BRIANNA

The day finally came to an end and I sighed tiredly. Mr. Adrian had made me do more work after the file arrangement stuff, and I’m feeling quite hungry now since I didn’t get to eat lunch. I cleared my desk and packed up my things into my bag. I looked out of the window and saw that it was getting pretty late, the sun setting already. I didn’t realize it was this late. Damn Mr. Adrian for giving me extra work.

I picked up my bag and walked out of my office, dragging my legs. I got to the elevator and entered it, the doors were about to slide closed when somebody used their foot to stop it. I looked up and saw that it was Mr. Adrian. I rolled my eyes at him and took my phone out of my bag, starting to play games. I made sure the volume was cranked up; I didn’t want to talk to him, and annoying him was the best option.

He walked in and stood close to me. The doors slid closed, and the elevator started its descent to the first floor. I kept my focus on my game, pretending he wasn’t there. But I couldn’t ignore the growing sense of unease as I felt his eyes on me. I raised my head and caught him staring. My eyes locked with his, and we just stood there for a moment, locked in an unspoken challenge.

I was the first to look away.

“Why were you staring at me?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Is there anything bad in staring at you? Are you a celebrity who shouldn’t be stared at?” He shot back, his tone light but laced with something I couldn’t quite pinpoint.

“You know what? I shouldn’t have said anything. I should have just acted like you weren’t here!” I raised my voice slightly, irritated.

“Yeah, you should’ve done just that!” He retorted, matching my tone. We both huffed and turned our backs to each other, acting like kids who had just fought over something trivial.

I continued playing my game, but the silence felt heavy now, and not just because of the usual tension. There was something different about it. The quietness stretched longer than I’d expected. And then, suddenly, the elevator jerked to a halt. The lights went out, and the emergency lights flickered on.

“What the hell just happened?!” I asked, panic rising in my chest.

“Seems like the elevator has stopped,” he said, completely unfazed.

“I knew it stopped! Why did it stop?!” I asked again, unable to mask my frustration.

“How the hell should I know? It’s not like I’m an elevator expert.” He snapped back.

I rushed to the door and pressed the buttons to open it, but nothing happened.

“Looks like we’re stuck here for a while,” Mr. Adrian said nonchalantly.

“I can’t stay in this elevator! I have to go to the club, and my mom will be worried sick if I’m not home tonight!” I whined, pacing. I quickly thought through my options, but I couldn’t shake the panic setting in.

“Why don’t you call one of the security guards for help? Or call an elevator mechanic?” I suggested, trying to stay calm.

“You think I haven’t thought of that? No signal in here. You can’t make or receive calls in an elevator, remember?” His voice was laced with sarcasm, and my stomach sank.

“Does that mean we’re going to spend the night here?” I asked, my voice dropping.

“Yeah, that’s what I said.” He shrugged, as if it didn’t matter at all.

I slumped onto the floor, my head spinning with everything that was slipping out of my control. Missing my shift meant money would be docked from my salary. And the hunger gnawing at me only made things worse.

“I’m starving,” I groaned, clutching my stomach.

“You’re starving? Didn’t you eat lunch?” he asked, genuinely surprised.

“I didn’t get to eat lunch because of the stupid work you gave me. And even if I had, don’t you think it would’ve digested by now?” I snapped, the irritation in my voice cutting through the tension.

“Hey! Don’t take it out on me. It’s not my fault you’re hungry.” He snapped back.

“I know it’s your fault. But I’m too tired to argue with you about it.” I said with finality, not wanting to drag it out.

For a few moments, we just sat in silence, the sound of my stomach growling louder than ever. He glanced at me, and I couldn’t help the wave of embarrassment that washed over me.

“It seems like I’ll have to give you this.” He said, breaking the silence as he reached into his pocket.

“What’s that?” I asked, a bit curious.

He pulled out a packet of chocolate biscuits. My eyes lit up. Chocolate biscuits were my favorite, and it had been too long since I’d had any. I stood up and walked over to him, almost forgetting my hunger-induced frustration.

I tore the packet open and began devouring the biscuits, not realizing how hungry I truly was until the first bite. As I neared the last one, it hit me that I hadn’t offered him any.

“Would you like some?” I asked, glancing up at him, suddenly aware of his presence.

“Nah, I have another one with me,” he said, pulling out another pack.

“I see you like chocolate biscuits,” I said with a smile, finally able to ease up a little.

“They’re my favorite too,” he said casually, breaking one in half and taking a bite.

“Really? That’s surprising!” I laughed. “We actually have something in common.”

“That’s a first,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips. “Who would’ve thought, given that we spend most of our time fighting?”

I chuckled, the unexpected ease in his presence surprising me. There was something about him, something different from the rigid businessman I had come to expect. He laughed too, and I noticed how much better he looked when he was actually smiling.

His laughter died down, but the air between us had shifted somehow. It wasn’t as tense anymore. It was still… uncomfortably close, but in a way that felt like something new was starting to form.

“You’re talking to yourself, aren’t you?” he asked, suddenly bringing me out of my thoughts.

I blinked, realizing I had mumbled to myself. “No, I wasn’t,” I said quickly, embarrassed.

“If you say so,” he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Uh, you’ve got something on your face,” he added, looking at me intently.

I wiped at my cheek. “Is this it?” I asked, but he shook his head.

“Let me help.” He leaned closer, and I froze, not sure what he was doing. His proximity sent a strange heat coursing through my body.

“What are you—?” I started to ask, but I couldn’t finish the sentence. His face was so close now. And then, before I could say another word, his lips pressed against mine.