CHAPTER 30: 30: THE UNKNOWN STALKER

Alexander’s sudden proximity was intoxicating and terrifying, especially when coupled with the unexpected relief and chaos of the hospital bill being cleared. Adrian’s senses were overwhelmed; the rich scent of Alexander’s cologne, the heat radiating from his body, and the dark accusation rumbling beside his ear.

"I told you to stay away from Jacob, didn’t I?" Alexander repeated, his breath stirring the fine hairs at Adrian’s temple. "He was touching you this morning. Gently holding your waist as if he had the right. Did you forget the terms of your employment, Mr. Cole? No distracting PDAs, yet, you publicly displayed your affection towards each other."

"Boss, I didn’t. You misunderstood," he murmured.

"Did I now?" Alexander questioned calmly.

Adrian nodded, "Yes, boss –"

"You’re saying, that if I, Alexander Devereux, hold you this way..." he paused, his hand slowly cupping the side of Adrian’s waist, a little more possessive than he intended, "Then it means nothing?" He whispered beside Adrian’s face.

Adrian forced himself to remain still, the panic and excitement in his chest a sickening flutter.

How does he answer?

Yes? It would cause his job.

No? It would give Alexander more reasons to suspect Jacon and himself.

He couldn’t afford another argument, another outburst that might jeopardise the one good thing Alexander had just done.

"It was nothing, boss," Adrian murmured, his voice strained. "He was just trying to help me with the backpack. I told him I was feeling dizzy."

Alexander chuckled—a low, humourless sound. "Dizzy from those bruises, no doubt. Your clumsiness is a danger to yourself and a distraction to my entire staff. We need to contain the damage."

He pulled back, his hand firmly gripping Adrian’s shoulder, turning him to face him.

"You are going to my penthouse, now," Alexander commanded, his voice sharp and final. "You will not go to your apartment where Jonas Doey or his goons can find you. You will not go to the hospital. You will go to my apartment, where there is adequate security and I can keep an eye on you."

He took out his wallet and placed a key card and thick wad of cash—far more than Adrian needed—in Adrian’s hand.

"This is for your entrance and immediate needs. Food, clothes, whatever you require. Now, go. You are not returning until those bruises are gone and you can behave like a professional, alert secretary, not a thug’s punching bag, or a damsel in distress waiting for someone to steady him when he gets dizzy,"

"But, boss, why?" Adrian asked, his eyes darting from the things in his hands to Alexander’s unreadable face.

"Because, I’m a businessman, and, I don’t lose a valuable asset when I see one. Madam Li Xueyi advised me to keep you, and I’m doing just that. Now."

Alexander opened the office door for Adrian, sending a clear signal of dismissal.

Adrian, seeing his desperate need to leave the office colliding with Alexander’s absolute command, gave a stiff nod. The penthouse meant risk, but safety from Jonas’s impending visit tonight.

"Yes, sir," Adrian said, pushing through the door and making a beeline for the private elevator, the thick wad of cash in his hand feeling both like a lifeline and a chain.

In the elevator, he quickly put the mo eyes in his backpack and sighed, resting his back against the elevator’s wall and closing his eyes.

"Oh, god," he muttered.

"What do I do? How do I get about the loan sharks?" He sighed heavily, his eyes still closed.

"I wish I could still work as Adrienne..." he suddenly paused and snapped his eyes open, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Adrienne might be out of business, but Adrian wasn’t," He chuckled.

As he left the Devereux Autos company, he knew exactly where he was headed for the day...and night.

’Sorry, Alexander, you’re not the boss of me outside your company building. I’m my own man,’ he thought as he glanced one last time at the building before slipping into a taxi and driving away.

After a few minutes, Adrian alighted in front of Maison Nocturne and hurried into the building in a sprint.

What he did not know, was that a certain someone, in a certain car had been following him. And that someone was now tracing his steps.

"Good morning, Jane. Is Mr. Archen in?" He asked the chubby receptionist, panting.

"Oh, hello, Adrian. It’s been a long time, have you been well?" Jane asked kindly.

Adrian nodded, "Yes, Jane. Thank you for asking." He smiled at her.

"Are you sure?" Jane asked gently, slowly scanning her eyes over Adrian’s bruised face.

Adrian shifted uncomfortably, darting his eyes away from her, "Just tell me if Mr. Archen is in or not. It’s kinda urgent." He cleared his throat.

Jane nodded, "He’s in. Just a little busy with a –"

"Thank you," Adrian gave her a thumbs up and hurried toward the elevator.

As he left, his stalker unhurriedly strode over to the receptionist, eyes set with determination.

Upstairs, Adrian stood in front of Mr. Archen’s office and tapped his foot anxiously.

He knew he was with a customer and didn’t like to get disturbed when he was working.

He paced, his backpack hanging on one of his shoulders.

"Cone on, come on, come on... hurry you, Mr. Archen," he muttered, glancing at the closed door.

After five minutes, the door in front of him was finally unlocked.

"Yes." He whispered.

"Hello," A woman greeted politely as age walked out of the office.

"Bye," Adrian barely murmured as he slid through the closing door and into the office.

"Ah, Adrian Cole. What a surprise," Mr. Archen smiled as Adrian walked into his exotic office.

Red sofas, suggestive paintings on the walls, a few mini naked sculptures on his black desk, and, a picture of his naked wife, right behind him: art, he calls it.

But none of those were Adrian’s concern. He was here for a purpose, and nothing was going to stop him from achieving it.

"Good morning, Mr. Archen," he slowly approached the desk, forming how he was going to present his problems in his head.

"Sit, Adrian, please," Mr. Archen pointed to the chair in front of his desk.

Adrian nodded and lowered himself on it, clearing his throat.

"Sir, I was wondering –"

"I was also wondering why you’ve not checked in for nightly works ever since your time with Mr. Devereux," Mr. Archen stood and grabbed a bottle of wine and a glass from his mini bar, slowly turning to look at Adrian.

Adrian gulped quietly, he couldn’t tell Mr. Archen the nature of the agreement between him and Alexander. He’d sound crazy and Mr. Archen wouldn’t believe.

"Well, I’ve been busy, sir," Adrian inhaled, calming his nerves so he doesn’t seem desperate in his actions or words.

"I understand. Mr. Devereux did mention he needed you for a few weeks. Well, now that you’re back... right at the perfect moment, I don’t need to send you an email anymore. I’ll just speak directly to you," Mr. Archen smiled, walking back to lower himself on his chair.

"I would like to ask about what, sir, but, you see, I have some serious issues I need to salvage with money. So..." he cleared his throat and pulled his chair closer to the desk.

"I was wondering if there is any empty spot for an escort... as Adrian," he spoke calmly, his fingers gazing at his knees behind the table.

He watched with controlled impatience as Mr. Archen casually sipped his wine, savouring the taste in his mouth.

He waited, knowing that the man had heard him clearly the first time. Repeating it might just make him seem desperate, which was exactly what he was avoiding.

Mr. Archen sighed quietly, "Well, you’ve just made it easier, my boy." He chuckled and gulped his drink in one go.

Adrian raised a confused brow, unable to understand where Mr. Archen was heading with his words.

He was in no mood for word tricks, all he wanted was a simple, direct answer.

"I don’t understand, sir," Adrian adjusted on the chair, his eyes staring at Mr. Archen with curiosity.

Mr. Archen slowly nodded, "Here’s what." He pushed his bottle of wine aside and placed his elbow on the desk.

Adrian was attentive, waiting to hear what Mr. Archen had been on about since he entered the office.

"I was thinking of calling you back to work because a lot of your clients, well, Adrienne’s clients have been calling in and we’re all disappointed when I told them you weren’t available," Mr. Archen started.

"Oh... I’m sorry about that. But, I’m not here for Adrienne. She... she won’t be working as an escort for a very long time," Adrian cleared his throat.

"It’s okay... she’s not the one we need," Mr. Archen smirked.

"It’s Adrian we need," Hevsaud, his tone turning serious.

"Huh? But... I’ve never put out my real profile–"

"I did. And for over a week, you’ve been getting quite a good amount of attention, almost the same as Adrienne... but –"

"Thank you so much, sir. I really appreciate the thought. Yes, I’m ready to pick from one of the clients. I won’t be picky this time, it’s Adrienne’s style," he chuckled nervously, already too eager to make a night plan with his clients.

"Oh, but, just now, six minutes ago, someone, the highest bidder has booked you for... a week, and, he chose the ’general’ category. Which means..." he trailed off, watching Adrian’s confused face.

"I get to be whatever they want me to be..." he murmured in realisation.

He never accepted the ’general’ category. Only creeps chose that because, that way, they get to ask you for anything... anything at all.

And, the binding contract to the company made it clear that if such a case should happen, then... customers are always right. After all, that category pays a load sum of money.

Adrian sighed. Mr. Archen had already accepted the offer, and it wanst like he had any other choice.

"I’ll take it," He nodded firmly, at least, whoever it was wasn’t going to beat him to pull like the loan sharks would have done tonight.

"Good thinking, like always, Adrian." Mr. Archen smiled.

"What is this person’s name, where is his address, and what time do we meet?" Adrian asked directly, not wanting to waste any more time.

Mr. Archen casually poured himself another drink, "It’s a he. All other questions will be answered by him when you meet him downstairs. Be good, Adrian, he spent quite a lot." He said and gently pointed to the door.

Adrian knew that their conversation was over. After all, the earlier he got downstairs, the earlier he saw the mystery client.

"Thank you, sir," he nodded and stood, quietly leaving the office.

As he stood in the descending elevator, a thought suddenly bombarded his mind.

"Alexander," he gasped.

How could he not think fast? This was the same mysterious way they met for the first time.

"Oh, no..." he panicked quietly, frowning.

This could only mean one thing. Alexander had followed him all the way here, and to prove to him that he knew of his disobedience, he had used his money to buy his time... just like he did the first time.

But, guess what? Adrian suddenly didn’t care.

He knew for a fact that Alexander still didn’t know he was Adrienne, this was just a case of disciplining his secretary which Adrian was about to let Alexander understand that he had no control over what he did with his life outside the company.

The elevator opened slowly and Adrian inhaled shakily, gathering his nerve to face his overbearing boss.

However, as the elevator doors parted. Adrian froze. He wasn’t ready for who he saw.

Adrian’s eyes widened in disbelief as he realised that he had been preparing for the wrong opponent, and had been caught off guard.

"Hello, Sugar, I’ll be your chauffeur for the day," Sebastian smirked, giving a shocked Adrian a sexy wink.