CHAPTER 56: 56: HEAT & DESIRE

Sonia placed her files on Alexander’s desk, her perfume wafting through the air like something too sweet and deliberate.

She leaned closer, her blouse shifting just enough to reveal her intent.

"This new design... I stayed up all night working on it," she said softly, her voice almost purring. "I’d love for you to take a closer look."

Alexander didn’t lift his eyes immediately. He scrolled through his phone, seemingly disinterested—but his jaw was locked tight.

Then, a faint clink echoed outside his door.

Adrian.

Carrying his coffee tray.

"Proceed," Alexander said, finally looking at Sonia—but his gaze flicked toward the glass wall of his office, where Adrian was visible for a split second, approaching with careful steps.

Sonia mistook his look for interest. "Sir," she murmured, smiling, "I was also thinking about—"

The office door opened.

Adrian stepped in, perfectly composed, though the faint heat on his neck betrayed his tension.

"Your coffee, Mr. Devereux."

He walked closer, careful not to look at Sonia, but his fingers tightened slightly around the tray.

He hadn’t forgotten what she did to her, and seeing her now flaunting her stupid melons in front of Alexander, he felt an indescribable rage that threatened to break through his calm facade.

’I shouldn’t care, it’s not like I’m jealous or something,’

Alexander’s eyes followed every small movement — the way Adrian’s tie brushed his shirt, the faint flush on his skin, the calm tone that somehow felt... detached.

"Set it down," Alexander ordered quietly.

Adrian obeyed, placing the cup in front of him. "Black. No sugar. Just as you prefer," he said smoothly.

"Thank you, Adrian," Alexander murmured — his voice low, calm, but heavy with unspoken meaning.

Adrian paused, it was the first time Alexander was thanking him, and in front of someone, too.

’It meant nothing, it was just a ’thank you’.’

Sonia crossed her legs slowly, flipping open her file. "Sir, as I was saying..."

Alexander leaned back in his chair, his eyes still fixed on Adrian. "You were saying something about the new design?"

Sonia nodded, smiling as she stood up to move around his desk. "Yes. It’s something new—sleeker, more appealing. I could show you right here."

Her hand brushed the edge of Alexander’s shoulder as she leaned over to point at the sketches on his screen.

The temperature in the room shifted.

Adrian froze. Just for a second. But Alexander noticed.

The faint tightening of his jaw.

The flicker in his eyes.

The way his chest rose slightly faster before he turned to leave.

"Mr. Cole."

Adrian stopped.

"Yes, sir?"

Alexander stood slowly, his expression unreadable. "Where are you going?"

Adrian blinked. "To prepare the documents for your meeting with Li Xueyi, sir."

"Stay," Alexander said simply.

Sonia frowned slightly, glancing between them. "Oh, I don’t think—"

"I said stay," Alexander repeated, his tone soft but commanding.

Adrian exhaled quietly and remained by the door, his expression carefully blank.

"Now," Alexander said, turning back to Sonia, "show me your design."

But his eyes didn’t move to the screen.

They moved between Sonia’s leaning form and Adrian’s stillness — the silent war of control and attention brewing right in front of him.

As Sonia spoke, Alexander’s patience frayed. Every time she laughed softly, he felt irritation crawl under his skin. When she shifted closer, he caught the brief flicker of something in Adrian’s eyes — not fear this time. Something else.

Possessiveness?

Jealousy?

It burned and satisfied him at once.

When Sonia finally finished, Alexander stood and buttoned his jacket. "Excellent work, Sonia. Send the files to Mr. Cole for revision."

"Of course, sir." Her tone dripped with charm. "Would you like to meet for lunch to discuss the next phase?"

"No."

Her smile faltered.

"My secretary and I already have plans."

Adrian’s head snapped up, startled, but Alexander didn’t look at him.

Sonia nodded tightly, gathering her files. "Understood, sir." She exited, her heels echoing a soft rhythm of defeat.

The door clicked shut. Silence.

Alexander turned to Adrian. His calm was gone, replaced with something darker, more personal.

"You don’t like interruptions, do you, Mr. Cole?" he asked, voice low.

Adrian blinked. "I-I don’t know what you mean, sir."

Alexander took a slow step closer. "You looked ready to throw that coffee at her."

"I did not."

"No?" Alexander’s mouth curved faintly. "Then why were your eyes so sharp, Mr. Cole?"

Adrian swallowed hard. "Because I was paying attention to your schedule, sir."

Alexander chuckled softly, taking another step. "You’re lying."

"I don’t lie to my employer."

Alexander stopped just in front of him. "Then tell me, Mr. Cole... why did it bother you so much to see her touching me?"

Adrian stiffened. His throat worked, but no sound came out.

Alexander’s smirk deepened. "You’re shaking again."

Adrian’s voice came out soft, trembling slightly. "You’re misinterpreting things, sir."

"Am I?" Alexander murmured, leaning in, his breath warm against Adrian’s ear. "Because I think..."

His hand brushed the edge of Adrian’s sleeve, slow, deliberate.

"...you don’t like sharing attention."

Adrian’s pulse jumped. "You’re imagining things, Mr. Devereux."

Alexander leaned back, his eyes gleaming. "Maybe I am." He smirked faintly. "But I intend to find out soon enough."

"Sit, Mr..Cole, I told you I had a lot to discuss with you at the office," Alexander pointed to the sofa, walking over to sit first.

Adrian felt that cold chill return to his stomach, he couldn’t point it out but all he knew was that he was very uncomfortable.

"Grab my tablet," Alexander instructed as Adrian was about to lower himself on the sofa.

Adrian gritted his teeth and went over to take the tablet from the desk.

"Here, boss," Adrian held the Tablet in Alexander’s face, standing a foot away from him.

"Sit, Mr. Cole, hold it," Alexander ordered.

Adrian nodded and reluctantly planted himself beside Alexander.

"You’re my secretary, and I believe you have grown close since the past month, haven’t you?" Alexander started.

Adrian froze, "Close? If you mean, learnt to work better with each other, I’d say yes... in a way." He cleared his throat, facing the door with his back straightened rigidly.

Alexander chuckled. "If you say so. I have a few things I’d like to hear your advice on, it’s personal, and I hope you don’t mind?" He asked, his eyes fixed on Adrian’s rigid side profile.

Adrian chewed the insides of his cheeks, he knew he should say no, but he felt like refusing would make Alexander even more suspicious of him.

"Yes, boss. I believe I can step away from my professionalism for a while... you’re my boss, after all." Adrian forced a smile, shifting away from Alexander.

Alexander smiled, a slow predatory smile as he slowly shifted closer to Adrian.

"Good. It’s about my wife, I think she is lying to me," Alexander said, his hand sliding behind Adrian on the headrest.

Adrien went completely still. ’Again? The wife talk again?’

"Why do you think she’s lying to you, Boss?" Adrian questioned, taping his thumbs on the sides of the tablet.

Alexander shrugged, "I don’t know. She refused to give me a child, claiming sterility, but, I think she’s lying –"

"She’s not," Adrian suddenly defended but suddenly realised he had sounded too convincing.

He snapped his head to Alexander and found him looking at him with narrowed eyes. He coughed awkwardly, clearing his throat.

"I meant, I think she’s not. Women... they don’t lie about things like that, it’s kind of... sacred. So, I think she might really not be able to conceive. You can always try surrogacy, Boss. Couples do it these days, a child is always a blessing no matter the way it came," he suggested, biting his lip so hard that it left a bruise.

Alexander slowly nodded, "That’s exactly what she said... You both think alike." He said quietly, shifting closer and covering the space between them.

"We do?" Adrian chuckled nervously, leaning away from Alexander’s figure and pressing his side on the armrest.

"Yes... Why do you look so shaken, Adrian? Does my presence really upset you that much?" Alexander whispered, his hand resting on Adrian’s knee.

Adrian gulped, arching his back until it hurt.

"N-no, it doesn’t, boss. I just feel a little upset in the stomach, can I go to the restroom?" He suddenly stood and hurried toward the door.

His instincts told him to run, and that’s exactly what he was doing. The tone of the conversation had turned to something dark and threatening, he couldn’t sit still and find out what Alexander was circling.

He reached his trembling hand toward the door and pulled it open to a crack but Alexander’s large hand pulled at Adrian’s wrist, gently turning him around to press his back against the door.

"Why do I feel you’re running away from me, Mr. Secretary?" Alexander whispered against Adrian’s lips, his voice deep and low, and his eyes dark and sharp as they roamed Adrian’s face.

Adrian’s lips trembled, his heart pounding against his ribs, "B-boss, we agreed... my personal space," He inhaled shakily, his eyes falling between Alexander’s lips and his eyes.

Alexander smirked, "But I wasn’t done talking with you, Adrian. Why are you running?" He asked, his lips grazing Adrian’s earlobe.

Adrian shivered, "B-boss, please, stop..." he shuddered.

"Stop? You’re the one clenching my jacket, Adrian... maybe it’s yourself you should stop," Alexander murmured, his hand pressing Adrian’s that was holding onto his jacket flat on his chest.

Adrian paled, his sexuality or his secret identity, he wasn’t sure which secret was about to get revealed in the next moment, but he felt it deep in his bones, he had been cornered by Alexander and he hadn’t seen it coming.

Alexander leaned in, his eyes watching Adrian’s flushed cheeks and trembling lips with hooded eyes, "Back to the sofa, Adrian. I need your advice on how to treat my cheating wife," he whispered and before he could stop himself, he covered the distance between them and gently sucked Adrian’s bottom lip between his teeth.