AU: Haven't written in super long time. Just had an idea. Oneshot for now but pending, might turn into a story of three-shot. Character rights do not belong to me.

Through the restaurant window she can see him clearly as he laughed and smiled at a woman that wasn't her. A woman that sees him more than she does these past few months. A woman who clearly has feelings for him judging by the way her eyes shone with every smile directed her way. Her gaze went back to the man and her heart broke a little more. Numbly, she reached for her phone and called a number she's memorized by heart. She watched him as the phone rang. With each ring she watched as he excused himself from the table and walk to the corner of the window where the moonlight gazed on his face. Five years and her heart still paused at his beauty. Most of all she watched as he looked at the caller ID and frowned before answering.

"Hello." His voice seemed bored and nonchalant.

"Hey, where have you been?" It took every ounce of strength in her to mold her voice as if her heart wasn't breaking with every breath she took.

"I sent Taylor to pick you up. We had another meeting with the company head that I've been meaning to acquire. Everything's going well actually. They should sign the contract by next week. About three more acquisitions like this and I'll be well into my multi-millionaire status."

With each statement he made he became more and more excited. His and passion for business was one of his best traits.

She took a deep breath and smiled even though he couldn't see her. "That's great! Congratulations, I knew you could do it."

She bit her lip and the awry feeling in her stomach grew stronger. "Are you coming home now?"

His chest puffed as he sighed, "No it's Leila's birthday and she's got no one to spend it with so I figured I'll take her out for dinner."

"Leila's birthday," her voice echoed. Even she could hear the disdain and scorn in her voice. She couldn't hide it anymore. The pain was too much.

"Ana," he scolded her. "I couldn't have done this without her help," he urged her.

A million thoughts ran through her head. She couldn't help but feel angry and hurt. Why wasn't her help appreciated. All those long nights she spent with him at Harvard helping him devise his business plan, every long night at the office where she brought him dinner so he wouldn't forget to take care of himself, or those immensely boring galas she accompanied him to in order to meet new associates. With every obstacle he faced she was there right behind him giving him the push and encouragement he needed.

"Look I have to go ok. It's her birthday and we were just going to have dinner anyways. I'll make it up to you," his velvety voice promised. The click of the call interrupted her before she can say anymore.

All the words died at the tip of her tongue. She wanted to scream at him so many things. She had so much more to say. All she managed to whisper out was, "but it's our anniversary."

And as she dropped the phone to her lap the tears started to run down from her eyes.

Taylor looked at the lovely young woman through the rear view mirror. He couldn't help but be annoyed at his boss. He saw how he pushed her to the side as the time went on, how the company became more important than her. He only wished his boss would realize his mistake before it was too late and he lost her for good. Through the whole car ride until they were at her apartment he heard her sobbing in the backseat, looking out the window with longing as if she wished she can just fly away from everything.

Taking a deep breath he exited his door and slowly walked around the car as he felt the frigid cold and harsh winds that forecasted a storm coming through his suit jacket. Taylor peeked at Ana and saw how she summoned every ounce of strength she had as she took a deep breath and fixed her face as if she didn't spend the last 20 minutes crying her heart out.

"Ms. Steele," he greeted her as warmly as he can while he opened the door for her.

"If it isn't too much trouble Taylor can you please help me carry some stuff from my apartment," she whispered.

"Of course, ma'am."

She entered her apartment and moved about with determination. She gathered everything she ever received from him and placed it neatly in a box. Next, she walked around her room opening and closing drawers taking clothes out and placing it inside the opened suitcase laid on her bed. As she closed her suitcase she looked around the room and tried to reminisce every memory it held. She moved to her bedside dresser and grabbed her passport as she booked a flight. She exhaled loudly and looked at her left hand as she took off the glistening ring that laid on her finger and placed it on top of the contents in the box.

Within twenty minutes she came out of her room with a suitcase and a box. Dressed in comfortable clothes with soft leggings and oversized wool sweater she looked like she was on a mission.

"Please give this box to Christian." She handed Taylor the box that felt like it carried her heart.

Ana took one last glance at her apartment before walking out with her suitcase.

"I'll take your suitcase down, Ms. Steele," Taylor offered.

When they reached the parking lot, Taylor couldn't help but worry for this woman who he looked at as a daughter. "I'll take you wherever you're going Ana."

Ana turned around surprised at Taylor's use of her first name. She saw the worry in his eyes and agreed. She knew how he looked at her as a daughter ever since he found out who her father was. Her father was his commander for a good part of his time in the army and looked after her as a way to repay her father for saving his life. "To the airport please, thank you," she responded.

"Also if it's not too much trouble, I was wondering if you can cancel these reservations for me? They were supposed to be for a surprise trip."

"Of course, Ana. Anything you need."

She looked out the window as Taylor drove. The cold pelting rain beat on the window and resembled everything she felt inside.

"He doesn't deserve you, you know. You deserve better." Taylor's voice interrupted her thoughts of wallowing in her heartbreak.

Ana wanted to say something, anything but her throat felt tight and she couldn't get a word out. Instead, she focused on his words and took them to heart.

"We're here. I want you to call me when you land. If your father was here he'd be the one you're calling. I won't tell Mr. Grey but Gail and I will want to know you're safe," Taylor ordered her.

"Yes of course, tell Gail I'm sorry I couldn't say bye," she whispered. Ana allowed herself a minute to think of everyone she would miss. Gail, Taylor's wife and Christian's housekeeper, doted on her like she was her own daughter too. Christian's parents, Grace and Carrick, and his siblings, Elliot and Mia, all welcomed her into their lives with open arms and she didn't even get to say goodbye. She couldn't though, as strong as she pretended to be she knew that if she saw him one last time she'll lose the courage to leave and she owed it to herself to know her worth.

She hugged Taylor relishing in the comfort he gave her, his hugs felt just like her father's hugs.

"Thank you for everything Taylor."

Taylor watched her go as she disappeared into the crowd of people. He would always watch out for her, even if she was on the other side of the country. As he made his way back to the car his phone rang with message from Christian.

"I'm done, pick me up. Same restaurant." He couldn't help but shake his head, his boss doesn't realize how much of a mistake he just made.

Arriving at the restaurant he saw his boss walking back after escorting his secretary to her car. Taylor opened the door for him as he nodded, "Mr. Grey."

As Christian entered the car, he was met with the soft lingering smell of peonies and freesia from Ana's perfume. Her voice entered his mind once again. She was jealous earlier but he couldn't understand why. After all, they can have dinner any other day. He felt a slight sense of guilt knowing he hung up on her on their call earlier but he didn't want to fight. As he mulled it over he couldn't remember the last time they ever had a fight and that's because he couldn't remember the last time they ever talked sincerely. He admits he's been preoccupied lately but he was doing this for them. He was building his business for their future.

A honk of a car pulled him out from his thoughts as he turned to look in the direction it came from. It was just some car going too fast and almost rear ending the car in front of them. Living in Seattle for most of his life he assumed people should know how to drive correctly in the rain. As he pulled his eyes away from the scene the box that laid on the seat caught his attention.

"What is this Taylor?"

"It's for you sir, from Ms. Steele."

He couldn't comprehend why she would give him such a big box but he took it and placed it on his lap as he looked inside for it's contents. On the very top was the ring that he'd recognize from anywhere. It was the engagement ring he had custom made for her. His heart leapt to his through and his stomach started to twist.

Why is this here, he thought. NO, she wouldn't, he tried to convince himself. His hands trembled as he picked up ring and twist it around in his fingers. His chest tightened and he felt like he couldn't breathe as he clawed at his tie to loosen it. Under the ring was an envelope with his name on it. He didn't want to open it, he was too scared to. His heart raced and he tried to calm down his breathing as he opened the letter and started to read.

Christian,

I never thought I would say these words to you much less have to write it. You are the love of my life. You're the one I picture that's waiting for me at the end of the aisle when I walk down in white. The one that would wrestle with my son on the floor instead of sending them up to sleep or waking up early to have a tea party with my future daughter. We'd get cranky at each other as we woke up for diaper changes and tried to argue to who's turn it is for feeding the baby in the middle of the night. We'd make memories that we'll cherish forever from our honeymoon and promise our vows to each other in front of everyone we care about. I can't picture a future without you. It seems impossible to do so. But, I'm tired. I'm tired of being in a relationship by myself. I'm tired of going to family dinners alone, of being clueless whenever someone asks me why you aren't there, of having to fight everyone just for a minute of your time, of having to put up with the pity stares directed my way every time you couldn't make it for dinner. I can't even remember the last time you spent time with me where your focus was me and I didn't have to share you with your phone or computer. You used to look at me like you'd never get tired of looking at me, you used to ask how my day went every day, you used to want to know me and everything about me even though you already did, you used to never let a day go without telling me how much you loved me. You don't look at me like that anymore, you don't ask me how my day went, you don't call me to tell me that you missed me or you love me. You don't show interest in me anymore but I saw how you looked at her. How you smiled and laughed at everything you had to say. I saw how you gave her sole attention as she talked, how you're interested in whatever she had to say. As I looked at you at the restaurant with Leila, I realized that I may not see a future without you but I saw a future of you without me. I've felt that I've been losing you for quite some time now and I finally realized that I already have. I believe this is the end of us. I won't ever forget you. You saw me and made me realize my worth. You pushed me to achieve the dreams I didn't even know I had. You loved me and showed me that love does exist outside of books and movies. So, thank you for everything. I wish you all the happiness and success.

PS: Please don't look for me. Please thank your family for me for being the family I never had.

Anastasia Steele

He didn't realize the tears that were flowing down his cheeks until the vision of the letter started to get blurry.

"Take me to Ana's now!" he exclaimed. His breath came in spurts as if he had to force himself to breathe. He couldn't believe what he just read. A future without Ana is no future at all. How

Taylor looked towards him and figured he must've received everything. "She won't be there Mr. Grey," he responded stoically.

"What do you mean?" he gasped.

"I dropped her off at the airport before I came to pick you up, sir"

"What! Why didn't you tell me?" Gone was Christian's calm attitude. His anger came quick. How dare his employee help his fiancé leave him without telling him.

"She didn't want you to know and sir, you didn't want to be disturbed. Last time we interrupted you in a matter regarding Ms. Steele you ordered us to never do it again." Taylor tried as hard as he could to reply calmly but he didn't care about his boss's feelings anymore. He should know how much he hurt that poor young woman that he cared for like a daughter so much that he drove her away to fly as far away from him as possible.

"What? When?" he gasped. Christian remembered as soon as he asked though. She called during a contract signing and Taylor interrupted them to inform him. Leila complained how disrespectful it seem so he ordered his employees to never do it again. How he regrets his decision so much.

"Just take me to her place. I'll wait for her there. She has to come back to go to work."

"Mr. Grey, Ms. Steele quit her job last month because her boss tried to sexually assault her."

"What happened," he growled. Christian couldn't believe what he was hearing. How distant has been from her that he didn't even know this happened.

"He tried to force himself on her. She was able to stop him and a security guard heard everything so he investigated and came at the right moment to help her. Your father, Mr. Grey and I helped sort everything out for her." Taylor mentioned everything as stoically as he can.

"Where was I?" he questioned to himself. He wasn't expecting an answer but received one from Taylor anyways.

"You were with Leila, sir. You had strict instructions for no interruptions as you guys were busy about an acquisition."

Christian had no response to that. His fiancé needed him and he wasn't there. He couldn't even determine when it was because it seemed as if he was always too busy to answer her call. He didn't even comfort her when he got home. They used to take turns sleeping over each other's place every other week until he stopped. He stopped sleeping at her place because his apartment was closer to work. Even when Ana spent the week at his place it's not like he was ever there to be with her. He came home late at night only to sleep and left early in the morning.

As he looked out the window on his side he couldn't help but feel the damp seatbelt against his neck. His fingers raised to feel it. "Is this where she sat earlier?" he asked Taylor.

Taylor looked at him through the rearview mirror and nodded.

His heart grew heavy at the thought that as the seatbelt grew damp from her tears he was too busy laughing and having dinner with another woman.

"Did she say anything else to you Taylor?" Everything he seemed to ask came with a response that hurt him even more but he had to know everything.

"She only said goodbye sir. She also asked me a favor to cancel reservations for her."

"What reservations?"

"It seems she booked a vacation for the both of you for your anniversary. She wanted to tell you tonight."

Taylor's statement felt like a punch to the gut. He let out a growl as he violent punched the empty seat in front of him. He can't believe he forgot. Today was their fifth year anniversary and he was too busy for her. Worst of all, he spent it with another woman. He gazed down at the box once again and looked through its contents. It had pictures of them, jewelry he gifted her, along with a few of his shirts and some stuff animals. It was everything he ever gave her. Everything that ever meant anything in their relationship all in a box she was giving back to him.

The car eventually stopped and he made his way up to her apartment robotically. He entered using his key and took a look around. There were no more pictures of them on the desk or hung on the wall. He slowly trudged his footsteps to her room and let out a sob as he saw the open empty drawers and closet. It was as if all his energy drained when he sat on her bed. He pulled out his phone as he called her, looking at the picture of his caller ID. It was a picture of them in graduation cap and gowns as she kissed his cheek. He remembered that day as he promised her "this is the start of our future baby". This is not the future he promised her. The call went straight to voicemail as he tried again and again. He knew he wouldn't receive an answer but that didn't stop him from trying.

"I'm sorry baby. Please Ana, please come back," he begged but it was too late. She was gone and he knew it. He had no one to blame but himself. As he laid on the bed looking out the window he couldn't help but wonder if she was in the plane that was currently flying past.

AU: Let me know what you guys think!