The Billionaire's Two-Faced Escort Wife-Chapter 93: Distance Makes The Heart Fonder

Meanwhile, the sleek black car ate up the miles, swiftly exiting the city’s concrete labyrinth for the rolling green hills of the upstate wine country.

​The dynamic inside the car was a tense, intricate dance. Sebastian maintained a respectful, calm distance, playing the role of the perfect gentleman and sympathetic friend, contrasting sharply with Alexander’s volatile intensity.

​Adrian stared out the window, watching the blur of the landscape, the physical distance providing a much-needed emotional clarity. Sebastian, sensing Adrian needed to set the emotional stage, kept the conversation light and boundary-focused.

​"So," Sebastian began, his voice low and casual. "I understand the need for space. We are friends, Adrian. You can trust me. My feelings for you are genuine, but I respect your position. No pressure. No physical contact unless you initiate. Is that sufficient?"

​Adrian turned from the window, his expression hard. "No physical contact, period, Sebastian. I’m simply with you for a break. If you try to touch me, I will immediately call Alexander. The only reason I am here is for a neutral space. Do not confuse that with an opportunity."

​Sebastian smiled, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "Understood. No contact. And the ’work’ comment I made earlier? I apologize. It was crude. I now see that your relationship with Alexander is far more complex than I initially assumed. It’s not my place to ask, but, do you love him?"

Adrian was stunned; he knew someone could notice, but he didn’t know it would be this soon.

He always knew that Sebastian’s keen eyes wouldn’t miss the spark between Alexander and himself, now, he has to find a way to make it look like work. After all, Alexander was married in the eyes of the people. Having an affair with his secretary would taint his name.

​"It is built on a contract," Adrian stated flatly. "And my desperate need to pay my mother’s bills. Don’t confuse my recent involvement with Alexanderfir with something else." He answered calculatedly.

​"I won’t," Sebastian assured him, though his gaze suggested otherwise. "But a contract can be broken, Adrian. If you decided today that you’d had enough, I would personally see to it that your mother’s bills are paid, the debt is settled, and Alexander leaves you alone. You’d be truly free."

​Adrian felt the weight of the offer. True, clean freedom. No debt. No strings. He looked at Sebastian, a profound sadness entering his eyes.

​"That’s a very generous offer, Sebastian," Adrian said softly. "But freedom has a cost. If I took your money, I would simply trade one contract for another. And I refuse to owe either of you anything but the terms we’ve already set."

​Adrian leaned his head back, closing his eyes. He had made his choice—he would fight for his freedom from within Alexander’s contract, because only then could he secure a future with the man he loved, on his terms. Sebastian’s ’clean’ offer only highlighted how deep his commitment to Alexander had become.

​Four hours later, they arrived at Sebastian’s remote estate. The winery was sprawling and beautiful, a landscape of manicured vines and rustic stone.

​"Welcome to Vale Reserves," Sebastian announced, pulling the car up to a quaint stone cottage overlooking the valley. "The main house is secured, but this guest cottage is quiet. Utterly private."

​He got out of the car, walking around to open Adrian’s door.

​Adrian stepped out into the crisp, clean air. He felt calmer, the immediate anger at Alexander having faded, replaced by cold, strategic resolve.

​"It’s beautiful, Sebastian," Adrian admitted, taking a deep breath.

​"It is. And it’s yours for the next few hours. I’ll take a short walk to check the fermentation tanks. You can relax. I’ll bring some lunch later."

​Adrian walked over to the edge of the vineyard, looking down into the valley. He stood there for a full five minutes, contemplating the choice he had made. He had run to punish Alexander, but now he realised the risk was too great.

​He looked down at his watch: 1:00 PM. Alexander was probably on his third smashed phone by now.

​Adrian took out his own phone—the one Alexander hadn’t smashed—and walked to the single oak tree on the hill. He sat down and opened the camera app. He didn’t take a selfie.

​Instead, he took a beautiful, wide-angle photo of the vineyard and the stone cottage—a perfect, clear image showing his location: Sebastian’s property.

​He opened his secure messaging app and sent the image directly to Alexander’s most secure private email address.

​He typed a single message:

​SUBJECT: Your Secretary’s Location

​BODY: I’m safe, Boss. I needed quiet. I will be back by midnight, per my plan. No one has crossed a boundary. Stop searching for me, do some work.

​— Adrian

​Adrian took another deep breath and put his phone away. He had given Alexander a clear, undeniable sign of his location and his safety, effectively ending the panic. More importantly, he had redirected Alexander’s destructive jealousy back into productive, contractual action.

​He had successfully tested Alexander’s self-control, claimed his autonomy, and simultaneously enforced the boundaries of their new agreement, all without breaking his promise not to seek out a rival. He had used Sebastian as a means to an end, and now that the message was sent, Sebastian was merely the chauffeur.

​He stood up, walking toward the cottage door, feeling a powerful sense of control. He was Adrian Cole, the secretary, the strategist, and the secret love of Alexander Devereux.

——

​Back in the penthouse, Alexander was staring at the fractured phone, his breathing ragged, when his laptop pinged with a secure email notification. He tore himself away from the broken device and lunged for his desk.

​He stared at the image: the beautiful winery, the undeniable location, and the concise, commanding message.

​His fury evaporated, replaced by a surge of overwhelming, agonising relief and pride.

​He sent me his location. He sent me a command.

​Alexander looked at the shattered phone, then at the laptop screen, an intense, possessive smile spreading across his face. Adrian had not just run away; he had run to a strategically advantageous position to deliver a non-verbal command.

​Alexander immediately grabbed the secure desk phone and dialled the contractor who handled all the Devereux properties.

​"Listen to me. I need a Category One installation. A military-grade internal deadbolt is installed on the master suite’s west door. It must be completed and functional before midnight tonight. Do not fail me. I don’t care about cost or time; I care about compliance. Do it now."

​He ended the call, then leaned back in his chair, running a trembling hand through his hair. The panic was gone, replaced by a cold, determined resolve. Adrian had given him six hours to wait, and six hours to prove his loyalty to the rules.

​’He’s mine. He chose me, even while sitting with Sebastian.’

​Alexander looked at the clock. The countdown to midnight had officially begun. Now, the battle of wills was truly on.

​The afternoon at Vale Reserves settled into a quiet, almost domestic rhythm that Adrian found unsettling. He spent an hour sitting on the quaint cottage porch, the tranquillity of the vineyards seeping into his strained nerves. The fresh, crisp air was a stark contrast to the stifling emotional environment of Alexander’s penthouse.

​Around 2:30 PM, Sebastian returned, carrying a wicker basket and a bottle of wine. He was smiling, relaxed, and utterly non-threatening—the perfect counterpoint to Alexander’s demanding presence.

​"Lunch is served, Mr. Cole," Sebastian announced, setting the basket down on a small wrought-iron table on the porch. He uncorked the bottle of white wine, offering a glass to Adrian. "This is our new vintage, a Sauvignon Blanc. Clean, crisp, and completely distraction-free."

​Adrian accepted the glass. He sipped the wine, the subtle fruit notes grounding him. "It’s excellent, Sebastian."

​"Thank you. Compliments from you mean more than any professional review," Sebastian said, his eyes conveying a sincerity that Adrian found difficult to dismiss.

​They ate in a comfortable silence: delicate smoked salmon sandwiches, artisanal cheeses, and fresh bread. Sebastian didn’t push for conversation, respecting Adrian’s need for quiet contemplation. He merely observed Adrian, his gaze attentive but non-possessive.

​Finally, Sebastian broke the silence, not with a question, but with a statement.

​"You are lying to yourself, Adrian," Sebastian said quietly, tearing a piece of bread. "I know you didn’t leave Alexander just for a ’break.’ It is more than just a contract. You gave him the most vulnerable part of yourself. He panicked and ran to work, confirming your deepest fear: that he prioritises control and corporate image over your heart."

​Adrian stiffened, placing his glass down. "That’s an oversimplification, Sebastian. Your mind works quite mysteriously, I do not know what you’re talking about,"

​"No," Sebastian countered gently. "He ran from the vulnerability. He runs every time the emotional stakes get too high. You admitted you feel something for him, and his response was to retreat into CEO mode, leaving you to eat alone. That is a failure of partnership, not strategy. I know Alexander. I know he is incapable of sustained, selfless affection."