11

​With his bag slung over his shoulder, Adrian held the coffee cups with shaky hands: his and Alexander's.

​He was about to meet his husband, and he knew without a word that today was going to be worse than yesterday. He could already feel his nerves wrecking, and he hadn't even met Alexander.

​He stood in front of the door and cleared his throat.

​"Adrian?" Gina called before he could knock on Alexander's door.

​"Hi, Gina. What's up?" He turned to her, giving a nervous smile that didn't reach his eyes.

​He wasn't in the mood to speak to anyone. He just wanted to deliver the coffee (successfully) and get to work—that is, if he could get a single piece of work done today.

​"Um, I was wondering if you would have a little time to help me with a few touches in my design. I'm kind of stuck at a point," Gina asked, unsure.

​Adrian blinked through his glasses. "Designs... I'm sorry. I'm quite... busy." He wasn't lying.

​Before leaving his apartment, Alexander had sent Adrienne a message to meet him at a nearby cafe immediately after work. He had to hurry up and finish whatever projects he had for the day so that he could quickly leave and meet his husband as Adrienne.

​"Okay, it's fine. See you in the cafeteria," she nodded at him and walked away.

​Adrian nodded back at her and immediately knocked on the door with his elbow since his hands were occupied.

​"Come in," Alexander's voice answered, detached as always.

​Adrian gulped and pushed the door open with his hip, stepping into the office.

​Instantly, his bottom lip was sucked between his teeth as he took in his boss-turned-husband sitting behind his desk, a pencil in his hand as he sketched a design on a clean sheet.

​His head reeled. I married my boss! He willed his heart to slow down, or else Alexander might just hear how rabidly it was pounding.

​"Mr. Cole?" Alexander lifted his face from his work and looked toward Adrian, who had been standing in front of the closed door without moving.

​Adrian mentally kicked himself and quietly cleared his throat. "Good morning, boss. I brought you your coffee," he said, gently stepping closer so he wouldn't spill the hot coffee on the floor.

​Alexander dropped his pencil, staring closely at Adrian.

​Flustered as always.

​"Do I stand to take it?" he asked Adrian, who was standing robotically beside his desk.

​"No, no, here." Adrian placed one of the coffees down on Alexander's desk and immediately turned, heading for the door.

​Things were no longer the same. He couldn't remain calm in front of Alexander—in front of his husband.

​His coffee shook in his hands as he approached the door, his back prickling from Alexander's sharp gaze.

​"Mr. Cole?" Alexander called, freezing Adrian's steps.

​In the next second, Adrian heard Alexander's chair moving, shifting, indicating that he was standing or already standing.

​Oh, no. Adrian stared at the door with such longing before he slowly turned to face Alexander, who was walking toward him.

​"B-boss? D-do you need something?" Adrian questioned, taking slow steps backward as Alexander approached like a predator, his coffee in his hand as he pinned Adrian with an unreadable and unsettling gaze.

​"B-boss?" Adrian stammered as his back collided gently with the door, sealing his captivity.

​Fuck! Adrian panicked, heart thudding dangerously.

​Alexander paused right in front of Adrian, sipped his coffee once, and then pushed his free hand into his pocket.

​"You promised to be efficient today, Mr. Cole. What is this?" Alexander asked, gesturing toward the coffee in his hand.

​Adrian gulped, his brows furrowing in confusion.

​What does he mean? He gently pressed his hands around his cup of coffee, channeling his nervousness to his fingers.

​"It's your coffee, sir. Black coffee, no sugar, no cream—strong, bitter, and straightforward, just like you," Adrian blurted out, his voice shaking in the end as he realized what he had said.

​His eyes darted around the office to avoid staring into his husband's pissed blue eyes.

​Adrian stiffened as Alexander suddenly leaned in, and the warm, addictive cologne filled his nostrils.

​"Drink," Alexander ordered, voice as icy as his eyes.

​He lifted the cup to Adrian's lips, locking his eyes on his annoying secretary, disdain flashing across his eyes.

​Adrian's eyes snapped to Alexander's. "D-drink?" he murmured in shock.

​Alexander narrowed his eyes, a silent warning.

​Adrian shook his head, his eyes falling to Alexander's lips—those lips that had been so close to kissing last night. His insides churned with embarrassment as he caught himself eye-fucking his seemingly angry boss.

​"Boss, I-I can't drink... You drank from—"

​"Drink, Adrian. Don't test me." Alexander pressed the cup to Adrian's lips. "Drink my black coffee, no sugar, no cream—strong, bitter, and straightforward—just like me," Alexander repeated Adrian's words, slowly tilting the cup to get the liquid to Adrian's mouth.

​For a second, Adrian forgot all about the coffee and focused on the fact that he was drinking from the same cup Alexander had drunk from.

​Could this be considered an indirect kiss?

​Alexander paused, his brows creasing as he saw Adrian easily drinking from his hand with a distracted look in his eyes.

​He withdrew his hand, glaring at Adrian. "You're asking for trouble, Mr. Cole. Perhaps taking away your remaining salary will keep you in check," he said, frustration clawing at his chest as he stared at Adrian's innocent look.

​"But what have I done, boss?" Adrian asked, quietly smacking his lips.

​"Shit," he cursed under his breath as his taste buds gradually registered the taste in his mouth.

​Slowly, he lifted his eyes to a fuming Alexander standing by the sofa, his extremities turning cold as he realized the reason for everything.

​"Caramel latte," Adrian muttered, lowering his eyes to the black coffee in his hand. "Oh, no..."

​He moved, his hands visibly trembling.

​He had misplaced the coffee!

​Wait... he called me Adrian! He blinked slowly as he lowered himself to his chair.

​"Sir... boss, I... I misplaced the drinks. H-here's your coffee." Adrian extended his trembling hands to Alexander, his pulse crashing like a heavy wave onto a rock.

​Shit! Now I really fucked up!

​Alexander lifted his hand, but instead of taking his coffee from Adrian, he laced his long fingers over Adrian's around the coffee cup and raised it to Adrian's lips, his eyes boring heavily into Adrian.

​"Choose, Mr. Cole... your pay, or this?" Alexander moved Adrian's hand to his lips, arching his straight brows.

​Adrian balled his fists, raising his eyes to Alexander's for a second. "But... I don't like bitter," he murmured.

​Alexander smirked. "I don't like sweet, either. But it seems you've made your choice—"

​"No, I'll drink." Adrian reached out, wrapped his free hand around Alexander's wrist to tilt the cup forward, and then he drank the bitter coffee with a scrunching nose.

​Alexander watched with interest as Adrian's ears, neck, and face turned red with every single gulp. He was yet to unravel the kind of person his clumsy secretary was. It surprised him what he found out about Adrian.

​He wondered how delicate Adrian was, which made him react so violently to everything.

​Adrian staggered back, smacking his lips in detest. "If there's nothing else, boss, I'll leave." He nodded and quickly left the office before Alexander could call him back.

​He needed to rinse that bitter taste off his mouth.

​Why did he drink it? He doesn't really need the money again, right?

​He does need the money.

​The money he received last night had already been paid in to cover the ones his stepfather had delayed and for today's chemo.

​So, yes, he needed his remaining salary.

​He couldn't wait until next month to get paid by his husband again.

​As he rushed to get a bottle of water, he suddenly realized that he had forgotten to return Alexander's shirt that was in his bag.

​He'd do it immediately after he rinsed his mouth.

​Inside the office, Alexander stared at the door for a few seconds, wondering what was running through Adrian's mind. It baffled him how Adrian turned out to be so intelligent even with all the clumsiness and timidity.

​He sighed and lifted the cup to his mouth, drinking the coffee in one go with a straight face.

​He actually did like lattes, but he just wanted to teach Adrian a lesson for his carelessness.

​"Hi, baby." Alexander paused on his way to his desk as Chloe's sweet perfume attacked his poor nostrils, choking his lungs like a gentle tyrant.

​"Chloe, I didn't ask for another visit." Alexander pushed his hands inside his pockets and faced the young woman.

​He didn't want to see Chloe.

​She was suddenly like a sour taste in his mouth after drinking a sweet caramel latte... was it okay to associate Adrian with the drink?

​"Honey, you're not listening." Chloe was now beside Alexander, hugging him.

​Alexander blinked, frowning as he realized what he had been thinking of.

​What an absurd thought. He returned his mind to Chloe, sighing as he saw her pressing all her soft curves on him.

​Her dress was quite revealing, as her breasts almost spilled out from how constrained they were in the flimsy dress.

​He knew she was purposely pressing them harder against his chest to make them bouncier and more noticeable. However, he wasn't moved one bit.

​With his hand still in his pocket, he said, "Since you're already here, sit down and wait for me. I need to introduce you to someone after work," he said and gently held her shoulder to remove her from him.

​"No, Alexander, I'm here for you." Chloe hugged his waist. "Why are you pushing me away? Do you have someone else?" she asked, biting her lip as she caressed his face.

​Alexander gritted his teeth in irritation.

​"That's why I asked you to wait, Chloe. I want to introduce you to—"

​She slammed her lips on his, wrapping her hands around his neck so he wouldn't push her off easily.

​Alexander fumed, his jaw tightening as Chloe pressed harder against him. He gripped her waist, ready to peel her off, when the door creaked open.

​"Boss, I wanted to—"

​Adrian froze. His voice cracked mid-sentence, eyes widening at the sight before him. Alexander's lips were sealed against Chloe's, her hands knotted around his neck, her curves molded to his body like she belonged there.

​The bag in Adrian's trembling hand nearly slipped. His chest clenched so tightly it was hard to breathe.

​"Shit—I'm sorry. I didn't know—" Adrian's words tumbled out in a broken rush as he staggered back, his hand flying from the doorknob as though it had burned him.

​For one dizzying second, Alexander's blue eyes locked onto his. Shock flickered there, but Adrian didn't care—because all he saw was the truth.

​Those lips.

Those lips that had hovered over his last night—so close he could taste the heat of them.

​And yet here they were, claimed by someone else.

​"Come here, Adrian," Alexander's voice cut through the air, low and commanding.

​Adrian's pulse stuttered. Each step forward felt like he was dragging chains. His throat burned with unshed tears as Chloe's smug smile tilted in his direction, her arms still coiled around Alexander like victory.

​His heart screamed: Then what am I?

​Adrienne. A mask. A lie. A contract scribbled on paper.

​So why did it feel like something inside him had just shattered?