Wedcuffed

Chapter 12

Sarah P.O.V

Sunrays tingled my face, pulling me out of sleep. I got up from the bed and headed straight to the bathroom. It had been three days since my wedding, and since that night, I had done my best to avoid Adrian as much as possible. I decided to move my belongings to a bedroom directly across from Adrian's. I didn't want to share the same room with him after that night, and Adrian had no objections. I still prepared his meals, but they remained untouched and often ended up in the trash.

After using the bathroom, I took a relaxing shower and started getting ready for work. I chose a puffy-sleeve wrap blouse paired with a black pencil skirt. Today, I had a meeting with Parker Enterprises, and I needed to be punctual. Since taking over Amario Enterprises last month, I had fired employees who weren't performing well, including my father. I expected him to cause a scene, but he seemed to understand the gravity of the situation; the company was on the brink of bankruptcy.

After a final check in the mirror, I grabbed my car keys and other essentials and headed to Parker Enterprises. Twenty minutes later, I parked outside and went inside. My team was waiting for me in the lobby, and without wasting any time, we proceeded to the boardroom.

Adrian's POV

I arrived at my office early today for an important meeting with Amario Enterprises. I had heard from Noah that Sarah had taken over as CEO, which surprised me. I knew Sarah had little business acumen—according to Jessica, she was always a poor student and lacked a proper degree or relevant experience.

Our relationship was strained; we still acted like strangers despite living under the same roof. The last time we spoke was on our wedding night. I regretted slapping her but felt my anger was uncontrollable at the time. Since then, Sarah had moved to another room, and I had chosen to avoid her. Although she carried out her duties, including preparing my meals and organizing my belongings, I refused to eat the food she prepared. I didn't want to risk my taste being ruined by someone who didn't even know how to boil water.

"Sir, they are here," my assistant informed me through the intercom. I walked towards the boardroom with Noah and his assistant in tow.

"Did you prepare all the files I asked for?" I inquired. My assistant confirmed that everything was ready.

The door opened, and my secretary held it for them to enter. I saw three men and two women walk in, followed by Sarah. She exuded confidence and sophistication as she approached me and Noah.

"Mr. Parker," she extended her hand for a handshake. I took her hand, and she shook Noah's hand as well.

Even in professional attire, Sarah drew attention from the men in the room. I thought to myself that women like her have a knack for attracting men without even trying.

Taking her seat opposite Noah and me, Sarah got straight to business. "This is Ester, Jennifer, Ryan, Alex, and John. They are my team and will be working with us," she introduced her team and then opened her laptop, donning her glasses.

"So, you're planning to build a new resort. Do you have any ideas regarding the resort yet?" she asked, glancing up from her laptop.

"I assume that's why we're here—to discuss and understand each other's ideas. But do you have any experience or knowledge about this sector? I mean, what can we expect from someone who barely finished high school?" I taunted her.

I saw shock on the faces of her team and my staff, while Noah raised his eyebrows in surprise at my comment.

Sarah shook her head and focused back on her laptop. She requested some paper from her team members and briefly glanced in my direction.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Parker, but I'm not here to discuss my qualifications. Perhaps we can schedule another meeting to discuss my credentials," Sarah responded, giving me a polite smile.

I heard soft chuckles from everyone in the boardroom, including Noah.

"Since you don't have any ideas yet, may I proceed with my presentation?" she asked. Sarah stood up, walked to the projector, and began her presentation.

For the next thirty minutes, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her presentation on the resort was nothing short of spectacular. From site planning and contextual elements to the design and environmental considerations, her plan was so thorough and impressive that I was left speechless. It was as if she were a seasoned expert in this field.

Her way of speaking and the movements of her lips made me want to kiss her senselessly. I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. I reminded myself that Jessica had broken up with me because of Sarah.

"This design and planning for the resort represent a blend of aesthetics and high-quality construction, with user-friendly features to attract visitors. Are there any questions or suggestions?" Sarah concluded her presentation.

I was at a loss for words. Her ideas were so flawless and innovative that I couldn't find a single flaw. I was certain that no one in our company had come up with such a brilliant plan.

We decided to take a short break, and everyone left the room to get coffee, except for me, Sarah, Noah, and Sarah's assistant, Ester. Sarah was busy discussing some papers with Ester.

I heard a faint knock on the door and saw my secretary standing there. "Sir, Mr. Morgan is here to see you," she informed me.

"Please send him in," I replied. A few moments later, Justin walked into the boardroom.

"Hey, Adrian! Hey, Noah!" he greeted us and took a seat next to Noah. His expression changed when he saw Sarah; his gaze lingered on her with obvious interest.

"Hello, Sarah. How are you?" he asked while checking her out. I cleared my throat, and he quickly looked away.

Sarah, meanwhile, was engrossed in her papers with Ester. "I'm fine, Mr. Morgan," she replied without looking up.

"Don't be so formal, Sarah. Call me Justin. We're friends, after all," he said casually.

"We used to be friends, Mr. Morgan," Sarah replied, finally looking up from her papers. "Excuse me now," she said and left the boardroom. I saw Justin watching her until she disappeared from view.

Justin then turned to me. "Adrian, I've got some important information about Jessica's whereabouts. She's back in New York; her flight landed this morning," he said in a low voice, audible only to me. My heart fluttered at the news. After reading her letter, I had hired people to track her down. I had learned she was in LA but had respected her decision not to be contacted. Now that she was back, there was hope that we might meet again.

"Thanks for the information, Justin," I said. I offered him coffee, but he declined. "I need to get going; otherwise, I'd definitely have a cup. Bye, everyone," Justin said, and hurriedly left the room.

In the next five minutes, everyone returned to the boardroom, except for Sarah. When she didn't come back, Ester tried calling her, but her phone was unreachable. She was about to go look for Sarah when I stopped her.

"I'll go find her, Ester. Please stay here," I told her and left the boardroom. I searched the entire floor but couldn't find her. I took out my phone and tried calling her again. Suddenly, I heard a phone ringing nearby. I followed the sound to the ladies restroom at the end of the corridor. I could hear murmuring and a male voice coming from inside.

Without thinking further, I opened the door. The sight before me was shocking and disgusting: Sarah, my wife, was standing close to Justin. Her blouse was dishevelled, and her hair was in disarray. The situation was clear. My eyes met Sarah's; her eyes widened in fear and shock upon seeing me. Justin noticed my presence and quickly distanced himself from her. But I didn't wait for explanations or excuses. I slammed the door shut and stormed away, my mind racing with anger and disgust.

What a slut...

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