The Billionaire's Two-Faced Escort Wife-Chapter 73: Testing His Limit

Alexander led Adrian into the sunlit conservatory. The moment they stepped in, the murmuring conversation between Mrs. Devereux, Agatha, Sebastian, and Natalie ceased.

Natalie was Sebastian’s cousin.

​"Ah, here they are!" Mrs. Devereux beamed, her eyes sparkling with mischievous intent. "Sebastian, darling, is this the person you’ve been telling us about? Mr. Adrian Cole, Alexander’s most valuable asset."

​Sebastian’s reaction was immediate. His face lit up with genuine, unmasked pleasure. He stood instantly, offering a hand to Adrian. "It’s a pleasure to see you again Adrian."

​Adrian felt a suffocating pressure under Alexander’s gaze. He quickly slipped his hand into Alexander’s grasp, but Alexander’s arm remained stiff, refusing to acknowledge the friendly gesture.

​"Mr. Cole is currently off the clock, Sebastian," Alexander cut in, his voice polite but ice-cold, stepping slightly in front of Adrian. "He’s here only at my mother’s insistence."

​"Oh, nonsense, Alexander! Don’t be such a tyrant," Agatha chided, patting the space beside Sebastian on the sofa. "Adrian, darling, come sit next to Sebastian. We were just telling him about the beautiful qualities of an Alexander Devereux secretary."

​Adrian dared a glance at Alexander. The CEO’s eyes were narrowed, but he gave a barely perceptible nod, ordering compliance.

​Adrian obeyed, walking around Alexander and sitting stiffly on the sofa beside Sebastian, leaving a noticeable space between them. Sebastian, however, immediately edged closer.

​"It’s nice to see you outside the office," Sebastian said warmly, his smile genuine. "I was hoping we could talk more—"

​Adrian instantly cut him off, keeping his eyes fixed on Alexander, who was now sitting opposite them with Mrs. Devereux.

​"I appreciate the gesture, Mr. Vale," Adrian said, his voice clipped and professional. "But I need to be focused. The boss expects me to memorise the Q4 reports before tomorrow morning, and any distraction will be noted."

​Sebastian frowned, confusion mixing with his earlier delight. "But... It’s evening, Adrian. Surely Alexander lets you relax?"

​"Not when there are impending matters," Adrian insisted, forcing his spine even straighter. "My job is my priority. My loyalty is to the Devereux Corporation."

​Mrs. Devereux leaned in, her eyes glinting. "Such dedication, Sebastian! That’s what you need. A loyal, devoted partner."

​"Exactly," Agatha agreed. "Adrian, tell Sebastian about your devotion to Alexander. Does he keep you working late often?"

​Adrian felt his throat tighten. Alexander was watching, unblinking, his hand drumming a silent, dangerous rhythm on his knee.

​"Boss relies on me completely," Adrian stated, carefully maintaining his distant posture from Sebastian. "I am responsible for managing every aspect of his schedule and personal life. My time is his time." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

​He glanced at Alexander, giving him a brief, subservient look. "I am simply Alexander’s property, tasked to deliver the highest level of service. I have no personal life that would interfere with my dedication to him."

​He saw the lie land hard. Sebastian’s initial enthusiasm was rapidly dissolving into confusion and concern.

​Suddenly, Natalie, who had been quietly observing, spoke up with a casual, devastating question, aimed straight at Adrian.

​"That’s such a lovely sentiment, Adrian. But tell me, Alexander—" she paused, turning her gaze directly to Alexander. "I heard a rumour that your secretary is quite a fantastic cook. Is he planning to teach Adrienne any of his skills now that he’s moved in?"

​The room fell silent. Natalie had just dropped the ultimate bomb: the living arrangement and the fake wife in a single sentence.

Alexander subtly straightened up, his face devoid of any friendliness. He didn’t miss the way Adrian stiffened beside Sebastian, his fingers slowly grazing his thigh, a sign of nervousness

"I feel I little disappointed in you Natalie. Even an I can’t know how strictly u separate my work from my personal life. My secretary has absolutely nothing to do with my wife, I am his priority, not Adrrienne, and most definitely not anyone else," Alexander answered lime he was giving a critical analysis of a failed project, his face etched with dislike for the woman.

Natalie shifted uncomfortably, sensing that silent hostility from Alexander.

She smiled, "Ah, my bad, Alexander, I was just asking –"

"It’s okay, Nat. It was just a slip in the moment. Right, Alexander?" Sebastian asked, smiling at Alexander.

Alexander didn’t reply, he faced his mother had cleared his throat, "Mother, Mr. Cole is here, can you tell him what he’s been called? We need to be on our way." He stated, starting to feel uncomfortable with the whole situation.

"No. It’s fine, I’ll tell him since I asked her to call him over," Sebastian spoke before Mrs. Devereux could reply.

Slowly, he turned to Adrian and held his hand.

Alexalmkst lunged forward to tear Adrian away from Sebastian. But he sat still, his eyes burning hot and possessive at Sebastian’s and Adrian’s joined hands.

"Adrian, I know you already have an idea why you were invited here. But..." he chuckled, "I just want you to know that I’m saying nothing in front of everyone, we’re not entertaining them, not today." Sebastian winked at Adrian, smiling.

Adrian quietly signed in relief, a small smile appearing on his lips.

He was very relieved by Sebastian’s decision. It saved him the awkwardness of having to answer a certain question for everyone.

Alexander was steaming in his seat. He saw the grateful smile on Adrian’s face and almost released angry steams from his nose, his hands balling on his thighs, and his jaws clenching tightly.

Adrian dared to smile at Sebastian. He fucking smiled.

A smile he’d never thought his way before, yet, Sebastian was sitting right there like some handsome idiot, hiding Adrian’s hands and looking into his eyes.

"I appreciate your consideration. But –"

"No buts," Sebastian interrupted softly, standing and pulling Adrian up with him.

"You don’t have to say shutting, Adrian because I haven’t said anything, either. Tomorrow evening, I’ll pick you from Alexander’s, yeah?" He asked gently, still not letting go of Adrian’s hand.

"Aww, look at them, so cute together," Agatha said to Mrs. Devereux.

Mrs. Devereux smiled, slowly nodding her head, "I agree, Agatha. Who knew men would look that good together?" She chuckled.

"Oh, come on, Auntie. It’s the 21st century... men surely do look good together," Natalie commented, smiling as she stared at Sebastian and Adrian.

"What do you say, Adrian?" Sebastian asked, staring into a

Adrian’s eyes.

Adrian very slowly, glanced at Alexander. He wanted to seek permission, to seek intervention, but Alexander was looking away, facing the window at the far corner as if whatever Adrian answered wouldn’t be a problem.

"Okay," Adrian sighed, not wanting to be rude or dismissive.

Sebastian smiled, "Then, I’ll pick you up in the evening, Adrian. For now, I don’t want to hold you back from your..." He glanced at Alexander, "Work." He kissed the back of Adrian’s hand and stepped back.

"May I walk you out to the car?" Sebastian asked, his face beaming with an accomplished smile.

Adrian was still frozen from the hand kiss, his insides turning not with butterflies, but from a sense of wrong.

His body felt wrong as Sebastian touched and kissed him and he couldn’t wait to get out of his hold.

"Sure, Sebastian. Goodbye, Agatha, Mrs. Devereux," Adrian politely said to the women before nodding at Sebastian.

"Excuse me, ladies. I’ll be a gentleman and walk Adrian out to the car," Sebastian announced and led Adrian away from the living room.

Mrs. Devereux smiled, her eyes narrowing at her son, who seemed to be lost in his own secret world.

"You’re not leaving, Alexander?" She asked softly.

Alexander blinked, unclenching his jaws as he stood.

Without a word, he turned and walked out of the living room.

"Goodbye, Alex!" Agatha said behind him, waving even though he couldn’t see her.

Outside, Alexander met Sebastian saying something to Arian, who was leaning against the closed door. And once again, Adrian was smiling at the rubbish Sebastian was saying.

.

He felt the familiar twist in his chest, a pain that threatened to bring him to his knees each time Adrian’s attention wasn’t on him.

Was he going to lose him to Sebastian?

Was Sebastian the freedom Adrian was searching for?

What would his life be like with Adrian gone?

"We’re leaving," Alexander entered the car without waiting for Adrian, starting the engine.

"I have to go now, see you tomorrow," Adrian said to Sebastian and pulled his door open.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Adrian," Sebastian said, stepping back as the door closed.

He waved gently at Adrian as the car drove away from Agatha’s home.

Back on the road, another uncomfortable silence ensued between the boss and his secretary, and this one was worse than Ruiyan’s inflicted silence.

This one felt like war, a war with no hope of ending.

Suddenly, Adrian realised that Alexander wasn’t taking him home, he was driving toward his own street, back to the small apartment he used to live in before moving into the penthouse with Alexander.

"Boss –"

"You’re not allowed to speak to me," Alexander vmcut him off coldly, focusing on driving.