Hey guys! I'm overwhelmed and grateful for all of your kind reviews. Trust me, I know how frustrating it is to read a story that you love with inconsistent updates, but I can promise you that I will do my best to update as often as I can. PS sorry for the typos in the last chapter. Hopefully there's less in this one lol.

Here we go :

The same night

CPOV

I watch as she walks away, and I feel that pain in my chest again and I can't stand it. I have to find something to distract myself from this pain. And then I feel it - Leila's hand on my arm - my skin burns and my blood boils. I whip around and turn to her and her face falls in immediate fear. I'm so angry I think my eyes must have turned from steel grey to bright devil red. I grab her shoulders and walk her back to the wall until her back slams against it. At first she gives a soft "ouch" but then her eyes light up and she gives me a smirk. She's enjoying this. Sick fuck.

"You" I growl.

"I'm very sorry, sir" she bats her eye lashes.

"Shut the fuck up!" I yell. I am aware that we are probably causing a huge scene and everyone is staring, but I do not care right now. "How dare you talk to me like that. How dare you talk to her like that!"

"I got jealous, sir. You know how I feel about you."

"You call yourself a submissive?" I spit. "You're lucky I was raised right and have morals, because if you acted that way towards any other dom in here, you'd be bruised and beaten!" Her eyes light up again. "God damnit!" I yell in frustration as I realize that she isn't understanding how angry I am. "I'm done," I say simply as I let go of her shoulders and step back. I look around and sure enough, everyone is looking at us. "The contract is void," I say in a low voice to her. Her eyes go wide and immediately start to water.

I turn towards the crowd and hold my arm out towards Leila. "Free submissive," I chuckle sarcastically. I turn back to her and her tears of falling, but I don't care. Not only did she disrespect me in front of every dom in this place, but she also ruined my moment with Anastasia. Shit, Anastasia. I remember that she walked out of the club and I bolt up the stairs to run outside. Maybe, just maybe she is still here, somewhere. The cold Seattle air assaults my skin and I whip my head left to right trying to find her, but nothing. I walk around the street for a while trying to find her. I feel pathetic. I feel weak. As much as I'm trying to convince myself otherwise, this girl definitely had an effect on me that I have never experienced in my life. I feel a quick panic that I will never see her again before I laugh at myself and shake my head - I'm able to find anyone and anything. I take out my phone and text Taylor to drive around and pick me up before I dial the number I know will get me what I want.

"Bill" I bark into the phone when he answers, "I need you to find as much information as you can on someone"

"How much do you have on them?"

"Not much. Her name is Anastasia, I didn't get a last name. She's got medium length brown hair and the brightest blue eyes I've ever seen. She's a senior in college but I'm not sure where. I know that her major is English Lit and she is currently taking a Human Sexuality course. That's all I got."

"That's not a lot"

"Don't give a shit. Find her. I want the information at the latest tomorrow morning."

APOV

Same night

I run up the stairs and out onto the street. I immediately run towards my car in the parking lot across the street not even bothering to look to see if any cars are coming. My hand is so shaky that it takes me a few seconds to unlock my car, but as soon as I'm in I start the engine. I take a few seconds to control my breathing and rest my head against the seat behind me.

Stupid. So stupid. I don't know what I was thinking coming here. I knew that I would get eaten alive. I let my mind drift back to Christian Grey and I think about his eyes, his smile, his muscles, his lips…

Stop! I scream in my head and I throw my hands onto my face, feeling my cheeks burn from the blush that is surely rising from my neck to my face.

A man like that would never want a girl like you. He was just trying to get into your pants. Another notch on his belt.

I take a deep breath and let it out. Its getting easier to calm myself the more I think about Christian as just a random guy in a club trying to fuck something. I'm nothing special. I will never see him again.

I finally pull out of the parking lot and onto the street. I'm still hot from the heated blush that ran across my body, so I open my window and let the icy air into the car. I breath in the fresh smell of rain, concrete, and trees, and the salty ocean; a smell unique to a city like Seattle. I reach into my purse while keeping my eyes on the road and once I hit a red light I text Kate, asking if she is home because I need to talk. I get an immediate reply that she is home and I step on the gas as soon as the light turns green, driving the 45 or so minute back home to Tacoma.

"I cannot fucking believe you did that!" Kate squeals as the playfully slaps my arm. "Who knew Anastasia Steele was so ballsy!"

"I get so embarrassed when I think about it," I say taking a sip of my wine. Maybe getting drunk will help me forget. Shit. I have a final tomorrow. Oh well. I'd rather do anything to not think back to Christian Grey so I take another big gulp.

"Well what are you going to do about your paper? The guy you interviewed barely answered any questions."

"I don't know. I'm just going to do some internet research. I am not going back there again. Everyone was wearing leather. It was so tacky." Kate snorts from laughter at my words.

"Was the guy you interviewed wearing leather?" She says as she wiggles her eyebrows. My face gets hot again. Dammnit Kate. I was doing so well not thinking about him.

"Um, no." I bite my lip.

"There's something you're not telling me," she says eyeing me up and down. "What happened?"

"Nothing," I say quickly. "Its just….the guy I interviewed was the most gorgeous human I've ever laid my eyes on."

"Really?!"

"Yeah. We almost kissed. But his submissive saw us and freaked out." Her eyes get big and her mouth drops open.

"Where is the Ana I know? Because she would never do anything like this!" She smacks my arm again. "Well did you get his name? Did he ask for your number?"

"He didn't get my number. But his name was Christian Grey."

She stops all laughter and movement and stares at me. "What?"

"What?" I ask furrowing my brows. What's up with her? What did I say?

"Are you sure that was his name?"

"Positive."

"What did he look like?" She asks frantically.

"Um…" I close my eyes letting my memory go back to his gorgeous face. "He was about 6 foot. Maybe a little shorter. Brown hair. It was kind of curly. He had a very strong jaw line and was muscular. But not too muscular," I feel my lips slowly form the smile that I'm trying to fight, but its no use. "And his eyes were grey. I know its cliche because of his last name but they were." I open my eyes after I finish my description to find Kate no longer sitting beside me.

"Kate?" I ask, confused. Was I really that deep into a Grey trance that I didn't realize she left? Suddenly she appears back in the room holding her laptop.

"What are you doing?"

"Is this him?" She asks as she makes a few clicks on her computer before turning the screen towards me. I squint my eyes and look up as she is standing above me, and my heart drops when my eyes focus.

"Holy fuck," I whisper. "That's him! What…how…who is he?!" I ask when I noticed his last name in huge letters behind the picture of him. He has a grey suit on and his arms are crossed, face stone cold and he's leaning up against a desk.

"This is who he is," Kate says as she scrolls the screen up to reveal the title of the article.

Christian Grey : Self Made Billionaire At Age 27

I gasp.

"Billionaire?" My voice is barely a whisper.

"Christian Grey is into whips and chains?" Kate asks in a hushed voice, as if there's other people around that can hear.

"Shit. He was hesitant to give me his name and now I know why. And I signed a contract before I walked into the club that if I shared any information on the people in there I could get sued. Shit!"

"Um..earth to Ana," Kate says as she grabs my shoulders. "I'm your best friend. I'm not going to tell anybody. You know you can trust me." I open my eyes to look into hers and they look genuine. She gives me a reassuring smile.

"Ok."

"I cannot believe you met Christian fucking Grey at a sex club and you guys almost kissed. He is the most desired man in the whole state of Washington." Kate shakes her head in amazement.

"Yeah well it doesn't really matter. I'll never see him again." I hang my head low. I hear a sigh next to me and see Kate giving me sympathetic eyes. She agrees that I'll never see him again, her eyes say it all.

"I'm going to bed," I say as I stand up. "Goodnight."

I woke up multiple times throughout the night. Each time after I had a dream about Christian. No matter how hard I tried, each time I closed my eyes again all I saw was his face.

CPOV

The next morning

I sigh as I rub my eyes, resting my elbows on my desk. I barely slept last night. My mind was going crazy with thoughts of Anastasia. I waited and waited on a call from Bill but got nothing. I run my hand through my hair. I haven't been able to get rid of this weird feeling in my chest. It's tight yet I feel a slight flutter. I fucking hate it, but I can't stop it. I look back to my computer screen and remember what I was doing before I let my mind drift to her. Again.

My phone rings and I finish up what I was typing before looking towards it. I see Bill's name across the screen and I reach so quickly for my phone that I almost push it across my desk and onto the floor, but I catch it in time.

"Talk to me," I bark into the phone.

"Found her."

"Email it to me." I hang up the phone and sit starting at my email inbox. I refresh it about 20 times before I hear the familiar ding of a new email. I open it and sit back in my chair, taking in the information in front of me.

Anastasia Rose Steele

1865 E. Commerce St. #203

Tacoma, Washington

98402

Birthdate : January 17th

Age : 22

Birth Mother : Carla Stevens

Resides : Savannah, Georgia

Birth Father : Walt Smith

Deceased

Step father : Raymond Steele

Resides : Montesano, Washington

Siblings : none

Senior at University of Washington Tacoma

Major : English Lit

GPA : 4.0

Employment : part time at Sunrise Bakery

Roommate : Katherine Kavanaugh

Current Relationship : none

Past Relationships : none found

I smile to myself as I finish reading. Not as much information as I would have liked. But at least I know her full name and address. I chuckle to myself as I see her 4.0 GPA. Such a good girl.

I pick up my phone and clear my throat before Andrea picks up on the other line.

"Please come into my office. I need your help to send a gift to someone".

—

APOV

Same day

"Alright, pencils down" I hear my professor announce. I reluctantly put my pencil down and push my bangs off of my forehead as I can feel myself sweating. I scan my eyes over my paper quickly before the professor snatches it off of my desk.

One final down, 2 more to go.

I smile at my friend next to me and we make small talk about the test before I sling my bag over my shoulder and we say our goodbyes. I walk down to the coffee shop downstairs and order myself a tea before plopping down on a chair at a table by the windows. I sigh contently to myself as I take my first sip and look out at the cloudy skies. The leafs have already completely changed colors as its well into fall at this point. Soon they will all be on the ground and the trees will be bare. Its beautiful out today and I feel that I did well on this final, so I feel good and content. My mind has wandered to Christian Grey a few times throughout the day but I am asserting my will power to forget all about him, and I think its kind of working.

I'm startled from my day dream as someone abruptly sits across from me.

"Jose!" I place my hand across my chest as he smiles at me. "You scared me."

"Sorry. I just saw you and you know I can't not say hi."

I give him a friendly smile and take a sip of my tea.

"I just finished my first final"

"Oh yeah? How'd you do?"

"I think I did ok. Only time will tell. Did you get any word on if you'll get that exhibit next year?"

"Oh shit, I didn't tell you? I got it!"

"Oh my God Jose that's great!" I exclaim as I place my hand on his arm and give a friendly squeeze. He places his hand on top of mine before I'm able to pull it away. I awkwardly take my hand out from under his and smile nervously. Jose is a great guy and I like him as a friend, but everyone once in a while he'll get a little flirtatious and it makes me uncomfortable. But we run in the same circle of friends so its kind of hard to avoid him and I basically just put up with it.

"Thanks. Well anyway me and the guys were talking and we think you and Kate should come out with us Friday night. We're going to the bar right down the street from your guys' apartment so there will be no need for a cab or designated driver."

"Um, I don't know." I'm uncomfortable in bars or large crowds of people. I like to be in a more intimate setting with people and not feel so overwhelmed by noise and movement.

"Come on! It will be so fun!"

"I'll think about it. I'll ask Kate."

"You really think Kate would pass up an opportunity to get wasted? Come on. The guys will buy."

"I'll think about it, Jose," I say a little more bluntly. I think he takes the hint because he awkwardly says his next class is about to start before we hug goodbye and I'm again alone at my table with my tea. I stare back out the window and my mind wanders to Christian. Damnit.

Its about 5 pm before I finally make it back to my apartment after a long day of classes and finals.

I close the front door behind me and drop by back to the ground. I see Kate in the kitchen making a sandwich as she smiles at me.

"You want one?" She asks.

"Sure," I reply as I give her a peck on the cheek. My eyes spot a huge bouquet of white roses and my eyes dart over to her.

"Um excuse me young lady, who are these from?" I ask as I playfully place my hands on my hips. "Why didn't you tell me you were seeing someone?"

"Because I'm not" she says as she swallows her bite. "They're for you"

My smile immediately fades and my hands drop to my sides. I see a small card peaking out from the petals. I see Kate raise her eye brows at me before I take a step towards the roses. I reach a shaky hand out to the card and immediately notice the name stretched across it with a light grey background.

Christian Grey

My heart is racing and I bite my lip before I turn the card over.

Anastasia,

I need to see you again. Meet me for coffee tomorrow afternoon at 1pm at Coffee Express on Commerce Ave. I can also help you finish up the interview for your final essay.

I will be waiting anxiously.

Please contact my office if you need to reschedule the time. Otherwise, I'll see you there.

Christian Grey

"Holy cow" I say in amazement and pass the card over to Kate. Her eyes scan over it.

"Kind of presumptuous of him," she says, "to think that you'll show up. He literally doesn't even ask you. Just tells you to be there." She hands the card back over to me. "I guess that's his dominant side," she says as she puts an elbow playfully into my side.

"Kate give it a rest," I say as I place my hands against the counter. I run my hand down my face and sigh. "This is so overwhelming" I whisper. "What could he possibly be doing wasting his time on me? What is his motive here? I have no interest in a one night stand if that's what he wants."

"Listen Ana," Kate says, almost annoyed. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you how desirable you are. You are smart, and witty, and you have a great energy. Not to mention you're stunning, even though I know you don't think so. Guys drool over you. You're just so oblivious to it." I blush at her words. She's right, she has told me this before, but its so hard for me to believe. To me I'll always be that awkward teenage Ana with her short frizzy hair, glasses too big for her face, with her nose buried in books all day. I'm brought back to reality when I hear Kate's voice again. "If he wanted a one night stand he would tell you to meet him at his place or something. I would at least give it a chance. You guys are meeting in public so its not like he can kidnap you. If you're uncomfortable you just leave."

I think about her words and then nod my head. "Ok." I say as I clutch the card in my hands. "I'll go".

CPOV

I sit at the table inside of the coffee shop. I crack my knuckles for the fifth time in ten minutes and my legs are bobbing up and down nervously. What the fuck is wrong with me? When it comes to women I am strong. Confident. Dominant. But right now I feel like a little school boy with his first crush. But I guess technically it is my first crush. 27 years on this earth and this is the first time i've actually wanted to get to know a woman. I pull at my suit jacket and straighten my pants. Even though I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin, I will pull off the calm and confident business man well and I know it.

I hear the door chime open and my head snaps up. Its her. My heart leaps for joy but I am able to keep my face straight and cold. She sees me and slowly walks towards me. She wraps her arms around herself as I stand to greet her. Her head is down and she is shifting nervously. She might not know it yet, but she will make an amazing submissive.

"Hi, Anastasia," I say in a low voice. I reach out and touch her arm, the gesture is intended to let her know to look up at me, and like the good girl that she is, she does so. I give her a small smile and warm eyes, and I see her demeanor change. She smiles and looks a little more relaxed, although still timid.

"Hi Christian," she whispers.

"Please, sit" I say as I pull her chair out for her. She sits and I sit across from her, smiling at her again.

"Um, how did you find my address?" She asks as she looks down at her fingers.

"I have my ways."

"I guess you are a very powerful man," she says as she looks up at me through her long eye lashes. I tilt my head. I can't tell if she's being sarcastic or not. Regardless, its making me want to take her across my knee and spank her while she screams my name is pleasure. Oh no. My dick gets hard at the thought. Dead puppies dead puppies dead puppies.

"I had to see you again," I state matter of factly.

"Why?" She pulls her lips between her teeth and continues to look up at me. I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

"Anastasia - "

"Ana," she says cutting me off.

"Ana…please stop biting your lip. It does something to me and we are in public". Her eyes widen and she immediately releases her plump lip. She says nothing in response, just stares at me. I try hard to suppress a grin. "The answer to your question is I don't know," I say as I lean my elbows on the table. "I just had to". She nods, still speechless.

"Coffee or tea?" I ask as I gesture towards the two small pots on the table.

"Oh, um, tea please". Her voice is so soft, gentle, and feminine. I feel like I might explode hearing it. I pour her a cup and she smiles at me gratefully. I pick up the muffin on the table and peel back the wrapper. I place it on the small plate in front of her and nod towards it. "Eat".

"I'm really not hungry."

"No. You need to eat".

Her brows furrow and she opens her mouth to say something - to protest I'd imagine - but she eventually closes her mouth and hesitates before she reaches for the muffin. Her emotions are evident on her face. She looks extremely confused, like she doesn't know why she's listening to me, but she is. I smile arrogantly on the inside but manage to keep my smile friendly on the outside. She takes a small bite and then clears her throat.

"So you wanted to help me with the rest of my interview?"

"I would love you. I'll answer anything you ask"

"Ok," she reaches down into my bag.

"First I'd like to know more about you."

She looks up at me and shakes her head. "You asked me that last time, and I already told you that there's not much to know about me". There's that attitude again. She's going to be a challenge, but I'm willing to put up with it for her. My subconscious is disgusted with me. Who is this weak and pathetic Christian?

"Tell me about your family." I already know the general answers to these questions but I need more.

"Um, well," she takes another bite of her muffin and I smile approvingly. "My family is pretty small. I have no siblings. My birth father died when I was an infant so I have no memories of him. I was raised by my step father, Ray. He's amazing," she smiles thinking about her step dad and I can't help but smile either. Its adorable.

"And your mother?"

Her eyebrows shoot up and she lets out a long breath.

"My mother is on husband number four," she looks up at me, almost embarrassed. "She's an incurable romantic. I wasn't really raised by her because she ran off with whatever husband it was at the time." Her words are sad and I was to reach across the table and caress her, but I won't. Not yet.

"Are you an incurable romantic?"

"Me?" She shrugs. "I kind of have to be. I'm an English major"

"Seriously" I coax her to go on. Her eyes look out the window before she speaks.

"Yes, I think so. I mean, I've never really had any serious relationships because I think that love should be extraordinary and passionate and life changing. So I'm not going to settle or give my all to something mediocre. I want my relationship to be forever." She looks back to me and her cheeks are flushed. She looks embarrassed at opening up and saying something so vulnerable and true to herself.

My eyes scan over her face. My heart sinks and my instincts kick in. My subconscious is loud in my head. She's too good for you. She's pure, innocent, genuine, hopeful. You will ruin her. You and your kinky sex dungeon will ruin her. You'll break her heart when she asks for more. She will be crushed and will no longer believe in love or romance.

She is saying something else but I can't hear it. All I can hear are my thoughts over and over again in my head. I can feel a small layer of sweat above my brow. Her lips stop moving and she looks at me expectedly. Her eyes squint at me as I don't answer, her eyes searching my face.

"Christian?"

"I'm sorry, I can't," I say abruptly shooting up from my chair.

"What?" She asks looking up at me. Her eyes are wide and sit big yet beautifully on her face. She looks even more beautiful and innocent from this anger with her plump lips slightly open, eyebrows furrowed, and eyes wide. My insides clench from both pleasure and pain. Usually I like those two feelings in the same sentence, but not right now.

"I'll walk you to your car." I gently coax her up and lead her out of the coffee shop before heading down the street.

APOV

My ego and my heart are absolutely shattered. I knew it. I knew he didn't want me. This must have been like a game for him and he got bored.

He walked out of the door and I have to job to keep up with him.

"Do you have a girlfriend? Is that it?" I ask looking at him, but he stares straight ahead. We luckily don't have to dodge anyone on the street because its mid day on a Thursday, so not many people are out.

"I don't do the girlfriend thing."

"What does that even mean?" I ask, getting more frustrated by the second. "I know that you don't want me but I want to know why!"

Suddenly I feel myself pinned up against a wall. His hand are on my shoulders and his face is inches from mine. His eyes are intensely on mine and I feel my skin get hot just from stare. I search his face for something, but find nothing. He is cold and expressionless. The only indication of anything I get from him is the rapid movements of his chest.

"Don't ever think I don't want you," he growls. The low and intense sound of his voice makes something stir deep within my belly. "I want you more than I ever wanted anything in my life".

"So why are you pushing me away?" I'm surprised that I found the strength to speak. The close proximity of his body and mine is making my whole body feel like jello.

He shakes his head and I think I see a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Because you deserve better than me."

"You don't know that," I say shyly, biting my lip. He groans and I remember his request about not biting my lip. I let go of it gently and watch as his eyes fall to my lips. There's a hunger and darkness in his eyes I've never seen before. There's also a pained expression of contemplation on his face. His eyes come off of my lips and dart to my eyes. They are smoldering and even though I could be imagining it, I swear the grey color of his eyes has gotten darker. We hold an intense gaze for…well, I really don't know how long. My knees are getting weaker by the second. I'm convinced I'm going to collapse at any moment now. He tears his eyes from mine and looks back towards my lips. He licks his own lips. My heart flutters. And before I know it, his lips are crashed to mine. I feel my knees buckle but before I can fall his arm is wrapped tightly around me, holding my to his body and holding me up. His hand finds the back of my head and holds it completely still. My arms find their way up to his back and hold on for dear life. He moves his hand and takes my chin. He gently pulls it downward, urging my mouth open. He tears his lips away from mine and almost growls into my ear, "open your mouth, Ana."

I gasp and do as he asks, without question. He leans back in and I feel his tongue on mine. I've never been kissed like this before. Our tongues dance and I can't hold back my own moans of pleasure. There's an intense burning sensation between my legs and I swear I can feel something hard against my leg…though I can't be sure. I feel dizzy and almost drunk from the mix of adrenaline and pleasure. I turn my head to deepen the kiss even more when I feel his body rip away from mine. I whimper and open my eyes to see Christian pacing in front of me, his hand in his hair.

"Fuck. FUCK"

"Christian - "

"No," he says sternly. "I already told you I can't do this. I'm not the man for you. You deserve better than me." I feel tears stinging my eyes as I watch him in front of me. "You should steer clear of me". He looks sad and defeated. I want to reach for him and hold him in my arms, but he steps even farther away from me instead.

"Wait here. I'll have Taylor take you home." I watch as he walks away, my heart screaming and my tears hot and stinging my cheeks. I lose sight of him as my vision gets blurry with my tears. The pain in my chest is tight and unbearable. And just like the first time I saw him, I think this will be the last time and I will never see Christian Grey again. I wipe my tears and look around me. I have no idea who Taylor is, but even though Christian just walked away from me and basically told me to stay away from him, I still oblige him and do as he says. I feel like I'm under a spell. A Grey spell.

As you can see I changed a few things but kept others. I have Ana living in Tacoma instead of Portland because I wanted them to be closer to each other and Ana working at a bakery instead of Calyton's because I never thought the hardware store suited Ana.

Anyway.

Reviews would be greatly appreciated and help me to stay motivated. Thanks!