She stepped out of the office to be met with blinding lights and car honks but she loved it. The hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps always finds way to comfort her in the past two years that she's lived here.

"Ms. Steele wait!"

She faltered in her steps and turned around to see her assistant running through the lobby and panting as she got closer to her. She laughed a little at the sight before her.

"Yes?"

"You need to sign these papers. Apparently the CEO we're meeting tomorrow likes to have all the affairs in order before their plane even lands," she sighed.

"Well some people are very organized and stubborn and we can't change that," she giggled slightly allowing herself to remember the most hardheaded man she's ever known. These moments were very far and few and if she allowed herself to remember it was never longer than a minute of reminiscing. Signing the papers fluidly she gave the folder back to her assistant, Hannah, before turning to walk down the street.

Her apartment was the perfect distance from work, some days she chose to walk and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city and some days she enjoyed the comfort of the subway, tonight she preferred the former. Closing the dark buttons on her beige wool coat and wrapping her white scarf around her neck snuggly she headed down the familiar street. Ana smelled the hot dogs and kebabs from the different vendors and though many people found the sound of honking and yelling quite annoying, she relished in it. She loved the feeling of blending in her surroundings.

Unfortunately for her she wasn't as blended in her surroundings as she thought, for only a few feet away from her stood a man who stared at her so longingly as if she held the answer to the world's most asked question. Christian couldn't believe it, his heart pulsed so strongly he felt as if he could feel the blood travel down to the rest of his body. He gasped slightly as he finally saw her face, the bright blue eyes contrasted everything else he saw. The pink flush in her cheeks giving away the cold she felt from the harsh winds in the trees. He wanted to run to her. He wanted to turn her around and hug her as tight as he could. He wanted to kiss her pink pump lips and show her how much he still loves her and for a second, he remembered what it felt like to kiss her soft velvety lips. He took a step forward but then as if hands grabbed him back and held on to him, he couldn't move another step. Instead he followed her from afar, he stopped when she stopped, he walked faster when she walked faster, and he pretended that for the first time in three years he, Christian Trevelyan Grey was actually walking next to her, Anastasia Rose Steele, the love of his life.

She stopped at the two glass doors behind an iron wrenched gate. He watched as she climbed up the steps and heard the slight creak of the gate as she opened it. He stepped closer as she punched in the code to what he knew as her apartment. Taylor never failed to give him the information he wanted, he doesn't even have to peek over her shoulders since the code was included in the file. As Ana entered her apartment completely oblivious to the man behind her, he turns around to Taylor.

"Grab the car," he ordered. Tonight wasn't the night to see her, no he had tomorrow all planned for that.

Smiling brightly as she entered the conference room, Ana greeted everyone already seated, "Good morning everyone, are we all ready to get this investor and publish more books?"

Her boss, Roach let a throaty laugh along with the other employees, "You always do have the most optimistic view Ms. Steele." He stared at her with gleam in his eyes and started to say something only to be interrupted by the door opening. Ana could only guess that the potential investor walked in due to Roach immediately standing up and widening the smile on his face even more. Ana turned around as Roach started to say, "Everyone please welcome Mr. Grey."

Roach continued talking but Ana could not hear anything or see anything except those grey eyes that she's stared into for so long, the grey eyes she once thought she'd wake up to every morning for the rest of her life. She stopped breathing as soon as she laid eyes on him and she had to remind herself to take another breath before she fainted in front of everyone else.

Christian was no better than Ana. After finally gathering the courage to open the door to the conference room his eyes roamed immediately trying to look into those ocean blue eyes he's missed so much. His eyes never left hers as they stared at each other. He saw all the emotions pass through her eyes, shock, longing, anger, then as she blinked all he stared into was nothing. Complete indifference. His heart felt like it dropped right into his stomach as she turned around from him and sat into the chair on the complete opposite side of the rectangular table. She sat down and placed her pen straight side by side with the file placed in front of her and looked at him impassively and straightforwardly spoke, "Welcome Mr. Grey, glad you could join us."

She felt like she was going through a tornado of emotions but she wasn't going to let him see that. She once made the mistake of letting him in and he broke her heart. Ana gave him her heart, her loyalty, everything she can give and he didn't appreciate it, treasure it like he should've. She spent a whole year mourning over losing him and she wasn't ever going to let him have that power to break her again.

Christian cleared his throat and addressed the whole room as he introduced his COO, Ros Bailey. Together they sat down at the head of the table and Roach walked back to his seat as he started proposing their business plan. He had to admit, the business plan sounded profitable but to be honest he never cared for that. He would've invested his own personal money if need be just to help New York Press Publishing because Ana worked there. He used to tease her with "whatever Ana wants, Ana gets" and this situation was no different. He knows that towards the end of their relationship he completely forgot about that motto. He prioritized everything else but her and he paid the ultimate price for it.

As the meeting finished, every editor stood up and introduced themselves to Christian as they exited the room and Ana felt like everything in the world right now was against her. Gathering her things, she stood up and walked slowly but proudly into Christian's direction.

Christian couldn't breathe or hear or see anything but the gorgeous woman slowly walking towards him. They met each other in their first year in Harvard and he couldn't help but notice that the woman in front of him was simply that, all woman. Her gorgeous mahogany hair laid in soft curls past her shoulders and her body curved in all the right places. She wore a form fitting burgundy dress and it certainly flattered her but as he stared at her deeper he couldn't help but notice how her collarbones seemed to stick out more how her jawline seemed slimmer. She hasn't been eating well and all he wanted to do was kiss the hell out of her and force her to sit down and finish an entire course of lunch. He hasn't realized how long he's been staring as he heard her clear her throat which caused him to look down and see her outstretched hand. Grasping her hand he gasped as he felt the tingle that rushed through his skin.

"Ah, Ms. Steele is our newest editor but do not underestimate her as she is also our brightest," Roach proudly exclaimed.

"I have no doubt that she is," he whispered. Ana felt her control slowly slipping so she smiled pulled her hand out of his grasp and walked straight out the door without a backward glance. She walked straight to her office and let out a sob as she locked the door. He was back but she was not going to let him back into her life. He hurt her too much. He only loved her when it was convenient for him and when things got busy at work he ignored her and stocked her up on some shelf until he was no longer busy anymore. She didn't want that. She didn't want to be in a relationship by herself, feeling like the only person fighting for both of their futures. Besides, she knew what it was like to be in a balanced relationship now. It's been 3 years since they last saw each other well more like she last saw him. For the first few weeks she waited for him. He had the resources to find her and it's not like she tried to hide from him at all. She used her credit cards for everything, the paper trail was all there. He never came just like all those nights he never showed. It wasn't until months have passed that she finally gave up hope. She knew she left but she hoped that he would come and show her some grand romantic gesture filled with hearts and flowers and ask for her forgiveness, ask for her back. She wanted him to show that he cared about her, that he wanted her and couldn't live without her. For once in their relationship, she wanted to see him fight for them and he never did. Now he shows up here smiling and trying to invest in her job. Ana couldn't figure out what he wanted. She questioned whether it was for revenge or simply bragging. One thing was clear however, she would not give him the satisfaction of receiving whatever reaction he's aiming to get from her.

The knock on her door interrupted her thoughts and schooling her face into a calm collected look she opened the door, already knowing who would be on the other side of it.

"Mr. Grey, what can I do for you?"

"Ana." She only raised her eyebrows at him.

"It's Ms. Steele and I repeat, what can I do for you Mr. Grey?"

The way she looked at him was slowly killing him inside. Her eyes used to be so full of warmth and love and now it's just cold and empty glaring at him. As she sighed at him again he couldn't figure out what he wanted to say.

"Have lunch with me," he blurted out.

Smiling only slightly she responded, "Sorry Mr. Grey but my schedule is packed today with authors." She saw Roach passing by and loudly exclaimed, "I'm sure Mr. Roach would love to show you around here and take you to lunch."

Roach quickly agreed and walked towards him and before he even reached Christian, Ana's door closed once again. Turning around to look at the closed door in front of him Christian found himself unable to escape from this situation and followed him out the building defeatedly.

He accepted to be shown the whole process of the publishing and printing company in hopes to see Ana but once again he was met with disappointment. Christian saw Ana plenty of times but she acted as if he wasn't there at all. He wondered if this was how she felt all those times she asked to spend time with him only to be met with rejection, and on the few times he did show up he was only there physically, his mind was always on something else usually some project GEH was doing. He deserved to feel this way, he knew that but that didn't mean the feeling didn't hurt. The few times he managed to get Ana to look at him and interact with him, his heart broke a little further. She acted as if he was just some other stranger and not the man she was with for 7 years. Tired of being hurt and disappointed, Christian was actually relieved that it was the end of the workday already.

As he exited the building Christian once again felt hope as his eyes land on Ana standing by the street. Feeling his determination grow with each step he took he smiled brightly as he spun her elbow around to face him.

"Ana please talk to me. Please we can go for dinner and just talk," he pleaded. The emotion was new to him. He never had to plead before especially to a girl.

Irritation crossed her face as Ana angrily responded, "Look Mr. Grey"

"Christian," he interrupted. "Please I've always been Christian to you."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, "We don't have anything to talk about."

"Look just yell at me okay! Push me, slap me!" He grabbed her arms and raised it to his face giving her proper angle to hit him if she pleased to do so. "Just do something show me anything, some kind of emotion please! I can't handle you looking at me like that, like I never mattered to you," he breathed raggedly.

Ana felt her control slipping but focusing once again, she masked her face into a collected expression and tried to turn around again. Christian readied himself to grab her arms and hold her steady as Ana turned to place her back to him only to be interrupted by the sight of a man grabbing Ana from the side and proceeding to place a kiss on her lips. If Christian thought his heart was broken before then it's simply crushed now. His throat felt tight and his stomach felt like it was twisted in all different ways and is being pulled apart.

"Hey baby, you all ready to go?" the man whispered. The man didn't even notice Christian at all.

Christian felt like he was torturing himself as he continued to look at Ana with the man as she proceeded to smile warmly at him and place her palm against his cheek as she asks him to wait in the car. The man then turns to look at him and Christian can swear he saw recognition cross his eyes.

"Go Luke, I'll be fine I promise. I'll be right there," she calmly said as she squeezed his hand.

"Fine," he grumbled. He turned to face Ana and kissed her passionately and deeply before placing a kiss on her forehead and walking away. Christian knew exactly what that kiss was. This man "Luke" was marking his territory, Christian's done that kiss to Ana a few too many times himself.

"He your boyfriend," he asked as soon as Luke was out of sight.

"Fiance," she responded coolly.

"Hmm you move fast don't you." His chest felt tight and a voice in the back of his head told him he was going to regret his words but whether it was the hurt or the anger or everything else in between, Christian couldn't help himself from making snide remarks.

Ana snickered, "That's rich coming from the guy who already had someone else before I was even out of the picture. It's been 3 years Christian, I moved on."

"I uh" Christian felt speechless. He had this whole speech prepared and now that he's standing in front of her he can't make the words come out of his mouth. "Leila was nothing. I mean it. You're right she was trying to manipulate me and I'm sorry I didn't believe you. It's just, we were friends growing up. Her dad's in the business world and when she suggested to be my secretary I really thought she just wanted to help me make those connections with the businessmen her family knew. She was manipulating me, manipulating everything to put a distance between us. I'm sorry, I fired her a few days after you left."

"Is that supposed to make it all better Christian? You fired her and now I'm supposed to run back into your arms? She didn't do it all on her own Christian. You chose to make the decisions that you did. You chose to believe her over me, to not show up, to ignore me and the rest of your family. Most importantly you chose to choose everything else over me, you chose to give up our relationship Christian. That's all on you, not on Leila not on GEH not on anyone else but you and only YOU!"

Ana knew she was screaming and maybe people were looking but mostly people didn't care. That's the beauty of New York, people were too busy in their own lives to stop and stare at a couple breaking up. Couples broke up in public in New York every day, it wasn't an unusual occurrence.

Her control finally slipped and a tear rolled down her cheeks. She let out a sob then took a deep breath to steady herself. She stared straight at him and growled, "You chose to wait 3 years before coming for me Christian. It's too late."

His heart sped up he felt like he was on fire. Stepping closer until he was right in front of her Christian placed his palm over her cheek and his other hand grasped her shoulder to hold her in place and force her to look at him.

"I couldn't see you yet. I hurt you so much, more than I can admit. I wasn't worthy of you I knew that from the beginning and I knew I should've let you go but the thought of you with someone else hurt more. Imagining you walking down the aisle to someone else, carrying another man's baby, your children calling someone else other than me, Dad. The thought of it hurt so much I couldn't breathe. So I knew that I had to change myself. I needed to improve myself because you deserve someone who is the best version of themself that they can possibly be and I know," he groaned as his voice broke. The tears started running down his cheeks but he made no move to wipe them away and she was too frozen in shock to wipe them for him. He took a ragged deep breath as he vowed, "I know no matter what I do you will always be too good for me but I promise you I will spend the rest of my life trying. I promise that I will always work on us, on myself, to be the man worthy of you Anastasia Steele."

Ana couldn't help herself and wiped his tears away then proceeded to break free from his grasp. His arms dropped down to his sides and he knew what was about to come.

"I can't Christian. I've moved on now. I'm happy and I'm with someone who makes me happy." She turned her head to the side to look away from him. The hurt in Christian's eyes showed too much but she needed to put herself first. She prioritized Christian and his needs the whole time she knew him and he threw it away.

"Does he make you happier than I ever did?" he questioned. He was grasping at straws and he knew it but this is the fight of his life and if he was going down then he was going down fighting.

"He doesn't make me sad like you did," she interrupted him. She stared straight into his eyes and straightened out her shoulders. "He doesn't make me cry like you did. He may not make me as happy as you did but that's not his fault. I can't trust him enough and let him in enough to be able to make me as happy like you did because you broke that from me forever," she sobbed.

Ana was full on crying now. All the pent up hurt and anger that she never got to release to him has just all made its way to the surface now and she felt overwhelmed with the emotions going through her. It didn't change her mind, however. Luke was good for her, is good for her. She may be taking the easy way out and playing it safe but she knows she won't be able to overcome the kind of hurt and pain Christian caused her another time. She didn't trust him to not make the same decisions that led them here. As she reached up wipe her tears away Christian finally noticed the ring glistening on her hand and he wondered why he never saw it the whole day.

"It's too late Christian, and I'm happy now. Please let me be happy now," she pleaded. Ana felt the doubt in her gut begin to stir. She questioned whether she was making the right decision and she can only hope that she is.

"Okay," he sighed defeatedly. Ana chose to leave him even though it hurt her because she truly believed he would be happier with Leila. She fully intended to break her own happiness to give him his happiness and he owed it to her to do the same. Slowly as if trying to savor every minute he walked up to her again and placed each palm on her cheek as he tilted her lips towards him and kissed her for the last time. He placed another kiss on her forehead and hugged her as tight he could savoring how she felt and smelled in his arms before letting her go and taking a step back.

"I love you Anastasia, always have and always will," he took a deep breath as if breathing physically pained him "I wish you all the happiness in the world baby."

Ana visibly sighed. She felt intense relief but she also felt anguish however, this time she let her rational mind decide and not her fickle heart. She smiled at him through her tearstained face and he smiled back at the face he'll never forget and he watched her turn away and walk around the corner to where Luke went to. He felt all the energy draining from him with every second that passed. He barely managed to walk to the car a few feet away from him and as he collapsed inside he couldn't help but wish that he not open his eyes ever again to escape from the unsurmountable pain he felt.

AN: So sorry for the wait everyone! I had to take a break and focus on studying for the NCLEX (board exam) before I wrote another chapter. This one is heartbreaking but I originally planned to do two endings, one where they end up together and one where they don't. I'm working on the happy ending chapter and that will be it for this story. I would like opinions on whether the HEA be continued from this plot including chapter two or in another timeline where chapter two did not happen. Let me know and thanks for reading my story!