Married with the Broken Hearted CEO novel Chapter 94

Standing inside the office, Neil and Hansel felt the thick air. They looked at the three people who made the surrounding intense, it is hard to breathe. 
Hansel and Neil looked at each other. With just their eyes, they can understand their thoughts. 
Who will expect that the two men who confessed at Adira at the same day will meet here? 
It is not accidental. Adira and Chadwick were shocked to see Geoffrey, who was working as the bartender in Adira’s favorite bar. But suddenly, he came here as the mall's representative. 
How did it happen? 
Adira admitted she made a mistake in learning furthermore about the CUR8 mall. She did check the owner of the mall, but she failed to see the connection between the mall and the Dale family. 
On the other side, Chadwick wasn’t that shocked to see Geoffrey after seeing the name of the mall. He knew that Geoffrey came here while knowing that he would meet Adira. It must be because Geoffrey is serious too when he said he will pursue Adira this time. He cannot do that if he continues working in the bar. So, Geoffrey regained the surname he got after his mother remarried Isa’s father. With that, Geoffrey has the authority for the inheritance and the management of his stepfather's company. One of their properties is the CUR8 mall.
Chadwick is aware that the CUR8 mall owns by Geoffrey and Isa’s family. 
Chadwick stared at the man sitting next to Adira. He does not doubt Geoffrey ‘s ability to manage the company left by his stepfather. He is smart and quick witted ever since Chadwick met him. During high school, Chadwick was always the top 1 in whole school, not until Geoffrey transferred there and he got the position of being top one. Then, Chadwick heard that Geoffrey was helping his stepfather in work and that made him respect the young Geoffrey who has talent in business. 
Despite all of that, Chadwick never once got jealous of the hardworking Geoffrey. Instead, he adored him. But their friendship got ruined because Isa confessed to Geoffrey. Then, Geoffrey purposely avoided Chadwick and they never made up after that. 
If only they were still friends now, then Chadwick would congratulate Geoffrey for finally stepping in the business world. But right now, that's unlikely to happen. Chadwick knew what Geoffrey’s intention was for taking the job and for stepping into the ladder up to the higher position in the society. Geoffrey did this because of Adira. 
"We presented the details in the contract before," Geoffrey said to Adira. 
Chadwick looked at Geoffrey and the way he smiled at his ex-wife. Oh, how he wanted to rip that lips that dare smile in front of Adira! 
Growling silently, Chadwick stared at Adira. 
The stunned woman is now calm and compose, as if nothing happened and that life will continue despite the huge revelation. 
"Yes. We saw it and we liked the offer," she answered. "Mr. Chadwick agreed on me too, right?" 
The two diverted their eyes to the man who has been glaring at Geoffrey since the beginning. They don't question why Chadwick is scowling like that, though. 
"Yes. I did," Chadwick said while gritting his teeth. 
"Great!" Geoffrey replied. "Then what's left is to check the store right now. If you have time, can I invite Mr. McElroy and Mrs. Adira to come with me?" 
"Mrs. McElroy," Chadwick suddenly spoke with authority. 
The two stared back at him. 
"You should call her Mrs. McElroy. That's the etiquette," he added. 
As if Geoffrey did not hear him, he just smiled at Chadwick then diverted his head to Adira. 
'How dare he?!' Chadwick shouted inwardly. 
"CEO of Crimson Meadow," Geoffrey called Adira. "Can you spare some time to come with me?" 
"I cleared all of my schedule today. So, I can," Adira answered, then she stared at Chadwick. "I am not sure about Mr. Chadwick." 
Geoffrey gawked at Chadwick with eyes that said: 'You don't really need to come with us.' 
However, Chadwick won't let them alone together. 
He was so relieved that Geoffrey wouldn’t have the chance to pursue Adira, but things have changed. 
Chadwick sent a gaze to his secretary. Neil wanted to say that they have a lot in their schedule right now and Chadwick cannot go with them. However... 
"I am free too," Chadwick answered. "I MUST come with the two of you." 
Neil caught his forehead with his palm. He knew that Chadwick only did that out of jealousy. But he could not believe that someone like him would prioritize his jealousy over his responsibility as the CEO of Wine&Vibe. 
Well, love is indeed powerful. 
"Okay," Geoffrey murmured. "Then, shall we go and..." 
A calling ringtone echoed inside the room. Someone is getting a call but no one is picking up the call. 
Neil looked at his phone although he is not familiar with the ringtone. 
Meanwhile, there are people who know whose ringtone is. 
Chadwick and Hansel looked at Adira, who suddenly turned pale. They know that the ringtone is Adira’s. So, she does not pick the call up? Also, why does the sound come from afar? 
Geoffrey looked at the table of Adira. He guessed that the sound was coming from underneath the table. 
"Ma'am, you got a call," Hansel reminded. 
Adira knows that and it is the problem. She hid her phone purposely and she felt embarrassed picking it up from the floor. 
While contemplating what she would do in this case, Hansel approached the table. She looked for her boss' phone but did not see it. 
Gulp.
Adira gulped with cold sweats. 
"I can't see the.." Hansel murmured. 
Suddenly, Geoffrey stood up to help the secretary. 
"I think it is coming beneath the table," he said while approaching Hansel.
Adira’s eyes widened. Inwardly, she's protesting, 'No. Don't pick it up!' 
Too late, Geoffrey found her phone under the table, and he picked it up. "It's here." He looked at the phone. 
Chadwick felt the strong wind blowing his hair. He blinked his eyes and was stunned to find out that the wind came from Adira who suddenly stood up and flew towards Geoffrey. 
'What the hell is that?!' Chadwick shouted internally before looking at Adira. 
In a flash, Adira arrived at Geoffrey’s side. She snatched her phone from his hand and lost her balance for stopping so suddenly. 
During that short time, she knew she’d fall, pathetically. She hated so much that she will embarrass herself in front of the two. Adira isn't usually clumsy. 
She closed her eyes, waiting for the impact behind. Yet seconds passed, she felt the soft touch behind her back, rather than the cold floor. 
'I did not fall,' she said to herself before opening the window of her eyes. As soon as she looked forward, she saw Geoffrey’s face in a close gap. 
So, this is the reason why she did not fall. It is because Geoffrey caught her before she hurt herself.
Just how many times Geoffrey saved her? 
Chadwick clenched his fists while staring at them. 
If Adira is thinking how many times she had to be thankful for Geoffrey, Chadwick counted how many times he saw Geoffrey saving his wife in front of him. 
He felt useless and pathetic for always being late. He felt that he's always second to Geoffrey. 
"Are you okay?" Geoffrey asked Adira. 
Before Adira could answer, Chadwick held her hand which is holding the phone and pulled her away from Geoffrey.
As Chadwick pulled her away, her back landed on his back. 
"Thank you for saving her," Chadwick said to Geoffrey. "But..." Chadwick had a second look to Adira’s phone screen. 
His eyes widened. 
What did he see on the screen that made him so surprise? 
Immediately, Adira remembered the reason why she saved her phone. She pulled her hand away from Chadwick. 
Geoffrey and Chadwick stared at Adira, and they saw her blushing. 
"L-Let's go to the mall," Adira said without looking back. She stepped away from them, leaving Geoffrey clueless and Chadwick wordless. 
-- --- -- -- ---- --- ---- ---- --- ---- --
Adira's POV 
Did he see it? 
All this time, I was wondering if Chadwick saw what's inside my phone when he caught my hand before. The last thing I checked before dropping the call was his picture, which I reacted with heart. 
'Damn it. Why did I do that in the first place?' 
Now I look pathetic while wondering if Chadwick saw the picture or not. 
"So this is how we wanted for the set-up of this store," the director of the mall, who Geoffrey introduced, said.
I heard him. Oddly, I did not understand everything he said from the top. 
"Ma'am Adira?" 
"..." 
"Adira?" When Geoffrey called me, I snapped out. 
I caught myself staring at my ex-husband and when Chadwick stared at my side, I felt anxious. I avoided his gaze and answered Geoffrey, "Yes?" 
"Well, we wanted to know your comment about this," Geoffrey said, pointing at the director who explained to me bunch of things for half an hour. 
'What will I say? I did not listen at all.' 
Anyway, I should not focus on the accident. First, I wanted to know how Geoffrey suddenly became the representative of CUR8. What's wrong if Chadwick saw the picture and the heart react? That is only to show my respect for his heroism. 
'Yes. Let's not dwell on it.' 
I smiled at Geoffrey and the director. I have nothing to say. 
"The set up is good. I think Mrs. McElroy will agree too," Chadwick said, as if saving me. 
Unlike me who did not listen, it seemed Chadwick focused on the explanation. 
'So, he did not see it, right?' 
"Yes, I agree. The set up is perfect," I answered. 
If Chadwick loves the concept, then I had to trust his keen eyes and knowledge. I am a person who hates repeating my word to my employee so that means I should not ask the director to explain it again.
"That's great," the director response. "Then, shall we go to the next store?" 
"Wait a minute," Geoffrey interfered. "I know that we wanted to make the work fast but it's pretty late. Why don't we go for lunch together? I prepared lunch for the two CEO." 
Chadwick and I looked at Geoffrey. 
Truthfully, I am not yet used of seeing him in suits and talking formally like a businessman. But I can tell that Geoffrey got talent in the area. Now I am wondering why he stayed being a bartender for a long time. 
Chadwick and I accepted the offer. Geoffrey brought us to a restaurant in the mall and we went inside a reserve room for VIP.
The director got an important call, so he went out for a moment, leaving the three of us inside the dining room. 
I set my eyes on the long table. The foods there are all my favorites, making me wonder if this is purely coincidence. 
"I asked them to give us these. You love these foods, right?" Geoffrey said. 
I lifted my eyes to him. 
'As expected, this is not coincidence.' 
"How did you know that these are my favorites?" 
"Well, I have had a crush on you for a long time. So, I learned what you love," he answered. 
Does it mean he learned that when he was following me during our college days? 
Pretty impressive. 
"Practically," I said, picking up the cutlery. "You are a stalker." 
Geoffrey laughed at the term I used. 
"If you will feel fine by calling me stalker, then I will gladly accept it," Geoffrey replied. 
"I am wondering," Chadwick, who was oddly quiet since before, finally spoke. "How did the two of you meet before?" 
If Chadwick is asking that, it means Geoffrey hasn't said anything yet. 
Chadwick and Geoffrey were friends in high school. But Geoffrey attended my university in college. That's what I know so far.' 
"Well, I am just one of the men who had a crush with Adira during our college days," Geoffrey did not hesitate to answer. "Even from the past, many men adored Adira." 
From Geoffrey, Chadwick tended to my side. I saw him using my peripheral vision, but I decided to keep my eyes towards Geoffrey. 
"But, I couldn't confess at her before. All men who took their courage to confess at her were all rejected. So, I was scared to face the same path." 
If Geoffrey confessed to me when I was in college, maybe I might also reject him. Didn't I reject him too when he confessed to me this time? 
'But why can't I reject him for the third time?' 
"Now, I am not scared to pursue her," Geoffrey added, staring at me. 
I flinched. 
Why is he looking at me so intently like that? He's being so sexy. 
"It is so surprising that you can easily say those confessions while I am present," Chadwick suddenly chuckled. 
We tended our eyes to him. 
"Is there a reason why I can't?" Geoffrey rebuked. "You are not Adira’s husband anymore. So, I don't see the reason for suppressing my thoughts, Mr. McElroy."
I watched the two stared at each other. There is lightning coming out from their eyes. If they continue staring that way, it seems they can burn down the whole building. 
'Should I stop them? Or enjoy seeing them getting so jealous because of me?' 
"I am really sorry for being late!" the director said as he entered the room. "I had to pick up and important call and..." 
He stopped when he sensed the murderous aura inside the room. 
The director stared at Geoffrey and Chadwick. Slowly he asked, "Did I come... at the wrong time?" 
No. 
He came at the right time.
If he did not, the two might have picked their knives and killed each other in the power of love. 
'Oh? I almost forgot that I am the reason why. Geez~ What a hectic life.'