Chapter 20
Sorry for the delay on the update. I've been busy so I do apologise. I hope you can forgive me and enjoy these next two chapters. xoxo
We arrive at my parents' house and I can sense her Anastasia's fear of meeting them. I have reassured her several times that everything is going to be fine. Even my own family dares not to interfere with my personal life. Why is she so worried? My parents adopted me from a crack whore.
My other siblings did not come from such horrendous backgrounds as myself but never the less they didn't have a charmed beginning either. Ok well Mia was an infant so she would have remembered. I only know that her biological mother was just 14 and Elliot's parents passed in a car accident when he was just two and had no other living relatives.
"Anastasia relax I'm not throwing you into a snake pit my parents are good people, have a little faith." And I lean over and kiss her cheek as she nervously smiles.
My mother is waiting in the doorway to greet us. She does this every time I visit, she is always so happy to see me. I just wish I was able to show her some more affection. I can see how badly she would love to just give her son a hug. Maybe with time, plus Anastasia doesn't know it but she is helping me overcome some of issues with touch. Just knowing what she faced and how she stands strong humbles me. Yes I have faced horrific abuse and I struggle with those demons every day but I know there's more she's hiding about her past and yet still she holds her head high and presses on never complaining about shit, I envy that about her.
"Christian darling you look handsome as ever" my mother beams as we head up the stairs to the front entrance.
I kiss her cheeks and smile.
"Hello mother, you look lovely" and she beams.
"Mother I'd like you to meet someone very special to me, this is Anastasia Steele" I look towards Ana proudly and she flushes.
"Very nice to meet you Anastasia" my mother looks shocked that I have brought a woman to dinner hmm after all that speculation now she won't have to worry about asking me if I'm gay. Ana extends her hand to my mom and sweetly smiles.
"Very nice to meet you too Dr. Trevelyan-Grey" and my mom gives her a small hug and Ana visibly relaxes.
"Come inside" My mom smiles as she walks in to the family room. Everyone rises to greet us and I hold Anastasia's hand tight giving her reassurance that all will be fine. We make out introductions to my brother Elliot, Sister Mia, father Carrick and Elliot's new girlfriend Kate Kavanagh who personally I don't like.
I've done business with her father who is a good businessman but Kate is very aggressive and she is always looking at me like she wants to find out something about me and expose it in her stupid little college newspaper.
"Oh my god, Ana Steele?" Kate shrieks. Huh? How the fuck do they know each other?
"Kate" she smiles in surprise. Well I guess they are acquaintances somehow and I'm curious
"Ana, wow it's great to see you again. I was wondering where you went. You just left and didn't tell anyone. How are you? Where have you been? And they hug each other tight. Left from where? She still hasn't said how they know each other.
"I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye Kate. Once classes ended you left for a vacation and I couldn't reach you. I didn't have a phone anymore so I lost all my contacts. I tried emailing you but it bounced back. Ana looks apologetic.
"Thats okay just happy to see you anyway Ana. What brings you to Seattle area, do you live here again ?" Kate asks her
"Yes, I've been back here since I left Vancouver in May. I worked a few odd jobs and now I'll be interning in a publishing house starting next week, so I'm very excited. Hopefully I can make a good career in book editing in the future and this is a good foot in the door"
"Thats so exciting Ana but what about school, your music? Are you coming back? I'm not in the dorms anymore I have a condo near school then I'm moving back here in June to work and be closer to my family." Hmm she knows about her music, perhaps they were close friends at WSUV.
"I still sing sometimes and play piano and I'm hoping to be back in school by next year. I had a lot of loans so but now they are paid off so I plan on finishing my degree very soon. I really like this job though so maybe I'll finish school in Seattle" My girl mutters embarrassed. I know she doesn't like that I paid her loans off, she was very upset with me.
"Oh Ana, I never thought I'd see you again. I'm so happy that's not the case. But if you don't mind me asking what brings you here? How do you and Christian know each other?" she asks Anastasia and I can see the worried look in her eyes. Miss Kavanagh is fucking bombarding her, Christ I need to rescue her. I mean Ana hasn't even sat down yet.
"Anastasia" I interrupt. I snake my arm around her waist and gently kiss her cheek as everyone in the room stares at us.
"Would you like a drink baby?" and she nods as I hand her a glass of wine.
"Thank you Christian" and she smiles and I go in for a soft chaste kiss on the lips. Yes everyone is in a bit of a shock not only did I show up with a date but she's a women and I kissed her letting everyone see how much I care about her. I need to stick by her this evening. I know she can hold her own but she is a very quiet private girl and I don't know she is going to respond to all these questions about us.
"Elliot come here baby" Kate calls to my brother.
"Ana was my college roommate for almost three years at WSUV" she shrieks. I almost want to hold my ears from her annoying voice but another part of me wants to ask her everything she knows about Anastasia. Roommates eh... Interesting.
"Small world, so how long have you and my little bro been dating Ana?"
"Okay let's not smother her with questions she hasn't even sat down yet" and I grab her hand and walk her over to a small cozy loveseat near the fireplace and sit with my arm around her while she awkwardly stares at her wine. I can tell she's overwhelmed now.
"You okay baby?" I whisper
"Yes I'm fine" she smiles stiffly. I hope nothing's wrong.
"So you and Kavanagh were roommates? She gets on my last fucking nerve" I mutter
"Yes we both studied English lit together but she has always wanted to be a journalist. She was a good friend to me at school always very kind and generous" she says softly
"Well if you think that then maybe I just don't know her well enough. She always gives me an evil eye" and Ana smiles broadly.
"She's tough, she has to be if she's going to be a journalist." And I shrug in agreement. I guess she has a point but I still can't stand her. If my pussy whipped brother marries her I'll have to see her every holiday for who knows how long. The very thought of that upsets me. After some small talk my mother asks us all to the dining room for dinner. I hope Anastasia enjoys dinner; she is a very good cook and always makes me the most delicious meals. She is my favorite flavor though. I could kiss her sweet lips all day. I am so in love with this lovely creature.
Everybody takes turns talking and laughing and Mia seems very warmed up to Ana already but then she asks very loudly what everyone at the table is dying to know….
"So how did you and my brother meet?" she says excitedly and everyone looks. I grip her hand under the table and squeeze.
Ana smile proudly and looks at me then back at my sister.
"Well about eight weeks ago I was working in the library and I met Mrs. Jones Christians housekeeper, we started talking and she mentioned she'd had to tend to a sick relative and asked Christian if I could interview for the job temporarily while she's gone" everyone looks uncomfortable but Ana keeps her head up and bravely continues.
"I applied for a job as a live in housekeeper and I worked there for about 5 weeks before leaving. During that time we became close friends and when I left the job we began to date" she shrugs and takes a sip of wine.
"Go Christian, kicking it with the housekeeper" Elliot giggles and I glare at him while I hold Ana's hand in a warning to him. He immediately apologizes.
"First of all she's not my housekeeper anymore and we never dated while she worked for me not that it's anyone's business. She will be starting a new job next week in a top publishing firm here in Seattle and is a brilliant woman, a very talented musician." I say proudly and kiss her hair.
"Ana is an amazing singer and pianist too, we were roommates for three years in college and she was a wonderful roommate and friend" Kate says adamantly in Anastasia defense.
"Oh Ana I have really missed you and look here we are sitting together again and dating brothers" she says almost teary up as she smiles at my brother and strokes his cheek. My brother is crazy about her, I guess somewhere she must have a soft side but all I see is a pair of iron balls. She and Elena would make some fucking tag team.
The rest of the evening goes smoothly Ana has charmed my whole family with her kindness and warmth and despite my distaste for Miss Kavanagh I am happy that Anastasia has reconnected with her friend. I would like to try to get some info out of Kavanagh though before Ana and I leave. Ana has gone to the restroom and I sit beside Kate and Elliot in the foyer. I don't want to seem to aggressive but I would like to see what I can get from her.
"So you and Anastasia were roommates?" I say casually
"Yes" she says giving me her usual obnoxious smile.
"Anastasia is a good person and very innocent, you better not hurt her Grey or next dinner your balls will be the main course" she glares at me and I shift in my chair.
God she is a frigid bitch my poor brother, she must fuck like a beast though to have him this fucking whipped. Oh and I believe I may have claimed her innocence but I plan on guarding it for the rest of my life.
"Not that it's any of your business Miss Kavanagh but I love Anastasia very much and would never hurt her" I snap
"Well if you're trying to pump me for information, it's not going to happen. The only thing I will say is that she is one of the kindest, honest most caring people I have ever known and I hate to see her get dumped and heartbroken from a coldhearted billionaire" she hisses and I glare at her.
"Not that I would exert any precious energy explaining myself to you, but it's clear you don't know anything about me apart from what you read in the business section Miss Kavanagh, Good night Elliot" and my brother stands up and shakes my hand looking a bit sorry and embarrassed for his girlfriend's little outburst. Ana returns and says her goodbyes to my family who are all smitten with her and she and Kavanagh hug tightly and exchange numbers. I hope she doesn't invite her for dinner anytime soon.
Hope you liked this chapter, next chapter is very racy so just a heads up...enjoy