Darker

Darker, the fifth book in E L James's Fifty Shades series, retells the events of Fifty Shades Darker from the perspective of Christian Grey, the billionaire CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc. The novel follows his campaign to win back Anastasia "Ana" Steele, a recent college graduate who left him after he punished her too harshly with a belt during a session of BDSM, or consensual sexual activity involving dominance and submission. Haunted by childhood abuse at the hands of his birth mother's pimp, Christian has spent his adult life as a sexual Dominant in contractual relationships with submissive women. Ana was the first woman to make him want something different.

The story opens in June 2011 with Christian waiting outside Seattle Independent Publishing (SIP), where Ana works. He has nearly completed acquiring SIP to stay close to her. They fly in his helicopter, Charlie Tango, to Portland for a photography exhibition by Ana's friend José Rodriguez. At the gallery, Christian buys all seven of Ana's large portraits, unwilling to let strangers own images of her. Ana confronts him about contradictions in their former relationship, and Christian, driven by jealousy, pins her against a wall in a nearby alley and kisses her, admitting she brings out emotions he has never experienced.

Over dinner, Ana reveals she never used her safe word, a prearranged word to halt a scene, during the belt punishment because she forgot. She confirms she still loves him. On the drive back to Seattle, Christian proposes a conventional relationship: no punishments, no formal rules. They will reintroduce elements of his preferred lifestyle only as mutual trust develops. Ana accepts and declares her love.

The next day, Christian picks Ana up from drinks with her boss, Jack Hyde, whose behavior toward Ana he has been monitoring. Ana discovers Christian has purchased SIP and calls his behavior controlling. At her apartment, Christian insists she vocalize her desires before he will touch her. They make love for the first time since their breakup.

On Saturday, Christian recognizes Ana's description of a woman outside her office as Leila Williams, a former submissive who has gone missing. His security adviser, Welch, reports that Leila's boyfriend recently died in a car accident and that she has obtained a forged concealed-weapons permit. Christian insists Ana come to his penthouse at Escala for safety. A trip to Esclava, a salon chain Christian co-owns with Elena Lincoln, brings Ana face-to-face with Elena, Christian's former sexual partner who initiated him into BDSM when he was fifteen. Ana despises Elena, whom she calls "Mrs. Robinson," and storms out. Back at Escala, Ana suggests drawing lipstick lines on Christian's torso to map where she cannot touch him, boundaries rooted in cigarette burns inflicted during his childhood. The exercise is agonizing for Christian, but he endures it.

That evening, they attend the Coping Together charity gala at the estate of Christian's adoptive parents, Grace and Carrick Grey. During the First Dance Auction, Christian bids one hundred thousand dollars for Ana's first dance, outbidding his therapist, Dr. John Flynn, who is testing Christian's commitment. Christian takes Ana to his childhood bedroom for a passionate encounter, then returns to the dance floor feeling genuinely happy. Elena privately threatens Ana, prompting Christian to warn Elena off. Grace voices concern that Ana may be after Christian's money, a suggestion Christian firmly rejects.

After the gala, Ana's car is found vandalized, and evidence suggests Leila has entered the apartment. Christian and Ana flee to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The next morning, Ana washes the lipstick lines from Christian's body, and he confirms aloud for the first time that he loves her. They spend Sunday sailing Christian's catamaran, The Grace, across Puget Sound. Over dinner, Ana worries a conventional relationship will not satisfy him, but Christian reassures her their time together has been the best of his life.

During the following week, Christian secretly blocks a New York trip Hyde had planned with Ana. On Monday, Ana is promoted to acting editor. On Tuesday, Hyde attempts to assault her. She fights him off, and Christian fires Hyde, citing a history of harassment complaints. Ana agrees to move in with Christian on the condition that he ease his controlling impulses.

The next evening, Ana goes to her apartment to meet Ethan Kavanagh, the brother of her best friend, Kate Kavanagh. Christian realizes someone has already let Ana inside and rushes upstairs to find Leila holding a gun on her. Drawing on his authority as Leila's former Dominant, Christian commands her to kneel. She complies and drops the weapon. Taylor, Christian's driver and personal assistant, escorts Ana out. Christian tends to Leila alone before Dr. Flynn arrives to take her to a psychiatric clinic.

When Ana returns late that night, she fears she is inadequate after witnessing the intimate dynamic between Christian and Leila. Panicking that Ana is leaving, Christian confesses what he considers his darkest truth: He is a sadist who derives pleasure from whipping brunettes who resemble his birth mother. Ana is shaken but does not leave. Christian impulsively proposes marriage. Ana laughs, calls his timing terrible, and asks for time.

Ana requests a session with Dr. Flynn before answering the proposal. She gives Christian a sealed gift box with instructions not to open it until his birthday on Saturday. After speaking with Flynn privately, she tells Christian only that she will give him the benefit of the doubt. On Friday, Christian flies to Washington State University's campus in Vancouver, Washington, with Ros Bailey, his COO. On the return flight, both of Charlie Tango's engines catch fire. Christian executes an emergency landing, saving both their lives. With no cell service, he and Ros hitch a ride back to Seattle. Christian arrives at Escala hours later to find his family and Ana distraught, having believed him dead.

After everyone departs, Christian opens Ana's gift: a keychain flashing the word "YES," her answer to his proposal. On Saturday, his twenty-eighth birthday, Ana bakes him a chocolate cake evoking one of his few happy childhood memories. Christian calls Ray Steele, Ana's stepfather, to ask for her hand; Ray gives his grudging blessing. Christian buys a house on the Sound, purchases a diamond ring, and has flowers delivered to his parents' boathouse.

At his birthday party, Christian announces the engagement. Elena confronts Ana, declaring herself the best thing that ever happened to Christian. Ana throws a drink in Elena's face. Grace overhears, orders Elena out, and privately draws out Christian's admission that his relationship with Elena began when he was fifteen. Devastated, Grace demands he sever all ties with Elena. He agrees.

Christian leads Ana to the boathouse, now filled with wild meadow flowers, fairy lights, and lanterns. He kneels and proposes properly, telling Ana he wants to love, cherish, and protect her for the rest of his life. Ana says yes, and Christian slips the ring onto her finger. The novel closes with Christian holding Ana amid the flowers, calling her "my girl, my Ana, my love."