8

Adrian scrambled to pick up the files, burning with humiliation. "N-no, sir, boss, I—"

​"I was just trying to help him pick them up and he threatened to hit me, boss," Sonia said in a scared voice, smirking secretly at Adrian as he gathered the papers off the floor.

​Adrian picked up the last page and straightened, his eyes darting to Alexander's fuming face, then to Sonia's. Slowly, he looked around the office and saw others pretending to work while half their attention was secretly on him. Sonia had been too swift; no one would have seen her. No one would have heard her. There was no way Alexander was going to believe him now.

​"What is this behavior, Mr. Cole?" Alexander questioned darkly, his jaw clenching as he stared at his clumsy secretary.

​Maybe he should have required a personality test when hiring; there was no way in hell he would have hired Adrian had he known how clumsy, timid, and unstable he was. He'd had enough; Adrian had pushed him to the limit, and it wasn't even noon yet.

​Adrian saw Sonia folding her arms, a mocking look on her deceptive face.

​"Boss," Adrian started, hugging the files to his body, "I'm sorry, but you're misunderstanding—"

​"Enough!" Alexander barked, causing Adrian to visibly startle and shift back.

​The office fell so silent that if a pin dropped, it would easily be heard. Adrian gulped, his fingers digging into the file and crumpling the material. He could feel Alexander's rage from miles away, and it was all channeled at him. His throat stung from anger, and he wished he could smack Sonia's face with the heavy file.

​"If you can't manage basic tasks, you're dispensable. One more mistake and you're gone."

​"No, boss, please. I—I promise I'll be more careful. Please, sir," hot tears stung his eyes as his throat burned.

​The pale face of his now-bald mother flashed across his mind as she struggled for her life on her hospital bed. This job was the only stable income he had; his night job wasn't always certain. If he lost this, he'd return to square one. He couldn't lose it.

​Adrian fell to his knees. "Please, boss, I can't afford to lose this job. I need it, I need the pay; it's the only stable income I have. Please, I swear on my life I will never make any mistakes again. Please," his voice trembled, heart pounding in fear and despair.

​Alexander clenched his fists, watching his secretary reveal a vulnerable side he'd never seen before. He knew Adrian meant it when he said he needed all the money he could get; he recalled Adrian mentioning his mother's chemotherapy. Still, it shouldn't be an excuse for incompetence.

​Alexander strode forward, the sound of his shoes echoing around the quiet office. Adrian's lower lip was close to bleeding from how hard he was biting it. His nervousness, fear, and anger were simmering almost over the top, and he prayed to God for the grace to stay calm and rational. His pulse danced in his ears as Alexander paused right in front of him, staring down with a razor-sharp glare.

​"I've told you before, I don't run a charity organization, Mr. Cole. You seem to have forgotten your place today. As a reprimand, your salary shall be cut in half for the month. One more mistake and you shall be shown the door. Deliver the files to the boardroom and stay away; I don't want you ruining my meeting," Alexander's voice was harsh and bitter.

​"No! Please! Don't cut my pay, please!" Adrian tried to reach for Alexander's legs but paused, allowing his hand to fall to his side as he saw Alexander's cold, warning glare.

​Alexander gave Adrian one last look and turned to Sonia. "Ms. Sonia?" he called evenly.

​Sonia looked away from a devastated Adrian and smiled sweetly. "Yes, Mr. Devereux."

​"Get back to work. If I see you not minding your business, you'll face the same fate as your colleague," Alexander warned and entered his office.

​Sonia's eyes widened. She snapped her gaze toward Adrian, glaring at him. "You hear that? You almost got me punished, too," she gritted out. Sonia leaned in as she brushed past him, her lips close to his ear, her perfume sharp. "Careful, Adrian. I don't need to lift a finger to ruin you—you're doing a fine job yourself," she warned and strode away, returning to her perfectly fine computer.

​Adrian slouched, despair hugging him from the inside out. He barely got paid enough due to the Devereux newcomer policy, and now, his money was cut.

​I HATE YOU! he screamed in his head as he glared at the door in front of him.

​As he got off the floor, he cursed Alexander a billion times over. He thought Alexander was just a cold businessman, but he was wrong. Alexander was an evil man. He knew of Adrian's mother's condition, yet he did what he did because he had no humanity in him.

​As Adrian walked down the hallway toward the boardroom, he felt isolated. No one believed him; no one cared how he felt. Alexander had only seen the aftermath of Sonia's actions and didn't care to listen to the real story.

​Fine, Alexander. You cut my money... you'll pay a thousandfold tonight... willingly, of course, Adrian thought angrily.

​He had been feeling unsure about Adrienne's deal with Alexander, but now, she wasn't holding back. He was going to take advantage of Alexander's desperation for a wife to demand a huge sum of money. He didn't care what Alexander's reason was; all he knew was that Alexander needed to get married, and before he did that, he was going to pay double the money he cut today.

​He quickly entered the quiet boardroom and placed the file at the head of the table where Alexander would be sitting. Then, he left as he came.

​For two hours, Adrian sat at his desk, barely getting his work done as his mind reeled with thoughts of what would happen tonight. Tomorrow, his mother was due for her chemo, and he was growing impatient to hear Alexander's offer. It better be good, or he'll back off immediately. He wasn't about to risk his life for something that might not be worth it.

​"Hey, I'm sorry to bother you—"

​"He wants me to clear the table?" Adrian asked flatly, interrupting Gina.

​Gina sighed. "Yes—" she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Adrian, I'm sorry. I heard what happened. You can ask me for whatever help you need, and I promise to help if I can."

​Adrian stood, causing her hand to fall. "Thank you," he replied in a flat tone and walked away. She couldn't help him; she didn't even have half the money he needed.

​He absentmindedly walked toward the boardroom, his hand coming up to check the time on his wristwatch. He frowned when he couldn't find it, realizing that Alexander's oversized shirt had covered his sleeves. As he rolled them up, he wondered why Alexander had bothered to lend him a shirt. A cold, heartless man trying to act kind—uncanny. He would return it first thing tomorrow morning. He didn't want to possess anything from Alexander—except his money.

​He stood in front of the door and stared at his watch; it was almost time to leave. Adrian pushed the door open, sighing as he saw the several files scattered over the table. He was used to this: working like a donkey and getting paid next to nothing.

​He packed everything in a minute and adjusted the stack of files in his hands, hoping the sting on his back from Chloe's little "accident" wasn't showing through his shirt as the material hugged his back. He had just stepped out of the executive boardroom when the door in front of him opened.

​"Mr. Cole, isn't it?"

​Adrian froze. The man standing in front of him was impossible to ignore—tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a charcoal-grey suit that hugged his frame with effortless power. His dark hair was neatly swept back, and his striking brown eyes had an assessing sharpness softened by a warm smile.

​Sebastian Vale. Alexander's business partner.

​"Yes, sir," Adrian murmured, lowering his gaze politely.

​"Sebastian," the man corrected, extending his hand with firm confidence. "I've heard you're the one keeping Alexander's empire from falling apart."

​Adrian blinked, startled, before fumbling to shake his hand. "I—I just do my job."

​Sebastian's smile widened slightly, and he didn't let go right away. His thumb brushed over Adrian's knuckles in a way that felt too intentional, too intimate for a first handshake. "More than that, I think." His gaze lingered on Adrian's stormy-grey eyes, as though he were trying to read something beneath them. "Sharp eyes like yours don't belong behind a secretary's desk."

​Adrian swallowed hard, his pulse tripping. "I—I'm fine where I am."

​"Are you?" Sebastian's voice lowered, as though this was a private conversation despite the open hallway.

​Suddenly, the air shifted—colder, heavier. Alexander stood just a few steps away, having exited his office silently. His piercing blue eyes locked onto Sebastian's and Adrian's joined hands, then onto Sebastian's smug expression.

​"Sebastian," Alexander said, his voice dangerously calm, "don't you have a project to prepare?"

​Sebastian finally released Adrian's hand, but not before giving it a lingering squeeze. His smirk deepened as he glanced between the two men. "Of course. We'll talk again, Adrian."

​Adrian's chest tightened at the sound of his name rolling so easily off Sebastian's tongue. Alexander's gaze snapped to him, icy and unreadable. "Mr. Cole. My office. Now."