Again, all rights to the characters of Fifty Shades of Grey belong to E. L. James. I only have the right to my own story & characters as I've written them.

Secrets, Family, And An Embossed Silver Envelope

Sitting around their usual table in the same restaurant they'd had their weekly lunch for years, were four beautiful women with the surname of Grey. This weekly ritual had started not very long after Kate had married Elliot. This was a relaxing time where the women let their hair down, were free from the entire family and where they were able to gab over subjects of no consequence and the usual female gossip.

But this lunch was a week after Ana had moved into her new home, leaving Grace and Mia with a heart breaking feeling of permanence. But due to the bogus story they'd been given, mother and daughter still held onto the hope of Ana and Christian reconciling.

With every bite of their meal and every sip of tea, each woman was aware that things were different. Not with a difference in their love for one another or in the bond they would forever share, just simply an air of difference.

Dr. Grace Trevelyan Grey loved Katherine and Anastasia the way a mother loves a daughter. There were extreme differences between these two women, and they were what Grace loved about them. Her own daughter, the loud and spirited Mia brought her effervescence and overwhelming love wherever she went, even charming strangers. Kate was tenacious with a spirit full of fire. She could often be outspoken and over the years this had sparked a few awkward moments within the Grey family, but Grace knew that Kate's heart was full of loyalty and love for a few lucky people.

One of the people Kate loved and protected fiercely was Grace's precious daughter in law, Ana, the once shy and somewhat timid young woman that Grace initially met. But Grace watched with pride as Ana developed a quiet strength and became a woman of confidence and self pride. Grace's love for Ana also held a depth of gratitude for being the catalyst that brought Christian closer to his family, closer to Grace. But now, Grace feared Christian would revert to his own world that had kept him away from his family.

There were so many unspoken questions that Grace and Mia had, but they wouldn't dare ask Ana. They both assumed Kate knew the answers, but also knew as Ana's best friend, that Kate would never reveal them. Of course, this was true, but the answers were also the secrets that Ana and Kate shared, none meant to deceive their family, but to protect them.

Even now the only Grey's that knew the actual truth were Kate and Ana. Christian wasn't even aware of what had been orchestrated around him. Not yet anyway. They had more than enough to dismantle Christian's entire life, but to place a blaring light of truth on him would put their family in jeopardy of public humiliation, which the women would never cause, no matter how many technicolor flash drives existed. This was the very reason that Ana, Kate, and Luke had drawn up very detailed NDA's to ensure Christian they would never tell anyone the truth. The truth of what they'd found that had desecrated Ana's entire being.

Despite Ana and Kate's sister like closeness, Ana had kept one secret from her, the one that only Luke knew about. While Kate thought that Ana and her legal team, plus Luke, herself, and Luke's "ghost man" as she called him, had all signed an NDA, Ana made sure that Luke's secret friend hadn't been given one. Yes, this was done from the dark vindictiveness that had overtaken her hurt and pain, yet Ana knew she'd probably never pull out that trump card. But in the middle of the night as she was robbed of sleep, Ana would push her refusal about hurting the Grey's and only think of Christian, and imagine her joy when she gave Luke the go ahead to contact that unknown man to unleash hell.

Ana was pulled from her thoughts when she caught Grace staring directly at her with tears in her eyes. Despite her best efforts of wearing a mask to appear stoic to her mother in law, Ana began to cry with her, neither women remembering they were in a public setting. As soon as her mother's first tear fell, an inconsolable Mia all but ran to the ladies room. The gaping fault line in this family was already too much for her to handle. Mia felt as if she was being torn in half, as if she had to pick a side to be on; her brother's or Ana's. Ana kept telling the entire family not to feel that way, she was confident in their love for her, but Christian was their son. But they were still so hurt and angry that they couldn't see past anything but being there for Ana.

While Grace also excused herself from the table, Kate grabbed Ana's hand underneath the tablecloth and squeezed it hard. Ana wasn't sure if it was from a place of comfort or a reminder that she needed to lose the guilt since this wasn't her fault. But while Ana did carry guilt on her shoulder's, she knew her best friend lived with guilt as well, perhaps even more so. After all, the entire time Kate was helping Ana uncover the layers of Christian's sordid betrayals; she was lying and essentially deceiving her husband while sleeping beside him each night. Even though Ana did everything to refuse allowing Kate to help her, she still felt terrible knowing what cost her friend might have to pay for it. Ana's mind wondered as she asked herself of a time that Kate had ever let her down?

Eight months in the big city of Seattle had not impressed Ana very much. It seemed that all of her time was spent working at a small publishing house, SIP. Despite her long days, Ana was the first to confess this was the way to learn the ropes in editing a wonderful book. She accepted a position at a small up and coming company because it seemed a perfect fit for Ana, warm, yet challenging. She also recognized experienced editors that would mentor her and their close relationships with the authors. It disturbed Ana when she heard that SIP had been bought out by a much larger company, fearing that a larger organization would cost SIP to lose the intimate feel they had. Despite only being there a short period of time, Ana had an innate talent for recognizing a well written manuscript, and had chosen a few that were well received by her boss, a kind older woman named Martha who took them to the higher up's. One author, whose manuscript was one that Ana had recommended to her Martha, was actually a few years younger than Ana herself. It began as a quite depressing memoir based on a child's early life of abuse, but one that ultimately ended with an up lifting message as the child overcame her early years and became a successful author. Since it appeared SIP was leaning towards publishing the memoir, this young lady was rapidly achieving her goal. This author was the type of woman Ana could see as a friend.

As they'd always planned, Ana and Kate moved to Seattle, living together in an apartment downtown that was so close to Ana's job that she walked to work. Naturally, Kate had dove head first into her dream career as a journalist and was working a low level position at the Seattle Times, with just a bit of influence that her last name was Kavanagh. Kate had not wanted to be a part of her father's vast empire, Kavanagh Media. Yes, being his daughter and eventual heir, had opened exclusive doors for her socially, but Kate refused to cash in on his name professionally.

Between Ana and Kate's less than impressive income, both girls finally caved in and allowed Kate's parents to purchase the apartment they lived in. Kate's parents insisted they live in a safe neighborhood and pretty much badgered Kate and Ana until they acquiesced.

The fact the two lived rent free left them both with a bit of extra money at the end of the month, and when they weren't purchasing professional clothing for work, they indulged going out on the town at least once a month. Kate, the forever social butterfly, was still dragging her best friend to clubs. Only now Kate's battle cry was, "Too meet the Seattleites." To which Ana then inserted her well known eye roll.

Then one day in the middle of a random month which coincided with the very week the girls had squandered enough of their pay to afford a fun filled Saturday night, Kate came in from the downstairs mailbox with a handful of utility and credit card bills, the latter being all hers. Ray had always told Ana if she didn't have enough cash to buy something, it meant you couldn't afford it, so put it back and walk away from it. Ana always remembered that advice and didn't own a single credit card.

Kate tossed the mail on the kitchen counter, loudly bitching over her Neiman Marcus bill as Ana grabbed some of the mail herself, and reminded her friend she'd been forewarned not to buy such expensive shoes. "Fuck off, Steele! You have zero right to give me shit because you've worn those black sling backs TWICE!" Ana ignored a whiny Kate, flipping through the mail until one unique envelope caught her attention.

Ana held up a silver embossed envelope addressed to them both but had no return address, her eyebrows rose quizzically. Jerking it out of her hands, Kate looked at her as if Ana would know what the envelope contained if she'd damn well open it. Ana watched a chesire cat like grin spread over Kate's face as she quickly scanned the contents of the fancy silver envelope.

"It appears, dear Ana, that we have been invited to the exclusive opening of Seattle's newest hot spot, The Mile High Club!" Kate was screeching as she bounced up and down in place. Looking at her fondly, Ana loudly announced "The Kavanagh name strikes again!" and snatched the invitation back.

"Ana!" Kate exclaimed in a tone indicating something had suddenly occurred to her.

"What, kitty kat?"

Kate turned to Ana with her emerald eyes widened wildly. The second Ana looked at her, she dramatically turned away.

"God, Kate! You know I hate it when you do that weird eye shit. It creeps me out!"

Kate stuck her tongue out in retort.

"Steele, seriously, shut up! Do you know who owns this new club?"

Ana went into the kitchen stalking for anything to satisfy her PMS cravings for chocolate.

"How would I know that or why would I even care? Of all the bars and clubs we've found here, the only owner I know is that Owen dude, and that's because the bar is named, 'Owen's', plus, he bragged about it every time he asked me out."

Kate was determined to shut up Miss. Know It All and give her the 411.

"Don't use that "my vag is about to gush blood" tone with me, young lady. The Mile High Club is the latest venture of the "mogul" himself!" Kate gave her a knowing look, she was fully aware of Ana's lust filled crush.

Ana immediately knew who Kate was referring to since they'd randomly come across a picture of the "mogul" and his beautiful face in local magazine's or in the newspaper. Then they would recall what a rude, pompous ass he had behaved towards them. But then they'd give Christian Grey credit, his ass may be pompous, but it was still hot as hell. Despite remembering what an asshole he'd been, each time Ana ran across a picture of "Mr. Makes My Panties Soaked", Ana went to bed a little earlier and started her little pink friend to vibrate.

After recalling her salacious behavior caused by the sexiest man that she'd briefly met, Ana sighed just the tiniest bit, but then verbalized a quite rational question.

"But why on earth would we be invited to the exclusive opening night of a place like that?"

Kate puckered her lips at the idea as well. How in the world had these two nobodies become a blip on a social radar as high end as a certain billionaire by the name of Mr. Christian Grey?

"Oh, you know that rich bastard has no idea who's invited to this soiree. Some poor soul on the lowest end of Grey's totem pole made that guest list. I'm sure that's how we got an invite." Kate replied in a very bored tone and shrugged her shoulders, not giving a shit why they were invited. Kate was already mentally deciding on what she'd wear, while her no nonsense friend remained unconvinced and wouldn't let the subject go.

"Kavanagh, I can see your name being on that invite list as you actually are a person they'd consider to invite, but that invitation didn't say plus one, it was also addressed to me, and I'm even lower on the totem pole as the 'poor soul' who invited us."

Kate wanted to literally choke the shit out of her midget sized brunette best friend.

"Steele! Who in the literal fuck cares who, what, why, or how you got invited? Just remember it's this Saturday night, just two days away, so we need to figure out what our sweet asses are going to wear! We are not going to try to deduce how Anastasia Steele got invited to this fucking opening! Just concentrate on the men that will be there considering you've only been on four dates since we moved here, and those two random hook up's with Riley do not count! So just look at it as an opportunity to find Mr. Right Now!" Kate's hands were waving wildly around her as she emphasized each point.

"I've been on four dates in eight months because I've been knee deep with work AND I'm not the queen of one night stands!" Ana's voice was raised while she pointed her finger at Kate, but both women were smiling, which turned into a fit of giggles.

Smiling sweetly, Kate strolled towards her bedroom, calling out to Ana, "Maybe you're invited since the mogul looked as if he could eat you that day at the photo shoot." Before closing her bedroom door, Kate heard Ana muttering bitch under her breath.

Ana was quite flushed remembering that look Grey had given her, along with that amazing and electrical feeling she'd had when they shook hands. Lost in her thoughts of that handshake, along with the throbbing between her thighs, Ana was biting her bottom lip imagining she'd get a second chance of seeing Christian Grey up close and personal one more time.

I said in Chap. 1 it's going to be a slow burner. CG is up next & then we'll be on our way.