15 Elevator Proximity

I stared at the massive opaque doors which would open into Jordan's office if I applied enough pressure on its handles.

My feet nervously tapped on the floor making a sound that would normally be made by a tone-deaf person who is performing a tap dance.

When I woke up this morning I escaped the apartment before Maddy found me and fire me with questions about last night's rendevous with Jordan. I couldn't have lied to her especially after the trick she pulled. I desperately needed to avoid that conversation.

I could barely get a wink of sleep last night. Even though I was exhausted to the bone, I couldn't get my mind to shut off. Each time I closed my eyes I would think about Jordan.

I twisted and turned in my bed all night trying to drown his thoughts and begging for sleep to consume me.

With my eyes closed all I could feel his hands running rampantly over my body. As much as I wanted Jordan's twisted words to dissolve the image of our bodies crashed together in a moment of passion, it didn't.

"You usually push it and it opens," A voice startled me. I turned my body to look behind and found Alec standing at a distance, hands in pocket.

"Huh?"

"The door. You push it..." he used his hands to display that action, "and then you step in," he stepped forward, more liked dived forward with his hands pushing the imaginary door as though he was pushing away water from in front of him.

I gave a half-suppressed laugh and turned back to fix my eyes onto those doors. "I heard you asked Jordan to initiate peace with me."

Alec stood next to me. "I did, yes."

"Was the dinner thing your idea as well?" I raised a brow in his direction.

"Oh, no," he said defensively. "I wouldn't want that fate to befall on you. I happen to like you."

"Thanks," I smiled sarcastically.

"Why are you not going in?"

"Oh, I will. I was just waiting for a heart attack," I said and Alec snorted.

"What did he do now?" he asked, sighing.

"I think the problem isn't with what he does but who is he."

"Well, yeah. As long as you don't quit, I'm golden," Alec's lips split apart and his white teeth showed themselves in his smile.

"And does your company not care about the Mental Health of its employees?" I cast him a judgemental glance.

Alec shifted uncomfortably. "I can... get you an appointment with our psychologist?"

Looking at his skittish expression, I laughed. "Just messing with you. Although I do think Jordan can use the services of a psychologist. In fact, he definitely should."

"If you want our psychologists to quit practice and go live in the Himalayas, then okay."

"Well, can't let that fate befall on an innocent, can we?" I spoke in between my laughter.

"Anyway, I should let you get back to staring at that door. I've got a busy day ahead," Alec chuckled and after we exchanged a 'goodbye' smile, he left.

I turned my eyes back to the heavy glass doors and inhaled deeply before pushing them open.

"You are late," Jordan's voice echoed from behind his desk. His eyes were fixed onto the screen in front of him while he busily pressed the keys on the board.

I looked at the time on my phone. "I am all but 5 minutes late, Mr. Parker."

"It is that attitude that will cost you your job, Rose," his green eyes settled upon me.

I thought about last night's events.

His lips on mine. His hands on my body. His breath grazing my skin.

I shuddered and felt the hair on the nape of my neck rise.

*Deep breaths, Sky.*

"Oh, is it not my refusal of being your 'fake girlfriend' for your mother's benefit then?" I made my way to my usual seat and opened my laptop.

"I take it you've made a decision then," Jordan settled his elbows on the desk and clasped his hands together. His eyes followed my movements.

"I have not," I said and as I got ready for another excruciating day with him. "I have till the end of today, remember?"

"Very well, then. What's on your agenda today?" he asked.

Oh. That was surprisingly easy. How did I do that? I have to remember.

"I... Um. I wanted to start with your first international deal that changed the course of your career. You've mentioned in various interviews that it was a substantial milestone for this company but there is not a lot of detail on it," I readied myself for a sassy response from his side or a deflection of some sort.

In all my days of knowing Jordan, no information had been easy to obtain. He would always beat around the bush and let his disinterest be known.

"Oh, that's an interesting one. So, I had been chasing this..." he started reciting his account and I looked at him as if he had just stepped out of a UFO.

"Is there a problem, Rose?" he stopped speaking. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

I blinked. "Oh, no. No, I'm alright. Please continue," I gathered my stunned self and began typing the words coming out of his mouth. Each syllable was getting recorded on my phone in case I needed to tally notes later.

I didn't know what brought upon this extra cooperative side of Jordan today. I had prepared myself for a tiresome verbal tennis match but Jordan was, much to my utter shock, not a colossal pain in the ass today.

Hours passed by as Jordan and I dove into work.

It wasn't until I felt my stomach turn in on itself that I bothered to look away from the screen.

"Maybe we should take a break," I suggested.

Jordan looked at me from above his laptop. "Sure, you can go."

"I'll be back in 30," I said and gathered my belongings.

"You can just leave them here."

"Oh. By the way, aren't you going to eat something? It's almost lunch," I asked.

"Not really hungry," he said and returned his focus to the screen.

"Alright then," I mumbled to myself. "I'm just going across the street... I won't be long," I announced and started walking towards the door.

"Across the street? To Cafe Connect?" he asked. I turned to answer him.

"Yeah."

Jordan opened his mouth to say something but then thought against it. "Alright," he said instead.

I frowned.

"Are you sure you don't want anything? I don't mind grabbing you something to eat," I offered.

A few seconds passed before Jordan worded a reply.

"How about I join you instead?" he shrugged casually.

I eyed him disdainfully.

Another meal with Jordan?

Something doesn't feel right. This is not normal.

What perplexed my brain, even more, was why Jordan was behaving like a regular person. I had no experience with him acting as though he was a civilized and polite human being who would enjoy the occasional company of their co-workers or employees.

This version of him was alien to me. Especially after the act that he had pulled last night.

I had trouble comprehending if he was the same person who had threatened my job in exchange for my adherence to his plan for me to be his pretend girlfriend, or if he was someone else who just happened to look like Jordan Parker. Maybe he kidnapped the real Jordan and tied him up to the back of his truck.

"You're taking awfully long to reply."

"Oh, no. That's not it. Of course, you can join me," I said.

"Okay, then. Let's go get some food," Jordan stood up from behind his desk and walked in my direction.

I spun on my heels and exited the room before he could and rushed over to where Andrea was sitting.

"If I do not return when he does," I pointed towards Jordan as he emerged out of his office, "Call 911."

Andrea's eyes turned wide with confusion. "I don't understand," she expressed nervously.

"Andrea," Jordan approached us from behind me and I straightened up. "Push my meetings after lunch to tomorrow, I don't think I'll be able to make it today," he said.

"Yes, sir," Andrea nodded and gave me a confused look before diving back into whatever work she was doing.

"Come on, Rose," Jordan beckoned me to follow him as he made his way towards the elevator.

"Remember what I said," I placed my hands on Andrea's desk and hushed.

"I don't—" she started again but I didn't stay to chat more.

I scrambled into the elevator that Jordan was holding open for me.

"Thanks," I murmured as I stepped in next to him.

The doors closed and it started to descend the 20th floor.

I made sure to put as much distance as I could between Jordan and me. If I recall last night's events, I wasn't sure if I could trust myself with him standing so close to me.

I glanced towards him as he stood quietly with his hands in his trouser pockets.

"You're burning a hole in my skull," he said.

I plucked my eyes away from him and fixed them on the elevator door.

"What do you mean?" I played it cool.

"You do see the glass on these doors, don't you?" he asked and I found a pair of familiar blue eyes staring back at me in wonderment.

Those doors had mirror glass! God, I am such a fool. My heart was beating at 1000 beats per minute. That should be lethal.

I heard him chuckle.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Jeez, I wouldn't know where to start. A lot of things are funny, Rose," he looked at me through the mirror on the door. His green eyes gleaming with mischief.

I rolled my eyes at his comment and prepared a comeback but before I could say another word the door to the elevator opened and a few people stepped in.

They extended formal greetings to Jordan who didn't care to make the same gesture.

An imposter wouldn't do that unless he knew what a sour-puss Jordan really was. That was classic Jordan Parker right there.

As the lift descended another floor, it opened once again and a group of 5 people entered in.

As the elevator started to get cramped up, I dissolved behind the bodies of Jordan's employees. There was still some place left in that lift but I moved myself to the nearest corner. Jordan stood on the opposite end with just 2-3 steps to spare.

I fixed my eyes ahead of me, checking the floor number from time to time. I guess being on the 20th floor can have its cons as well. The view that you get is definitely paid in by the effort it takes to climb up and down the floors.

I noticed Jordan shift to my side as the number of bodies in the elevator increased. I moved further into the elevator wall but there I was just one push away from becoming one with it.

"That's it. No one else enters this space," Jordan announced in a thunderous tone that startled me a bit. "Just tell them to take the stairs," he said to the people at the front.

No one dared to raise a question to his command.

That was classic Jordan as well.

Being cooped up with Jordan in his office all day was one thing, but having him stand so close to me was not working in my favor.

I felt my heart pick up its pace as Jordan stepped in closer. The back of his hand lightly grazed against mine and a jolt of electricity spread through my arm and spread throughout my body. My breath hitched in my throat and I pulled my hand to my chest. I gulped hard whilst trying my best to resist glancing in his direction.

I could no longer see the mirror in front of me, courtesy of the tall bodies, but what I could feel was Jordan's eyes on the top of my head. A constant, heavy gaze.

Or maybe it was my paranoia.

But I could feel the heat radiating off his body. I heard the raspy rise and fall of his chest. Blood rushed to my ears making them warm and toasted. I swear they were getting red.

I knew that Jordan was watching me and it took every ounce of control in me to not turn towards him.

The elevator beeped open and the crowd started to evacuate the closed quarters.

I let out a shaky sigh of relief when Jordan moved along with the crowd. I was glued to the elevator walls by now.

"You coming?" Jordan turned around as he stood on the precipice.

"Yeah," I pulled myself straight and followed Jordan's lead.