50 Shades of Drake 1 and 2

Chapter Eighty-Two

    Brian leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on his desk. He stared up at the ceiling. I'm stuck in the office on a Saturday night. I'm drinking Scotch as if that makes being stuck in the office any cooler. My friends are all out, or spending time with their new families, and I'm here. Working. Drinking. Depressed as fuck.

    The past week, he'd spent working with Aubrey on that "special project" that was seemingly conjured out of the blue. The minute he'd found out that Destiny was the girl that Brian had talked his ear off about, he'd jumped to action with this bogus ass project, which was nothing but painful-to-read, eye-crossing reports. Reports that Brian would otherwise have no involvement in. But what could he say? He couldn't tell the owner of the company, "No, I'd rather spend the week working on my floor so I can scope out your girlfriend. Because ever since the day I met her, I can't get her out of my mind. Because she is, without a doubt, the prettiest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. Not to mention she's the first woman in years who has turned me down, boyfriend or not."

    A loud whirring sound cut into his thoughts and made him sit upright. He strained his ears, but he wasn't imagining the sound. He furrowed his brows and continued the listen. The more time that passed, the louder the sound became. He stood up from his chair and walked over to the window. Was a jet plane passing?

    He gazed out of the window, but a thought occurred to him. Graham Enterprises had a company helicopter. He turned and stared over his shoulder. Then, he jogged out of his office and down the hall leading to the front hall of the thirty-fourth floor. He didn't stop jogging until he reached the elevators. He pressed the button for the elevator. The elevator took its time in reaching him. "Come on, come on, come on," he muttered impatiently.

    The elevator doors slid open and he stepped inside. He pressed the R button for the rooftop and waited, a bundle of nerves. He ran a hand through his dark brown hair, straightened his tie and suit jacket. The doors opened, and he saw a picture similar to the one he'd conjured up in his own mind: Aubrey and Destiny standing on the rooftop kissing while a helicopter was landing near them.

    The elevator doors started to close again, and Brian's hand shot out to stop the doors from closing. He watched the two lovers kissing and felt a stabbing pain in his chest. He leaned his head against the elevator door and watched as the couple pulled back from the kiss. They were the picture perfect couple and the look they exchanged was filled with love.

    Brian had known Aubrey for years. He'd been there when Aubrey had found out that his fiance had cheated on him for the better part of their relationship. He and Aubrey had long talks in the office about women and relationships. Brian's outlook on relationship was a bit more lax than most. Aubrey soon jumped on the casual relationship bandwagon. It had been quite heartbreaking to witness, actually. Aubrey, by nature, was a romantic. Witnessing him shut off his emotions and become this... unfeeling robot hadn't been easy.

    Brian should be glad that his boss and friend had found a girl who turned all of that around and made him want to feel again. And...don't get him wrong, a part of him was glad that Aubrey was starting to open his heart up again. But Brian couldn't help but wonder... Why did the girl who walked in and changed his life for the better have to be the girl that I want for myself?

~~~~~~

    Aubrey helped Destiny into the helicopter, then climbed in himself. He pulled the helicopter door closed and sat in the seat beside Destiny.

    A gray-haired main in the pilot seat turned back and waved at them. "Hey, Mr. Graham!"

    "Destiny, this is Phil," Aubrey introduced as he started to strap her into her seat.