50 Shades of Drake 1 and 2

50SOD II: Chapter Eight

    Destiny lie on her side. It hurt to sit down. It hurt for her butt to come into contact with anything. It still stung, even though it was only currently in contact with air. Air and sheets. She stared towards the window, a blank stare. Not really looking at anything. Just remembering.

    Remembering the moment she hesitated before opening the drawer in his closet. Remembering the moment she hesitated before opening the first box. She'd even hesitated after opening the box, once she saw the letters inside.

    A single tear slid down her cheek as she stared, unblinking, towards the window.

    Remembering the crazy look in his eyes. That reflection hadn't even looked like him. Even in that moment, she'd known that he wasn't really there. He hadn't been in that room with her. The minute he'd picked up the flogger, his mind had drifted off somewhere else completely. He'd become someone else, someone filled with anger and darkness.

    And how can a man who is usually so gentle and loving be filled with that much anger? she wondered as the first few droplets of rain hit the window. Divorce was traumatizing for any child. It was. It was a life-changing event, an event that caused everything you thought you knew about your own family to be turned upside down. She got that. She understood that. After that, his fiance also cheated on him. For years. And maybe that's where his anger really came from. She couldn't imagine finding out something like that.

    She closed her eyes and winced in pain. Knowing him, he was probably feeling a lot of regret. He hadn't shown it to her, but he'd dropped the flogger as if he couldn't believe what he'd done to her. She knew that he hadn't meant to go that far. But he did go that far, she thought, and because he won't even deal with whatever issues he obviously has, there is a chance that he could lose control like this again. And then what? Are you going to stay with him, knowing that he is dealing with some pretty serious demons?

    She heard footsteps and raised her head, looking towards the door. A sliver of light shone beneath the crack in the door. Two twin shadows bisected the sliver of light. He was standing right on the other side of the door right now. With tears frozen in her eyes, she raised up on an elbow, looking towards the door.

    Even after what had just happened, her heart ached for him and yearned for him to open the door. Open the door and walk over to her, and cradle her in his arms, and apologize and tell her that they would be okay. That he'd lost control, but wouldn't ever lose control again. The logical part of her wanted him to keep walking. Keep walking and give her some space and time while she sorted out her emotions.

    The shadow of his feet remained for quite some time. She could have sworn she heard the doorknob rattle a little. But soon, his feet moved, and his footsteps could be heard continuing down the hall, to the master bedroom.

    She settled her head back on the pillow and resumed to staring at the window, where more raindrops were splattering against the window.

~~~~~~

    Aubrey woke up with a start. Even before opening his eyes, he could always tell whether or not Destiny was lying beside him. He ran a hand over the empty spot beside him and sat up, rubbing his eyes. He'd had the hardest time getting to sleep and once he'd gotten to sleep, he'd been plagued with nightmares. Nightmares about Destiny leaving him.

    He whipped his head towards the door with his brows furrowed. He threw the bed sheets off of him and swiveled his legs around, placing his feet on the floor. He stood up, shirtless, dressed only in white pajama pants.

    He walked out of his bedroom and down the hall, where he turned to the right and opened the guest bedroom door. His heart leapt in his throat. The bed was empty. Perfectly made. He stood in the doorway, listening for any sounds in the condo. A flushing toilet, or a shower, maybe. Nothing. It was so quiet, he could have heard a pin drop.

    He wasted no time. He didn't even bother with breakfast. He showered, dressed in one of his sharpest Italian suits, grabbed his wallet, keys, and briefcase, and left the condo. He went to her condo unit and knocked on the door. She didn't answer. He couldn't hear any sounds inside the unit from where he stood in the hall. He checked the garage. The Range Rover he'd given her was gone. With his heart hammering in his chest, he fumbled to unlock his black Bugatti.

    If he thought he'd felt panic last night, he hadn't known the true meaning of panic last night. Because as he drove to Graham Enterprises, keeping an eye out for a pearl white Range Rover, he came close to having a real panic attack. It was difficult to breathe. His vision blurred. He had to pull over a few times, just to collect himself.

    You don't know if she actually left. She might be at work. He blasted music from a satellite radio station, but didn't pay attention to the songs that were playing. All he could think about was Destiny. All he could think was that he didn't want to lose her.

    Of course, days like this, when you were in a hurry, were when traffic lights all got together and had a meeting to discuss the fact that they would all make sure to flash yellow and red when you approached them.

    He finally arrived to the Graham Enterprises parking garage in one piece, parked haphazardly, and checked his reflection. He looked like a panicked, crazed mess. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. When he opened his eyes, though, he still looked like a panicked, crazed mess. He ran a hand over his head, grabbed his briefcase, and got out of the car.

    People greeted him on the way in. He barely noticed them, barely heard them. He quickly strode across marble floors that had been buffered by the gods. He took the elevator up to the thirty-fourth floor, where the public relations, media, and marketing departments were located. He took a steadying breath before entering the offices and only then nodded and returned greetings to those who greeted him.

    He walked down a long corridor flanked by cubicles and desks. His steps slowed when he saw Brian Davis, playboy by night and public relations manager and VP of the entire media department by day. Aubrey's steps slowed even more when he saw that Brian was speaking to Destiny. They were standing near his office and Destiny was gesturing with her hands while she spoke. She'd chosen to wear a plum purple blazer over a colorful silk top, and a matching knee-length skirt. Her hair was straightened and curled at the ends. Minimal makeup. As always, the vision of beauty.

    Aubrey's brows furrowed and he stopped walking altogether. He'd confirmed that she was here. She was here and hadn't left him. He should just feel content with that, turn around, and leave.

    "Aubrey!" Brian called out to him, noticing that he was standing in the aisle.

    Aubrey closed his eyes and plastered a cordial smile on his face. He continued walking over to them.

    Destiny didn't look up as he approached. She kept her back to him and kept her gaze lowered.

    Brian seemed to catch this and narrowed his eyes at her. Then he lifted his eyes to Aubrey. "I didn't expect to see you in our department today," he said, smiling.

    "I actually needed to speak to Destiny," Aubrey said.

    Brian looked down at Destiny. "She told me about the intense workout she had yesterday," he said, running a hand through his ear-length, dark hair. "Poor thing can't even sit down. Reminds me of how I feel trying to walk after leg day. I told her that she can work while standing, or take the rest of the day off, if she wants."

    Aubrey looked down at Destiny, his brows drawing together. "Can I speak to you in my office, Destiny?"

    She nodded.

    He placed a hand at her back and said to Brian, "I'll have her back to you as quickly as possible."

    "Sure, man," Brian said, but his shocking blue eyes were filled with confusion.