Christopher's Playhouse

Chapter 11: Open

Los Angeles, California:

After her situation with Chris happened she'd decided to put in two days of PTO to give him time to think, and space. Luckily when she decided to take her 2 days of PTO it was Wednesday It was past midnight when Sloane heard a soft knock on the door. She frowned, expecting no one. Dave had left an hour ago, and she had been winding down with a glass of wine, trying to clear her mind. The gentle knock was deliberate, too quiet to belong to anyone in a rush but firm enough to demand her attention.

With cautious curiosity, she got up and padded to the door. When she opened it, she froze.

Christopher stood there, not in his usual tailored suit or expensive watch, but in a pair of dark jeans and a plain gray t-shirt. His face was devoid of the sharp, unapproachable mask he usually wore. He looked... almost normal. It was strange to see him like this—dressed down, unguarded, and for the first time, almost human.

"Sloane," his voice was low, his usual commanding presence softened. "Can I come in?"

Sloane blinked, caught off guard by the sight of him in such casual attire. She stepped aside, holding the door open wider. "Of course."

Christopher stepped in, his movements slower than usual, as if weighed down by something. He glanced around her modest but elegant home. She shut the door behind him, still trying to shake the odd feeling this version of Christopher gave her.

"You're not dressed for the office," she remarked, a slight smirk tugging at her lips, attempting to lighten the mood. "No suit?"

He gave a faint, almost sheepish smile. "No, not tonight. I needed... a break from all that."

They stood in silence for a moment, the tension between them more evident than it had ever been. Sloane motioned for him to sit, and they moved to the couch in the living room. The air felt thick with something unspoken, an unusual shift in their dynamic that Sloane couldn't quite place yet.

Christopher ran a hand through his tousled hair. "You're probably wondering why I'm here."

Sloane leaned back, studying him closely. "It did cross my mind." the amusement in her voice evident.

He sighed, his shoulders dropping. "I don't really know how to say this... but I oddly trust you, and I don't want you seeing other people."

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You trust me?"

Christopher nodded, staring at his hands. "Yeah. You're not like the others."

Sloane tilted her head, intrigued by the way his walls seemed to be crumbling. "The others?"

"The women," he clarified, his voice barely above a whisper. "The ones who come and go. They're just... they're there for one thing, you know? And I'm not good at... at connecting with people. I never have been..."