{An Hour Later}

"This is so boring." I mumbled looking at the ceiling light.

There were other ways to torture me, but this was by far the worst right now. I was beginning to think dying would be better than this, hell at least I'd know what was happening, or hoped to know what was happening. The idea of being on a cable in a metal cube hung 9 1/2 stories high was not what I called fun. That cable could snap and my company would be Aaron Goodwin.

Sure people would mourn him, but they would ignore me if anything happened.

I looked at Aaron who was engrossed in his phone, he hadn't commented or spoken which made me think he wasn't listening.

"Great company you are. Talkative."

"I heard you the first time. I know you're bored. So am I, but I'm guessing you have a cell phone?"

"Yeah."

"Well go on it then." He replied shaking his head.

I pulled a face in annoyance and went into my bag to find my phone, there had to be something to look a-

No service.

"Damn to hell with this shit." I huffed putting it down and dragging the carrier of groceries over.

I'll eat then.

I ate an apple quietly whilst looking around me, before my eyes rolled back to him tapping away on his cell phone.

"Why?" I asked making him sigh.

"Why what?" He asked as I crossed my legs tightly. "You need the bathroom." He acknowledged.

"Maybe.. It's only because I can't go, that I want to go... If that makes sense?" I replied.

He rolled his eyes and nodded "Most likely."

"Do you like your job?" I asked.

"Like it? To begin with I kinda loathed the idea of it. I had strong catholic beliefs you know? So when I got the EVP of 'The Devil' it shook me up. I actually quit for a while." He admitted.

"Oh snap." I replied "But you went back in.. Why?"

"Curiosity, it was like a little bug that got into my bloodstream, I wanted to capture more. I had this mind set that I caught a word, now I want a whole sentence.... It just carried on from there really."

"Hmm.. Is there any locations you wish you didn't do?"

He smiled "I get asked that all the time. I always say no. But in truth there is a few, there's a place in Wilder, Kentucky.. Bobby Mackey's Music World." He spoke lifting his hand as if he was gesturing to a sign.

"Bad one?"

"Pure evil... Something followed me home, tormented my wife." He explained.

My eyes glanced down at his fingers but I couldn't see a wedding band at all..

"We divorced.." He added rubbing his finger where the band would be.

"I'm sorry." I frowned feeling like I had intruded.

"No, it's fine. We are still friends, I think we are better friends anyhow. She's happy, that's what matters." He smiled.

I tilted my head to the side "And what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you happy?" I asked watching face.

It flashed with emotion before settling on a yes.

"You're a liar."

"How the hell would you know? I don't even know you!" He snapped making me close my mouth.

I pulled my knees to my chest in defence.

"I won't speak again.." I mumbled putting the side of my head onto my knees to face away from him.

---------

30 minutes past before a voice came from the opposite end of the elevator.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you like that." Aaron apologised.

I swallowed back on a dry throat and nodded letting him know I had heard him. He sighed and shuffled about before settling again.

"What about you? Why are you in Vegas?" He asked.

This time I shrugged in response, the last thing I wanted to do was aggravate a man twice the size of me.

He might just bounce me side to side in this elevator in a blind rage.

"You're not going to talk... This is going to be a long wait."

"I don't like people having a go at me." I stated.

"I don't like being called a liar." He retorted.

"Glad we cleared that up." I muttered.

"How old are you?" He asked.

"Rude..." I replied before mumbling "27"

"Married?" He asked.

"Not stupid enough."

"Kids?"

"Don't want them."

"Don't want them? Why?" He asked.

I lifted my head up to look at him "I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kinda girl. I love my freedom. I guess you'd say I was selfish."

"What happens when you meet a guy? What if he wanted babies?"

I scoffed "Men never want kids. They are normally the ones af all surprised but deep down they are thinking 'Fucking brilliant.. My life is over.'"

He chuckled "My friend was like that. The idea of kids, a family and a wife. He was the definition of monogamy."

"Was?" I asked.

"Yeah... He got the girl. Beautiful, gorgeous, funny, caring..." He listed.

I watched his face as he spoke of her, it sounded as if someone was smitten himself at one point.

"You liked her too.." I pointed out.

"God.. That obvious?"

"To me. Yes. I'm observant and a complete stranger of course." I explained.

"Yeah well, she didn't want me. We are close... Best friends actually." He smiled picking up his phone and finding a photo.

He turned his phone showing a woman, long brown hair thrown to the side out of reach of a babies grasping fingers. Big brown eyes and a full figure with a dazzling smile.

"She's beautiful." I smiled.

"That's her son.." He pointed to the baby with a mop of dark hair. The chubby cheeks and arms made me smile wider.

"Little bruiser."

"Yeah.. He is now."

"Gorgeous little thing." I smiled sitting back.

"So have you got a boyfriend? Partner?"

I shook my head "I don't think they can handle my madness. I have had one or two try to change me, they didn't last long."

He smirked "You remind me of her." He nodded to his phone. "Your attitude and outlook on things."

"She's a wise lady then." I replied making him grin.

"Yes she is.."

I wanted to ask, but it was another personal question..

"How come you didn't have her? You speak about her so fondly.." I said touching the subject softly.

"We were always better as friends I think. We were super close, we still are but her commitments and being a mom changed it. I don't resent her for it, no.. She deserves everything and more. Zak can give her that."

My face fell a mile as realisation hit me from his last sentence.

"Holy macaroni! Zak is married and a dad?!" I asked in shock.

Aaron's eyes widened as he took in what we had both said.

"Holy shit!" I laughed.

"Y-you can't say anything or tell anyone! Please!" He begged making my laugh stop.

"Wh- why are you so scared?" I asked frowning.

"If people found out... She could be in danger. I wouldn't like to think what would happen to them."

"Her and Zak?"

"No.. Her and Bubz." He answered.

"Bubz?"

"The baby.. He's called Theo. We call him Bubz.. Please you can't say anything. I don't want to lose them.."

I shook my head "I- I won't say a thing."

He held out his pinky towards me as waited, I smiled at the childish gesture and hooked my pinky around his.

"What's her name?" I asked knowing he would spill.

He answered holding a smile. "Maria.. Her name is Maria."