Adrian got back after ending the call, sliding the phone into his pocket smoothly. His expression remained cool and unemotional, dark eyes dull as he returned to the head of the dining table and lowered himself into the chair sluggishly.
Leo was no longer crying. Silent tears had dried on his flushed cheeks, so he continued eating his tiny portions. Adrian noticed, as before, that Leo ate very little and very slowly, the portions on his plate barely diminishing. He let it pass without any comment this time. The boy would come around on his own, forcing the issue would only make him freeze harder.
"Would you like to go buy clothes for yourself?" Adrian's voice cut through the silence.
Leo stopped mid-bite. He neither nodded nor shook his head. His free hand fidgeted with the sleeve cuff of Adrian's shirt, twisting the fabric in little circles as his brows furrowed in a small but cute frown. How could he accept more things when he wouldn't be doing chores anymore? The thought made his head tilt a bit, cheeks puffing out faintly in confusion, like a small creature puzzling over an unexpected treat it wasn't allowed to take.
Adrian watched his changing expressions with amusement. His own features stayed cool. By now he understood his little husband's nature. Leo wouldn't ask for anything himself. Following strict orders for years had eroded his decision-making ability, leaving him adrift without commands. So, until Leo sorted his own thoughts, Adrian would have to step in and decide for him.
"Do you like my clothes so much you don't want any others now?" Adrian inquired, his expression unchanging except for the faintest curve at the corner of his mouth.
Leo turned pink instantly, the flush blooming across his cheeks and ears. He choked on his bite, coughing softly into the oversized sleeve, eyes watering as his free hand fluttered up in a helpless wave, his small body giving an anxious shuffle in the chair.
His reaction brought out a detached chuckle from Adrian. He pushed a glass of water across the table. "Here, drink some water. What are you choking for?"
Teasing this little husband was unexpectedly entertaining, though Adrian filed the observation away without any emotion.
After Leo stopped coughing after drinking a few sips, his cheeks were still pink and his eyes slightly glassy.
"Will you go with me or not?" Adrian asked again.
Leo nodded this time without looking at him.
Adrian felt a strange sense of achievement, as if he had closed a major deal worth millions. The sensation puzzled him. Why did extracting one simple nod feel like a victory? But he pushed it aside, expression remaining impassive as he returned to his food.
The meal turned out really well. Simple yet flavorful, better than anything fancy his chefs prepared for him. Adrian took another bite before speaking. "The food is really good."
Leo didn't know how to react when he heard those words. He had never been complimented before. He looked up and though he never smiles, his gray eyes were doing it for him. Those long lashes fluttered as his eyes shone brightly.
Adrian was stunned for a split second, pausing his eating. This was the first time he had seen Leo this relaxed and at ease. He had encountered every type of person in his line of work. But not once had he met someone like the one sitting in front of him.
Or…had he? The strange feeling jerked his heart again. Those glassy eyes held a recognition.
"Have we met before?" The words left him unconsciously.
Leo frowned at the question. He couldn't understand why Adrian always asked him the same thing. He was sure they had never met before. How could they? They lived in entirely different worlds, it was impossible for them to ever cross paths.
Leo shook his head leaving Adrian with a moment of disappointment. Adrian still felt that odd pull of familiarity, a buried echo he couldn't place. Before he could ask more questions, his phone rang.
Adrian glanced at the screen and excused himself. He picked it up with the same cold expression he keeps for his employees. "Yes, Mom."
"Addy, darling! Did you choose any girl from the bios I sent? I'll simply die if I don't see my only son married soon!"
Adrian rolled his eyes internally. "My name is Adrian. And no, I'm busy."
"Oh, come on, Addy!" She cried out in anger. "My only son is leaving me childless and heartbroken in my old age, how can you be so cruel?"
Adrian knew this routine by heart, it was nothing new.
"I'm getting late for a meeting. Talk to you later." He hung up without waiting for her.
When he returned to the dining room, he didn't find Leo at the table but at the sink washing dishes. Adrian's expression raged further, as if he wasn't frustrated enough today.
This guy never learns, does he? Such a headache.
"Didn't I just tell you not to do anything? Do you ever listen–" Adrian walked up to Leo and grabbed his arm, causing him to stop. Adrian stopped scolding him when Leo flinched at the loud tone, as if Adrian had knocked him. His shoulders jerked up to his ears, and he shrank in on himself, small hands curling into the side of his shirt tightly. His eyes turned glossy in seconds, like a child caught doing something he didn't even understand was wrong.
He looked so fragile and heartbreakingly pitiful that Adrian couldn't bring himself to finish his words.
To ensure Leo didn't work again, Adrian decided on something. "You're coming to the office with me."
😩🥹😎
The news of the boss bringing someone spread through the Hale Corporation.
By the time Adrian Hale walked out of the private elevator on the executive floor, the phones of the employees were already buzzing under the tables.
"Did you see that? The Ice King actually brought a person with him."
"Who's he?"
"Maybe his brother."
"Is it his secret little brother? Wait—no, everyone knows he has an older brother who runs the European branch."
"Cousin, then? From the countryside? Look how tiny and soft he looks next to the devil himself."
"Looks like a boy toy to me."
"Every twink looks like a boy toy to you, Stephanie. He could be a friend as well."
"What, I'm saying the truth. Doesn't he look like the person who came last time wearing those slutty clothes?"
"Bet it's a new assistant. But why does he look like an angel who got lost on the way to heaven while the boss looks ready to drag souls to hell?"
A senior VP snorted behind his coffee. "Ten bucks says it's a charity case. Or a long-lost relative. Either way, our boss just walked in with a literal angel trailing him like a lost puppy. The world is ending, I'm telling you."
Having no idea what his employees were talking about him, Adrian strode ahead. Or maybe he did know what everyone in the company thinks of him, but he just never cared about them. The man who could bankrupt empires with a single phone call and never blink doesn't need to worry about what commoners say about him behind his back. They mistook his composure for cruelty and took his silence for arrogance. To them, a man who did not laugh loudly or explain himself was a man who believed he stood above everyone else.
That's exactly how they perceived him.
Behind him, Leo followed quietly. It was his second time here and the stares were no different. Though he was wearing decent clothes this time.
Aaron was waiting outside Adrian's office door, and he could barely contain his excitement. "Welcome, Mr. Hale. And nice to see you again, Leo!"
Oh my god, is this real? Is the boss finally bringing someone to the office? The world is changing! My cold-hearted, emotionless boss is becoming human? With feelings? I never thought I'd see the day!
Ignoring his nasty beaming face and not caring to hide his disgust, Adrian entered his office. The two followed him inside.
"You can sit there," Adrian gestured to the sofa for Leo, and without looking at any of them moved to his own chair.
While Leo made his way there and looked utterly innocent and obedient, Aaron melted away.
"Aww, those eyes could end wars," he muttered under his breath. He smiled and turned to Adrian. "Don't you think the same sir—"
"If you want to keep your job, bring the report I asked for," Adrian cut him off mid-sentence causing his smile to drop. Aaron cursed him inwardly. He made his way out but stopped when Adrian called him again. "Bring some light snacks for Leo."
Aaron snapped to attention at those words, grinning like a proud parent. "On it, sir! Snacks coming right up for our little guest!"
He disappeared down the hall, practically skipping happily. Aaron returned minutes later balancing a tray loaded with cookies, fruit tarts, macarons, fresh juice, and a steaming cup of mild tea, plus the thick file tucked under his arm.
"Everything you asked for, sir," He handed the file to Adrian and turned to Leo with that same bright smile. "Here you go! Eat as much as you want, okay? Once you're done with them, I'll bring you more."
Leo felt every pair of eyes in the room on him even though it was just the three of them. He got nervous but didn't want to be ungrateful, so he picked up a chocolate chip cookie with trembling fingers and took the smallest possible bite, nibbling delicately like a cautious rabbit testing new grass.
Aaron grinned wider, looking almost psycho-happy, eyes sparkling as he hovered over the sofa and Leo, watching him eat with a melting heart.
Adrian noticed Leo's unease immediately, the way the boy's free hand fidgeted with the sleeve, the anxious shuffle of his feet under the coffee table. He rolled his eyes again before commanding.
"Aaron. Here. Now."
Aaron wanted to cry out. How could his boss be so heartless? What if Leo needed something and he wasn't there? Still, he reluctantly went to Adrian. "Yes, sir?"
"Details about the Wards?" Adrian demanded seriously.
It's in front of you. How could you be so lazy? Can't you read it yourself—
"Aaron?" Adrian raised a brow, pulling him out of reality.
"Ah, yes," Aaron straightened and switched to professional mode. "Their logistics company is circling the drain, debts over two million, suppliers pulling contracts left and right after late deliveries, and warehouses half-empty. Selene's been pushing her husband's failing routes hard, but banks are threatening foreclosure. Their son Kyle's got gambling debts on the side, a few minor assault records sealed but still on file. Mr. Ward is passive, just signs whatever she puts in front of him. The whole family was banking on this marriage to Hale for bailouts, exclusive shipping deals, introductions to investors, the works. They're desperate, sir. Selene even tried offering her daughter first, but your mother insisted on Leo. They see him as disposable leverage."
Marrying off their children for business was nothing new to Adrian. Alliances sealed with rings instead of contracts, he had seen it all before. Every family carried its own brand of greed, and perfumed to look like tradition.
That, he could tolerate.
But what they had done to Leo crossed a line. Adrian's jaw tightened, his expression turning eerily calm, the kind of calm that came before ruin.
Now they would learn the cost of that mistake.
Adrian nodded once. "Leave the file and go."
Aaron glanced longingly at Leo. "But sir, maybe I should stay until he finishes eating? Bring more if he wants—"
"I think you don't have enough work to do nowadays. I can always give you more if you want," Adrian's glare was ice-cold and threatening.
Aaron's face crumpled like a scolded puppy. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll be going now. Please call if you need anything."
He slunk out, looking thoroughly bullied, the door clicking shut behind him.
Adrian sighed, rubbing his temple with two fingers, the cool mask cracking just enough to show his irritation. He turned his gaze to Leo, who was still nibbling the cookie, his foot tapping faintly in a senseless rhythm against the carpet. Adrian watched his gray eyes flutter half-closed in enjoyment of the chocolate, his cheeks puffing out as he turned the cookie in his hands to inspect it from time to time.
Adrian analyzed the boy, as if studying a new variable in a high-stakes deal, the faint tremble in the bandaged hand, the way the oversized shirt was slipping off one of his shoulders again, the almost peaceful focus on something as simple as a cookie. For a long moment Adrian was mesmerized, the thoughts of Wards or whatever Aaron informed him fading away, and the strange familiarity tugging his chest again.
It was different. It was peaceful. It was satisfying. The same victorious feeling of seeing Leo eating and enjoying to his heart's content.
Adrian let out an exhausted breath. His expression snapped back to indifference.
What the hell am I doing? He picked up the file and forced himself to work.
Leo ate until he couldn't. He had been greedy for more, the chocolate chip cookies, the fruit tarts, the macarons, but his small belly was full now, pleasantly stretched for the first time in years. He wiped his fingers carefully on the napkin, folding it neatly before taking a slow sip of water. Without realizing it, he let out a contented puff of air, cheeks still faintly puffed from the last bite, like a little hamster who had finally stuffed its pouches.
Leo looked up shyly and stared for a long while. His husband was focused on work, his brow slightly furrowed in that serious way that made the sharp lines of his jaw even more defined, the black shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms. He looked more attractive than ever.
There was no doubt that Adrian was devastatingly handsome. The first time Leo had seen him in this office, he had been stunned speechless. How had someone like him ended up married to a mute nobody? Adrian wasn't just handsome, but he was also kind. He bandaged Leo's wounds, offered him clothes, and let him eat without punishment. That kindness made him even more attractive.
As if feeling a strong gaze on himself, Adrian suddenly looked up, his dark eyes meeting Leo's directly.
Leo's heart skipped a painful beat. His eyes widened, and his cheeks burned hot pink in an instant. He didn't look away this time, he was too frozen to do so. This is so embarrassing, caught staring like a creep. Will his husband think he's weird? Is his image finally ruined? His fingers twisted the sleeve cuff again in little circles.
To say, Adrian was caught off guard would be an understatement. He couldn't have expected for Leo to stare at him so openly. "Come here."
Leo flinched at the order, the familiar fear spiking inside his stomach. He stood shyly as he crossed the room and stopped in front of the desk.
Adrian looked at the timid figure before him. "Sit down."
Leo sat quickly on the edge of the visitor chair with his back straight, eyes lowered but flicking up obediently when Adrian didn't speak.
"Are you getting bored here?" Adrian leaned back to observe him.
Leo shook his head quickly, heart thumping against his ribcage as he nibbled his lower lip without realizing.
"I won't get angry if you tell the truth."
Leo shook his head again, more firmly this time, though his cheeks stayed pink. How could he be bored? He had just eaten the tastiest snacks, he was wearing warm clothes that smelled of Adrian even though they swallowed him whole and he had to keep folding the sleeves. And he didn't have to scrub floors until his hands bled or get beaten for small mistakes. If anything, he was at peace and most importantly, he was safe.
Adrian studied him for a moment. He could tell the boy wasn't lying. He felt relieved. "If you feel bored and want anything, you must tell me."
Leo nodded obediently, though of course he wouldn't tell him. How could he disturb Adrian Hale? No one dared to do that.
Adrian could tell the nod was a lie. His tone sharpened with frustration. "Don't lie to me."
Leo's eyes widened in fear, but no sound came, only the rapid nibble on his lip returning as he stared at his lap. How did he find out? Was it possible that his husband could read minds?"
Adrian found it frustrating that there was no way to properly communicate with Leo. The flaw he had once seen as a win now feels like a loss. The silence that had seemed perfect now left him guessing and unable to read the full truth.
"Do you know sign language?"
Leo shook his head slowly, his eyes downcast. He had wanted to learn so many times, but Selene never let him.
Adrian knew sign language fluently. As the heir to the Hale empire, he had been trained in countless skills from a young age, like multiple languages, negotiation tactics, even basic medical training and now sign language, because his grandfather had insisted "you never know who you'll need to communicate with in boardrooms or crises." He had mastered it in six months, the same way he mastered everything.
"How would you like it if I put you in a sign language class?"