12

"Speak, Mr. Cole," Alexander ordered, glancing down at the bag in Adrian's hand.

​Adrian scoffed mentally, Mr. Cole now, huh? You just called me Adrian a few minutes ago. He clenched his fists.

​Chloe still clung to Alexander, her arms curled around his like a snake. "Can't you read the room, Mr. Secretary? Hurry and deliver your speech; your boss is busy." Her voice was dismissive, as if Adrian were a fly she could not wait to get rid of.

​Adrian glanced at Alexander. As always, he had nothing to say to Chloe's insults, just standing there and allowing his girlfriend to do and say whatever she wanted to his staff.

​He inhaled shakily, unzipping his bag to gently take out the neatly folded shirt he had laundered last night.

​"I just wanted to return your shirt, boss..." He moved closer, holding out the clean shirt to Alexander.

​Alexander's jaw tightened, and his eyes found Adrian's with an unreadable intensity.

​"You don't expect me to wear what you've worn, do you, Mr. Cole?" Alexander questioned, his face showing his sudden anger.

​"Well, no, I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to return your shirt since I have no use for it—"

​"You should be honored, secretary boy. You're holding the great Alexander's shirt and you're returning it? What an insult," Chloe scoffed and walked forward, snatching the shirt from Adrian.

​"No, I just washed it," Adrian tried to snatch the shirt back before she could rumple it, but the next thing he felt was a ring in his ears as a hard slap sounded on his cheek.

​He staggered back, palming his cheek and glaring at Chloe. "You..." He paused and heaved as he recalled that she was Alexander's girlfriend.

​He snapped his head to Alexander, his eyes stinging with unshed tears as he saw the unbothered look on Alexander's face.

​How much of a devil can a man be?! Adrian bit down on his lip, slowly nodding his head.

​"Since you don't want it, I'll keep it. After all, Alexander's shirts are always customized and can never be found anywhere else," she sneered at Adrian and turned before gently turning to Alexander. "Wearing this, everyone will know I belong to you, right, baby?"

​"Excuse me." Adrian didn't want to stay and watch their stupid PDA; he'd better pour his anger into his designs.

​"Return it to Mr. Cole," Alexander's voice halted Adrian, who was halfway to the door.

​Adrian felt hope surge in his chest, and he was almost turning to snatch the shirt from Chloe when Alexander's next words stabbed him right through his chest.

​"You can't wear that. He might have some... diseases." Alexander cleared his throat and walked over to Adrian, and placed his hand on his tense shoulder.

​"Take this, Mr. Cole. Some people have proper hygiene; you should learn that, too." Alexander threw the shirt over Adrian's shoulder, stepping away from him.

​"I need a quick run-through of Mr. Vale's proposal. Get it to my office in ten minutes. Leave," Alexander said and walked back to his desk.

​Adrian didn't waste a second and immediately left the office. He squeezed the stupid, expensive shirt and pushed it into his bag, his hands shaking from how angry he was.

​"Adrian—"

​"What?!" he snapped at the young man behind him.

​"Oh, I'm sorry. Maybe I'll... I'm sorry." Jacob cleared his throat and took a step back from Adrian.

​"No, no, Jacob," Adrian held Jacob's hand, shaking his head at him. "No, I'm sorry. I was just a little upset, but I should have managed my anger better. I'm sorry." He hurried to apologize, taking a deep breath to calm himself down.

​"It's alright, Adrian. I just wanted to ask you if you're free tonight. Um..." He scratched the back of his blond hair. "My cousin is hosting her birthday, and I don't want to go alone. Do you want to go with?" he asked.

​Adrian sighed. Once again, he was going to turn down a good friend all because of his double life. Adrienne was meeting Alexander tonight; he dared not miss that for some new adult birthday.

​"I can't, Jacob. I have something... I'm sorry," he apologized, smiling politely at Jacob.

​Jacob nodded. "It's fine, Adrian. We can always go out some other time," he said and walked away.

​"Wait..." Adrian murmured, narrowing his eyes at Jacob's retreating figure. "Does he?" He shook his head and turned to his computer.

​There was no way Jacob would like him; he had a girlfriend and he had even introduced her to them. He couldn't possibly like him, right?

​He shook his head and started working on Sebastian's proposal that Alexander had asked for. He remembered Sebastian's strange words yesterday. The way the young man had looked at him was quite... suggestive.

​But Adrian had learned the hard way never to get involved with these rich men. There was never anything pure from them. They were always out to take advantage of others. And, in that moment, Adrian decided that he was done letting anyone get to him.

​Especially the blue-eyed monster, Alexander Devereux.

​He scrolled through the screen, tapping his foot on the floor. I don't give a fuck about who you fuck. I just need your stupid money, Alexander, Adrian chanted in his head as he clicked the send icon.

​He was done with the proposal, and instead of taking it on his tablet to show Alexander in his office, he sent it to him directly. He couldn't go in there again. Not with Chloe still in there. Not with the way Alexander spoke to him.

​He had let his crush on his boss get way in his head, and he was slowly starting to lose himself by trying to please him.

​Enough.

​He'd had enough; he was no longer going to be the love-sick Adrian. That era was gone.

​All Alexander was going to see was a professional secretary who wouldn't give a flying fuck about his good looks or fuckable body, and not even his sexy, hot blue eyes.

​"Fuck." He slid his fingers in his hair and pulled it gently, frustrated by his betraying thoughts. "Am I ever going to get out of this loop?" He sighed, lifting his face to distract himself by looking at the busy office.

​He almost succeeded... almost.

​His desk phone intercom drew him back to the very thing he wanted to avoid.

​"In my office, Mr. Cole," Alexander's voice spoke through the clear speaker.

​"How about a 'No, fuck you and your ugly girlfriend?'" he muttered under his breath.

​Slowly, he stood, dragging his legs over to Alexander's office. He was tired of wishing for nothing to happen in there; this time, he was ready to face whatever might come out of this phase.

​"Come in," Alexander's voice spoke before Adrian could even knock.

​Sighing, he walked inside. Chloe was lounging on the sofa as usual, wasting her stupid life away. She had no worries or goals—the perks of being born into a rich family. He could feel her hateful gaze, but he was already immune to it.

​"Yes, Mr. Devereux?" Adrian answered as he stood beside Alexander's desk.

​Alexander paused, slowly raising his face to Adrian. "What?" he asked, almost in disbelief.

​Adrian had never called him Mr. Devereux, and he was really confused as to why the way he was addressed suddenly disturbed his mind. It felt like a deliberate taunt and tease to his brain.

​"You called me, Mr. Devereux," Adrian answered again, holding his chin up. He wasn't going to fidget, he wasn't going to stutter, he wasn't going to cower.

​Alexander cleared his throat. "I've gone through the proposal," he stated, watching Adrian's calm face for the first time.

​Adrian nodded. "Okay. Anything else?" he questioned steadily.

​Good job, Adrian. Don't cower, he hyped himself up.

​Alexander was about to speak, but something caught his eye on Adrian's face.

​Shit! I'm cowering, I'm fucking cowering! Adrian screamed in his head as Alexander stood from his chair, towering over him by a great height.

​He thought he could still hold his ground, but his chest threatened to burst the moment Alexander's finger touched his chin.

​"Ah... um... boss?" he murmured as his face was lifted to face those clear blue eyes that always had a way of undoing his guards.

​"Are you affiliated with a gang?" Alexander questioned, his eyes scrutinizing.

​Adrian gulped. "G-gang? W-what gang?" he stammered.

​At that moment, as Adrian felt those strong fingers delicately holding up his chin, he realized that there was indeed no escaping his stupid crush on his evil boss. He tried not to fight the urge to bite his lip, but he couldn't help it. He nervously sucked the side of his lower lip between his teeth, sucking it as he gazed into Alexander's eyes.

​"You got in a fight. If you're in a gang, then I would have to dismiss you from my organization, Mr. Cole. I can't have you taint my reputation," Alexander ran his eyes over Adrian, and finally stopped at his lips, which were now so pink from sucking and biting.

​He gulped and looked away, frowning.

​"I? No, I'm not in a gang, I didn't get in a—Ouch!" Adrian gasped as Alexander's thumb pressed firmly on the fresh scratch he'd sustained from his stepfather's assault last night.

​"You're dismissed, Adrian. I can't work with a liar. You're unreliable," he said and removed his hand from Adrian's chin. "Go, pack your things from your desk and leave my company." He dismissed, walking over to his oak cabinet to take a file out.

​Adrian froze; a cold, hard stone dropped in his stomach, chilling his core. He ran over to Alexander and grabbed his arm. "B-boss? Please," he vigorously shook his head in denial. "I'm not in or with a gang. Please, this was just a little misunderstanding; I can never bring harm to your organization. I need this job, please."

​Alexander stilled, turning his face to Adrian's tear-stained own. A slight pang twisted inside his chest as he watched Adrian's tears run down his flushed cheeks.

​"Please, sir. I swear, I never get in a fight, I'll be more responsible, I'll—"

​"Go already, secretary boy. You're dismissed, and rightly so," Chloe cut in, standing from the sofa to tear Adrian away from Alexander.

​"Let go, Chloe!" Adrian tried to remove his hand from Chloe's grip as her manicured nails dug into his skin, hurting him.

​"Leave before I call the security on you!" She pushed him toward the door, and pulled the door open, pushing him out with a strong shove.

​"Ugh!" Adrian grunted as he collided face-first with a hard chest.

​He wanted to pull away when he felt a gentle hand on his waist.

​"Looks like you need help, Adrian," Adrian froze as he recognized that deep voice.

​Sebastian Vale.