Ana's POV

I was glad I was to see and help my daughter prepare for her first date. John was right. Drinking and drugs wouldn't help and they would get me nowhere, especially in seeing my kid growing up.

'Ana… I know how hard Jason's death is on you… I cannot imagine the pain you went through… but you have another kid, and she needs you… It's your choice now… Either you're going to let the time go by and you lose another kid or you are going to stand up stronger and watch her grow by your side. She wants her mother… and she wants you Ana…'

His words echoed in my ear. And he was right… He is right… I'm seeing my daughter filled with positivity, and she made us both realise that what we have isn't easily obtained. I have a loving husband and a loving daughter. Many families want that… I cannot just throw away what I have.

'Mummy…' She brought me out of my thoughts while I was still rummaging a suitable nice dress for the night in her closet.

'Yes munchkin…' I smiled as I took out a blue chiffon dress. 'What is it?' I asked worriedly as I took a look at her worried face.

'I'm having second thoughts… What if he doesn't like me? What if I'm not attractive enough for him…'

'Honey…' I stopped her as I moved forward and hugged her tight. 'Stop worrying baby girl… You are a beautiful, amazing young lady, that every guy would die for…'

'Mum… you're just saying that because I'm your kid…'

'Probably… but you need to have more faith in yourself…'

'You have enough for the both of us…' She smiled back as she let me comfort her. I guided her to her bed and sat down. I pulled her close to me and made sure to make her feel comfortable as possible.

'Honey… I know how you may feel… First dates are always tough, exciting… but they're fun…' I started. 'You just have to keep in mind one thing… You have to play a bit hard to get… Don't show that much interest but don't be too coy…'

'How can you even do that?' She asked astonished.

'You'll know alone…' I smiled. '…for instance… don't sound too excited… you should act just the same way you had been doing till now…'

'So all I have to do is be myself?'

'Yes…' I smiled. 'It's really no brainer Sera… You only have to be true like you've already been with this Eric…' I continued as she tried asking me something else, which I could feel what was about to be asked. 'No…' I stopped her immediately. 'This is not the time honey… You need to get ready… In less than 45 minutes, he'll be picking you up, and I still have to do your make up.'

I quickly went to grab the portable make up set I brought for myself. Christian and I always opted for the natural look. It always flattered my beauty and I could pass the tips I've acquired through the years to my daughter. I started doing the base, followed by a light pale foundation. I realized that I had never felt her face in ages. Back when she was younger I used to squeeze it and hug her tight to me. Damn… I missed those moments… I wish to have that time back… and now she's preparing for her first date. She is growing up.

After doing her eye shadow, mascara and eye liner, I followed to do some light shiny lip gloss. We always opted for baby pink. Christian loved the shade on me. He always said that it made my lips more kissable. I smiled at myself thinking at his words.

'What is it mum?' She asked me as I guided her to rub her lips together.

'This lip gloss is your father's favourite.' I smiled as I handed her the glasses. I went to her closet and brought the dress prepared. I handed it to her and helped her get ready. It was still fitting too big for her, and I tried hiding the lack of body by a waist belt. It had accentuated her waist, but she still looked far too thin. Last time we had weighed, she wasn't more than 65 pounds. I hid the pain in my face quicker than she turned to face me. I handed her the shoes I chose for her, and she quickly got it on. It didn't have much of a heel, but I wasn't going to allow Christian telling her what to wear. He knew little about what a girl her age should be in to impress guys. She was conservative yet beautiful. She didn't need to be sexy and show half her naked body to be beautiful… but she wasn't a nun either.

'There… you're ready…' I smiled as she took a look in the mirror.

'How do I look mum?' She asked as she looked at me.

'You look beautiful baby girl…' I smiled as I moved towards her and hugged her to me. 'Damn… you're growing up so fast!' A tear managed to escape from my eye.

'Mummy…' She started as she hugged me tighter. 'No matter what I'll always be your girl… Probably I'll be coming to you for more advice, more clothing touches… Mummy I will always be your baby…' She smiled.

'I know honey…' I replied as I let go of the embrace. 'Sera… Can I ask something?'

'You don't need to ask mum…'

'Look in the mirror…' I started while she obliged. 'Do you still see yourself fat?' I asked her gently as I held her from her shoulder.

'Um…' She started. 'It depends…'

'What do you mean?'

'Sometimes I feel myself… and all I feel is fat… I look in the mirror and all I see is fat… but then you guys tell me that I'm skin and bones… and I wonder…' She stopped as she tried hiding her body by covering herself.

'You wonder what baby?'

'I wonder who is right… I wonder if my brain is tricking me…' She explained as she turned facing me. 'It's just… there is this voice in my head that tells me what to do… and it's not very happy these days… It keeps telling me that I'm worthless… that I don't deserve anything… that I need to starve and lose weight… I feel guilty just touching the food… I have constant fights with myself on what to do… I'm trying to stop… I really am….'

'Baby…' I stopped her. 'I know this is hard, but know that your father and I are very proud of you… You stood up back on your feet without anybody forcing you. You've accomplished a lot in practically weeks… and you did that by will power…'

'Really mummy?' She asked astonished.

'Really what?'

'You are proud of me?' She smiled.

'Of course we are munchkin… We always had been and always will be proud of you! No matter what happens!' I replied as she hugged me tight again.

'Oh mummy!' She hugged me tighter. 'Thank you…'

'For what? For loving you?' I explained. 'It's our job to do so baby girl! We are your parents and we are going to catch you every time you fall… No matter what happens you will always be our daughter…'

'Your mother is right…' Christian entered the room and joined us in the hug. 'We love you peanut… so very much…' He stated.

'Wait…' she stopped us as she went straight to her drawer and pulled out a small box. 'Happy Anniversary…' She smiled as she handed us the box. In front there was a white Card. Christian and I kept staring at each other. We didn't expect anything… but she managed to astonish us. 'Come on… Open it!' She encouraged as we did so. As we opened it a small paper slipped to the floor and when Christian picked it up, he kept staring at it.

'Sera! This must have cost a fortune…' He handed it to me and I realized that it was a dinner for two with 5 courses pre-paid. It was at the hotel… but as it's a five star, I doubt she could afford it.

'Dad… I've been saving up for this… I know I've given you a lot of trouble these past few years… the least I could do is repay you… Oh and Taylor paid a quarter of both gifts. He wanted to thank you for being patient and lenient and kind to Natalie… You have a note written in the card.' She smiled again.

'What's in the box?' I asked.

'Open it…' She smiled again while we obliged. In it we found a Chinese vase. When she was younger she had a small accident and ran into one causing it to fall and break. We had never managed to find one, but she did. 'I know the history with the set… I found one with the help of Taylor, and we bought it… I hope you like it.'

'We love it Sera!' Christian smiled as he took her into his embrace. '…but you shouldn't have bought us anything. We love you because you're our daughter.'

'I know… but it's nice pampering you guys at times…' She smiled again as we heard a knock on the door.

'I think it's Eric…' I notified Christian, while his expression turned to a pained one. 'Oh come on grumpy… Cheer up… it's your daughter's first date!' I scolded him as I went to take the door while Sera laughed.

'Mrs. Grey…' He greeted.

'Hi Eric… Come in.' I smiled. 'Sera's almost ready.' I replied as Christian joined. I guess he wanted to talk to the guy before taking our daughter out. I in fact encouraged his speech. 'I'll go to Sera…'

Christian's POV

I didn't expect anything… but again she always managed to leave us with no words. I smiled at the thought but soon my smile faded away when I heard the door knock. Ana took it, but it was time for me to put this boy in place.

'Mr. Grey…' He started while I cut him off.

'Sit…' I quickly ordered as I motioned to the couch.

'Yes…'

'Do not speak unless I told you so…' I cut him short. 'Now, I want you to tell me what you want with my daughter. And please, be concise and clear.'

'Mr. Grey… my only intention is to take her out on a date… and maybe we'll build something from there onwards.'

'And where will you be taking her tonight?' I interrogated again.

'To the Hotel's Main Restaurant for dinner, then I'll be taking her out for a walk in the garden.'

'Mhmm… In the garden… At around 9pm… In the dark… Is there any reason you want to take her in the dark?' I asked again.

'No… No sir! I wouldn't do anything to hurt her… I just want to have a romantic evening with her.'

'Eric. Let me make myself clear. Ms. Grey is my only daughter… She's the one that made me a father… I will not allow you to either break her heart, or hurt her in any way… If you are going to break her heart you can leave this room this instant! And if you still date her, and break her heart, I will be the one hunting you down and breaking each and every bone in your body.' I intimated him as he swallowed and saw him pale. 'I want my daughter back here exactly at 10pm on the DOT, no minute late… We're in a country that barely know, and I don't want my kid getting lost. If this was in Seattle, things would have been different. Her body guard Taylor will be watching over you every second of the night and anything happens and you can kiss your career goodbye. Every 20 minutes I want her to text me, so don't bother telling her to silent or switch off her phone. Am I clear?'

'Crystal Sir…' He swallowed deep while I moved forward and held my hand forward. 'You've passed the first test…' I smiled in my CEO professional one.

'This was a test?'

'It's true… but also a test…' I explained. 'I wanted to see if I'll make you run for the hills… You must really like her to have stayed.'

'I do sir…' He smiled broadly as he stood up and shook my hand, while my kid joined.

'Wow…' He smiled.

'Don't look at her that way…' I scolded him as she came forward to hug me.

'I love you daddy…'

'I love you too peanut…' I smiled as Ana joined too and kissed her both on the forehead.

'Um… Sera… It's time…' He tried while we let go of the embrace.

'Yes Eric…' She smiled broadly.

'Sera, if you need anything call…' I told her before the door closed behind them.

'Christian… you could have taken it a bit easier on him!'

'Oh no! He needs to be put in place!' I replied as I pulled my wife close to me. 'In fact… I have an idea...' I continued as it clicked into my mind. 'Go get ready Ana… and wear something flattering…'

'Why don't you come with me Mr. Grey?' She teased as she pulled me from my arm.

'If you say so…' I replied seductively as we made our way to the bathroom.

Sera's POV

'I'm very sorry for the way my father treated you.' I started as we stepped out of the elevator with Taylor on our tail.

'Hey… I understand he wants to keep you safe… I would do the same…'

'You would?'

'Well… not to that extent, but yes…' He replied again as he pulled me from my arm closer to him. I felt my heart skipping more beats than ever. I was smiling deep inside. He pulled me to the Hotel's restaurant and asked for the earlier reservation that he had arranged with the waiter. The waiter guided us to the table near the window where we could see London beneath us. I was in awe at how he planned everything. He pulled my chair out for me to take my seat, and as I was in place, he took the seat in front of me. Chivalry truly wasn't dead.

'Do you want to order something to drink?' The waiter asked us.

'Is still water ok for you?' He asked me while I nodded and the waiter took our order. I looked behind me over to Taylor and I could see that he was talking into his ear piece. Guess Taylor wasn't only my security detail for the night. 'Would you like to see the menus?' The waiter said again as he returned with two glasses and the bottle of water. 'I'll give you few minutes to decide.'

'You know…' Eric started. 'Here they make the best King Prawns and Clam Minestrone.' He said. 'I'll be having that one… would you like to join me?'

'Um… I'm a vegetarian…' I smiled shyly.

'Why? You're beautiful… and if you ask me, I think you should put on weight…' He smiled as he lifted my face. 'You're a beautiful young lady…' He said again smiling.

'Is there anything you'd recommend for vegetarians?' I asked gently as I took a look at my menu again.

'I recommend the Tuscan White Bean Soup with Escarole.'

'Wow… such big words!' I exclaimed. 'I'll take that… whatever that is…' I smiled.

'You know… for a high class daughter or the richest man in America, you don't flaunter what you have…'

'Yeah… my parent's always taught me not to be proud… I guess I took their advice.' I smiled as I closed the menu and the waiter came to take our order.

'Can I ask you something?' He asked me as he looked at me.

'Depends on what?' I smiled back.

'I couldn't help but notice the way your father is protective of you…' He started. 'Why is that?'

'Every father is protective of his daughter…' I smiled back.

'Yes… but yours is more than what I call normal…' He stated.

'Well… there are some aspects in my life that I wouldn't like to mention right away. I guess it's his way of wanting to keep me safe…' I avoided to answer.

'I guess it's fair… We haven't known each other for a lot…' He replied as he moved forward to the table. 'Sera… I need to tell you this… You need to steer clear away from me…' He started becoming more serious than ever.

'What do you mean?' I asked confused.

'I am not the man for you…' He replied.

'Than why did you ask me out on a date?' I asked again confused more than ever and I rested my back to the chair.

'There are some aspects of my life that I'm not proud of either…' He replied again. '…but there is something about you that keeps nagging me…' He replied again. 'I like you Sera… A lot…' He said again. '…which is why I asked you out on a date… and the more time that passes, I realize that you make me happy…'

'Ohh…' I replied in confusion. '…but you told me to steer clear from you… What does that even mean?'

'If we make it to the third date… I'll tell you…' He smiled. 'It seems that both of us have some secrets that would like to keep for now…' He replied again as he reached for my hand.

It left me wondering. What could it be that he's hiding? Is it possible that dad's background check wasn't done as yet? It's highly improbable… but yet… if he did it, it's obviously that he didn't find anything about this guy… so what could it be that he's hiding… and what is it so bad that I should stay away from? Maybe I should? Or shouldn't I? Should I tell my mother about this? She would understand? Or not? But if I tell her than she would tell dad, and he for sure would forbid me from seeing him. Maybe he has some problem? I don't know… I have problems… hell I have tonne of them… maybe it's something similar to what I have… No I won't tell mum… she would tell dad for sure… but then if I tell her she may give me some advice or something… Wow… first date, and it's already hard…

'Sera?' He called me.

'Yeah…' I quickly replied.

'Did you hear me?'

'Sorry… I was thinking…' I replied back as the waiter brought the food in front of us. I quickly grabbed my phone and texted dad that everything is fine and that I'm still alive.

'Penny for your thoughts…' He asked as he took a piece of bread from the basket in front of us.

'Not really…' I smiled as I took my spoon and started trying to decide from where to try and start. I could feel his gaze over me… but I wasn't hungry at all.

'Something wrong with your meal?' He asked.

'Um… no… I'm just really not hungry all of a sudden…' I replied again.

'Sera… Please eat…' He quickly ordered. I felt like I was talking to dad. He had many attributes to him. I don't know… There is something about him. 'Sera… If you were mine I would have dragged you across my lap right now this very instant. Please eat…' He said again while I kept staring at him in disbelief. 'Did he just want to spank me?'

I took my spoon hesitantly and took my first bite. 'Maybe I truly should steer away from him…'

'Good girl…' He smiled. 'I'm sorry… but I have this thing about food.'

'Elaborate on thing…' I said back eyeing him.

'My sister died of anorexia nervosa. We were too late and we couldn't save her. She was 20… She was very beautiful…' He answered back.

'Oh… I'm sorry…' I replied. 'I didn't know…'

'…I don't want you to end up the same… If you tell me, you're way too thin to be walking around…' He replied again. 'So please do eat and finish everything.'

'What did you mean when you said 'If I was yours?' I asked again.

'I'll go over the details later…' He replied back. '…but for now… let's enjoy our date…'

'Easy for you to say… you creeped the hell out of me!' I replied back as he curled his lips.

'Damn Sera… please stop biting that lip…' He said again. 'I want to kiss you and right now I can't…' He said again as he left me dumbstruck staring at him.

'Refine 'I can't'…' I said again.

'We're in a restaurant… I want our first kiss to be special…' He smiled. 'I want to rock your world.' He said again as I coughed during my sip of water. 'Easy there!' He replied as he handed me his tissue. 'I didn't tell you I'm going to kill you…'

'I know… it's just… you caught me off guard…' I replied back as I took back my spoon and continued making my way into dinner.

We conversed through the whole meal. He was really nice, and at times I could see that he's still a kid inside, but what he told me earlier was still bugging and rummaging into my mind. I couldn't help it but over think everything.

An hour or so later, the waiter brought the bill and he was such a gentleman. He didn't want me to pay, although I insisted in doing so. He grabbed my coat and helped me in it. Taylor kept following us wherever we went. He guided me to the lift were we took it down to the garden. It had such a nice view in the morning, and in the evening it wasn't less. The flowers blossomed and everywhere I went I could smell them. He took my hand and guided me to the little bridge over the pool. We crossed it and he guided me to the bench that overview the whole garden. We sat down, and he wrapped his arms protectively around me. I rested my head over his shoulder and I felt him relax.

'What are you doing to me Sera…' He smiled as he kissed my forehead.

'Nothing…' I replied smiling. 'I'm just making you smile.' I continued.

'Yes… you are…' He replied again. 'I've never felt this way towards anyone… but you…' He continued. 'Since that time you bumped into me dropping every book… and going down to pick them up… you're such a natural…' He smiled.

'Of course I am… I happened to have a lot of books at home and I happen to drop many of those as well…' I mocked lightly and joked as I looked towards his perfect sculptured face. I had just realized how clear his eyes were. They're deeper than I thought, but there was something clouding them. I couldn't comprehend what his gaze meant… but one thing was for sure… I knew that I like him.

'Sera…' He started as he lifted my chin further and looked towards me. 'I've wanted to do this all night…' He smiled as his face started moving further and further towards mine. 'I'm going to kiss you now Ms. Grey…' He smiled. 'Do you want me to?' He asked while I nodded and smiled goofily. 'God, I love that smile…' He said again as he moved forward until I could feel his breath onto mine. I closed my eyes automatically and his lips touched mine lightly. He took my head and pulled me hungrily towards him. I started feeling different. There were so many emotions running. I couldn't help but feel butterflies all over. I started feeling all tickly inside, and something in me stirred to kiss him back. We remained like that for few seconds, until he pulled away.

'Wow…' I replied as I felt myself blushing.

'I take it you enjoyed it…' He replied.

'Yes… I so very did…' I smiled.

'Good… because I loved it…' He smiled. 'I've never kissed anyone like you before.' He said again as he pulled me towards him again and started kissing me softly yet passionately. Is that how a first kiss was supposed to be? One thing was for sure! This was special... I quickly broke the kiss as I heard the big ben's clock sound. It was already 10pm and I had to be in my room at that moment. Dad was going to kill me. 'Is everything ok?' He asked concerned.

'I'm late…' I replied as Taylor moved forward to us. 'It's 10pm…' I said.

'Sera…' Taylor started. 'I have to usher you back to your room.' He said as Eric took my hand and with one swift move he made one run to the lift. Taylor caught up with us and in less than a minute we were on the 7th floor. He guided me to my room and before I passed the passkey, he kissed me again for the last time.

'Will I see you again?' He asked again as he broke the kiss.

'If you want…' I smiled as he quickly took out his phone and took a quick a photo of me.

'Here, give me your number please…' He replied as I quickly wrote it as I handed him mine and he wrote his. We quickly exchanged our phones back. 'I'll be dreaming of you tonight…' He replied as the door opened from the inside.

'Sera…' Dad started. 'You're practically on time…' He smiled.

'I'll see you later than Sera…' Eric replied as he kissed me again on my lips in front of my father. I blushed and couldn't help but stare at my dad's empty's expression face. Guess he took it a bit hard. I entered the room and as the door closed behind me I jumped and made a quick happy dance.

'I take it, it went well…' Mum smiled as she came forward to hug me.

'Yeah…' I smiled back while dad remained sulking at the door. 'He kissed me mum…' I smiled as I let my body fall with a thud on the sofa.

'I don't like this guy…' He quickly said as he came forward and held my head on his lap.

'You're just saying that because he conquered her heart…' Mum replied.

'Not as yet mum… but I like this guy…' I replied.

'There's something about him… that doesn't convince me…' Dad replied as he gave a look towards mum. She understood him perfectly, but I decided not to think about it for the night, but only relax and enjoy the past few hours. One thing was for sure… I was to see him again.

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