Hello everyone, I'm back.

I've had a busy January and an even crazier start to February so I decided to write most of this story before posting it in case life gets busy again.

As always E. L. James owns everything fifty, I'm just having my fun.

This story like all of my others is Un-betered so all mistakes are my own.

Enjoy.

CPOV

The water from the shower beat down on my now heated skin as I ignored the water that fell from the sky outside.

Seattle had recently been enjoying two weeks of uninterrupted sunshine which had been a welcome bonus when I'd returned from a very hot South Africa on business. I think I'd spent more time out on the water sailing in those two weeks than I had in the past two years. I even had a tan for a change instead of the pasty white skin I usually had as I'm always busy inside.

Now though, the sun felt like a distant memory as the rain had returned with a vengeance and was angrily trying to get inside as it knocked loudly against the windows.

Leaving the shower, I dried myself off as I walked into my closet to pick out my suit for the day.

I had a busy day ahead of me before I met up with Luke for dinner this evening now he was back in town. My day was full of meetings just like all other days that had come before. There was one meeting that I wasn't looking forward to though and that was one I'd felt bulldozed into taking by Ros. If Katherine Kavanagh was as bad as her father then I can see this meeting being cut very short with her being removed from the building. Good PR, Ros had told me it was for at the time when it had been scheduled in and at that time with the reputation that my company had for being one of the best to work for and work with in the country, I'd questioned why this interview needed to take place.

It's only now after years of attending various society parties around town, each one with a different woman that I think it's me she thinks needs a better image before it starts affecting my company especially after the last event I attended before Africa when I was nearly arrested after giving someone a black eye. I do what I do, I show up, give money when it needs to be given. Those women are a means to an end as I refuse to turn up to an event on my own. All are paid to be on my arm with a smile, of which very few over the years see me past that night.

Leaving Escala, I caught up on my emails that had come in overnight. Being the owner of a company that had its toe in the water of over twenty countries, means no matter, day or night, someone wants my attention.

"Mr Grey, are your dinner plans still set," Taylor asked me as I looked away from what I had been reading on my phone to give him my full attention.

"Yes, unless I hear from Luke otherwise. He may be here for only a couple of days before he's jetting off again so this may be the only evening when I get to see my friend" I replied with a smile.

Luke Sawyer, who would've thought that the skinny kid that I've known since Kindergarten would become the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, I certainly didn't, considering he was more interested in books back then than trying out at sports. High school brought forth his interest in girls too, but still no interest in sports until his final years. With his good looks, his infectious personality, he could charm the ladies back then when he wanted too, now they are eating out of his hands. Especially when he's on billboards in his underwear like the one we've just past.

"I will make sure the reservations are confirmed and that they know who will be arriving. I might need to have Welch add extra security to keep the women away."

"Luke can handle himself" I replied, seeing Taylor's nod.

Girls can scream at Luke as much as they like but if they don't have the brains to go with the beauty, they're fighting a losing battle with my friend. Only one has ever had both as far as Luke is concerned but just like with me, he saw her as his best friend.

A smile filled my mind then, a quiet giggle that turned into a laugh. I pushed all thoughts of her away when the tears appeared on her beautiful face because of the pain I had caused her.

"Sir, we're here" Taylor spoke, bringing me from my thoughts as I looked down to where my hand was laid upon my chest. I had been unintentionally rubbing my chest as if I could rub not only my pain away but also hers.

"Thank you, Taylor, I have no plans to leave the building today until I visit with Luke so if you want to, you have time to pick up that gift that you've ordered," I said, of the bracelet he had ordered for his daughters birthday.

"Thank you, sir. I will check in with Welsh to make sure everything is in order and then I will slip out and pick it up."

I nodded, getting out of the car as we both rushed towards the doors of my building that were being held open for us, ignoring the press and their questions that had gathered there. Once inside, we shook our coats off before heading towards the elevators as Taylor told security to remind those outside that they were trespassing and to move them on.

The ride up to the twentieth floor was swift as this elevator was just for me and would stop at no other floor but mine. As Taylor and I went our separate ways, Andrea followed me into my office before taking a seat opposite my desk, tablet in hand ready to start the day.

We went through the schedule for today as I informed her what paperwork I would need for each meeting I would be in. Like the professional that she was, Andrea had everything ready for each one, all except for the last meeting of the day.

"I don't expect it to run over" I stated. "In fact, I'm hoping to have it over and done with as soon as I can. I'm not exactly happy that I have to waste time doing this interview" I grumbled.

"It's good P.R.," she said. "The Times published a story about you this morning, about you marrying some socialite. Having this interview already in place will give you the chance to dispel the rumours floating around."

"That explains the leeches waiting outside. Honestly, Andrea, I don't give a shit about what those rags say."

"You should" she replied as I looked up into the concerned eyes of one of the very few women who I consider a friend. "You should let them see you. You're seen as Seattle's playboy, you play the part so well that no one can see you as anything else. No one sees the work you do to help the worlds hungry, how much money you put into new ventures to help the homeless and the poor. All they see is one of the countries richest men who likes fast cars and even faster women."

"People aren't interested in anything other than that Andrea. I have my reasons why I choose to live the way I do and having some spoilt brat write up a story on me, one who had to beg daddy to keep asking me over and over to do the interview isn't going to change that."

I heard her sigh as Andrea got up from the chair to get me a cup of coffee. I needed a strong cup to get me through this long day.

…

My first meeting was productive, my second, I spent most of it shouting at the incompetent people around me who had fucked up a deal. Thankfully I was able to take lunch in my office and it was quiet until I received a call from my sister.

"Ball," Mia said as the call connected.

"Balls to you too Mia" I replied, hearing her chuckle down the line.

"You know what I'm talking about, the Coping Together ball. Mum asked me to call, to one, find out if you were bringing a date, and two if Luke was coming this year."

"To answer question one, don't I always and two, I'm not sure. I'm having dinner with him this evening."

"Ok, I will tell her that. Now, who are you bringing with you, please not that god awful Gia again."

"Not likely" I replied as I thought of last years ball and the vapid intern I took from here. Do not mix business with pleasure I learnt after that night as I heard she'd been telling others around the building that we were a serious couple and it would not be long before I proposed. She just like the woman on the front page of today's paper would have a hell of a long wait for that.

Me, married, never.

"I'm not sure who I'm bringing yet Mia but make sure there's a seat for her."

"You could find someone you actually like to bring brother or come on your own. Either would be preferable than bringing a gold-digging wannabe who is looking for a ring."

"Bye Mia," I said, not wanting to get into this with her.

"Pain" she grumbled. "Love you, brother."

"You too" I replied before ending the call.

I finished my lunch, not realising until I pushed the plate away that I had spaghetti sauce on my white shirt.

"Shit" I grumbled, getting up from my chair before I headed into my private bathroom where I removed the shirt, trying and failing to get the sauce out by placing it under the cold tap. Leaving it in there to soak, I opened the small closet, before pulling a clean shirt down and put it on.

It was when I was about to close the door, it caught my eye. I knew it was there but I always found it too painful to look at, but thinking of her in the car, for the first time in so long, I pulled the photograph down.

It was a photograph of Luke, and me and sandwiched in-between, all of us laughing was her, Ana.

I always wondered about what she looked like now and where she was, before the horrible thought crept in of if she was still even alive. Thinking that brought back the pain in my chest almost winding me as I cursed at my stupidity for thinking such a thing. Ana was alive, she had to be, there was no other option than that.

She left, left us, left me and it was all my fault.

"Mr Grey, your next appointment is here" I heard Andrea say over the intercom.

Walking over to my desk, the photograph still in hand, I replied for her to show them into the conference room and I would join them in a few minutes.

Heading back to my bathroom, I ran my finger over Ana's face before I placed a kiss upon her smile. Putting it back where it belonged, I placed it besides what was left of the rose I had given to her long ago.

…

I was back in my office, long before my final meeting of the day, ending the call that I'd just had with Luke. Hearing that he would be back for longer than expected, even if that longer meant just a few days brought a smile to my lips. Dinner was still on and so was his attendance at my parent's ball.

Hearing a knock on the door, I looked up when Andrea entered and seeing the roll of her eyes could only mean that my final visitor of the day was here.

"She's very eager and has a list of questions a mile long so getting out of here early might be out," she said.

"Just because she has a lot of questions doesn't mean she's getting any answers" I replied. "Make her wait a few minutes and could you bring me a cup of coffee please."

"Of course," she replied before leaving the room.

Once my coffee cup was in my hand, Andrea showed Miss Katherine Kavanagh into my office. She looked a little like her father as she approached me, sticking out her hand for me to shake, although, from the look on her face, she didn't appreciate being made to wait. I run everything around here so she will wait as long as I want her to if she wants this interview to take place.

"Miss Kavanagh please take a seat," I said, upon releasing her sweating hand. She was nervous, I liked that, maybe she hadn't inherited her father's arrogance after all.

"Thank you, Mr Grey, shall we begin," she asked.

"Of course, I'm sure we both have better things to do than this."

She didn't say anything to my reply, she just set up her recorder before removing the papers from the folder she had on her lap. Then the questions started, the usual crap.

To what do I owe to my success. What businesses do I invest in, in Seattle, around the globe and many more, all questions I have answered before, answers she could've just looked up herself and saved both of us some time. They were all questions that I doubt she was interested in knowing the answers to either. Only one question she asked did I believe warranted a real and honest answer.

"Your company works with Washington State University, you're stated as being its largest donor, can I ask why that is."

"It's a good cause, investing in one's future" I stated.

"Really?" she questioned.

"You don't think to invest in the future is important," I asked. "I put money into the agricultural sciences department there, a department I might say that has shown some amazing results over the past few years. We all need food to survive no matter where we are in the world so the team there research sustainability and growth, find ways that help crops flourish in environments that might have once been barren or toxic to them."

"Isn't that science?" she asked sounding bored with my answer.

"I suppose there is a little science in everything."

More inane questions followed, most I gave basic answers too as I was eager to end this interview now.

"Are you gay?" she asked, bringing me from thoughts of being anywhere but here.

"Excuse me" I spat at her, my anger showing.

"I asked you if you were gay" she repeated a little quieter now as she realised she had overstepped the mark.

I picked this mornings newspaper up from my desk and tossed it towards her to which it cleared the desk before landing on the floor at her feet.

"Does that answer your question."

"So it's true then, I didn't believe," she said picking up the newspaper, smiling as if she was gaining an extra exclusive to a story that had already been run.

"No, it's not true" I replied, "You shouldn't believe everything you read."

"She's a very beautiful lady," she said of the women on the front cover who had attended an event with me a few months ago. A woman whose name I couldn't even remember before reading the article that had been put out, as I'd informed Sam in PR to have this story shut down.

"Yet you ask if I am gay" I laughed humourlessly.

"Mr Grey, you are constantly being photographed with women but none you seem comfortable with. The only person I have ever seen you with besides your family who you are relaxed with is Luke Sawyer, hence the question."

"Miss Kavanagh, Luke Sawyer has been my best friend since kindergarten. He's seen me at my best and my worst and is the person I can always count on to have my back. Naturally, I'm going to be comfortable around him. Now did you not come here to speak about the good work of my company and what I have done with it."

"Hardly, we both know that I came to write about the real you" she laughed.

"Then you are wasting your time and mine. My private life is just that, private. Now I think this meeting is done."

"But, but" she spluttered. "I have so many questions to ask you, about your company, the shipyards here in Seattle."

"A wasted opportunity for both of us then because instead, you chose to pry. Good day Miss Kavanagh, Andrea will see you out."

"Mr Grey.."

"Good day," I said, sitting back at my desk before picking up the papers that were there.

She would get nothing more from me and with a huff and a slammed door, it announced her departure from my office.

I sent a message to Taylor to let him know I was leaving soon. Before I left my office though, I called Andrea in, knowing she would only appear once that woman had been sent down in the elevator with no way to return.

"Can you clear my schedule on Friday afternoon, move around whatever I'm supposed to be doing and what can't be moved, get Ros to take it."

"Is there a problem?" she asked me.

"No, no problem. I'm flying down to Vancouver that day anyway so I thought I would leave earlier and see for myself what my investment at WSU is doing. I will be flying straight back Saturday after I give the commencement address at the graduation ceremony so if there is anything urgent that needs my attention, email it to me or send the paperwork over to Escala and I will look through it on Sunday."

"No day off," she asked.

"Is there ever" I replied.

"Do you want me to call the university and alert them of your arrival."

"No, I get to see the real results when they don't know I'm about. I may sign the cheques for the university and receive reports on their work but it's been a few years since I've been there and seen for myself what they're doing."

"Alright, I will sort your schedule out before I go home," she told me.

"In the morning will do Andrea, go home."

"I will. Enjoy your dinner with Mr Charmer" she laughed.

"I will tell him you called him that," I told her.

"Please do."

I smiled, watching Andrea leave my office before I got my coat on. Thankfully it hadn't gotten too wet this morning so was now completely dry.

Leaving the building with Taylor, I was surprised to see Miss Kavanagh still here. She was stood close to the door, an umbrella over her head as she tried to shelter from the rain.

"Loitering on my property is not allowed Miss Kavanagh, especially after you have been told to leave," I said as she spun around, sending some of the rain that had been on top of her umbrella our way.

Thankfully Taylor who had been holding an umbrella over the both of us brought it down in front to block the spray.

"Loitering, hardly. I'm waiting for a friend of mine to pick me up. Don't worry, I wouldn't want to be in your presence a second longer than I need to be" she stated, turning her back on me before she started to walk toward the steps and a car that had just pulled up.

I ignored her, walking towards my car which with the places being taken up in front of my building was further down the street. I could wait for it to pull up as I'm sure the others will move on soon especially with security heading their way to let them know they can't park there but I was already running late after that disastrous interview.

It was only a split second that I heard her laughter, that I saw her as Kavanagh was about to close the door, inside the car still light compared to the dark and gloomy outside

"Ana" I spoke, my voice but a whisper as I felt frozen in place. "ANA" I screamed as the car started to drive away.

"Mr Grey," Taylor said startled at my movements as I abandoned my path to my car and started to run.

It was stupid, I knew that as I should've gone to my car. We would've been stuck like all the others though going at a snail's pace so my mind was shouting at me to run, carry on. The lights had turned to red up ahead so I had it in my mind that I might catch up to her, stop her before she could leave.

I could hear those following me although who those were apart from Taylor who was calling out for me to stop I didn't know. I just ran. As the lights turned to green, with a car narrowly missing me when I ran across its path, I knew it was too late, once again she was gone and my frustration was visible for all to see.

It was a flash from a camera going off that brought me back to my senses.

"Mr Grey is that another one of your lady friends," An arrogant reporter asked, one I had seen waiting to the side of my building when I had come out. I ignored him and did as Taylor said as we headed back up the street towards my building and the car.

It was some of Grey House's security who had followed as well and I heard as we moved away, what sounded like a camera being knocked to the floor. An accident it would be put as, accidentality on purpose. I didn't care how much I would have to pay him for my heavy-handed guards, he shouldn't have been there in the first place.

Ana, Ana, Ana...my mind was all over the place, had it really been her or had I just chased a stranger down the street. I had spent so long once I had the funds put in place to look for her, coming up with no information. Anastasia Steele seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth not long after she left and even though I know Ray Steele had a number for her back then, he refused to give it to me.

Sitting in the back of my car as I sent Luke a message to let him know that I had to go home first and change before meeting him, my mind was filled with Ana and the fact that I might have just watched her leave my life again only seconds after she had re-entered it. Was it really her or was I clutching at straws desperate for any sign? If it was her that meant that she was alive, that was all that should have mattered to me but I had questions only she could answer. I know I screwed up back then but she didn't have to leave.

She was my safe place, the one who encouraged me to follow my dreams, the one who knew all my secrets, some even Luke didn't know about. She saw me at my best, and held me at my worst but then she was gone.

"Ana, I will find you," I said aloud to no one but myself. "I will find you."

Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it.

Christian will find Ana again but in the last place, he would think to look.

Until next time, take care.

Caroline.