Breaking Routine I

Grey's POV

The door to my office creaked open, and there he was—Finn, my younger brother, in all his laid-back, carefree glory. He strolled in, with his messy dark hair, his shirt untucked under his suit jacket, as if dressing properly was too much to ask. If I was the precision-driven CEO of Wang's Empire, Finn was the exact opposite: the laid-back,impulsive one who somehow juggled life without ever really caring about the consequences. In other words, completely irresponsible.

"Thank goodness you're here. I was just about to call you," I said, eyeing him up and down. "Why does it look like you just rolled out of bed? But somehow, you still make it work."

He flashed that signature smirk and shrugged. "It's the new trendy style, bro. You wouldn't get it."

I sighed, already feeling my patience thinning. "Why didn't you attend the meeting a few days ago? I'm seriously mad at you, Finn. You were supposed to be there, and you bailed."

He scratched the back of his neck, completely unbothered. "Oh, yeah. I was at a party when I remembered... kinda skipped my mind."

"I called you, Finn. Several times," I shot back, trying to keep my voice from rising. "This isn't the first time you've missed business meetings, family dinners... I'm always bailing you out of trouble. Do you ever think about my reputation, if not your own."

Finn waved his hand dismissively, like I was overreacting. "Calm down, brother. You're way too stressed out. Seriously, you need to chill. You do realize you're not that different from me, right?"

I scoffed. "Not that different? I actually show up, Finn."

Ignoring me, he grinned, leaning back against the doorframe. "By the way, Mom called me. She's freaking out because you ditched another blind date. Fifteenth one now? How do you even manage that? It's kinda impressive, actually."

I shot him a frustrated look."I had a business meeting this morning. You don't expect me to cancel that for a blind date, do you?"

He raised an eyebrow"See? You're just as good at bailing as I am. Guess irresponsibility runs in the family."

I leaned back in my leather chair, crossing my arms. "What can I say, Finn? Work's my first love. I can't be distracted by... trivial matters."

Finn crossed his arms as he gave me a mocking look of disbelief. "Fifteenth time, Grey. You're on your way to breaking records here. But seriously, you've got to give it a rest. Life's not just about business deals and contracts. You can't live in your empire forever."

He had a point. But I wasn't about to admit that. I sat up straight and met his eyes. "Finn, this empire doesn't run itself. There's always something to handle, a deal to close, a decision to make." My voice dipped into seriousness. "I can't let Dad down."

Finn rolled his eyes, walking over to punch me playfully on the shoulder. "Come on, Mr. Wang, lighten up. Just give it a shot. One date. Maybe you'll find someone who gets your obsession with perfection and complements your life."

I grunted in response, but a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Finn had a way of getting under my skin in a way no one else could. He stared at me for a moment longer, as if waiting for me to crack, but I wasn't about to fold so easily.

"Finn, the door is right there," I said, motioning to it with a flick of my wrist. "I'm swamped, and I don't have time for your distractions."

With a dramatic sigh, Finn headed for the exit. "Fine, fine, I'm going. But hey, I'm heading to a club later tonight. If you get tired of being boring, I'll send you the address. Your life could use a little excitement, big brother."

I remained silent, fixing my eyes back on the mountain of paperwork in front of me. As he turned to leave, Finn threw one last playful jab over his shoulder. "Oh, and just because you've got OCD doesn't mean you should make your life so boring. Or… are you still waiting for her?"

That last comment hit a nerve, but I kept my face blank. Finn didn't know when to quit. He grinned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

I stayed at my desk for hours, buried in work, trying to shake off his words. Eventually, when the day's demands had been met, I made my way home. My place was immaculate, just like everything else in my life. Clean, orderly, perfect. But also… a bit too quiet.

I followed my usual routine—starting with a long, hot shower to scrub away any remnants of the day. I couldn't stand the thought of lingering germs. My house was spotless, the furniture precisely arranged, everything in its rightful place. My obsessive need for order kept me in control, kept me grounded. But sometimes, even I couldn't deny the emptiness of it all.

Still, tonight, Finn's words echoed in my mind.Maybe you'll find someone who complements your life.Could there really be someone out there who'd fit into my world of perfection and precision? 

After getting dressed in my comfortable evening attire, I sank into my pristine leather armchair, ready to read through the last of my emails. But then, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, and sure enough, it was a message from Finn. He had sent the address of the club, expecting me to ignore it.

At first, I didn't even bother looking at the message. Clubs, loud music, sweaty crowds—they were the antithesis of everything I stood for. But curiosity gnawed at me. What would it hurt to see what Finn was up to?

I scrolled through the pictures he had posted, noticing the fun he was having. The drinks, the dancing, the carefree vibe of it all. For a moment, I felt a tug—an urge to break away from my usual, sterile routine. Just this once.

Before I could stop myself, I grabbed my car keys and threw on something decent. If Finn thought I wouldn't show up, he had another thing coming.

******

The moment I stepped into the nightclub, I regretted it. The neon lights flashed in nauseating colors, the bass from the music pounded in my chest, and the people—oh, the people. Sweaty bodies moving to the rhythm, drinks in hand, noise everywhere. I was a fish out of water. 

What am I doing here? I thought, scanning the room for an exit strategy.

But just as I considered bolting, a thunderous voice cut through the chaos. "Grey! My God, you actually came!" It was Finn, shouting at the top of his lungs and waving his arms like an idiot.

Heads turned. People stared. I felt a hot flush of embarrassment. This was why I didn't go out. All eyes on me. A public figure surrounded by strangers—exactly the kind of situation that could spell disaster.

Finn barreled through the crowd and slung his arm around my shoulders, grinning like a kid who'd just won a bet. "I knew you couldn't resist. Come on, relax a little. No one's gonna recognize you. Besides, how often do you get out of your cave?"

I gritted my teeth but let him lead me over to a table where a group of his friends—mostly girls—were already seated. I sat down, feeling completely out of place. A drink appeared in front of me, courtesy of Finn, and I stared at it for a long moment.

"Finn, this is a bad idea," I muttered, glancing around. "I'm a public figure. Being seen in a place like this could cause complications."

But Finn wasn't listening. He was too busy chatting up the girls and enjoying himself, completely carefree. "You worry too much, Grey. No one here knows you. Relax. Have a drink, talk to people. You'll be fine."

I wasn't so sure, but I took a sip of the drink anyway, if only to avoid further attention. The bass thumped louder, the lights flashed more intensely, and the night stretched on in a blur of noise, laughter, and Finn's relentless energy.

I couldn't help but feel a creeping sense of dread. This wasn't me. This wasn't my world. And yet, as I watched Finn laugh and joke with his friends, I wondered—for the first time in a long time—if maybe, just maybe, I was missing something.