CHAPTER 47: 47: CHEMISTRY BURSTING

The moment Adrian lifted his head, that bold, reckless defiance shining clearly in his deep grey eyes, the air in the opulent study seemed to thin. It wasn’t just a look; it was a refusal to submit, an admission that Adrian’s fear was a calculated mask, now discarded in favour of sheer, exhausted frustration.

Alexander forgot the rules he had just enacted, forgot the pen, forgot the unhygienic habits. All that mattered was the electric, undeniable tension that flared between them whenever Adrian let his guard drop.

"You’re testing me, Mr. Cole," Alexander stated, his voice a low, warning growl. He was trying to sound angry, but the raw hunger he felt was betraying him.

"No, Boss," Adrian replied, his voice shaking slightly, but holding firm. He was playing a dangerous game, but the fatigue and stress had pushed him past caution. "You are testing me. You bought my life, you moved me in, you gave me ridiculous, childish rules, and you expect me to sit here and be an obedient slave. I told you, I will work off my debt, but I will not be anyone’s plaything."

He stood up, slowly, deliberately, evening the height difference between them, forcing Alexander to step back slightly.

"You want me to look at you? Fine. I’m looking. And I’m telling you: I’m tired, I’m hungry, and I need sleep. Goodnight, Boss."

Adrian turned sharply toward the door to his new room.

"Don’t you dare walk away from me," Alexander’s voice snapped, laced with pure, raw command. He reached out and grabbed Adrian’s arm, his grip hard and unforgiving. "You don’t dismiss the CEO, Adrian. I dismiss you."

Adrian paused, his back stiffening, but he didn’t struggle. "Then dismiss me, boss. I won’t move until you do."

Alexander clenched his jaw, staring at the back of Adrian’s head, the rigid posture a silent, potent rebellion. He wanted to pull Adrian close, wanted to crush that defiance with another kiss. Still, the fear of complete rejection—and the internal voice reminding him of his image forced him back to some semblance of control.

"Fine," Alexander hissed, releasing Adrian’s arm. "You are dismissed. Get some rest. You have an early morning tomorrow."

Adrian nodded once and walked into his room, closing the door firmly behind him.

Alexander stood alone in the study, staring at the closed door, his chest heaving. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a deep, unsettling frustration. He hadn’t punished Adrian; he had rewarded him with a challenge and freedom.

He pulled out his phone, his mind instantly racing to the next crisis: His mother’s visit tomorrow.

He hoped Adrian would behave properly in front of his mother. He can’t have his so-called secretary showing defiance in front of his mother, who believes that his son has control over all his employees.

In Adrian’s room, he collapsed onto the bed, the fight leaving him in a rush. He had won the battle for the night, but the war was far from over— He knew Mrs. Devereux was coming over in the after room to see Alexander’s secretary.

He had to put up the nice, obedient secretary act for the period of her stay. Wouldn’t want her getting the wrong impression.

He already knew she had bigger plans for him so he wouldn’t dare slip up.

His stomach rumbled and he groaned quietly, "I’m so –" a knock on his door interrupted his self-complaint.

He sighed and rolled out of bed, ready to face Alexander with whatever new order he had brought with him.

He dragged his feet across the floor and stood in front of his door, staring at it with dread.

"Here I go," he murmured and pulled the door open, masking his face with a hard frown.

However, his frown melted into a smile as he saw Angelica standing in front of his door with a tray of food and milk.

"Oh. Hi, Angelica, I... I didn’t realise you were the one," Adrian smiled, glancing at her hand and holding his growling stomach.

Angelica smiled, "It’s me, Adrian. I know you haven’t eaten anything since you arrived and I know it’s late but I thought you’d still need to eat before going to bed." She said, offering the tray to Adrian.

Adrian didn’t waste a second and immediately carried the tray from her, "Thank you so much, Angelica. You’re an angel. Yes, I’m really famished." He replied, staring at the tray in anticipation.

"Bon appetit," Angelica smiled and walked away.

Adrian quickly kicked his door closed and hurried I er to the desk in his room. He sat down and devoured the delicious food in a short period, then he drank his warm milk with a wide smile on his face.

"Wow... I’m not so angry anymore... I think I might even have over-reacted with my boss..." he yawned and rubbed his stomach, sighing in content.

"No, I didn’t over-react, which does he us? Yes, I know they say that a hungry man is an angry man, but I’m quite sure that wasn’t hunger back there, it was pure, unadulterated anger toward my douche boss. I’m not sorry one bit," he said and grabbed the tray, heading out of his room.

As he stepped out of his room, he saw the door to Alexander’s study slightly open the he could tell the lights were still on.

He frowned, wondering when Alexander ever slept.

Scoffing, he turned away and walked along the hallway and into the living room.

He stood there, looking around the kitchen. He couldn’t find one.

He walked toward the dining room, standing beside the round table and glancing around once more for any door or passage but all he found was a neat, shiny dining space.

"Okay... I’ll just carry this back to my room..." he paused as he heard a hiss from the wall, and before him, s part of the wall slid open to reveal Angelica standing in front of the kitchen.

"I was just about to retrieve the plates. You didn’t have to," Angelica walked over and gently took the tray away from Adrian’s hand.

"Damn... this is so cool, Angelica. That’s the kitchen?" He asked, his eyes taking in the view of a neat and modern kitchen through the open door.

"Yes, Adrian. Mr. Devereux does not appreciate the kitchen noise filtering into his apartment so he made it a separate section, soundproof walls, too." She explained.

Adrian nodded slowly, "Of course... that’s the boss’s way..." he murmured.

Angelica smiled, "Goodnight, Adrian. Oh, can you help me tell Mr. Devereux that I’m out of fresh veggies? He never really eats so he rarely stocks." She nodded at him and walked into her customised kitchen.

"No shit, the man survives on arrogance alone," Adrian muttered as he watched the kitchen door slide back in place, meeting perfectly with the walls.

He suddenly tilted his head as he replayed Angelica’s message.

"Wait, I’m to meet the boss again? How did I not disagree?" He groaned, face-palming.

He sighed and turned, walking straight toward the study. He didn’t want to give himself time to think and chicken out of it. He kept walking until he found himself between his door and Alexander’s study door.

He knocked, "Boss? Can I come in?" He asked quietly, biting his lip... at least he wasn’t doing it in front of his boss.

"What do you want?" Alexander’s cold voice asked.

’Alright then, no going in,’ Adrian shrugged.

"Angelica wants you to know that she needs to restick the kitchen –"

"That’s not your job. Leave my door, Mr. Cole," Alexander cut Adrian off cold.

Adrian left his lips parted for a few seconds before he snapped them shut and glared at the door.

’I knew it, hunger had nothing to do with my anger. I’m full now, and I still feel like strangling that bastard,’

He took a deep breath, nodding slowly, "Douche," he whispered, turned, and walked into his room.

——

The next morning, Alexander got up early as usual and got ready for work. He left his room in long tried and paused in the living room.

"Good morning, Sir," Angelica greeted, bowing slightly.

Alexander nodded at the woman, "Ask Mr. Cole to get out of his room. We need to leave." He ordered.

"Mr. Cole? He’s already left, sir. He’s quite dedicated to work, the young man," Angelica informed with a smile.

A heavy storm clouded over Alexander’s head, his mood switched and it showed on his hardening face.

"He left?" He asked slowly.

"Yes, sir. An hour ago," Angelica answered, unaware of the fire she was fanning.

Alexander glanced toward Adrian’s room, his fists clenching.

Without a word, he left.

Angelica blinked in confusion, realising that she might just have said something to make the boss angry.

In the underground parking garage, Alexander entered his car and zoomed toward the highway.

In a few minutes, he reached his company and as he rode the elevator to his floor, he felt his anger rising higher and higher.

He didn’t exactly know the reason for his anger, but he knew that he needed to set his eyes on his secretary that morning, he craved to set his eyes on his secretary.

It was almost starting to feel like Adrian was slowly casting a spell on him that was making him want to have him by his side every fucking second. He knew it wasn’t normal to feel that way, and perhaps, that was why he was angry at himself. Still, he craved to see Adrian.

The moment the elevator hissed open, Alexander marched into the quiet office floor. It was still early, and the main lobby was sparsely populated, but his eyes immediately sought out Adrian’s cubicle.

It was empty.

A raw, irrational flare of fury shot through Alexander. Adrian wasn’t just gone; he had actively left before Alexander woke up, defying the unspoken rule of "proximity" Alexander had established. He didn’t text, he didn’t check in. He had simply vanished.

’He’s avoiding me. He’s running from something.’

Alexander strode past the deserted desks and into his own opulent office. He slammed his briefcase down on the marble-top desk, the sound echoing sharply in the silence.

He pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over Adrian’s number, ready to fire off a demanding text, when he heard laughter outside his door. It was Adrian.

He moved fast, his hand reaching for the door but he suddenly paused when he heard Jacob’s voice speaking to Adrian.

He felt a heat that wasn’t quite anger—it was something far more dangerous.

"I still think you’re hiding something from me, I thought we were friends? Tell me, did you kiss someone recently? You’ve had your first kiss, am I right?" Jacob’s voice was quiet, but Alexander heard them perfectly.

He froze, ’First kiss? With me?’

He didn’t know what to make of that information.

’It’s supposed to be a big deal for him, right?’ He sighed quietly, raking his fingers through his hair in frustration.

He felt guilty. He had taken Adrian’s first kiss under a stupid condition. No wonder Adrian refused the kiss, he must have been saving it for someone he truly loved... not his devil boss.

The thought of someone else having Adrian’s first kiss twisted a dangerous knot in Alexander’s chest, but he ignored it, pushing the feeling aside as insignificant.

Adrian’s fleet of coughs grabbed his attention back to their discussion. He listened quietly to hear his answers, temporarily forgetting that he never wanted Adrian to speak to anyone about the kiss. But, somehow, he wanted him to own it in front of Jacob.

"Kiss? No... actually, yes," Adrian sighed.

A smirk formed on Alexander’s lips, his heart suddenly thudding like a bird in a cage.

"But it was insignificant, and a barely there kiss. But still a kiss nonetheless. I already forgot about it if you hadn’t mentioned it now. But, you don’t have to worry, my mood has nothing to do with that insignificant kiss, I’m just thinking of other important things," Adrian explained.

Alexander smirked wiped off his face, his anger returning in double fold.

’Insignificant? Barely-there?’ He gritted his teeth.

If he recalled correctly, he had left his secretary gasping for his breath after that kiss. Perhaps someone needed a reminder of just how not insignificant the kiss was.

Jacob sighed, "But, I’m still offering, if you ever want to learn how to kiss, I’m your buddy, I don’t charge, it’s free –"

"Mr. Cole, in my office, now," Alexander commanded before he even realised he had opened the door, his eyes burning lasers onto Adrian’s body.

Adrian froze, and so did Jacob, they never knew the boss had arrived.

Adrian slowly turned, his pulse dancing in his ears as his eyes locked Alexander’s burning gaze, he felt a certain kind of furry, not a furry of a displeased man, but a furry of a displeased man.

The moment he walked into the office, the door slammed. The wall hit his back. And before Adrian could speak, Alexander’s mouth crashed onto his—hot, furious, and devastatingly possessive.