The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 27

Leaving the hospital, Suzie checked the time and decided to take a bus to City Hall. She had expected the divorce office to be quiet, but the line snaked through the hall.

Suzie found a seat in a quiet corner and waited. She scanned the large hall, taking in the scene. Some people were sobbing uncontrollably, others stared ahead with lifeless eyes, and a few, like her, were so calm they could have been there for any other mundane procedure.

Suzie sat there until ten-thirty, but there was still no sign of Jamie. She pulled out her phone and called him several times, but each call went unanswered.

Next, she tried Aaron, with the same result.

Steeling her patience, Suzie waited another half an hour. Jamie never came, and his phone remained silent.

She couldn't understand it. He had been so desperate for her to sign the agreement, yet now he was the one dragging his feet. Hadn't she made it clear enough?

A half-hour later, Suzie stood before the Baylor Group tower. She tried calling both of them again. Still no answer. After a moment of hesitation, she walked into the lobby.

This time, however, was different. The security guard at the front desk stopped her. "Miss, you need an appointment to see Mr. Baylor. Otherwise, I can't let you up."

Suzie sighed. She had been able to walk right in just a few days ago. Why not today? Was this Jamie's doing? Was he deliberately avoiding her? He was really willing to go to great lengths just for his grandfather's sake.

"Sir, could you please just let him know I'm here? My name is Suzie. I think he'll see me if you just tell him my name."

Seeing how polite she was, the guard nodded.

A minute later, he hung up the internal line and said apologetically, "I'm sorry. Mr. Baylor is in a meeting with someone important and isn’t available today."

"When will he be free?" Suzie asked quickly.

"Is that the CEO's girlfriend? Wow, she's so stylish."

"This is the first time I've ever seen him with a woman in public. He must really be into her."

"I'm so jealous. What's her secret? How did she land such a perfect man?"

"I heard they're childhood sweethearts. She's been abroad, working as a model. She just got back recently. Seeing them like this, I bet they'll make an official announcement soon."

"He's already brought her here in public. Isn't that an announcement in itself? You idiot."

Suzie's hand, resting on the sofa, tightened its grip on the leather upholstery.