FIFTY SHADES OF THEO JAMES

Chapter 9

A week easily passed by, and everything between us was better than ever. Though it was hard to not feel bad, with her not knowing that this thing between us was basically a sham. 

It was a sham, right?

What had started out as nothing but a business arrangement, burned down and was reborn into something better from it's ashes. Every second we were together I wanted to tell her everything. It was always on the tip of my tongue, with every conversation we had together.

But I just couldn't bring it to myself to do this. If I told her, then everything else would end up coming to light and that would destroy her.

Opening my eyes, I smiled, my eyes crinkling in the corners as the corners of my mouth turned up. This happened every morning when I woke up and saw her sleeping in the bed next to me. Just to think that she had become the most important woman in my life, when I told myself it would never happen again.

After my last, Ruth, I never thought I would find anyone ever again. I wanted kids, my parents wanted grandkids, and I had a hearty sexual appetite. There was only one solution in my mind, and that was to find a like-minded female.

When she walked into the office that day I just knew. All the applicants I had thoroughly looked over had barely met my requirements, especially when it came to scoping out their social media. They were too vain and self centered. I knew I wouldn't be able to make it work, especially if I couldn't stand to be in the same room as them.

But when I scrolled upon Ellie's I knew right away that she was so different. 

"Morning." I said to Ellie, as Grace helped her into a sun dress.

She looked pale today, dark circles framing her eyes. She didn't look to well at all.

"Ellie? Are you okay?" I asked her as I steered her to sit at the edge of the bed.

She slowly blinked before collapsing into my arms. I yelled for Grace to call 9-1-1 before pressing my ear to her chest. I don't know if it was the pulse throbbing madly in my ears or the sound of my heart beating loudly, but I couldn't hear anything.

It felt like an eternity had passed before they arrived. Then we were on our way to the hospital with the news of her having threateningly high blood pressure with a faint heart beat. The moment we arrived to the hospital she flat-lined. They called a code blue and I watched in horror as they began working on saving her life. 

I was escorted to the sitting area and that is where I waited for over half an hour, alone. Wondering what on earth could be going on.

"Mr. Taptiklis?" A woman called.

Glancing up, I quickly rose to my feet as she stood before me.

"I'm sorry, we did everything we could, but it seems as if she suffered from an aneurysm. What we think caused this was a bad episode of high blood pressure and weakened arteries in her brain that just couldn't take it."

As she continued speaking, her voice seemed to fade away. The whole world around me seemed to just dissipate. Ellie was gone... the promise of a happy life with her was gone... ripped away in the blink of an eye.

"Is there anyone you'd like us to contact for you?" She asked.

Without looking at her I shook my head.

I have no idea how I managed to get home, but I did. As I sat in the living room, staring out over the back yard and the ocean that rest beyond it I could do nothing but think of everything that had been, would have been, and what would never be.