Seven
Max
Dim emergency lights flickered on, casting an eerie glow over everything. For a split second, I was caught off guard. I'd never been in this situation before.
Instinct made me press the button for the lobby a few times.
But nothing happened. Not even a slight movement.
"Are we really stuck?" Cordelia asked.
I turned to look at her, studying her face, assessing, hoping she'd be all right under such a wild circumstance.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to freak out on you," she said in a wry voice.
"It's okay to freak out, Dee."
"Well, I'm not going to. Would you just press the emergency button already?"
I almost laughed. If the situation weren't so serious, I might have.
Right before I could press the emergency button, a crackling voice broke the quiet. "Hello? Is anyone in there?" came the distant voice through the intercom.
Relief washed over me. "Yes, there's two of us in here and we're stuck."
"Don't panic. I'll call for help. Shouldn't be too long."
There was a creaking noise and a slight shifting as the elevator seemed to settle, and I exchanged a look with Cordelia.
"It'll be okay," I assured her, even though I had no fucking clue.
"I know."
Jesus. The woman must have had steel for her backbone. I glanced at my phone and had no signal. But someone knew we were here, and that was good enough. Hopefully.
I tried not to think about how high up we were right now, in a steel and glass shaft hundreds of feet above the city streets, modern engineering failing us. The reality of our situation pressed in on me, not for myself necessarily, but for this woman beside me who, despite her brave face, had to be freaking out just a little inside.
"At least we'll get to be rescued by firefighters, right?" she said.
No clue why her voice was kind of breathless, I turned to glance at her. "I guess? And why is that a good thing?"
She arched a perfect brow at me. "Are you serious? Firemen? You know, some of them even have calendars?"
Dawning hit me. Firemen were hot. Of course. "But I thought you didn't want a man."
"I didn't say I don't want a man. I don't want a relationship . There's a big difference."
The air suddenly felt stagnant, despite how good Cordelia always smelled, the faint scent of her not enough in this confined space. Unease began to creep in. "I'm going to sit down."
Taking a seat to one side, I leaned my back against the wall, the coolness of the metal seeping into my suit jacket. To my surprise, Dee took a few steps toward me, then gingerly sat down beside me.
The seconds ticked past, each passing minute amplifying the silence, heightening the awareness of our isolation in this little suspended box. It was weird being trapped and stranded like this. The elevator didn't care about my status, my money, or that I was a CEO.
I could have come clean with the security guy, told him my real name, tried to grease the wheels to hurry up our rescue. But I hadn't. Because in the end, it didn't matter.
All that really mattered... well, shit, I really didn't know. That was the big question in life, wasn't it?
Time seemed to slow, along with the sound of Cordelia's even breathing. I turned to look at her, to find her head leaned back against the wall, her eyes closed.
"Are you awake?" I asked.
"I am now."
Surely, she couldn't fall asleep in a situation like this. "So you're really not scared?"
"I mean, maybe one percent scared. But I have faith that a modern day elevator has plenty of fail-safes in place and that we won't go plunging to our deaths in the next several minutes." Her eyes met mine in the dim light. "Don't tell me you're freaking out, Jared."
It was the first time she'd ever used my name that I could remember. Well, my fake name. And I liked the way it sounded coming out of her mouth, kind of soft on the last syllable. I couldn't help wondering how my real name would sound coming out of that smart-ass mouth of hers. How she'd say it. How the one simple syllable would roll off her tongue.
Her questioning eyes reminded me that she'd just asked me something. "Me? No, I'm not freaking out either." Well maybe about one percent. "So if this doesn't scare the great and powerful Cordelia, what does?"
She was silent for so long I didn't think she'd answer. Or maybe she was dozing again.
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. You first," she challenged.
"Me first? Why do I have to go first?"
Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. "Because you're the one who asked. You're the one who wants to know. So you have to work for it."
This woman was tougher than any CEO I'd ever met. "Fine. I'll start."
To be honest, I wasn't exactly sure what scared me, and I had to think about it for a minute. The silence in the confined space stretched out, amplifying every sound, every movement, even our breathing.
"Your biggest fear," she prodded me verbally along with a sharp elbow to my side.
"Right. I'm working on it, ba—"
That pointy elbow got me again. It was worth it, though. Something about ticking Cordelia off was quickly becoming the highlight of my days.
"Hey, I stopped myself from saying it. And I guess if we're talking about my biggest fear, it'd have to do with losing my family."
She didn't say a word to that, and I slanted my head to look at her in the flickering light. "Your family?" she repeated.
"Yeah. My family."
"Aw. Well, isn't that sweet."
I couldn't tell by her tone whether or not she was being sarcastic, a rarity because her voice usually dripped with it when talking to me. So all I did was smile. "What about you?"
"Oh, no. I need to know what it is about your family that's so special. Because even though I love mine, that was not my first thought when it comes to greatest fears. And now, you've made me feel like shit about that."
There was that sharp tongue, making me smile even more. "It wasn't my intention to make you feel like shit."
Even in the dim lighting, I could make out the rolling of her eyes. "Well? What about your family?"
God, she made me laugh. "They're nice. That's all."
"Nice?"
"Yeah. Nice. I really care about all of them, and they care about me. What else is there to say?"
"So you get along with your family?"
"Yes. I get along with my family. Don't you?"
"I do. Mostly. It's just weird to meet someone who likes their family. I have to admit."
I thought about her words, and she was right. So many of my friends had issues. A nasty mom, a critical father, parents who'd never been around. "I suppose you're right."
"So your parents are still together?" she asked.
"No. They're divorced. They have been for a long time. But they're still friendly, and they get along well."
"That's rare. Where do they live?"
"My mom here. My dad with his new wife and kids in Australia."
"Australia? That's cool. Do you ever go visit?"
I suddenly realized I was giving away too much information that was the actual truth for Max Sterling and not my strapped-for-cash alter ego Jared. Shit. "Not very often," I lied. "The flights are crazy expensive."
She hummed in understanding. "That's too bad. Well, maybe if you do a good job here, you'll get a raise soon, you know, because Max Sterling is so fucking generous, and then you can go down under more often."
Why did Cordelia hate me so much? Max me? Well, actually both of us. Although at the moment, she seemed to be softening, just a hair, toward Jared. I shrugged. "I think my salary is pretty fair, to be honest. Even more than industry standards."
"If you say so. But listen, I really don't want to talk about fucking Max Sterling of all people while I'm stuck in an elevator and might be living my last minutes," she said.
"So what do you want to talk about? Wait, now that I've told you my greatest fear, I get to hear yours."
She sighed that long-suffering sigh I was getting used to hearing. "Right. Well, I guess it's..."
Another lengthy pause as I waited, knowing we were about to cross a threshold if Cordelia could actually open up to me and tell me something so intensely personal. The atmosphere became thick with uncertainty, not helped by the fact that our only connection to the outside world had been reduced to a flickering display panel and a hushed intercom.
"I guess," she started again in a soft voice, "I'm afraid of not leaving my mark on the world."
Honestly, I should have guessed that. Knowing her, albeit only briefly, of course that would be a fear of hers. Although I could feel her eyes on me, all I did was nod, afraid if I said or did anything that it would break the spell. And sure enough, being quiet worked because she took a deep breath and continued speaking.
"I'm afraid that when I die no one will remember me. That I'm forgettable."
Holy shit. I couldn't believe that this woman was actually confiding in me like this, confiding in the clown called Jared.
"It really hit me, and actually haunts me," she confessed, "which all started when we went on a family trip to Paris. My parents and I took a tour of the catacombs. My sisters didn't want to go—they're both younger than me—but I did. And it... and it..."
I was utterly captivated now and turned to her. "And it what?" I prodded.
"It just struck me looking at all those bones packed together, how utterly forgotten all those individual people now are. No names. No identities. Just thousands, millions actually, of people that time has pretty much erased. And I guess that happens to us all eventually."
"Damn, Dee. I didn't expect you to get so deep on me." But I should have known she would. I'd sensed from day one that this woman had a lot going on under her take-charge, confident surface.
She let out a laugh. "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry. It's incredible actually. And now I'm not so sure I ever want to visit the catacombs."
"You should, though," she argued. "It makes you realize how fleeting time is, how close to death we all are, how every single person on this planet will someday die."
"Uh, you're not really selling it very well."
She laughed again, a sound that sent a buzz of warmth through me. "No, but it's a good thing, because it makes you want to seize the day. Grab life and get the most out of it, you know?"
"I suppose." I didn't want to argue, but I did anyway. "In my opinion, there are better ways to do that, though."
"Oh, yeah? What other ways has the wise and wonderful Jared found?" she said, any trace of softness gone from her voice, leaving that smart-ass tone that I was used to. "I'm dying to know."
I grinned. "Well, for starters, sharing a moment like this with you. Nothing forgettable about that."
She rolled her eyes, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Smooth. But seriously, what do you think makes a person unforgettable?"
I paused, thinking it over. "Honestly? I think it's about the connections we make. The way we touch other people's lives, even in small ways."
Her expression became thoughtful, and I stared at her a moment longer than I should have, something about the setting giving her an otherworldly glow. Cordelia's face, I had to admit, was beautiful, her pretty features amplified by the lighting, her eyes bigger, her cheekbones more prominent.
It wasn't the first time I'd noticed her beauty. I couldn't help but notice. But it was the first time I'd let my eyes linger, and her eyes lingered too. Like she was really seeing me. Or Jared rather. And I wished I could be myself with her. Wondered what she'd say if I told her the truth right now.
But as swiftly as the thought entered my mind, I banished it. Cordelia had made it abundantly clear how she felt about Max Sterling, and it was absolute hate.
There was a loud noise outside just then, followed by the sound of distant voices.
"We're getting rescued?" Dee asked.
"Looks like it. And good thing because you're really starting to—"
She swatted my arm. "Whatever you're about to say, shut it."
"It was nice," I insisted. "What I was going to say."
"I don't care."
More clanking noises echoed through the elevator shaft, and suddenly, the doors jerked open. Above us, a group of firefighters in full gear appeared, their faces a blend of concern and focused professionalism.
One firefighter leaned in, offering a reassuring smile. "Hey folks, sorry about the wait. We'll have you out of here in no time."
Extending his hand, he gestured for Cordelia first. She had to navigate a huge step up, something that would normally require a stepstool or a ladder. I stood behind her, ready to assist any way I could.
Cordelia hesitated for a moment before accepting the firefighter's outstretched hand. I watched as he gripped her firmly, his fingers wrapping around hers in a tight hold. Without thinking of the consequences or Cordelia's possible reaction, I put my hands around her waist and lifted her, all three of us working together to get her out.
I kept waiting for her to snap at me, to yell at me to get my hands off her, but she didn't, and I squeezed a little harder in that final push to lift her out, her ass right in my face as she scooted and wiggled her body through the opening.
Once she was out, the same fireman assisted me, helping to hoist me over the edge and back onto solid ground. Which felt fucking great. And so open compared to the confines of the elevator.
I glanced around for Dee and found her sitting on a chair and talking to an EMT, a woman, thank goodness. Thinking about her earlier comment, I wasn't too keen on all these firemen milling about.
Another EMT took me aside and gave me a quick exam, asking me questions about dizziness or shortness of breath.
Once we were both done, we were handed bottles of water and told to hydrate.
"Any idea what caused the elevator to stop?" I asked, looking back at the firefighters who were now inspecting the elevator shaft.
"Looks like a mechanical failure," one of them replied. "Maintenance will have to take a closer look."
"Who usually inspects them and why wasn't this caught?" Damn, my tone had been more Max than Jared, and I quickly smiled to mask it. "I mean, what's the usual scenario here? Why does this sort of thing happen?"
He launched into a detailed explanation that I did my best to understand, and when he was done, my eyes automatically sought out Cordelia who was downing her water and looking a little tired, a smudge of something on her cheek and a streak of dirt marring her pretty blouse.
After thanking him and the rest of the first responders, I made my way over to a quiet Cordelia. "Ready to get out of here?" I asked her.
"More than ready," she replied.
We used the stairs this time, all the elevators closed for further inspection, an EMT going down with us to make sure we didn't collapse or something, I supposed.
I wanted to tell Cordelia to take the day off tomorrow, and the next day too if she needed. But as Jared, I couldn't do that. And it was even more annoying that I couldn't call my driver to come get us.
So I settled on a cab, insisting that I drop her off first, despite her protestations. After finally relenting, she leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, her hands folded in her lap. Something made me want to reach out and touch her, offer her comfort even though I knew she'd bite my head off. But I stopped myself.
Instead, I looked out the window, surprised at how nice the street was where Dee lived. The taxi rolled past elegant brownstones and meticulously maintained townhouses, their stoops decorated with potted plants.
When the driver pulled up to her place, I whistled. It was a classic pre-war building with an elegant arched entrance, wrought-iron gates, and lush greenery. "Damn. And I thought you said Max Sterling wasn't paying you well."
She quickly gathered her stuff. "I'm a smart investor, Jared," she said coolly as she opened her door.
"I guess so."
"Wish I could say I had a great night." She shot me a smirk. "See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," I answered. But she'd already shut the door.
I watched her until she made it safely inside, all the while wondering what else remained hidden under her cool exterior, discovering belatedly that she’d left a wad of cash on the seat, most likely thinking Jared was a poor fucker.