CHAPTER 50: 50: A SERPENT IN THE SUPERMARKET

Alexander flinched at the echoing thud of the car door. He watched Adrian stride toward the mall entrance, his back rigid with fury.

"Shit... I’m losing it," Alexander muttered, dragging a hand down his face. His reaction had been instantaneous, irrational, and completely driven by that sharp, sickening twist in his gut when Adrian’s phone flashed with the name Ruiyan.

It wasn’t professional anger; it was raw, blinding jealousy.

He had planned this trip to the mall to kill time, to observe Adrian, to perhaps regain some of the control the secretary had effortlessly stripped from him in his office. Instead, he’d simply exposed another weakness.

’What is wrong with me?’ The question hammered at his skull. He had called Adrian "beneath average" and "clumsy," yet here he was, acting like a teenager over a phone call, consumed by the simple fact that Adrian had a life—and possibly a relationship—outside of their toxic dynamic.

He threw open his own door and stepped out, adjusting his suit jacket, forcing his features back into the stone mask of the CEO. He needed to reassert control, and fast.

Adrian was waiting just inside the mall doors, arms crossed, tapping his foot. His previous mask of "utmost efficiency" was already cracking, replaced by simmering rage.

"You have no right to forbid me from visiting a friend, boss," Adrian said the moment Alexander reached him, his voice tight with controlled volume. "I am your secretary, not your prisoner."

"You are under my contract, and you are currently driving my car and conducting my errands," Alexander countered, his voice low and dangerously smooth, ensuring no bystanders overheard the argument. "Any personal engagements must be approved by me. And the answer is no. Now, Angelica is running low on vegetables for the week. Let’s move, Mr. Cole."

Alexander started walking, expecting Adrian to fall into step behind him like a good employee.

Adrian didn’t move. "I need to check my schedule. My job is to manage your appointments, not your social life."

Alexander stopped dead and slowly turned back. The look in his eyes was not anger—it was something far colder and more predatory.

"Listen to me very carefully, Adrian," Alexander said, stepping closer until they were chest-to-chest, his towering presence demanding submission. "You just spent ten minutes in my office lecturing me on boundaries and respect. I accepted your terms. My terms are now this: When you are with me, your mind is on your work, not on making plans with whoever is trying to steal your attention. And when I ask you to do something, your only acceptable answer is ’Yes, Boss.’ Is this a boundary you understand?"

Adrian wanted to scream. He wanted to grab a cart and smack it into Alexander’s face. But the sheer force of Alexander’s will, the proximity, and the sudden, chilling calm in his voice forced Adrian’s volatile anger down into a hard, aching knot in his stomach.

He swallowed. "Yes, Boss."

"Good. Now, we’re getting lettuce and whatever else Angelica needs. And then we’re going home to prepare for the only woman who is allowed to distract me: my mother." Alexander paused, adding a final, pointed jab. "You’ll need to focus, Adrian. You wouldn’t want her to think her son hires employees who are... easily distracted."

Alexander turned and walked toward the escalator, leaving Adrian standing frozen, fighting the urge to shatter the cool facade he had so carefully built. He knew Alexander was deliberately pushing him, daring him to break protocol right before the mother’s visit.

’He wants me to fail.’

Adrian took a shuddering breath, rubbed the frantic pulse in his neck, and then, with stiff control, followed Alexander into the glittering heart of the mall.

The confrontation over the phone call, combined with the impending arrival of Mrs. Devereux, has cranked the pressure on Adrian significantly.

He grabbed a shopping basket and followed Alexander into the vegetable section where he stood in front of the Multideck Open Chiller.

"Get to work, secretary, font just stand behind me," Alexander said, pushing his hands into his pockets, "You don’t expect your CEO to pick vegetables with his hands, do you?" He turned his head slightly to look at Adrian.

"Yes, boss," Adrian replied, moving ahead to grab a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Alexander quietly followed Adrian, his eyes following the way Adrian’s slender fingers picked the fruits and vegetables. He couldn’t help but think that they were quite similar to his wife’s.

He frowned as he pushed a thought away from his head. He pulled out his phone a dialled his wife’s number and as he expected, the number was switched off as he thought.

He moved closer to Adrian, his back almost pressing against his. He reached out and gently grabbed Adrian’s hand that was reaching for a lettuce, his fingers intertwining with Adrian’s.

Adrian turned into a statue, his knees instantly weakening as he felt Alexander’s warm hand closing over his, his pulse roaring in his ears as his chest threatened to explode in his chest.

His eyes nervously darted around to check if people were looking at them, "B-boss, you’re too close, we’re in public –"

"And if we weren’t? It wouldn’t be a problem?" Alexander’s husky voice sounded right beside Adrian’s ear, his breath fanning the sensitive skin behind Adrian’s ear.

Adrian tried to slide his hand out of Alexander’s grip but it only tightened, causing his breath to hitch in his throat.

He gave a nervous chuckle, "T-thats not w-what I meant. Boss, p-please step back, boss. People might misunderstand." He stammered, his fingers clenching around the handle of the shopping basket anxiously.

Alexander smirked, leaning his face closer to Adrian’s, "Relax, Adrian. I’m just checking something... your fingers are so similar to my wife’s and I’m starting to think crazy stuff. Do you want to know what I’m thinking?" He asked slowly, his hand leaving Adrian’s missing the warmth of it.

Adrian coughed, suddenly feeling choked, "No, no, boss. I do not want to know what you’re thinking –"

"Alexander, you came grocery shopping?" Chloe’s voice drifted from a distance, alerting them of her approach.

Adrian immediately slid out of Alexander’s hold, resuming his vegetable picking to avoid speaking to Chloe.

"That’s what you’re seeing, isn’t it, Chloe?" Alexander asked, glancing at Adrian, who was backing him now.

"And you brought your secretary?" Chloe asked, glancing at Adrian behind Alexander.

"Is that any of your concern?" Alexander slid a hand into his pocket, his eyes hardening on her.

Chloe got closer, her eyes softening as she smiled, "Alexander, this distance between us, you can’t really push me to the side because of your secretary. I was only jealous, Alexander, I thought you were giving attention to him more than you did me..." she said and tucked her hair behind her ear, sighing quietly.

Slowly, she reached out and held Alexander’s hand, looking into his eyes, "But now, you’re married, and Alexander, I know you do not love your wife, I’m the one you’ve always wanted. I know you just marked that woman to get your mother’s shares, but I’m not saying anything, Alexander, I promise. I just want you to promise me that after you’re done with her, you’ll come back to me, I’m always ready to be with you, Alexander, I love you." She leaned in, gently hugging him.

"You will apologise to Adrian," Alexander spoke calmly, holding Chloe’s shoulder.

Chloe clenched her fists, schooling her features, "I will apologise. I’ll do whatever you want me to do." She spoke softly, nodding.

Adrian’s basket was full and he turned to return to Alexander, but he paused as he saw Alexander and Chloe hugging so warmly. His heart sank and he looked away, biting down on his lip.

"Of course. A woman’s power is unrivalled," he murmured, clenching his teeth.

"Adrian," Chloe suddenly called him, walking Iver to him with a smile on her face.

Adrian frowned, stepping out of Chloe’s reach.

"Oh, Adrian, I’m so sorry for our earlier altercations, please, forgive me," She pulled him into a tight hug, smiling evilly behind him.

Adrian froze, his skin crawling with irritation as he felt her fingers digging into his back.

Adrian snapped his eyes toward Alexander, his forehead creasing in confusion.

"Let go, Chloe, I do not want any problems," Adrian gently pushed Chloe away, stepping away.

However, Chloe pulled him right back into her arms, taking her mouth to his ear, her voice dropping low and sinister, "Now, listen, bitch. I saw the proximity between you and your boss back there. I’ll say this just once: Get your filthy claws off of Alexander. He’s mine." She kissed his cheek and released her hold on him.

"You see? We’re best of friends, Alexander. And he’s so forgiving," she giggled, running back into Alexander’s arms.

"You did good, Chloe, I always knew you were an angel," Alexander patted Chloe’s head but his eyes were locked on Adrian’s, taking in his restrained expression.

Adrian dropped his gaze, his chest tightening as Chloe giggled and leaned into Alexander’s side like she belonged there.

He saw the way Alexander didn’t move away from Chloe. They looked perfect, and Adrian started to wonder why the devil didn’t just marry the angel.

Adrian’s hand tightened on the basket handle until his knuckles turned white. "Angel," he whispered under his breath, feeling his chest tightening as he heard Chloe’s soft giggles.

The sound of it—the torturous echo—was enough to twist Adrian’s heart most painfully.

Alexander’s head snapped up. Their eyes locked, and something sharp passed between them: fury, longing, denial.

Alexander tore his gaze away first. "We’re done here," he said flatly, his voice hoarse. "Let’s go home."

Chloe smiled, oblivious to the invisible war between them. "I’ll come with you," she said, looping her arm through Alexander’s.

Adrian was quiet, looking away from them, as he walked passed them, he did a mini second stop and murmured, "After all, that’s where angels belong... beside the devil." he said and walked away, leaving the unmatched couple behind.

Alexander froze at the words—soft, broken, and burning.

His hand paused in Chloe’s hair. His eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something unreadable—disappointment? Admiration?—crossing his face. Adrian hadn’t stuttered. He hadn’t run. He hadn’t even met Chloe’s gaze.

For the first time, he didn’t know who the devil was anymore.