CHAPTER 23: 23: TORN BETWEEN MEN

Adrian’s heart was hammering against his ribs, not from the pain of his injuries, but from the unbearable pressure of Alexander’s gaze and touch. The subtle, probing questions felt far more invasive than Chloe’s attack.

The phrase "I need a holy cleansing" flashed through his mind again, quickly followed by the thought: This is a trap. He’s testing me.

He couldn’t lie about a girlfriend he didn’t have, but he couldn’t admit to a lack of experience either, as that would fuel Alexander’s already intense scrutiny. He had to be evasive and professional, turning the subject back to the business—or rather, the lack of business—of his situation.

"Mr. Devereux," Adrian whispered, his voice shaking slightly, but he forced his eyes to hold firm. "That is an entirely personal line of inquiry and is irrelevant to my current employment, or to the injuries I sustained in your office just now."

He subtly tried to lean back into the sofa, attempting to create distance from Alexander’s strong grip on his waist, but the movement was futile.

"As for blushing," Adrian continued, pushing past the burning humiliation, "I am unaccustomed to being physically held by my employer, especially when I am partially undressed. And no, sir, I am not used to being interrogated about my private life during working hours, especially not after being assaulted. That is what makes me anxious, not your presence." He took a shallow breath, trying to regain control.

"If you are concerned about my relationship status or my sexual orientation, you are free to check my medical records or my background file, assuming you haven’t done so already."

Alexander paused, his thumb moving slightly against Adrian’s bare skin on Adrian’s waist. He watched Adrian’s face, not in anger, but with a deep, unsettling curiosity. He recognised the shift—a new sudden appearance of a cool, guarded defiance in Adrian.

Alexander observed the way Adrian tried hard to hide whatever it was he didn’t want to let out, and it only heightened his curiosity.

"My point, Adrian, is that your reactions are excessive," Alexander murmured, ignoring the attempted professional boundary. He lifted his hand from Adrian’s waist and gently touched the faint scar tissue on his wrist.

"You are overly sensitive to touch, yet you provoke me constantly. You panic at the mention of a hospital, and you just performed a dramatic, uncharacteristic act of defiance in front of my ex-girlfriend. And yet," Alexander leaned closer, his voice low, "Why do you flush whenever I’m close? We’re both men, getting naked in front of each other should never be a problem," he paused, narrowing his eyes at Adrian.

"I can’t help but think that there’s something my secretary is hiding. Did you fall in love with your boss, Adrian?" Alexander questioned, leaving no room for Adrian to look away from him.

’Jesus Christ! What is wrong with this man today?!’ Adrian snatched his hand from Alexander, masking his face with a frown, "Sir, I’m grateful for your help and all, but, I do not appreciate you trying to imply my sexuality even after my many declarations of not being gay. I... I am not in love with you... My boss. And, I will never be. If this is all, then excuse me-argh!" He screamed as Alexander casually pressed an alcohol wipe on his wound.

"You’ve got a mouth on you... I’d tame it if I were you, or it’ll get you in trouble," Alexander’s low, concentrated voice said as he carefully wiped off the last stand of blood.

Adrian gulped, "I’m sorry, boss." He whispered.

He had let his mouth run a few seconds ago, he should really tame it before it got him in trouble.

He watched Alexander take out a butterfly bandage from the first aid box. He slowly sucked his lower lip between his teeth as his boss closed his wound with the butterfly bandage.

"T-thank you," Adrian murmured.

Alexander stood, pulling Adrian gently but firmly up off the sofa. "Easy," he immediately caught Adrian’s waist, who suddenly swayed on his feet as he stood.

As he helped Adrian steady himself, the familiar scent hit him again: the perfume.

"I’m sorry, I was a little dizzy," Adrian murmured as he tried to move out of Alexander’s hold, but Alexander’s grip on his waist tightened, setting off alarms in his head.

He looked up at Alexander’s face and saw him lowering his face to his neck. He chuckled nervously and placed his hands on Alexander’s chest, "B-boss, what are you... What are you doing?" He stammered as Alexander’s nose easily nestled under his chin.

His mind shut down as he realised their position, the only saving grace was that Alexander’s mouth wasn’t on his skin, if that happened, he’d throw all cautions out the window and give in, because what the fuck!

Alexander’s manly scent and his expensive cologne threatened to weaken his knees as his legs became unsteady and causing Alexander’s hand to tighten in his waist.

Alexander’s gaze became intense, boring into Adrian’s own conflicted eyes. "Your perfume, you will stop wearing it. I do not like it." His voice was dangerously low as he spoke.

Adrian knew exactly why, but, he would appear suspicious if he easily agreed, "Why, boss?" He questioned quietly.

Alexander frowned slightly, "For some inexplicable reason, your choice of perfume matches the woman I was literally married to forty-eight hours ago -"

"You’re married? Congratulations, boss. We, the staff had no idea about your -"

"You will keep shut about this, do you understand?" Alexander commanded, his voice hardening slightly.

Adrian blinked slowly, he had played his part well: a clueless employee, who was shocked by his boss’s marital status.

"Yes, boss, I understand," he nodded slowly.

Alexander released Adrian’s waist, his hands feeling empty and cold from the lack of warmth from Adrian’s body. His eyes lingered on Adrian’s waist before he turned away and walked over to his wardrobe.

’What’s really happening to me?’ He frowned.

This time, he picked out a black shirt and walked back to Adrian, "Put this on and get back to work. You’re going for a survey with me later tonight." He threw the shirt at Adrian, standing his ground as he watched Adrian’s face scrunch up in confusion.

"Um, thank you... survey? I-I clock out by four, boss. I... I have somewhere to go tonight," Adrian stammered under Alexander’s gaze, causing him to fumble with the shirt as he quickly pulled it down his head to cover his body from Alexander’s critical gaze.

Alexander furrowed his brow as he saw how loose his shirt was on Adrian. It was just like the first one, too large for Adrian’s slender body.

He took a step a covered the space between them, and before Adrian could step away and before he could stop himself, he reached under Adrian’s shirt and gently grabbed his waist.

"You’re too lean, why?" He asked, lifting his face to stare at Adrian’s flushed face once more.

Adrian couldn’t take it anymore, he hopped out of Alexander’s hold and inhaled deeply before facing his boss.

"I might be lean, but I’m healthy, sir. I appreciate your professional concern, but I would like to put it out here that I’m averse to physical touch. I hate them, so, please, if you can just not touch me... It’s a phobia thing," he lied, but it was the only way to save himself.

Did Alexander even realise that his moves were seductive and flirty? If someone should ever walk in on them, there’s only one thing that person would think.

Alexander balled his fists, but he wasn’t angry at Adrian, it was at himself. He realised that his body had moved on its own accord to touch Adrian: not accept.

"Send in my schedule, and get your work done before four, you’re going somewhere with me," he said calmly and pointed to the door, "Leave." He pointed to his door.

Adrian nodded, "Yes, sir." He replied and quickly hurried out of the room before Alexander changed his mind and reached for him again.

"Fuck," Alexander muttered the moment his door clicked shut.

He released a loud sigh and went over to his bed. He lowered himself on it and pushed his fingers into his hair.

His life seemed to be heading in a strange direction since he employed Adrian, and it worsened after he married the ghost, Adrienne.

He couldn’t understand why he felt like he was caught between two people from an alternate universe. His mind was a mess of impossible thoughts, and his logic was suggesting weird, unrelated thoughts that he refused to accept.

Adrian was... distracting. Adrienne was... mysterious.

Yet, he couldn’t help but think that those two people have some similar traits even though he can’t point them out yet.

He suddenly stood from his bed as he heard voices coming from his office. In a breath, he was pushing through his oak door just in time to see Sebastian trying to place his hand on Adrian’s waist... the same waist he had touched a few minutes ago.

"What are you doing in my office, Sebastian?" Alexander strode toward him, his figure towering over them.

Adrian cleared his throat, "I was just trying to place your schedule here, just in case you wanted to see the physical-"

"I wasn’t speaking to you, Adrian," Alexander cut him off, pinning his gaze on Sebastian.

Sebastian smirked, "I’d say, for an office employee, he sustains injuries like he works in a demolition derby. That speaks low of your management, Alexander, perhaps you want to lend him over to me for a few months, I’d show you how to treat an employee." He turned to Adrian, who had instinctively moved to Alexander’s side, "Did you get my gifts, Adrian?" He asked.

Adrian stiffened, feeling the weight of Alexander’s gaze, daring to acknowledge the gift, "I’m sorry, Mr. Vale. But, I do not appreciate gifts being sent to my workplace. I take my work seriously and I hope you do not jeopardise my Job." He said, glancing at Alexander’s cold face.

Alexander looked away, facing Sebastian, "Take a seat, Sebastian. Since you’re here, I’d like to discuss our collaboration. Get me his file from the cabinet, Mr. Cole." His voice was flat, but his anger couldn’t be missed.

Perhaps, Sebastian would get his message when his business is threatened.

Alexander was never one to play coy games, he paused his messages directly, and if you failed to get his warning, you’d stand to lose something very important to you.

"Here it is, boss," Adrian efficiently placed the file on Alexander’s desk.

He was trying to sneak himself out of the office when Sebastian caught his arm.

"Mr. Vale?" Adrian called, eyes slightly widened at Sebastian’s direct contact.

"Relax, Adrian. I just want to say that you look sexy in that shirt. And, I’d like to take you someplace after work," Sebastian kissed the back of Adrian’s hand and gently released him.

Adrian’s jaw slacked, his heart tunelling in his chest. Without looking at either man, he left the office, feeling his chest and throat constrict from unspoken and unknown emotions.

He was in deep trouble, how was he supposed to manage and survive Alexander’s suspicion and possessiveness? How was he supposed to escape Sebastian’s persistent flirting?

’Oh no, I’m in deep trouble. How do I reject both their offers tonight?’

He didn’t want to go out with either of them, they both meant trouble, and Alexander was the bigger trouble.