APOV
"Listen, I am just now leaving my meeting. If you could please pick him up from daycare and take him to your parents house. Please, I don't feel like I ask a lot from you Ethan" Ana pleaded into the phone while walking out of a large skyscraper in downtown New York.
"Ugh, I really don't have time to deal with this shit Ana. Just fucking hire someone to take care of the kid!" Ethan hisses into the phone.
Ana stopped in the middle of the busy New York busy sidewalk.
"That kid is our son Ethan and if you are so hell-bent on not taking responsibility for him then just sign the damn papers, it would make both of our lives easier." Ana said.
"You would like that wouldn't you, then you could go off and find a new daddy for that brat and someone who would put up with your shit. Well, I will never let that happen. I have to go, and no, I will not pick up the kid. Not my day, not my problem." Ethan said right before hanging up.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Ana mumbled to herself. She was in disbelief that she created such a perfect child with such a vile person. This isn't how Ana wanted her life to go. She didn't plan on getting pregnant by her best friend's brother on graduation night. She didn't plan on having to move across the country from Seattle to New York for him because he had better lawyers. But it was her life and it brought her the greatest joy of her life, her baby, little Teddy.
When Ana had first found out she was pregnant, she was shocked because she had no memory of ever having sex and conceiving a child. Graduation night, she didn't think she drank too much, Kate had given her a margarita that Ethan had made but she didn't want to get wasted and forget the night so she switched to water after that one drink for the rest of the evening. Waking up the next morning, she had no memory of the night except for a dull pain in her head and between her legs. She rolled over and saw Ethan under the covers with her who just smiled and said that he had the best night ever. Ana had left that room as quickly as possible and it wasn't until a few weeks later when she was job hunting in Seattle that she tried to put on a skirt that she had worn right before graduation, did she realize that she was gaining a good amount of weight. Ana had been fit her entire life, so thinking that there was something medically wrong with her she went to the doctor only to find out that she was expecting. After telling her best friend Kate about it, who later revealed the information to her brother Ethan, not knowing that he was the father, did Ana start receiving phone calls from lawyers demanding a DNA test, which proved that Ethan was, in fact, the father. Further along in her pregnancy, Ethan got a job working for his father in New York and demanded that Ana relocate so that he could have access to his future child. Ana tried to fight it but Ethan had a full team of lawyers at his disposal while Ana, at the time, could only afford a cheap attorney. Ana knew that Ethan never wanted the child, instead he just wanted Ana at his disposal. Ana and Ethan have never tried to have a romantic relationship, much to Ethans dismay. Instead, they have a court ordered custody agreement where Ana has primary custody and Ethan has supervised visitation once a week at his parent house. Ana has presented Ethan with papers to relieve him from his parental rights but Ethan refused to sign them, even though he and everybody around them would love for him to sign the papers, he refuses simply because it is what Ana wants and what Ana wants, he won't give her.
Ana had called Ethan to pick Teddy up from daycare because she had a meeting that ran too damn long and the daycare was set to close for the night. Ana knew that Ethan would never do anything to hurt baby Teddy, he just didn't want him. But in order to keep Ana around he had to keep Teddy around.
With Ethan refusing to pick Teddy up, and her being too far away, Ana began to dial Ethan's father. After only two rings, he picked up.
"Ana! How are you sweetie. How is my grandson doing?" He asked.
"Well that is actually what I was calling about, I had a meeting that ran long and Ethan is refusing to pick Teddy up from daycare but I was wondering if you could help me out and-" Ana began to say before Mr. Kavanagh interrupted her.
"Pick up my grandson from daycare?! Ana, you know you don't have to ask me twice. I would love to. I was getting bored in my office anyways. I will leave now and bring him back to my office, we will see you soon" Mr. Kavanagh said before hanging up.
Ana hated calling Ethan's parents to help take care of Teddy because the first time she had done that, Ethan ripped her a new one and threatened to use his power and have Teddy taken away from her. Since then, Ana only calls Ethan's parents regarding Ethan's visitation with Teddy at their house.
When Mr. and Mrs. Kavanagh found out Ana was pregnant with their grandchild, they were ecstatic and having already known Ana for several years and treated her as another daughter, they couldn't be happier to have her a part of the family. That was until they found out how mean Ethan was to sweet Ana and then they overheard a phone conversation between Ethan and a buddy about how Ethan had spiked her drink on her graduation night and slept with her. Unfortunately, there was no way to help Ana prove that Ethan had drugged her and taken advantage of her. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanugh promised themselves at that moment that they would help Ana with anything she needed and they stayed true to their word. When it was time for the custody agreement to be drawn up, it was Mr. Kavanagh that suggested the supervised visits for Ethan at their house so that they could keep an eye on him and baby Teddy. Despite everything, they are so thankful to have such a wonderful grandchild and love being a part of Teddy's life.
CPOV
"Ros, I am just about to land in New York. I will email you after my meeting with Kavanagh" Christian said into the phone to his second-in-command Ros.
Christian was currently on a plane from Seattle to New York to be presented a deal with the media mogul Charles Kavanagh. Christian didn't want to go but Kavanagh insisted on Christian coming to New York because of how secretive the sale was, he didn't want to risk any information being leaked before it was finalized.
Christian has successfully landed in New York and was headed towards Kavanagh's door when he opened it and saw Kavanagh on the ground playing with a baby.
"I didn't know you were still able to have kids Kavanagh" Christian laughed while leaning against the door.
"Awe yes Grey, well I will have you know that I can still hit the target, but I much prefer to be a grandpa, all the fun with none of the hassle of actually raising the little boogers" Kavanagh said while getting up off the ground and walking toward his desk with Teddy in his arm.
"So shall we get started?" Kavanagh asked after sitting down at his desk with Teddy on his lap.
"Well I didn't know you would have a business associate with you today" Christian said while smiling towards the baby.
Christian had to admit that the baby was adorable. Christian had always wanted a family but when he started his company he had to make a choice. Either a business or a family, and at the time, he picked business and it has never slowed down enough for him to find a wife and have a family. It had been a few years since he had to make that choice and it wasn't until he got a look at the baby in Kavanagh's lap did he think that he may have made the wrong decision all those years ago.
Christian was knocked out of his trance when Kavanagh spoke up and told Christian, "I apologize for having this little guy here, his mother was running late and asked me to pick him up while his father continues to be the deadbeat that he is. His mother is on her way, she should be here any second"
Kavanagh didn't tell many people about his dislike for his own son, but Christian Grey was one of Kavanagh's most trusted business allies and had briefly attended high school with Ethan. Kavanagh had briefly mentioned, on more than one occasion, how worthless his son actually was.
At that moment, a young brunette came busting in through the door, clearly exhausted and out of breath but rushing over to Kavanagh.
"Hello Mr. Kavanagh, thank you again for picking him up. I didn't want to bother you but I had no one else to call." The young woman sadly said to Kavanagh.
"Sweetie, you know you never have to be afraid to call me, I would do anything for this little guy and anything for you" Kavanagh said to her while giving her a look. After a few seconds of them sharing unspoken words, Kavanagh finally remembered that I was in the room and began introductions.
"How rude of me, Ana, this here is Christian Grey from GEH. Grey, this is Anastasia Steele" I stuck out my hand to shake hers and when our hands touched, I felt electricity running between us. It was unlike anything I have ever felt before.
"You can just call me Ana. I apologize Mr. Grey, I normally don't have other people picking up and taking care of my little guy here" she said while nodding towards the baby now on her hip. "But we will let you be and we will be on our way then" she said. I don't know what is happening but I know that I don't want her to leave.
As she turns to say goodbye to Kavanagh he speaks up and says "Ana, sweetie, why don't you and little Teddy come by for dinner tonight. I know you have been in a meeting all day and the last thing you want to do is go home and cook dinner. And don't worry, Ethan won't be there and he won't even know you were there." Kavanagh pleaded to Ana.
"Thank you sir, but I must decl-" she begins to say.
"We are going to have homemade mac n cheese, yours and Teddy's favorite." Kavanagh says in a sing-song voice.
Anastasia laughs, and I must say, it is music to my ears.
"You know we never turn down Mrs. Kavanagh mac 'n cheese. Do we little guy?" Ana says while tickling the baby's stomach, causing him to let out the most adorable giggle.
"Alright, you win. We will be there. Just let us go home and change first and then we will make our way over. Thank you Sir" she said while giving Kavanagh a thankful look.
"Again, I apologize for all of this Mr. Grey. I will be going now and let you two get on with your meeting" she says before turning and headed towards the door.
I don't know what possesses me in the moment but before she can slip through the door with the baby I blurt out "Christian, please call me Christian." I say with a genuine smile.
She smiles at me and then turns around to walk out the door whispering "Christian" to the baby on her hip.
I am stuck in place staring at the door that she just exited because, it is at this moment, that I finally understand what people mean when they say love at first sight.
I am broken out of my trance when Kavanagh begins to clear his throat trying to get my attention.
"See something you like Grey" Kavanagh snickers.
"Oh, um no, well yes but no, don't worry about it. Let's get on with this meeting" I say, trying to push the thought of Anastasia out of my head and get back into business mode.
"Let me just make something clear to you before we begin Grey, hurt that girl and that sweet little boy and I will end you. She has been through so much in her life and she doesn't deserve anymore pain. With that being said, I saw the way you two looked at eachother, that kind of spark is rare and only comes around once in a lifetime so if you want to pursue her, just promise me that you will treat her right, something someone else hasn't done which brings me to the reason for this meeting. You know that I own the New York Gazette, which Ethans runs" Kavanagh said.
"Yes, there have been rumors that you are getting ready to hand it completely over to Ethan within the next year." I say.
"Well that is not completely true, you see I am planning on offloading it, but not to Ethan. I have been waiting for the right time to cut him off. You see he has been siphoning money out of the business for some time now and I have been patiently waiting for the right moment to rip the rug out from beneath him. I can't just sell it to anyone though because Ethan will find a way to buy it out from the next owner, except you. I know you would never sell to Ethan. So I am offering you sole ownership of the New York Gazette. What do you say?" …
After my meeting with Kavanagh, he hinted around to his dinner tonight. I think he is just toying with me since he knows I have found an interest in Anastasia.
"So, since you know I am already booked for dinner tonight, why don't you come over to my place, I'm sure we can find an extra spot for you at the table, maybe next to a certain brunette" Kavanagh said while winking towards me.
I had no words, instead I just nodded and followed Kavanagh towards the cars awaiting us in front of the building, waiting to take us to our next location.
APOV
"Okay Teddy, we made it. Now all we gotta do is get changed and we will be on our way" I say to Teddy as I place him from his car seat to his rocker. I just can't believe how fast he is growing, he is only 4 months old but it feels like it has been a year already. I just recently went back to work this past month. I wanted to take more time off but having a child is not cheap and Ethan refuses to pitch in more than he has too. Ethan only pays enough to cover maybe a few packs of diapers a week and that is if I get the cheap ones that Teddy always destroys when he has an accident. I guess when I think about it, I don't want Ethan pitching in more because then he would want more time with Teddy and I refuse to allow him that. So Teddy and I make do with what we have, which isn't much but it works for us.
After getting Teddy changed into a cute little sweater and pair of joggers, I decide that the burgundy wrap dress I was wearing will probably be most appropriate for the Kavanagh house. If it wasn't for the car that Mr. and Mrs. Kavanagh gave me as a graduation present, Teddy and I would be stuck taking the subway but Mr. and Mrs. Kavanagh had given me the car and insisted on me keeping it. They wanted to set up a fund for me but I just wouldn't feel right about taking and using money that isn't mine.
We pull up to the Kavanagh residence and I see the usual cars in the driveway with the addition of a black Audi. Maybe Mr. Kavanagh has added to his fleet.
I unbuckle little Teddy and head to the front door and before I can even knock Mrs. Kavanagh has the door swinging open with her usual bright smile.
"My little baby boy, there you are! And Ana, how are you sweetie?" Mrs. Kavanagh asks as she takes Teddy from me and begins to walk back into the house.
"I'm not doing too bad, I hope that we are not intruding on your night" I say.
"Oh nonsense honey, you know that you and Teddy are our family and I wouldn't make mac 'n cheese for just anyone. My husband had called me when he was picking up Teddy from daycare and suggested that maybe you two come over for dinner" she says while planting kisses all over Teddy's face, making him light up with smiles and laughter.
We head over to the living room where they keep all of Teddy's toys out, even though he is only here on the days that Ethan has visitations.
After playing with Teddy for about 20 minutes, we finally hear the door open, indicating that Mr. Kavanagh is home, but I also hear another voice, the voice from earlier. When I think about Mr. Grey, whom is met at Mr. Kavanagh's office, my whole body begins to tingle unlike anything I have ever felt before.