50 Shades of Drake 1 and 2

50SOD II: Chapter Seventy-Seven

    Monday started off...strange. Destiny woke up, and Aubrey was already awake, staring at her. The look in his eyes was so dark and clouded, she'd drawn away from him, thinking that she must have been locked in a nightmare. The dark look had gone away, and then he was just regular Aubrey, kissing her forehead and pulling her closer to him, trying to get those last few minutes of sleep.

    They showered, dressed, ate a quick breakfast, and drove to work in separate cars. Per usual. But close to her lunch break, Aubrey appeared on her department's floor. She heard the low whispers before she actually saw him. She was standing near the copier machine when the whispers started. The whispers in and of themselves were pretty strange. Normally, everyone continued working and went about their business. But lately, with the allegations being brought up against Graham Enterprises, employees seemed to be sensitive to anything worth mentioning. And Aubrey D. Graham strolling through the office, scoping out the area and interrupting the conversation Brian was having with the narcoleptic intern seemed to be worth noting.

    Brian greeted Aubrey with a grin.

    Destiny watched the two of them, trying to squash the nervousness she felt.

    "Can I speak to you in my office for a minute?" Aubrey asked Brian.

    Brian lifted his eyebrows and glanced at his watch. "Did we have a meeting scheduled?"

    "Not an official meeting," Aubrey told him. "Just something we need to discuss."

    Brian's brows knitted together, but he collected himself and nodded. "Yeah, sure."

    The two men walked past Destiny, Aubrey keeping his eyes trained forward and Brian glancing her way. Brian was shooting her a look that asked if she'd broken down and confessed everything to Aubrey. She gave the slightest shake of her head, and felt a heavy pit land in her stomach as the two men disappeared out of sight.

    Work for the rest of the day was pretty uneventful. She was on edge for the rest of the day, waiting for Brian to return back to his office. He didn't, which only increased the worry that she felt.

    Aubrey found out. Somehow he found out that you, Carlos, and Brian were conspiring together and leaving him out of it. And now he hates you, because once again you've kept information from him. She braced her elbows on her desk and leaned forward, covering her face with her hands. If that were the case, then Aubrey probably wouldn't forgive her. He'd probably want nothing to do with her, and then he would revert to being the guy who doesn't believe in love. The worst part about it, would be that she wouldn't have Rihanna or anyone else, for that matter, to blame. It would be her fault. She would be the one who crushed him this time. I don't know what I would do without him, she realized. I've become so lost in him, that I don't even know who I would be without him. And I don't want to know who I would be without him. I want to be with him. For forever.

    Had he fired Brian? Is that why Brian hadn't returned to his office? What was going on, and why was Aubrey being so secretive about it? Not that he can trust me, since I obviously can't keep my mouth shut, she thought, her bottom lip quivering as she turned to look at her computer monitor. By now, Aubrey would have usually messaged her something silly or flirty, or romantic or cute. But nothing. No communication. He worked one floor above her, but it felt like he was on another continent.

    When her shift was over, she didn't stay one minute later than she had to. She threw the blazer to her lilac-colored dress suit over one shoulder, grabbed her purse and briefcase, and left the office. She first visited Aubrey's office. Bridgette informed her that Aubrey had already left for the day. It was great, having to hear that news from Bridgette. Destiny headed to the garage. His car was no longer parked in its reserved spot. She hopped in her car and drove home, all of her nerves rattling the entire way there.

    Her nerves were still frayed when she unlocked the door to the condo. Music was playing. She could hear it. The piano, haunting and lilting notes. That in and of itself wasn't bad. She closed the door behind her and slowly walked forward.

    Aubrey came into view. Still dressed in the dark blue suit he'd worn to work. He had taken off his tie and his suit jacket; they were draped across the back of one of the dining room chairs. The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up to his elbows. His eyes were closed as he moved his fingers moved across the ivory keys. Amazing, how he made everything he did appear effortless.

    "Hi," she greeted, not knowing if she should even speak.

    He opened his eyes and glanced towards her, his fingers still stroking the keys. "Hello."

    Deja vu, she thought. The scene was similar to Saturday night, only now he was seated at the piano and not sitting in a dark living room. "How was your day?" she asked him timidly.

    "My day was...hectic," he replied, dropping his hands into his lap. "How was yours?"

    Stressful as hell. "It was okay." She bit her bottom lip.

    He studied her for a moment and then said, "There's something I need to discuss with you."

    Here it is. He knows. He knows, and he's going to spank you again, within an inch of your life. "I'm ready whenever you are."

    He stood up from the piano bench. "Follow me." He walked around the piano, through the dining room, and moved towards the stairs leading to his office.

    She had paused near the chaise lounge, expecting for him to discipline her there. Confused that he was heading up to his office, she continued moving and followed him upstairs.

    He cleared his throat and walked around his desk, seating himself behind it and gesturing to the chair that sat in front of it.

    Everything about the way he was interacting with her was...disconnected. Impersonal. And she picked up on it right away.

    "Do you understand how much you mean to me?"

    "Yes, Sir," she responded, clasping her hands in her lap to keep them from fidgeting.

    He nodded and pulled out a filing cabinet drawer.

    She watched as he withdrew a file folder and set it on his desk.

    "You are the single most important element of my life," he explained as he opened the folder. "So when I tell you this, I don't want you to mistake my intentions."

    Her heart started to pound in her chest. "Okay," she said softly. "I mean...yes, Sir."

    He flipped through pages, reading over a few lines on each sheet. "This is your contract."

    Tears formed in her eyes before he got any further words out.

    "Things in my life right now are...tense. I am no longer able to fulfill my duties as your Dominant. I am no longer able to train you the way you should be trained. My attention needs to be directed elsewhere. In the meantime, I do not expect you to be exclusive to me. I do not expect you to continue pleading your loyalty to me." His focus remained on the pages in front of him. "I will be signing the clause ending your contractual obligation to me. You will no longer be my submissive. I will no longer be your Dominant. You may consider your contract period fulfilled."