Chapter 40: Elevator Accident
Julian Faulkner’s question was deceptively nonchalant.
But Vivian Lowell could see his eyes were fixed on her. If not for that, she might have thought he didn’t care about the answer at all.
’Hmm. Mr. High and Mighty seems to be in a mood.’
Realizing this, the highly observant Vivian Lowell smiled and took a few steps forward until she was right in front of him.
"Julian."
She leaned in close and whispered, "Why are you asking? Are you worried about me?"
Vivian had only meant to tease Julian a little, to see how the proud man would react now that she had called him out.
But to her surprise, the moment she finished speaking, Julian grabbed her wrist and pressed the elevator button.
As she was pulled into the elevator, Vivian felt the cool rush of the air conditioning and gasped, looking up at Julian in disbelief.
’He’s so forceful!’
Grumbling inwardly, Vivian grew annoyed. She struggled against his grip and said, "Julian, you’re hurting me!"
Julian frowned and glanced down.
Sure enough, the skin where he’d been holding her wrist was slightly red.
Julian immediately let go. Vivian lifted her hand, deliberately holding it out for him to get a better look.
"See? It’s red!"
Julian’s frown deepened.
He hadn’t realized a woman’s skin could be so delicate, turning red from just a light squeeze.
"Sorry."
He looked up, his gaze earnest. "I just... I just wanted to..."
Julian, a man who was always so articulate in business, suddenly found himself stammering, the words caught in his throat.
’Hm?’
Vivian noticed a faint blush creeping up his cheeks and the tips of his ears, so she leaned in closer for a sniff.
’It’s alcohol. Very faint. Probably a cocktail.’
The scent was familiar to Vivian.
After all, she had been the one to arrange all the drinks for the banquet.
’She clearly remembered Julian hadn’t been drinking when she was still downstairs!’
’So, did he have a drink for some liquid courage after I went upstairs to find David Dawson, and then follow me?’
...
Realizing this, Vivian smiled.
’She’d never have guessed.’
’So Julian had this "cute" side to him, like a sulking child.’
"Julian."
Feeling a thrill of triumph, Vivian asked, "So, were you worried I’d run into a bad guy? Or were you afraid I was off with one of those men from the party... getting into some kind of trouble?"
"And you wanted to follow me to see for yourself what was happening?"
Vivian smiled mischievously, her lips curved into a captivating line. Her eyes, as brilliant as stars, were fixed on Julian.
Julian had been meeting her gaze, but now he quickly looked away.
’He felt just like Galahad, with Vivian as the Queen of the Amazons, gazing at him with such tender affection.’
’It felt as if she were about to say, "You speak of emptiness, yet you keep your eyes tightly closed. If you opened them and looked at me, I refuse to believe they would be empty."’
’Those words were too enchanting, yet not in the least bit vulgar.’
’He felt he wouldn’t be able to resist her.’
Vivian was still watching Julian.
But unfortunately, Julian didn’t react. He just kept his head down, looking for all the world like a clueless monk who knew only how to chant his sutras.
One of them stared, and the other avoided her gaze.
Despite this, the atmosphere in the elevator grew increasingly charged.
BANG!
Just then, to Vivian’s shock, the perfectly fine elevator suddenly plummeted!
!?
’What’s going on?’
The sudden lurch nearly made Vivian lose her balance. She reached for something to grab onto, but Julian had already seized both of her hands.
"Get against the wall!"
His voice was urgent. He gave a sharp tug, and Vivian, losing her footing, stumbled right into his arms.
Julian braced himself against the elevator wall, holding Vivian carefully as he reached for the emergency button.
Just as he pressed the button, Vivian felt the elevator shudder again.
CLANG!
The elevator stopped.
Still shaken, Vivian turned and saw that the floor indicator was dark. The lights inside the car were flickering erratically.
...
’This is like a scene from a horror movie.’
Vivian swallowed hard and was beginning to have second thoughts.
’Don’t tell me this is payback for teasing Julian too much?’
’No, that can’t be it!’
’If it were, Julian wouldn’t be trapped in here with me!’
While her mind was still reeling, Julian had already composed himself. He took out his phone, saw that he had a signal, and made a call.
Vivian’s face was close to his chest, and she could clearly see he was calling Vance Wyatt.
"I’m at the West Aethelburg Hotel, trapped in a stalled elevator. Send someone over."
His tone was brief. After giving the instructions, he put the phone back in his pocket and looked down at Vivian.
Unlike his earlier evasiveness and embarrassment, the concern in his eyes was now completely undisguised.
He seemed to sigh, as if resigned to the night’s chaotic events, and asked, "Are you all right? Did I... hurt you just now?"
!?
’What kind of outrageous thing is he saying?!’
Vivian stared at Julian, but seeing how serious he was, she had to suppress the storm raging in her heart and force a calm expression. "I’m fine."
"I just can’t believe the elevator would just stop working like this. How did that happen?"
After speaking, Vivian gently stepped away from Julian, putting a little distance between them.
’That closeness just now—’
’It was actually a little awkward.’
Turning away, Vivian walked over to the elevator’s intercom panel. It could be used to call the security office; if someone answered, they could also send help.
However, Vivian tried the call button three times, but no one in the security office picked up.
’How can that be?’
Vivian frowned. Something felt wrong. She took out her own phone and sent a message to her assistant.
"Did you head home?"