The sound of distant clanking echoed through the elevator shaft as mechanics worked tirelessly to free the stuck carriage. Rolland stood motionless, his hand resting lightly on the elevator wall. The dim emergency lights had flickered back to life, casting faint shadows over the small space, but the full power had yet to return. The only reminder of the woman beside him was her intoxicating scent, still lingering in the enclosed air.
For a few long moments, they stood in silence. He could hear the low murmur of voices from above, the mechanics discussing the situation. Then, with a metallic screech, the elevator jolted slightly, and the doors in front of them began to open—but only halfway. A sliver of light from the outside world flooded in, enough to reveal the gap between them and the floor above.
Rolland's eyes narrowed as he evaluated the situation. They were caught between floors. The gap was just large enough for someone to climb through, but dangerous enough that one wrong move could mean a fall back into the dark shaft below.
"Can you get out?" one of the mechanics called down. "We've managed to get the door open, but it'll take a while before we can power it back up fully."
Before Rolland could reply, the woman beside him spoke. "Yes, I need to get out," she said with urgency in her voice. "I can't wait."
Rolland turned to look at her, his brow furrowing slightly in concern. "Are you sure?" he asked, his deep voice calm. "It's not safe."
"I'm in a rush," she responded quickly, as though no other explanation was needed. Without waiting for his permission, she reached down, gathering her belongings—most importantly, the small bouquet of flowers she had been carrying. With careful hands, she pushed the flowers through the gap first, handing them off to one of the mechanics above.
Rolland watched her, his instincts kicking in. He may not have known her, but the gentleman in him couldn't allow her to climb out alone, not in such a precarious situation. "Let me help you," he offered, stepping closer.
She hesitated for a moment, perhaps weighing her options, before nodding. "Alright."
Rolland positioned himself near the half-opened doors, his large frame towering over the narrow space. He bent down, offering his hand to her, his other arm braced against the door. "Careful now," he said.
She placed her hand in his, and for the briefest of moments, their eyes met, though her face was still partly obscured in the shadows. As she began to climb, Rolland's grip tightened, steadying her as she maneuvered through the small gap. With surprising grace, she hoisted herself up, her lithe form disappearing through the opening.
Rolland's eyes lingered on her as she reached the top, but as soon as she was clear of the elevator, disappointment settled in. She wore a mask—one of those standard, plain masks that many employees in the building donned as part of the company's health protocols. All that effort to see her again, and still, her identity remained a mystery. Her scent, though intoxicating, was all he had to hold onto.
"Thank you," she said softly from above, though she didn't linger. She gathered her flowers and disappeared into the hallway beyond.
For a moment, Rolland stood there, staring up at the gap, his mind buzzing with questions.
Who was she?
Did she work here?
Why was she in such a rush?
The thought that she could be just another employee in the vast empire he had built seemed almost impossible, yet it was the only explanation that made sense. After all, what other reason would she have for being in the building?
The mechanics' voices broke through his thoughts. "We're going to get it moving again in just a minute, sir. Hold tight."
Rolland nodded absently, stepping back into the center of the elevator. He chose to stay, letting the professionals finish their work. His mind, however, was far from the mechanical whirring and distant conversation. It had drifted back to her—the mysterious woman with the mask and the flowers. Her face may have remained hidden, but her scent lingered, teasing his senses, drawing him into an obsession he couldn't quite explain.
With a sudden jolt, the elevator groaned and slowly began its ascent again. Rolland exhaled, regaining his composure as the floors ticked by. By the time the elevator reached the 22nd floor, he had already pushed thoughts of the woman to the back of his mind. The familiar weight of responsibility and routine settled over him.
When the doors slid open, his five bodyguards stood waiting, their expressions as stoic and unreadable as always. Without a word, Rolland stepped out of the elevator, adjusting his suit jacket. His long strides carried him across the polished floors toward his office, the clatter of footsteps from his entourage echoing behind him.
He stopped just outside his office door and turned to his assistant, who had been waiting near the entrance. "Meet me in the meeting room in five minutes," he said, his voice cool and commanding. "We need to discuss the advertisement for the new car model."
The assistant nodded swiftly, taking note of the instruction before hurrying off to prepare the meeting materials. Rolland stepped into his office, the door closing behind him with a quiet click. He exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair, pushing away the strange encounter in the elevator.
Yet, no matter how much he tried, the scent of jasmine still clung to him.
*****************
Jeslyne entered her department, her steps quick and purposeful as she navigated through the crowded space. The team of designers and assistants had already gathered around the workspace, sorting through sketches and fabric samples. A few heads turned as she walked in, her mask now hanging loosely around her neck.
"Where have you been?" one of her colleagues, Lila, asked with a raised brow, her arms crossed. "We've been looking for you. You missed the beginning of the meeting."
Jeslyne waved off the question, her face calm but her mind racing from the encounter. "Got stuck in the elevator," she said dismissively, her tone not inviting further inquiry. She placed her flowers gently on the nearest table, smoothing her dress as she took her place in front of the team.
"We have work to do," she said, her voice clear and authoritative. "Everyone, let's get to it."
The team immediately jumped into action, flipping through sketches and holding up swatches of fabric as the whirlwind of creativity resumed. But as Jeslyne turned her attention to the task at hand, her mind wandered briefly to the tall, imposing figure of the man who had helped her in the elevator.
She shook off the thought as quickly as it came. There was no time for distractions. Not now.