7

Under Alexander's intense gaze, Adrian's fingers trembled as he unbuttoned his shirt. For the first time in months, he was forced to step out of a professional space with his boss. It was still professional, just with a twist.

​His thoughts, which were usually loud and dirty when he was alone, grew louder and bolder. That stupid, crazy voice in his head told him to take a chance with his boss, but the more reserved one spoke against it. He was a mess, inside and out.

​Alexander watched his secretary with an unreadable expression, his eyes staying on Adrian's face and not wandering down. He already saw that Adrian was shaking from fear or whatever it was that always had him trembling.

​"Give it." He extended his hand in front of Adrian as he saw him successfully undo the last button.

​Adrian immediately shook his head. "N-no, I'll clean it in the staff restroom when I leave," he stammered.

​Alexander ignored him and walked over to his desk, pulling out a drawer and retrieving a first-aid kit. He walked back and lowered himself beside Adrian on the sofa.

​"Take your shirt off, Mr. Cole, or you'll scald," he said calmly, staring at Adrian, who had shifted to the extreme edge, his fingers grazing his knee.

​Adrian's claustrophobia was ignited; Alexander was too close—damn too close.

​'Why is he sitting beside me? Why is the room suddenly so small? Why is the air so thick?' Adrian's internal panic was palpable, his foot tapping noiselessly on the floor.

​Alexander frowned, sighing impatiently. "You're slacking on duty, Mr. Cole. I don't mind taking it out of your pay—"

​"No! No, I'm sorry, I'll take it off... I need all the money I can get," he muttered the last part inaudibly, but Alexander still heard it.

​Slowly, Adrian pulled his tie off first, and then he slid the shirt off his arms. He felt exposed—because this time, he was—and Alexander's unreadable gaze made him feel even more so. Goosebumps spread across his skin as the cool air blanketed his body, causing him to shiver slightly.

​He was about to fold the wet shirt on his lap when Alexander moved a trash bin in front of him.

​"Hurry up," Alexander commanded, leaving no room for argument.

​Adrian blinked slowly, staring at the shirt with reluctance. It was one of his best; he didn't have many, and this one was his favorite. And he had just been ordered to throw it away. With a heavy sigh, he dropped it into the bin and sucked his bottom lip between his teeth.

​"Turn around, Mr. Cole. I'm a busy man," Alexander's voice was stern. His eyes glanced briefly at how Adrian hugged himself while biting his lip as usual. He forced his eyes up to his secretary's face, a mean look in his eyes. "I said, turn around."

​"I—I can do it myself," Adrian murmured, not meeting Alexander's eyes.

​"Okay," Alexander said and dropped the soothing cream on Adrian's lap. He stood and took a few steps, then paused, pushing his hands into his pockets and watching Adrian, waiting to see how he managed himself.

​Adrian looked down at the tube and picked it up. He could do it himself. Yes, he could. He was still struggling to come to terms with the fact that he was in his boss's private room, alone and half-naked in front of the man he secretly admired. He fought to keep his nerves together. The last thing he would do is let Alexander put his hands on him. All hell could break loose if he ever let that happen.

​However, as Adrian tried to blindly reach the spots, he realized with dread that he must look stupid and crazy to his boss as he wriggled to reach his back. Chloe had aimed for the exact point he couldn't easily reach. After wriggling for a few seconds, he sighed and lifted his face to Alexander, who was quietly observing him.

​"I'm sorry, boss—" he said, covering his chest as if he had anything to hide. "I'll head out first," he murmured and walked toward the door. He clenched his jaw as he neared Alexander. The door suddenly seemed miles away. He kept his face lowered, hurrying as he reached Alexander's side.

​"Hold on." Alexander suddenly caught Adrian's hand, holding him steady.

​If a heart had wings, Adrian's would have flown out of his chest. His heart fluttered restlessly as Alexander's firm hold caged his wrist. A tantalizing shiver ran down his spine, causing his body to heat up as if he had a sudden fever.

​"Y-yes, boss?" His voice was so low, it was almost a whisper. He was slowly losing the battle of wills with his body, and so help him God, he wanted to jump the sexy devil right then and there.

​"What do you plan on doing?" Alexander stepped closer behind Adrian and pried the tube out of his hand. "Parade your naked self around my office and taint my reputation?" he asked, squirting the liquid onto his fingers and gently applying it to Adrian's reddened back.

​Adrian hissed quietly—from the pain and from those sinful tingles coursing through his veins.

​"N-no, boss... I wanted to find someone to help me out. I didn't want to trouble you," he stammered, fisting his hands for control.

​"Who?" Alexander asked, his fingers gently trailing over Adrian's skin, which he surprisingly found to be silky smooth. He allowed his eyes to lower, frowning when he saw how slim Adrian's waist was. 'Why so lean?' he asked internally, but his fingers lowered to apply the cream over the reddened spot on Adrian's waist.

​"Gina," Adrian answered softly. "Ahh!" He suddenly gasped, wincing as Alexander's hand pressed on his stinging back.

​"Be still," Alexander's hand tightened on Adrian's shoulder, holding him steady. "You will not try to seduce anyone in my company, Mr. Cole," Alexander snapped, sharper than he meant to. The word seduce left a bitter taste in his mouth, but it was easier than admitting the real problem: Adrian might just be starting to get under his skin. "I shall not hesitate to take legal action against you." He stepped away, heading toward his mini-wardrobe.

​Adrian frowned, blinking in confusion. "Seduce? I never wanted to seduce anyone." Except you. He turned to look at Alexander, who was taking something out of his wardrobe.

​"Put this on and leave." Alexander threw a clean, white shirt at Adrian, who fumbled to catch it. "You have five minutes to prepare my files and deliver them to my office for the boardroom meeting," Alexander ordered and walked out.

​Adrian stared at the door blankly; he should hate Alexander for humiliating him, for assuming the worst of him, and for treating him like property. But why did his skin still burn where the man's fingers had touched him?

​"Shit," Adrian muttered and quickly pulled the oversized shirt on—but not before sniffing it like a lunatic. It smelled fresh, clean, and like Alexander. He glanced at his discarded shirt in the trash bin one last time and hurried out of the room.

​This was by far his most eventful morning since his employment, and he hoped it didn't get any more eventful than it already was. He quietly stepped into Alexander's office and found him going through the designs on his tablet. He ignored Chloe's piercing glare and walked over to Alexander.

​"Boss—"

​"Go prepare my files, Mr. Cole," Alexander cut him off, briefly glancing at him and noticing how small he looked in the shirt. He tapped his foot under the table to call himself to order. He couldn't understand why he was starting to notice the littlest details about his secretary.

​"Yes, boss," Adrian replied and walked hurriedly out of the office. He went to his desk and settled into his chair, clicking on a document to start printing. In a few seconds, the machine beside his computer hummed to life. He drew a new file from the pile and bound the documents to it.

​"Adrian, can I borrow your computer for a while? Mine is giving me trouble," Sonia, a slim woman with short hair, asked from behind him.

​"No, Sonia. Call the repair team." He switched off his computer and took his file.

​"Please, Adrian. I need to prepare my design before tomorrow morning." Sonia blocked his path, gripping his hand.

​Adrian sighed. "Let go, Sonia. The earlier you realize that this isn't some series where you act as the cute, evil colleague, the better your days will be. Now, unhand me before I hit your face." He spoke in a quiet voice so only Sonia would hear, his eyes glaring at her hand on his. He didn't have to hold back like he did with Chloe; Sonia was just an employee like himself, and he wasn't about to let her bully him.

​Sonia gasped. "You're threatening me? How would the boss feel when he discovers that his secretary is a woman-puncher?" She smirked at him, not letting go of his hand.

​Adrian muttered under his breath and glanced at Alexander's door. He was almost out of time, and Sonia thought this was the best time to play her villain role.

​"Sonia, how about you wait until I'm out of the boardroom? Maybe then I can entertain your drama. Right now, my job is hanging by a thin thread; if I don't get these files to the boss in the next minute, it'll be over for me," he reasoned, trying to stay calm.

​Sonia smirked. "That would be perfect, Adrian. That is exactly what I've wanted. You're not fit to be Mr. Devereux's secretary; that role is for me." She sneered at him and suddenly swiped the files out of his hand, causing them to scatter all over the floor.

​"Sonia, what have you done?!" Adrian gasped. There was no way he was going to meet the five-minute mark Alexander gave him. And just before he left the office, Alexander's mood hadn't been the best. Was this how he lost his job?

​The last page hit the floor just as the office door opened. Alexander stepped out, his icy gaze sweeping the chaos at Adrian's feet.

​"Mr. Cole," his voice cut like a blade, "care to explain why my files are decorating the floor instead of my desk?"

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