Married with the Broken Hearted CEO novel Chapter 21

“Geoffrey!” 
Geoffrey
Geoffrey
Geoffrey
The name echoed inside the classroom. 
When Geoffrey felt the gaze around, that’s when he realized the shameful thing that he did. All he just wanted was to introduce himself to Adira, but he shouted his name in front of everybody. Just now, he thinks he made a fool of himself. 
Geoffrey stared at Adira, who’s gawking at him as if he’s a weirdo.
He then remembered that Adira isn’t interested in dating. What if just like Elliot, he will only embarrass himself in front of Adira?
Well, he already did. 
Geoffrey turned around. Catching his breath, he loudly uttered, “Geo… Geometry. I hate Geometry.” He walked away from her and exited the room. 
As soon as he arrived outside the classroom, he buried his face in his palms and cursed at his stupidity. 
Since then, Geoffrey avoided meeting Adira’s classmates around the campus. 
Time passed by and graduation is near.
Geoffrey became so busy in his studies because he had to meet all of the requirements before graduation. 
But although he did not meet Adira as frequently as before, she became an inspiration for him to do better. 
Someday soon, he wanted to be a cool guy who could bravely stand before Adira and confessed his feelings. 
When will be that day? 
‘Our graduation.’ 
Geoffrey believed that the best day for him to confess was when he and she graduated from college. It will be his one and only gift for himself who worked so hard, even if his head has only Adira. 
Finally, the day of graduation arrived. 
Wearing graduation robes, and a black cap with yellow tassel, Geoffrey was so excited for the ceremony to finish. 
While sitting, he could see Adira from afar.
“As usual, she’s pretty.” 
After staring at Adira for long time while the ceremony continues, Geoffrey looked around to see his parents. 
“Why are they so late?” he wondered. 
His stepsister, Isa, told him that they will go to the graduation as soon as possible. 
But Geoffrey’s name will be called but they haven’t arrived at the event. 
“Geoffrey Daley!” 
Geoffrey was called to the stage. When he stepped on the stage, all the girls shouted. Although he’s a shy man who rarely talks to women, he’s famous in school because of his good looks. 
“Whoo! That’s my friend!” from the audience, Sebastian shouted. 
Geoffrey felt so embarrassed, he wanted to cover his face while getting his diploma. Then ignoring the shouts of the women, Geoffrey stared around again. 
His parents and stepsister are nowhere to be found. 
‘Maybe, they are just late,’ he hoped. 
Before he hopped down from the stage, his eyes met Adira’s. 
He did not know what gotten him that time, but when she saw him, a sweet smile slipped on his lips. 
Adira, who wasn’t sure if he was really smiling at her or not, replied to him with another beam. 
Geoffrey was defeated with that. Blushing so hard, he turned his head away from her and went back to his seat. 
The graduation ended.
Until the end of the ceremony, Geoffrey could not find his family. He wanted to greet them first before finding Adira and confessing. 
“Where are they?” he murmured, sighing. 
Lifting his eyes, he saw Adira standing in the corner while staring around the students. 
Her gaze has no emotions, no excitement or sadness. 
Geoffrey noticed that just like him, Adira right now is also alone. 
She appeared like a cool lady who’s very positive in life. But now, she looks lonelier than the loneliest person in the world. 
Anyway, that won’t stop Geoffrey from confessing. 
“Whatever. I will find them after confessing,” Geoffrey said.
He jolted to Adira, wearing the confidence that he did not had the first year he discovered his feelings for her. Now it is the time to say it:
‘I like you for a long time.’ 
Geoffrey will say it to her, and just in case Adira rejected his confession, it is okay. He will gladly accept her decision. 
“Adi…” 
Kring~ Kring~ 
Geoffrey halted his feet and groped his vibrating pocket inside his robe. He doesn’t want to pick up the call, but a part of him said he should do it. 
Thus, Geoffrey picked up his phone and received the call from his stepsister. 
“Hey. I’ve been calling you dozens of times. Why did you…” 
“B-Brother…”
Geoffrey froze when he heard Isa crying over the phone. 
“B-Brother… My d-dad… and your m-mom… t-they got into a car accident.” 
“...” 
“T-They were brought in the hospital but… t-they are d-dead on arrival.” 
Slowly, Geoffrey put his hand down. His eyes turned blurry so that he could no longer see Adira in front of him. 
Keeping the tears in his eyes, Geoffrey turned around and ran away from the woman he loves. 
Since that, Geoffrey and Adira never see each other again. 
12 years have passed. 
Geoffrey is now a 32-year-old unmarried guy. The shy and aloof boy is nowhere to be found. Geoffrey, still handsome and sexy, dated a lot of women, but he never gets serious with any of his exes. 
One night, during his first day in an exquisite night bar, a customer came in exactly at the time Geoffrey’s name-tag fell on the ground. 
Geoffrey picked up his nametag, wiped the dust and looked at the customer sitting next to the counter. 
No matter how much time passes by, there’s no way Geoffrey would forget her face. Indeed, he dated a lot of women, but he never loved one as much as he did to Adira. Until now, his heart beats so fast just by seeing her face. 
‘But many years have passed by?’ 
Even if Adira is still as pretty as before, there might be chance that she’s taken already. And so, Geoffrey quickly checked her fingers. 
Geoffrey closed his partly opened lips after he saw her empty fingers. Then a satisfied grin appeared. 
‘She’s not married yet,’ he thought. 
“A glass of tequila, please?” Adira ordered to weird guy who got loss for a moment while staring at her. 
Instead of getting her order, Geoffrey wanted to introduce himself first and to say that he could remember Adira as his batch mate during college. But the phone call interrupted. 
Adira got her phone from her handbag. Geoffrey watched her in silent. 
“Oh? My husband is calling.” 
'Husband.'
Husband.
It was weird that Adira is not wearing her wedding ring but calling someone her ‘husband’ is enough for Geoffrey to draw a line and accepted that she is no longer available. 
‘Just like what they said. First love romance is impossible.’ 
Adira put the her phone instead of answering Chadwick and looked back at Geoffrey, who suddenly turned pale. 
“Ahmmm, excuse me?” 
“...” 
“I said I want a glass of…” 
“Sorry, ma’am. I will get someone to accompany you,” Geoffrey said, without looking into her eyes and just ran inside the staff room. 
As soon as he got inside, he leaned on the wall and held his chest. There was a pining melancholy inside his chest that wetted his eyes. 
“Hey dude, what’s wrong with you?” Vernon asked when he saw Geoffrey in the corner. He peeked at the counter and had his eyes wide open. “D-Did you just leave a customer behind? Hey! This is your first day at work. The boss will…” 
“Vernon,” he murmured, staring down. 
“Huh?” 
“Can you please…”
When Geoffrey lifted his eyes, Vernon saw his deep grimace, which he never seen before. 
“I am sorry, but can you take the order for that lady instead?” 
What made Geoffrey so sad like this? Confused, Vernon answered, “Okay. I will.” 
Geoffrey’s first love ended after 12 years. 
After that, Geoffrey acts like he doesn’t know Adira whenever she comes to visit the bar. He continued flirting around women, but Adira is the only exception. 
Geoffrey tried so hard to forget her and to act like he didn’t care. But cruel as it can be, fate always makes them meet. 
He always sees Adira at the most unexpected place, as if he was getting teased by fate. 
Just like tonight.     
3:00 am. 
It’s been 6 hours since Geoffrey met Adira on the road and helped her change the tire of her car. Then 3 hours since his birthday had ended. 
After receiving his second birthday gift from Adira, which is meeting her before his day ends, Geoffrey admitted that he’s looking forward to their next meeting; whether she’ll visit the bar or they will meet outside by chance again. 
‘I wonder when it will be?’ he pondered, walking towards the counter while wearing his bartender uniform. 
Almost exiting the staff door, Geoffrey stopped when he saw a woman sitting next to the counter. 
Vernon stood beside him and saw the lady too. 
“Isn’t that the woman whom you hate to serve?” Vernon asked. 
Geoffrey did not answer and just stared at her. 
“Don’t worry, pal. I’ll get it for you. Stay here. I will…” 
“No,” Geoffrey answered. “This time, let me serve her.” 
He exited the staff room and readied himself to meet Adira. 
Geoffrey is not allowed to love her again. Bu if he can continue secretly staring at her just like the past, then he will be happy with just that.