13

"Let him go, Sebastian. He's a dangerous man," Chloe hurried over to the door, about to grab Adrian's hand.

​However, Sebastian shielded Adrian's body, pinning Chloe with a serious gaze. "This man is dangerous?" he asked, chuckling and glancing at Adrian. "I think the word you were looking for is cute, Chloe; but it's okay, you barely use one percentage of your brain, it's normal you'd misplace words." Sebastian's hand tugged Adrian closer, glancing in at Alexander, who looked like he had invisible smoke coming out of his ears.

​"What happened, Adrian?" Sebastian questioned gently.

​Adrian balled his fists, shaking his head. He didn't feel like talking about his humiliation. There was no use reporting Alexander to anyone. It was never going to change his decision.

​"Please, excuse me," Adrian murmured and tried to remove Sebastian's hand from his waist, but Sebastian gently patted his back.

​"It's alright, Adrian. You can tell me. I mean, if you need a new job, I'd happily offer you a position in my company. And, trust me, we don't make people cry." Sebastian smirked, glancing into the office to see Alexander slowly walking toward them.

​"Yes, you're correct. He does need a new—"

​"Move, Chloe," Alexander shoved Chloe out of the way and went to grab Adrian's hand. "You haven't finished your project, Mr. Cole. I don't pay you for standing around," he said and pulled Adrian away from Sebastian and back into the office.

​Adrian gasped as Alexander's hand gripped the place where Chloe's fingers had dug in a few minutes ago. "Let go, Mr. Devereux. You're hurting me," he murmured, pulling his hand away from Alexander's.

​Alexander was seething within him. He turned and faced Adrian. His voice rumbled, low and dangerous. "Seems you forget instructions too easily." His piercing gaze locked on Adrian like a predator sizing up prey.

​Adrian frowned, confused and fuming. "I-I don't understand. I was doing exactly what you asked me to do. You asked me to—"

​"I don't like Jacob's latest designs. I already mapped out areas for corrections; take my tablet and sit down here," Alexander smoothly interrupted Adrian. He couldn't let him say within Sebastian's hearing that he was fired.

​"Make sure you finish every single correction before you think of leaving," Alexander ordered coldly.

​He walked over to his desk and grabbed his tablet, returning to push it into Adrian's hand. "Hurry up," he commanded and turned away from Adrian.

​Adrian stood still for a while, his brain running too fast for him to understand anything.

​"Mr. Devereux? Does this mean—"

​"Just do your work, Adrian," Alexander said, locking his eyes with Adrian, his voice gentler than the first time.

​Adrian gulped and slowly nodded. He glanced at the door and saw Sebastian's keen eyes monitoring the scene quietly with an unreadable face. Chloe, on the other hand, looked shocked, betrayed.

​Adrian sighed and went over to lower himself on Alexander's sofa for the first time, burying his face in the glowing screen to tune out the residual drama in the office.

​He wiped his eyes, clearing the tears for better vision. He still sniffled now and then, a testament to his earlier sorrow, but the moment he saw the shabby design, his brain blocked out every other thing and he focused on perfecting the design.

​He knew he shouldn't be sitting here. He knew he should have given Alexander the middle finger and followed Sebastian out. But he couldn't—for many reasons. The first being that Alexander was his husband.

​If he left this company, managing his double life would become nearly impossible. He needed to keep track of Alexander's every movement—when he left for work, when he returned—so he could immediately switch into the role of the loving wife. Without that access, without their synchronized schedules, appearing as Adrienne at the right time would become a dangerous gamble.

​So, in the long run, he made the right choice.

​No, this time it wasn't for his stupid crush on Alexander; that crush died the moment Alexander dared to dismiss him so brutally without listening to his explanation.

​Only a fool would keep liking a devil who throws him around like an object.

​"Alexander, baby, why is he still here? You said he was leaving for good," Chloe's sugary voice coated Adrian's ears and almost made them bleed.

​He paused his fingers over the tablet and gritted his teeth. His cheek and wrist still hurt from Chloe's slap and scratch; a slow smirk curled on his lips: Adrian never hits women, but Adrienne does.

​He believed he'd run into Chloe as Adrienne very soon, and when he did, he'd be representing her karma.

​"I think you should leave, Chloe. I need to conclude something with Mr. Vale. I'll text you when I'm done with work," Alexander said dismissively, walking around his desk.

​"But, Alexander—"

​"Enough, Chloe. Go home," Alexander's tone left no room for argument; he lifted his face and looked at Chloe with an unsmiling face.

​He needed her gone, at least for that moment. She seemed to be doing more harm than good.

​Chloe's nails dug into her palms in silent anger and shame. She looked over at Adrian, who was now sitting on the sofa she had occupied just a few minutes ago, and her anger doubled.

​"Fine, baby. I'll give you the space you need. But don't forget to call me after work," she blew Alexander a kiss and turned to leave.

​"Excuse me, Mr. Vale," Chloe smiled sweetly at Sebastian, who had just stepped inside the office.

​Sebastian gave her a charming smile, his gray suit giving his figure a sexy fit.

​"It seems you're worried about Adrian, Chloe," Sebastian patted his hand on Chloe's arm. "You don't have to be; Alexander is never letting go of his pretty secretary... for many reasons." He winked at her.

​Two heads snapped up, eyes locking intensely on each other.

​Adrian was the first to look away from Alexander's dark gaze. He didn't expect to meet his gaze at the same time Sebastian finished speaking. He was shocked by Sebastian's words and wanted to see the denial in Alexander's eyes. Rather, he was met by a dark, unreadable blue gaze; it didn't confirm Sebastian's words, it didn't deny them either.

​"What do you mean? He can't let go of Adrian? He's just a secretary, Mr. Vale; there's not much importance to him," she rolled her eyes.

​"That is the point, pretty Chloe. He's a secretary, and as for importance... look who's staying and who's leaving," he smirked, gesturing to Adrian, who was busy working.

​Chloe's face turned red from embarrassment. Sebastian had just taken a jab at her intelligence, and it was all because of Adrian.

​She chuckled to cover the insult. "Don't worry, Mr. Vale, Adrian will be dismissed sooner or later," Chloe scoffed, folding her arms.

​Even if Alexander didn't dismiss his stupid secretary, I will find a way to get rid of him.

​Sebastian smiled, nodding at Chloe as he made his way to sit in front of Alexander's desk.

​"Trust me, Chloe, I wish it were true. If he does dismiss Adrian, I'll be the first to take him in. Adrian's a gem and Alexander knows it. For four months, his designs have been topping the market, and his schedules have been met, unlike when his previous shabby secretary worked for him. Also," he paused and glanced up at Alexander, who was glaring at him, and then he turned to Adrian, who was gripping the tablet so hard because he felt their gaze on him.

​"Also what?" Chloe asked, curiosity eating at her soul.

​Sebastian's smirk widened as his eyes locked on Alexander. "Also, I've never once heard Alexander lavish praise on anyone. But when it comes to his secretary? Every time he presents those flawless designs to the board, he never fails to mention how competent and effective Adrian is—especially to me. So, forgive me if I doubt he'll ever truly let him go. Adrian is the brain behind his success."

​Adrian paused, his heart ramming against his ribcage.

​Alexander praises me? In front of the board? He shook his head.

​It was unbelievable; Sebastian must be trying to get on Alexander's nerves since they are rivals. This was just a way of mocking Alexander's "incompetent" secretary.

​"Go home, Chloe. I have something important to do," Alexander dismissed.

​"Go, Chloe, don't be... desperate," Sebastian said, raising his brow at the young lady.

​"I'll see you tonight, baby," Chloe walked over to Alexander and kissed his cheek. "I love you," she whispered and catwalked out of the office.

​"What do you want, Sebastian?" Alexander asked, his face set hard.

​Sebastian sighed quietly. "I'm not here for business, Alexander," he replied, looking over at Adrian.

​Alexander stiffened in his chair, his fists curling against the desk. That unsettling feeling was back—the same twist in his chest he'd felt when Sebastian draped an arm around Adrian. It couldn't mean anything, he told himself. It was simply because Sebastian always brought trouble, and Alexander despised chaos. He was a man of order and principles, while Sebastian was anything but.

​"I don't have time for games, Sebastian. Speak or leave," Alexander ordered, his voice cutting sharply through the room.

​"Calm down," Sebastian drawled. "This matter shouldn't even concern you. But out of courtesy..." he paused, his gaze sliding deliberately toward Adrian, "...I thought you should know." He smirked.

​"In sixty seconds, Sebastian, I'll be sending you out of my office," Alexander snapped—surprising even himself.

​He wasn't sure why he'd lost control, only that Sebastian's presence suddenly felt unbearable.

​Sebastian rose slowly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "That's more than enough time, my dear friend."

​Alexander straightened as Sebastian moved toward Adrian, instincts flaring—warning him to keep his clumsy secretary far from his rival's reach.

​He stayed rooted beside his desk, the air between them tightening with unspoken challenge as Sebastian crouched before Adrian.

​Adrian froze mid-gesture, lifting his gaze in shock at the man suddenly so close. "Mr. Vale?" he murmured, his eyes darting instantly toward Alexander, almost pleading for rescue.

​Alexander's jaw locked, his fists curling in the safety of his pockets. "Sebastian. It's time to leave." His tone cracked like a whip, leaving no room for argument.

​But Sebastian only cast him a fleeting glance before capturing Adrian's hand in his own. "I like you, Adrian," he said smoothly, his voice echoing like a provocation. "Be my boyfriend."