CHAPTER 60: 60: I’M GAY

Adrian unlocked the apartment door with shaky hands.

Alexander entered first, eyes sweeping over the small, dim living room — the peeling paint, the secondhand couch, the chipped coffee table. His jaw flexed, and Adrian couldn’t tell if it was judgment... or something heavier.

"Where," Alexander asked, voice sharp, "do you change?"

Adrian swallowed.

His tiny bedroom.

He lifted his duffel bag. "In... in here, Boss."

Alexander stepped into the doorway before Adrian could move past him, blocking the small entrance with his broad frame. Adrian’s breath hitched when Alexander leaned down slightly — not touching him, but close enough that heat rolled off his body.

"Then go on," Alexander murmured.

"I want to see how you’ve been fooling me."

Adrian’s pulse roared in his ears.

He slipped into the bedroom, closing the door only halfway because Alexander’s hand pushed against it from behind — refusing to let him shut it completely.

Adrian froze.

"Boss?" he whispered.

Alexander’s voice came low, rough.

"Don’t test me. I said I’m watching."

Adrian felt his cheeks burn. He turned away, heart pounding, and slowly unzipped the duffel bag. Inside lay everything he used for his secret identity.

A wig. Makeup. Clothes.

The mask Alexander had been hunting for months.

His fingers trembled as he picked up the wig.

This is it.

No more running. No more excuses.

Behind him, Alexander leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching every movement with unnerving intensity.

Adrian slipped the red wig on. His breath shook.

He dusted foundation over his skin.

Drew the soft eyeliner that changed his gaze completely.

Fixed his green contacts.

Applied the red-tinted balm that Alexander once couldn’t stop staring at.

Piece by piece, his reflection shifted.

Not Adrian.

Adrienne.

Alexander’s breathing changed — quiet, but sharp.

Adrian put on the fitted black top, the one that hugged every line of him. The skirt. The stockings.

It was strange being watched like this. Vulnerable. Exposed. But he forced himself to turn around.

He stepped slowly out of the bedroom.

Alexander stood straight the moment he saw him.

His pupils blew wide.

For a moment — a very long moment — Alexander didn’t breathe.

Adrian’s voice came out small. "Boss... this is the truth. I never meant to—"

"Don’t speak."

Alexander’s voice cracked like thunder.

He moved forward, one step... two... stopping only inches from Adrian.

His gaze dragged over him with a hunger that made Adrian’s knees weaken.

"So this," Alexander whispered, "is what you’ve been hiding from me."

He reached out, his thumb brushing lightly over Adrian’s painted lower lip. Adrian shivered.

"You fooled me," Alexander murmured. "You manipulated me. You played with me."

Adrian opened his mouth, but Alexander pressed a finger to it — silencing him.

"But the worst part?"

Alexander’s voice dropped, dark and dangerous:

"You made me want two people without even knowing they were one,"

Adrian’s breath hitched.

Alexander leaned in, lips brushing Adrian’s ear without touching.

"Tell me, Adrian..." he whispered, jealousy and desire swirling like poison and honey,

"...did you enjoy watching me hold myself back for your disguise?"

Before Adrian could answer, Alexander grabbed his wrist — hard — and pulled him flush against his chest.

"Because I haven’t decided yet," he murmured, eyes burning into Adrian’s,

"whether I want to punish you..."

His fingers slid up Adrian’s throat.

"...or kiss you."

Adrian froze — trapped between fear, shame, and something wickedly electric.

Alexander’s lips hovered a breath away.

The tension broke like lightning.

"You deserve a punishment, and you’re going to spend the rest of your life paying for what you’ve done," Alexander murmured, his thumb dragging slowly along Adrian’s throat.

Adraun gumped against Alexander’s thumb, darting his tongue out to lick his dry lips, "Everything I did... was for my mother. I had no choice." He whispered, lips trembling.

"I don’t give a fuck about your motive, all that matters is your approach. I hate liars, a deceiver." Alexander gently released Adrian and took a step back.

"I understand, and I’m sorry –"

"Sorry won’t cut it, Adrian," Alexander snapped, clenching his fists.

"I asked for a loan, boss, but you refused. I couldn’t sit and watch my mother die. She is the only one I have left. If she dies, my life won’t be worth living. Adrian’s voice shook, but he stood still, staring down at his leg.

Alexander chuckled dryly, "Did you get it?" Alexander questioned slowly.

Adrian refused to lift his face, biting hard on his lip.

"Answer me, Mr. Cole, or should I say, Ms. Cole," Alexander took a step, hooking a thumb under Adrchin to lift his head, "Did you get the money you needed?" He questioned calmly.

Adrian didn’t speak, he had nothing more to say, he had accepted that his fate was now in Alexander’s hands.

Alexander frowned, "You literally stole from me. I refuse to give you a loan and what? You resolved to identify theft and financial theft? You let me pay you a monthly $20k for our contract, a pending $1,000,000 by the end of our contract." He stated, his arm wrapping around Adrian’s waist to hold him closer.

"That must have been so satisfying to watch, wasn’t it? Watching the boss who had refused a small loan willingly offer a huge sum of money out of desperation. I must have looked stupid, didn’t I?" He whispered, his eyes lowering to Adrian’s lips.

Adrian’s breath hitched, his body heating up. Alexander was torturing him differently, psychologically and emotionally. It was getting more difficult to differentiate between anger and lust as they both merged between them to form something undeniably electrifying.

"I’m sorry, Alex," Adrian whispered, his hand gently touching Alexander’s arm.

"Don’t say my name like that..." Alexander looked away from Adrian and gritted his teeth.

Hearing Adrian call him that way almost had him closing the distance between their lips. But he wouldn’t do it, he was supposed to be punishing Adrian, not wanting him.

"And, foolish me... I went ahead to pay off your loans and your mother’s medical bills," he faced Adrian again, his face hard.

"You owe me your life, Adrian. Even after the divorce, you belong to me. Not even your service in your entire existence can repay the money I’ve spent on you. You’re my property, Adrian, and from now on, you do only what I want. You live to please me, are we clear, Mr. Secretary?" Alexander murmured.

Adrian’s chest ached. He wished hebheard those words from Sebastian I’m in a different situation, he wanted to be claimed that way for love, not as property.

But who was he to decide what he wanted, he was literally living for the man in front of him.

"Yes, boss," Adrian answered in a small voice.

Alexander leaned in, lips almost brushing against Adrian’s, "Good." He said and released Adrian from his hold.

"Fix your voice, your face, and your attitude. We’re heading over to pay mother a surprise visit –"

"Alex-boss," Adrian corrected quickly as he leaned forward and caught Alexander’s hand.

Alexander paused, glancing back to stare at Adrian’s hand on his before lifting his gaze to Adrian’s troubled ones.

"Keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Cole," He said coldly. Ignoring the vulnerability he saw in Adrian’s eyes.

Adrian released Alexander’s hand and held his hand together below his waist.

"Please... don’t tell her... your mother. I’d hate to disappoint her," Adrian said, looking at the wall beside Alexander.

Alexander scoffed, "So you do have a conscience?" He chuckled dryly, "Don’t worry, I still need my share of the company, and you’re going to keep up your deception until the end of our deal. Only then, will I consider what to do to you about your deception. For now, Adrian, you’re my property. Follow." He said and walked out of the room, heading out of the house.

Adrian sighed and reluctantly followed him.

Back in the car, Adrian sat quietly, staring out of the window.

He never imagined that his day would end up this way, exposed.

His phone suddenly rang, startling him.

He slowly took it out of the small bag he carried and answered it without checking for the caller.

"Hello, Adrian. You never got back to me," Ruiyan’s soft voice spoke through.

Adrian sat up, glancing at Alexander, who was focused on driving.

He was glad his phone wasn’t on speaker, he wouldn’t want to add another problem to his list.

"I’m sorry, can I call you back?" He asked quietly, facing the window again.

"Are you avoiding me?" Ruiyan questioned gently.

Adrian gulped, "No. I will send a reply tonight. I promise." He said and abruptly ended the call.

"Ruiyan?" Alexander asked without turning his head.

Adrian was surprised, ’How did he know?’

"Yes, boss," he answered.

There was no need to lie to Alexander. He was going to be open to him from henceforth. After all, he got into a situation because of a lie, he didn’t need to complicate it with more lies.

"What did she say?" Alexander asked, pulling the car over in front of a quiet café.

"She wanted to ask about our Atelier date... she thinks I’m avoiding her –"

"Are you not?" Alexander parked the car and finally turned to Adrian.

He saw the way Adrian immediately looked away as their eyes locked, his wig falling over the side of his face.

Alexander realised that every side of Adrian was breathtaking. Cross-dressed or not, his secretary was way above average.

He knew there was a bigger issue between them which had nothing to do with Adrian’s deception or manipulations. It was the palpable desire burning their souls each time their eyes locked.

It was the raw hunger that claimed their body whenever their skin touched. It was that invisible pull that tugged at their heartstrings, begging them to become more. More than employee and employer, more than a fake marriage.

"I’m not avoiding her, Boss." Adrian’s quiet voice called Alexander back the present.

Alexander unfastened his seat belt and leaned over, unfastening Adrian’s and placing his hand on his exposed thigh.

"Look at me," He murmured.

Adrian obeyed, what was the use of defiance? His life wasn’t even his anymore.

He stared into those blue eyes that captured him at first glance, his heart thumping strongly in his chest.

"Yes, Boss?" Adrian whispered.

He gasped softly when he felt Alexander’s hand sneaking under his knee and tugging him closer.

"So why haven’t you gone to see her?" Alexander asked, his eyes burning on Adrian’s lips as his fingers dug slightly into the sensitive skin behind Adrian’s knee.

Adrian’s lips parted, he couldn’t concentrate with Alexander’s fingers caressing him that way.

"Alexander... your hand... distracting me," Adrian whispered very softly as Alexander’s slid slightly up his thigh, his fingers resuming their last cst-like scratches.

Alexander gulped, his brain telling him to stop but his body was already a ting on its own.

"Answer my question, Adrian," He commanded coldly, but the heat in his eyes betrayed him.

Adrian shuddered slightly, "You, Boss. You asked me not to meet her. You said I’m in your clock, only free when you decide." He was starting to pant, his hand slowly moving.

"And if I let you, would you go to her? Do you like her?" Alexander questioned, face darkening with unrecognised jealousy.

"I... Alex..." Adrian bit his lip to stop a trevherous moan from escaping his lips as he felt Alexander’s move move higher in his thigh.

Alexander cursed under his breath when he heard Adrian’s breathless whisper. He was battling seriously with his last shred of control to keep himself from moving his hand all in.

"I told you, don’t call me that," He growled lowly, his forehead an inch away from Adrian’s.

Their breath mixed, hunger flashing across their eyes as they silently confessed their desires through their looks.

Adrian slowly dragged his teeth over his bottom lip, biting the side gently. Despite the warning voice in his head, his hand kept moving until he placed it above Alexander’s, and very slowly, he guided it higher, higher, until a soft, trembling moan escaped his lips the moment he cupped his arousal with Alexander’s hand.

Alexander froze, his breath hitching loudly as his body burned like a volcano had just erupted within him.

His eyes darkened dangerously, and his heart almost forgot how to beat.

He felt Adrian, pulsing, hard, hot under his hand. And to his own shock, he felt his hand cupping the arousal, feeling the whole length within the panties.

"Adrian... you’ve got balls... You dare to do this," his voice was rasped, breathless giant Adrian’s lips.

Adrian’s chest rose and fell, his hand leaving Alexander’s between his legs and reaching over for Alexander’s visible erection, cupping and massaging the bulge.

"Adrian..." Alexander’s voice was strained, his eyes warning.

Adrian leaned in, his lips brushing the side of Alexander’s lips, "I’m gay, Alex. What about you?" He whispered and slammed his lips on Alexander’s, hot and daring, claiming every spot, corner and dip.