9

"Boss?" Adrian called, his voice thinner than he wanted it to be. He grunted softly, trying to balance the heavy stack of files in his arms as he stood before Alexander's imposing desk.

​The anger in his chest hadn't cooled. Alexander's punishment still burned like acid in his veins. Half his salary—cut, just like that. A cruel, devilish move. What kind of man punished someone so harshly over an accident?

​He wondered what Alexander wanted now. It was nearly closing time. Was this cold-hearted billionaire about to demand extra hours on top of docking his pay? Adrian's stomach turned at the thought. He ignored Chloe's presence beside Alexander, though her smirk lingered like unwanted perfume. He didn't care about her anymore. He just wanted to get out of here—prepare for the night, prepare to become Adrienne.

​Behind his desk, Alexander checked his watch, a faint frown tugging at his mouth. He was cutting it close. Soon, he had to meet his escort "wife." But first, he needed to deal with Adrian.

​He couldn't allow Sebastian's interest in Adrian to grow. Sebastian was cunning and manipulative. Adrian was clumsy and naive—far too easy to trick into saying something he shouldn't.

​Alexander rose to his full height, his voice carrying the weight of command. "Mr. Cole. You are not to speak with Sebastian again. He is not your business. You are not here to chit-chat with my partners. Am I understood?"

​Adrian blinked at him, startled, and instinctively stepped back. Alexander's shadow felt suffocating.

​"Yes, boss," he murmured quickly, though confusion prickled at him. Why would Alexander care? He barely spoke to Sebastian—he had no intention of getting close to the man. Still, arguing would only prolong this torment.

​He just wanted to leave.

​"C-can I go now?" Adrian asked cautiously, hugging the stack of files tighter to his chest.

​Alexander's brow furrowed. His sharp eyes flicked down to Adrian's trembling hands. The files shook with every breath. He'd been carrying them too long.

​"Place them on the shelf," Alexander ordered, gesturing toward the oak cabinet against the wall.

​Adrian hesitated. Normally, he left them on Alexander's desk. But the billionaire's glare cut off any protest. With a weary sigh, Adrian turned, crouching to place the files on the lowest shelf within reach. His knees ached as he bent, the edge of the files digging into his palms.

​That was when Chloe's voice, sweet and venomous, slithered into the air.

​"Alexander, darling," she purred, her tone deliberately pitched loud enough for Adrian to hear, "I heard about the little… chaos your secretary caused today. A setback like him isn't worth your time. Let him go."

​Adrian froze mid-motion, jaw tightening. Of course. Another vulture circling my job. Haven't I suffered enough today? He forced himself to keep moving, sliding the file neatly into place.

​He had already made his decision earlier. If he lost this job, Adrienne would simply demand double what she was already planning. Alexander would pay, one way or another.

​"I told you, Chloe," Alexander replied, his tone clipped with finality. "I need him."

​Adrian's hands faltered. Need him? Since when did Alexander need him? He glanced over his shoulder just as Alexander's gaze lingered on his profile. For one suspended heartbeat, something flickered in Alexander's eyes—something unnameable. Almost recognition.

​Alexander blinked it away. Foolish. He was projecting Adrienne's face where it didn't belong. Perhaps because he was due to see her tonight. Yes, that had to be it.

​"Fine," Chloe sighed dramatically. "I'll let your shabby secretary stay." Her lips curved in a pout before softening. "But you'll drive me home, won't you? I thought tonight was for introducing me to your mother."

​Adrian's ears sharpened at that. His hands slowed on the last few files. Alexander's mother? So that was part of the puzzle. He lingered on purpose, taking extra care in arranging the documents just so.

​"No, Chloe," Alexander said firmly. "Tomorrow. Tonight I have other business."

​"You always dismiss me." Chloe's sultry voice shifted to a whine as she pressed her curves against his side, her arm snaking around his. "I left my job to sit here like a doll for you. Doesn't that earn me even a little more of your attention?"

​The sound of her voice scraped down Adrian's spine like broken glass. He hated how sweet she could sound when she wanted something.

​"Hurry up, Mr. Cole," Alexander snapped coldly, impatience breaking through his controlled facade.

​Adrian startled, nearly dropping the last folder before sliding it into place. He spun around quickly, pulse racing. His eyes darted—first to Alexander's hard expression, then to Chloe's painted nails curled possessively around Alexander's sleeve.

​The sight hit him harder than he expected, an unfamiliar, hollow ache blooming in his chest. Betrayal. No—worse. A twisting, dangerous feeling he had no right to feel.

​Why does it bother me? He's a devil. He cut my pay. He doesn't care if I live or die. So why—why does it sting to see her touch him?

​He swallowed hard, eyes burning as he forced himself to drop his gaze. Alexander's gaze lingered on him, unreadable, as if trying to piece together what was happening behind Adrian's stormy-grey eyes.

​Adrian's fists clenched at his sides. He prayed Alexander couldn't see the crack in his armor, the storm brewing behind his trembling composure. Because tonight, he would wear a different face. Tonight, Adrienne would make Alexander pay.

​"You're dismissed, Mr. Cole. Today shouldn't have a repeat," Alexander ordered calmly.

​Adrian nodded. "Yes, sir," he murmured and walked out of the office as fast as his legs could carry him.

​As he walked out of the Devereux Autos building, he let his guard down and breathed the fresh air again after so long in that tense atmosphere. He walked slowly down the street, the streetlights and headlights glittering all over the place and illuminating his way.

​Nights like this, he just wanted to walk home slowly while he thought of the day's events. But not tonight; he had a marriage contract to get to. Waving a taxi down, he gave his location and, in a few minutes, he was home.

​He ran up the apartment stairs, pushing his hand into his pocket to search for his keys as he approached his door. The keys jiggled as he pulled them out, echoing across the shabby hallway. He was just about to fit the key into the lock when someone grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the door, brutally slamming his back against the wall.

​"Ugh!" Adrian grunted loudly. The place where Chloe had poured her hot coffee stung badly as he collided with the wall.

​"Caught you," the bald man sneered at Adrian's face, flashing his missing front tooth as he smirked.

​Adrian balled his fists as he glared at his stepfather. As if the office drama wasn't enough, now he had to face some delusional old man, too.

​"Let go of me!" He pushed his stepfather away and adjusted his clothes.

​His stepfather chuckled, walking back to him. "I see you've grown wings since you landed that fancy job at Devereux Autos, right?" He forcefully grabbed Adrian's chin and forced him to look at him.

​"Let go!" Adrian gripped his stepfather's wrist and yanked it off his face, groaning as he felt sharp nails scratching his skin.

​"You little shit! It's been four months, and you haven't sent me the hospital bills. Do you want my wife to die?!" his stepfather shouted like a lunatic, glaring.

​Adrian's back and cheek hurt, but he refused to break. He glared right back and scoffed, "Give you money for your 'wife's' hospital bill?" He chuckled dryly. "I'll be an idiotic psychopath like you if I ever do that again. Let me guess..." He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes at the angry man. "The loan sharks are after you again? Your gambling failed as usual, but this time, there's no source of income for you, so you're devastated and broke."

​He smirked at the shocked look on his stepfather's face, a feeling of fleeting triumph coursing within him.

​"So you found out, huh? Well, it's good you did. I'm your father; it's your right to provide what I need for me. Now, I just need a little sum of five hundred dollars, just for tonight. I'll be back for tomorrow night, and the night after that—"

​"You've really lost it if you think for one second that I will give you half a dollar bill. You're so selfish and vain, and that's why you used my mother's medical bills for gambling that never pays." He stepped forward, his aura turning cold and dangerous. "Now, listen to me, Mr. Stepfather," he said, placing his hand on his stepfather's shoulder, causing the old man to shudder slightly from fear.

​This was the first time Adrian was standing up to him; he never expected him to fight back, and he never thought that Adrian would find out about the medical bills and his gambling.

​"Get your hands—"

​"No! You fucking listen!" Adrian barked, pushing the man against the wall and grabbing his collar. "If I ever see you around my apartment again, I'm calling the police. And you'd better stay away from the hospital; I'm warning them about your fraudulent activity. Do you hear me?!" He tugged his stepfather's collar, shaking him violently.

​"Get away!" The older man pushed Adrian away and hurried off. "This isn't over!" he shouted as he ran down the stairs.

​Adrian huffed; he didn't have time to think. He quickly ran into his apartment, and in a few minutes, Adrienne walked out, ready to get married.