My phone shows no service, and the emergency call button yields nothing but static. Perfect. Just perfect.
My name is Meridian Thorne - Meri to the few people who manage to get close enough to use nicknames - and at twenty-eight years old, I'm the youngest senior account executive in the firm's history. Not that anyone will remember that achievement if I become the first person to perish in the building's temperamental elevator system.
I press my hand against the cool metal wall, willing my racing heart to slow down. The security team must have noticed the stoppage by now. They'll get someone here soon. They have to. I have the Morton account presentation in exactly forty-seven minutes, and my laptop is safely ensconced in my office upstairs, absolutely no help to me here.
"Hello?" A deep voice calls from somewhere above. "Anyone in there?"
"Yes!" I straighten my charcoal pencil skirt, a habit that makes no sense given my unseen companion. "I'm here!"
"Maintenance is on their way. Hang tight." There's a pause, followed by what sounds suspiciously like a chuckle. "Though I suppose you don't have much choice about that."
Despite my situation, I find myself smiling. "Was that supposed to be elevator humor?"
"Too soon?"
"Definitely too soon." I lean against the wall, crossing my arms. "Are you stuck too?"
"Not exactly. I'm Jake Montgomery, the new head of building security. I was doing my rounds when we got the alert."
Of course he is. Because being trapped in an elevator isn't mortifying enough - I have to experience it under the supervision of the mysterious new security director everyone's been buzzing about all week. I've been too buried in work to join the office gossip sessions, but I've caught snippets about his apparently devastating smile and intriguing background in private security.
"Well, Jake Montgomery, I'm Meridian Thorne from Sterling's marketing division, and I'd appreciate it if we could keep this little incident between us."
"Your secret's safe with me, Miss Thorne." His voice carries a hint of amusement that makes my cheeks warm. "Though your mother already called the front desk three times asking why you're not answering your phone."
I groan. "How did she even - never mind. Aunt Poppy must have told her I was..." My aunt, the company's HR director and self-appointed family matchmaker, has made it her mission to "help" me achieve work-life balance. By which she means setting me up with every eligible bachelor in the greater Chicago area.
The elevator shudders, and I instinctively press myself into the corner. "Was that supposed to happen?"
"It's normal. The maintenance team is accessing the mechanical room." There's a shuffle above, then: "So,
Marketing Director at twenty-eight? That's impressive."
"Senior Account Executive," I correct automatically. "And thanks. Though right now I'd trade all my professional achievements for a working elevator and a strong cup of coffee."
"Ah, a workaholic after my own heart." His tone softens. "Don't worry, we'll have you out of there soon. Then maybe we can discuss that coffee."
My heart does a completely unauthorized flutter. "Mr. Montgomery, are you asking out a woman who's currently trapped in your elevator?"
"Just trying to turn a negative into a positive. Besides, you might be interested to know that the maintenance team leader says this particular elevator has a history of matchmaking success. Three couples met during breakdowns last year alone."
"That sounds like a liability issue you should probably address in your new role."
His laugh echoes down the shaft, rich and warm. "Noted. Though I might wait until after we see how that coffee goes."
Before I can respond, the elevator lurches and begins to move. Within moments, the doors slide open to reveal a small crowd of maintenance workers - and one impossibly handsome man in a tailored security uniform, whose devastating smile lives up to every bit of office gossip.
Jake Montgomery extends his hand, his blue eyes twinkling. "Welcome back to solid ground, Miss Thorne."