CHAPTER 28: 28: HIS PAIN, MY FURRY

"Marcus. Locate all files related to Adrian Cole. Specifically, I need details on any criminal charges, outstanding financial judgments, or active debts," Alexander dictated, his voice low and devoid of emotion as he spoke to the man dressed in a white suit in front of his desk.

Marcus, his personal security and intelligence chief, was a middle-aged man with a slim build and brown hair.

"Yes, boss," Marcus replied, getting busy on the laptop in front of him.

"Focus on the period immediately preceding his employment. I want to know the nature and size of this catastrophe he mentioned. Cross-reference the names and bank accounts listed in his background check against any known debtors or fraud investigations. I need the full report," Alexander instructed, his fists lightly clenched.

"Yes, boss," Marcus replied.

Alexander barely slept last night as many thoughts ran through his mind, the most dominant of them was of Adrian.

After trying and failing to reach out to his wife, he gave up and thought about his little secretary.

He recalled the first time Adrian had asked for a loan; he had refused, and for some reason, he felt guilty about that.

But, something told him that Adrian needed money for something else, he wasn’t sure it was only his mother’s medical bills that were bothering him... There was something Adrian was hiding.

He watched Marcus’s concentrated face for a few seconds, growing impatient with the wait.

"Anything, yet?" He asked, drumming his fingers as he checked his time, Xueyi would soon be here to sign the contracts and he needed to be in good shape of mind before meeting with her.

He had come in earlier than he used to so he could have a chat with Marcus, but Marcus seemed to be taking longer than necessary.

"Yes, boss. Here," Marcus turned the laptop for Alexander to see footage of Adrian walking into a hospital building.

"That is Lilith Anne’s Hospital, boss. Where his sick mother is. She suffers from cancer and subsequently needs a good amount of money each week for her chemotherapy -"

"How much?" Alexander cut in smoothly, clenching his jaws.

He shouldn’t be looking into his secretary’s life, he shouldn’t care, but, he wanted to see if Adrian’s attention would steady around him if all his monetary problems were taken care of.

"Over $5,000 a week, boss. Although, hospital records show he’d agreed with the hospital on instalments since he can’t pay adequately," Marcus explained.

"He needs over $5,000 a week just to keep his mother’s chemotherapy going — a figure that bled him dry." Alexander frowned.

’And I cut his salary... no wonder he looked so desperate to do anything,’ he thought inwardly, his guilt returning stronger than it ever had.

"Discreetly, Marcus, contact Lilith Anne’s Hospital, put Adrian’s mother on my payroll. She’s to get the best care there and... the money will slowly be taken from Adrian’s salary," Alexander commanded.

"No one must trace the payment to me. Let it seem like a hospital grant or anonymous donor." Alexander added.

Marcus nodded, "Immediately, boss." He said.

"Then, if that’s all –"

"I’m sorry to interrupt, boss... but that’s not all... far from it," Marcus’s voice turned serious as he looked up at Alexander.

Alexander felt the shift in conversation and lifted his face to Marcus, "What’s that, Marcus?" He asked in a low tone.

Marcus cleared his throat and turned the screen to Alexander once more.

Alexander frowned as he stared at a series of dates, figures, and bank addresses that were running up the screen.

"And... what are those?" He questioned, raising his eyes to Marcus.

There are numerous bank addresses that Mr. Cole has used to make payments and take loans from some illegal organisations. Gambling, drugs, sex, even... theft," Marcus explained.

Alexander’s jaw tightened, and he slowly stood from his chair, an invisible dark cloud hovering over his head, "That is not Adrian. He would never do such a thing. You’d better have an explanation for that." His voice dropped dangerously low and defensive.

He defended Adrian without thinking twice and he’d do it again.

If there was anything his secretary was good at, it was tripping on his own feet. He was too clumsy to get involved with things as serious as what Marcus had stated. There had to be some explanation.

"Yes, boss. You’re very correct. It’s not Mr. Cole," Marcus said.

Alexander unclenched his fists, releasing a quiet sigh. For a second, the thought I changing the way he viewed Adrian scared him. He didn’t want Adrian to be guilty, he suddenly couldn’t stand the thought of seeing him as a criminal... viewing him as his clumsy, alluring secretary was just perfect.

"The details on the records show that the person used Adrian’s name as a cover-up. I’d say quite a messy cover-up since I easily traced the real sender’s bank address and found a Jonas Doey. However, this proves nothing, if any charges are pressed, Mr. Cole goes in for it... not everyone can uncover the Jonas Doey mystery as fast as I did," He said, looking up at Alexander’s stormy face.

Alexander was brewing with rage. If there was anything he hated the most, it was cheating, blackmailing. And that Jonas Doey was doing exactly that to his Adrian.

Veins popped out from the sides of his head as he tried to school his anger, but the more he tried, the angrier he became.

"What do you suggest we do?" Alexander asked.

"We can pay off the debt and get Mr. Cole out of trouble with the loan sharks -"

"I’m not paying a dime on behalf of some unknown criminal. Mr. Cole isn’t guilty, he shouldn’t be paying for what he didn’t do," Alexander stated firmly.

"Yes, of course, boss. Then, I will look into Jonas Doey and have him confess... that’s the only way out for our man..." he trailed off and cleared his throat as he saw the sharp look Alexander gave him, "Your man..." he stood, bowing slightly.

"You do that. You can go," he dismissed.

Marcus nodded and left the office.

"Fucking Jonas," Alexander muttered, teeth clenched.

He heard a noise outside his door and suddenly got excited: Adrian was here.

His legs moved, carrying him toward the door, as he reached for the panel, he paused, his hand hanging between the door and himself.

"What am I doing? Where am I going?" He murmured, frowning at the door.

He looked back at his desk and shut his eyes for a few seconds, "I’m calling my secretary to order." He murmured, nodded, and faced the door.

Without waiting for a thought to stop him, he pulled his door open and marched out of the office.

No Adrian.

He frowned at the empty desk in front of him, "He’s not here."

He looked around and only saw other employees trooping in, already looking beat without having done anything.

"Good morning, sir," Gina greeted as she approached Alexander.

"Where’s Mr. Cole?" He questioned almost desperately... almost.

"Oh..." Gina glanced around with a creased forehead as she couldn’t find him, "Um, I think his is not-ah, there he is." She pointed Alexander to the opening elevator and quietly walked away.

Alexander’s eyes instantly lifted from Gina and toward the elevator.

There, he saw Athena and Jacob each standing by the side of someone wearing a grey hoodie with their face partially covered.

He furrowed his brows as he immediately recognised the person in the hoodie as Adrian. The attire immediately drew not only his attention, but everyone’s attention.

He could see how everyone turned to see the person who had decided to dress unprofessionally today, and it was none other than his secretary, Adrian Cole.

His curiosity grew just as his pulse grew with each step Adrian took closer to him.

’Why am I suddenly nervous? Are the roles reversed?’ He cleared his throat and was about to get into his office when something caught his eye and he paused and glared.

Jacob had made Adrian stop in the middle of the office, his hand gently holding Adrian’s waist as he peered into his hooded face and whispered something to his ear.

What annoyed him more? Adrian’s comfort.

He thought he had made it clear to stay away from any distractions? So what was he looking at?

He kept watching as Adrian slowly nodded and turned away from Jacob and Athena.

This time, he didn’t try to look away, he made sure Adrian realised he’d been watching, that he’d been staring and observing.

The moment he looked into Adrian’s eyes, something clicked within him; his earlier anger(jealousy) disappeared, replaced by another kind of anger, a vengeful anger.

Adrian’s eyes were so red and puffed like he’d cried for three days straight, his face was covered, but Alexander could sense Adrian’s heavy sadness from where he stood.

The need to know what happened was eating at him like the devil’s guilt, he needed to know what dimmed that nervous excitement from his secretary’s eyes.

On the other side, Adrian saw Alexander and immediately lowered his face to the floor, walking slowly toward his desk.

He didn’t want him to see his state.

He had planned to wait till Alexander showed up for work so he could ask for that loan, but it turned out Alexander was a bit earlier than usual; it caught him off guard, but it was a good thing he was available because, he needed some money urgently.

He approached Alexander’s and inhaled quietly, "Good morning –"

"I’m in my office, Mr. Cole," Alexander said and immediately turned away.

Adrian gently bit his lip, his heart racing slightly from nervousness, fear, and a little bit of excitement.

He tugged his hood, covering the sides of his face, and walked into the office.

"Good morning, boss," He greeted in a quiet voice as he closed the door but suddenly gasped as he turned and found Alexander standing in front of him.

"Adrian Cole," Alexander called lowly, placing a foot between Adrian’s feet and a hand by the side of his head on the door.

Adrian pressed his back to the door and lowered his face. He was in no way prepared for such a welcome, his blood pumped faster, his skin hotter, and his breath turned faster.

"Boss, do you need me for something?" Adrian asked quietly, internally tired of putting up a fight or trying for an escape.

He knew Alexander would eventually back off, or not.

His eyes widened as he saw Alexander’s hand coming up to his waist, but, the hand dropped back to Alexander’s side before it could reach him.

Alexander sighed, "Eyes up, Mr. Cole." He ordered quietly and softly.

Adrjan balled his fists, he couldn’t look at Alexander, at least not this up close.

Alexander chuckled lowly, "That’s my answer. The hoodie is not just fashion, you’re hiding something." He murmured, his hand on the door slowly coming down to Adrian’s shoulder, sneaking behind his head.

Adrian gulped, shaking his lowered head, "I’m not, boss." His voice was uncharacteristically calm.

Alexander hummed, "You’ve not stuttered once, Mr. Cole, no nervous shaking, tapping of your feet, or testing your fingers. You’re surprisingly... calm. You’re hiding something." He analysed.

Adrian clenched his jaw, he hated the way Alexander was always too good at analysing people like some product design.

"I’m not–no," Adrian tried to grab his hood when he suddenly felt Alexander pulling it behind his head, but it was too late, his face had been exposed.

"What the fuck?" Alexander was seething in anger as he stared at the purplish bruises all over Adrian’s face and neck.

His mission blurred as rage threatened to blind him, his breaths turning into angry huffs and his hands balling into tight fists.

Adrian’s heart was beating loudly. He knew there was no way he was keeping his job now. Alexander almost fired him when he saw a scratch on his wrist, and now, this... he was done for.

His breath quickened as he felt a finger under his chin, his face slowly tilting up to look at his boss.

He gulped, expecting to see rage, disappointment, disgust.

But the movement of his scared grey eyes looked into Alexander’s blue ones, and he was shocked at what he saw.

He did see rage. Raw, unbridled rage, but for some reason, it wasn’t directed at him.

"Boss, I can ex –"

"The loan sharks did this, didn’t they?" Alexander’s deadly, cold voice asked menacingly, his eyes daring Adrian to lie to him.

Adrian froze, his knees weakening in defeat, "You... you know?" he whispered shakily, his lips parted slightly and trembling.