50 Shades of Drake 1 and 2

50SOD II: Chapter Ninety-Three

    Aubrey's charisma jumped off of the television screen. Destiny sat on the couch in Brian's living room, unable to take her eyes off of the television. If she no longer lived with him and he refused to see her at work, then televised events like these were the only chance she would get to see him for an extended period of time.

    Throughout his entire speech, she'd felt pride. He handled the situation well. He was frank. Honest. Best of all, he maintained a certain level of dignity that most individuals wouldn't possess after a scandal as large as this one. He looked debonair and poised, and sounded articulate and confident. Despite the fact that he was probably feeling nervous on the inside. Brian stood behind him, offering encouragement and support whenever needed.

    The reporters were very kind with their coverage. Only a couple of them were dissatisfied with Aubrey's overall vagueness, stating that Aubrey should have gone more into detail regarding the investigation that was being conducted.

    After watching the same reporters talk about the same topic for hours on end, she turned off the television. Then she drew up her knees and wrapped her arms around them. Is this how it was going to feel, being apart from Aubrey? She could feel herself sinking into the depths of depression. It didn't help that her brain was insistent on recalling flashbacks of the conversation she'd had with him earlier. I guess I thought that even though I had to live apart from him, I'd still get to flirt with him at work, she thought. I thought we'd get to steal little moments here and there, which would make living apart for him more bearable. But after today, it seems like he doesn't want me around him at all. Not at home, not at work. That's probably why he made sure to let me know I could date other people if I wanted. He knew that we wouldn't be able to see each other at all. He's that frightened of Palmer finding out how much he cares about me. She groaned in frustration, wishing that she didn't have morals or a conscience. Because if that were the case, she would suggest that Aubrey hire a contract killer to take Palmer out. If he was the problem, why not terminate him? Sadly, though, that's not the way the world works. Would I want to sleep next to a man who was responsible for killing another man? Sure, Palmer is evil and the world would be better off without him - but even he deserves a fair trial...doesn't he?

    The front door opened and closed and the sound of jingling keys followed.

    She looked towards the living room entrance.

    Brian stepped into view and stared at her for a long moment without speaking.

    "You guys were amazing at the press conference," she remarked.

    He smiled. "Were we?"

    "I don't think he could have given a better speech than the one he gave," she said with a nod. "And he handled the questions well. Direct and with authority. He didn't beat around the bush, didn't seem like someone trying to get away with something. I also caught those little moments when he looked to you and you encouraged him."

    Brian's smile stretched wider and he lowered his eyes. "I can't take much of the credit. That was all him. He decided to just wing it, no written speech. He also went against what was advised. It was advised that he take a much more...humble, tail-between-the-legs kind of approach."

    "He made the right decision. With the accounting allegations, it's best that he appears confident, not like someone who has something to be ashamed of."

    The corners of Brian's mouth turned downward as he mulled over her words. He reached up and loosened his tie. "Maybe you're right about that. The press did seem to be eating it up. They were practically salivating when he brought up the tape."

    She dropped her gaze.

    "About that..."

    Her cheeks started heating up.

    "I've been meaning to ask you about that night for awhile."

    "Not something I really want to talk about," she told him. Not something I am even capable of talking to you about. I'm bound by contract. Out loud, she said, "We're close, but not that close."

    "I understand that," he said quietly. "I was just...I guess I was curious. But, yeah, I can understand how you wouldn't want to talk about it."

    "Have you eaten dinner yet?" she asked him, desperate to change the subject from the night when Brian had seen her standing outside of a sex club, barely dressed and the most vulnerable she'd ever felt in her life.

    He shook his head. "No, actually."

    "I didn't know if I was allowed to, but I got bored and I made spaghetti, breadsticks, and salad."

    His eyebrows shot up. "You're very thorough."

    She stood up from the couch and led the way out of the living room. "I didn't know what else to do. I was going crazy, being in this huge house by myself. I don't know how you do it."

    "On some nights, it's not easy," he muttered as he followed her down the hall and into the kitchen. "I go a little stir crazy after awhile. That's why I'm out most nights."

    "Why don't you just get a place that is smaller?" she asked, walking over to the stove in the kitchen and peering down into the pot of spaghetti.

    "I love the house. It's my dream house."

    "I think it's everyone's dream house," she said, glancing around the kitchen. "But it's too big for...for your situation right now."

    "Meaning that since I'm a single bastard, I should just hunker down in a one bedroom apartment?" He leaned a hip against the counter.

    She arched a look at him. "I didn't say that."

    "But it's what you meant."

    She laughed at the seriousness of his voice. "If a big, empty house makes you go out practically every night, I just don't understand why you would stay in it."

    He stared at her without speaking, but he didn't have to. His response was loud and clear, in the depths of his bright blue eyes.

    Her own eyes reflected sympathy. "You keep the house because you're holding onto the hope that..." She paused, rethought her words, and said, "You want..."

    He turned away from her and opened the nearest cabinet to him.

    "You're keeping the house because you want the wife and the kids to fill it," she finished.

    "Bingo," he said with his back to her.

    There he goes, trying to make everything lighthearted. But this is something that he's serious about, something that's important to him. I don't want to have anything in common with him. I don't want to relate to him on any personal level, but when it comes to this... She glanced around the kitchen again. This was the type of house she'd like to wind up living in with Aubrey, the type of house that she would like to raise children in. Which is something that Aubrey doesn't even want, she reminded herself. Aubrey doesn't want a traditional marriage, or children. I stay with him, hoping that believing in love will change his mind...but that's not a guarantee. He could just be set in his ways. And meanwhile, Brian...Brian wants exactly what I want. She tilted her head to the side and stared at him until he finally turned to face her.

    He held her gaze for a moment. And in that moment, he gave her another peek into the man he really was. The man behind the jokes and flirtation and cocky facade.