Married with the Brokenhearted CEO

Chapter 11 "Too Late"

As Adira exited the VIP room, she encountered Neil, who appeared completely pale.

"M-Madam," he stammered. "W-When Miss Isa came in, I informed her that you were inside, b-but..."

It had to be that.

Adira understood what was causing Neil's anxiety. He likely feared her reaction since he allowed another woman to enter while she was present.

So, does this imply that Neil is aware of the connection between his boss and the woman named Isa?

"Are you aware?" Adira inquired.

"Pardon, Ma’am?" Neil replied, drenched in sweat.

"I’m asking if you know that my husband has feelings for Miss Isa."

Neil's eyes widened, as if a herd of giraffes could fit inside those trembling pupils.

"M-My boss likes... who?" Neil echoed, utterly shocked; he struggled to catch his breath for several seconds.

To his knowledge, Isa was merely a close friend of his boss, and they had been friends since high school. Thus, when Isa entered the room, Neil feared that Adira might misinterpret the situation. However...

"My boss likes Miss... Isa?" Neil questioned regarding his boss's wife.

With her arms crossed, Adira nodded. "It seems you’re not in the loop at all." She raised her right hand and added, "My bad."

"..."

"Anyway, keep this under wraps. My husband would be upset if he found out I shared this with you."

"..."

"I noticed he injured his arm. He’ll likely be in the hospital for several days. I trust that Neil will look after my husband."

She winked at him, gave his shoulder a light tap, and then walked away.

Neil blinked in disbelief.

He was deeply concerned for his boss, yet now he felt a surge of anger. No matter how you look at it, Chadwick is the villain who married a woman while keeping the love of his life close by.

"That oblivious jerk!" Neil thought to himself, feeling the heat pulsing at the back of his neck. He gently rubbed it, fearing he might faint from the stress.

Adira and Chadwick were only united for business reasons. Yet, this still feels wrong.

Neil gazed at the back of his madam.

She had been quaking in fear earlier, but now she strode away with confidence, as if she had completed her mission.

But will Adira be alright?

"My poor madam," Neil murmured, his eyes fixed on her retreating figure. When his gaze shifted to the door, a flash of anger sparked in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Adira continued her walk through the hospital towards the underground parking lot.

Doctors, nurses, and visitors trailed behind her as she moved. Her beauty was certainly captivating, but it was her attire that drew their attention.

Dressed in silky pink sleepwear and slippers, she exposed too much skin, leading some to think she belonged in a mental institution rather than out in public.

Regardless, Adira was unfazed.

No one would recognize her as the CEO of Crimson Meadow. And if someone did, she would spin it into a story about being a devoted wife who rushed out upon hearing of her husband's accident.

A chuckle escaped her naturally rosy lips.

Now that she had regained her composure, Adira felt foolish for dashing out like this just to see her husband. It was no surprise that people viewed her as a crazy woman parading in such revealing clothing.

"Oh no, this is so embarrassing," Adira whispered, rubbing her chilly arms.

Yet, feeling embarrassed about her outfit pales in comparison to the display she put on for Chadwick.

‘Did he… see me crying?’

It appears to be the case. Their gazes locked for an extended moment, and Chadwick even invited her to stay and chat. This was the first time he said ‘stay’ instead of his usual ‘Get lost’ or ‘Get out!’; clearly indicating that he did see her tears.

Still, Adira clings to the hope that he didn’t, or that he will feign ignorance.

She can’t admit to him that her worry stemmed from memories of her mother triggered by his accident.

"Or should I claim that I cried because the wind stung my eyes?"

Adira paused, momentarily speechless.

She shook her head and chuckled at her ridiculous excuse. She never anticipated such a silly thought would cross her mind.

As she laughed and shook her head, she resembled a madwoman wandering the hall. But she didn’t mind. She had expended so much energy that she didn’t care about concealing her face or rushing to the parking lot to escape.

She moved at a leisurely pace until her feet came to a halt upon spotting a familiar figure in front of her.

The tall man with piercing eyes, a pointed nose, and heart-shaped lips also stopped when he noticed Adira.

Adira recognized him as the bartender from her favorite bar. She had met him six months ago, and his name is Geoffrey. The details are easy to recall since he’s an attractive guy who flirts with various women every day.

‘The playboy bartender,’ Adira thought to herself.

On the other side, Geoffrey, who also recognized her, offered a slight smile in greeting.

Adira had only seen him in his bartender uniform. But tonight, he wore a white shirt and ripped jeans. His golden-brown hair was unstyled, partially covering his arched brows. Still, he looked incredibly sexy and handsome in any outfit.

Meanwhile, Adira felt a bit… just a tiny bit… embarrassed about her appearance. She usually dresses in expensive, sophisticated clothes when visiting the bar, but here she was in her sleepwear and indoor slippers.

Despite that, she managed to smile back at him and walked away. She quickly entered the elevator and pressed the button for the basement floor so she could return to her car as soon as possible.

Finally, she reached the basement. Letting out a sigh, feeling exhausted, she walked toward her car and was about to open the door. Suddenly, someone grabbed her wrist from behind.

Adira turned around to see the bartender she had met at the bar.

“Miss,” he said, catching his breath.

Had he come here after running?

But why?

And why would he follow her?

“Your right foot,” Geoffrey said, glancing at her right foot. “It’s bleeding.”

Her right foot is bleeding?

Adira lowered her head to inspect her feet. He was right. She had a wound on her foot, but she couldn’t recall how it happened. Perhaps she had hurt herself while running earlier. Now that he mentioned it, she only felt a tingling pain on her skin.

"Don’t you think it’s necessary to head back into the hospital and have that treated?" Geoffrey suggested, gesturing towards the exit behind them.

Adira glanced at her wound, which didn’t seem severe enough to warrant treatment. Therefore, she felt no need to return. Besides, she was eager to leave this place.

"I appreciate your concern," Adira said, gently pulling her wrist from his grasp. "But I’m okay. I can take care of it myself."

"Are you sure you can drive with that foot?" he inquired, his expression filled with worry.

Since the moment Adira first noticed him, she had seen Geoffrey flirting with female customers. He wore a confident smirk, as if he was accustomed to women gravitating towards him due to his looks. In her eyes, he always appeared somewhat arrogant. Yet, she didn’t dislike him.

Geoffrey had never approached Adira while she was at the bar. Many men had attempted to charm the stunning Adira, but Geoffrey never dared to meet her gaze.

This led Adira to believe that their initial encounter, when Geoffrey looked at her as if he recognized her, was merely a misunderstanding.

But now, Geoffrey was acting in a way that left her puzzled once more.

Why did he seem so concerned?

Was he trying to flirt with her or something?

"I don’t think we’re close enough for you to be worried about me," Adira responded.

Geoffrey opened and closed his mouth, as if he had more to say but decided against it. He simply nodded.

"I’m sorry," he whispered.

"No, you don’t need to apologize at all."

"Then, how about..." Geoffrey stuffed his hands into his pockets, and his right hand discovered what he needed. It was a Band-Aid. "Here, use this."

He presented the band-aid to her, a smile lighting up his face.

Adira glanced back and forth between the band-aid and the peculiar man.

‘A guy with a band-aid in his pocket?’ Adira pondered how strange he was.

Noticing her bewilderment, Geoffrey clarified, "Ahhh. I injured myself while working my part-time job." He pointed to the band-aid on his elbow. "See?"

Adira's skepticism faded. She took the band-aid and expressed her appreciation by saying, "Thank you."

"My pleasure."

A hush fell over the underground parking lot, and if it weren't for the squeaking of tires on the pavement, they might have lingered in their spots longer.

"I’ll be going now," Adira said with a professional smile.

"Ah, yeah. Sure," Geoffrey responded.

Adira jumped into her car. She meant to shut the door, but Geoffrey wedged his hand in the gap.

"And...!" he exclaimed.

Adira reopened the door and looked at him.

"Drive safely, miss," he added.

Adira tilted her head, unsure if he was flirting, but she had to admit he had a knack for it. Regardless, even though he was undeniably attractive, Adira was not about to waste her time on a man like him.

She’s married.

“Thank you, Geoffrey,” she said.

Geoffrey, taken aback by the fact that she remembered his name, pulled his hand away from the door and stared at her in disbelief.

Adira, unaware of his reaction, closed the door and started the engine. Without a second thought, she drove off, not even glancing back in the mirror as she exited the parking lot.

As she drove, the bartender lingered in her thoughts. She found him charming and cunning like a fox.

“If only my husband were like him, it would be easy to entice him,” she whispered to herself while driving.

However, that doesn’t imply she was captivated by his allure or ready to join his harem. Adira had never given her heart away, nor did she have any plans for the future.

For her, falling in love would always be a delayed affair. First, she simply couldn’t fall. Second, she felt too old. Third, she was already married to Chadwick McElroy.

Meanwhile, Geoffrey remained in the parking lot, standing where Adira had left him. He gazed in the direction she had taken.

“This is the first time… she said my name,” Geoffrey murmured.

He raised his hand to his chest, feeling the persistent thrum of his heart.

“You noticed me, just a bit too late, Adira,” Geoffrey said, a wistful smile breaking through his expression.

Six months prior, Geoffrey had done everything he could to avoid her and feign ignorance. But suppressing the feelings he had harbored for so long was like a bomb that had finally stopped ticking.

He felt immense joy when he noticed the absence of a ring on her finger. However, that joy was fleeting. He soon discovered that she was a woman he should neither desire nor think about, let alone miss. Geoffrey resolved to act as if everything was fine and to never overstep his boundaries.

Yet, when he caught sight of her injured foot, his determination shattered in an instant. He understood then that he needed to endure more.

"Brother?"

Geoffrey recognized a familiar voice from behind him. He turned to find his stepsister standing there.

"Brother, what brings you here?" Isa inquired.