A/N: seriously thank you to all who reviewed! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond! Two things to be aware of before you read the chapter: "UDub" is what most people call the University of Washington, and there is one flashback scene and it is in italics! I know there isn't very much AS and CG interaction but I need to build up the characters first before I dive into their relationship.

Chapter 2

"Ana, why are you angry? Are you angry that he cheated on you, or that he cheated on you? Because they're two completely different reasons."

Ana gulped from her considerably lighter bottle of wine. She had given up pouring it into a glass half a bottle ago. Part of her wished that she was drinking the wine to savor its flavor and to fully appreciate it because of all the effort it took to get the bottle, but she was drinking to get drunk. She was drinking to forget about Jose.

"I don't know," Ana's voice came out as a sigh. The surprise from catching Jose cheating on her had slowly worn off and was replaced by bitterness. He had wasted her time, he made her look like a fool, and he made her question her judgment.

"Ana, I didn't want to ask, but did you love him? Do you love him?" Both lines were silent for a second as Ana thought.

"I don't know. I don't think so? There was no passion, even in the beginning. I loved him as a friend, but I wasn't in love with him. At least not yet. Well not at all anymore. I'm just so confused." Ana's sentences came out as fragments, punctuated by sips of wine and frustrated sighs.

"You deserve passion and love, Ana. I don't think you should work things out with Jose." Ana nodded, she knew she deserved better.

"I wasn't even going to try. I'm not going to delude myself into thinking he'll stop cheating. Once a cheater, always a cheater, right?" Ana flopped back onto her bed as she took one last gulp of her wine.

"Too true. I still can't believe Jose cheated on you! You're way out of his league and he knows that. Like he's been pining over you for years. I just don't get it." Ana drunkenly giggled at Kate's way of trying to cheer her up. It was true, Ana had always known Jose had a crush on her but it wasn't until a year ago that he actually acted on it. And even then, Ana was hesitant. She didn't want to ruin their friendship. And look how that turned out. God he's such a jackass.

"I don't even want to try to sort out his motivations. They don't matter to me. He cheated on me, end of story. If he cared enough for me, he would have ended our relationship instead of stabbing me in the back and then trying to justify it." She still couldn't get his words out of her mind. How dare he say that he loves her after she saw him with another woman.

Ana's phone beeps right as Kate goes to say something else.

"Hold on a second Kate someone just sent me a text, it might be my contact at UDub."

Ana pulled her phone clumsily from her face, and let her eyes adjust to the bright light. It was a number she didn't have saved in her phone.

Ana please call me! I can explain, please. We can get past this. Please.

"Sorry Kate, it was just Jose. I deleted his contact earlier so it took me a second to realize who it was."

"What'd he say?"

"He just wants to talk. He's a polite bastard though, said please a bunch of times. Didn't say sorry though."

Ana could hear Kate laugh through the phone.

"Yep, that sounds like him."

"Look Kate I'm tired, it's been a long day and I have an early flight tomorrow. I'll text you when I'm back in Seattle?" Ana's eyes drooped as she said goodbye. She just wanted to get out of New York and back into her life in Seattle. She had a few appointments with new patients early on Monday and she needed to prepare for her lectures at UDub later in the week.

"Of course, love you Ana, we'll get drinks when you get back."

"Taylor I need you to call Welch and get a background check. For Anastasia Steele."

Christian barely looked up from his computer as he gave directives to his personal security. He didn't want to seem anxious, but he was. Anastasia Steele, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. He couldn't stop thinking about her. His dreams were plagued with the fiery women he had met yesterday and nothing was making it better.

Control yourself, Grey. You're acting like a fucking teenager. "And get me an appointment with Flynn as soon as possible."

Christian looked out the window of his jet as he brought his hand to the back of his neck, working out the kinks that seemed to have emerged overnight. He couldn't help but replay the events of last night over and over again. Anastasia was a delight. Not very many people have the guts to stand up to him, and he certainly didn't expect to enjoy it so much when it did happen.

Christian handed Ana the bottle, but let his hand linger as she took it. When their fingers grazed each other, sparks shot though his arm right to his dick. He maintained eye contact and smirked as he saw her anger fade just for a second. Her once steely eyes relaxed infinitesimally and revealed a sort of warmth that was uncommon in most of the women Christian encountered. He'd certainly never seen that kind of warmth in Elena's eyes. Maybe his mother though.

"Thank you. And I'm sorry for the scene, it's been a long day." Her voice was tired yet angelic and only slightly resembled the firm tone she took to him earlier.

"It's the least I can do after I propositioned you earlier." Ana grinned but the smile didn't quite meet her eyes.

"True. Well, it's been a pleasure, but I have a date with this bottle and I can't be late." Christian smiled at her sarcastic response. Before he could say anything else, Ana turned to the check-out counter. Christian already felt a sort of loss, and he knew he couldn't let her leave quite yet.

He jumped into action and reached for her arm. When his fingers touched her shoulder, he could see her physically tense before turning her head to meet his eyes. The same shock wave coursed through his body, and he knew he had to see her again.

"Let me buy that for you," he nodded to the wine, demanding her acquiescence with his eyes and tone of voice.

The fire returned to her eyes, and Christian couldn't decide which Anastasia he liked better. The angry one or the more relaxed one. Though he could tell he'd like Anastasia the most in his playroom, bound and at his full disposal.

"I'm fully capable of buying this for myself. And to be frank, you're being kind of rude. So, goodbye." With that, she swiftly turned and walked away, leaving Christian to stew in his anger and arousal. He knew they'd be meeting again later, he'd make sure of it.

"Hey Ana, I had a last minute addition to your schedule today, is that okay? You don't have any classes do you?" Ana had just walked into the the office and hadn't even taken off her jacket before Jerry Roach approached her. Roach had been her mentor in graduate school as well as the faculty member that oversaw her research project throughout her masters program. Once he realized how dedicated she was to the profession, he decided to groom her to become his replacement in the private practice he owned, as long as she promised to continue her education.

"That's no problem, I only teach at Udub on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you know that. Any reason you're not taking the client?" During her clinical psychology graduate program at the University of Washington, Ana was required to teach one undergraduate class a semester, and loved it so much that she decided to continue even after she graduated. In a couple months she hoped to enroll in their doctoral program given that she had enough time.

"He requested a female. Let me know how it goes after the first consult, and if you don't think you can handle it I can give him a referral." Ana smiled at Roach as she handed him a cup of coffee. Taking Roach's Practicum in Clinical Psychology in grad school changed her life. She couldn't imagine what her life would be like if he hadn't become her mentor and gave her so many professional opportunities. He really was like her second father besides Ray.

"I trust you, if you think I can handle it I'm sure I can. What's his name?" Roach searched through the papers on his desk and pulled out a small file before reading it.

"Jack Hyde."

"Christian it's been too long," Elena's nasally voice extended over the chatter at the Mile High Club. Christian typically met her every Thursday, but he had been so busy with work that he hadn't seen her in two weeks.

"Elena," he said blandly as she placed her shellacked fingers on his shoulder and leaned forward to press a brittle kiss on his upturned cheek. Christian still stiffened under her touch, but it was bearable.

"Oh Christian you seem so tense, let's order that wine you introduced me to last time and solve all your problems." He looked at the menu and one side of his lips quirked up in amusement. He had ordered the wine that Anastasia Steele had so graciously stolen from him only a day ago. The memory was enough to make his mood lift. That god damn background check needs to be on my desk by the end of this lunch or heads will roll.

When the wine came, Christian stared at the ruby liquid that swirled in his glass. He smelled the aromatic scent and wondered what Anastasia was doing when she was drinking this exact wine. He brought the glass to his lips gingerly and pictured her scarlet lips doing the same. Oh how those lips haunted his fantasies. The wine flowed smoothly down his throat and he sighed. He could drink this wine for the rest of his life and still be happy.

"Tell me what's wrong baby," Elena's crackling voice rudely interrupted his daydreams and plans. Again, his whole body tensed. He hadn't realized how relaxed he felt while thinking about the wine.

Christian hated when she called him baby, it always felt condescending, like she was still holding power over his head as his dominant.

"It's nothing, just work problems. You wouldn't understand, it's all very technical." He brushed off her concern and needed to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"Oh bullshit, I know just the thing to solve all your problems. I have a girl lined up, basically no hard limits, she's perfect. Minus the boob job, but I swear you can't tell." Elena picked up on Christian's scowl and tried to keep talking to appease him. "Oh come on Christian it's 2015 everyone's getting them." He closed his eyes, Anastasia would never get plastic surgery. God I don't actually know her, what am I even saying. Get a fucking grip Grey.

"I don't want another submissive right now Elena, I'm just too busy." That was his go-to excuse lately, because he really couldn't really admit why he didn't want another one. He had his eyes set on one woman and one alone.

"Stop feeding me excuses Christian, I know what you need. More-so than you think. But I can tell you don't want to talk about it, so I'll take care of it. Don't worry."

"No, I don't need you to take care of anything. I mean it." He could tell Elena had something planned, but he needed to nip it in the bud. The last thing he needed was her meddling in his life.

When Christian got back to Grey Enterprise Holdings he was exhausted. Meeting with Elena did nothing to calm him, and now he had to work for the rest of the day. The only thing that was getting him through the day was the text that Welch sent him saying Miss. Steele's background check was ready on his desk.

People tried to stop him in the lobby but he brushed them off, no one was going to waste any of his precious time until he could read the report that was sitting so innocently on his desk. He walked purposefully to his private elevator and bee-lined it to his office. Andrea greeted him, but all he could do was grunt some semblance of a response.

Once in his secluded office, Christian locked the door and paced to his desk where a single manila folder was laying. Without any hesitation, he ripped it open and read as quickly as possible. She fucking lives in Seattle. When Christian realized she had been so close this entire time he was even more motivated to meet her again. What were the chances? Immediately his mood lifts as he read the rest of the report intently. She had a fairly normal life, it seemed. Anastasia had no arrest records, she was an American citizen, she hadn't filed any lawsuits, no traffic tickets, all drug tests were clear. Good, she knows how to take care of herself. Though I wonder if she drank that whole bottle of wine yesterday. If she was mine she wouldn't dare place herself in that kind of situation. The report showed her exemplary educational records at Washington State and the University of Washington. He was surprised to see that she held a degree in both business and in clinical psychology. In fact, she has a license to practice in Seattle.

Christian's imagination started to run wild. There were so many ways for him to orchestrate another meeting. The report said she lives fairly close to him already, but he knew even that was stepping over an arbitrary line. I can't fucking scare her off.

He drew his hand up to his face and rubbed his thumb over his bottom lip as he stared out into Seattle. I wonder what she's doing right now. She could even be walking past my building. Fuck, I need her. Christian felt his dick harden has he thought of her. The subject of his fantasy being in the same city as him was almost too much. It was fate, he knew it. It was as if the universe threw her into his lap for a reason.

With sudden clarity he knew what he was going to do.

"Hello Jack, I'm Anastasia Steele, but you can call me Ana. Is it okay that I call you Jack?" Ana ushered Jack into her office and gestured to one of the arm chairs for him to sit in. She tried to decorate the room so it looks less like an office and more comforting and welcoming. However, with Jack in the room, it just felt cold and icy.

"I'd prefer it if you called me Mr. Hyde." Jack gave Ana a hard look that made her feel like she was being scrutinized. He scanned up her body from her basic black pumps, black pencil skirt, and blouse. Ana wished she wore a blazer or something else to add another layer between them.

"Of course. Now why don't you tell me what's going on in your life. Tell me a bit about yourself."

"It's this fucking job, it's horrible. I'm so over-qualified to begin with and just the other day I was passed up for a promotion by this fucking woman. I'm convinced she's sleeping with the boss, but of course I have no way to prove it without being . . . politically incorrect." Ana miserably tried to hide his disgust for this man. She had barely been in the room with him for a few minutes before she felt uncomfortable. He kept leering at her as he complained about the women he works with. What a misogynistic asshole, Ana thought as she clasped her fingers and tried to look concerned.

"Oh wow that is disappointing, especially since you're so qualified. Have you ever thought of trying to get another job? One where you're appreciated for your talents?" Each word left a bad taste in her mouth. But she knew professionally that it's her job to put her biases aside for the patient. It's her obligation to help him. Especially since it's only the first day they're meeting. Maybe they can work past his skewed sense of superiority later.

"You see, the publishing world is so competitive and lucrative to begin with that I don't want to try my chances somewhere else. I'm at the best firm in Seattle, and that's where I deserve to be. Maybe I'll fire my new PA, she's useless. Hot though." Ana grimaced and let out a nervous laugh.

"What do you think you deserve out of this job?"

"I want to be appreciated for my worth. I want my boss to realize that SIP is only succeeding because I'm working so hard."

"Well, let's make some short term, attainable goals to help you reach that long term goal, okay?"

By the end of their hour session, Ana was so mentally exhausted that she could barely think. She had managed to avoid calling Jack "Mr. Hyde" though, and she counted that as a success. Ana couldn't believe he demanded her to call him that as if she was inferior to him. I don't think so, mister.

As Ana walked Jack out to the lobby of their office, she was momentarily surprised by a bouquet of flowers on one of the tables. It was larger and more beautiful than she had ever seen before. I wonder who these are for.

Jack saw the flowers and scoffed bitterly before leaving. He glanced over his shoulder and watched as Ana opened the small white envelope hidden within the lilies. She was so preoccupied that she didn't see Jack linger and squint his eyes as she continued to read.

Hope you enjoyed that bottle of wine last night. To make up for my abysmal behavior please accept these flowers and this bottle of wine as my most sincere apology. Hope we run into each other again, maybe when you're less angry and I'm less rude.

—C

Ana was floored. This isn't what she expected in the slightest. Half of her thought they would be from Jose. How did he know where I worked? Who the hell is he? What the hell.

"Boyfriend?" Jack's bitter voice interrupted Ana's train of thought.

"Uh actually no, just an apology from a guy I met the other day."

"Rich bastard sent you a damn expensive bottle of wine too. God you women get everything don't you?" With that, Jack handed her the bottle from behind the flowers and stormed out of her office. Ana laughed to herself as she read the wine label and realized that it was another bottle of her favorite wine. Today wasn't turning out how she expected at all.