EL James owns these characters. Inspired by Fifty Shades and the lovely characters in her stories.

Aspen.

"Elliot, my jet is leaving at 2:00 with or without you." Ah, my brother, always the understanding and compassionate brother. I'm sitting here on top of a new "green" building overlooking the city. I find it ironic that my brother sits at the top of GEH inside but I get to sit at the top of my new building, outside.

He's been busy with business deals since I can remember. I'm totally shocked that he has agreed to take me to Aspen this weekend. He says that it is his idea but I had been planting the seed ever since I found out Gia would be finishing up her new project at the house. Gia Matteo, she's something else. Christian can't stand her but because of her reputation as the best architect in the area, he hired her. She is the best but my experience has been with more than just her creative ideas in the architectural world. She's energetic, vivacious, and is totally fine with our no strings attached visits. She's finishing up the den in the basement. I know that there's a new billiards table that I can't wait to try out. To try out with her.

We arrive in Aspen around 6:00. We left precisely at 2:00 and made it in just 4 hours. I don't know what Christian's rush was. All he does is move from one business space to the next. He needs to get laid but I'm not into his crowd so I don't know how to make that happen for him. Who am I kidding? He doesn't have a crowd. He is alone. Alone and lonely. He would never admit that.

I begin to wonder if he would go with me out to the club tonight. I haven't seen Gia and I really need to get some action. He could always be my wingman and run in to someone he likes but that's not very realistic. He hates clubbing. He doesn't like to be in such close quarters. I understand he has the fear that someone will brush up against him or get a bit too friendly. I don't know how to fix that part of him. No one does. We've tried.

"Hey bro, I need to get out. Wanna come with me to the new club downtown?"

"Leliot, you know I have work to do."

"How do you do it?" I've now made myself comfortable on the couch in his office. I've never seen anyone relax in here.

"What? Be successful?" He always has to jab at me even though I know he thinks highly of my success.

"I mean, sitting at a desk all day long and then never finding," how should I say this,"a release".

He closes his laptop and glares at me. I glare back at him. I'm trying to see if he's going to let me in on his outlets. How he lets lose.

"I'm fine Elliot. I don't need to fuck someone every day of the week and twice on Sunday."

There it is. His judgement. My relaxation is gone and I'm done. I get up and leave the room before I take him by the collar and scream. He just needs to get out and see what fun is. He could relax and see what normal people do. Normal. I have always hated that word. People have always pushed Christian to be normal and I can't believe I am doing the same thing. He's my brother and I will take out anyone that says anything about him not being normal. I got in enough fights defending him when we were kids. My friends knew to keep their opinions about Christian to themselves but I knew what they were thinking. He never had friends. The times that I would drag him along with my friends and me were never comfortable. He never knew how to relax. I wonder what it will take. If it will ever happen.

I've hunted down Gia in my own subtle way. I texted her and told her I was in town and that I would be going to Caribou tonight. She responded and told me she was thirsty and might see me. I know she will see me. I can quench her thirst as much as she quenches mine.

I head out to the car passing by Christian's office.

"Don't wait up for me mom!"

"Fuck off!"

Yep. That's his way of saying he loves me.

Caribou isn't as busy as it is during ski season. There are still enough young people spending their time drinking and driving the flashy cars that their parents have paid for. My father never believed in spoiling us. We earned our cars through working for his friends. His connections helped but we put in the time. I'll never forget when I roared up the driveway in my 1999 BMW 323i convertible. Christian couldn't drive yet and I could tell that he was eyeing my freedom. I had interned at my dad's firm for two summers just to earn the money to lease it. I knew the chicks would love it. Christian was still spending time fighting and getting kicked out of school. He was jealous of my time on my own and my independence. He eyed my new ride and then said the weirdest thing to come from someone his age.

"I think Audi makes a safer A8." He then turned around and walked back into the house. He was spending way too much time with Grandma Treveleyan.

I was getting lost in my thoughts when in walked Gia. She has platinum blonde hair and always looks like she's dressed to kill. I lean back and pretend I haven't noticed her.

"Thirsty?" Gia purrs. I look at her and I know we're not going to be here long. She leans in and brushes her hand up my thigh. "Would you like to see the new den I've put in your brother's basement? I think we can quench our thirsts there." I lean closer and grab her hand. "I'd love to see what you've done with your creativity." We get up and exit the club.