2

Adrian inhaled a slow, shaky breath as Alexander's icy blue eyes bore into him with stark attention.

For the first time in four months, Alexander was finally looking at him, but it wasn't a look Adrian dreamed of. This look was cold, detached, and scrutinising.

He chewed on his bottom lip and quietly cleared his throat. "Sir... It's my mother. I need to pay for her chemotherapy. It's due in three days," he said, hoping he sounded as steady as he thought.

Alexander didn't react. He kept staring at Adrian with unreadable eyes. His fingers quietly drummed on the arms of his chair.

Adrian uncomfortably shifted his weight between his feet, feeling the air get thick with unseen tension.

His boss was waiting for him to get to the point.

He clutched his tablet to his chest and scratched the back of his reddened ear. "I, I was hoping, perhaps, the company could lend me a loan and subsequently take it out of my paycheck until it's completely paid off." There, he said it.

His fingers trembled under Alexander's hawk-like watch, causing him to hold tightly onto his tablet.

"No," came Alexander's cold, low rumble.

Adrian felt his hope shatter like fragile glass. He felt defeated by that one-word reply.

'No? How could he say no?' Adrian's jaw locked, his teeth grinding against the bitterness swelling in his throat.

"Leave, Mr. Cole. As for the part of your design, reduce the width and height. We make luxuries, not tanks. Our cars turn heads because of elegance, not bulk," he said dismissively and returned to his screen, completely ignoring Adrian beside him.

Adrian's brows creased slightly.

This side of Alexander was the part that made him rethink his choice in men.

He was brutal, unfeeling, cold, and only cared about his profits. He wouldn't care even if a person fell dead beside him. As long as his figures increased, that was all Alexander would care about.

"Yes, Boss," Adrian replied and took a step forward. However, he suddenly paused in front of Alexander's desk and spun around to face him.

"Do we have more concerns about the design, Mr. Cole?" Alexander questioned without lifting his face from the screen to find Adrian's warm, hazel eyes on him.

Adrian balled his fists, a certain surge of anger coursing through him. "No, sir. It's not about the design," he replied, staring at Alexander with determination.

It got Alexander's attention. He paused and slowly lifted his face to see his secretary looking like he was about to explode from suppressed emotions. He knew exactly what Adrian wanted, but he was a man of his word.

No meant no; it didn't have a double meaning.

"You've been a thriving employee, Mr. Cole. Your work has proven you to be a worthy candidate for my company. Don't make me discard you," Alexander said coldly, his eyes pinning Adrian in place with unadulterated authority.

This was the first time he had held a conversation for over five minutes with his secretary. And, from the crease on Adrian's forehead, he could tell that his secretary wasn't pleased with his decision.

Adrian sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, weighing his words before he spoke. "Yes, boss. I understand." He sighed in resignation.

There was really nothing else he could say. Pushing further would risk his job.

"It's good you understand. This is Devereux Autos, not a charity. If you want sympathy, try a church. Here, we deal in results." Alexander stood and strode toward Adrian, pausing right in front of him, his tall figure towering over him.

"I hope this doesn't repeat," he said darkly.

"It won't," he promised. Adrian nodded quickly, staring at the floor. The difference in their heights made him feel small, insignificant—like a servant before a king.

"Good. Now leave, ask Gina to prepare the boardroom in ten minutes," Alexander ordered sternly.

"Yes, sir," Adrian replied and turned away from him.

Every step he took tore at his heart, reminding him that he was walking out more miserable than he came.

'What am I going to do?' Adrian thought as he stepped out of Alexander's office.

"Oh, sorry!" A young, short woman in a red palazzo and a white shirt bumped into Adrian just as he stepped out of Alexander's office.

"Shit." Adrian's hand trembled greatly as he fumbled to catch the tablet mid-air.

"Thank goodness," he sighed loudly as he successfully caught the tablet and hugged it to himself.

That was the company's property. Spoiling it would mean incurring more hefty debts for himself.

"I'm so sorry, Adrian. I'm really sorry, are you alright?" the short woman asked.

Adrian gently pushed his glasses in place and nodded. "I'm fine, it's alright. Are you alright?" he questioned, looking at the short woman.

"Oh, I'm fine, I was just rushing to prepare the presentation..." she chuckled nervously.

"A presentation worth three hours, but guess what? He sent it thirty minutes ago. How am I supposed to manage that?" She flipped her dishevelled black hair over her shoulder.

Adrian suddenly remembered something. "Oh, about that. He asked you to set the boardroom ready in ten minutes—"

"Ten minutes?!" Gina grabbed Adrian's shoulder in frustration.

Slightly startled, he cleared his throat. Gently, he tapped Gina's shoulder. "You've got this, Gina," he replied with a forced smile and pulled out of her hold.

Panic was a normal and accepted emotion in Devereux Autos. Panicking less than ten times in one second meant that you weren't doing things right. Everyone was used to the pressure. It's what got them to push out the best of their efforts.

Lowering himself back into his chair, he sighed and placed the tablet on the desk, staring blankly at the design on the screen, the images blurring from the close concentration.

He was lost in his thoughts.

'How was I going to make it up in three days?' His thoughts banged like birds in a birdcage, causing him to shut his eyes from the slight headache he felt.

He might just join all the other colleagues and hate the boss.

How was he so cold and inhumane?

Adrian didn't ask for charity. He had just asked for a loan, which he would pay back with his salary. Yet, Alexander mocked his predicament and sent him out.

He admired Alexander's determination and wealth, but he hated his cold attitude. And, with what he had experienced a few minutes ago, he had come to dislike his boss, maybe even hate him.

Alexander was just like every other wealthy person out there, uncaring and selfish. Only cared about how to exploit people's creativity without bothering about their problems.

Adrian failed to remember that the actor was not the same when the curtains fell.

His ringing phone drew him out of his wandering thoughts. With a quiet sigh, he pulled out the drawer and picked up his phone. However, the moment he saw his stepfather's name on the screen, he simply put his phone on DND and pushed it back in the drawer.

His stepfather was the last person he needed to speak with. He would only get more worked up in the end.

He glanced back at Alexander's office and frowned. "So wicked," he murmured and faced his screen with determination.

He needed to finish all his work before he clocked out. His day didn't end with others. Where others resigned and rested, he started a different journey.

After hours of working, Adrian lifted his tired eyes from his screen when he heard footsteps hurrying behind him.

He glanced up, and Gina walked over with a file in her hand.

"Done?" he asked, turning to face her properly.

Gina sighed exhaustedly. "Hell yes, now it's your turn," she said and dropped a flash drive on his desk. "He wants you to go through ten new proposed designs and pick the best five. Submit a proper sketch on each of them first thing tomorrow morning," she informed accurately, tapping Adrian's back in encouragement.

Adrian sighed. "I got it." No, he didn't get anything.

He wanted to drag his hair and scream out his frustration, but no... 'he got this.'

"Oh, he also asked you to make sure you show up for future meetings. He was quite displeased when he said that," Gina added and smiled before walking away.

"Of course," he murmured and picked up the flash drive, putting it in his pocket. He'd work on them at home.

Adrian could still remember how Alexander asked him not to show up in the boardroom because he wasn't yet worthy of contributing ideas. Why was he suddenly complaining about his absence?

He shook his head. "Whatever the boss wanted," he muttered and checked the time: 4 p.m. It was time to leave.

With an exhausted movement, he shut down his computer and stood from his chair, his body feeling numb from sitting for a prolonged period.

He glanced one last time at Alexander's office and frowned. "So much for crushing on a devil," he mumbled to himself.

He knew Alexander was still in there. He was always the last to leave the company, taking extra time to perfect already perfect designs.

Adrian tore his eyes away from the office and moved toward the elevator. It was almost time to switch up.

He dreaded slipping into his other life—the one he kept hidden from his boss, from Gina, from everyone. But desperation didn't care for pride—and neither did Bill.