The Vice President’s Humiliation
Alexander Chen’s face went from red to purple. He yanked at his wrist, trying to free himself from Adrian’s grip, his entire body twisting with the effort.
Nothing happened.
Adrian’s hand remained exactly where it was, steady as iron his expression unchanged.
“Let go of me!” Alexander snarled, his voice rising. “Who the hell do you think you are? You’re making a scene!”
“I’m the one who has an appointment with Sophia,” Adrian said calmly. Then, without warning, he released his grip.
Alexander staggered backward, his arms windmilling as he tried to catch his balance. He would have fallen completely if Derek hadn’t suddenly appeared at his side.
“Mr. Chen! Are you alright?” Derek grabbed Alexander’s arm, shooting venomous looks at both Adrian and Sophia. “This is unacceptable! Sophia, how dare you let your… your gigolo assault Mr. Chen! Do you have any idea who he is? What he could do for our family?”
Sophia’s face flushed with fury. “Get out of my way, Derek
“Sophia, you need to apologize right now,” Derek hissed, still propping up Alexander. “Mr. Chen is a successful man, a vice president at a major corporation, and you’re embarrassing yourself…”
“I said get out of my way.” Sophia’s voice was cold enough to freeze.
Alexander waved Derek off, though his face was still flushed with humiliation. “It’s fine, it’s fine.” He straightened his jacket with jerky movements, trying to recover his composure. “I’m not going to lower myself to his level.”
But inside, Alexander was shaken. That grip…it had been like steel. He couldn’t move at all. And the way this nobody had looked at him, with that calm, almost pitying expression…
Alexander’s eyes traveled over Adrian again, taking in the details he’d missed before in his initial dismissal. Simple black shirt, well–fitted but unremarkable. Dark slacks with no visible label. Plain leather shoes that were quality but understated. No watch, no jewelry, no obvious markers of wealth or status.
He looked… ordinary. Like someone who worked a decent job, maybe mid–level management, but nothing special.
Which made it even more infuriating. How could Sophia…beautiful, accomplished Sophia…be on a date with someone like this?
“Sophia,” Alexander said, forcing his voice into something approaching sympathy, though his eyes remained hard. “I know things have been difficult for you lately. The Bankruptcy, the debt, all of it.” He shook his head slowly. “But even if you’ve fallen on hard times, you don’t need to lower your standards this much, do you?”
Sophia’s hands clenched at her sides. “My standards are none of your business.”
“It’s such a pity,” Alexander continued, as if she hadn’t spoken. “A woman of your caliber, matched with… well.” He gestured vaguely at Adrian. “It’s almost tragic. You know my offer still stands, Sophia. Come back to me. Let me take care of you. I can help you pay off your debts. I can help you rebuild. You don’t need to scrape the bottom of the barrel like this.”
“Don’t bother,” Sophia said coldly, her voice cutting through his condescending speech, ” Adrian has already cleared all my debts”
Alexander blinked. Then he laughed…a short, disbelieving bark. “By him?” He looked Adrian up and down again, his expression openly contemptuous. “Sophia, sweetheart, think you’ve been fooled. This pretty boy…”
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The Vice President’s Humiliation
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“Careful,” Adrian said quietly.
Something in his tone made Alexander’s mouth snap shut. But only for a moment. Pride and humiliation warred in his chest, and pride won.
“Tell me,” Alexander said, his smile razor–sharp and utterly fake, “where does such a ‘young and promising‘ man currently work? What industry are you in? I’m always curious about the competition.”
Sophia opened her mouth to respond, but Adrian touched her arm gently…a small gesture, but enough to stop her.
“I wouldn’t call myself young or promising,” Adrian said, his tone even and unremarkable. “I manage a few people. Handle some investments. Mostly, I’m idle.”
The words hung in the air for a beat.
Then Alexander burst out laughing.
It started as a chuckle but quickly grew into full–bodied guffaws. He bent forward slightly, one hand on his stomach, the other pointing at Adrian as tears gathered at the corners of his eyes.
“Oh, oh that’s perfect,” Alexander wheezed. “You ‘manage a few people.‘ You’re ‘mostly idle.“” He straightened up, wiping at his eyes. “I think I can guess what your job actually is.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one with exaggerated leisure. Then, cigarette dangling from his lips, he stood up straighter and brought both hands up in front of him.
His movements were deliberate, theatrical. He positioned his arms as if holding an invisible steering wheel, then made broad gestures…waving one hand forward in an exaggerated “come ahead” motion, then sweeping the other to indicate a turn. His face took on a mock–serious expression.
“Welcome home, owner!” he slurred out in a deliberately working–class accent, bowing slightly as he mimed opening an invisible car door.
Derek exploded with laughter beside him, nearly doubling over. “Oh god, that’s perfect! That’s exactly it!”
Alexander threw his head back, laughing louder. The woman in the red dress had stopped pouting long enough to smirk. A few other people near the entrance were watching now, some smiling uncertainly, others looking
uncomfortable.
Adrian’s expression didn’t change. He simply watched Alexander’s performance with the same calm detachment.
“You done?” Adrian asked when the laughter finally died down.
Alexander wiped his eyes again. “Oh, I’m sorry. That was rude of me. It’s just…” He waved his hand vaguely. “The whole mysterious act, the vague non–answers… You’re not fooling anyone, friend.”
He took a long drag from his cigarette, blowing the smoke to the side with exaggerated care. “Let me give you some advice. Free of charge, since you clearly need it. Young people…and you do seem young, despite your denials …need to be realistic. Stop dreaming about leeching off rich women. Stop looking for shortcuts. Go find an honest job. Maybe security work, since you seem to have the physical build for it. Or valet parking. Something with tips.”
Derek nodded vigorously. “Mr. Chen is absolutely right. You can’t expect to charm your way through life forever.”
Alexander warmed to his theme, his voice taking on a patronizing, almost professorial tone. “Now, I don’t say this to be cruel. I say it because I’ve been where you are. Young, mbitious, thinking the world owes you something.” He shook his head with mock sadness. “But I learned the value of hard work. Real work. That’s how I earned my current position as Vice President of Operations at Stellar ch Industries.”
He paused, clearly expecting recognition. When neither Adan nor Sophia showed any reaction, his smile tightened slightly.
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“Perhaps you haven’t heard of us,” Alexander continued, a pote of irritation creeping into his voice. “We’re a major corporation under Meridian Industries…one of the largest private conglomerates in the country. We handle everything from software development to infrastructure projects. Billions in annual revenue.”
Derek’s eyes went wide. “Meridian Industries? The Meridian Industries?”
“The very same,” Alexander said, his chest puffing out. “I’ve worked there for eight years. Clawed my way up from junior analyst to VP. It wasn’t easy, but that’s what separates men like me from…” He gestured dismissively at Adrian. “Well. Men like him.”
“And the owner,” Derek breathed, clearly starstruck. “Isn’t that…”
“Mr. X,” Alexander confirmed, his voice dropping to something reverent. “Though nobody actually calls him that to his face. Most of us just refer to him as ‘x.‘ He’s… well, he’s a legend. And controls more wealth and power than most people can comprehend. I’ve never met him personally…very few people have…but I’ve been in meetings where his decisions were handed down. The man is a genius. Ruthless, brilliant, and absolutely unstoppable.”
He took another drag from his cigarette, his expression distant for a moment, as if contemplating the vast gulf between himself and his mysterious employer.
Then he snapped back to the present, his condescending smile returning. “So you see, friend, that’s what real success looks like. Years of dedication, sacrifice, actually building something. Not just…” He waved his hand vaguely at Adrian again. “Whatever it is you’re doing.”
Adrian’s lips curved into the smallest smile. It wasn’t kind.
“You work for Meridian Industries,” he said. It wasn’t a question.
“For eight years,” Alexander confirmed proudly. “Why? Looking for a job application?” His tone made it clear he was joking, that someone like Adrian would never make it past the lobby.
“Interesting,” Adrian said softly. His eyes held something cold and calculating now, something that made Sophia glance at him with sudden curiosity. These fools have no idea that they were in the presence of the legendary Mr X.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
