Reese pulled into the exposed aggregate driveway of the Melrose mansion, her hands gripping the steering wheel a bit too tightly. She wasn't even sure how she had ended up here; it was as if her car had driven itself, guided by some invisible force. The massive, grey structure loomed ahead, its dark, empty windows staring back at her like hollow eyes. She hesitated for a moment, staring up at the mansion that seemed more like a ghost house under the dim evening sky, the kind that swallowed light and sound. She took a deep breath, then slowly made her way up the driveway, her footsteps echoing against the silence.
The house looked different now, not at all like the lively home she had first toured. It was dark, gloomy... and empty. Reese could feel a chill creep up her spine as she approached the heavy front doors. She pressed the doorbell and heard its chime echo eerily through the cavernous interior. She waited, her breath fogging in the cool night air, but no one came. After a few moments, she rang the bell again, but the silence persisted. With a sense of unease, she gently pushed the door, and to her surprise, it swung open with a soft creak. It was unlocked.
"Hello?" Reese called out, her voice barely breaking the thick, oppressive darkness that filled the house.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, a faint, almost ghostly whisper drifted from the depths of the living room. "Ana?" the voice lingered in the air, soft and uncertain.
Reese's heart skipped a beat. "Christian?" she said hesitantly, stepping into the sunken living room, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor.
There, amidst the shadows, sat a disheveled Christian Grey. He was on the floor in the now half-empty living room, his back slouched against a white couch. His usually immaculate hair was tousled, his shirt half unbuttoned and hanging loosely over his shoulders. One arm rested on his bent knee, a glass of what looked like gin clutched in his hand. He looked utterly lost, a shadow of the confident, composed man she was used to seeing. It was as if the life had been drained out of him.
"Reese?" he whispered, his voice rough, looking up with bloodshot eyes. "What are you doing here?"
Reese moved closer, her heart aching at the sight of him. "I heard about your divorce being finalized," she said softly. "Figured you could use a friend."
Christian scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips as he took a sip of his drink. "A friend," he repeated, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Is that what you are?"
Reese knelt down beside him, her expression soft and understanding. "I'm anything you need," she replied gently, offering a small smile. "But I do charge extra."
Christian looked at her, his eyes filled with a mix of pain and confusion. "I don't need any more friends," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "You shouldn't be here."
"Why not?" Reese asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
Christian closed his eyes, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache. "I'm emotionally—"
"Unhinged," Reese interrupted, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I figured you would be, but I need you to pull it together because we have our first private showing in the morning."
A ghost of a smile tugged at Christian's lips as he let out a small laugh. "Yeah," he sighed deeply, the sound heavy with exhaustion. "It just... it all ended so quickly."
Reese sat down beside him, her shoulder brushing against his. "Hmm," she murmured, nodding in understanding.
Christian stared into the darkness, his gaze distant and unfocused. "You know, they don't tell you that when it's over, the other person..." His voice trailed off, his thoughts seemingly lost in the shadows.
"What?" Reese prompted gently.
Christian shook his head, taking another sip of his drink. "Nothing. You wouldn't understand."
Reese looked at him, her expression softening. "It's like they take a part of you with them," she said quietly, her eyes drifting to the empty fireplace across the room.
Christian turned to look at her, his brow furrowing. "What do you know about it?" he scoffed, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
Reese met his gaze, her eyes steady and calm. "You're not the only person who's experienced heartbreak," she said softly.
Christian's expression softened, his eyes searching hers. "Did he take something from you?" he asked gently.
Reese swallowed, her throat tightening. "Everything," she whispered.
Christian's face crumpled slightly, his own pain mirrored in her words. "She took the best parts of me," he murmured, his voice breaking.
"What happened?" Reese urged, sensing the depth of his sorrow.
"A friend needed me," he said, his voice barely audible. "I should have known better."
Reese frowned, her confusion evident. "I don't understand," she said. "Was it an ex-girlfriend or something?"
Christian's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. "You should go," he said firmly, regaining a semblance of his usual control.
"Why?" Reese pressed, her voice rising slightly.
"Because you don't know me," he repeated, his tone cold and detached. "And I would like to linger in the silence alone, if you don't mind."
"But I thought you wanted us to get to know each other," Reese said, confusion settling into her voice. "That's what you said."
Christian stood up, his movements sharp and decisive. "I was wrong," he said flatly. "I'll be ready for tomorrow's showing."
Reese hesitated, feeling a knot of frustration tightening in her chest. "Okay," she said, standing to her feet, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I should go."
Christian grunted in response, nodding without looking at her. Reese turned and walked back to the front door to exit, her mind racing with questions and emotions. Christian Grey was the most complicated man she had ever encountered. As she reached her car, she paused, her hand on the door handle. A surge of determination coursed through her. She wasn't done with him yet. She needed answers, if not for his sake, then for her own.
She turned back, her heels clicking sharply against the driveway as she marched back up to the house. "Christian!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
A shadow moved in the darkness, and Christian appeared from the opposite direction, his silhouette barely visible. "I thought I told you to leave," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
"I'm not leaving," Reese said firmly, her eyes blazing with determination. "I need to make sure that you get your shit together. If you fuck—"
"Leave," Christian barked, his voice rough as he lunged toward her, his hands grabbing her shoulders and pressing her against the wall.
Reese gasped, her breath hitching in her throat as she felt the cold, hard surface against her back. His grip was firm, almost too firm, as if he was trying to push her through the wall itself. She could feel his warm breath on her lips, the faint smell of gin mingling with his cologne. She squirmed beneath his hold, panic rising in her chest.
As she fidgeted, Christian's demeanor shifted. His eyes softened, his grip loosening slightly. He seemed to become aware of his own actions, his breathing slowing, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. His gaze softened, his eyes scanning her face as if searching for something.
"You should go," he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath, his eyes locked onto hers, which were filled with unshed tears. He had frightened her.
"Okay," Reese stammered, her voice trembling.
"And you should stay away from me," he added, letting her go and taking a step back.
"Why?" she asked softly, her voice a mere whisper.
"Because I am a ruin to beautiful things," he murmured, his voice filled with a pain that seemed to cut through the darkness.
Reese looked at him, her heart aching at the vulnerability in his voice. "I'm already ruined," she replied, her voice soft and breathy, her eyes never leaving his.
Christian stared at her, his expression unreadable, a myriad of emotions flickering in his eyes. For a moment, they stood there in the darkness, caught in a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, each lost in their own thoughts, their own pain.