Hello guys. Happy to hear that you love this little effort of mine. Well this chapter you get to meet Elena and Leila do share how charming you found them with me:D

Chapter 4

Relief was that feeling I had when he shook my hand; well it was something that was prominent next to that feeling of electric current that ran when he touched me. No guy has ever affected me like he did, not even José, a thought that I filed away for pondering on later. When he was near my breath automatically hitched and my heart beat was like of a marathon runner, it was a very odd feeling. When he ran his finger near my lips it was like half of me went off and the other lighted up like fourth of July and someone inside me was cheering 'kiss me, kiss me' all over. I took a deep breath to control the nerves while I was waiting to get my luggage as we had landed a while before.

After shaking hands and fixing the deal we had spend the rest 2 hours discussing all what he wanted to know about the coming 3 weeks. During those 2 hours I learned two facts, he wanted that money real bad and that he was an arrogant-controlling asshole, at times I seriously wanted to throw him out of the plane and only Elena's gloating smile prevented me from doing it. I don't even know if I can suffer him for the 3 whole weeks but I had no other way, he was my best option for a payback and well not being a moping ex girlfriend sadly attending her ex's marriage. Christian was very interested on why I needed a boyfriend so badly and asked a lot about the upcoming nuptial too, I grunted some answers and threatened to cut 10k if he uttered another word about it. From our 2 hour rendezvous I learned that he was the second son of very well known family in the states, who was currently staying in London for some official purpose. His father was a lawyer and his mother a pediatrician, he also had a brother who was into construction and a sister who was studying in Paris under some French chef. He was very well off and I dint have to worry teaching him about how to act in a formal party something I had to do with my appointed actor who dint even know where to place his fork and spoon. He had dropped studying for his masters from Harvard since wanted to start his business which I would say was really impressive but well his dad dint agree so things weren't so cool between them. He was doing his job to earn 100k for starting his company but he was quitting his job in 2 days as he dint find it as good as he thought. This was the necessary things I heard and well the rest I tuned out, when he started talking about his favorite films I put a brake, it was not like we were gonna be lovers I dint need all that crap in my head.

We had decided that he would fly out to Seattle in 2 days and I would cover it up saying he had a meeting with some clients from Tokyo and then we would spend the rest 18 days as per plan, at the end of which we would go separate ways after closing our financial arrangement. I also gave him 10k extra to buy some decent clothes and luggage and accessories which he took muttering that he wasn't poor and all about his wardrobe collections to the shoes he had, the cool stuff he had at home blah blah blah. When my ears started to pain I asked "are you gay or something?" he looked as if someone hit him on his head with a club, and then suddenly he pushed me back to my seat and hovered over me. My breath hitched and something funny was happening in my stomach like a thousand butterflies flying together, he growled in such a sexy voice near my ears and asked "should I prove to you that I am not miss Steele?" I stammered and said "well you were screaming about brands, clothes and all and I have seen only my friend jay do it" he closed his eyes and ran his nose near my cheeks for which I distantly remember closing my eyes, "its gonna be long three weeks baby" he whispered in my ears, my mind focused and I took his pinky finger in my hand and bended it backwards. He screamed and jumped around in pain while I hissed "yes baby if you can't keep your hands to yourself, we need rules for this Grey. Keep your big boy in your pants and you go home in one piece if not well one piece less". He stared at me and whispered to himself "jeez from where did she escape from". I sat down and said "we got 3 rules to follow when we are alone, don't touch me, don't touch me and don't fucking touch me. Are we clear on this oh arrogant one." To my surprise he chuckled which I would say was pretty adorable, "yes your highness I won't, but when we are with company were I play the role of your doting lover I can right?"

I thought for a while and said "yes of course, I want you to be all over me in front of three people specially , Elena and her gang, Leila and her cronies and well José" he looked puzzled when I added José's name to the list but dint comment, he nodded in agreement. "in my room you can either sleep on the couch, if you are sleeping on the bed I don't want you near me even in your deepest sleep, you have to leave the room whenever I say, you put the toilet seat back after you pee, I don't wanna see your big boy ever during these 18 days, I want my place neat, tidy, no mess got it". He looked stumped and replied" it's like having a girlfriend without all the good things like sex, well for GEH I will do this". I added as an afterthought " you have to be good with my dad and friends well and have fun when we are out and everything but I want you to keep control and not fuck around, Please " he smiled and said seriously " I promise you Ana I would be good, thank you for this opportunity lets kick some ass girlfriend and one more thing don't call me any names like sweetypoo, honeybug and stuff like my ex girlfriend or I will run" I laughed out loud at that and he smiled a warm melt me type smile. After some time the plane had landed and I headed out saying bye to him and fixing to meet him over the days.

I saw my bags coming round the corner; I picked them up and walked out. I was met with the usual rain of Seattle and a warm feeling filled my heart, however horrible it was this was still home, this was the place where I was born, where I learned to walk, where I lost ,won ,fought ,loved, hurt. I smiled and scanned the crowd searching for my dad's security when I saw my dad waiting for me, he caught my eyes and waved and smiled, and suddenly the 24 year old vanished and the 6 year old Annie took her place, my eyes filled with tears while I broke into a grin. I launched myself into his waiting arms and inhaled his scent and hugged him close, "oh Annie, my baby girl is back home. Hush baby" I heard him coo over to me. I broke the hug and looked at him, he had aged from when I saw him 6 months before but he was as majestic as he was when I was a small kid, Raymond Steele was an enigma, a hero, a shrewd businessman to all but for me he was my sweet doting dad. "oh daddy I missed you so much, I love you so much" I whispered back, he took my face in his hands and kissed my forehead and smiled my favorite crinkled eye smile. "sir we should get going" Collin my dad's head man said, he was with dad for a long time and I was his favorite, I turned to him and hugged him "welcome back little girl, I sure missed you" he said returning my hug. I laughed and walked to the waiting Limo to go home.

"So how is my Annie feeling being back home?" my dad asked, "awesome dad" I replied with a grin snuggling near him. He put his arms around me and kissed my hair, "so where Is this young man, whom Elena told you will be bringing, I had a hard time keeping my smiling face thinking some guy is gonna be with my baby girl" . I laughed and gave him a kiss on the cheeks," now dad I don't want Raymond Steele version 2 around, his name is Christian, he is an entrepreneur and he is building his company currently, he is into mergers acquisitions, telecommunications, shipping and all, we met around 3 months before and things are going like a dream" I said without making eye contact, we had decided to stick to his future line of business so no one will doubt about our plot later on. "He sounds like an enterprising guy, but I hope you are not dating any nerd Annie" dad replied "no dad he is too much fun to be with, he had dropped from Harvard to pursue his business dreams, you will love him dad" I try to convince him. He takes a deep breath and holds my hand "guess I would have to accept my little girl is all grown up and I can't run behind every guy chasing him off like I did with young Mitchell" I laughed out loud at that "dad we were 5 and playing wedding for god's sake, you made him run around our big yard just cause that poor guy kissed me when Kate said you may kiss the bride. You are crazy old man" he joined me and we remembered all those good times. Dads phone started to ring, "its Amelia, here you say hello", Amelia was dads PA and I adored her, she was fun, wild and crazy enough to hang out "Amelia its Ana", her loud shriek filled my ear "Annie baby you are back, uff one and only good thing about that god damn wedding, you know both of those blonde nut jobs have been driving me crazy, Leila she is bridezilla if u ask me" I laughed and heard her complaining and after promising to meet her for lunch really soon I gave the phone to dad.

I looked outside the window watching Seattle fly past us, it was in a car journey like this dad told me about Elena and Leila when I was 12. "Annie baby can you put your book down for a minute, daddy wants to talk to you something important" I was lost in some book at that time, I adjusted my big round glasses and looked at dad, he was looking rather serious, "yes daddy". He took my hands in his and looked into my eyes, "baby daddy want to tell you something and well want your permission for something as well, you now I love you more than myself and I live for you and everything in my life needs you in it. I loved your mother more than anything, she was my dream come true and well after you were born I believed in love at first sight, after all that things going wrong I am so happy I have you with me my angel" I would have looked lost because dad smiled and pressed my hands and said something which shattered my life "I have met a women whom I like, she is the widow of my friend Richard Lincoln, her name is Elena. She has a daughter also 1 year younger than you Leila, you see Annie you are growing up and you need a motherly figure in your life, someone with whom you can share your crushes, teenage troubles, ask doubts, someone who can take you to shopping well someone who knows the difference between a Gucci and Prada for god's sake, more than my own needs I want you to have that Annie". I was stunned into silence, at that time me and mom had zero conversations partly because I couldn't forgive her and partly because she made zero efforts, but having this new person into our life made me uncomfortable "I don't know dad, I haven't even met her". "I know baby we are going to meet her today, and if and only if you like her I am going to marry her, you are a good judge of character Ana I know you can do this" I mutely shook my head. We met Elena that day with Leila and I hated both of them in the first sight, but I also noticed something else that my dad was really happy, Elena behaved extra sweetly with me which oozed artificiality but I acted as if I dint know it. Returning back home we both were quiet and that night I dint sleep a second, I pondered everything my little brain could understand. Dad was young and after few years he would be all alone when I leave for college or when I get married, yes I dint like Elena but by some miracle dad did and that was enough, mom had screwed up his life once and it took this much time to escape I dint want to cause him another pain, like that I had my answer. In a month daddy had married Elena and my horrible life started.

"Hey day dreamer, we are home" dad woke me up from my thoughts; I looked at my home, an old but beautiful and elegant mansion in 180 acres of land, my safe haven. The car drove around the driveway and stopped in front of the garage, I just caught sight of my home up-close before I was knocked down by a black and white blur, "woof woof woof" "down guys down" I laughed when I got a gap form there licking "I missed you both so much, ooh I love you too sweeties" I said hugging and cuddling my dogs. They were both Labrador's simba and nala, yes I loved Disney more than anything else, I played a few minutes and Collin helped me to get up. When I stood up I saw a brunette elegantly dressed accompanying Elena and Leila. Elena was as usual dressed in a sophisticated chic dress and Leila looked breathtaking in a short summer dress. Elena had her hair done in platinum blonde and Leila hung her brunette hair loose, she looked like her dad more than Elena if you ask me. My eyes moved to her ring finger and there was a massive ring with a huge rock which seemed rather showy to me, 'it could have been mine, not the ring exactly but it could have been me planning my wedding with José ' my inner voice said in melancholy. They scanned me and I adjusted my tee shirt and jeans, yes I suck at shopping I know but it shouldn't call for a look like they are given as if they picked me up from a slum to the castle. "oh is this Raymond's daughter, that publisher you were speaking about?" the brunette said aloud, dad came near me and hugged me close "yes, this is my Annie, she is not any publisher Mellissa she is one of the top 10 in New York and I am damn proud of her, if you use that disrespectful tone again I won't wait even a second to fire you", woo go daddy! Raymond Steele was in action I smiled and gave him a peck on the cheeks. "Oh Ana baby, how good to see you" Elena came and gave me a hug air kissing me "pleasure Elena. Hi Leila" I said mechanically. "Hey Ana can you believe I am getting married in 3 weeks, oh my god" Leila screeched, I smiled and turned to Mellissa "and you are?" "Oh sorry miss Steele I am Mellissa Ronald the wedding planner of Leila Lincoln and José Rodriguez wedding" yes it throbbed my heart, and automatically I nodded.

Dad went inside to attend a phone call and I turned to walk myself in when my path was blocked by Leila "hey nerdy back from New York? So tell me Ana how does it feel to know that your sister is marrying your true love that I have him and you don't, that I have this on my finger when you get well nothing. It could have been yours you know if well you weren't such an ugly loser" I took a deep breath and replied smiling "absolutely nothing Leila, José is old news, I have a boyfriend now who loves me and completes me, why should I be jealous of a tramp like you" she started to reply something back when her phone rang, she smiled and showed me the display pic of José and I had nothing to say, if he was handsome before he looked like pure male perfection now, he had that sweet kid look still but with a fabulous body, he was tall and his black locks of hair was in its usual unkempt mess. I had thought I would have healed by now but I hadn't seeing him bought back all those memories we shared, our night time sneak offs, prom night, sleep over's, lunches, dates and every single minute. I blinked back my tears to find Leila gone. "She isn't much of a lady is she? I mean look at her she is dressed like the common townsfolk, she is a Steele for crying out loud, no poise, grace or class" I heard Mellissa voice "what to do Melissa dear, she is a shame on this family and you know she don't even have a date most of the tie that she dreams up imaginary boyfriends. I am blessed ray has at least my lulu to carry on the Steele name in one way, Ana can never be like that, she is a book worm and publisher really! She would have used the Steele name to its fullest. It's a bit of despair really, that kid is just gone after her mother" Elena replied. I closed my eyes and ran up to my room followed by simba and nala, I threw myself on the bed and cried out. If this was day one how was I gonna suffer 21 days of this torture.

Phew this was long. Hope you guys liked it. So share your thoughts.

Rachael XOXO