When a wounded Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) tries to entice a cautious Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) back into his life, she demands a new arrangement before she will give him another chance. As the two begin to build trust and find stability, shadowy figures from Christian's past start to circle them, determined to destroy their hopes for a future together.
Three days after leaving Christian, Anastasia "Ana" Steele starts offevolved her task as private assistant to Jack Hyde, an editor at Seattle Independent Publishing (SIP). He asks Ana out frequently which, although it makes her uneasy, she writes off. Later, Christian emails her about a gallery exhibit José Rodriguez started in Portland, which she'd forgotten. Ana and Christian attend the show collectively and kiss in an alley. The subsequent day, they've lunch in a eating place and Christian exhibits he wants her any way feasible. He later asks that they resume their courting but under Ana's situations: no policies and no punishments. She agrees.
Christian exhibits to Ana that he bought SIP but that the deal need to live secret for another month. Feeling he is interfering in her profession, specially after he freezes the enterprise's money owed stopping her from going on an overnight commercial enterprise trip to New York with Jack, Ana breaks up with Christian again. Christian insists his moves have been for her own safety due to the fact Jack is a "known philanderer" who has apparently stressed his final 5 assistants. Christian's concerns show accurate when Jack corners Ana after hours and blackmails her, demanding sexual favors. Ana escapes using her self-defense training, and Christian has Jack fired and confiscates his paintings pc.
Meanwhile, while attending a masquerade ball at the home of Christian's parents, Ana meets Elena Lincoln (whom Ana nicknames Mrs. Robinson) and discovers that Elena and Christian very own a salon commercial enterprise collectively. Later, Ana is auctioned off and Christian bids $one hundred,000 for the first dance along with her. Ana is disgusted to research Christian is still buddies with Elena the woman who seduced him whilst he became simplest 15 years vintage and delivered him to the BDSM lifestyle. When Elena realizes that Christian sees Ana as a girlfriend and no longer a submissive, she becomes opposed in the direction of Ana, looking to sow discord inside the budding relationship.
Meanwhile, Ana is stalked at paintings with the aid of a disturbed Leila Williams, one in all Christian's former submissives, a state of affairs made more extreme when Ana learns Leila has a gun. Leila's obsession with Christian and Ana commenced after her lover died in a automobile crash four months before, leading to a mental breakdown. Leila breaks into Ana's condominium and threatens her at gunpoint. Christian defuses the state of affairs through using their dominant/submissive dynamic, leaving Ana concerned that Christian can not be happy with a vanilla courting. Ana confronts Christian approximately Leila. Fearing Ana is leaving him once more, Christian impulsively proposes. Ana does now not solution, claiming she desires time to take into account it.
José, who Christian nevertheless perspectives as a romantic rival, drives to Seattle to visit Ana, which Christian handiest lets in if they both live at Escala. Ana becomes worried at the night earlier than Christian's 28th birthday whilst he goes missing flying from Portland to Seattle in his helicopter with Ros Bailey. However, he ultimately makes it back to Escala appropriately, explaining that both helicopter's engines failed; sabotage is suspected. Ana realizes she in no way wants to be with out him and accepts his marriage proposal.
The next day, the Grey circle of relatives throws Christian a big party at their mansion. Ana's buddy Kate issues after finding an email among Ana and Christian, discussing the BDSM Contract, but Ana assures her that her dating with Christian is a vanilla one. After Christian and Ana announce their engagement, Elena angrily confronts Ana, accusing her of being a gold-digger and claiming that a vanilla dating will in no way satisfy Christian. Christian's adoptive mom, Grace, overhears the argument and is livid that Elena preyed on her teenage son. Elena leaves in disgrace, and Christian decides to give up their commercial enterprise courting.
Christian takes Ana to the boathouse, which has been embellished with plant life and tender lights. He proposes nicely with a hoop and Ana accepts. Outside the Greys' mansion, Jack Hyde secretly watches the birthday celebration; he sabotaged Christian's helicopter and has sworn revenge.
