Married with the Broken Hearted CEO novel Chapter 57

For the tenth times, Geoffrey sighed again while standing at the counter of the bar. He regretted telling everything to Isa. But he couldn’t help it. He had to be courageous if he wanted to get Adira. 
‘What made me confused is that ring,’ he thought. 
He clearly saw the wedding ring on Chadwick’s finger. Last night, he seen none of it. 
So, all day, he kept on thinking his reason for suddenly wearing the ring. 
Is it because Geoffrey came to their house last night? 
Because he has pride?
Or is it because…
‘He’s jealous?’ 
No matter how he thinks, it is impossible for him to believe that Chadwick did get jealous.
“Chadwick only likes Isa,” he murmured. 
One evidence is the incident at the party. Chadwick left Adira alone on the stage. Then in the parking lot, Isa and Chadwick kissed each other. What’s more to prove that Chadwick’s heart is still with his stepsister? 
“Haaaa,” Geoffrey sighed again for the 11th time. 
“Hey, are you a sighing machine?” his friend, Vernon, asked him. He walked closer to Geoffrey and flicked his finger, as if to hypnotize Geoffrey to wake up. “You’ve been sighing and sighing since before. What’s wrong?” 
Sighing for the 12th time, Geoffrey answered, “Nothing.” 
“What’s nothing? If the manager saw you right now, he will definitely scold you.” 
“Alright. I will stop sighing. So would get your face out of my sight?” 
“Who are decline seeing this handsome face?” Vernon replied and blinked cutely in front of him. 
Geoffrey stared at him then laughed. 
“Finally, you’re laughing,” Vernon said. “I’ve been noticing that you’re acting quite strange these past few days. Is it because of that woman?” 
Geoffrey flinched. He stared at Vernon and asked while stuttering, “W-Who?” 
“That woman. You know, the one with beautiful face and red hair.”
“N-No,” Geoffrey lied. “I am not thinking about her.” 
“Don’t lie, you bastard. I can see it in your eyes.” 
“What do you see?” 
“My handsome reflection,” Vernon replied then made a cool pose. 
“You are making me tired even more,” Geoffrey complained. 
“Anyway, I know that you like her.” 
Eyes widened, Geoffrey tended to him and quickly avoided his gaze. 
“At first, you are trying to avoid her. Then suddenly, you were so eager to get closer to her. So, I guessed that you two probably know each other.” 
Geoffrey did not talk. He grabbed the wine glass and clean towel. Then, he wipes the glass even though it is already clean. 
“What’s wrong if you like her? You are handsome too!” Vernon said. “Is there anything that stopping you from liking her?” 
There is.
There is a big hurdle because Geoffrey can’t pursue her. 
Geoffrey did not reply and continued wiping the other glass. 
“Oh my gosh,” Vernon murmured while staring at Geoffrey’s flustered face. “This is the first time I saw you panicked. No. The first is when you dropped the wine glass before.” His eyes went to the glass that Geoffrey is holding. “Make sure you won’t drop that. Or else, the manager will fire you.” 
Geoffrey just gave him a silence treatment as if avoiding the topic. 
Vernon squinted his eyes and added, “What is it? Usually, women came to you first. Once they saw your face, they will come flocking at your side like hungry birds. So, using your face and skill, you can seduce her.” 
Seduce a married woman?
Geoffrey wanted to laugh at that idea. 
If Vernon will hear that Adira is a married woman, he will understand what makes Geoffrey hesitate. But Geoffrey does not want to share that.
‘They will get a divorce anyway,’ he said to himself. 
Suddenly, the sight of the ring in Chadwick’s finger flashed back in his mind. He felt ominous.
‘But why does it feel that the divorce won’t happen in the future?’ he worried. 
“Vernon,” finally, Geoffrey spoke.
“Yes? Yes?! Tell me anything. I am ready to listen. What is it?” 
Staring afar, Geoffrey inquired, “Do you think we are suit for each other?” 
Vernon slammed the table and replied with enthusiasm. “Of course! You two look great together! I will support the two of you!” 
“Really?” 
“Yes! What are friends are for? Even if you are ugly, I will still support you. Or maybe, I will get a shaman to give you talisman, so you can seduce her with your ugly face. But thankfully, you’re handsome and tall.” 
“...” 
Although Vernon gave him a positive answer, Geoffrey is still in grimace. So, Vernon thought of possible reason why Geoffrey is hesitating. 
“Is it because of your stepsister?” 
“...” 
“How long do you plan of getting your life tied up with that obsess woman? You don’t need to date countless of women just to deceive Isa. With this, if you date for real, that stepsister of yours won’t bother you anymore.” 
Vernon is wrong. Now that Isa found out that he likes Adira, she won’t stay still. Geoffrey is so sure of that. How did the possessive Isa act when Chadwick got married? Didn’t she cling around the married man just because she can’t let Chadwick go? 
Then how will she act now that Geoffrey said he loves Adira. 
‘For sure, she will be worst,’ Geoffrey guessed. 
“Or maybe, you are hesitating because she’s rich?” Vernon asked to the quiet Geoffrey. “Is she that rich so you don’t want to pursue a person with that kind of status?” 
“...” 
“Well, looking at her bags, dress, and jewelries, she does look like a billionaire’s daughter.  I admit that. But status don’t matter when it comes to love. Even if she looks like a celebrity, she is…” 
Vernon stopped. 
“Wait. She does look so familiar,” he murmured. “Where did I see her again?” 
Geoffrey stared at Vernon who is rubbing his chin while trying to dig his memories. Vernon is a busy body who does not usually investigate his phone. He’s more interested in reading webtoon when he has time, rather than looking for the latest news in social media. No doubt why he does not know anything about Adira. 
However, Vernon also attended the party between Crimson Meadow and Wine&Vibe.  
“Where did I see her? I am sure I saw her outside the bar?” he murmured. 
At the exact time, they both heard a knock on the counter. 
Tok tok. 
Vernon and Geoffrey looked at the first customer of their bar tonight. To their surprise, they saw the woman they are just talking about. 
“Knock knock~” Adira said then she smiled at them. 
When Vernon heard her voice, he finally remembered where she saw her. 
“I know!” he shouted. “The CEO of Crimson Meadow!” 
Vernon stared at Geoffrey, then back to Adira. Now, he understands why Geoffrey can’t pursue the married woman whom he likes. 
***** *******
Geoffrey gave her the usual drink she wants, the bitter tequila. As Adira takes sip, he stared at her gorgeous face that probably stole all the stars in the sky, that’s why he couldn’t see one tonight. 
She’s wearing a gray suits, diamond earrings and silver watch around her left wrist. Among all parts of her body, Geoffrey’s favorite is her empty fingers. 
‘She’s still now wearing her wedding ring,’ he told to himself then smiled from ear to ear. 
From the staff room, Vernon peeked at his friend’s smiling face. “That dude is crazy,” he murmured. “How did he let himself fall in love with someone who’s married already? He’s digging his hole, this sh*t.” 
Not only Geoffrey likes a married woman, but he’s entangling himself around conglomerates rich people. If this continues, Vernon is sure that he will have a hellish life. For Vernon, people like them should not mix with conglomerates if they wanted to survive. But how can he stop Geoffrey when he’s smiling like an idiot in front of Adira?
“I don’t know anymore. I will pretend I don’t know anything,” Vernon murmured. He shook his head and left the two with heavy heart. 
After drinking her tequila, Adira lifted her head and saw the sweet beam on his lips. Geoffrey looks like a kid who ate a candy. 
“Why are you smiling like that?” she asked, chuckling. 
“I thought I will never see you again. So, I felt happy that you are here.”
“This is the last time that I will come here, though,” Adira answer. 
The twinkling of his eyes became dull. Pulling out his smile, he asked, “Why? Is it because of me?” 
“Yes. I came here to give you an answer.” 
Geoffrey knows that this is about the confession he made last night. And seeing the calm expression on her face, he can guess the answer. 
“I reject your confession.” 
He knew it. Geoffrey expected that Adira will reject him. But oddly, it is not as painful as he thought. For 12 years, he kept his love for her in secret, all because he has no courage to take a risk. But now that Adira rejected him, it does not feel bad at all, and instead, he felt a sense of relief. 
That does not mean he will give up, thought. 
“Why are you rejecting me now? I haven’t started yet,” Geoffrey replied then smirked sexily. 
Adira watched that sexy grin on his lips.
‘This is the way he seduces women, I see,’ she chuckled inwardly. 
“Because I hate complicated things,” she answered. “I declined entering your love triangle with your stepsister and my husband. So, leave me out.” 
“I don’t like Isa.” 
“I know.  But still, I hate it.” 
“You can’t stop me.” 
“But I will never come here again.” 
“That’s fine. You are still a married woman, so it is natural that I won’t pursue you as of now. I told you that I will wait for five months.” 
“You will wait?” 
“Yes.” 
“Why?” 
“Because…” Geoffrey got the smirk out of his lips and continued, “I love you.” 
Adira flinched. This isn’t the first time she got a confession from other men. But coming from Geoffrey, it felt different. Isn’t because she knows that this guy has been liking her for many years? Or because of the sincerity his eyes hold? 
Leaning on the table, Adira smiled at him. “How? How did you fall for me?” she asked. 
“It is a long story,” Geoffrey warned. 
“Then don’t tell me. I hate long stories.” 
She stood up from her seat and picked up her pouch.
“Are you going now?” disappointed, Geoffrey asked. 
“Yes. I told you I hate long stories, that includes long conversation. I came here to reject you and I finished my business. So don’t wait for me anymore.” 
“Even if you don’t come back, I know your house.” 
“Woah. Stalker,” Adira teased with laughs. 
Geoffrey burst into small giggles and responded, “A handsome stalker, I guess.” 
“It’s annoying that you are telling the truth.” 
“My pleasure, madam.” 
“Anyway, even if you know my house, there’s a possibility that you might not see me. What if I divorce my husband earlier than the five months promise? Then you won’t see me there anymore.” 
“If you will divorce Chadwick earlier then, that’s better. Any time is fine for me. I did not wait for 12 years just to f*cking give me this easy.” 
“Well, good luck,” Adira said as she turned around. “Try to find me in the different world that does not suit you.” 
She stepped out of the bar without looking back. 
The world that she is talking about, Geoffrey knows what it means. 
Adira is a billionaire. While on the other side, Geoffrey is someone who does part time jobs everywhere. However, there’s one thing that Adira forgot. 
“Because there’s a way for me to come into your world,” he said. 
All years, Geoffrey declined the position of handling his stepfather’s company. But if this is the way to meet her again, Geoffrey will take the risk. 
‘Soon, I will also climb up into that ladder.’