The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 67

As dish after dish arrived, Suzie listened to Oliver’s concerned words, a warmth spreading through her chest. “Oliver, I can take care of myself,” she said softly. “Your company is so busy, yet you rushed over here just for me. I feel terrible about it.”

“It’s a good thing I came,” he countered. “What if that Josie girl had actually knocked you down? Have you thought about the consequences? After work, I’ll wait with you in the parking garage. We need to get to the bottom of this.”

Suzie felt a chill at the thought and quickly agreed.

When quitting time came, a text from Oliver directed her to the garage. She gathered her things and hurried down, finding him standing by his car. A short distance away stood Josie, head bowed in shame.

As Suzie approached, she glanced at the girl before turning her gaze to Oliver. He gave her a slight nod, then addressed Josie, his tone cool and detached. “Do you want to explain things here, or should we go somewhere else?”

Josie hesitated. “Let’s… let’s go somewhere else.”

Without another word, Oliver opened the car door for Suzie, then gestured for Josie to get in the back. He drove them to a quiet pull-off by the lake outside the city.

“Get out,” he commanded.

Josie scrambled out of the car and then hurried to open Suzie’s door for her.

“You don’t need to know the details,” Lexi’s voice continued. “Just know that I will not let her last in this studio. And don’t think I’m not giving you a chance. If you won’t do it, I can find someone else. But when Suzie leaves this studio, you’ll be leaving with her.”

The recording stopped there. Suzie was completely stunned. How could this be? They had only exchanged a few sharp words in the office, and now this woman was resorting to such vicious, underhanded tactics? It was purely malicious.

Josie turned off the recorder and, observing Suzie’s furious expression, lowered her head. “I’m so sorry, Suzie,” she said earnestly. “As you heard, I was being threatened by Lexi. She’s the studio’s star photographer and just landed that huge Baylor Group contract. I’m just an intern. I don’t have the power to go up against her.…”

Suzie’s brow knitted in a frown. “You could have told the boss,” she questioned, her tone not entirely harsh. “Why didn’t you say anything?”