Chapter 4

Apov

I wake up to horns honking and the motorhome stopping. Where are we? These past couple days have been so long traveling from Nashville to Seattle. I never thought I would return here ever. I see the famous Seattle skyline as we have arrived but are stuck in traffic. As I gaze out the window I see people staring at the caravan of my motorhomes. This is only going to get worse as the press knows I have never performed in Washington.

I look at the high-rise buildings and see one named Grey House. Why when I look at it I think of my Grey eye mystery man. Somehow I feel drawn to him like I am being called to him. My mind is just playing tricks on me being in this state let alone this city. I get up and close the blinds and get me a big glass of red wine from my personalized wine cooler. I love wine so I had a custom wine cooler installed. I have yet to visit Italy as that is one of my dreams. I would love to visit a wine vineyard and see the whole process of wine being made.

My home in Nashville has a massive walk in wine cellar, and I have wine imported from Italy every 3-4 months. I have invested sweat and tears into that home. It is completely secluded from the public eye. When I am not on stage I like to just hang out by the pool or in front of the fireplace and read or write new music.

I finally feel us moving now and I just go back the bedroom as I am feeling antsy.

"Miss Steele we are twenty minutes out" Sawyer reports over the intercom system. I will probably go for a long hard run to settle my jitters down. I have never been this nervous performing ever. I cannot fail now I must come through this and show them I am not the meek shy girl I was in high school. I wonder if anyone from the high school will be there?

I feel us slowing down and peek out the window and we are surrounded by the paparazzi. Great how will get through this? I see about thirty men come out from the gated house we must be trying to get into and make a path for us. We pull in and I freeze at who I am seeing.

I see one of the girls Mia with an older woman who must be her mother. I then see Kate and Lilly appear from the front door and I have to run to the bathroom where I vomit to the point of dry heaving.

"Miss Steele are you alright?" Sawyer asks me and I respond the only way I know how.

"I don't know Sawyer let me be." I all but choke out

I hear the door close as I crawl out and make it to my bed. I climb up and I can still see out and see a small crowd has formed. There are 2 men in the background and one seems very familiar. I can't make a definite decision as he has aviators on. I feel a headache coming on and I curse myself for letting them get to me. I cannot get sick as this is for charity and I never turn charity down. I see the man turn to look at me as I see the mother and Sawyer approaching. She has a medical bag with her so I completely close the blinds.

Great the last thing I need is a doctor evaluating me as I know what's wrong.

"She's back their ma'am straight back, and I'll move the motorhome where I was directed too." I hear Sawyer tell her.

"Thank you"

There is a soft knock on the door, and I take a deep breath and get up to open it.

"Miss Steele I'm Dr. Grace Trevelyan Grey I would like to evaluate you if you don't mine." There is that word Grey again but her eyes just trap me in and she seems so sweet.

"That's fine but I'm fine I promise I had a flashback of a not so pleasant memory and it made me sick."

"I'm so sorry dear, let me take your temperature and make sure nothing else is going on." I nod my head in acceptance. She is so motherly and I feel like I want to open to her.

"Your manager Molly handed me your donation. Thank you so much for the donation it was not needed as you already donated your services for tonight." She tells me as she places a thermometer in my mouth. I close my eyes do I want to tell her the truth. She takes it out and smiles.

"Normal temperature I don't see anything wrong. Would you like some nausea medicine?"

"Yes please." I take two white tablets and swallow it with water that she grabbed for me out of the fridge.

"This is some home on wheels you have here. I'm impressed I could even stay in one of these."

"I had this custom made for me as I like my private time when I am off stage. I pretty much live here for 6-9 months of the year when I'm on tour. I love performing for my fans but I started it to better my life and better my self-esteem for myself."

"Anastasia sweetheart you a gorgeous woman and have a beautiful voice. You have the world at your feet what could have happened to make yourself become so closed off? I have read the press on you on how you are so shut off from the world. Your gift could help and reach out to so many people."

I start crying as I feel like I'm talking to a mother. I have never had a mother to talk to and I refuse to talk to a psychiatrist as I put all my emotions into my music.

"Dr Grey, you can call me Ana. We have dr patient, confidentially right?" I ask her to be on the safe side.

"Call me Grace dear and yes we do no matter what you tell me it will be kept in my heart."

"I was abandoned at birth by my mother so I never had one. I was very shy and lonely growing up and I never had friends. Long story short I went to Seattle prep and I was severely bullied in high school for about six weeks." She gasps and reaches for a tissue on my nightstand and starts to wipe her eyes that are filled with tears. "I was forcefully groped and basically sexually harassed until my last day there. My last day I was singing and three girls came up behind me and tied me to something. They shaved all of my hair so sloppily and hurried that I have a permanent scar." I turn my head to show her since its visible without my stage concealer I use.

"Oh Ana sweetheart I am so sorry this happened to you. I'm devastated but look at what you have accomplished. You have your dream career and that's what this charity partially benefits. My son was severely abused before we adopted him and he was also bullied somewhat in high school. Not to your severity though. I would like to give you my number if you ever want to talk you can call me anytime."

She pulls out a business card and hands it to me and I get up and giver the biggest hug I possibly can. I can get through this I will perform to the best I can and show them. As I walk her into my sitting area she turns and faces me.

"Ana would you like to get dressed in the house? My daughter and her friends and I have a hair stylist coming to do our hair and makeup."

"No thank you I can't have anyone touch my hair since the incident. I do my own hair and makeup. Would you like to see what I was planning to wear tonight? I have two dresses one for the performance and one for the meet and great. I also brought 100 cds of my new album to autograph for the meet and great session. I hope you don't mind."

"No that is perfect. The event is sold out with a record attendance of 450 guests. Your meet and greet sold out in 3 minutes. I love your music as does my son Christian and my daughter Mia. My other son Elliott is more into pop and R&B and I would love to see your dresses."

I show her the two dresses I have picked out and she loves them. "Ana you will be gorgeous I need to get going to get my hair done. I will see you on stage in five hours." I walk her to the door where I see Sayer talking to another security man and they see me.

"Thank you so much Grace for everything and I'll be going for a run to help with my nerves."

"Oh perfect let me know if you need anything. One more thing did they ever catch those three girls?"

"No they didn't that I'm aware of my father moved me out of state the next day. I haven't been back to Washington since then." I don't want to tell her they are here but maybe I should for security. Sawyer will kick my ass if I don't tell him.

"Well a lot of the people here tonight have kids that went to that school or go there. I don't want you uncomfortable." She is right so I have her take a seat and call Sawyer in.

"Grace you may need a glass of wine. Would you like one?"

"Yes dear but you are worrying me!" Sawyer walks in and I tell him I need a security talk as I hand Grace her wine.

"Ma'am may I call in an old army buddy to hear this. He is the head of security for tonight and head of security for Christian Grey." I look to Grace and she nods her head. I already trust her with so much.

"Yes then that's fine." He walks to the door and opens it.

"T can you come in here for a security issue?" I see a man walk in and he looks to Grace and me and nods as he takes a stance. He has his arms folded and placed behind him. I walk up to him and introduce myself.

"Anastasia Steele nice to meet you." I reach for his hand and I see him blush.

"Jason Taylor ma'am nice to meet you. I've heard all of your music and love all of it."

"Thank you and you two can have a seat." Grace looks nervous as I take a seat with my glass of wine.

"Sawyer and Mr. Taylor." Taylor interrupts me before I can finish.

"Just Taylor ma'am"

"Sorry, Sawyer and Taylor I have recalled my history with Grace and she feels that three girls may be in attendance tonight. I believe they are and she asked for the names as it may be a security issue. Taylor, I know you may not be aware of it. I will let Sawyer reveal the story to you and you two along with Grace can decide the repercussions." They nod as Grace becomes pale and I take her hand as I feel this may be devastating to her.

"I only know first names, but they are Kate, Lilly, and Mia." Grace screams and starts crying hysterically and Sawyer is pissed and Taylor is rubbing his forehead.

"My own daughter, how could she? Taylor, can you please get Carrick as we need to discuss this with him?"

"Yes ma'am"

"Ana, I am so sorry I never knew I am so devastated my own daughter would do this."

"Grace it was not your fault. I will tell you Mia was not a willing participant as Kate and Lilly were the main conspirators. I never saw her participating till the last day I was there. She only held me down and I could tell she did not want to be there." I tell her as I kneel before her and grab the wine glass from her hands. I hold her hands until her husband Carrick can arrive.

"Kate is the fiancé of my eldest son Elliott. I have no idea what to do."

"Grace this is your family's charity it is your event and I do not want to create an issue. I can and will still perform. I will show them that I am better and I'm not the same scared little girl I once was."

She nods as I hear the door opening and voices outside. Great just what I wanted a scene before the event even begins.

"Grace darling what happened?" A man asks her as he take my spot kneeling before her.

"Carrick Ana has told me some disturbing news that need to be addressed before tonight." He stands and looks around.

"Anastasia Steele nice to meet you Mr. Grey"

"Carrick please, and lovely to meet you. You are my wife's and I's favorite singer and performer. What is going on?" He looks to Grace and then to me. I nod to her so she knows I'm ok with revealing my story to him. He starts screaming and cussing and I'm becoming nervous.

"Sorry Miss Steele we are taking your space and your time. The only thing I can conclude is they be escorted off the premises. Mia will just have to stay in her room for the evening."

"Carrick I agree with Kate and Lilly not attending. I was telling Grace however that I don't feel Mia was a willing participant. I am fine with her attending the event as this is your family's charity."

"Ok we can agree with that and appreciate it. We will go and have security escort them off as this will be a screaming fest especially with Kate. I'm not sure how Elliott will take since she is his fiancé and all. We will see you in a couple of hours, Taylor let's go tell the girls and Grace and I need to talk with Mia."

"Ana dear I will have my housekeeper bring the items you requested that were on your rider."

"Grace I'll be out on a run so I will have Sawyer collect them when we return." She hugs me as they all leave. I tell Sawyer I need to go for a run and escape all of this to get a clear mind.

"Miss Steele I am going to get a couple of other guards as this will all happen as we are gone. I don't feel comfortable by myself.

"That's fine and probably better as they know the area."

He leaves as I go change and hope nothing will come out of this.