The Billionaire's Two-Faced Escort Wife-Chapter 92: Upstate Drive

"Taking a break from work, Mr. Cole?" Sebastian asked, his voice smooth and slightly suggestive.

The ’work’ he mentioned was Alexander, and he knew that Adrian might just understandwhat he meant.

Adrian cleared his throat, "Good morning, Mr. Vale. Are you here to visit someone?" Adrian questioned, sliding his hand into his pocket.

Sebastian smiled, stepping closer to Adrian, "Alexander is currently preparing to deploy the entire Devereux security force to find his runaway secretary."

​Adrian stiffened, his blood immediately boiling. Alexander was worried. Good. That was the point. But Sebastian’s presence here meant he was being monitored.

​"I don’t recall tendering my movements to anyone but my mother, Sebastian," Adrian replied coldly, walking toward the street without acknowledging the open car door.

​Sebastian chuckled, a low, pleased sound. "Don’t be dramatic, Adrian. Alexander didn’t tell me you left, but I know how his mind works. When his most prized possession disappears without notice after an emotional family dinner, he doesn’t call the police; he calls the people who know his secrets. You dhoukd know, I’m here for myself, not for him."

​Sebastian leaned across the console, his hand resting on the passenger seat. "Get in, Adrian. Don’t make a scene. I’ll drive you back or wherever you want to go. You’ve just recovered, I can’t have you walking into the wrong place again." He reasoned quietly.

​Adrian stopped, weighing his options. If he allowed Sebastian to take him back, he proved he was being monitored and reinforced Alexander’s control. If he refused, he dragged Sebastian into a confrontation, violating the ’no rival games’ clause.

​But Alexander left without a word.

​The hurt and anger over Alexander’s sudden absence—after Adrian had just committed his heart and safety to the man—fueled his rebellion. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

​"I don’t need a ride back, Sebastian," Adrian retorted, turning to face him. "I’m not going back until I’m ready. I have the entire city to explore."

​Sebastian sighed, removing his sunglasses. His keen, brown eyes held a mixture of genuine concern and strategic interest. "I have no objection to your request, I happen to have a lot of time on my hands today," he smirked.

​"You got it wrong, I never asked for your tour," Adrian corrected sharply. "I am a free person, not his prisoner, and definitely not yours either. I am just going to go ahead and go about my day like a normal person. If you have a lot of time on your hands, I suggest you use it to nap, you need it." Adrian muttered.

​Sebastian opened the door fully. "I understand. And I respect your need for distance. Then let me offer you a third option. Not a ride back to the penthouse, but a distraction. A genuine one, with no strings. I need to visit my winery upstate to check on the new reserve. It’s a peaceful, utterly secure place. No Alexander, no cameras, no Angelica. Just nature and silence. It’s a four-hour drive, and I’ll have you back by midnight, as you planned. What do you say?"

​Adrian hesitated. A drive upstate. Hours away from Alexander’s influence. The offer of a clean, quiet space was incredibly tempting. It was a direct challenge to Alexander’s "Adrienne Emergency" and his ’no touch’ self-imposed agony.

​Sebastian noticed his hesitation. "I swear, Adrian, I will adhere to any boundary you set. I’m offering friendship and a chance to breathe. Alexander is using panic to control you. I am offering an escape hatch to test your resolve."

​Adrian saw the calculation, but he also saw the genuine offer of space. He needed time to process the ’Adrienne Emergency’ strategy and Alexander’s possessive commitment. This trip would be the ultimate test of their new contract’s durability.

​Adrian walked to the open door and slid into the passenger seat without another word. "Upstate then, Sebastian. And if you cross any line, I will have Alexander ruin your vintage."

​Sebastian laughed, a warm, genuine sound this time. "Fair enough, Adrian. Buckle up. Let’s see who breaks first: Alexander, or your willpower."

​The Missing Secretary—

​Back at the penthouse, Alexander had returned from his whirlwind morning of corporate press releases and calls to his mother, implementing the "Adrienne Emergency." He felt exhausted but triumphant. His lie had been accepted by Mrs. Devereux, buying him the precious six months he needed.

​He walked into the kitchen, expecting to find Adrian finishing his breakfast. Instead, he found Angelica standing by the counter, looking pale and holding a crumpled napkin.

​"Angelica, where is Adrian? He should be resting," Alexander asked, concern paramount.

​Angelica wrung the napkin in her hands. "Sir... Adrian... he left."

​Alexander frowned. "Left? Where? He knows he can’t be walking around the city, not after—"

​"He snuck out, sir," Angelica whispered, her eyes filling with distress. "He saw you weren’t here, and he became very sad. He was looking for you. I went into the kitchen to fetch him some wine, and when I returned... he was gone. He looked angry, sir. He said something about not wanting to eat alone."

​Alexander felt a cold, paralysing dread seize him. Adrian had run away. Not because he was unhappy with the contract, but because Alexander had violated the emotional contract—the unspoken promise of presence and devotion after their confession.

​Alexander pulled out his phone, his mind racing. He called his head of security. "Track Adrian Cole’s phone. Immediately. I want his precise location. Now."

​He paced the living room, the beautiful view of the city blurring into an abstract threat. Adrian, the core of his life, his vulnerability, his secret wife, was loose in the city, angry and hurt.

​The phone rang instantly. It was Marcus. Alexander answered with a snarl.

​"Don’t tell me you couldn’t find him, Marcus. Where is he?"

Marcus’s voice was calm, not wanting to infuriate his boss anymore. "No, boss. I found him. He’s quite—safe–"

"Where is he?" Alexander barked.

"He’s with Mr. Vale with me," Marcus informed.

​Alexander stopped dead, his fists clenching until his knuckles were white. "What? Where are they? Bring him back now."

​"Boss, I did approach them before they left town. However, Adrian stated his refusal to return to you, and I was unable to convince him, boss." Marcus replied carefully. "He said I should inform you that he was upset you abandoned him after something you both agreed on. He needed space. They’re on their way upstate. Mr. Vale offered him a drive to the winery. No cities, no danger, just quiet air and conversation. He initiated the outing, boss. He accepted Mr. Vale’s company."

Marcus paused, delivering the final blow. "He’s perfectly safe, and Mr. Vale swore to honour every boundary Adrian sets. He–" Alexander ended the call and immediately dialled another number.

Sebastian answered, "Hey, pal. Called to chat?" He asked so calmly that it infuriated Alexander.

"Bring him back, now," He seethed, gritting his teeth.

Sebastian chuckled, "I always suspected something, Alexander, and I’m close to finding out. This is the test, isn’t it? You wanted him to be free to choose you. Well, now he’s choosing to spend time with me. I’ll have him back by midnight. Try to control yourself, Alexander. Or he might just choose to sleep over at mine."

​Sebastian hung up.

​Alexander stood in the middle of the living room, his chest heaving, his blue eyes blazing with absolute, unadulterated fury. Adrian had called his bluff and weaponised the ’Power Reversal’ rule by choosing his rival as his distraction.

​He smashed his phone against the marble wall. The screen fractured, sending spiders of black glass across the surface. He was now alone, blind, and consumed by a terrifying, agonising jealousy. Adrian was gone, and he was forced to wait.

​The moment the phone screen fractured against the marble, Alexander felt a primitive, violent release of the tension that had been building since Mrs. Devereux’s interrogation. The sight of the shattered phone, however, did nothing to stop the agonising image of Adrian—hurt, angry, and now sitting beside Sebastian, willingly choosing his rival for comfort and distraction.

​He’s weaponised the rule, Alexander thought, pacing the living room like a caged beast. He initiated the outing. I cannot touch him, I cannot pressure him, and I certainly cannot give in to my jealousy and drag him back. That would prove Sebastian right.

​Alexander was forced into a state of agonising, enforced passivity. He was a man who commanded armies of analysts and billions in capital, yet he was utterly helpless against the wounded pride and brilliant strategy of his own secretary. He had six hours until midnight—six hours of Sebastian poisoning Adrian’s mind with ’unconditional affection.’

He groaned loudly and kicked the foot of the sofa, the pain a welcome distraction.

Should he damn the contract and go drag Adrian away from Sebastian?

Adrian can’t stay angry at him forever, he would eventually give in to him.

However, he knew Adrian, and he knew his will. If he dared to go against Adrian’s freedom, that would be the end of them.

He was helpless, drowning in the pool of devastation and confusion.