CHAPTER 35: 35: OFFICE SEDUCTION?

"Actually... I lied," Adrian shifted on the car seat, tracing his fingers along the seat belt.

Alexander frowned, narrowing his eyes at Adrian, "Mr. Cole, you expect me to believe that you miraculously gave a criminal accurate details concerning my wealth? And Chloe? What does she have to do with all this? How did she learn about it, too?" He questioned seriously.

He needed to know the truth because the moment he drove his car out of that venue, it would be over for Choie.

Adrian cleared his throat, "Boss, sir... I lied –"

"Stop messing with me!" Alexander slammed his hand on the arm of Adrian’s seat, locking his angry gaze on him.

Adrian froze, clenching and unclenching his fists as nervousness slowly snuck into his body.

"Do not test my patience, Mr. Cole. I might as well drop you off at the precinct –"

"I saw it myself," Adrian blurted out, blinking rapidly.

His hands were tapping his thighs, and his eyes were anxiously roaming Alexander’s face.

"What did you say?" Alexander asked, his voice low and eyes observing.

Adrian nodded, "Yes, boss. I discovered the account myself. I just used Chloe as bait so the criminal would leave us alone. It was all me, boss." He confessed.

Alexander’s fists clenched tightly, the veins in his rolled up sleeves popping a he clenched his hands tighter.

"You do realise that your confession can lead you to many years in prison, right? So, who are you really? A spy sent to wreck me? Are you working undercover for Sebastian? Is that why you’re so close to him –"

"No. Boss, no," Adrian lowered his eyes to Alexander’s clenched fists and noted how very dangerous... and sexy he looked at the moment.

But he had to be careful, or Alexander might really lock him up behind bars.

"Yes, I know my confession can lead to many years in prison, but, you misunderstood me," Adrian removed his seat belt and leaned closer to Alexander so he could look right into his eyes.

"It was my first day of work, I walked into your office, but you were absent. I just wanted to drop the design you requested and leave, but then, I saw some data running on your screen..." he sighed.

"I thought it was work-related and decided to take a look so I could be of use when you wanted to talk about it. But, then, when I saw the figures, addresses, allocations... I knew I had seen something I wasn’t supposed to see. I left, and that was it," Adrian spoke calmly, holding Alexander’s gaze with his.

"I’m not working undercover for Mr. Vale, or anyone at all. I’m just your secretary, who wants to make a living," he said quietly.

Alexander remained calm, his face not giving away anything. He just stared at Adrian, observing him to see if he was lying.

Without saying a word, he drew back and strapped on his seat belt, then he drove them out of the place, hitting the highway.

Adrian was confused.

He expected Alexander’s wrath, not his silence. It was worse.

He sighed quietly and stared out of the window, watching the lights pass by in a blur.

Alexander glanced at Adrian and found him sleeping. He returned hud eyes to the road, his fingers gripping the steering wheel.

’Why did I kiss him?’ He shook his head, ’Fuck,’ he glanced at Adrian again wondered if he was thinking if it was just as much as he was.

It was... different, like nothing he’d ever felt.

Was it because Adrian was a man? Was it disgust disguised as this strong, unknown pull in his chest?

He shook his head, inhaling deeply.

It meant nothing, he was just helping his very talented secretary stay alive because he needed him... for business of course.

It would be a waste to let Adrian die when he could still offer so much to the growth of Alexander’s business.

It was just like a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Not a hot, bone-melting, heart-pumping kiss. Yeah, not that.

’I shouldn’t have kissed him,’ he frowned.

He was regretting it, but, deep down, he knew his regret wasn’t for kissing Adrian, it was for something far more dangerous, something he feared might happen if he dared to listen to that very negligible voice at the back of his head.

He slowed and parked the car as he arrived in front of Adrian’s apartment.

Slowly, he took a deep breath and turned to Adrian.

"Mr. Cole," he called quietly.

Adrian didn’t move, he kept sleeping peacefully with his head resting on the headrest, and his lips slightly parted.

Alexander opened his mouth to call Adrian again but paused.

He stared at Adrian’s exhausted figure and stared out of the window at the apartment.

Who knows if those people who hit him the previous night were already waiting at his doorstep?

Sending him up would be sending him right to the hands of those criminals.

A thought popped into Alexander’s mind and he turned to Adrian, "I guess I’d have to really tie you, Adrian." He murmured and sighed.

Adrian furrowed his brow when he felt the cool leather beneath him.

His bed wasn’t leather.

’Shit! I slept off on the way home!’ He thought.

He remained calm, hoping it hadn’t been so long since they arrived at his apartment.

’Why not wake me up?!’

He would slowly open his eyes and pretend like he was just resting his head. Yeah, that would totally full Alexander.

"You have forty minutes to get to work, Mr. Cole," Alexander’s deep voice said beside Adrian.

Adrian froze for two reasons. First, Alexander’s voice sounded so sexy and deep, like those groggy morning voice...

’Wait... sexy morning voice? Forty minutes to get to work?’

"Morning?!" Adrian suddenly gasped and snapped his eyes open.

"Shit," he murmured as he was met with the roof of Alexander’s car.

He dreadfully realised that Alexander might have lowered his seat, so he slept comfortably. That was so worse and embarrassing.

"That’s one way to wake up, Mr. Cole. You have thrity-seven minutes to get to work," Alexander said, watching Adrian’s cheeks and ears turn a bright red.

Adrian sat up, facing the window as hebwa stoo shy to face his boss, "Good morning, boss. I’m so sorry for my attitude, I never meant to sleep in your car. It was a huge mistake-ah!" He shrieked and hugged his backpack to himself as Alexander suddenly leaned over him.

His heart hammered strongly in his heart as he felt Alexander press closer. The warmth of his body and the scent of his cologne threatened to immobilise Adrian.

"Go get ready for work. Madam Li Xueyi would expect to see you," Alexander commanded lowly, stretched his hand past Adrian, and pushed the door open.

"Get out," He said and leaned away.

Adrian exhaled shakily and scrambled out of the car, almost losing his footings.

He still didn’t look at Alexander, just clutched his backpack, pushed the close, and walked away.

"Fuck," Alexander muttered, rubbing his eyes.

He groaned tiredly, shutting his eyes and gentky hitting the back of his head on the headrest.

He glanced to his side just to find that Adrian had disappeared into the apartment.

With a sigh, he drove away.

---

Adrian stepped into the office and walked straight to his desk.

He was in no mood for interacting with anyone, all he wanted was a way to pay his debts.

As he placed his bag down, he wondered why Alexander could pay off the huge amount Sebastian used used fir hiring hints am escort, and even paid a compensation fee to Mr. Chen, yet, he couldn’t help him with the loan.

Was Alexander just out to make his life gell? Flaunting his wealth in front of him but never helping him with it? Okay, he did pay the medical bills.

But Adrian couldn’t understand he refused paying the loan sharks. It was a loan, not a charity. At least owing Alexander was better, he wasn’t going to send gangs to heat him up.

’Wouldn’t he?’ He sighed and touched his cheek.

He was glad his purple bruises were almost gone as he stared at the mirror before leaving the house. It would really have given Xueyi a wrong impression.

He heard the elevator opening and glanced up to swe Athena walking out of it.

He wanted to look away but it was too late, he had already jammed hmeyes with her.

"Good morning, Adrian. You look better today," Athena greeted, smiling.

Adrian stared into her warm Hazel eyes and returned her smile, "Good morning, Athena. Came in alone?" He questioned.

Athena rolled her eyes, "My cousin is so slow, so I levt him. I can’t risk my job for lazy Jacob." She shrugged.

Adrian nodded, "he is a sleeper." He chuckled.

"I heard Madam Li Xueyi us coming to our office this morning. It must be some big partnership with the boss. You must know, right? What’s their deal?" She leaned in to whisper.

Adrian paused, his mind going back to the event of the day.

"Uh, yes, I heard so, too. I’ll go check if the biss needs something. Have a nice day," he told her and turned away.

Athena scoffed, "In Devereux Autos? As if." She murmured and walked away.

Adrian knocked on Alexander’s door and waited.

He furrowed his brow as he normally got an immediate response from the boss.

He wondered if Alexander was in yet.

He knocked again, frowning.

"Come in," Alexander spoke from behind.

Adrian took a deep breath to steady himself.

’Forget the kiss. Forget the sleeping in the car incident. Forget your feelings. It’s work, work, and work,’ he nodded firmly and pushed the door in.

’Nope! Remember them all. Remember every fucking detail of every fucking event,’ Adrian gulped as his eyes landed on Alexander’s unbuttered chest and semi wet hair.

"Grab me my tie, Mr. Cole," Alexander leaned against the door of his private room, pointing at the tie on the sofa but locking his eyes on Adrian’s face.

Adrian didn’t reply or move. He knew he should move, or speak, but his damned brain was commanding his entire being to gawk at his boss’s sexy, exposed upper body.

"Adrian," Alexander called, a hint of knowing in his voice, "You look like you want to lick your tongue over my abs." His voice dropped to a low timbre as he slowly stepped closer to Adrian.

Adrian didn’t blink, "Yes, I..." he paused when he realised what he was about to say.

He cleared his throat and forced his eyes up to meet Alexander’s approaching face.

He shook his head, "I... I meant, yes, I would like to give you the tie," he chuckled nervously and slid to the sofa to pick up the tie.

"H-here," he stammered as he raised the tie to Alexander, looking away in another direction.

Alexander didn’t intend to, but somehow, he found himself enjoying teasing his clumsy secretary.

"Fix it," Alexander commanded.

Adrian choked on his saliva, coughing loudly and putting his chest. He lifted his watery, red eyes to Alexander’s and sniffled, "Ah, ahem... You mean to fix it on you?" He asked slowly, staring at the still unbuttoned shirt Alexander wore.

Alexander’s face remained unreadable, "We don’t have time, Mr. Cole. Button up my shirt, fix my tie, and grab my suit from the private room... I forgot it." He ordered flatly.

Adrian smiled anxiously, "O-of course. Yeah, sure... I’ll just, ahem... Button up, first." He said shakily as he faced Alexander, his eyes falling on the loose waistband.

’Shit! If this isn’t seduction, I don’t know what is,’ he gulped as his shaky fingers lifted to start buttoning from the last button.

He only managed to fix two buttons when Alexander’s bigger hands closed over his, stopping him.

He panicked, not quite fear, but something that attacked his body just the way fear would.

.

"You’re shaking. Is it because I kissed you?" Alexander questioned lowly.

"Huh?!" Adrian snapped his widened eyes up, gazing into Alexander’s calm, blue eyes that were waiting for his answer.

Never did he expect the boss to ever bring up that kiss. But he did.

Why?