Chapter 2

The next day, Jamie waited at the main entrance of the company for Emma to appear, but it was strange not to see her. She was never late, always punctual. He looked at his watch again, and five minutes had already passed since her usual arrival time.

"Where could she be? She's always strictly punctual," he furrowed his brow and entered the building. On his way to the elevator, he thought that perhaps she had gone up to her office early to avoid running into him at the entrance. So, before starting his work, he decided to have a decent conversation. The wedding was just around the corner, and it had to happen. Upon reaching the floor, he noticed several risk specialists taking their positions at their desks. Jamie approached Emma's boss.

"Good morning, Mrs. Byrne. I'm looking for Emma. Do you happen to know where I can find her? Has she arrived?" Mrs. Byrne furrowed her brow, puzzled by his question.

"Emma? I gave her yesterday and today off so she could have more time to review the final details of her wedding," she said, then narrowed her eyes. "Is everything alright?" Jamie nodded.

"Yes, everything's fine. It's just that I had to take care of some things outside of home yesterday, and..." Jamie didn't know what else to say. "Thanks, I'll call her cell phone." Mrs. Byrne nodded and then turned her attention back to the computer screen in front of her.

Jamie twisted his mouth. "So that's why she arrived at the apartment early," he thought, believing that someone had set a trap for him.

Throughout the day, Jamie called Emma many times, but after the last call, she didn't answer anymore. He thought she might have blocked his calls and messages because it seemed she wasn't online. The phone rang, and he thought Emma finally returned his call, but it was his mother.

"Hello, mother," he said when he answered.

"What's this about the wedding being canceled?" Jamie's eyes widened.

"It's nothing. The wedding is still happening, and..." his mother interrupted him.

"Emma sent a text saying the wedding is off and thanking me for the son she made. So, I ask you, what have you done? Do you know the embarrassment we'll face if there's no wedding? I've invited many people to this wedding, Jamie. I don't know what you did, but you have to fix it NOW." Then she hung up. Jamie let out a long sigh and thought about what he had to do.

On the other side of the city, Emma was enjoying her second cup of coffee in the morning, just like she always did, but this time from her favorite spot, the window in her room. From there, she had one of the best views of Central Park. She momentarily savored the feeling of tranquility that enveloped her. She believed she didn't need Jamie, especially after the distrust he had created in her. She wondered again what had happened to make him make the decision to cheat on her. She was beautiful, took care of herself physically, was kind, educated, patient, and very open-minded when it came to trying new things in bed. Then she shook her head.

"Unsatisfied men."

She had canceled everything related to the wedding without suffering a significant loss, except for the non-refundable honeymoon. So she decided to leave for Hawaii earlier and depart later this afternoon. She had already made a payment for the change of date, and she had started packing. In the middle of her large bed, her suitcase was open, filled with perfectly folded clothes. Matching bags held her underwear, makeup, and more. When she was about to leave the closet to unpack the wedding dress and check that it was in good condition to return it to the store's staff, who would pick it up themselves, the intercom buzzed. She walked over and answered.

"Yes, Dock," they called the doorman.

"Good afternoon, Miss Spencer. The black code has arrived."

"Very well, tell them to come up, but be on the lookout in case you have to rush up to bring them down forcibly."

"Count on me. I'm eagerly looking forward to it." Emma then hung up, walked to the living room, where she had a couple of suitcases filled with all of Jamie's belongings—clothes, trophies, diplomas, shampoo, soaps, brushes. She had removed all traces of him. The doorbell rang, and she pressed her lips together.

"Let the drama begin," she said. She opened the door, and there he was, Jamie, with a puppy-dog look on his face. "There are your suitcases. You can pay Dock to take them downstairs for you."

"Can't we even talk and sort things out, sweetheart?" he asked. Emma raised an eyebrow.

"You've lost the privilege to call me that, Jamie. I think seeing you with another woman, rolling around in my new sheets, should tell you something."

"I made a mistake, Emma. I'm only human."

"But I'm not an idiot, nor your backup plan, and certainly not someone who forgives infidelity. You know perfectly well what I think about that, and yet, you did it. There's no going back. Take your things and goodbye."

"Is it that easy for you to discard me?" Jamie asked, surprised by her newfound confidence.

"Is it that easy for you to get involved with someone else just days before our wedding?" Emma crossed her arms. "And don't you dare ask for the engagement ring that you paid with my credit card and said you would repay. I've returned it, along with the rings, the venue, the food, the music, the waitstaff, and the tableware."

"What? What about the honeymoon?" Emma smiled.

"That..." Emma looked at her watch and then lifted her gaze to him. "...is waiting for me."

"What? How can you go to Hawaii without me? I chose that place!" he exclaimed, offended.

"And I paid for it. So, I'm in a hurry. Take your things and goodbye," Emma said, turning away. But Jamie's hand grabbed her with force, turning her back to him, almost colliding their chests.

"You can't do this to me, Emma," he said as they looked into each other's eyes. Emma raised an eyebrow and abruptly released herself from his grip.

"Just look at me," she took the intercom. "Dock, come up." Jamie furrowed his brow, and moments later, the tall and intimidating figure of Dock appeared, a smile on his face.

"What do you need, Miss Spencer?" Jamie tensed up and then understood the reference to the "black code" that had been mentioned earlier.

 "I'll leave on my own, there's no need to use force for this." He knew he couldn't contend with Dock the mastodon, as he called him in his mind. Emma waited for Jamie to take out the suitcases and for the doorman to escort him out of the building.

"You'll break my mother's heart."

"Tell her that you broke mine first, and as a result, hers will break when she hears from your own mouth what you did to me."

"Emma, let's talk, please. Don't I deserve a second chance?"

“No. Goodbye, thank you, Dock." She closed the door in Jamie's face. As she did so, she stood there, staring at the door, imagining the expression on her now ex-fiancé's face. She let out a long sigh, thinking that at any moment the pain and tears would come, but...

They didn't come.