He Said Waiting Is Romantic But Not For Me Chapter 03

He Said Waiting Is Romantic But Not For Me Chapter 03

Monday morning, I slipped the signed international assignment form into a file folder.

Cole walked out of the bedroom in his suit and glanced at me.

“Dressed up today. Going to the office?”

“Yeah. Some paperwork.”

“Perfect. Tessa’s pretty much better, and she’s starting her new job today. I’ll drive you both. It’s on the way.”

My office was in downtown Oakhaven’s Financial District. Tessa’s new job was down on Southwest Industrial Parkway.

But he said it was on the way, so sure.

I grabbed my bag and went to the garage. Cole had already started the car.

Tessa stood by the passenger side. When she saw me, she gave me a sweet, “Morning, Elise.”

Then she opened the front passenger door, completely naturally, and climbed in.

I stood by the back door and looked at Cole.

He met my eyes in the rearview mirror, expression easy.

“Elise, you take the back. Tessa gets carsick. The front’s less stuffy for her.”

I didn’t say a word. Opened the back door and got in.

The car rolled out of the garage.

I watched the two of them up front.

Tessa said she was cold. Cole turned up the heat.

Tessa said the radio was too loud. Cole switched to her favorite pop station.

He adjusted her seat to the perfect angle and even angled the vent away from her face.

“Cole, I’m kind of hungry.” Tessa rubbed her stomach as we approached the on-ramp. “Didn’t eat much last night.”

Cole frowned. “Low blood sugar again? Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

He glanced at the GPS.

“Next exit. There’s that breakfast sandwich place you like. I’ll grab you one.”

“Cole.” I said his name coldly from the back seat. “I have to sign a contract with the CEO at ten.”

The London assignment final agreement had to be stamped by ten.

Cole checked the time. 9:15.

“A breakfast run takes ten minutes max. Your contract can wait.”

He jerked the wheel to the right and merged onto a clogged access road.

At the intersection, the light turned red. The car stopped.

I grabbed my file folder and pushed open the back door.

“Elise! What are you doing?”

“Going to sign my contract.” I stood outside the car and shut the door.

“You can’t get a cab on this road! Are you insane? It’s just breakfast—why are you throwing a fit like this?” Cole rolled down his window and yelled at me.

Tessa leaned her head out too. “I’m sorry, Elise. Forget it—I’ll just be hungry. It’s fine. Please get back in.”

“No thanks.”

I turned and walked toward the subway station in my heels, not looking back.

Car horns blared behind me.

…

At 9:50, I walked into the CEO’s office.

I signed the three-year international contract.

HR looked at me. “Elise, London’s no joke. Three years with no transfer back. You talked this over with your family?”

“It’s all settled.”

“Good. Your flight’s next Monday. You don’t need to come in this week. Take the time to wrap up your personal business at home.”

“Thank you.”

I left the CEO’s office and went to Legal.

Used their printer to run off three pages.

The title at the top: Divorce Papers.

Seven that night. I sat at home, packing my things little by little.

There wasn’t much to pack anyway.

Over the years, my stuff had gotten sparse. Tessa’s traces kept multiplying.

The door opened.

Cole walked in, holding a bouquet for once.

A big bunch of bright yellow roses. 　　“I was an asshole this morning. Don’t be mad.”

He pushed the flowers into my arms, with a tone that was part bribe, part charity.

“For you.”