woman making an informed decision. Just like my bestfriend who was Sikh and converted to Islam to marry her boyfriend. Was there family drama, did her father lose his shit? You best believe he did but they EVENTUALLY realized that their kids were grown and had the right to make their decisions for their happiness. Again, LIFE AND FAMILY IS COMPLICATED.
Religion conversion happens all the time in the south Asian community, and nowadays it's usually by free will unless we're talking about the boonies. It's a reality. If you don't like it then don't read it. I have two friends who are ex-muslim. One decided to be come atheist and the other converted to Buddhism in their early 20's. Life is complicated and complex and it what makes it beautiful and difficult.
Again, let me reiterate, this is A FANFICITON STORY. If I was going to bash a country and an entire people I would've not dedicated a million chapters to Kiran's wedding. I wouldn't have taken the time to explain both the beautiful traditions in south Asian culture and the problematic issues. No country, religion or culture is without fault and blame.
If your main problem is with how I wrote about Kashmir and how they want independence then open up any major news publication and read what they are saying... it'll answer your questions. Half of my mother's maternal family on her mothers side is still in Kashmir and it's not pretty. Real shit is going down there for them. If you don't agree with their reality sitting in your comfortable little bed, reading this fanfiction then you know what... I don't care about your hurt ego.
I was born and raised in America. Is it perfect here? HELL NO. If you cannot look at your surroundings or your country and people with a critical eye then I cannot help you. You can still love your people and your country and STILL question its history and motives.
If you do not like this story, please stop reading it. There are so many stories on here that are relationship inappropriate and age inappropriate, talk of lack of consent and all the shit that could make your skin crawl... when I stumble upon something I don't like on here, I STOP reading it because a) it's not real and b) it's none of my business because... IT'S FANFICITON.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
You have no idea how this story is about to progress. Nita's background is about to come up that involves a Pakistani family. After you read that, what's next, I will get berated by pakistanis for making Pakistani people seem juvenile? NO, a small group of people cannot be used as the standard to measure an entire country's population.
Just because you haven't experienced trauma or a family history that is complex and frustrating does not mean it invalidates my history and experiences. It just goes to show that you haven't met every person in the world and have not been exposed to other people's circumstances. The world is really big and the problems some people have are beyond your comprehension.
If a fanfiction story is riling you up and making you hide behind a pseudonym or guest reviews... then you really need to revaluate your priorities.
I have turn on moderation for Guest reviews and will reporting comments that are abusive.
AGAIN. THIS STORY IS NOT REAL AND IT'S FICITION. CHILL THE EFF OUT.
Chapter 37 – Ladies and Gentlemen who lunch.
Sunday, February 9th, 2020
"Hi Elliot!" Ana says shyly. She washes her hands and dries them and grabs a plate with a few extra cookies and pours two glasses of milk and places them in front of us.
"Eat up boys!" She laughs. It's so adorable, Elliot and I take our seats on the bar stools by the counter and Ana moves her cookie making tools to the counter across from us so she can face us.
"Christian, this one is a keeper! Please keep her." Elliot laughs.
"I'm trying man!" I chuckle and Ana laughs.
"So Elliot, what's up?" Ana asks as she continues to work on the cookie dough.
"First of all, sorry for coming by unannounced, I kinda needed advice." Elliot quietly asks. Ana looks up with concern.
"Um, so... I was going to ask Kate to marry me and well I need some help." He looks to Ana with a small smile. I look to Ana and tears start falling from her eye and she bolts towards Elliot and hugs him.
"I'm so happy for you Elliot. You and Kate are amazing together." She's fully crying and I pat his back.
"Damn Steele, really hitting me in the feels here, first the cookies now the hug and tears." His voice is strained. She laughs and takes a few steps back and wipes tears using the back of her hands.
"No I'm just so happy, you guys are perfect together. Why do you need help, just ask her."
"Well, I want it to be perfect and you know her best, I was hoping you'd create a cheat sheet for me." Elliot shyly asks.
"Cheat sheet? Bro, I GOT YOU. Have you picked out a ring? Because Katherine Victoria Kavanagh is particular as fuck about the ring she wants on her finger." Ana laughs.
"Oh I know how particular she can be, so that's why I need your help Steele. What does she like, I can't exactly ask her." The poor fucker is so lost.
"Take our your phone and google the following: Tiffany Soleste Pear Engagement Ring... she loves that ring minus the diamonds set in the band. It doesn't have to be from Tiffany's it just has to look like that, again MINUS the diamonds set in the band, that's an important detail. Oh and her ring size is 6, we both share rings all the time so that's how I know." She laughs.
"Damn Steele, thanks you're saving my life." Elliot takes a huge breath. I also find this particularly enlightening for myself.
"When are you thinking of asking her?" Ana asks.
"I wan thinking maybe next month? On her birth.."
"DO NOT SAY BIRTHDAY, GREY!" Ana raises her voice. I have to laugh but also, holy fuck she is scary.
"Shit ... why not?" Elliot looks lost again.
"Cause that shit is annoying as fuck. No grown ass woman wants to be asked that shit on their birthday. Your birthday should always be your own day. No sharing. You can definitely ask her over the weekend I guess, but not on that day. Kate will kill you and then I will kill you again to make sure you're dead." Ana is serious.
Elliot looks to me "Uh dude, this one is fucking scary."
I quietly nod. "You have no idea Lelliot, you have no fucking idea."
"Where are you going to propose to her? Are you going away or are you going to ask her in Seattle?" Ana changes track.
"I'm actually not sure how to do this. Maybe my apartment?"
"Okay good, don't propose to her in public because she will say no just to make your life miserable, she hates that shit. Is your apartment clean? If not, get that entire place cleaned professionally, cause last time I was there I saw some dust mites. Just keeping it real, bro. Get some nice candles, I'll text you her favorite kind, you can cook if you want to but it's better to maybe get it made, it's one less thing to worry about. Wine and dine her like the Queen she is. You will also need some floral arrangements, I will put you in touch with a florist. And for god's sake write out what you intend to say and memorize it, or at least the essence of it, I can help with you that if you want but don't talk off the cuff the day of if you have trouble expressing yourself." Ana says as she walks away to put in the remaining batch of cookies and sets the timer.
Elliot looks to me "Good luck proposing to this one." I swallow, I kind of already did but now I'm realizing that I need to step up my game.
Ana makes it back in time to hear what Elliot says and interjects "He'll be fine, I already told him I'm not into proposal gestures like that, I'm letting him off the hook easy." She laughs. "By the way, did you ask her dad for his blessing."
"Not yet, but I will..." Elliot responds but I hear the nerves.
"Good, cause you don't want him to take out his shotgun."
"He better not have a fucking shotgun" I grumble.
"No I mean... sorry, every father has a shotgun equivalent. Eamon has the press and therefore an expose, your dad has restraining order and lawsuits and my dad... well god bless his soul, he had a real shotgun with a git off my lawn speech, so Christian, honey... you are safe but I can't promise what shotguns my cousins will have." She winks at us and laughs out loud.
We all join her. Fuck, I don't even want to think how I would've survived meeting Raymond Steele.
Elliot laughs out loud. "Steele, you're a fucking godsend, thanks so much. I was hoping to throw a surprise party for her the next day at Mom and Dad's."
"I LOVE SURPRISE PARTIES. Throwing them... not being on the receiving end of them. Please say there will be dancing!"
"Oh... so you're that kind of human. The no fun kind" Elliot sneers.
"Shut up!" Ana whines.
"Of course there will be dancing, I mean, look at who you are talking to."
Elliot ends up staying for dinner and we order in turkish food. It's a blast, Ana just makes everyting so fucking effortless. They mostly talk while I randomly participate here and there, I just watch Ana and laugh. At one point they get up and act out a song by a guy named Pitbull, I am so lost but it's fucking hilarious. Ana can match anyone's vibe and make their inner child come out.
"Elliot, when did you know she was the one?" Ana asks as we pick up the dishes.
"I knew it in Cabo, I just was too chicken shit to approach her, I mean don't get me wrong, I'm smooth operator with the ladies but Kate scared the shit out of me but she's a force to be reckoned with. I see how she is with you... if she's like that for a friend then I know she'd move mountains for family.
"Yeah, she's a lifeline for me." She says with tears in her eyes."I'm so happy we're going to be family. I can't wait till you guys have babies!" Ana laughs.
"CHILL OUT STEELE, we've got a few years till that." Elliot laughs.
We head to the elevator to say goodbye to Elliot and I tell Ana I'll accompany him to his car and be right up.
"I'm happy for you Lelliot." I say as the elevator makes it's way down.
"Thanks bro... who would've thought... Elliot Samuel Grey, ladies man becoming a one lady man." Elliot laughs like a frat boy.
"Yeah, but I guess only a Kavanagh could tie you down." I smirk and Elliot laughs out loud.
"Look at you bro, Ana has turned you into a comedian."
I chuckle. "Yeah I guess, she did say I have decent one liners."
We walk to his car. "I sort of asked Ana to marry me too... last weekend."
Elliot's eyes almost fall out of his face. "AND? WELL? TELL ME?"
"She said yes but asked us to wait. She wants to go to therapy to work out shit out. Don't tell mom and dad yet, I just... well I wanted to tell you."
Elliots pulls me in for a hug. "Bro, I'm fucking proud of you. Look at us suckers. Grey men, the unattainable... fucking whipped and shit... oohhhh wait... but you like that." Elliot raises his eyebrows.
I laugh. "Fuck off Lelliot."
"You know, there's one thing I didn't mention to Ana about my knowing about Kate being the one."
"What?"
"You can't tell her, it's nothing bad but it's important to help you understand the level of love Kate has for Ana, I know she can be extremely in your face but it all comes from a place of wanting to protect those you love, you both have that quality...so you know that they met in college right? Kate was two years ahead and when it came time for her to graduate, Kate was supposed to move to Seattle and start to learn to take over for her dad but after everything with Ana she told her dad she wanted to stay in Portland and do her Masters and work at a local newspaper for a bit to gain experience. She didn't have to do that but she did because Ana meant so much to her. She put her life on hold. Who the fuck does that? Like... I don't know it just fucking floored me you know. They really have each other's backs. Ana has been more of a mom to Kate than her own mom ever was. I don't now man... like that's fucking dedication bro. That kind of love... not everyone has the capacity to feel or give it. Kate says Ana taught her that." I see him overcome with emotion but he shakes his head. Fuck... this is intense. "Anyway... yeah, that's the woman I want by my side for life."
"I really am happy for you Lelliot. Good luck on the proposal."
"Oh yeah... thanks. Fuck, I can't mess this up... not looking forward to talking to Eamon though. Kate's his baby... fuck, if I ever have a daugher I might just never let her leave the house."
"You and me both, Lelliot." I laugh.
Monday, February 10th, 2020.
CPOV
We end a conference call when everyone gets up to leave from my office. Ros hangs back.
"So boss, how was your weekend?"
I roll my eyes. "It was good Ros, thank you for asking. I trust yours was good too."
"My my so polite and dare I say... personable." Ros says with mock surprise placing her hand on her chest and within a second falls back into her usual self. "Mine was good, I didn't get divorced so there's still hope."
I laugh. As hard as the pregnancy has been on Gwen it's also provided a little entertainment at the expense of Ros.
"What are you doing for lunch? Feel free to stop by my office, your lady wil be there." Ros wiggles her eyebrows.
"Fuck off, Ros." I try to stifle a grin.
"Jose and Val will be there too but it's easy to ignore them. I do it all the time." Ros laughs.
"Do you have lunch with them often?"
"Not really, once every two weeks, I try to block out a day here and there to relax and be a little normal. Helps keep the balance. We're on a group text too but it's mostly us just sending each other dirty memes."
"How did you get close with Jose."
"Well aside from the fact that gays stick together we found out that our moms went to the same high school in San Juan way back when. My mom moved to New York for college and his mom moved to California and they lost touch. When Jose got hired, I met him through Travis we started talking and then he once saw a picture of mom at the apartmen and he recognized her from some of the pictures his mom had... unfortunately his mom passed away about 10 years ago from cancer but when he met her it was like mom was in high school again, she told us stories and shit... it was cute. So yeah, Jose and I are close friends now, it helps me slow down a bit and not be a raging workaholic. It's great."
"Wow, that's... I didn't know that."
"Yeah well, hanging with mere mortals does have it's advantages." Ros sneers.
APOV
I send out my usual Monday cookie email and reply back to the winners to come pick up their boxes from my desk because I have lunch plans with my GEH gang. I love that we're able to include Ros too whenever her schedule allows it which usually happens very last minute and I'm ecsatic when it does.
I see Jose walk out of the kitchen and saunter towards me with that cat ate the canary face.
"Well, well... asexual we are no more." Jose whispers to me with a shit eating grin on his face.
"Shut the fuck up" I whisper back.
"Good weekend?" He bats his eyelashes.
"Very good, thank you for asking." I bat my eyelashes back.
"I hope you had a lot of protein, you've been looking a little weak there..."
"Fuck off Rodriguez."
"What, I've signed both NDA's now, you owe me details."
"I don't kiss and tell."
"Apparently you don't blow and tell either."
"I'm going to kill you." I whisper yell at him with clenched teeth.
"Oh come on... tell your girl. It's been a while since I heard a good story... tell me, are those buns as fresh as they look?" he bats his eyelashes again.
"Will you stop dong that. Everything is incredibly fresh, there... happy?" I say trying not to giggle like a school girl. Please leave me alone.
"Oooh girl, I see those cheeks flaming up. Looks like a lot of fresh stuff happened this weekend."
My mind wanders to this morning in the shower, on my knees... MUST. FOCUS.
I look up at Jose, trying to keep a straight face but I feel my lips tremble as I break into a smile making Jose laugh.
"Okay, listen. I'll stop annoying you but you have got to tell me SOMETHING. Tomorrow, dinner, my place... just us girls. And you can tell us all the other stuff too." Jose is all but pleading at this point.
"DEAL!"
"Good. What do you want to get for lunch?"
"Turkey avocado sandwich with spicy mayo?"
"Got it, I'll have it delivered and meet you in Ros's office."
"Cool, I'll meet you there."
I get back to work and slowly but surely all my cookie winners come through to pick up their prize.
CG: Ros invited me to lunch in her office with your little crew.
AS: Oh god, this feels like the twilight zone. Jose will lose his shit.
CG: As long as it's entertaining, I don't mind.
AS: I can't believe they know.
CG: Aren't you relieved?
AS: So relieved but also this means I'll be teased relentlessly.
CG: Consider it payback.
AS: I'll get my revenge, Mr. Grey. Just you wait.
CG: Miss Steele, you talk a big game.
AS: Mr. Grey... I think I've proven to be a worthy adversary, time and time again. I think you're a glutton for punishment at this point.
CG: Oh baby... those are dangerous words.
AS: Maybe, maybe not. We'll just have to see how YOU fare tonight ;)
CPOV
"Sir, are you available to meet for 10 minutes. I have some information I'd like to discuss with you regarding the recent background checks."
"I'm in my office. Come up. Andrea will let you through."
It's about fucking time. Our initial background check on Akash Rahman, didn't reveal much. All he did was party throughout his undergrad at Harvard and barely got through, has three restraining orders and 2 DUI's on his records but then gets into business school the same time as Vishaal and suddenly, he's a fucking choirboy too. He may not be getting any money from the deal with GEH but if has an ounce of a brain in that head of his, he's made the necessary arrangements to cater to his lifestyle of throwing money around. I look out the window trying to figure out how the fuck I can bury these assholes. I need to get them on something. Vishaal has had to have made mistakes. Think about it, Grey, you're not the only one thinking of how to protect yourself... if you've managed to keep everything you have and own and done under wraps... so can he.
"Sir. Thank you for meeting with me." Welch, walks in with Taylor.
"What's the latest and please tell me you have something good."
"Sir, we've been running through both of Vishaal and Akash's financials for the past 7 years. It appears that about 6 years ago they both started siphoning money off to offshore accounts in the amount of anywhere from $20-30 million a year to the Cayman Islands in addition to large amounts of cash withdrawals every year in the amount of close to $250,000. It started off at $100,000 5 years ago and has slowly increased to $250,000 as of last year. It's not that much given their net worth. On a separate note, Phoebe Richmond has been discharged from the psychiartic facility in San Jose on accounts of rehabilitation and good behavior after completing her 3 years. Leila Williams and Susannah Blake picked her up and have taken her as a roommate. They moved into a new apartment in downtown San Jose."
"What the fuck?"
"The building that they are living in is owned by a shell company, that was in turn owned by several other shell companies. We did a deep dive and found the parent company, Saphirars registered in the British Virgin Islands. We were able to locate a Swiss bank account but we are still looking to find the company owners."
"How are they paying rent?"
"We hacked in to the rental office system and it appears they are paying their rent in cash. I believe Miss Williams and Miss Blake have been contracted. They've been making small cash deposits of $7500 - 9000 a month, the amount varies. Everything is on cash."
"What about their acitivities? Who are they meeting?"
"Aside from the money, nothing has seemed suspect so far. Miss Williams has continued to teach art classes at the local community college after the death of her boyfriend and she goes to therapy. Miss Blake got a job at an upscale restaurant down there after leaving Seattle. Miss Williams works there too. We've checked their emails and phone logs. Nothing."
"How recent is all this?" This is so fucking frustrating.
"The move is recent as this past weekend. The deposits have been in effect since the first week of January."
"You think Akash and Vishaal are somehow connected."
"It's hard to say sir. They haven't met with them or been anywhere near their location. Nor have these women left San Jose, either since we started monitoring them again."
"I want more information on Saphirars. Do whatever you have to do. If it means hacking into KGI And AHAK to find even the tiniest breadcrumb, do it."
"Sir... we'll continue to dig but I will have to advise against hacking into KGI and AHAK... if we get caught it could be seen as an unprovoked attack."
FUCK. There has to be something.
"Welch, how secure are our servers?"
"Sir, no one's getting in and if they even try to, we'll catch them."
"Mr. Grey, it is very likely KGI and AHAK have the exact same safeguards that we do if not better and if those two are involved with Saphirars, chances are they've kept it far from the family business." Taylor pipes up.
He's right but I need to bury both of them in the ground.
"I want everything you can find on Saphirars and all the companies they own. What investements they're making. Everything. I want those fuckers monitored, where they go, who they meet. Activity reports. Anything seems suspect, I want to know immediately." I tell them.
"Yes sir. Vishaal hasn't returned to the US yet but as soon as their jet takes off we'll know the flight plan and monitor him."
"Where's Akash?"
"He's in New York staying with a friend. Jack Rothstein. All three were in business school together."
I nod. He better not step foot in Seattle. My patience is wearing thin. "Rothstein?" I ask, sounds familiar.
"Rothstein family, owner of Rothstein Group. Owner of several lucrative properties, majority in New York and their portfolio is spread across the world. Net worth $18 Billion as of 2019."
Interesting. "Do they own anything in Seattle? I want a ful report on them."
"Yes sir."
"How long has it been since Williams and Blake were last contracted?"
"According to they bank statements, not since you, Sir." That doesn't fucking help at all.
"Let me know what you find."
"Sir, if I may?" Taylor asks.
"Perhaps Miss Steele can help with gaining access, if she's close to someone in the family enough to have them do an internal investigation?"
"I'll look into it though but I highly doubt it." There's no way Ana would ruffle any feathers. And I don't know anyone in that family at all to make such a big ask.
They both leave and I try and take a deep breath. I need to meet with Flynn. I have other shit I need to discuss with him. This weekend was... intense... in a good way. Shairng that moment with Ana was spiritual but it's made me question things. Question my motives in the past. I can't let this distract me right now.
"Boss." I hear Ros through my office phone.
"Yeah?"
"Are you joining us for lunch?"
"Yeah, I'll be there in 5."
I go and pour myself a drink. It's 5pm somewhere. After a few minutes I walk out to Ros's office. I tell Andrea I'll be back in 45 minutes.
I take my on the conference table in Ros's office, while Jose and Val unpack the orders lunch for us. It's deli sandwiches of different kinds. We start to eat and talk a little bit about Lot 43 and the issues that Real Estate has been facing trying to close the deal.
"Hi guys!" Ana walks in smiling brightly holding what I am pretty sure is beet juice.
"Oh god, not again." Jose groans.
"Is that?" Ros begins.
"Yes it is." Ana states simply.
Do you have to?"
"I do."
"But why?" Ros whines.
"Because it's good for your health and puts color on cheeks, Rosalyn."
"You sounds like a Mom." Ros rolls her eyes.
"Trust me, when baby Bailey learns the word 'why?' you too will say stuff like this and sound like a Mom." Ana sneers.
Ana takes her seat next to me and gives me a sweet smile. "You wanna try?" She holds her drink to me.
"Mr. Grey as your counsel, I strongly advise you to not drink that shit." Jose grumbles making me laugh a little.
"Well, I would suggest opposing counsel to shut the fuck and eat his sandwich. Mr. Grey is a grown man and can do whatever he wants." Ana fires back and we all laugh.
I take a sip of her drink and it's actually really good. "That's not bad at all."
"SEE! I have brought another one to the dark side." She throws her fist in the air in victory. While everyone else at the table groans.
"Ohhhh by the way, I forgot to tell you, Jose. Sawyer isn't my cousin. He's my CPO."
"Well thank the Lord. He's too cute to be related to you."
"Leave him alone, he's a nice guy."
"No promises, hag."
Ana and Jose bicker half the time over trivial things. They talk about a tv show that I know nothing about and while I have nothing to contribute it still feels good to be a part of this. Every now and then she looks at me and gives me a sweet smile.
"So Ros, did you and Gwen decided on a name for Baby Bailey?" Ana asks.
"We've narrowed it down to three so far. Emilia, Emma and Sarah."
"They're beautiful. Emilia is my favorite." Ana smiles.
"Yeah, I like Emilia too." Val shares.
"These names are too white." Jose groans.
"Jose, everything is too white fo you." Ana snaps back.
"Watch yourself hag."
"Do you both ever not fight" I ask, thoroughly amused.
"Honestly, Mr. Grey, she started it. I was just a nice guy, trying to welcome her but she had to be all Miss Defensive... "
"Listen to me, they way you walked over to my desk and started asking me random questions without introducing yourself... what was I to expect. And also, I thought you were straight... which you can be very convincing at... I thought you being you know... every office has that guy who's overly friendly with the ladies and shit."
"Honey, the only thing I wanted were your shoes."
"Yes, you made that VERY clear after I shut you down and admit, you thought I was going to beat the shit out of you."
"Bullshit."
"It's okay Ana, he did the same to me." Val giggles.
"Please tell me this story."
"It was about 3 years ago, I hadn't seen him before so I figured he was new to the company and we had to meet in one of the conference rooms to go over some stuff for this deal we were working on and he kept staring at my clothes and I was like... what the fuck is your problem and he so sincerely says... I was just trying to figure out if your top is from Carolina Herrera's latest collection and I burst out laughing."
"It was a genuine question." Jose rolls his eyes.
We all laugh.
"No but seriously, I liked Val, I knew I wanted her as hag. I have an instinct about these things." Jose laughs.
"So how do you both like working here?" I ask.
They both look at me like I've grown two heads.
"Please be honest." I urge them.
Val clears her throat and begins. "I like it here. They first year was a bit lonely but I started to get into the groove of things and then in my second year I met Jose and it's great. I like the work I do. It's challenging and the benefits are good and I've finally settled in Seattle, it took a while but this place grew on me." Val ends with a shrug.
"Well, the fashion here is dreadful. Which why I only have two hags and Ros here is my King." Jose says matter of factly. And we all laugh. "but in all seriousness, it's just how corporate america is. I live for what I do. I wanted to work here and thanked my lucky stars when I got the job. No deal is ever the same and I love it. The thrill for me lies in the challenge. I know I may seem like I'm always joking around but I'm only like this with people I know and in safe spaces like right now. Out there, when I'm a lawyer for GEH, all this..." he points to himself. "It's all Clint Eastwood dealing with a bunch of punks."
Ana hands fly to her face to try and stop herself from laughing. I look to her laughing and she giggles.
"He's not lying. I've seen him in action. He's top notch. He's the like the Quarterback and Mr. Travis is the Coach." Ana says proudly and high fives him.
"Did you just allude to me as the Principal in this scenario again, Miss Steele?" I ask
She shrugs. "I mean if the shoe fits. Everything is like highschool anyway if you think about it." She laughs.
"Well I'm glad you like working here, thank you for all you've done for GEH."
Valerie smiles geniunely and nods.
"All in a day's work. That bonus better be in play though, I don't joke around about that shit." Jose sips on his coke.
We all laugh.
...
Ana and I get done with dinner and retreat to the couch with wine and tea. I love that this has become our tradition after a work day. We relax and talk, I never knew it could be like this. I didn't think that this existed.
She climbs on top of me and kisses me all over.
"I'm so happy you came to our little lunch today." She smiles down at
"I enjoyed myself, I haven't had a work lunch that made me laugh."
"I'm so happy to hear that. They're really amazing people. Watching them work is a thrill, they're so good at what they do and can be complete goofballs the next minute when we're alone. It's a great balance."
"I'm glad you've found a family at GEH."
"You're at the heart of that family now Mr. Grey." She smiles, running her hand through my hair and gives me a deep kiss.
We talk some more. "Grandpa Theo called today. He asked about you." I tell her.
"Hmm, that's funny, Grandma Margot called me today and she asked about you. She was pissed at Grandpa Theo." She laughs.
"I didn't know she had your number?"
She snorts. "Please, it was like one of the first things we did. Girl talk is essential at any age, Mr. Grey."
I have to laugh. "Miss Steele, should I be worried?"
"Nahhhh, we were just catching up. She was asking about you and she showed me her little garden that she's been tending to at your Uncle's place. She sends me pictures every now and then and I respond with the same. Grandpa Theo texts me every now and then too. Mostly tells me to smack you up the head if you annoy me. And we've made plans to go out on a cofee date when he visits again." She laughs.
"Sounds like him, he's such a flirt." I chuckle. "He'd smack both Elliot and I up the head when we would fight. It would shut us up for a hour or so till we found something else to fight about."
"Do you miss him?"
"Yeah, I haven't spent time with him in a while. I've been so busy with all this... "
"Well, when it gets warmer, let's plan a family trip or something or you can plan a boys trip and go rough it out or glamp it out in the wilderness."
"Glamp it out?"
"Oh yeah, glamping is like glamorous, luxurious camping with 3 ply, quilted toilet paper and all the amenities you could think of but just in the middle of nature."
I roll my eyes. "That sounds like something Mia would agree to."
She laughs out loud. "Mia and Kate both. If they had to rough it out in the wilderness... they'd scream the trees down and cause deforestation."
Her phone rings and she climbs off of me.
"It's Rania." She answers. "Hey Rani.. oh wait, is that my gremlin." I see Aria staring at the phone with her big brown eyes and a big smile.
"Aana Khala issshhhh gemlinnn." She cheers.
"I know I see her. Did you mama give you chocolate again?"
"LISTEN to me, I had a conference call with the Australian office and she wouldn't leave me be so I gave her some chocolate and turned on netflix for like, peace of mind. Trust me, when you have kids you'll do the same."
Ana laughs. "Okay, we'll see. So what's the problem?"
"She won't sleep. I gave her a bath and she started yapping your name like a duck. I've been trying to get her to sleep for the past half hour and she's not having it."
"Have you tried using your inside voice to hype her down?"
"How about I use my inside voice to tell you to shut the eff up." Rania sasses and Ana laughs.
"Okay, turn the phone to her." Aria's face comes into view and she claps. "Gremlin... how about we go to sleep." Ana fake yawns and tells her how tired she is and asks her to snuggle into bed and makes her say a prayer thanking God for the blue sky, the sun, the food she ate, her parents and asks for sleep and to wake up to another beautiful day tomorrow. It's really beautiful. She ends up with singing a lullaby about snowflakes and it's adorable. Aria sings along with her completely out of tune with hand gestures and I have to smle. Will our kids do the same?
Once Aria calms down a bit and agrees to stay in bed, Rania turns on her nightlight and says good night to her and walks out of her room.
"THANKS GIRL... "
"Anytime boo."
"So, how's mister one hunnid" She wiggles her eyebrows.
"Oh god. He's fine."
"Are you guys together, I want to see you guys. HI CHRISTIAN!" She yells.
Ana looks to me and rolls her eyes.
"Hi Rania, I've heard a lot about you." I say. Ana brings the phone and suddenly we're both in view.
"Of course you have, I'm like the best cousin in the family. Hold up, I need to get my sunglasses, I'm being blinded by all this beauty you guys are serving me with." Rania laughs. "Hi Christian, it's so good to meet you. You must come to SF with Aana the next time she visits." She says with warmth.
"Sure thing, we were talking about it yesterday, I guess when Nani comes back we'll visit then,"
"Perfect. I can't wait. Aana, definitely let me know when plans finalize."
"I will, apa."
I decide to tease Ana a little.
"Oh by the way, Rania..."
"Yeah?"
"Ana m'a dit que tu parlais français." Ana told me you speak french.
"OH HELL NO..." Ana yells. And Rania and I laugh.
"Pourquoi oui je le fais" Why yes I do. Rania replies laughing and Ana narrows her eyes at me.
"Tu sais ce que ça veut dire." You know what this means. I smirk.
"il est temps d'ennuyer Aana". Time to annoy Aana. She laughs.
"That's it. I'm ending this call." Ana threatens trying to stop her giggling.
"Oh please, this is a rite of passage, you teamed up with Raees against me, time for payback!" Rania laughs.
Ana and Rania talk for a little and then she ends the call.
"I see what you did there Mr. Grey."
"Miss Steele, I was just trying to get to know your family a little."
"A little, my ass." She sasses.
"So tell me, what did Rania call me?"
"She called you Mr. One Hunnid, as in Mr. 100." She rolls her eyes.
"Why?" I smirk.
She leans back into the sofa and covers her face trying not to laugh."Don't' worry it's all good."
I pull her hands from her face and she falls into uncontrollable laughter, face completely red in embarrassment. "okay, okay... wait... so, when I went to SF after the wedding and Rania came over to spend time with me and she was asking if I was happy with you and if you were sweet to me. You know all the big sister stuff and THENNNN she was like rate the dirty from 1-10! And I said between you and me, it's a solid 100... so now she calls you one hunnid."
"Is that so Miss Steele, such a generous rating?"
"Well yeah... unless you would like me amend it to bring it down to a more realistic number?"
"No... no, I agree with 100... though, I'm more than happy to help you show you what 200 looks like."I smirk.
"I think I got a glimpse of 200 this weekend." She giggles.
We get up and go to take a bath and relax some more.
"I spoke with Nita today." She shares.
"How was it?"
"It was okay, she told me about the Will reading. I asked her if she was happy with it. She said, she has always trusted in Nana's decision and wisdom."
"Has she ever questioned him?"
"Never. Her relationship with Nana was a lot like mine with Ray. She adored him and she was his baby you know." She says with a small voice. "Anything he's ever done was in what he thought was her best interest. Just like any parent does... "
"Did you share you concerns with her?"
"Nope, I wasn't asked and therefore I didn't share. I mean even if I was asked, I would've said that it is what it is you know. It's fine." She takes a deep breath.
I have so many questions I want to ask her but I don't want to bring her down.
"Are you looking forward to the Gala?" I ask, kissing her shoulder.
"Yeah. I mean, it'll be my first Gala." She giggles.
"What are you wearing?"
"I've been texting with Caroline since this morning. We decided on two dresses. We'll see."
"Can I see the options?"
"Nope. You will see on the day of." she says defiantly.
"Why?"
She shrugs. "Payback. Punishment." She giggles.
"Careful, Miss Steele, my palm is twitching."
"Careful Mr. Grey, I can outrun you, given your old age and all." She throws her head back giggling and I bite her neck. My playful girl is never far away.
Authors Note: This was a bit of a filler chapter. Waking up to the abuse threw me off for a bit. I hope you all are doing well. My head hurts from trying to keep up with the news and the grim and bleak outlook given covid-19. thinking of you all. please stay safe and inside.
