10. DARKNESS

I dropped the phone, staring out the window. She can think all she wants, and whoever is giving her information about my locations should better give her legit information...

My phone vibrated on the chair beside me, a number saved as Weller's S. It was a message: 'My boss is unwilling, but he might reconsider if you meet him at Mr. White rescue gala.'

I stared at the message on my phone, scoffing. Just how much of my day should be wasted on a guy who thinks his vote is worth being difficult over...

Across the desk, Levi sighed. "You're seriously considering going?" He asked, shaking his head, but I only spared him a glance... "You'd walk into a lion's den for one vote."

"If the lion has something I need, then yes, I will," I said, and he leaned back on his chair as if waiting for me to finally admit I had lost my mind, but I ignored him and returned a message.

Weller was one of the directors whose support could make the difference between securing my position and giving Catherine another opportunity to question whether I deserved it.

By evening, I was already in my fitted black dress. My hand lingered near my stomach. There was no obvious change anyone else would notice. Nothing that would make a stranger look twice. But I knew it was there, probably sleeping...

Levi was waiting downstairs when I came out. His gaze moved over me briefly before returning to my face, then we drove away.... At this point, we could be considered a couple... I chuckled at my own thought. At least Levi had never betrayed me once, always putting me first...

The rescue gala was already crowded when we arrived. Cameras flashed near the entrance, guests moved beneath the bright chandeliers, and a row of reporters waited behind the barriers.

The banners were above, well decorated with Alex in them. Once, I would have been beside him, smiling while he accepted congratulations for work I had made possible.

Back then, I had mistaken being useful for being loved. I straightened my shoulders and walked inside.

Levi stayed beside me until we reached the reception area. "I'll find Weller's assistant and confirm where he's meeting you."

"Do that. I'll be fine," I said, and he looked at me for a long time as if saying, of course, your usual words. I smiled subtly, looking away, but my eyes met Alex's frame at the far end of the ballroom, surrounded by guests and two members of the press. Then his gaze shifted.

His eyes locked onto mine before trailing down my body. The old feeling of being naked slowly returned, and I quickly looked away. The next second, he was crowding my space, but I moved immediately, walking away.... I wasn't here for you, dude.

A staff member directed me toward the private elevators, explaining that several directors were using the upper-floor lounge for quieter meetings. Weller's assistant had confirmed that he would speak with me there, provided I didn't keep him waiting.

I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the designated floor.

Just before the doors closed, a hand slipped between them, and the doors reopened.

His cologne reached me before he fully entered. Alex... He stood for some time, quiet, then finally spoke, turning to me. "Didn't expect to see you here," he said, but I remained quiet. From the side of my eyes, I saw his jaw tighten slightly. "You could have told me you were coming."

"Why? So you could arrange for someone to tell Director Weller he shouldn't waste his time on me?" I said, but he stared at me in disbelief.

"I wouldn't do that," he said, and I nodded thoughtfully.

I looked at him. "You already have lawyers delaying our divorce. Forgive me if I don't trust your promises." His expression hardened at the mention of the divorce, but he didn't answer immediately. The elevator began to rise, and the quiet between us grew heavier with every passing second.

I focused on the changing floor numbers while he shifted beside me, and my fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.

"Have you been feeling all right?" he asked. I turned to him slowly, tilting my head and creasing my brows. "You look tired."

"I'm fine," I muttered quietly and stood back up.

"You always say that when you're not." The words landed too close to something I had tried to bury... our past.

"You don't get to know how I'm feeling anymore, Alex." I raised my head up to prevent tears from rolling down my cheek, and as I expected, he didn't notice. He never does...

His gaze lowered. "Kiera—" he called, his voice soft, then suddenly, the elevator jerked. The lights flickered once, twice, then went out completely.

The sudden darkness swallowed the small space. I heard him suck in a breath and moved, pressing one button after another blindly. "Will you fucking stop that?" I groaned, holding my temples.

"Come on," he muttered, striking the panel with the side of his hand. "Come on. The elevator isn't moving," he said at last, and I rolled my eyes.

"Stupid, of course I noticed," I said while he reached for his phone. The screen lit up, and I caught the tension around his mouth, with his eyes already turning glassy. Beep! The call ended before it even connected, and I stifled a chuckle, looking away.

"Shit," he cursed. Oops, I forgot Mr. White fears the dark. Years ago, when we had been trapped in a parking garage lift during a power failure, he had tried to hide his panic behind irritation. I had talked him through it, keeping my voice steady until the lights came back and the doors opened.

I had almost forgotten how instinctive it was to take care of him. He moved toward the doors and pulled at the seam, trying to pry them open. Then his breathing became uneven.

"Alex." I reached for his arm. "Look at me." He turned toward my voice, though he couldn't see much of me in the darkness.

"We need to get out," he said, his voice panic-stricken. I nodded. "Stop it, you don't know if we will. Stop nodding," he yelled, and I pushed my head back a bit, staring at him.

"No, I don't." I kept my hand on his arm, feeling the muscles tense beneath his sleeve. "But panicking won't make the elevator move."

He tried to pull away, then stopped. His breath caught again. The old feeling crept in before I could remind myself he wasn't my responsibility anymore. "Listen to me," I said, lowering my voice. "Breathe in slowly." He shook his head.

"Alex, do it." Perhaps it was the firmness in my voice, or perhaps he was simply too frightened to argue. Either way, he followed my instruction, dragging in a breath that trembled on the way out.

His breathing slowed down, and I could hear the faint noise of the gala above or below us, or somewhere...

My hand drifted to my stomach while Alex's fingers closed around my wrist. "Don't leave me in here," he said.

The words settled deep in my chest, and I almost reached out, but I stopped myself. Still, when his breathing began to falter again, my voice softened again... "We're fine, all three of us."

The words escaped before I could stop them, and my hand remained against my belly. Silence followed them. A violent metallic crack echoed above us.

The elevator dropped.

My stomach lurched as the floor fell beneath my feet. I stumbled forward, unable to catch my balance, and Alex moved faster than I could think.

He wrapped both arms around me, turning his body between mine and the metal wall just as the car slammed to a stop half a floor below.

Pain shot through the confined space with the impact. Alex grunted sharply, his arm striking the railing as he shielded me from the fall.

For several seconds, I held my breath. I clung to his jacket, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. The elevator creaked around us, and a shower of dust drifted from somewhere above.

"Don't move," Alex said through clenched teeth.

I pulled back enough to look at him. "Are you hurt?" I asked, and he shook his head almost too quickly. "Your wrist," I said, but he quickly hid the hand behind him...

I reached toward him, but he caught my hand before I could touch it. For a moment, we stared at each other, both of us breathing too hard.

The elevator groaned again, and I went still.

Alex immediately shifted in front of me, putting his uninjured arm across my body. He used to do this often... the memory came running back.

A voice suddenly shouted from outside, "Can you hear me?"

Alex turned toward the doors. "We're inside!" There was a loud metallic scrape, followed by another voice giving instructions. Someone was trying to force the doors open.

In minutes, the door was forced open, and Alex turned back to me, offering his hand. I took it, standing up and facing the door.

Aiden stood there, staring at our conjoined hands, and I quickly separated them, stepping out.

My hand remained wrapped around my belly, and I watched Alex's gaze drop to it, the fear in his eyes giving way to focus. "You had said all three of us. There were only two?"