Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Geoffrey’s childhood is full of hardship. His father died when he was 10, and his mother had to work in market just to support and feed him. Soon, he was forced to drop out of school and worked hard to pay their bills. However, his life changed when his mom met Isa’s father.

After her mom re-married to a wealthy man, Geoffrey went back to the school. He’s happy to have a little sister who called him ‘brother’ and a friend like Chadwick. His mom also found happiness together with a kind and supportive husband who treated Geoffrey as if he was his own son. ‘It was a happy family,’ he thought.

But that happiness did not last.

Isa confessed her feelings, saying that she fell in love with him.

Afraid that Geoffrey might ruin the peace, he tried too hard to avoid his step-sister and even broke his friendship with Chadwick. So, after graduation, he asked their parents if he can live by himself and study college in a faraway place.

His mother and stepfather agreed, and that’s why he studied in a university where he met his first love, Elena.

Everything seemed to be doing fine. He’s not seeing his stepsister, and he found a woman whom he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.

But one night, he received shocking news from Isa.

[“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.”]

The happy family vanished in an instant.

After their parents died, Geoffrey pulled out his name on the family register. He doesn’t want to play as Isa’s brother and let her continue liking him even after their parents died. He thought that losing his mom might be the punishment Isa and he received, even though he tried his best to escape.

Isa’s father left a huge inheritance for Geoffrey. However, since he pulled out his name out of the family name, Geoffrey did not get a penny. He doesn’t want to get money from a loving and kind stepfather, who had no idea that his daughter is head over heels with her stepbrother. He felt so guilty whenever he thought of their parents.

That’s why Geoffrey decided to live alone. Without anyone’s help, he worked so hard and even applied for many part time jobs just to support himself. He graduated from college, but he has no money to use to prepare for his bar exam. So instead of pursuing his dream as architect, he spent his life working like a mad horse, then dating different women just to flee from Isa.

Tonight, his friend recommended Geoffrey for a special job. Whenever there’s a job that pays high, Vernon won’t forget to share this with Geoffrey.

A one-time job requires them to serve wine to the guests of the party. The chose people who have experience in serving to high profile personalities, and since Vernon and Geoffrey are working in a luxury bar, they got accepted.

“Here, wear a mask,” Vernon said, offering a blue mask to Geoffrey.

“A mask? What is this for?” Geoffrey asked as he got the mask on his hand.

“We need to wear it while serving the wine.”

“What an odd job? Why do you always take me to a job where I need to hide my handsome face?” Geoffrey asked, chuckling as he wrapped the blue mask which covers half of his face.

Vernon, who’s also a handsome pal, rolled his eyes. He wrapped the red mask around his face then answered, “It’s saddening that I cannot rebuke your words since it’s the truth.”

“Vernon loves me,” Geoffrey teased.

“Yes. I love you, you punk.”

The other workers inside the staff room glanced at the two straight men who are confessing their love from each other.

“Anyway, why are we wearing different colors?” Geoffrey asked Vernon.

“Ahhh, that is because we are serving wines from different companies. If you wear blue, then you are…”

“Hey you!” Someone called Vernon out. “Come here!”

Vernon did not finish his explanation. He tapped Geoffrey’s shoulder, and added, “Do well on your job, dude. Let’s do our best today.” He winked at his pal then dashed out. “Yes! I am coming sir!”

Geoffrey just shook his head and sighed. He’s dead tired. But he needs to work more in order to pay his bills this month.

For a moment, he thought about the inheritance that his stepfather left for him.

‘If I accept that, then I don’t need to work like this anymore,’ Geoffrey thought.

Soon, he eradicated those selfish ideas. Just like a normal person, he knew he had to work hard to live.

Many say that if you work hard, you will be successful someday. But Geoffrey doesn’t believe that. Only those who have people who will support them will succeed. No matter how smart and hardworking you are, a poor will stay poor, then rich will be richer. There’s only a small percentage when people step up in life with nothing but skills and hard work.

‘That’s why I was jealous of that punk,’ Geoffrey thought while thinking of his old friend, Chadwick.

Chadwick is a son of a billionaire who inherited his father’s business. Chadwick is a smart man; Geoffrey will admit that because they fought against the highest position in the class way back in high-school. But ever since Geoffrey transferred to Chadwick’s school, he always top with the highest grade, and Chadwick came in second. Nevertheless, Chadwick accepted his defeat and congratulated Geoffrey with all his heart.

Then what happened after many years? The top 1 walked around with resume in his hand while the top 2 inherited his father’s business and now working as the CEO of a big company.

Geoffrey isn’t only jealous of how easy life for Chadwick is, but the fact that Chadwick married Adira.

“A good work and an amazing wife. And that bastard dared to cheat and let Isa stayed by his side,” Geoffrey murmured while walking on the way to the event hall.

If he keeps on thinking like this, he might do a poor job in serving the guests so Geoffrey shook his head and tried to focus on what’s in front of him.

He entered the garden while carrying a tray of wine glasses. The manager said to always be careful not to spill wine or break a glass. If that happened, then they need to pay for those.

Geoffrey looked at the wine he was carrying and wondered how expensive they are. When he was living in his stepfather’s house, he saw a lot of wine in the wine cellar.

Among the wines, Geoffrey remembered seeing a familiar wine.

“Crimson Meadow,” he murmured as he stopped his pace.

When Geoffrey found out that Adira’s husband is Chadwick, he made a research about the couple. He heard from Isa before that Chadwick was set into an arranged marriage and was forced to marry the daughter of a billionaire. He pitied Chadwick at the time but did not inquire more about that. It was when he found out that Chadwick and Adira are married that he got to know that Chadwick married the CEO of Crimson Meadow, Adira.

During college, he already guessed that Adira came from a rich family because her shoes, bags and clothes are all branded. But he did not expect her to be one of the most successful businesswomen in the world.

“She’s indeed an amazing lady,” Geoffrey whispered with a smile.

If Chadwick is a lucky man who only inherited his father’s wealth, Geoffrey thinks that Adira achieved her success because she’s hardworking. The world is biased to women in terms of business. He can imagine how hard it was for Adira to keep working as the CEO and got married to someone she does not love.

‘Adira does not love her husband?’

It is an idea that Geoffrey only created in his mind. He’s really not sure if there’s really love between Chadwick and Adira. All he wished for is for her to be happy, and that’s why he warned Isa to stop messing with Chadwick’s life anymore.

He cannot separate Adira from Chadwick, but he wished they can fix their relationship.

‘But for once, I wanted to punch Chadwick’s face,’ Geoffrey hoped inwardly.

“Excuse me,” a lady called Geoffrey.

Geoffrey tended to the guest who signaled him to come closer. He approached the lady and elegantly offered the drink on his tray.

“Thank you,” the lady showed her gratitude to the tall man who seems hiding his handsome face behind the blue mask.

Even when he covers his face, his handsomeness still oozes out.

“My pleasure, madam,” Geoffrey spoke in sweet voice. He bowed his head and turned around.

“I am looking forward to the new wine that Crimson Meadow and Wine&Vibe have worked together.”

When Geoffrey heard this from the ladies behind, his feet stopped.

“I love the two companies so much!”

“Me too! I’ve been waiting for this for too long. Anyway, where did you get your wine?”

“From the blue masked waiter. Why?”

“Ahhh, it is because I heard that wine from Crimson Meadow will be served by waiters who are wearing blue masks. Then wine from Crimson Meadow will be served by red-masked waiters.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Geoffrey’s fingers flinched on the tray. Slowly, his eyes traced around whether to confirm if the words he heard are the truth.

When Vernon dragged him here, he did not ask what event this is and who’s holding the event. He was blinded at the high pay he will receive at the end of the night.

He regretted not asking.

‘If it is true that this event is for Crimson Meadow and Wine&Vibe, then…’

As soon as Geoffrey tilted his head to the right, he saw a woman wearing a modest turquoise dress. She’s wearing a pearl around her neck which fell halter style. She’s standing with a subtle beam that stole Geoffrey’s breath for a second. Her beauty is to much, he cannot handle the fast beating of his heart. With her rose-like lips blended very well with her transparent and white skin, the woman looks like a snow fairy with seductive red hair.

That woman is…

“Adira,” Geoffrey whispered undertone.

He knew it’s wrong to like someone whom he cannot have. But his body automatically moved when he saw her.

Carrying the tray and while wearing the blue mask, Geoffrey walked towards Adira.

One step.

Two step.

Three step.

It felt so far reaching her side. And before he could stand beside her, another man went to the lady.

“Hello, Mrs. McElroy,” Nocturne, a 35-year-old man, greeted. Geoffrey doesn’t know anything about the malicious guy who’s sticking close to Adira like a bug. But he can feel that he’s not a good deal.

“Oh, Mr. Nocturne. Good evening,” Adira greeted back.

Wearing a sly smile, Nocturne glanced at Adira’s body; her legs, her slim waist, her bust and her face. He licked the corner of his lips and looked at her as if stripping her naked.

Geoffrey noticed the perverted gaze Nocturne gave to Adira. Anger flooded his veins and quickened his blood. No matter how she loves Adira, he did not dare look at her that way. She’s pretty and sexy, that’s a fact.

‘But how dare he…’

Geoffrey bit his lower lip. Everyone knows that Adira is married, and that guy probably knows that too.

“You look so great today, Mrs. McElroy,” Nocturne praised.

Sensing the prickling intense gaze, Adira’s mouth crooked for a grin. She knew about the scandal of Nocturne, and that he loves flirting with married women. But the directors of the companies insisted Adira to invite Nocturne despite his scandal.

Adira did not want to include him to the list, but she had no choice. Besides, she knew she can handle him.

“Thank you so much,” Adira said. “And thank you for coming. I heard that Mr. Nocturne is having a hard time dealing the issues. But you still bothered coming in this event.”

Nocturne chuckled huskily. “You mean the rumors? That’s not true. Don’t believe is such rumor, Mrs. McElroy. Ah, by the way, I read the articles about you and your husband. I envy your romantic relationship. I hope I can also find a lovely wife like you someday.”

“Thank you.”

Nocturne’s eyes glanced at Adira’s fingers. Next, he took a sip on his wine and sneered. “But it seems you are not wearing your wedding ring tonight.”

Adira’s fingers flinched.

On the side, Geoffrey also looked at her empty fingers. He stared at her smiling face, wondering what she will answer. Ever since he saw her visited the bar, he did not see Adira wearing the ring, that’s why he thought before that she’s still single.

“It just that the ring does not match my outfit today,” Adira calmly answered.

“Oh really?” Nocturne gasped. “I see. I hope you did not wear it because you’re having a hard time with your husband.”

Adira did not answer and just smiled.

“Actually, I heard a weird rumor about you and your husband. And I am so worried.”

Nocturne went closer and spoke in low voice.

“When your husband got into an accident, I heard that another woman came back and forth to visit him.”

‘It’s Isa!’ Geoffrey shouted inside his head. He clenched his fists and bit his lips firmly. This is the reason why he kept on warning Isa to stay out from Chadwick’s business! But she’s not listening. Because of that, Adira had to face this humiliation.

“I hope that is not true,” Nocturne said. “But if it is, don’t worry. I am willing to comfort our amazing CEO.”

The comfort he is talking about is basically asking Adira to date him in secret. This might be his technique so far. Looking for married women whose husbands are having affairs, then seduced them. However, this trap won’t work to someone like Adira.

“Are you asking me to have a s*x with you?” Adira directly questioned.

Thinking he won against her, Nocturne smiled and replied, “My beautiful madam is so smart.”

Adira chuckled huskily.

“That’s right,” she agreed. “I am smart enough to know what I should say in this situation.”

“And your answer is?”

“My answer is… get lost.”

“H-Huh?’

“Get… lost.”

Nocturne was at loss for words. He is one of the shareholders in the company, and he also invested a lot. He believes that Adira should not treat him like this.

“Are you serious? Did you just tell me to get lost?” Nocturne stuttered, pointing himself.

“I am actually preventing myself from saying: ‘I will cut your pervert d*ck’. But since we have a very special event today, I should not make a commotion.”

“Huh,” Nocturne, scoffed. He couldn’t believe the barbaric words coming from the elegant lady.

“So before I lost my reason, you should leave me alone, Mr. Nocturne.”

Nocturne gritted his teeth. He fell in love with Adira’s beauty, but women who aren’t submissive annoy him the most. He thought he can play with her if he used the information he got from a reliable source.

Glaring at Adira, Nocturne promised that she will regret treating him this way.

“I will. Have a nice night ahead, Mrs. McElroy,” he replied before he walked out.

Geoffrey watched Nocturne’s back which faded among the crowd, and back to Adira, who’s calmly standing with a wine glass on her hands.

‘She did not change,’ he thought.

The powerful lady whom he fell for, she is still the same.

But does it mean Geoffrey wouldn’t need to worry about Adira’s relationship with Chadwick and Isa?

“I stood up to cover my husband’s affair, but here he is, making another one,” Adira murmured while looking afar.

Curious, Geoffrey followed where her gaze at. To his surprise, he saw Chadwick and Isa together.

‘Those two…!’

His fury sprung into life.

Adira was humiliated because of Chadwick and Isa. But now, they dared appeared in front of her again.

Geoffrey now doubted his decision.

‘Can I really leave this woman in that hands of that selfish jerk?’ Geoffrey pondered while glaring at Chadwick.

When Chadwick tilted his head towards their side, Geoffrey turned around to hide himself.

‘You’re testing my patience. Chadwick,’ Geoffrey said inwardly while gritting his teeth.