Chapter 2 One Night

The elevator was still.

Too still.

Olivia shifted her weight, trying to ignore the faint hum beneath her feet and the quiet ticking sound above them. The emergency light cast a soft glow over the narrow space, turning polished steel walls into dull mirrors.

Alexander Kane stood less than an arm's length away.

Close enough that she could feel the heat of him. Close enough that every slow breath seemed louder than it should be.

"This shouldn't take long," he said calmly, breaking the silence. "Maintenance usually responds within minutes."

Olivia nodded. "Of course."

She kept her gaze forward, fixing it on the panel of buttons as if it might suddenly come back to life. Anything was better than looking at him.

Except she could still feel him.

The brush of his sleeve against her arm. The faint rise and fall of his chest. The steady confidence that seemed to fill the small space as completely as the air.

Minutes passed.

No movement. No sound.

Alexander checked his phone. "No signal."

"Mine too," Olivia said, glancing down at her screen before slipping it back into her bag.

Another pause followed, heavier than the last.

"You're handling this well," he said.

She let out a small breath. "There's no point panicking."

A corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "Most people do."

"I'm not most people."

His gaze shifted to her, sharp and assessing. "No. You're not."

The words lingered between them, quiet but loaded. Olivia felt a strange tightening in her chest and quickly crossed her arms, putting space between them where she could.

Or at least trying to.

Alexander leaned back against the wall, loosening his tie a little more. The movement was casual, but it drew her attention anyway. She had seen him every day in tailored suits and boardrooms, always controlled, always distant.

Seeing him here-stripped of authority, just a man stuck in a broken elevator-felt different.

Dangerously different.

"You've worked here how long now?" he asked.

"A little over a year."

"And you've never missed a deadline."

"That's part of the job."

"It's more than that." His eyes stayed on her. "You care."

Olivia hesitated. "I care about doing my work well."

"That's not what I meant."

Her pulse quickened. She shifted again, suddenly aware of how close he was. The air felt warmer now, thicker, pressing in around them.

"Mr. Kane-"

"Alexander," he corrected quietly.

She froze.

"I prefer formality at work," he added, as if explaining himself. "But we're not exactly at work right now."

The words sent a shiver down her spine.

"Alexander," she repeated carefully, the name unfamiliar on her tongue.

His gaze darkened, just slightly.

Another minute passed.

Then the elevator shuddered again-not enough to startle, just enough to remind them that they were still trapped.

Olivia's breath caught despite herself.

"It's fine," he said immediately. "Just the system resetting."

"I know." She nodded, though her heart was racing now. The space felt smaller by the second.

She pressed her back lightly against the wall, needing something solid to ground herself. Alexander noticed.

"You don't like feeling out of control," he said.

Neither do you, she almost replied.

Instead, she said nothing.

The silence stretched, filled with things neither of them should say. Or feel.

"Why did you stay so late tonight?" he asked suddenly.

"The report needed fixing."

"That's not what I meant."

She looked at him then, really looked at him. The confident CEO she knew was still there, but beneath it was something else-curiosity, maybe. Or concern.

"I needed to," she said simply.

"For the company?" he asked.

"For myself."

His expression shifted again, something thoughtful passing through his eyes.

"That kind of pressure," he said slowly, "breaks people."

"I'm not broken."

"No," he agreed. "You're not."

The emergency light flickered.

Olivia sucked in a breath as the elevator dipped slightly, just a fraction. Instinctively, she reached out.

Her hand landed on his arm.

The contact was immediate. Electric.

She froze, fingers still curled around his sleeve. He didn't pull away.

Slowly, carefully, Alexander looked down at her hand.

Then back at her face.

"Olivia," he said quietly.

She should have moved.

She didn't.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, though she wasn't sure what she was apologizing for.

He shook his head once. "Don't be."

Her hand was still there. His arm was solid beneath her fingers, warm, real. The reality of him-of this moment-made her chest tighten.

Neither of them spoke.

The distance between them felt suddenly impossible to measure.

Alexander lifted his hand-not touching her yet, just hovering near her wrist. A silent question.

She swallowed.

This was wrong.

This was reckless.

This was her boss.

And yet... she didn't step away.

His fingers closed gently around her wrist, not possessive, not forceful. Just enough to be unmistakable.

The elevator felt too small. Too quiet.

"I don't cross lines easily," he said, his voice low.

"Neither do I," she replied.

Their eyes locked.

The truth hung between them, undeniable.

The moment stretched, fragile and charged, until it felt like breathing itself required effort.

Then the elevator lights flickered again.

Olivia's heart slammed against her ribs.

"We should-" she began.

Alexander's phone buzzed suddenly, vibrating in his hand. He glanced down, frowning.

"Signal just came back."

Relief should have followed.

Instead, disappointment flickered through her before she could stop it.

He looked back up at her, his expression unreadable.

Before either of them could say anything else, the elevator jolted-and began to move.

Downward.

Too fast.

Olivia gasped, gripping his arm again as the car dropped several feet before slowing abruptly.

Alexander reached out instantly, steadying her, his hand firm at her waist.

Her breath hitched.

His hand stayed there.

The elevator shuddered to a stop.

Silence returned.

They were closer now than before, her body pressed lightly against his, his hand still at her side. Neither of them moved.

Slowly, Alexander lowered his head.

So did Olivia.

Their foreheads nearly touched.

The world narrowed to the space between them.

And then-

The elevator doors slid open.

Light flooded in.

Voices echoed from the hallway.

Maintenance.

Alexander stepped back immediately, his hand dropping from her waist as if it had never been there. His expression snapped back into control.

Olivia's heart pounded as she straightened her dress, forcing her breathing to steady.

They stepped out of the elevator without a word.

But as they walked in opposite directions, one thing was clear to both of them.

A line had been crossed.

And there was no pretending otherwise.