A Jealous Man in Denial
Adrian Couldn't Focus.
No matter how much work he buried himself in, his mind kept replaying the elevator scene—Celeste, dressed differently, brushing him off, walking away without a second thought. It irritated him more than it should.
Something about her was different lately. She wasn't the same clingy, insecure wife who used to trail after him, always seeking his attention, his approval. That should have been a good thing.
So why the hell was it bothering me?
A knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts. He expected his secretary, but instead, Ethan strolled in, completely at ease, carrying two beer bottles.
"Figured you'd still be working," Ethan said, setting one on Adrian's desk before dropping into the chair across from him.
Adrian glanced at the bottle before giving Ethan a look. "What are you doing here?"
"Relax," Ethan said, twisting the cap off his beer. "Thought I'd drop by, have a drink, maybe remind you to take a break before you drive yourself insane."
Adrian exhaled sharply. "I'm fine."
Ethan smirked. "Yeah? Is that why you look like you're two seconds away from snapping?"
Adrian didn't respond. He was too busy watching Ethan, his irritation deepening. "You had fun?" he asked, voice deceptively calm.
Ethan raised a brow. "At work? Never."
Adrian leaned back in his chair. "I meant 'outside' work."
Ethan's lips twitched. "Ah. You mean my little coffee date with your wife?"
Adrian's jaw clenched.
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "You really don't like being left out, huh?"
"She told me she was going home," Adrian said, ignoring the taunt.
"Technically, she did," Ethan said easily. "She just made a stop first. Nothing illegal about that."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable. "Why?"
Ethan took a sip of his beer. "Why what?"
"Why are you suddenly getting close to her?"
Ethan smirked. "Why not?"
Adrian's fingers curled slightly against the desk. He had been planning to let Celeste's behavior slide—for now—but something about Ethan's nonchalance was grating.
"You sure you're not enjoying this too much?" Adrian muttered.
Ethan grinned. "What, getting under your skin? A little." He leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. "But honestly? I think she's more interesting now."
Adrian's eyes darkened.
Ethan studied him for a moment before shaking his head. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you actually gave a damn. It's not like you've ever been the doting husband."
Adrian didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed his phone.
?
Celeste just got home when her phone buzzed.
She sighed, already knowing who it was before she even looked.
Celeste scowled. It was already late.
She rolled her eyes. So he found out.
She hesitated for a second before typing:
His response came instantly.
Celeste groaned in frustration. Is he serious?
A few moments passed before her phone rang. She hesitated but answered.
"Celeste," Adrian's voice was low, controlled. "I'm not asking."
She exhaled. "Why? So you can interrogate me about Ethan? What, are you suddenly interested in who I meet now?"
"You're my secretary," Adrian said smoothly. "I should know if you're planning to leave."
Celeste stilled.
So that's what this is about.
Not Ethan. Not jealousy. Just control.
A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. "I didn't know I needed your permission to have a life."
Adrian's silence stretched over the line. When he spoke again, his voice was edged with warning.
"Celeste."
She sighed. "I'm not coming back, Adrian. I'm tired."
She hung up before he could say anything else.
?
Adrian Tossed His Phone Onto the Desk, Jaw Tight With Irritation.
She had hung up on him.
Celeste had never done that before. No matter how upset or annoyed she was, she had always been the one who waited for him, who answered his calls immediately, who followed whatever he said—no questions asked.
But now? She was openly refusing him.
Ethan let out a low whistle from across the desk. "Wow. She actually said no? Never thought I'd see the day."
Adrian shot him a glare.
Ethan smirked. "You look pissed."
Adrian exhaled sharply, standing up. He grabbed his keys and walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Ethan asked, already knowing the answer.
Adrian didn't respond as he left.
?
Celeste had just finished washing up when she heard a knock on her bedroom door.
It was loud, impatient. She frowned.
Who the hell—
The knocking continued, more forceful this time. She sighed, tightening the belt of her robe as she walked over.
When she opened the door, she wasn't surprised to see Adrian standing there, his expression dark and unreadable.
"I thought I made myself clear," he said, voice low. "I told you to come back."
Celeste leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "And I thought I made myself clear. I wasn't coming back."
Adrian's gaze swept over her—wet hair, bare face, a soft robe that reached just above her knees. His eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly looked back up at her face.
"Get dressed," he said flatly. "We'll talk."
Celeste raised a brow. "We are talking."
"Inside, Celeste."
She narrowed her eyes. "No."
Adrian inhaled sharply, clearly trying to keep his temper in check. "You lied to me."
Celeste rolled her eyes. "I didn't lie."
"You didn't tell me you were meeting Ethan," he shot back.
She scoffed. "Do I have to report everything to you?"
Adrian's fingers twitched. He was used to Celeste arguing, but this was different. She wasn't getting emotional or desperate—she was calm. Unbothered. And that pissed him off more than her usual outbursts ever did.
"What did you even need from him?" he demanded.
Celeste shrugged. "Just some help with something."
Adrian's expression darkened. "And you couldn't ask me?"
Celeste blinked at him, genuinely confused. "Why would I?"
Her words hit him harder than he expected.
She used to rely on him for everything. Now she was going to Ethan?
Adrian stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I'm your husband."
Celeste let out a dry laugh. "That's rich, coming from you."
His jaw tightened.
Celeste looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "Let's not fool ourselves, Adrian. This sudden concern doesn't suit you."
Something in his chest tightened at her words, but he quickly shoved it down.
"You will stop meeting Ethan," he said instead.
Celeste's brows shot up. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
She let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head. "You don't get to control who I talk to."
Adrian stepped forward suddenly, forcing her back against the wall of the entryway. His scent—expensive cologne, whiskey, and something unmistakably him—surrounded her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"You're really pushing me tonight, Celeste," he murmured, voice low.
She swallowed but didn't back down. "And what? You don't like it?"
Adrian's gaze flickered to her lips before meeting her eyes again.
His fingers brushed against her jaw.
Celeste's breath hitched.
This was a mistake.
A terrible, devastating mistake.