Married with the Broken Hearted CEO novel Chapter 49

Third Person’s POV 
Adira sat in front of her office desk. 
A pile of works is waiting for her. 
“There’s no rest,” she sighed. 
But even if the day will be tiring, she found peace as soon as she saw the drink on her table. She wrapped her hand around the cold cup and brought it near to her. Then, she noticed the note above the lid of the drink. 
[“If you are having a stressful day, never forget to smile.”]
That made her smile. 
“Stressful day, you say,” she murmured before taking the sip on her favorite roasted hazelnut ice latte. 
The ices melted and the drink taste bland. 
“Drinking a bland latte gave me a slight stress,” she chuckled. 
Adira understood why the drink isn’t tasty anymore. Probably, her secretary bought it before something came up and she came late at work. 
“People do have lot of worries,” she murmured undertone. 
Problems never stop visiting humanity. They just surpassed the crisis of her husband’s affair rumors, but now, another hurdle came. 
Looking at the space, Adira remembered her conversation with her husband just this morning. 
“The project between Wine&Vibe and Crimson Meadow will end after five months. Right?” 
“Yes. You are right. We have five months. Why?” 
“Then after five months, let’s… divorce.” 
“Alright. But in exchange, before our divorce, make me pregnant.” 
When Adira gave him her condition, Chadwick shut his lips. He did not say anything, unlike what he always does. 
Before, if Adira uttered this, Chadwick will shout and call her crazy. Yet now, he just stared at her as his mouth formed a straight line, as if he has no plan to rebuke. 
“Silence means yes,” Adira reminded. 
Chadwick stood up from his seat. He walked even without giving his answer, as if pretending he did not hear a thing. 
“I’m serious.” 
He halted when Adira added that. 
“I am serious when I said that I wanted to get pregnant. You will divorce me to follow the woman you love. And I am kind enough to let you go. So you should pay me, don’t you think so?” 
Her husband did not bother answering and instead, he walked inside his room and closed the door. 
That’s how their conversation ended. 
“I don’t know if he’s being guilty or what,” Adira said while looking at the Hazelnut latte that Hansel bought for what. “There’s no reason for him to feel guilty.”
The marriage between them is purely for business convenience. 
She already expected that soon, Chadwick might think of ending their relationship. So Adira did her best to seduce him within the limited time they have. 
‘But in the end, I failed.’ 
She’s getting pessimistic as time passed by. There were times when she thought Chadwick finally gave in from her temptation. There are days when he looks sincere. But mostly, there are days when he’s too cold, as if touching her will kill him. 
‘And today, he suggested for a divorce.’ 
Adira’s hand clenched around the cup. 
‘Five months. I have five months left,’ she thought. 
How will she able to convince Chadwick to have a sex with her? 
After the divorce, it will be hard for her to remarry. She cannot just let anyone makes her pregnant. The last resort will be adopting a child. But given that Adira is heir of the large company, the adopted child might suffer in the future. Surely, her father won’t allow a heir who does not share the same blood with them. 
Adira massages her temples. 
‘Soon, I will find an answer,’ she cheered. 
The door of her office opened. 
She lifted her head to see her secretary. 
“You’re here. Can you deliver the…” 
Adira stopped talking when she noticed Hansel’s reddened and soggy eyes. She knew that she came here after crying so hard. 
“G-Good morning ma’am. I am really sorry for being late,” Hansel, who cannot look into her eyes, murmured. 
‘Something happened,’ Adira is sure of that. 
The CEO of Crimson Meadow is a person who seems to be approachable. But she always draws a line between her and the other people which makes Adira a loner. In fact, even if Adira treated Hansel with kindness, she never intended to get too close to her. However, nowadays, Adira noticed how Hansel is trying her best to win her heart. Hansel showed she cares for her boss, and that all she wanted is to make Adira happy. 
Thus, when Adira saw Hansel with soggy eyes, she felt a prickling pain inside her heart. 
‘I am getting weird,’ Adira laughed at herself. 
“What happened?” she asked Hansel. “You never been late before. Surely, something must happened.” 
Hansel bowed her head and bit her trembling lips. 
“I am not angry,” Adira added. “So tell me what happened.” 
Clenching her fists, Hansel shared to her boss, “I c-caught my husband cheating.” 
A burst of tears fell down from Hansel eyes. 
“I saw it with my two eyes. He was kissing a woman inside the coffee shop,” Hansel sobbed. 
Adira’s eyes widened. 
As far as she can remember, Hansel seemed to have a happy marriage life with the person she loves the most. When Hansel got married, Adira even gifted a car to her and her husband. That is something she did as her boss, but now, she wanted to get the car back, drive it by herself and hit the man who hurt Hansel. 
“He told me that I am the only woman in his life, He… He…” 
Unable to continue, Hansel just stood there and cried so hard. Her shoulders moved up and down hysterically like a lost child abandoned in the middle of the road. 
Watching her, Adira felt the rage boiling inside her. She stood up, walked towards her secretary and wrapped her arms around her. 
When Hansel felt the warm wrapping around her body, she cried even more. She couldn’t believe Adira hugged her, at the time she didn’t know where to go.
Adira tapped her back and let her cry on her shoulder. 
She’s damn mad at Hansel’s husband, but inwardly, she’s confused. 
When she saw Chadwick and Isa together, she did not feel bad. 
‘It is because there’s no love between Chadwick and I?’ she guessed. 
Adira doesn’t want to think further about her situation and decided to focus on Hansel’s problem. 
“Where is your husband?” Adira whispered while hugging her secretary. 
“H-He’s outside the company, waiting for me,” Hansel sobbed.
“Really? Then, don’t worry anymore. I will kill him for you.” 
That last sentence made Hansel stopped from crying. 
“H-Huh?” She murmured before she saw the murderous aura in her boss’ eyes. 
------------------------------------------------
Adira’s POV 
After a bloody battle, I sent my secretary to the condo unit I own and let her stay there. 
It will be better for her to rest from work and recollect herself. 
I did beat his husband, there in the emergency stairs of the company, but it is not enough. 
‘That bastard should be punished more.’ 
I don’t know what will be Hansel’s decision in the future. But if I will have a guess then it might end up with… 
‘Divorce.’
Yes. A divorce just like what Chadwick and I planned to do after five months. 
Feeling so low, I went to my favorite bar instead of going home. 
If I came home drunk, I might barge inside my husband’s room and strip naked. 
‘That’s a good idea.’ 
I walked inside the bar and sat on my favorite spot. 
“It’s been a long time, ma’am.”
I set my eyes at the bartender of the bar who suddenly approached me. Usually, this tall man with sharp eagle-like eyes, pointed nose, heart-shaped lips and blonde hair, doesn’t want to serve me. But one night, he came to me and we conversed, and I thought that is because he felt comfortable around me since we met in the hospital a long time ago. 
During our first conversation, we talked about my husband. Then…
‘Wait. It feels like I forgot something important.’ 
That’s right. I forgot that I told to this man that my husband is bringing another woman in our house. 
‘Sh*t.’
That time, I didn’t know that Chadwick and I will be famous because of the article Jaymee wrote in her magazine. 
What if he saw the article and remembered me? 
Did he approach me right now because that?
‘Damn it. I should prepare a cash to pay him so he will shut his mouth. Shall I call Hansel and…’ 
No. 
I should let Hansel rest. 
Then, I will get a lawyer and…
“Ma’am must be so busy at work. You did not come here for a long time.” 
“...” 
“Are you going to order your usual drink?” 
I think… this man hasn’t knew me yet. 
Well, there are just people who don’t read articles and latest news in internet. 
‘Or he’s pretending ignorant?’ 
Whatever the case, I should thank him for being clueless or for purposely acting clueless. 
“Sure. Give me the usual,” I answered. 
He gave me a sweet smile, far from the flirtatious smile he usually wears in front of the other customers, and prepared for my drink. 
Next, he poured the tequila on my glass and placed the salt and lemon on the side. 
“Thank you,” I said, raising my glass. 
“Always be my pleasure,” he replied and bowed his head. 
I took a sip of the bitter drink and let the liquid burn my throat. 
‘Feels soothing.’ 
I drank a few  more glass of tequila, enjoying the small peace and the jazz music playing around. 
The bartender whose name is Geoffrey, stayed standing in front of me while wiping the glass. He never looked into my eyes again, as if he’s avoiding me. 
‘Then why did he serve my drink if he doesn’t my company?’ 
On the second hand, maybe he’s just wanted to be a gentleman. 
“Ma’am.” 
I almost spit out the drink when he suddenly spoke. 
‘That surprised me.’ 
 Slowly, the handsome bartender stared at my face with a curious look. 
“Can I ask something very private?” 
Will he finally ask if I am the CEO of Crimson Meadow who became a bit famous in the internet? 
“Sure,” I replied. But don’t ask me about my age or weight.” 
“Of course. Girls hate those questions,” he replied. 
"Of course I won't, lol. Girls hate those questions."
Girls? I'm in my late 30's and he called me a girl. He really knows how to woo a woman.
“So...." He started then placed his elbow on the counter table. Putting his chin at the back of his hand, he asked, "I've noticed this before. Ma'am, you don't wear your wedding ring."
My eyes went to my finger. 
He’s asking about my wedding ring because? 
I don’t know what’s the purpose. But since he knew my secret, there’s no reason to lie. 
“My husband and I decided not to wear it.” 
He flung another question, "Why?"
"Rings are symbol for couple's eternal love. So why should we wear one when we don’t love each other?”
He did not answer and continued staring at my face, as if soon he’ll make a hole on it. 
“Why do you look so confused?” I asked. 
He took a deep sigh as he stood straight. Grasping his blonde hair upwards, he commented, “Why would people marry each other even if there’s no love? The world is so weird.”
“Are you saying that I am weird?” 
“Maybe?” he murmured, shrugging his shoulder. 
I caressed my fingertip at the round tip of my glass. Then I said, “There are just weird people out there who married just for convenience. Normal people won’t understand.” 
“So madam is saying that I am a normal people?”
I looked at him into his eyes and laughed. 
“No,” I responded. “A guy who flirts different women every time I came here, I don’t think you’re normal.” 
Faint smile appeared on his lips. 
“Anyway,” I murmured, “there is always an ending in every craziness. Just like in my case, I’ll divorce my husband after five months.” 
Krrkllllsssss!
The loud sound of the breaking glass snapped me out from the drunkenness. 
I looked at the guy who accidentally broke the glass beside him as he stared at me with widened eyes. 
“You… You will divorce your husband?” he stammered and gawked at me as if his whole life defends on my answer.