Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Adrian Trust Tested in Silence

"About our mother," Maxwell added, "Mark, Marissa, and I already talked about it. We are planning to speak to her again to consider seeing him this time around. I just hope she listens."

Adrian fell into a deep silence, thinking about everything Maxwell had just disclosed. After a moment, he looked up and said, "Alright, Maxwell. I don’t know why your brother is sad, but we are on good terms."

Maxwell raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," Adrian said, keeping his voice steady.

"Maybe he lost a business contract then," Maxwell muttered, shaking his head. "Whatever it is, try and talk to him."

"Alright, I will," Adrian promised.

Wanting to shift the focus away from his own relationship, Adrian changed the topic, turning to Maxwell with a small smile. "So, what is your decision? Have you finally decided who you want between Kate and James?"

Maxwell grinned immediately. "Yes. I already chose James. He’s tall and sexy, exactly my type."

Adrian laughed, leaning back in his chair. "And what is the progress so far?"

"You’re being nosy," Maxwell teased.

"He’s my employee," Adrian countered playfully. "I can easily tell him not to talk to you again."

"Please don’t do that!" Maxwell said quickly, waving his hands. "Alright, I’ll tell you."

"Alright, I’m listening."

Maxwell leaned forward, his eyes sparking with mischief. "We are meeting up later tonight, and he’s actually going to spend the night at my place."

Adrian’s eyes opened wide in shock. "Maxwell! Isn’t that a bit too fast? I think the two of you should take it slow."

"We are taking it slow," Maxwell insisted, completely unbothered. "He’s just coming over to know my house, that’s all."

Adrian stared at him, shaking his head. "You’re a bad boy."

"I learned it from your boyfriend," Maxwell retorted with a wink.

Adrian smiled as Maxwell stood up from his chair, dusting off his jacket. "I should leave now so I can prepare to go pick up my damsel later."

Adrian burst into laughter. "Damsel? You really just said damsel?"

"Yes," Maxwell laughed, heading toward the door. "See you later, Adrian."

Adrian kept smiling for a while after Maxwell left his office, but as the room fell quiet again, reality slowly settled back in. His smile faded. He stared at his desk, completely torn about what to do with Matteo. Part of him felt a deep wave of protective worry after what Maxwell said, but another part of him was still so hurt that he simply didn’t want to see him.

As the hours ticked by, Matteo did not call or text a single time.

Even though Adrian was supposed to be angry and distant, he still found himself checking his phone from time to time. Each time the screen lit up without a single notification from Matteo, a cold knot twisted in his chest.

Six whole hours passed in complete silence from Matteo’s side.

Adrian let out a hollow, bitter smile, staring down at the empty lock screen. "Maybe he’s already giving up on me," he whispered to the empty room. "Not even a single call or text from him in over six hours now."

Trying to distract himself, Adrian forced his attention back to his work, but his mind refused to cooperate. Giving up, he stood up and walked out to the main studio floor, where he found his staff in the middle of a heated conversation while they worked.

"No matter how angry you are, you shouldn’t reject your partner in bed for too long," Paul said, shaking his head.

Kate scoffed, glancing up from her station. "That’s easy to say, but what if your partner did something seriously wrong? Are you supposed to keep sleeping with them when you haven’t even forgiven them yet?"

"No matter how mad you are, intimacy is necessary," James chimed in with a laugh. "Otherwise, your man is definitely going to cheat on you. And you won’t even be able to blame him, since you’re the one constantly rejecting him."

"If my partner is in the wrong, I’m supposed to just lie there and let him have his way? Never. It doesn’t work that way," Kate countered fiercely.

Paul shrugged. "Sure, get angry for maybe a few days..."

"It can be weeks," Kate insisted. "Weeks until I’m fully satisfied and ready to have anything to do with him again."

"Weeks? That’s way too long," Paul said.

"I can stay mad for a month and not let him touch me at all," Kate shot back.

James burst out laughing. "Your man will absolutely cheat on you by then. One month is a lifetime."

"Never. He wouldn’t dare," Kate argued.

Adrian didn’t wait to hear the end of their argument. The words hit him too personally and made him uncomfortable. Turning on his heel, he walked quietly back to his office.

By the time the closing hour approached, Matteo still hadn’t called or texted.

Finally, Adrian gathered his things and stepped into the elevator to leave the studio. Just as the doors were closing, his phone vibrated in his hand. His heart skipped a beat, but when he checked the screen, it wasn’t Matteo. It was Kelly.

Your boyfriend has been with my ex since morning... They’re having fun. Come to me, Adrian. Let’s have our own fun and leave your cheating partner alone.

Adrian stared at the toxic message, a wave of disgust washing over him before he quickly shoved his phone into his pocket. As the elevator descended, his mind began to race. He thought about Kelly’s text, then his staff’s conversation, and finally Matteo’s unsettling silence throughout the day.

"He won’t cheat on me. I trust him," Adrian thought. He closed his eyes, repeating the words like a mantra, forcing himself to believe them. "He won’t cheat on me."

When the elevator opened, Adrian stepped out into the parking lot and made his way toward where his driver usually waited. But as he walked further and lifted his head, he suddenly froze.

Standing right beside his car, surrounded by his usual team of sharp-eyed bodyguards, was Matteo.

Adrian’s breath hitched. For a split second, a desperate urge to run straight into Matteo’s arms flared up inside him, but he suppressed it, forcing himself to stay composed as he walked toward him at a steady, controlled pace.

Before Adrian could speak, Matteo stepped forward, his posture tentative as he explained his unexpected arrival. "I’m sorry I didn’t inform you before coming, and I’m sorry I didn’t call or text you since morning, Rian," Matteo murmured, his eyes searching Adrian’s face. "I realized my calls only made you sound unhappy, and the last thing I want is to make you sad."

Adrian looked at him, the silence stretching between them.

"I came to pick you up from work," Matteo said softly, gesturing toward his vehicle. "I can take you to your place, or we can go to mine..."

Seeing Adrian’s continued silence, Matteo’s shoulders dropped slightly, assuming his offer had only made things worse. "Or... you can just go with your driver. I’m sorry, I’ll—"

Adrian didn’t let him finish the sentence. He looked at Matteo’s face, taking in how quiet, gentle, and completely stripped of his usual ruthless aura the mafia boss looked at that moment.

"Take me anywhere," Adrian interrupted quietly, locking eyes with him. "But not my house."

Matteo wasn’t expecting that response. After a brief pause, he quickly composed himself, turned toward his car, and his bodyguard immediately opened the door. Matteo let Adrian step inside first before getting in beside him.

As the car pulled away, Matteo stayed silent. He tried his best not to annoy Adrian, keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead and not even glancing to his side. Adrian also remained quiet, and the entire ride passed without a single word between them.

By the time they arrived at Matteo’s estate, they stepped inside the grand house. Matteo turned to Adrian softly and asked if he wanted anything before they went upstairs.

"I’m hungry," Adrian said.

Matteo nodded and immediately instructed Selene to bring dinner up to his bedroom.

When they reached the bedroom, Matteo loosened his tie and murmured that he wanted to take a shower. Adrian looked at him for a moment before asking quietly, "Can I join you?"

Matteo’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly nodded. "Sure."

They both undressed and stepped into the spacious bathroom, standing under the warm stream of the shower. As the water ran down Adrian’s body, Matteo watched him intently. But the moment Adrian started to turn his head, Matteo quickly looked away, fully controlling himself and keeping his hands to himself throughout the shower.

By the time they stepped back into the bedroom, Selene had already set the table and quietly left the room.

Matteo slipped into a plush robe and handed another one to Adrian. He gently sat Adrian down, wrapped a towel around his head, and carefully dried his hair before using a blow-dryer to finish. Once Adrian’s hair was dry, Matteo quickly did the same for himself, and they both sat down at the table to eat in a quiet rhythm.

After they finished eating, a heavy silence settled over the room again. Matteo’s phone buzzed, and he stepped aside to take a brief business call. When he ended the call, the atmosphere felt even more awkward. Adrian shifted in his seat and said, "I’m going to sleep."

"I’m going to smoke on the balcony for a bit," Matteo replied. "I’ll join you in a little while."

Adrian nodded. "Alright." He climbed onto the bed and pulled the sheets up.

Matteo opened the glass doors and stepped out into the cool night air, sparking up a cigarette. As he took a drag, his phone rang again...