Chapter 6
The darkness envelops us like a suffocating blanket. Panic claws at the edges of my mind as I struggle to keep my composure.
The air feels thick and heavy with the weight of uncertainty. I can hear my own ragged breaths echoing in the confined space, each one a reminder of my growing fear.
No, this can’t be happening—there’s no way this can be happening. Why did the elevator stop all of a sudden?
“Ethan,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. “What’s going on?” I croak out; the anxiety emanating from me is palpable.
His presence beside me is a small comfort, but the darkness seems to amplify my sense of vulnerability. I can feel his reassuring hand on my shoulder, a grounding touch amidst the chaos.
“It’s okay, Jessica,” he says, his voice a steady anchor in the inky atmosphere. “We’re just experiencing a temporary interruption. I’m sure the elevator will start moving again soon. Let me call so they know we are in here.”
“Oh, thank you; that will be nice.” And even though I’m trying to sound calm, it”s obvious that I”m losing it.
But his words do little to quell the rising tide of panic within me. Each passing moment feels like an eternity, the silence pressing in on us from all sides.
Oh God, I hate closed spaces. They make me nervous and breathless.
As Ethan tries to connect with someone, I strain my ears, hoping to hear some sign of life beyond the confines of our metal prison.
But all I hear is the sound of my own racing heartbeat, a relentless drumbeat of fear that threatens to consume me whole.
“Did anyone answer?” I ask as he brings down his phone from his ear.
“No, I’m just going to text Lysa,” he murmurs as he starts typing on the device.
“Ethan,” I say again, my voice trembling with uncertainty. “I’m scared.”
His response is immediate, his hand tightening reassuringly on my shoulder. “I know, Jessica. But I’m here with you.”
I rest my head on his chest. “Take a deep breath,” he instructs, his tone low and reassuring.
I do as he says, taking slow, deep breaths, letting it out slowly. “Where is your happy place?”
As I close my eyes, trying to focus on Ethan’s calming voice, I imagine myself on a quiet beach, the soft sound of waves lapping against the shore. The image brings a sense of peace amidst the chaos of the elevator.
“My happy place?” I repeat, my voice barely a whisper. “It’s a beach, with golden sand stretching as far as the eye can see and the gentle sound of waves in the background.”
“Good, keep focusing on that. What do you like to do when you’re there?”
Ethan’s voice cuts through the dark like a flashlight, helping me feel safer.
“Walking,” I whisper, trying to remain calm. “I like moving on the sand, feeling it under my feet, the sun and breeze on my skin.”
“That sounds nice,” Ethan says in a steady tone. “What else do you do there?”
I try to focus on the imaginary beach. “I like to collect seashells and build sandcastles.”
“That sounds peaceful,” Ethan repeats.
I try to hold on to the image in my mind, letting the soothing vibes in my imagination wash over me. Slowly, my racing heart begins to steady, the fear gradually subsiding in the face of Ethan’s reassuring presence.
“What have you always wanted to do on the beach that you haven’t?” he asks, breaking the silence.
“I…I…sex!” I blurt out before I can get a chance to stop myself.
My cheeks flush with embarrassment as soon as the words leave my mouth, and I quickly glance away. Even though it’s dark I”m worried that he might still see.
I can’t believe I just said that, especially in a situation like this. What was I thinking? Now I’m back, panicking.
“I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, you did.” I can hear the chuckle in his voice.
But to my surprise, Ethan doesn’t react with shock or judgment. Instead, he laughs softly, his tone laced with amusement. “Well, I think that’s something that will need to be rectified when we get out of here.”
I swallow hard, feeling like I want to disappear into the floor. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me. It’s just...this situation is so stressful, and I guess I just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.”
He reaches out, his hand gently squeezing mine in a reassuring gesture. “Hey, it’s okay. We all have those moments, especially in times of stress. And besides, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to experience something like that. We’re all human, after all.”
His words offer a small comfort, easing some of the lingering embarrassment. His touch is warm on my skin, grounding me in the midst of my swirling emotions.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the hum of the elevator. There’s a sudden shift in the air between us.
Without a word, Ethan leans in closer, his lips hovering just inches from mine. I can feel the heat of his breath against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
And then, in a heartbeat, his mouth meets mine in a gentle kiss, tentative yet filled with longing. Unable to stop myself, I wrap my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.
His lips are like fire against mine, melting away the darkness and replacing it with a dizzying light behind my eyelids.
My hands, not shaking anymore, play in his hair. This closeness, sudden and strange, makes me want to be closer to him. Every touch, every breath, explodes with a feeling I never felt before.
I let out an unexpected moan when I feel his hand under my skirt, gently caressing my skin. I part my legs for him, and he slides his hand all the way to my core, pushing my panties to the side.
The metal space is filled with the wet sounds of my pussy as he parts my lips and slides his finger inside.
I buck my hips, soft gasps escaping my mouth. Oh, how much I have missed this—having any part of him in me.
I let out a soft cry when he adds a second finger. I shouldn’t be doing this; he’s my boss, but then this feels so good. How can something wrong feel so right at the same time?
I buck my hips again as his fingers move faster, my skirt riding up my waist as I do so. Our breaths mingled with our lips barely inches apart.
My breath hitches, and my whole body starts to shake when an orgasm takes over me, and then the blinding lights shatter our stolen world.
I quickly jerk back, my cheeks burning hotter than the shame swirling in my stomach. What did I just do? How did this happen?
The lights return and the elevator starts moving, and I avoid Ethan’s eyes as I start to pull down my skirt, smoothening it with my palm.
I notice from the corner of my eyes as he wipes my juice off his fingers with a handkerchief he fished out from his pocket.
I feel so embarrassed; how did I allow things to get this far? Wasn’t I supposed to push him away when he tried to kiss me?
That was the plan until you decided that you wanted to have his hands on every part of you.
“Jess…”
“Don’t say it,” I plead, even though I don’t know what he’s about to say. I already am mortified enough. He doesn’t have to make it worse.
The familiar hallway feels distant when the doors slide open, a cold shock after the inferno we just ignited. I turn to walk away, but he stops me.
“Jessica, about what just happened in there…”
Taking a deep breath, I braced myself. “It was...” I search for words, barely whispering. Unexpected? Thrilling? Forbidden? They all feel tame compared to the wildfire raging within.
“What was it?” he murmurs, his voice sending shivers down my spine as he leans closer.
Meeting his gaze, I find a newfound boldness. “It was…” I breathed, losing composure, “it was a mistake that should have never happened. And it won’t happen again.”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “That wasn’t what it seemed like a moment ago.” He smirks, “I’m a little curious. Do you term all the beautiful things that occur in your life a mistake?”
I swallow hard. “Thanks for helping me out in there. I was just being claustrophobic and…” I pause when I realize I’m blabbering. “I have to leave now. I have work to do. I wouldn’t want to be fired for incompetence.”
“I’m your boss.”
“The more reason I shouldn’t be seen idling around.”
I don’t bother waiting for him to respond before I walk out of the elevator, not sparing him a glance.
“Hey, you were trapped in the elevator?” Vivian asks as I join her at the front desk.
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay? You seem…”
“What?” I blurt out, arranging my hair with my fingers.
She shrugs, giving me a strange look. “I don’t know. Flushed maybe…”
“I’m just claustrophobic and then being stuck in there with Ethan…” my voice trails off when I realize my Freudian slip.
“You were trapped in the elevator with Ethan? Like Mr. Reid, our boss, Ethan?” Vivian asks, now grinning.
“Yeah…”
“What was it like?”
“What do you mean, ‘what was it like?’ We were stuck, and all I could think about was how to get out.”
Liar!
“I know, but at least you both must have spoken to each other while you were there. What did he say to you?”
“He didn’t say much. He just assured me that everything was going to be fine, and he was going to call someone to fix the issue.” Another lie. Why not tell her the whole truth? “Why are you so concerned, anyway?”
“Because he’s cute—everyone thinks so, but clearly not you.” She rolls her eyes at me. “I’ve been meaning to go for a bathroom break. Since you’re back, do you think you can handle things while I’m gone?”
“Yeah, sure, don’t take too long.”
After Vivian leaves, I try my best to focus on work, but all that happened in the elevator is all that I can think about.
I feel shivers down my spine as I remember how it felt to have his fingers inside me. My pussy starts throbbing just from the thought of it.
Oh God, I need to stop thinking about him. I have to stop.
“Uh…is everything alright with you?”
I jerk in surprise when I look up to see a beautiful lady dressed in a Gucci hoodie and joggers standing in front of me.
“Hello, welcome to the Grand Princeton,” I say, pasting a smile on my face.
She gives me a skeptical look before saying, “I’m here to see Ethan. Is he around? I’ve been trying to reach him on the phone to no avail.”
“Yes, he should be in his office. I will just call him to…”
“No, you don’t have to do that.” With that said, she walks away, leaving me wondering if she’s Ethan’s girlfriend.