Falling For The Man I Married

Chapter 46: Lunch break

"So, where is your 'dear husband', Mrs Wilsons?" Sandy asked me sarcastically when we get back to work the following day after my two days off at home.

It's already 10:00 o'clock but Gabriel hasn't arrived yet and I have already cancelled his first and second appointment pf the day.

"Stop calling me that, someone might hear you!" I glared at her.

"Okay... then answer me, where is our boss?"

"Why are you asking me, I am not his mother!"

"Excuse me? But you are his wife, you should know where he is!"

"Sandy, we're just married on a piece of paper and you know that and to answer your first question, honestly... I don't know. Our last meeting was on Saturday afternoon and he said he's going to meet Stacey." I almost whispered the last word.

"Ohh... so he's with his ex on your first wedding night... nice!"

"Stop it, Sandy!" I said getting annoyed with her teasing.

"Oh, but why? I'm not doing anything here, I'm just repeating your words, 'duh!"

I remained quiet and focused on the computer screen.

"Have you tried calling him?" she asked, taking her seat in front of my desk.

"I've been trying to call him since last night, but it always goes to his voicemail and even this morning until this time, I'm still trying but he's not answering."

"What about his meeting today and some of his appointments?"

"I have already cancelled his two-morning meetings. I need to talk to him, he must inform me if he's still going to work today, so I can also call the companies that had already set an appointment today and to avoid any complaints from the investors."

"So, he didn't come home even last night?"

"No."

"Hmm... what do you think he's doing right now? Or even last night and the night of your wedding? Especially when he's with his ex?"

"I don't know! And whether he's fucking his ex every day and every hour, I don't care! I just need him to show up now, because I'm going insane thinking what kind of reasons I'm going to say to cancel his business appointments!"

"Uhuh... yeah, you don't care, but your heart does. Tsk. tsk. You're under the spell of what they called, madly in love---- oh no, Madielyn in love!" and she laughed like a villain in some drama movie.

"Can you just...argh! Sandy please, just get back to your work. I need to send some emails and finish some reports!"

"All right." she shrugged. "Just inform me as soon as he arrives. Bye, Mrs Wilsons."

I just bit my lips and glared at her.

***

It's exactly 11:45 on my wristwatch when my phone vibrates at the top of the folders on my left side. My heart started to pound inside, hoping it's the person I am expecting to call at that moment. But to my

disappointment, it's not him but his cousin, Greg.

"Hi, Greg." I tried to sound jolly.

"Hello, ever beautiful Madi... how are you?" at least he makes me smile.

"I'm fine, Gregy. How about you?" I asked as I leaned into my seat.

"At this moment, hungry." and I chuckled with his answer. "Can I invite you for lunch today, Madi? There's just someone here who's eager to see you."

"Ohh... Can I know who that someone is?"

"Secret. So, are you in? Don't worry, it's on me."

"Really, Gregy? Are you sure of that?" I smiled widely, shaking my head.

"Of course! Do you know one of this famous restaurant here in Chicago--- the 'Maiden Restaurant'?" I bit my lip to control my laughter after hearing the name of my restaurant. "I remember, there's someone who told me I can go and eat there whenever I want. And what's the name of the manager there, ahh... Noelle! Yeah, it's Noelle. So, are you going to go and eat with us? It's on me, I promise!"

"I hate you, Greg!" I said as I tried not to laugh out loud.

"Why? It's true, I know the owner of that restaurant. She's a friend of mine, she'll certainly serve us all the food we want."

"Of course, she will give you whatever you want, 'for free!"

"Yes! See? I told you, she's the most beautiful and kind woman for the needy."

"You're rich like Bill Gates! What are you saying you're needy? I hate you!" I heard him laugh on the other line. I checked my watch and it's only 5 minutes before 12 noon.

"So, what's up?" I heard him asked after a while.

"Okay, I'm in. Where are you, by the way?" Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

"We're at the lobby. Are we going to pick you up there or---"

"No. I'll just fix my things and I'll go down there."

"Okay."

I sighed as we both ended the call. I pressed the intercom and also invite Sandy to go with us, and as I expected, she agreed excitedly.

***

"Sissy!"

"Nancy?"

She lunged at me as soon as Sandy and I stepped out of the elevator.

"Ohh, Sissy. I missed you!" she said as she hugged me tightly.

"Did you miss her that much? You've only seen each other almost last week?" Greg asked her, chuckling.

"What is it with you Gregy, if I missed her?" she turned to him and his laughter died.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her when she turned to me.

"Well, I have some projects here. Some criminal syndicates involved in human trafficking."

My eyes widened slightly. "Oh, that's a huge case, Nancy."

"I know, but it's my job." she shrugged.

"By the way, this is Sandy---"

"I know her. Sandy Aguilar, Gab's secretary. Hi, Sandy." she smiled and hugged her.

"Hi, Ms Wilsons," Sandy said shyly.

"Oh, cut the formalities and just call me Nancy."

When we're all settled with our greetings, we all agreed to use Greg's car to go to my restaurant. I don't know if Nancy has a clue about it, but I trust Greg on that.

As soon as we entered the restaurant, I froze when Nancy squealed in front of me.

"Wow, Sissy! You have a huge and beautiful restaurant!" we all turned to her and I glanced at Greg with wide wide eyes but he shook his head.

Then Nancy smiled and grabbed my hand.

"I know everything, Sissy."

My breath suddenly stuck in my throat as I looked at her smiling face. She knew.

"E-Everything... y-you mean everything?" I asked stuttering as I can't believe what she just said. Greg and Sandy were just watching our conversation.

"Yes, everything." she nodded. I gulped as I asked her how. "Didn't my brother tell you that I work in a detective agency? I am the head director Madi and anytime, I can ask someone to prove whether my brother is lying or not."

"N-Nancy..." Then I remembered Gabriel told me about it, but he assured me it wouldn't be a problem.

"Let's not talk about that for now. I'm so hungry, you know? And Greg told me, he's kinda close with the owner of this restaurant, so we can eat for free." I chuckled as she winked at me.

We were greeted by almost every employee serving their customers at that time. We chose to sit in one of the farthest corners so we can't disturb some customers with Nancy and Sandy's mouth who instantly becoming clicks and friends with each other.

As I finished my food, I received a text message from an unknown number, but when I opened it, I instantly knew it was from Nancy. She's asking me if we can talk privately and I replied with a yes. I excused myself to use the bathroom and after a few minutes, Nancy came and I lead her to our private office.

We found Noelle on her desk, checking some delivery receipts and since I've already introduced them to each other earlier, I don't have to introduce them again at that moment. I know that Noelle got the message as soon as we entered the office and she immediately excused herself by doing some rounds in the kitchen.

When we were alone inside, I let Nancy sit on the couch as I too sit next to her.

"So, how are you Madi," she asked looking at my wedding ring. I gulped as I looked at her and give her a half-smile.

"Here, officially married." I bit my lip, showing her the two rings on my finger.

"I know, and honestly, I was so shocked after hearing the news. Well, Mom and Dad too."

"They already know about the wedding?" I asked her with wide eyes.

"Yes, Gabriel called them before you registered your marriage, but what they didn't know is about your agreement. Why did you agree, Madi?"

I sighed and looked down at my ring. How would I tell her the truth? How would I explain to her?

"I won't judge you if that's what you're thinking." she took both my hands. "Although I already have a clue, I wanted to ask you this, personally. Madi, are you in love my brother?"

I slowly moved my eyes to her and nodded.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed.

"Nancy..."

"When Gab told us that he's going to propose to you, since I already have a clue, I can't help but wonder why you agreed to marry him, but now, I think I don't need to be confused."

I didn't say anything. Well, the truth is... I don't know what to say.

"Do you remember the time when I asked you if you really loved my brother? I knew it by then Madi. And when he knelt in front of you, I saw your tears... tears of sadness instead of happiness. And I remembered this saying about tears.. 'when a person cries and the first drop comes from the right eye, it's happiness. But when the first roll is from the left, it's pain."

"Believe me, Nancy, I didn't mean to feel that way. If I could teach my heart not to fall in love with your brother, I will, but I can't."

"I know."

"This is not me, Nancy. If you ever know the real Madielyn Davis, you will find out what kind of person she is. How bubbly her personality is, how strong and confident she is. But now all her strengths seemed to be her weaknesses."

"Madi, I know how stupid my brother is for dragging you into this mess and how selfish of me to ask you this but, can you wait for him?"

I looked at her face but found the seriousness of it.

"Why do you want me to wait for him?"

"Because I can see how you changed him, Madi. I'm not sure of what he really feels for Stacey at this moment, but I'm sure of what he feels for you when you're around him and when you're next to him."

I can't help to laugh at her. "Don't give me false hope, Nancy."

"I'm not giving you false hope, Madi. I'm just telling you my observations. I've seen the way he stares at you when you're not looking at him. How you make him smile and laugh, Madi. He even kissed you in front of us."

"Because we're just pretending at that moment."

"No, Madi. He never kissed Stacey like that ever in front of everyone. And I witnessed how he got jealous of Greg, the time he saw him chasing you in the kitchen." she chuckled at the memory. "He became possessive over you."

I just looked down and closed my eyes, then I felt her arms around me.

"I like you, Madi. The first time I saw you with him, I want you to be my real sister-in-law. And I promise I will help you to make Gabriel realize how stupid he is by dragging you with his stupid deal and for dumping you like this. I'm on your side, Madi."

I smiled as I wiped the tears that stupidly ran down my cheeks.

"Just promise me you'll wait for him?"

"I'll try, Nancy. As long as my heart can take the pain, I'll try."

"Ohh... Sissy." and she hugged me again.

After our private talk inside the restaurants' office, we decided to go back to our table and to the two who are now frowning waiting for us.

"I thought you two were swallowed up in the toilet! You took so long----ouch!" I punched Greg's arm as we chuckled at his toilet line.

"There's a lot of customers in the bathroom, duh!" Nancy rolled her eyes at him.

"And we have to fall in line," I added, smiling.

"Fine!" the three of us laughed at him.

When we're done eating and talking, Greg sends us back to the office. Nancy told me she will stay at Gabriel's house, which means she will stay with us for the whole month.

***

"Where have you been?"

I was shocked when I found Gabriel with a stern look, sitting in my office chair when Sandy and I get back from our lunch.

"I - I ... came from lunch break."

"With whom?"

My eyes widened with his kind of question.

-'With whom? What is this, an interrogation?'-