CHAPTER 23: WASTED EFFORT

He was getting used to see her warm smile every morning and eating the breakfast made by her.

Though they don't usually see each other at night, Jade always make sure to see her husband in the morning. And as days passes by, she noticed a bit of change from the man's cold treatment. Marcus was usually cold and rude towards her during their first weeks together but for the past few days, looked like he softened up a little.

At work, the man considered her a mere staff so he usually maintains his bossy attitude and so Jade have to match his pace and adhere to his strictness when at work.

Marcus sat on the chair and started to eat. To his surprise, the woman stood up and went to the stove. She usually watched him finished the food but this particular day, she seemed a bit… different.

After a few minutes, the woman's phone ringed and with a smile on her face, she answered it.

Marcus saw the glint of happiness in her eyes so he wondered who was calling. And now that he thought about it, he doesn't even have the woman's phone number. But who cares, right?

"Oh hey, what's up? Oh me? I'm cooking." Marcus heard the woman uttered. "Uhm, for lunch?" Then she chuckled. "I cannot waste even a minute at work so I decided to bring a lunchbox. Of course, I can cook." She pouted. Unknown to her, Marcus had been listening to their conversation. That man's voice, it was surely Zion!

And hearing her crisp laugh irritated him. Not because she was noisy but her sweet voice was quite attractive when she playfully giggles.

"Yeah, of course. My weekend off didn't change, why'd you asked?" She creased her brow. "Tomorrow? I'm sorry but I can't join your team. I have a prior engagement tomorrow."

"Yeah sure, I'll check my availability next week." She smiled before hanging up. She placed her phone back to her pocket and after a few minutes, she turned off the stove. She tiptoed as she reached the lunchboxes she bought yesterday.

"Are you done?" She asked when she glanced at Marcus who was seemingly staring at her with curiosity.

"Are you going somewhere tomorrow?"

"Yes." She smiled and sat on the chair opposite him. "Grandma had been calling me the past few days asking me to visit her this weekend. She also asked me to convince you."

"Tell her I'm busy." He emptied the content of his coffee mug.

"Yeah, I did tell her. But you might want to give her a visit next weekend. She really misses you so --''

"I said I'm busy." Marcus interrupted then stood up and left.

The woman sighed as soon as she heard the sound of his car's engine. He didn't even bother to give her a lift despites seeing her wearing an office attire. But what's new? It has always been the set-up for a week now.

She glanced at her old wristwatch, well she still has enough time to pack their lunch. She just learned from Sonny that the man usually skips lunch so she prepared lunchbox for two.

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This day seemed to be one of the good days since she doesn't have much work to do. And if someone is watching her right now, they'll definitely looked at her shadily since she's been acting weird.

She kept glancing at the wall clock and sometimes stood up and pace back and forth, waiting and counting at the same time.

When she saw it was ten minutes before her lunch break, she took the lunchboxes and placed it inside the microwave to reheat it.

"Tsk… Was she that hungry?" Marcus scoffed when he saw the woman at the screen monitor while she was standing in front of the microwave.

It was exactly 12 when he heard a knock. "Come in." He lazily spoke knowing it was his secretary.

Jade opened the door and smilingly entered.

"If you're planning to eat here then don't even dare asking me about it and get out." He said when he saw the woman walking near his desk with a lunchbox in her hands.

"Nope." She retorted. "I came to give you your food." She then placed the lunchbox on his table. Marcus didn't expect that so he was a bit surprised and stared at the woman skeptically.

"Want some coffee or tea?" She furthered. Marcus glanced at the lunchbox in front of him then to the woman.

"No. I'm good" He emotionlessly uttered and went back to what he was doing.

Jade smiled contentedly knowing that her effort was accepted. Knowing Marcus, he could have rejected the food but since he didn't, Jade cheered up. Therefore, she spun around and walked towards the door when it suddenly opened and hit her nose hard. Then a tall and sexy woman came in. She didn't even apologize as if she did nothing!

Jade yelped in pain and covered her bleeding nose.

Marcus saw what happened and was about to rush to check on Jade but seeing who just entered the room stopped him.

"Rachelle!?" The man exclaimed surprisingly.

"Marcus, Babe!" She kissed the man as soon as she reached him.

Jade couldn't hide the shock in her face when she saw the woman sat at Marcus lap and kiss him in front of her. She was dumbfounded! She wanted to get out but her body suddenly went numb as each scene unfolded before her.

"Look, I brought your favorite food." Rachelle beamed but raises her brow and laughed mockingly when she noticed the lunchbox on his desk. "Packed lunch? Since when did you start doing it?" She picked it up disgustingly and threw it in the trash bin. "This is way fresher." The woman opened the food she took from their favorite restaurant.

Watching how her effort was thrown into the trash bin, Jade rushed outside and as soon as she got out, tears suddenly trickled from her eyes. Dang it! She wanted to cuss aloud but seeing how the blood from her nose dampen her shirt made her rush to the restroom.

Meanwhile, Marcus cannot explain what he felt when he saw the woman bleeding. Also, their eyes met after Rachelle greeted him with a kiss.

The shock and pain in Jade's eyes when she witnessed everything somehow concerned him. And what's with the guilt feeling inside him when Rachelle threw the lunchbox while Jade was watching? Fudge!

Jade was crying while trying to stop the bleeding of her nose. The physical pain and the mixed emotion she was feeling at the moment was too much too handle.

She washed her face and hands leaving no trace of blood in it. However, seeing the damp of blood on her shirt and at the sink made her nauseous. Dang it, she knew what was coming next. Therefore, she run at the last cubicle and locked the door, sat on the toilet seat and leaned on the partition since she was feeling a little dizzy.

"Oh please, not now…" She was sobbing while trying to get a hold of herself but her current emotion added to her mental distress and so she helplessly fainted inside.