Anastasia Steele, having ended her tumultuous relationship with Christian Grey, pursues a new career as an assistant to Jack Hyde, an editor at a Seattle publishing house. Despite her attempts to move on from her intense experiences with Christian, she continues to be haunted by her desire for the enigmatic billionaire. Meanwhile, Christian wrestles with his inner demons and desperately tries to win Anastasia back, clashing with her newfound independence. He tempts her with a new arrangement, hoping it will keep her close while allowing her to maintain her own identity.

Their freshly rekindled romance faces numerous obstacles, not least from figures from Christian's secretive past. Leila, a former submissive of Christian's, emerges with a dangerous jealousy, while Elena Lincoln, Christian's longtime friend and business partner, holds a complicated influence over him. These women's presence threatens to unravel the fragile stability Anastasia and Christian are trying to establish. Anastasia is drawn deeper into Christian's opulent lifestyle and troubled psyche, even as she is confronted with decisions about her career and her relationship with her boss, which challenge her values and aspirations.