Chapter One

Christian leaned over the polished redwood table towards the object of his desire. "First, I don't make love. I fuck, hard. Second, there is more paperwork to fill out."

Stretching out his hand as an invitation, Christian patiently waited for Anastasia to grasp it with her tiny palm. The chime announcing the arrival of the elevator disrupted the tense moment and drew his attention to the foyer. 'Who the fuck could be here at this time of night?'

A shrill cry destroyed the silence of the penthouse; the sound of a young child echoed against the white walls. Christian looked at Anastasia mentally willing her to stay seated before he gracefully strode towards the noise. 'Who the fuck brought a child here?'

He stopped short in the foyer as he caught sight of Elena holding the hand of what looked to be a two year old boy. Christian's mind emptied of all thought as he watched the copper haired toddler sniffle and rub his eyes. "Fucking hell, this can't be happening to me!"

The child snapped his attention to Christian crying harder at his vulgar outburst.

"Christian, we have a problem," Elena said. She dragged the reluctant child forward to stand before the imposing form of Christian. The boy valiantly tried to break her hold but to no avail. Christian knew from his past experiences that Elena had a grip of steel.

"No shit. Who the fuck is he?" Christian fiercely demanded.

"Who do you think?" Elena asked sarcastically. "Look at him!"

"Which sub?"

"Leila," she hesitantly stated.

Christian glossed over the fact he knew Elena kept in touch with Leila and would have known of her pregnancy. He tried to keep the panic out of his voice. "Why didn't I know about this?"

"I just found out." Christian bunched his brows together at her blatant lie. Elena paused looking unsure of how to proceed. She blurted out the harsh truth with no sugar coating. "Leila is dead by an overdose. Her husband no longer wants him since he knows that the boy doesn't belong to him."

"Fucking hell." Christian run my hand through his hair. This was just a repeat of history. He knew he couldn't be a father and this poor child was motherless. Christian looked down at his carbon copy. The child was still whimpering in fear.

"Is everything alright?" Anastasia's soft voice asked from the doorway. Elena looked from Christian to Anastasia in confusion.

Christian harshly puffed a breath out. "No, Anastasia. I just found out I'm a fucking father."

Anastasia looked on the scene in horror. "Here. Let me take him to get a snack while you two talk about this."

Elena immediately released her grip on the boy's arm. Anastasia knelt down and opened her arms toward him in a welcoming motion. The child glanced from Anastasia to Christian before he ran head first towards her. Ana wrapped her arms tightly around the child snuggling him close to her body. She lifted herself to stand taking the boy with her as she cradled him in her arms. Christian watched intently as Anastasia turned and walked to the kitchen while tenderly stroking the child's copper hair. As soon as she disappeared from his line of sight, Christian turned back to Elena with a thunderous look that caused her to flinch. "Office. Now."

Without stopping to take her coat, he pivoted to walk to the office. Christian entered and flicked on the lights; Elena directly behind him. "Have a seat, Mrs. Lincoln."

Without hesitation, she did as he bid. A nagging sense of suspicion permeated Christian. Elena was never submissive unless she wanted something or was hiding something. "How long have you known? Don't lie. You know I'll find out and it'll be worse for you."

A brief flicker of desire flittered in her eyes before it disappeared at the realization that this would not end well for her in any case. "I've known since she was eight months pregnant. I didn't want to keep secrets from you, but I knew how much you didn't want a child."

"And the drug use? How long?"

"I didn't know until I got the call. I only keep tabs on her every now and then."

"How the fuck were you her contact?"

"Leila told me before she gave birth that if something happened to her, she wanted me to be involved as a mother figure to Trevor. Since her husband was not the father, her will gave me temporary guardianship until he could be handed over to you for full custody."

"Of course I'll get full custody. He is my son." Christian paused as he mulled over the thought. He never wished for children, but now presented with a child already born Christian felt a strange possessiveness take over him. Trevor was wholly his to protect. "Trevor? Is that his name?"

"Yes. It is. He is perfectly healthy. I already had him check out. What do you plan on doing with him?"

Christian looked at her in disbelief rolling his eyes at her. "What do you mean plan on doing with him? He'll live here with me."

Elena looked flabbergasted at the notion. "You can't give him what he needs. He needs love. He is a baby."

Christian leaned against the walnut desk deep in thought and closed his eyes. Love was not something he could give anyone, but he couldn't abandon his own child. A mother to care for the child was the best thing he could offer Trevor. Christian smiled and opened his eyes to look into Elena's. "I know that, but I always have a backup plan."

She gave Christian a calculated look and stepped closer. "I promise I will do everything in my power to assist you with the child. Several of my friends have children with nannies. I will contact them and see if one of them would meet your standards."

'Just like you've provided me with my subs,' Christian thought. Elena placed her weathered hand on his bicep stroking the muscle through the navy sports jacket. "That will be unnecessary. I already have someone in mind."

Elena frowned. "Who? That girl that is here? You've got to be kidding. How did you find her anyway? She doesn't act submissive at all."

Christian stood brushing Elena's offending hand away. "She isn't a sub. She is more."

"More? You don't do more. I didn't train you to do more," she said furiously. He scowled at the dominance in her tone.

"No, you didn't, but this isn't for you to worry about. I've got it handled," Christian said as he led her out of the office towards the giggling sounds emanating from the kitchen. He stopped in the doorway to survey the scene. Anastasia sat with Trevor in her lap as she patiently fed him bites of stuffed chicken from a fork. Elena looked upon the scene of domesticity with disgust. There was no way Christian would allow Elena to mother his child. He had to turn on the charm used on so many business conquests in order to hook Anastasia.

"Ana, let me introduce an old friend of my mother's, Elena Lincoln. Elena, this is Anastasia." Christian refused to give up the last name of his child's future caretaker until it was absolutely impossible to avoid.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Elena," Anastasia said with a look of insincerity. Christian briefly wondered if she sensed the darkness in Elena. Even Mia turned her nose up at Elena and she was amiable with everyone.

"The pleasure is all mine," retorted Elena. She turned to Christian with lips pursed. "It is getting late. Call me when you come to your senses."

Ignoring Elena's rude behavior, Christian smiled at Anastasia before he silently ushered Elena back to the elevator where Taylor stood guard. Elena entered the elevator and sneered at him. Christian threw her off by smiling good-naturedly in return. "Have a good evening, Mrs. Lincoln."

Elena's mouth popped open at his formality and started to speak when the doors closed whisking away. Taylor was stoic beside Christian, but his curiosity was undeniable. "I'm assuming you met our new guest."

"Yes, sir," Taylor said then waited for him to elaborate.

"His name is Trevor. Leila gave birth about two years ago," Christian watched his face for any surprise. There was none. "She is dead. Speak plainly."

"Will you be needing me to procure items to take care of him?"

'Why hadn't I thought of that?' Christian mused as he cocked my head and rubbed his jaw. "Shit. I didn't think of that. I'll need everything. Go to one of those box chains and purchase the necessities for tonight and tomorrow morning. We'll go shopping in the afternoon for the rest."

Taylor nodded and followed as Christian walked to the kitchen. Anastasia was nowhere in sight, but her giggle led him to the great room where Trevor cuddled close by her side on a large sofa. "Mr. Grey, what of Miss Steele?"

Christian stopped and turned to Taylor. "She will be staying for the time being."

"Shall I have Mrs. Jones prepare the guest room?" The curiosity was burning in his eyes.

"No, she will be with me." Surprise finally lit Taylor's face up. "Have Carolyn deliver several outfits and accessories for Miss Steele tomorrow morning before ten."

"Of course," Taylor said in a monotone hiding his astonishment in a blink of an eye.

Christian dismissed him with a nod and focused his attention to the woman whispering into Trevor's ear. A strange emotion rose inside his chest at the way she carried on with Trevor. It was reminiscent of the feelings the Madonna and Child painting in the foyer invoked in Christian. He filed that away for later contemplation. Now was the time to set up his child's future. Christian sat flush against Anastasia placing his hand on her thigh. Trevor looked up and clung closer to Ana. "Hey you."

Anastasia giggled. "Hey back at you. So, do you mind telling me what is going on?"

Christian sighed. He knew this was coming. "Apparently an old girlfriend of mine got pregnant and didn't tell me. She is no longer alive."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize," she apologized.

"It's okay. I'm only concerned for Trevor."

"So Trevor is his name. Wait, you said you didn't do the girlfriend thing."

Christian was busted. He had hoped that his previous statement would conveniently be forgotten, but Ana called him out. He desperately raked his mind for words to sooth her. "I don't. I was trying to be nice. She is someone I had a physical relationship with."

"And Elena?"

Christian held his breath; Ana couldn't possibly have any inkling to that relationship. He decided to tell the truth, but omitting a few important details. "She is the one who introduced us. Mutual friend."

"Did she know?" She was full of questions. Christian almost rolled his eyes, but refrained from offending her so early in the game. He needed her full support before slowly taking back the control he was relinquishing to acquire her love.

"Yes," he bit out trying to keep his annoyance out of the single word. He failed miserably.

Ana placed her hands on her hips and kept her eyes on his. "Doesn't sound like a mutual friend to me."

"You are telling me. Look Ana, I know we were going to do the date night thing, but with this popping up, maybe we should hold off on a night to ourselves. That is if you are still interested in a single father with a toddler."

"I could be. For the right father, of course," Anastasia flirted with a bat of her eyes. Trevor started to sag in her arms; his breath evened out as he closed his eyes.

"I could be the right father. I do have a favor to ask," Christian said giving her what he assumed was an adorable pout. His looks have never failed him before, but this was the first time he has used them to elicit a sense of pity. "Can you stay and help? I've never taken care of a child before."

"I can tell," Ana beamed at Christian. "Don't worry. I'll help you anyway I can."

'Thank fuck that worked.' A small shutter of relief shook Christian's shoulders as he let out the breath he had been holding in anticipation. "I'll just have to take you up on that, Miss Steele. Let's head to the bedroom and get comfortable."

"What?" she asked with alarm spread over her face.

"Nothing like that, not that I would mind. It's late and I'm assuming Trevor needs sleep."

"Yes, he does. I don't think Elena fed him today and she brought nothing of his with her."

Christian frowned. Elena would have some explaining to do. 'Where ARE the boy's things? How long did she have him before she delivered him to me?'

"I sent Taylor out of essentials. He'll be back within the hour. Come, let me show you to my boudoir." He exaggeratingly raised an eyebrow and swept his arm out to show the way. Ana giggled at Christian's unexpected playfulness and followed him with Trevor in her arms to Christian's private sanctuary.

The quiet was unnerving considering there were two other people lying in his bed. Taylor had brought all the essentials needed for Trevor; however, no matter how hard Anastasia tried, he would not sleep in his crib. After a bath and a change of clothing, Trevor finally feel asleep curled in Ana's arms in the middle of the bed. Christian smiled remembering how innocent Anastasia had seemed when he offered her some of his clothing to wear to bed. Even in the darkness, the starkness of the white t-shirt she wore drew his attention to the dark pink tips showing through the fabric that rose to perfection on her chest; Trevor's hand was possessively draped between her perky tits. This night would have gone in a much different direction had they not been interrupted. Christian sighed and adjusted the hard-on that sprung up at the dirty thoughts she inspired in him.

As they peacefully slept next to him, Christian carefully laid out plans to ensnare the heart of Anastasia. Her trust and loyalty to him would keep her in his life and therefore in Trevor's. Small doubts lingered but like any acquisition, he was prepare to adjust his behavior and offer to suit the necessities of the deal. Engaging in a romantic tryst was never on his to-do list, but situations change and therefore he must as well. Though he was incapable of the depth of feelings Christian hope to inspire in Anastasia, he could at least offer her romance and affection until she was too deeply involved to leave. Christian scrolled on his cell through websites dedicated to winning the heart of an interested partner. With Anastasia's naivety, Christian's plan would be completed within a few weeks.

The light from the screen allowed Christian to see the sleeping faces besides him. Both of them were full of a sweet childlike innocence that compelled him to protect them at any and all costs. A surge of emotion filled Christian as the dominant in him rose to the forefront of his mind. The controlling nature of Christian's psyche demanded that his plans included Anastasia to remain either by his side or at home with his son. The psychology classes that he took at Harvard would come in handy for the first phase of building a family structure. Christian grinned into the dark room; the first real smile he had all night. Anastasia's entrance into his life could not have come at a better time. His son would have the future that was denied to Christian. A loving mother would be provided to him with little effort on Christian's part. She was conveniently there and already under Christian's thrall; all it would take is a tip of his hand to instigate a lifelong relationship that would benefit everyone involved, albeit for different reasons.

Anastasia had no idea what was in store for her. If all went well, in a few short months Anastasias would be signing her name as Mrs. Grey. Christian frowned at the thought. Mrs. Christian Grey certainly had a ring to it that was unexpected. Never in his life had he ever imagined becoming legally attached to someone even if it was strictly a marriage of convenience. Slowly the pieces of the puzzle fell together as he imagined what a wife would entail; no more lonely dinners, someone beside him in his darkest hours, and someone to share his greatest triumphs.

A wife didn't have to be just the mother of his child…children… she could be much more than a dinner companion. She could be his confidante, but to fill that role he would have to trust her with every part of his dark and twisted soul and that wasn't something he felt he could achieve. Christian realized if there was one person in the universe that could at least begin to assume the position of a wife, it was Anastasia Steele with her unassuming eyes and loving disposition. To Christian, women were vultures circling around the bag of money at his feet not caring if he was in the way. Some found him sexually pleasing granting him access to their bodies for a short space of time, but so far none of them truly looked at him as if he was worthy of their love. And he wasn't.

He used women just as much as women used him; physically draining them of the pleasure he required and leaving some of them as emotional husks of the girl they were before he came into their lives. He would have to take special care to safeguard Anastasia's feelings. He needed her emotionally healthy to suit the role he intended for her to assume before the year was out. The only challenge he could fathom was getting Anastasia to the point of accepting some of the darker sexual practices he enjoyed. He doubted she had seen much wear and tear so suspension would have to wait for a few years until they discovered it 'together.'

A plan arose in Christian's mind at the thought of teaching her how to take a good swat of his hand. Roleplaying would be the first thing he introduced after they commenced a sexual relationship. Christian grinned at the mental image of Anastasia in a school girl uniform. He had never been one to engage in make believe, but if it got her allowing him to give her a spanking for being a naughty school girl, he was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

The circumstances of their relationship would remain hidden from Anastasia and everyone else, even Elena. Christian would move heaven and hell to keep her ignorant of factors that would tear her away from him. She was, after all, one of the few women he held in any esteem and to think he had only known her for a few short weeks. He could not have model a better woman than Anastasia after his adoptive mother who was an angel in his eyes.

Christian locked his phone and placed it on a night stand before snuggling back down in to the covers. He watched the two forms beside him for any sign of waking dreading falling asleep within an arm's reach of them. His eyes grew heavy without his permission as the warmth radiating from their bodies cocooned him.

'Yes, Miss Steele will do nicely,' Christian thought as he drifted away into a nightmare free sleep.

Author's Note: Hope you've enjoyed this. This is the story I've been holding back from posting. It has been in my head since March. I was going to hold off until Looking For You was finished, but the last chapter I posted on LFY didn't bring me the joy it normally does. This story is not an oneshot! YAY!

Thank you for reading and please REVIEW! I like to know what you are thinking.