Chapter 20: Petition to Remain Married

The copy shop on Harbor Street opened at six, and Griffin was the first customer through the door.

By nine he was standing at the foot of the Sutherland Corp boardroom table with a laminated sheet in his hand and twelve directors looking at him.

The treasurer had told him to call ahead. The treasurer had also, without being asked, let him into the building by the loading dock.

"Mr. Oakes," the chairman said. His watch lay face down in front of him. "Mrs. Oakes is not here."

"She will be."

"Do you have a quorum for whatever this is?"

"I have twelve people and a laminator," said Griffin.

The elevator pinged down the hall.

He heard her heels before he saw her, quick, uneven, then slowing to a walk as she reached the doors.

Imogen stopped in the doorway of her own boardroom in the gray suit, with the silver stud at her collar.

Her hair was pinned flat. Her face was very still.

She looked at the cap on his head, and the ripped jeans, and the paper.

"Mr. Oakes," she said.

"Mrs. Oakes. You're early. I'm not done setting up."

"You left."

"Before six," Griffin said. "I know. I didn't leave a note."

Her hands closed on the strap of her bag.

"A note is what got us here," he said. "A note under a mug, with a window open. I thought I'd say it out loud, in a room with the windows sealed."

Somebody on the board coughed. The treasurer took out a pen as if there would be a test.

Griffin held up the sheet.

It said, in thick black capitals: PETITION TO REMAIN MARRIED.

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Wild Heir and His Icy Bride from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.