Anastasia
This week has been exhausting. I hate training at the gym. It's sweaty and gross and I smell, Ellie smells, she's cranky, she's hungry and exhausted, and I am too.
Really, this whole week Ellie has been in a bad mood and I think it's because of her full schedule. She doesn't have time to breathe or even take a nap.
"Nanny Ana, I'm dizzy."
I sigh, knowing this would happen. Our stupid sessions at the gym (that I found out Christian owned) are right before lunch which means Ellie's stomach is empty when she does her aerobics and then her blood sugar drops and I have to fish some sort of snack out of my bag for her to eat on the way home so she doesn't pass out. Thankfully, I caught on quickly.
"Here, Ellie. I packed you some apples with honey hummus." I hand her the Rubbermaid that I stashed in my big handbag earlier.
Gail is going to be annoyed with me, but I can't have her passing out in the car. She never eats much of her lunch after she eats a car snack and I know it bugs Gail that she makes lunch that she won't eat. Then, by the time dinner comes around she's ravenous, which seems to tickle Christian to death. Evidently Ellie has always eaten like a bird and he's enjoying her appetite this week.
I really need to talk to him about that.
To try to lighten Ellie's mood, I turn on my Disney Pandora station so we can sing along to it through the stupid lunch traffic of Seattle. It seems to do the trick.
"Don't forget to drink your water, Ellie." My eyes find hers in the rear view mirror. Christian decided she wasn't peeing enough when he was home since starting her activities so now I have to force water down her throat.
She groans. "Daddy is so overprotective. I'm surprised he isn't making us write down when I go... number one and two!"
I giggle. "Don't give your father any ideas. I draw the line at making poo charts. You're on your own with that one."
She lets out a deep belly laugh and I am thankful that she's in a light mood right now.
"I'm still hungry." She frowns as she looks down at her empty container.
"Good. Gail is making lunch. You need to eat some lunch and then you're getting a bath. We both are. We stink."
She sniffs her arm. "No. You stink. I smell like flowers."
"Flowers?" I snort. "Must be death flowers then."
"Nanny Ana!"
I laugh. "Just saying!"
"Fine. I stink. Can I use Daddy's tub?"
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
Christian
It's been an exhausting week. Employees have been pissy, clients have been pissy... hell, even my own daughter has been pissy. I'm sure I've upgraded to Asshole2.0 this week because of it. Giving up, I decide to head home early today. When I told Andrea I was leaving early, she looked relieved. Fuck, I must be an asshole.
I come in the front door and hear giggles echoing from deeper in the house. Thank fuck. That means Ellie is in a better mood.
I find Eloise and Ms. Steele running around the kitchen island, my daughter chasing the nanny, while Gail stands at the cutting board, laughing while she makes lunch.
"Ms. Steele! What are you wearing?" She stops in her tracks, making Ellie run right in the back of her.
"What-what do you mean? Work-out clothes. We just got back from the gym." She gives me a scowl.
She's wearing nothing, but a purple sports bra with a matching jacket draped on her shoulders, but wide open. She might as well just take the thing off. She isn't fucking using it as intended. She has on a tight pair of black yoga pants that make her ass look phenomenal.
"Ellie, why don't you go get a bath while Gail finishes making lunch?" I don't want to argue in front of her.
She eyes me and the nanny and I know she knows we're going to bicker. "Fine. But don't yell at Ana." She points her finger at me before turning toward the nanny. "Nanny Ana, it's 12:24 and I'm heading up for number two. Write that down."
I'm completely confused, but the nanny breaks out in a laugh. I recover quickly and round on Ms. Steele. "You think it's okay to run around looking like that?"
"Looking like what, Mr. Grey?" Her hands are on her hips.
"What example do you want to teach my daughter?"
"What I want is for her to be confident in her own skin and that it is not her job to make sure that any male... or female for that matter... keep their hands and eyes to themselves."
I scoff. I should have known she was going to go all feminist on me.
She pokes me hard in the chest. "Don't you tut at me! We as women have always been blamed for other's actions and it needs to stop! It doesn't matter what we wear or how we act. I've learned that if someone has dishonorable intentions, they're going to do as they please no matter the situation. Victim shaming is in the past. Women shaming is in the past. My body, my choice, my right. If I want to show my abdomen because it's hot in the gym and I'm sweating my ass off, I'm going to. If I want to walk the streets in a bra and leggings, just because I like the way I look in them, I will."
"That sound great and all, Ms. Steele, but that doesn't stop the mindsets of others."
"Bull shit! Nothing is ever going to change if we don't change it! What does it say for mankind if they can't even keep their eyes and hands off of a body part simply because it's showing?" She is shooting daggers at me and I hate to admit it, but she's fucking turning me on... which is completely terrible of me and counterproductive to the argument she's trying to make.
"Calm down, Ms. Steele. I get it. You want to change the world." I shake my head. "You have honorable intentions, but I can't help, but worry about my daughter. If her covering herself a little keeps even one person from hurting her in some way, it's worth it. I won't apologize for feeling that way."
"I'm not your daughter, Mr. Grey."
"I'm aware. But she looks up to you." And I don't want anything to happen to you, either. "I want both of you safe."
"I really appreciate that, Mr. Grey. This world needs to change. The laws need to change. Being a woman in this world is frightening. Do you know that I can't take a walk in public with my ear pods in because I have to stay alert to my surroundings constantly? I can't go out after dark without gripping my keys in my hand to use as a weapon. I can't go anywhere alone without constantly looking over my shoulder. When I'm walking to my car, I facetime my friends so they can see who it is if something happens. I have to be hyperaware of who is following me in stores and if someone ends up in the same aisle on more than one occasion, I find myself zigzagging across the store to make sure they're not following me. And Every. Single. Time. I get in my vehicle I have to look in the back to make sure someone hasn't stowed themselves back there. This is normal for woman. We have to live in constant fear that someone is going to overpower us, rape us, or even kill us. This has to change! I refuse to live in fear! Yes, I have to be vigilant, especially now when I'm out with your daughter, but I refuse to stop living!"
Her admission is like ice tossed over my body. I never once had to worry about any of this shit. The fact that I always assumed women stared at me because of my pretty face makes me feel like bull shit now. Here, I scowled at them and probably even scared them more. Maybe there does need to be some education about this sort of thing. I know this is going to change the way I act in public.
"I never knew."
She shrugs and I notice tears in her eyes. "Most men don't."
Before I realize what I am doing, I stride over to her and pull her to me, hugging her against me. I just need her close. I need her to feel safe and secure. After a beat, I feel her arms tighten around me. She smells like vanilla, apples, and a little bit of sweat, but it doesn't bother me. I'm glad. The training will make her strong and keep her safe.
"I'll do everything I can to keep you two safe." I don't want my daughter to go through life looking over her shoulder.
"Mr. Grey..."
"Call me Christian."
She pulls away enough to look up at me. "Really?"
I reach up and wipe a tear off her cheek. "Really. We're stuck together, so might as well."
My terrible joke does its job and she grins. "Thank you, Christian."
The name washes over me, warming me from the inside out. "You're very welcome, Anastasia."
XxXxXx
"Mr. Grey. It's nice to see you." The coach of the Seattle Greys is standing at the edge of the parking lot, obviously waiting for me to arrive. I drove Ellie and Ms. Steele myself and my girl is ecstatic that Nanny Ana has come to watch her.
I shake his hand. "Likewise."
"I hope the team lives up to your expectations."
I want to roll my eyes and I find myself a little angry at his ass kissing. "As long as the kids have fun, that's all that matters." They're children. My child doesn't need the added stress of worrying she's not good enough for a damn softball team. I see him eyeing my nanny beside me and it does not do anything for my anger level.
"Travis, this is Ms. Steele."
"We've met." He gives her a smile.
Duh, Grey. I had forgotten she'd been taking Ellie to practice.
"Great." I turn to Ellie. "Do you have everything you need, lovebug?"
She looks adorable in her black and gray softball uniform, matching gray hat, and bright pink cleats. She's holding her pink bat that matches her cleats and I just want to take a picture to remember, but I promised I wouldn't. I'll just wait until she's in the outfield.
"Yes. Get good seats, Daddy! I'm going to hit it a looonnnnggggg way, so you better sit high in the seats so you can see my home run!"
Chuckling, I press a kiss to her cheek, but she quickly wipes it off. "Dad! You're embarrassing."
Oh, fuck. It's already starting. "I'm embarrassing you, huh? What if I told you I made you a giant poster with your face on it?"
She gasps. "You did not! Dad! Don't!"
Ms. Steele batts at my arm lightly. "You leave her alone! He didn't, Ellie. Don't worry. Have fun, okay? That's what's most important. We'll go find our seats and I'll do my best at keeping your dad from embarrassing you."
She beams up at her and gives her a quick hug. "Thank you, Nanny Ana."
"OH!" I huff. "So you can hug her, but I can't kiss you?"
Ms. Steele rolls her eyes and starts to pull me toward the bleachers. "Come on before you embarrass her again. I'll buy you some popcorn to mend your ego."
I follow after Ms. Steele and can't help but think she's adorable in her two French braids and backwards Seattle Greys baseball cap. She's wearing a black t-shirt with the teams logo on it and a pair gray leggings. Her feet are in black flip flops and her toes are red. I like that. I've always found red sexy.. and seeing it against her porcelain skin makes me like it even more.
Unfortunately, after we get situated, my girl gets embarrassed again when they announce that I am here over the loud speakers before the game starts. I stand and give a small wave and sit back down quickly, feeling my nine year old's intense scowl from the dugout.
"It's good to see you in a t-shirt." Ms. Steele is looking me over in my jeans, a Seattle Greys black t-shirt that matches hers, and ball cap. "Less stuffy this way."
"Stuffy?" Is that how I look in my workwear?
"Yea, plus it shows off the muscles in your arms and shoulders. You work hard for them, show them off a little."
"Do you want me to show then off?" I give her a grin which makes her bite her lip. Fuck. That lip biting is my kryptonite.
"I would never tell a good looking man to hide what he's got."
"You think I'm good looking?"
"Now you're just fishing for compliments." Grinning, she pops a nacho in her mouth. I know I'm easy on the eyes, but it's always nice to hear it from a pretty girl.
My eyes wander down to what she's wearing. "It's good to see you wearing a t-shirt, too. It's long enough to cover your backside."
"That's too bad. I have a very nice backside."
"Exactly. That's why I want you to cover it."
The nacho is halfway to her mouth when she stills. Yes, I'm flirting, Anastasia. I love that she's here tonight for Ellie and I'm feeling a lot of affection toward the brunette beauty beside me.
I lean forward and bite off the end of the nacho that she's holding, giving her a wink. Her cheeks tinge pink.
"So, what is up with all the snacks anyway?" I take a nacho from her plate. She's got popcorn, nachos, licorice, and a Diet Pepsi.
"What do you mean? It's a ball game! You have to have snacks! I'm getting cotton candy next." She says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world and it makes me laugh.
"So, concession money is always a must?" I take another nacho.
"You seem to be enjoying all my snacks, so I would say yes!"
Anastasia
Lord, have mercy on my soul. Christian seems to be openly flirting now and I don't know how to deal with this. I can't decide if this is the natural Christian that his friends get to see, or if this is new... and if it's new, what exactly does that mean? I shake my head, trying to concentrate on the game. My brain can't go there. Ellie is most important and if I fuck something up, I won't be able to see her anymore. I can't even imagine that now. She's become so important to me. I don't have my own child, so I don't understand how it really works, but I can only imagine the feelings I have for her are the feelings I would have for my own. I love her like she's my own. So, no matter how gorgeous he is in a baseball cap, jeans, and a t-shirt that is too small on his arms, I can't let myself care. He is your boss, Anastasia Rose! Professionalism is key! I need to keep it that way for Eloise.
Christian stepped away to take a phone call a minute ago and I find Travis staring at me again. That would be a terrible idea, too. I don't think Christian approved of it earlier when he was looking at me like I was a popsicle. It seems that Christian is as protective as Elliot... and it seems even more so, considering he comments on my clothing choices.
I concentrate on my nacho box, finishing off the last couple of nachos. I'm too awkward when it comes to men who seem interested in me. I don't want to give this guy Travis a reason to believe I have any urge to get to know him better.
"Surprise." I startle when Christian plops down next to me, holding out a blue cotton candy on a stick for me.
"Aren't you the sweetest!" I give him a grin as I clean my fingers with a napkin before taking it. I pull off a bit to pop in my mouth and hum. Nothing like pure sugar to ease your worries!
Suddenly, he snorts.
"What is it?" I see him trying to hold back his laughter as he looks at me.
"Anastasia, you have nacho cheese on your nose."
"Oh, my god! I do not!" I reach for my face, but he grabs my hand. "What are you doing?" A smile slowly forms on his face and I realize. "I swear to all that is holy, Christian! If you lick my nose I will karate chop you!"
His head falls back in a laugh and I find myself giggling along with him. He's so gorgeous when he laughs. I feel it down to my soul when he lets himself go like this.
When he finally calms down, he reaches up and wipes at my nose with his thumb. "There. You are clean and saliva free."
"I appreciate that."
Teaser?
Up Next: Ellie asks for a baby.