Chapter 51
Half an hour later, Andrew straightened Madelyn’s clothes before carrying her out of the office.
Some of the employees were working late, and Madelyn blushed as she shrunk into Andrew’s embrace. She silently vowed to keep her visits here to a minimum.
Everyone went still with shock as they watched Andrew carry Madelyn into the elevator. They never thought Andrew had such a loving and gentle side to him.
When they were in the car, Andrew answered a call and listened to what the person on the other line had to say. A beat later, he said
nonchalantly, “Alright. I’ll be there in an hour.”
He hung up after that and glanced at Madelyn, only to see her staring at him inquisitively. “Are you getting together with your business associates?”
“More of a friend than a business associate, but yes. I’ll drop you home first,” Andrew replied.
A friend? Madelyn blinked. She did not know any of Andrew’s friends. She hadn’t wanted to get to know them in her previous life. As such, even if he had given her a name, she wouldn’t have known who the person was.
Upon hearing that he planned to drop her home, she pouted and
tugged on his shirt. His expression was askance as he looked at her. Do you want me to stay home?”
When she said nothing, he took her hand and explained gently, ”
Damian just came back from abroad. I haven’t seen him in two years.
Right now, he was the portrait of a dutiful husband who wanted his
every detail of his after–work gathering, as he should.
Naturally, Madelyn had every right to press for details. However, she looked at him sadly and asked, “Can come with you?”
“Is that what you want?” Andrew asked, surprised.
Her eyes glittered with enthusiasm as she said, “Can’t I?”
“Of course, you can!” He was more than happy to let her tag along. She had refused to mingle with his friends and associates after
marriage. Before that, she was too young to join him on such
occasions.
Andrew knew her like the back of his hand, but she didn’t know him or
Madelyn couldn’t help feeling self–conscious as she clutched Andrew’s arm, careful not to strain his injury. She muttered under her breath, “Could you try to go easy on me the next time?”
It was a wonder her face–and her entire body, at that–had not gone up in flames.
The men turned toward the door when it opened, but the easygoing atmosphere in the room immediately tensed when they registered Madelyn’s presence.
For a while, it seemed the air had gone still as the men exchanged bewildered looks.
Damian was the first to break the silence, slapping his thigh in good humor. He rose to his feet and walked over to Andrew, saying, “Hey, you made it! You should’ve told me you were bringing Madelyn along. I would’ve brought a gift.”
This was the first time any of them had seen Andrew with a lady. Everyone in his circle knew his marriage was rocky, and they avoided the topic entirely whenever he was around.
The last thing they expected from this gathering was for him to bring Madelyn along.
Madelyn glanced around at the men in the lounge, her grip tightening around Andrew’s hand. He squeezed her hand reassuringly and led her toward the available seats.
Some of the men were still in shock, but Andrew ignored them as he made the introductions. “Darling, meet Lorcan Gallagher, Frank
Bardot, Wilson Ya ow, and Damian Curran. I told you about them in the car. Damian just came back from abroad.”
Madelyn committed their faces and names to memory. She greeted them warmly, “Good evening, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Bardot, Mr. Yarrow, and Mr. Curran.”
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