A/N: Posting this earlier than expected, so enjoy.

Anastasia

"What color do you want?" I'm looking through Ellie's finger nail polishes in her bathroom and notice she has about a hundred.

"I want all the colors!" She grins up at me, making me laugh.

"Well, considering you have a lot more colors than you do fingers Ellie girl, you might have to narrow it down a bit."

"Hmm..." She pushes through her small Rubbermaid box full of nail polish while she thinks. "Let's do the colors of the rainbow with sparkles over them!"

I laugh. "So five colors or ten?"

She rolls her eyes at me. "My hands have to match, Nanny Ana. It's poor taste if they don't."

I snort. "Poor taste? You suddenly sound like your father."

"Well, he is the best."

I push her hair out of her face. "He is. He loves you so incredibly much, Ellie."

She grins as she starts to pull colors. "I know. He's obsessed with me."

I grin. "That he is."

Suddenly, she frowns. "I wish Mommy was. I miss her."

Fuck. It's like a shank to the heart. "I'm sorry, Ellie. Do you want to talk about it?"

She shrugs.

I wet my lips. "When did she leave?"

"Around Halloween time. Daddy came home and said that Mommy couldn't take care of me anymore. She needed time to get healthy and that her brain was sick and it wasn't safe for her to take care of me anymore." She hands me the colors she chose along with a gold glitter overlay.

"That must have been awful. What did you think when he said that?"

"That it's a lie."

I'm taken back by her comment. "A lie? Why do you think that?"

I follow her out of her bathroom to her crafting table in her bedroom so I can sit across from her to paint her nails.

As she sits, I hear her huff. She seems so much older than herself when she's pissed off like this.

"You can tell me, Ellie."

"I think that Daddy didn't want to hurt me so he lied. Mom wasn't sick. She just sucked at being a mom. She didn't really care about us I don't think."

"Why do you think she didn't care?"

She shrugs and it reminds me of her father. "She was never around. She always had someone watch me... and when she was there, she wasn't really. She had boys over and she'd be in her bedroom. I'm not stupid. I knew they were kissing. When she lived with Daddy... I didn't know it then cause I was little... but she had boys then, too. They'd come over and she'd go hide with them while the sitter watched me."

"Wow." I don't even know what to say.

"Please don't tell Daddy. He doesn't know she kissed other boys and it would hurt him."

"I won't, but I think it'd hurt him more to know she did this while you were there."

She gives me a confused look. "Why?"

"Because she's your mommy and she should have been spending loads of time with you... just like he does when he's home."

"Well, he loves me. She doesn't." Again, a shrug while she watches me paint green on her middle finger. "I don't know why I'm sad about her being gone. She was never around."

"I understand. She's still your mom. I went through the same thing with my father."

Her eyes are wide and I'm thankful that she and I have some sort of common ground. I'm new at this nanny thing and I don't know much, but this I can relate to.

"My father left my mom when I was five. I remember calling him on the phone and begging him to come get me and he always said he was too busy. Told me to stop my crying and that Mom would take care of me." I blow lightly on her right hand, trying to dry it a little before starting on the left hand with the main colors.

"So, you've got a Mommy and no Daddy?"

"Well, my mom fell in love with another man the next year and they got married and he became my dad. I call him Daddy now."

Her eyebrows shoot up at my admission. "So, you got a new Daddy?"

I nod.

"And he loves you?"

I grin. "So much. He's as obsessed with me as your daddy is with you, I believe."

"So... if my dad finds a new girl, I could have a new mom?"

I wince, seeing her gears turning in her head. "Er... yes, I suppose, but your daddy is super busy with his company and with you. I don't want you to expect anything like that."

It's quiet for a minute as I finish the first coat to her left side and I feel myself relaxing. She's moving on from the conversation that quickly turned awkward.

"Do you love me, Nanny Ana?"

"Oh, Ellie. Of course I do. It's impossible not to." She beams up at me with her toothless grin.

"Do you love my daddy?"

I choke on my own spit. "Ellie. Listen. I am your nanny. Your father is my boss. It isn't like that between us. I'm sure he's lovely and all, but don't get any ideas."

She pouts. "But if I have a Mommy again then maybe Dad won't sign me up for a million activities in the summer!"

"You don't usually have all this?" I'm surprised.

She shakes her head. "Mommy would have me half the week and I didn't have to do anything but play and read. He said now that it's just me and him he thinks I should concentrate on my activities and stay busy. This summer is going to suck."

I hate that she has to go through this. I would hate having all of these activities as a kid, too. Hell I'm not even looking forward to doing them with her. I can't believe I have to train with a trainer. "Well, did you tell your dad this?"

Snorting, she rolls her eyes. "Have you met him?"

"Touche." I sit back and admire my handiwork. "There. The colors are all done. What do you think? Ready for some sparkle?"

Her pout disappears and she gives me a grin. "Yes, please. Extra sparkles."

I laugh. "Two layers it is!"

It's quiet as I work and I can hear her humming Moana. It's adorable.

"Nanny Ana?"

"Yes?"

"I love you, too."

Christian

This week has gone by so fast. It's Friday evening and lovebug and I just got finished with dinner. Ms. Steele and I finally convinced her that the nanny wasn't lonely and didn't need to eat with us every night, so we got to eat by ourselves finally. I'm not that fond with having to share Ellie's attention with a woman I barely know, especially when she got to spend the whole damn day with her while I was stuck with dickbeaters in conference rooms all day.

I've sent Ellie upstairs to get a shower and her pajamas on and promised her we'd play a game tonight after I go speak to the nanny.

I make my way out to the guest house and find the French doors open. When I make my way closer, I hear Ms. Steele speaking.

"Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my life the way I feel when I'm with you."

I freeze in my spot, goosebumps surging down my spine. Who the fuck does she have in my house? I stomp my way in, not bothering to knock so I can catch her with some needle dick she snuck in.

I find her on the couch, watching Dirty Dancing while she drinks from a bottle of wine with a straw. A penis-shaped straw. My brother was not joking. I still, suddenly realizing I am invading her personal space during her free time and she doesn't even know I'm here. Creep.

The girl begins reciting Baby's lines again and I clear my throat, trying to get her attention. Unfortunately, it causes her to scream and I wince.

"Mr. Grey! Ever heard of knocking?"

Keep your cool, Grey. "You're the one that had the doors open."

"It's common courtesy to knock."

I shrug. "I guess you didn't think I'd come catch you sucking dick."

Her face is white, clearly confused. My attempt at a joke fails. "What the hell are you talking about?"

My eyes land on the bottle of wine and her eyes follow. She realizes that it's a damn joke finally and starts to laugh.

"It was a Bachelorette party gift. Would you like some wine? I don't have another penis shaped crazy straw, but I do have gray dog one. We can pretend it's a werewolf if you'd like." She gives me a teasing smile and I can't help but smile in return.

"I prefer a glass."

Setting her wine bottle down on the coffee table, she hops up and my jaw clenches noticing another tiny pair of cotton shorts. Fuck I want to mark those. Watching her inner thighs turning red and purple from my teeth and lips would be the most satisfying thing I've done in a long time.

"White or red?" She turns toward me from her spot in the kitchen, a glass in her hands.

"Red." Always red. Pink would suffice, too. My eyes find her thighs again.

She gets the red wine out of the cabinet and pours me a deep glass.

"I take it you're here to talk to me about my week." She hands me my wine. "Have a seat. Let's talk."

We make ourselves comfortable on the couch and she grabs her bottle again.

I frown.

"Suck cock a lot?" Why the fuck did I have to say it like that?

She rolls her eyes and I grunt.

"If you're asking if I'm a drunk, I'm not. I don't finish the bottle in one sitting, Mr. Grey... and for a boss, you sure like talking about cock."

My own cock jumps when she says the word. "I apologize for my dry humor, but you're no longer on the clock and we're..." I stop, "friends."

Her eyebrows shoot up. "Friends, huh? Is this what this is? This is you being friendly?"

I shrug. "It's as friendly as I get."

She searches my face and to mask my uncomfortableness, I relax back in the seat.

"Alright. Friends. Cheers." She offers her bottle and I tap my stemless wine glass to it.

"Since we're friends and I'm not on the clock, I wanted to talk to you about Ellie's activities."

"I told you-"

"I know we talked about it, but Ellie voiced to me that she was worried this summer was going to suck because of how many you have her in."

Did she just interrupt me?

"I should take you over my knee for interrupting." Besides my child, no one has interrupted me in years.

"Wh-what?" She laughs nervously. "Another joke?"

I clear my throat. "It got your attention, didn't it?"

"You are one strange man, Mr. Grey." She chews on her straw, staring at me with slits.

"I apologize if I scared you, Anastasia. I assure you I meant it in jest." Kind of. But I would never hurt her. This girl has obviously dealt with handsy boss's in the past. I've got to talk to Elliot.

"I appreciate that. Sometimes you say things that are a little nerve-wracking... but there's something about you that makes me feel... I don't know. Safe."

I'm surprised by this, but for some reason it is so satisfying to hear. "Really?"

She nods, but refuses to look up from her phallic-shaped straw. "I don't know if it's the fact that you're Elliot's brother or that you have your own daughter, or if it's just your aura, but you feel safe. Moody... but safe."

I grin. "Moody is much better than asshole."

Her crystal blue eyes meet mine as she giggles.

"In all serious, though, I would never hurt you. You are safe with me, Ms. Steele."

"Daddy? Daddy! There you are!" My girl comes gallivanting into the open doors in nothing but her nightgown. Her hair is still wet from her shower and her feet are bare.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Ms. Steele hurrying to hide the bottle of wine with the offensive straw on the other side of the couch.

"So did you talk to her? Is Nanny Ana staying?" She plops down in my lap and gives me a large grin.

"Well, we didn't get that far, lovebug, but yes. She's staying. If she wants to." I turn to the nanny and Ellie hops out of my lap only to crash into hers.

"You have to stay, Nanny Ana! You love me, remember?"

Laughing, she hugs my daughter close. "Yes, I remember. I'm not going anywhere, Ellie girl.

"Great! Daddy and I are going to play a game! You should come!"

"Ellie... I don't think-"

I clear my throat. "It's fine."

"Interrupting me now?" She cocks an eyebrow playfully at me and I give her a wink.

"Yes, you must come! Games are so much more fun with three people!"

Anastasia

I didn't get to talk to him about how Eloise feels about her strict schedule, but Christian seems to be relaxing a little around me so it'll have to wait a little longer. I appreciate him trying to relax around me, but his humor is... awkward and uncomfortable. His cock jokes were definitely crossing the lines.

The three of us are playing Monopoly and Christian keeps getting pissed because Ellie and I keep trading properties, but won't with him.

"Daddy, stop with the stink face. You already have both blues and the railroads! You're sucking us dry!"

My head falls back in a laugh. "She's not wrong, Christian. We have to form an army against you."

"Ana!" Eloise wiggles her finger so I'll lean in for her to whisper. "If you give me your utility I'll give you my yellow. Then we'll rule them all!"

I quickly concede, allowing her to control all the utilities so I can start building on the three yellows.

"Um, excuse me! It isn't even your turn!" Christian still has the die in his hand, looking rather put off. It makes me giggle.

"So sorry, Mr. Grey."

"For that, I get two turns... and oh, look at that. I pass go, I get 200 dollars!" He puts his hand out to Eloise, since she's the banker.

She pulls out a 100 and hands it to him. "Um, excuse me, Miss. Where's the other one?"

"Taxes."

"What? Your taxing me fifty percent?"

Ellie shrugs. "Those taxes are a bitch."

I choke on my white wine as I take a drink, the wine spilling onto my tank top.

"Eloise Grace!" Christian tries and fails to hide his grin.

"What?"

"Bitch isn't a word nine year olds should say."

"Don't worry, Daddy, I wouldn't say it at school! And besides, you told Eddie that on the phone just weeks ago!"

I giggle. "Eddie?"

"My accountant." He sighs. "Can I have my money now?"

Ellie eyes his piles of Monopoly money. "You have plenty of money."

"But I was going to give this one to you..."

Her eyes light up. "Oh! Okay!" She pulls the other one-hundred out of the bank and hands it to him.

"Psyche!" He yanks it from her grasp and places it on top of his pile.

"Awww... no fair. I was going to buy you a birthday present!"

"Nice try, Ellie."

"Birthday present?" I hadn't thought of googling his actual birthday. Now I'm worried I missed it. "Is your birthday soon?"

He shrugs. "The eighteenth. It's no big deal."

"Daddy, birthdays are always a big deal! You get presents and cake and ice cream! And MawMaw makes you wear that hat!"

"A hat, huh? What kind of hat?" I grin at the man across the table. "Any picture evidence of this hat?"

He gives me a playful grin. "No evidence to speak of. It's really more of a crown."

"Yes! Dad is the KING! And MawMaw lets me wear a tiara cause I'm his princess."

This is too good. I really need to talk to Elliot about getting pictures this year so I can see this.

"I don't like that look in your eye, Steele."

I feign confusion. "What look?"

He grabs a few nuts out of the crystal bowl he has them in and shoves some in his mouth. He chews as he stares me down. Even him chewing in sexy. Watching his jaw clench and flex is sexier than it should be... and then when he swallows and his adam's apple bobs, I want to slither out of my seat into a mess on the floor.

He must notice my staring at his neck cause when I meet his eyes again, he winks. I feel the flush come over me and I huff out, mad at myself.

"Back to the game. Ellie and I need to dethrone the King of Seattle, now."

"Yes!" Ellie dances in her seat beside me. "Nanny Ana will be the Queen and I'll be her princess!"

"Taking my money and my offspring, Ms. Steele?"

I shrug. "What can I say? I'm savage."

Teaser?

Up Next: Christian makes the mistake of commenting on Ana's clothes.