Chapter 11
Chapter 11
When the VIP elevator got stuck, Cecilia’s first move was to glance at her watch.
“This is going to make me late for signing the document.‘ she thought.
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Meanwhile, Stella was totally panicking and started frantically banging on the elevator doors.
“Ah! I don’t wanna be stuck in here. If this elevator falls, we’ll die a horrible death.” Stella yelled, kicking the hell out of the door and making an awful racket.
Cecilia frowned, grabbed her arm, and yanked her back. “Don’t you know the basics? Now you should stay calm and wait for help. Kicking like a maniac only makes things worse. Knock it off.”
Then Cecilia hit the emergency alarm button in the elevator.
Stella was seething but kept her mouth shut.
When the alarm connected and a security guard answered, Stella immediately snapped, “What’s going on with your service? Even the VIP elevator has broken down. Send help immediately and get us out!”
“I’m sorry. The elevator system is showing as inoperable. We’re working on it urgently.” the security guard answered.
Hearing this, Cecilia recalled something. “During the routine maintenance last month,” she said, “the engineer mentioned the system was having issues and needed an update. Hasn’t it been updated yet?”
“We knew about the update. But the paperwork never came through, we haven’t been able to get to it. I’m afraid it finally caused trouble.” the guard replied.
Cecilia turned to Stella, puzzled. “Didn’t you handle the paperwork?”
“What’s that got to do with me? That’s Mr. Murphy’s job, isn’t it?” Stella shot back without missing a beat.
“Mr. Murphy has other responsibilities.” Cecilia reminded her pointedly, “Daily internal matters like this fall to you, Ms. Yates. Didn’t you see or handle the pending items list I left on your desk?”
When Stella first joined Secretary Division, Cecilia was the one who showed her the ropes. Cecilia hadn’t cared much about Stella’s skills either way. But getting landed stuck in an elevator because of Stella’s mistakes was a different story.
Stella looked put out by the questioning. “I’ve just started this secretary job. It’s normal to need time to adjust. Even Mr. Foster doesn’t pick on me.”
Cecilia didn’t want to waste any more breath on Stella. She turned to the guard. “Have maintenance come to fix this.”
“Right away, Ms. Jordan.” the guard replied.
Staring at Cecilia, Stella asked suddenly, “Popping into Mr. Foster’s office so much lately, are you thinking about coming back to Secretary Division, Cecilia?”
Cecilia just gave her a cool look and didn’t answer.
But Stella’s mind went off the deep end. Eager to show off, she jumped in, “Mr. Foster says I’m doing great. I’ll be taking on
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more of his work soon. Since you’re sticking with Project Division, Cecilia, maybe stay focused over there, huh?”
With no one else in the elevator, Stella didn’t bother hiding the jealousy in her eyes.
“Then maybe start with your real job, you know, being a secretary?” Cecilia shot back with a cold laugh.
Suddenly, the elevator lights went out, plunging everything into pitch black.
Stella freaked out and screamed her head off. Stumbling back in panic, she twisted her ankle. “Oh no! I don’t wanna die.”
Cecilia stilled, holding her breath steady. She rested her back against the wall, hands firming their grip on the handrail.
Then, the elevator’s emergency intercom crackled to life once more.
“Cecilia, you okay in there?” Gavin’s urgent voice came through. “Maintenance upgraded the system, but it’s still stuck. The fire crew’s here, and they’re setting up to get you out right now.”
“Mr. Foster, I’m so scared, and my foot’s killing me.” Stella sobbed.
“Hang in there, Stella.” Gavin said. But even as he reassured Stella, he wondered why Cecilia hadn’t answered him yet.
The firefighters jumped into action. Trapped between floors, the elevator doors were finally forced apart a crack with powerful tools. A shaft of light spilled in, cutting through the darkness.
Suddenly, Stella lunged toward the opening and shouted, “Get me out! I’m claustrophobic. I can’t breathe!”
Her sudden movement made the already unsteady elevator lurch violently.
The firefighter at the door barked out, “Steady there, Miss! Hold still. We will get you out.”
“I won’t stay here. I need out now.” Stella was past listening to reason, thrashing wildly.
Cecilia had had enough. In a flash, she struck Stella hard on the arm. “Get a grip!” she snapped, her voice low and dangerous, “Stop this craziness before you get us both killed.”
Clutching her arm where she’d been struck, Stella froze in place.
She stood near the elevator entrance, her gaze locking onto Gavin behind the firefighters. “Mr. Foster,” she gasped out, tears streaming down her face, “I’m hurt, and I think… I’m choking for air.”
Just then, a firefighter called out, “Which one first?”
Gavin’s gaze swept over Stella’s tear–streaked face near the opening. Then it shifted past her, landing squarely on Cecilia who stood calm.
For a moment, Gavin leveled a cool, appraising gaze down at Cecilia.
“Cecilia, if you wanna get out first, just say the word.” Gavin was offering her a way out, proposing a swap.
Gavin wanted Cecilia to give in, to say sorry, to come back to him. He didn’t think he was taking advantage. He was giving her a chance, out of his kindness.
“Mr. Foster…” Stella’s voice sounded utterly pitiful.
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Cecilia, however, kept her cool and told the firefighters, “Get her out first.”
It wasn’t that Cecilia was some self–sacrificing person. She just didn’t want Stella doing something crazy while she was getting out. Once Stella was out, she would actually be safer staying put in the elevator.
“Cecilia, that’s your choice?” Gavin hadn’t expected her to turn him down after he’d offered to get her out first.
Fuming with anger, Gavin thought, ‘Is she doing this on purpose? Or does she just not know when to quit?‘
“Stella, I’m getting you out right now.” Gavin said, choosing her almost as if to spite Cecilia.
Hearing that she was the one being picked, Stella couldn’t contain her excitement.
The firefighters slowly pried the elevator doors open. Worried the elevator couldn’t handle the extra weight, they had to lie flat outside and pull Stella out.
Eager to climb out, Stella suddenly realized her tight business skirt would make it easy for everyone to see everything.
“Oh, my skirt!” Halfway out, Stella desperately tried to cover herself, still dangling from the opening.
“Miss, stop moving. It’s dangerous!” the firefighter kept yelling.
Cecilia couldn’t bear to watch this mess. She reached out and yanked Stella’s skirt back into place to keep her covered.
As Stella was being pulled up, she caught a glimpse of Cecilia right behind her. She gave a deliberate kick.
Cecilia lost her balance, and her elbow slammed against the elevator door frame. A sharp pain shot through her, and her arm went numb instantly.
At the same time, all Stella’s thrashing around came with a price–her calf got scraped.
At the sight of blood, Stella burst into tears. “Mr. Foster, it really hurts.”
Gavin hurried over and held Stella steady.
The firefighters kept working to get Cecilia out next.
When Cecilia was finally pulled free, the jolting movement sent a fresh wave of pain shooting through her already injured elbow.
“Miss, are you hurt?” the firefighter checked.
“I’m fine, thank you.” Cecilia said, catching her breath as it was still slightly uneven.
Gavin’s gaze lingered on Cecilia, a question about her condition on the tip of his tongue.
But Stella, clinging to him in his arms, spoke up in a trembling voice, “Mr. Foster, I feel so dizzy. I’m so glad you were here. I don’t know what would have happened to me otherwise.”
Compared to Stella’s dramatic show of distress, Cecilia just thanked the firefighters and didn’t even glance Gavin’s way.
This deliberate snub made Gavin frown with displeasure.
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‘She’s clearly doing this just to spite me.’ he thought, ‘Looks like I haven’t given her the cold shoulder long enough. She still hasn’t learned to come around to me yet.
“Stella, I’m taking you to the hospital.” Gavin said, steering her protectively towards the exit.
Hearing this, Cecilia remembered the document in her hand. She darted after them, calling out, “Mr. Foster, wait.”
Finally hearing what he’d been waiting for, a smug smile spread across Gavin’s lips.
‘I knew she’d crack. Gavin thought, ‘That’s more like it. If she just plays it right, I’ll give her another chance.
“Are you hurt too? Do you need the hospital?” Gavin waited, fully expecting Cecilia to ask for his comfort or even a hug.
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