CHAPTER 32: 32: THE GALA OBSESSION

The door to his bedroom slowly opened behind him as he finished his last button on his black shirt.

He paused, gritting his teeth when the sweet, annoying perfume filtered into his nose.

The door closed, and the heels started clicking on the floor as they walked toward him.

A lot of things vexed him at that moment, he had no idea where to start.

"You’re really asking for that restraining order, aren’t you?" Alexander slowly turned, facing the person behind him with cold, menacing eyes.

Chloe blinked slowly, shaking her head, "Alexander, hear me out. I... I know we’re not in the best feelings to speak to each other, but I just –"

"What the fuck are you even doing in my room? You’re trespassing now, too?" Alexander took a daring step forward, causing Chloe to take a scared one back.

Chloe gulped, wiping her sweaty palms on her silky dress, "N-no, Alexander. Please, just hear me out. What happened in your office was a silly mistake, it’s not enough to sever our love, to keep the only woman who loves you away from –"

"Get out!" Alexander barked, breathing slowly in serp anger.

Chloe shuddered from the unexpected outburst, her heels twisting slightly as she tried to steady herself.

"A-Alex–

"Get out!!!" Alexander growled, veins popping out from the sides of his head.

"O-okay, I’m leaving, I’m leaving," Chloe stammered, her eyes red and brimming with tears.

She spun around and ran out of the room, her heart more broken than it was before she decided to meet Alexander.

Alexander huffed, raking his fingers through his hair as he undid the first three buttons of his shirt to cool his heated skin.

"Damn," He muttered, clenching his fists.

He just realised that Chloe wasn’t even the reason for his anger. It was Adrian.

His whole mood was sour because he knew Sebastian had Adrian and only knew what they might be doing at that moment.

"Marcus," he called his chief security officer.

"Good evening, boss," Marcus sounded calm, awaiting orders.

"Send me Mr. Cole’s location. Now." He ordered coldly.

"Boss, he’s already at the Expo venue... with Mr. Vale," Marcus informed.

Alexander’s face hardened, visible veins lining his hand as his grip tightened on the phone.

"Of course," He ended the call and stared emptily at the wall in front of him.

"Then, let’s get to this event," He muttered and strode out of his room.

Outside, Lawrence was ready, standing beside the open door of Sebastian’s latest car.

"Sir, Ms. Chloe is standing right over there. Shall I –"

"Drive," Alexander cut him off and slammed his door shut.

Lawrence gulped and nodded, "Of course, sir." He gulped and hurried to get in the car.

"Marcus will drive her," Alexander said as the car slowly drove away from his compound.

"Yes, sir," Lawrence nodded and immediately sent a text to Marcus.

Behind the car, Alexander was uneasy, he kept tapping his foot and adjusting his position, imagining the smugness of Sebastian’s face when he met him tonight was already annoying the hell out of him.

He didn’t care about Sebastian, all he cared about was his little, disobedient secretary.

Slowly, the car came to a stop in front of a lavish hotel and Alexander got out of the car before Lawrence could even take his hands off the steering wheel.

However, the moment he stepped out of the car, the paparazzi’s cameras threatened to blind him as he rushed into the room and one even succeeded in running towards him if not for the professional security guards securing the area.

"Please, stay away, miss. Contacts are not allowed," the security guard blocked the petite reporter.

"Please, I just want Mr. Devereux to tell me if he’s really married!" The woman shouted.

Alexander almost stopped, but, well, he didn’t, because this wasn’t the first time he was faced with a crazy reporter, who would go to any length to find any information on him.

As he marched into the luxurious hall, he wondered who gave the paparazzi information about his marriage.

The only person he could think of was Adrienne. He always knew she wanted to make the marriage public so that when she would ask for a divorce, everyone would support her inheritance.

"Good evening, Mr. Devereux," An older man in a black suit greeted Alexander, giving him a firm shake.

The chandeliers glittered like shattered stars above him, their reflections rippling over the glass floor. Perfume, champagne, and camera flashes clashed in the air — all noise, all irritation.

Alexander cleared his throat and forced his mind to his surroundings.

He focused on the man in front of him and gave a polite nod, "Good evening, Mr. Vincent. It’s a pleasure to meet you tonight." He replied.

Mr. Vincent smiled, "Yes, I heard you’d be here tonight and I brought my daughter to meet you. She is one the the reasons why I partner with you. She loves your cars more than she loves me," He chuckled.

Alexander cleared his throat, "Oh, really?" He asked, trying to focus on their conversation.

"Yes, in fact," he paused and turned to the side.

"Nolan," he called a beautiful, young woman with black long hair and a beautiful green, modest gown, who was chatting with another group of ladies.

Nolan turned, a warm smile gracing her lips and green eyes as she saw his father.

"Yes, father," She answered and said something to her friends before walking over to her father.

Alexander wasn’t paying attention to any of the details, his eyes were busy raking the hall for any bruised secretary and a smug billionaire idiot.

He was yet to find them, but one thing was certain, he was taking Adrian with him tonight, willing or woth coercion.

"Good evening, Mr. Devereux," Nolan’s gentle voice pulled Alexander back to the people in front of him.

"Hello, Ms. Vincent. Pleasure to meet you," Alexander greeted politely, shaking her hands gently while still glancing around the hall.

"Mr. Devereux, you seem a little distracted tonight. Is everything alright –"

"Nolan," Mr. Vincent held his daughter’s hand and shook his head at him.

"No, father, he seems disturbed and I need to help him before he walks up the stage. Stress and presentation shouldn’t go together," she said quietly, holding Alexander’s hand.

Alexander paused, taking his time to look at the beautiful woman in front of him. He knew when a woman wanted him, and Nolan, didn’t want him.

He smiled, "Thanks for your care, Ms Nolan. Actually, yes, you can help me. I heard you’re a big fan of my cars." He stated, watching her face light up at the recognition.

"Yes! Yes, Mr. Devereux. In fact, I test drive every single car my father purchased from you every single time. It’s...so...lit," She giggled, almost jumping in excitement.

Mr. Vincent cleared his throat, "Nolan, let’s not scare Mr. Devereux –"

"It’s alright, Mr. Vincent. I love girls who love cars," he winked at Nolan, who blushed not because of his wink, but because he recognised that she loved cars.

"Thank you, Mr. Devereux. This is like a dream come true. And your latest models, they are so legit, dope. I can’t for my father to purchase them," she gushed in excitement, smiling widely.

Alexander smirked, "Well, I’d love to take the credit for my latest models over the past five months, but, the truth is..." he leaned down to her ear and whispered, "I’ve hit a pretty good secretary who’s just as good as I am... if not better." He told her.

Nolan gasped, "What? Better than you? No way!"

"Yes, way, Ms. Vincent. Here," Alexander pulled his phone and showed a photo of Adrian with his pen between his lips as he concentrated on a design on his desk.

Alexander didn’t have to explain how he got the picture, the fact was, he had the picture.

Nolan stared at the picture and Alexander was starting to think, ’maybe I shouldn’t have shown her.’

"Him? The cute, handsome nerd with adorable eyeglasses and a pen in his mouth? Yes, sir... I like –"

"What I meant is... help me find him in this hall, and I’ll let you tour my office and, maybe, visit my showroom –"

"Game on, Mr. Devereux. See you later Dads," she waved at her father and left without another word.

Mr. Vincent chuckled nervously, "Mr. Devereux, um, about my daughter, she is quite –"

"Perfect, Mr. Vincent. She’s perfect. Excuse me," Alexander patted Mr. Vincent’s shoulder and walked away toward the stage.

As he was getting close to the stage, he paused, his eyes landing on the very person he’d been searching for all day.

Adrian stood there, looking all radiant, alluring, and confused as Nolan gushed around him, chatting probably about cars or something weird.

A movement caught his eyes, and his blood ran cold as Sebastian walked over to Adrain with two glasses in his hands.

He was about to deviate when he heard his name echoed by the MC.

"Mr. Alexander Devereux!"

The MC’s voice thundered across the ballroom, snapping his thoughts back to reality. A spotlight hit him squarely, casting sharp shadows over his face. The crowd turned, clapping — cameras lifted.

Alexander schooled his expression into calm professionalism and began walking toward the stage, each step measured despite the chaos simmering beneath his skin.

But as he passed Adrian, he didn’t miss the look — that tiny flicker in those grey eyes that darted to him before nervously shifting away. Sebastian’s hand brushed Adrian’s shoulder as he leaned in to whisper something, and Alexander’s pulse spiked like a detonator.

The MC smiled as Alexander reached the microphone.

"Mr. Devereux, it’s an honour to have the man behind the most innovative luxury designs of the year."

Alexander took the mic. "The honour’s mine," he said smoothly. His voice was even — too even.

He glanced at the crowd, but his gaze inevitably found him again — Adrian, laughing faintly at something Sebastian said.

His knuckles whitened around the microphone.

"...We don’t build cars," he continued, tone darkening. "We build desire. Power. The kind that demands attention — and obedience."

A ripple of confused laughter followed, but Adrian froze where he stood.

Alexander’s eyes were locked on him.