21

Alexander stepped out of the elevator, his tailored suit a stark contrast to the coiled rage radiating off him. The chaotic scene stopped him dead in his tracks.

​His usually pristine administrative floor was a mess of hushed voices and flashing phone screens. A crowd of his staff, usually terrified into stillness by his presence, was clustered around Adrian's desk.

​"What is this spectacle?" Alexander's voice, though low, cut through the noise like a whip.

​The staff immediately scrambled away, dropping their phones and scattering back to their stations, their faces pale with guilt. The only person who remained unmoving was Adrian. But it wasn't because he wasn't moved by Alexander's presence; he was simply asleep.

​Adrian was quietly lying over his cheek, resting in his hand, and his lips parted slightly.

​Alexander strode toward the desk, his eyes narrowing as he took in his secretary's situation, his gaze drawn to Adrian's calm face. For the first time, he was seeing Adrian without his lip between his teeth or cheeks flushed in embarrassment. As distracting and unprofessional as it was, he tore his eyes away from Adrian's sleeping face to the thing that had captured his complete attention even before he saw Adrian sleeping: it was the desk itself.

​It was covered in a ridiculous, ostentatious display. A massive, gold-foiled 'Get Well Soon' balloon was tied to Adrian's monitor, obscuring the screen. A huge bouquet of the most expensive, vibrant red roses sat next to a three-tiered box of artisan chocolates, and worst of all, a card the size of a dinner plate lay open on the blotter.

​Alexander balled his fists so hard that his fingers ached, anger blooming like a healthy flower in his chest.

​"Adrian," Alexander grated out, his voice a dangerous rumble.

​Adrian suddenly furrowed his sleepy brows, his eyes slowly fluttering open. He was still half asleep and believed he was dreaming about his boss, who was calling his name gently.

​Alexander frowned as he watched Adrian's cheeks slowly blush and his lips curl up in a sweet smile.

​Alexander fumed.

​'Dreaming about your stupid lover in my company?' Alexander gritted his teeth angrily.

​"Adrian!" He slammed his hand on the desk, surprised at himself for snapping that way.

​Adrian suddenly heard a loud bang directly in his ear, the vibration creating an instant echo in his head that immediately transformed into a sharp ache.

​He lifted off the desk like he'd been lying on a thorn all that time. His glasses fell onto his lap as he tried to focus on the person in front of him.

​"B-boss?!" Adrian gasped in shock as he stared at a very angry-looking Alexander.

​'Shit, I dozed off!' He gulped as he lifted his glasses back to his face with his trembling hands.

​"Boss, g-good morning, boss —"

​"Explain this. Now."

​Adrian blinked, slowly lowering his grey eyes to his table.

​"What?" he whispered, eyes wide and blinking rapidly, a deep blush staining his cheeks. He looked exactly like a guilty child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

​"Boss, Mr. Devereux... —I didn't ask for any of this," Adrian stammered, his voice barely audible. He gestured nervously at the spectacle. "I had none of these on my desk when I arrived for work. Everyone is my witness. I swear, I know nothing of this, or who the sender was," he explained in a strained voice, his heart beating rapidly.

​He was a mess. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that it was a new day to face his husband as his secretary, and now, someone was trying to sabotage his job by sending roses and gifts to him at his workplace.

​Alexander reached out, snatching the enormous card off the desk. He flipped it open, his jaw clenching as he read the elaborate, looping script inside.

​"To the most hardworking, charming, and utterly captivating person in the office. Hope the scratches heal soon, my sweet. I hate seeing you in pain. I'll make sure the one who hurt you pays dearly. Love, Your Dearest Admirer. P.S. They say red roses mean deep passion, but these mean I want to break your contract and steal you away."

​Alexander's mind was an immediate whirlwind of catastrophic connections: Sebastian Vale.

​No one else would have the mind to indirectly challenge him this way.

​He looked from the card—which screamed of Sebastian's flair for competition and drama—to Adrian's genuinely panicked face.

​"Get up," Alexander ordered, throwing the card onto the desk.

​"Sir?"

​"I said get up! You're coming with me. Now." He didn't wait for a reply, grabbing Adrian's arm and hauling him toward his private office.

​As they marched past the gaping employees, Alexander's internal scream of frustration grew deafening.

​'What's happening now?' Adrian's heart lurched as they approached Alexander's office.

​Alexander pushed his door open and dragged Adrian in; then he kicked it shut behind them and practically shoved Adrian into the leather chair in front of his massive mahogany desk.

​"That," Alexander began, leaning over the desk with his fists planted, his body shaking with suppressed fury, "was your boyfriend, Sebastian."

​Adrian's eyes went even wider. "My... my b-boyfriend?"

​"Don't play coy!" Alexander thundered. "The phrasing, the drama, the sheer audacity! You secretly accepted his proposal, didn't you? And the first thing he does in my office is set you up as a public spectacle! This is his style, Adrian. Don't you dare play me!" He punched the space by the side of Adrian's head on the chair.

​Adrian trembled, watching Alexander's furious eyes and forgetting every bit of word in his head and mouth.

​He shook his head, digging his nails into his palms. He'd never seen Alexander so angry before, and this time, he felt like the wrong word might get his eyes purple.

​"I... I promise you, I have no affluence with Sebastian..." his voice shook as he forced himself to hold Alexander's gaze, "I already told you... I-I'm not gay —"

​"Fuck!" Alexander pushed away from Adrian, running a hand through his hair, pacing the opulent office.

​His anger was slowly diverting to himself as a slow realisation dawned on him: he was overreacting.

​He never made a no-dating rule for his staff. Adrian was actually free to date whoever he wanted. Then, what was the cause of his anger?

​"Shit!" Alexander kicked the leg of the chair Adrian was sitting on, veins popping from the sides of his head.

​Adrian inhaled shakily, his hands gripping the armrests as he watched his raging boss. "Boss, you're scaring me," he murmured, pressing into the chair.

​Alexander stopped, staring Adrian down. "Scared?" he questioned darkly and strode back to Adrian. He leaned over, placing his hands close to Adrian's on the armrest. "You provoke me, and you dare say I scare you?" His voice dropped dangerously low, his icy glare boring into Adrian's soul.

​Adrian looked away, his chest rising and falling. "I'm sorry..." he apologised, not knowing what else to say in the worsening situation.

​Alexander quietly stepped away, walking over to his large window overlooking the city, and trying to find composure.

​Adrian sighed, slowly standing on his shaky legs. He couldn't understand why a simple gift from Sebastian caused this. He regretted coming in for work so early when he could have just slept in at home to make up for the sleepless night in Alexander's house.

​He had snuck out of Alexander's room, manoeuvring Mrs. Devereux with Adrienne's charms and a few white lies. He had planned to sleep in, but he recalled that Alexander had a schedule that required his presence, so he had to be at work even though his eyelids were barely hanging open.

​Adrian sputtered, "B-boss... I-I will go trash the gifts and... and send in your schedule for the day?" It was more of a question than a statement.

​He wasn't sure Alexander was done with him; he couldn't risk triggering his boss by assuming his dismissal.

​Alexander spun around, his blue eyes sharp with a sudden scrutiny. He walked slowly back to Adrian, his gaze raking over Adrian's delicate features, the remnants of blush, and the tremor in his hands. His mind swerved completely away from his initial trigger, leaning more into something disturbing... unusual.

​He leaned in close, dangerously close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You will bring those gifts to me. I have a proper way to dispose of them. Also..." Alexander reached out and grabbed a handful of Adrian's dark, silky hair, gently pulling his face closer until their eyes met: grey secrets against a blue storm.

​"You're oddly familiar with someone close to me..." Alexander whispered huskily.

​Adrian's heart thundered, his pulse spiking as he stared into the blue eyes that shredded every ounce of his protective wall. He gripped the sides of his shirt as he slightly parted his lips to inhale shakily.

​Alexander's fingers in his hair and the proximity of their faces were driving Adrian crazy, blotting out every single reason in his head.

​"Tell me the truth, Adrian," Alexander paused, searching Adrian's panicked face and feeling more grounded in his suspicion.

​"Do you know Adrienne?" Alexander questioned, slowly leaning his face closer so he could peer directly at Adrian's face.

​Adrian's limbs trembled, his tongue suddenly feeling dry.

​Alexander was never supposed to mention Adrienne to him. He doesn't mind if Alexander mentions Adrian to Adrienne, but the other way round? It was a sign of Alexander's mind doing more work than it should concerning connecting the dots between a wife and a secretary.

​"Answer me, Adrian." Alexander removed his hand from Adrian's hair but didn't step away from him. He stood there, his gaze getting harder on Adrian.

​Adrian cleared his throat, "I... I do not know who Adrienne —"

​"Tell me the truth! Tell me I'm not going crazy?!" He was about to grab Adrian's hand when his door was pushed open and Chloe marched in, inserted herself right between the two men, and grabbed Adrian's hand.

​Adrian frowned, irritation replacing his initial fear of exposure.

​"Get your hands off of —"

​"Alexander, your secretary is a thief; he stole my golden necklace the last time I was here. He's a thief!" Chloe dragged a shocked Adrian toward the door.

​"I said, let go!" Adrian halted and snatched his hand from Chloe's grip.

​Chloe gasped, "How dare you?!" She turned and glared at Adrian, "You have no right to refuse me, Mr. Secretary. Follow me now, and I might consider letting you off easily," she threatened.

​Adrian had had it; he raised his hands in front of him and gave her two middle fingers. "Fuck you, bitch — argh!" He suddenly screamed and fell to the floor, blood trickling down the side of his face.

​He stared up through his blurry vision and saw Chloe aiming her pointed heel at his head again.

​He knew. He knew Alexander wasn't going to stop this. His husband was gladly going to stand and watch his ex-girlfriend kill his wife.

​He might even help Chloe hide the body.