How to Win Back Your Woman

Prologue:

Christian Grey was not used to the denial of something he wanted. However, today she denied him. She walked out, left him alone, and lost. He wandered around the penthouse touching everything that she had touched. He climbed into his bed and held onto the pillow that she slept on and breathed in her essence. While lounging on the bed he saw a package on his dresser. He picked it up and read the note: This reminds me of a better time. Thank You for the memories. I will cherish them forever.—Ana.

Christian tore through the giftwrap and opened the box to find a model of the glider that he took her up in while they were in Georgia. He could still hear her giggles of delight when they chased the dawn. It was one of the best days of his life. He sat on the end of the bed holding the box. Tears were streaming down his face. This was the first time he cried since he was a little boy living in the apartment with the crack whore, cold and hungry.

He spent the rest of the day and Sunday putting the model together. He refused to eat, to take any phone calls, or to sleep. He worked on that model, hoping that putting it together would give him a piece of Anastasia Steele to keep forever. He knew that she would always be with him. She lived in his heart and mind. He would never be free of the woman who fell into his office and fell into his soul. She changed his life and then he ruined any chance of happiness that they may have been able to have. Damn belts! Damn urges! Damn you, Grey!

He fell asleep at his desk crying for the only woman that he ever let get close to him. His dreams were troubled. He tethered her to the whipping bench and stood over her with that belt. He hit her repeatedly not hearing her cries. He never saw her tears. He only felt the joy that raced through his body to see her ass turn a bright red. He lost count of the strikes, but he thought it was seven. He dropped the belt and released her from her bonds. She stood up rubbing her butt and the tears were streaming down her face. He reached for her to give her comfort and to congratulate her on her bravery. She flinched and moved out of his reach. She turned to the wall where he kept the canes and she took one and turned on him. She beat him until he was on the floor in the fetal position begging for mercy. He looked up to her, her face melted, and slid off her head…she grew larger and wider. Ana was no more. It was him, the pimp! He was beating Christian. Strike after strike landed all over Christian's body. His own screams filled his head and the room. Christian woke up yelling for help! He realized he was in his office at Escala and no one was in the room with him. It was just a dream. He had to tell himself this a few times before he would truly believe it. He trembled as he reached for the brandy decanter and poured a drink. Those nightmares were back. They returned when Ana left him. He knew that she kept the darkness away with her own special light. He had to win her back. He had to have his Ana. She could not leave him when he needed her so much. She had to come back to him; after all, he was Christian Grey!

Chapter 1

Anastasia Rose Steele made sure to sit gingerly as she turned on the television. She was alone in the apartment that she shared with her college room-mate, Kate Kavanagh. This was her first evening after her first day at her new job as an editor's assistant at Seattle Independent Publishing, Inc. or SIP. She found the job challenging and fast paced. Her only complaint was her boss who seemed too friendly. Ana decided after the fiasco with Christian Grey that no man would ever treat her badly. She stood up to Jack Hyde and straight forwardly told him to not to touch her or to invade her personal space. He backed away shocked to hear her be so bold. He retreated into his office and slammed his door shut and she never heard from him the rest of the day.

Ana opened a longneck beer and let the cool liquid soothe her sore throat from crying. She had cried all weekend and she was done. Yes, she was in love with Christian Grey, but there was no future with such a fucked up man. He was damaged beyond what normal love could repair. He needed deep psychological therapy, she thought, maybe even electric shock therapy. She didn't really know, but she did know that he was not normal. There was a sick darkness in that man that she did not understand and did not want to understand. All she wanted was to be far away from him. Her first steps to sever the ties between them were to leave everything he ever gave her. She left behind the phone he gave her, the lap top, the Audi, and all the designer clothes. She left Escala with a sore ass and a wounded soul, and that was more than enough for her. She was better than that. She deserved to be treated better than what Christian proposed to her. She did deserve love and respect. She deserved to live a life that was free from physical and mental abuse.

Television was boring but Ana left it on just for the noise. She got another beer and opened it just as the doorbell rung making her jump. She approached the door slowly and quietly fearing that HE was outside her door. She used the peak hole to see a short deliveryman with a large bouquet of flowers. She unlocked the three locks and opened the door.

"Miss Ana Steele?" The man asked with a smile. She only nodded and signed her name to his delivery receipt. She took the flowers from him and shut the door. With one hand, she relocked all three locks and then took the arrangement into the living room. White and red roses filled the room with their delicate fragrance. She stared at them until she found the card.

I hope you had a wonderful experience at your first day of employment

Christian Grey

Call me!

Ana crumbled the card and threw it away in the trash. A few moments later the flowers were left outside her door in the hallway with the idea that she would throw them away in the morning on her way to work. "Forget it, Grey. You can rot in hell before I keep these or ever call your sorry ass." She slammed the door and relocked it. She was so angry that she chugged her beer then went to bed leaving the television on. Between the alcohol and the three Advil she slept relatively pain free.

Christian closed his eyes as he clicked his phone off. He just learned from Taylor that the flowers are delivered but they are left in the hallway. Well, that didn't go well. She is still pissed off and not ready to hear any apologies. I will send flowers to her at work. Yeah, a public display that tells everyone that I cared for her. She will come back to me. She has to know that I love her. Of course, I can't say those words, but she has to know.

The most eligible bachelor in Seattle stood at the window staring out into the night. He had to win her back. He couldn't live without her. He was Christian Grey with a limitless supply of money and determination. Her days of denying him were over!

Ana arrived at work to find an arrangement of pink roses on her desk and half of the secretarial pool standing around her desk waiting to ask her who sent her flowers. She already knew, but she took the card and read it quietly to herself. "No one important." She said with a small smile. "An ex-boyfriend trying to make brownie points." She offered the flowers to Danica who worked at the front reception desk on the ground floor. Danica took them with a squeal and disappeared into the elevator.

Ana was reading her third manuscript when her boss Jack Hyde finally made his appearance. He looked hung over and he growled at her to get his coffee. She politely reminded him that getting his coffee was not part of her job description and he would have to get his own coffee. Jack Hyde was not happy and made a mental note to report her to Personnel and ask for a new assistant who was more to his liking. After lunch, Jack returned from Personnel in a bad mood because he had no reason to dismiss Ana because she refused to fetch his coffee. He was once again reminded her duties and his duties as Editor, which was mainly to arrive to work on time. Once again, Jack slammed his office door and Ana did not see him for the rest of the day. She was about to power down her computer when her email program flashed and binged that she had a message. She clicked on the icon and brought up the just delivered email.

To: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Portland

From: Christian Grey

Message:

Anastasia,

It has come to my attention that this Thursday is the Exhibit of your friend's photos in Portland. I would more than happy to escort you since I doubt that you have had time to purchase a car. Please let me know if you would like transportation to and from Portland.

Yours,

Christian

Christian Grey, CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

Ana stared at the email for a few moments wondering how he got her email address. She almost deleted it without responding but considered that rude. She shot him off a simple reply of no thank you then she powered down her computer, turned off her desk light, and left her desk. She did not bother to say goodbye to her boss.

It was raining when Ana stepped out. She sighed and hoped that she could make a run for the bus stop and that the bus was on time. She would have to use her soft briefcase as an umbrella. As she ran for the bus stop, she noticed a black Audi following her. She knew it either Taylor or Sawyer driving and she made a decision to ignore them. She stood at the bus stop waiting for the bus as the Audi pulled up, the door opened, and Mr. Seattle himself climbed out. Ana stepped behind a tall man and tried to hide from Christian. She slowly moved away from the crowd and ran as fast as she could down the street and around the corner into a small dress shop.

"May I help you, Ma'm?" An older lady asked with a gentle smile.

"Yes, do you have a back exit? I am being followed and I need to evade this man."

"Oh, dear…should I call the police?" The lady asked shocked. She pointed to the back after Ana shook her head. "Go through that door and follow the hallway and you will find the delivery entrance. Are you sure I can't call someone for you?"

"Thank you for all your help Ma'm. I promise I will be back when I have more time." Ana ran as fast as she could. As she stepped into the hallway, she heard the front door chime that customers had arrived. She didn't bother to turn around to see if it was Christian and his goon squad. She just assumed and kept moving. She circled through the alley, came to the front of the store, and was able to catch the bus. She sat at the back of the bus and watched the Audi grow smaller as the bus rolled on down the road. Ana was very pleased with herself. She had outwitted Mr. Seattle.

The apartment looked like heaven to Ana as she stepped in and turned to lock the door. She pulled off her wet jacket and hung it on the back of chair to dry. She toed off her shoes and padded into her bedroom to change into sweats and a over-sized WSU sweatshirt. She washed her face and put her hair up into a pony-tail. She thought about Chinese delivery for supper but decided to see what she had in the kitchen. She pulled out some diced chicken, cheddar cheese, onions, and a whole-grain tortilla. She caramelized the diced onions in butter, added the diced chicken and a few slices of red peppers that she found in the refrigerator. She poured the chicken mixture onto the tortilla then sprinkled the cheese on top. She folded her tortilla, grabbed a longneck and went into the living room to watch a repeat of Two and Half Men. She nibbled on her food and drank her beer. She finished as the show ended. She was about to fall asleep when she heard the doorbell. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and padded to the door. She caught her breath when she saw that Christian stood outside her door. He rang the doorbell once again. He did not look happy. Ana considered ignoring him but she also knew that he would not leave. She quickly unlocked and opened the door.

"Mr. Grey." She said with a tight nervous smile.

"Miss Steele." Christian drawled as he smiled down at her. He leaned against the door jam. "May I come in?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea. Is there something I can do for you?"

Christian licked his lips as he thought of all the things that she could do for him and they all entailed her naked and on her back. "We need to talk, Ana."

"I think we have talked all that we can." She snapped back at him. "Mr. Grey, I am not interested in revisiting our former relationship. Will you please leave?"

"Ana, please…I'm begging you to come back to me." He stepped toward her but she stepped back into her apartment and tried to shut the door, but he stopped the door progress. "I will not be turned away." His voice lowered and became dark. His grey eyes became cold and distant. Christian was in full CEO "take over the world" mode. His shoulders squared and he towered over her. She recognized his DOM stance. He did not wait for an invitation as he stepped into her apartment and closed the door. Ana took another step back then turned to flee, but he caught her ponytail and pulled her back into his body. "I said we need to talk."

"Christian, please let me go." She said as calmly as she could. Her heart was racing with fear. With his size, he could hurt her so easily. She could not match him with blow for blow. Her only avenue of escape was reason and good sense. "You are hurting me."

"You hurt me when you ran. You said you would never leave me." He pinned her against the wall. "You have turned away my gifts, refused my phone calls and emails, and then you tell me no. You have no right to tell me no." His face was so close to hers that she could feel his breath steaming her face. "You. Are. Mine! Do you understand that?"

Ana bit her tongue as she considered the mad man holding her to the wall. "Yes, Christian, I understand." She softly whispered. She looked down to the floor, playing submissive. He held her with one hand while the other traced over her belly and over her breasts. He lifted her chin with his cupped hand.

"Don't. You are not my Sub." He grounded out then kissed her harshly then softens the kiss. His hips pressed into her stabilizing her against wall. "You are still mine. I won't give you up."

"You are scaring me." She whispered.

"Good. I want you scared of me. Now, you know what I am capable of and you will not deny me what is mine." He kissed her forehead softly then dipped down to trace her lips with his own. "I want you so bad. My cock is rock hard for you baby." His free hand fumbled with his belt buckle and Ana took the opening to free herself from this madness. She brought her knee up as hard as she could and lay a blow to his groin region. He instantly howled and released her as he reached for the damaged family jewels. Ana ran for the door and swung it open to find her neighbor from across the hall opening her door. "Please, help me." The woman turned to see a man groaning on the floor and a frighten girl with wild blue eyes staring at her pleading for assistance. The woman flew open her door and pulled Ana in with one fluid movement. The door slammed shut and locked. "Th…Thank You."

"Who is that?"

"An ex who will not take a hint." Ana patted her sweats looking for her phone. She pulled out her new cell and called GEH. Andrea answered in her cold business-like tone. Ana was not polite as she spoke. "This is Ana Steele, transfer me immediately to Jason Taylor." Her demand was delivered and she heard the deep voice of Taylor saying hello. "Taylor, come get your damn boss off my floor before I call the police. I know you are around somewhere." She went to her neighbor's door and used the peephole to see into her apartment where Christian was struggling to stand. Taylor did not bother to reply but hung up. A few moments later, he was in her apartment helping Christian to his feet.

Christian made Taylor stop outside the neighbor's door. "I know you can hear me, Anastasia. I will be back and you will not escape me next time."

Ana crumbled to the floor, the adrenalin had ran out. She was exhausted and empty inside.

"I don't know who that man is, but I think he is dangerous." The neighbor said wondering if she was in danger for helping this petite lady in her time of need. "What can I do for you…he said your name is Anastasia?"

"Ana, my friends and saviors call me Ana." Ana said with a little chuckle. She shakily stood, her legs trembling. "Thank you so much for your help."

The neighbor only smiled and extended her hand slowly. "My name is Tara Holt, your neighbor and savior."

"Ana Steele, your ever grateful neighbor."

"Ok, grateful neighbor, how about a pot of tea and some girl talk."