Under Alexander's intense gaze, Adrian's fingers trembled as he unbuttoned his shirt.
For the first time in months, he was forced to step out of professional space with his boss.
It was still professional, just with a twist.
His thoughts, which were usually loud and dirty when he was alone, grew louder and bolder. That stupid, crazy voice in his head told him to take a chance with his boss, but the more reserved one spoke against it.
He was a mess, inside and outside.
Alexander watched his secretary with an unreadable expression, his eyes staying on Adrian's face and not wandering down. He already saw that Adrian was shaking from fear or whatever that always got him trembling.
"Give it," He extended his hand in front of Adrian as he saw him successfully unbutton the last button.
Adrian immediately shook his head, "N-no, I'll clean it out in the staff restroom when I leave." He stammered.
Alexander ignored him and walked over to his desk, pulling out a drawer and carrying out a first-aid kit from it.
He walked back and lowered himself beside Adrian on the sofa.
"Take your shirt off, Mr. Cole. Or you'll scald," He said calmly, staring at Adrian, who had shifted to the extrem, his fingers grazing his knee.
Adrian's claustrophobia was ignited, Alexander was too close, damn too close.
'Why is he sitting beside me? Why is the room suddenly so small? Why is the air so thick?' Adrian's internal panic was palpable, his foot tapping noiselessly on the table floor.
Alexander frowned, sighing impatiently, "You're slacking on duty, Mr. Cole. I don't mind taking it out of your pay -"
"No! No, I'm sorry, I'll take it off...I need all the money I can get," he muttered the last part inaudibly, but Alexander still heard it.
Slowly, Adrian pulled his tie off first, and then he slid his shirt off his arms. He felt exposed because this time, he was, and Alexander's unreadable gaze made him feel more exposed.
Goosebumps spread through his skin as the cool air blanketed his exposed body, causing him to shiver slightly.
He was about to fold the wet shirt on his lap when Alexander moved a trash bin in front of him.
"Hurry up," Alexander commanded, leaving no room for argument.
Adrian blinked slowly, staring at his shirt with reluctance in his eyes. It was one of his best ones, he didn't have a lot, but this one was his favourite. And he's just been ordered to throw it away.
With a heavy sigh, he threw it in the bin and sucked his bottom between his teeth.
"Turn around, Mr. Cole. I'm a busy man," Alexander's voice was stern as he spoke, his eyes glancing briefly at how Adrian hugged himself with his arms while biting his lip as usual.
He forced his eyes up to his secretary's face, a mean look in his eyes, "I said, turn around." He repeated.
"I__I can do it myself," Adrian murmured quietly, not meeting Alexander's eyes.
"Okay," Alexander said and dropped the soothing cream on Adrian's lap.
He stood, and took a few steps and then he paused, pushing his hands into his pockets and watching Adrian, waiting to see how he managed himself.
Adrian looked down at the tube on his lap and picked it up. He could do it himself.
Yes, he can.
He was still struggling to come to terms with the fact that he was in his boss's private room, alone and naked in front of the man he secretly admired; he fought to keep his nerves together with how close Alexander was. The last thing he would do is to let Alexander put his hands on him.
All hell could as well break loose if he ever let that happen.
However, as Adrian tried to blindly reach for the spots, he realised with dread that he must look stupid and crazy to his boss as he wriggled to reach for his back. Chloe just had to aim at the point he couldn't easily reach, especially under the watch of his billionaire boss.
After wriggling for a few seconds, he sighed and lifted his face to Alexander, who was quietly observing him.
"I'm sorry, boss__," he said, covering his chest as if he had anything to hide, "I'll head out first." He murmured and walked toward he door.
He clenched his jaw as he neared Alexander. The door suddenly seemed like it was miles away from him.
He kept his face lowered, hurrying when he reached Alexander's side.
"Hold on," Alexander suddenly caught Adrian's hand, holding him steady.
If a heart had wings, Adrian's would have flown out of his chest. His heart fluttered restlessly as Alexander's firm hold caged his wrist, a tantalising shiver running down his spine and causing his body to heat up like he was having a sudden fever.
"Y-yes, boss?" His voice was so low, almost a whisper.
He was slowly losing the battle of wills with his body, and so help him god, he so wanted to jump the sexy devil behind him at that moment.
"What do you plan on doing?" Alexander stepped closer behind Adrian and pried the tube out of his hand, "parade your naked self around my office? And taint my reputation?" He asked, squirting the liquid onto his fingers and gently applying it to Adrian's reddened back.
Adrian hissed quietly, from pain, and from those sinful tingles that coursed through his veins.
"N-no, boss__ I wanted to find someone to help me out. I didn't want to trouble you." He stammered, fisting his hands for control.
"Who?" Alexander asked, his fingers gently trailing over Adrian's skin which he surprisingly found to be silky smooth.
He allowed his eyes to lower, frowning when he saw how slim Adrian's waist was.
'Why so lean?' He asked internally, but he found his fingers lowering to apply the cool soothing cream over the reddened spot on Adrian's waist.
"Gina," Adrian answered softly, "Ahh!" He suddenly gasped, wincing as Alexander's hand pressed on his stinging back.
"Be still," Alexander's hand tightened on Adrian's shoulder, holding him steady.
You will not try to seduce anyone in my company, Mr. Cole," Alexander snapped, sharper than he meant to. The word seduce left a bitter taste in his mouth — but it was easier than admitting the real problem: Adrian might just be starting to get under his skin.
"I shall not hesitate to take legal action against you." he stepped away from Adrian, heading toward his mini wardrobe.
Adrian frowned, blinking in confusion, "Seduce? I never wanted to seduce anyone." 'Except you.' He turned to look at Alexander, who was taking something out of his wardrobe.
"Put this on and leave," Alexander threw a clean, white shirt at Adrian, who fumbled to catch it.
"You have five minutes to prepare my files and deliver them to my office for the boardroom meeting," Alexander ordered and walked out of the private room.
Adrian stared at the door blankly; he should hate Alexander for humiliating him by assuming the worst from him, for treating him like property and not a human. But, why did his skin still burn where the man's fingers had touched him?
"Shit," Adrain muttered and quickly pulled the oversized shirt on, but not after sniffing it like a lunatic.
It smelled fresh, clean, and Alexander.
He glanced at his discarded shirt in the trash bin one last time and hurried out of the room.
This was so far his most eventful morning since his employment, and he hoped itvdoenat get more eventful than it already was.
He quietly stepped into Alexander's office and found him going through the designs on his tablet. He ignored Chloe's piercing glare and walked over to Alexander.
"Boss -"
"Go prepare my files, Mr. Cole," Alexander cut Adrian off, briefly glancing at him and noticing how small he looked in his shirt.
He tapped his foot under his table to call himself back to order. He couldn't understand why he was starting to notice the littlest details about his secretary.
"Yes, boss," Adrian replied and walked hurriedly out of the office.
He went over to his desk and pulled his chair out, settling himself in his chair. He clicked on a document and started to print.
In a few seconds, the printer beside his computer printed out the documents.
He drew a new file out from the pile on the side of his desk and bound the documents to it.
"Adrian, can I borrow your computer for a while? Mine is giving trouble," Sonia, a slim woman with short hair asked behind Adrian.
"No, Sonia. Call the repair team," He switched off his computer and took his file.
"Please, Adrian. I need to prepare my design before tomorrow morning," Sonia blocked Adrian's path, gripping his hand.
Adrian sighed, "Let go, Sonia. The earlier you realise that this isn't some series where you act as the cute, evil college, the better your days will be. Now, unhand me before I hit your face." He spoke in a quiet voice so only Sonia would hear, his eyes glaring at her hand on his.
He didn't have to hold back line, like he did with Chloe; Sonia was just an employee like himself, and he wasn't about to let her bully him.
Sonia gasped, "You're threatening me? How would the boss feel when he discovered that his secretary is a woman puncher?" She smirked at him, not letting go of his hand.
Adrian muttered under his breath and glanced at Alexander's door. He was almost out of time for delivering the files and Sonia thought it was the best time to play her villain role.
"Sonia, how about you wait till I'm out of the boardroom? Maybe I can entertain your drama. Right now, my job is hanging on a thin thread; if I don't get these files delivered to the boss in the next minute, it'll be over for me," he reasoned, trying to stay calm.
Sonia smirked, "That would be perfect, Adrian. That is exactly what I've wanted. You're not fit to be Mr. Devereux's secretary, that role is for me." She sneered at him, and suddenly hit the files off his hand, causing them to scatter all over the floor.
"Sonia, what have you done?!" Adrian gasped.
There was no way he was going to meet the five-minute mark Alexander gave him.
And just before he left the office, Alexander's mood wasn't the best. Is this how he lost his job?
The last page hit the floor just as the office door opened. Alexander stepped out, his icy gaze sweeping the chaos at Adrian's feet.
"Mr. Cole," his voice cut like a blade, "care to explain why my files are decorating the floor instead of my desk?"