50 Shades of Drake 1 and 2

Chapter Seventy-Nine

    The week thankfully went by without any Aubrey/Brian drama. Aubrey visited the PR department a lot more frequently than he needed to, and Brian kept his distance. Destiny's on the job training was to last for two weeks. Zorica alternated between training her and having Mia watch her work throughout the day.

    Most of Destiny''s job duties revolved around research. Her main mission as a public relations specialist was helping to protect the Graham Enterprises brand. Keep tabs on articles and any mentions of Graham Enterprises. Contact entities whose reports or mentions were inaccurate and make sure they were given accurate, confirmed information. The job sounded easy, but Zorica made sure to correct that first impression.

    "You'd be surprised how many times Graham Enterprises is mentioned in reports that have inaccurate information," she said, sitting at her desk with one slender leg crossed over the other. "You'd also be surprised at how difficult it can be to get into contact with the people in charge of publishing the wrong information." Zorica explained that the job position Destiny was filling in for used to be her own. Zorica had been promoted and now her job duties consisted of creating press releases for the company. She said that all of the press releases she created had to be approved by Brian.

    "Is someone talking about me? My ears are burning," Brian called out, breezing past them.

    Zorica rolled her eyes. "He's quite a flirt. Watch out for him."

    "I heard that," he called over his shoulder as he reached his office door.

    Zorica shook her head. "He's nothing but trouble," she said laughing.

    "So...he flirts with everyone?" Destiny asked, feeling relieved. 

    Zorica shrugged. "I wouldn't say everyone," she said. "He's selective. But he's very charming. The entire office has a crush on him. With men like Brian and Aubrey in the building, I don't know how any of the girls get any work done."

    Tell me about it, Destiny thought.

    Throughout the week, Destiny and Aubrey would wake up, sometimes make love as soon as they woke up, work out together, shower together, get dressed, and ride to work together. Minus the occasional visits to her department, she and Aubrey would spend the work day apart, then they would ride home to work together. It surprised her that he didn't seem to care if people knew or suspected that the two of them were involved. She'd expected him to hide their relationship, since he seemed to value discretion. She was quite sure that his knowledge of her brief encounter with Brian at the deli and Brian's resulting infatuation was a part of it, but that wasn't the sole reason. Even prior to introducing her to Brian, he'd been a little too comfortable with her while showing her around the cafeteria. He'd even had lunch with her. Just when she thought she understood him, he always managed to do something that threw her for a loop and made her question everything she thought she knew about him.

    Needless to say, his employees were curious about their relationship. Women were quick to befriend Destiny and quick to ask if Destiny was seeing anyone. Destiny hedged questions of that nature. Even though Aubrey wasn't afraid to show that she was under his wing, she didn't know how much she was allowed to say. There had been a confidentiality clause in the contract, and she refused to breach it.

    On Saturday, Aubrey was true to his word and showed her around his city. He took her to the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the infamous CN tower, which he wanted to make sure she viewed at night. It looked magnificent and larger than life, blazing with bright-colored light against the dark night sky.

    The city was beautiful, and Destiny told him so.

    "I've travelled the world a few times over," he said, lifting his eyes to the CN tower building. For once, he'd dressed casually in a black t-shirt, jeans, and Timberland boots. "And it's crazy, because out of everywhere I've been, there is no place like this city. There are cities that may have a few of its qualities. Maybe there is a city that is diverse or a city that has a collection of genuinely nice people. Maybe there is a city that is cultured and a city that is aesthetically beautiful. But a city that has all of the above, while carrying the vibe that my city has...I haven't come across it yet. Not to say that this is the only great city there is. That would be a lie. But I don't know...there is something about this place, a trademark that makes it one-of-a-kind."

    She smiled up at him. "The pride you have for your city is adorable."

    He smiled back and tipped up her chin, staring down into her eyes. "The pride I have for my city is adorable...?"

    "Sir," she said before raising up on her tiptoes and kissing him.

    He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back. They didn't care who was around them to hear or see.

    They continued walking the streets of Toronto. They passed a club with music wafting out of its front doors. Destiny slowed her steps and stopped altogether, turning back in the direction of the club.

    Aubrey stopped and looked down at her. "I'm guessing you want to go in."

    She looked up at him. "The music sounds amazing."

    "Very bluesy," he commented. "Like the music I used to sing with my dad when I was a kid."

    She tugged on his hand, continuing to stare up at him.

    He laughed. "All right, fine." He led the way back to the club, showed his identification to the door attendant and waited for Destiny to do the same, then paid for both of their cover fees at the front desk.

    The club was one large room, complete with a front stage that a live band was currently playing on. A dance floor area was in front of the stage, and tables were laid out behind the dance floor and on an upper level. The establishment was very classy, elegant. Even though Destiny was wearing a cute, black mid-calf length dress, she still felt underdressed. She arched a look at Aubrey and remembered that he was even more underdressed than she was. It was a wonder he'd been let in, but then again he was Aubrey Drake Graham. He was no longer a rapper, but he was still the undisputed King of Toronto. An establishment would be stupid to turn him away.

    A short, balding man in a tuxedo walked past them and went to the front desk. "Antonio called in again. He's not going to make it at all."

    The man at the front desk rubbed his chin. "We can ask if anyone in the audience would like a chance to step into the spotlight," he suggested. "We can spin it. Make it an amateur night."

    Destiny grabbed Aubrey's arm and looked up at him.

    He looked down at her and gave a slight shake of his head.

    She looked disappointed.

    "The audience didn't pay amateur night prices. We need to find a backup for him, stat," the short balding man mumbled. "Antonio's been calling in more and more lately. We can't keep-" He'd turned his head while he was talking and stopped himself mid-sentence when he realized that Aubrey Graham was standing in his establishment.

    Aubrey looked back at him.

    "Aubrey." The man walked up to him. "I thought I recognized you."

    "Joseph," Aubrey greeted.

    Destiny's brows furrowed. They knew each other?

    "It's been how long?" the man named Joseph asked, clapping him on the upper arm.

    Aubrey lowered his gaze to his arm with a frown. "Not long enough," he countered.

    Joseph laughed. "You always cracked me up. Listen. You used to sing. And I know you know how to play the piano. I'm in a bind here."

    "I don't entertain anymore," Aubrey said flatly.

    "You'd be saving my ass here," Joseph said, clasping his hands together in front of him in a begging gesture. "These people paid for a show. And the band is great, but we're missing the pianist and vocalist. We need someone who can sing and play."

    Aubrey looked away from him and shook his head.

    Destiny grabbed onto his arm again. "You'd be amazing," she encouraged him.

    He stared down at her. The look in his eyes softened after a few moments. He shifted his gaze over to Joseph. "You're going to owe me so big for this."

    "Anything. Anything. Name it," Joseph said quickly, already looking relieved.

    Destiny grinned.

    "Don't smile too hard," Aubrey cautioned. "You're going to owe me big after this, too."