I stand there, with one hand trying to hold the two ends of the tear together. But since the skirt was, like I said..tight. There was a stretched open hole with the possibility of increase in size if I strained it more. Asher was still crouching down with the sheets in his hand and he looks up slowly. I try to avoid his gaze, looking every where but him. 

Maybe If I try to pretend like I don't exist by making no movement and sound, maybe it'll come off as a dream and I'll wake up happy and warm in my bed..?

 What is wrong with you Cara. 

Asher clears his throat, breaking the awkward silence hanging about us. He gets up quickly and turns around arranging the papers. I know he was purposely doing it. I try to stretch my cardigan but unfortunately it was too short for that. 

What should I do now? I have to take a taxi to get home too. I possibly can't keep the gap covered. "Well uh, I should go." I say, my voice coming out flustered. I take a step and feel the tear increase making me stop cold again. The tear was down till my mid thigh now. Asher feels me stop and I look back at him over my shoulder with wide eyes. 

This is not good Cara. Totally not good. You are definitely a bad luck magnet. What were you thinking while buying this stupid skirt? You are so dead! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! How in the hell will you go home now?!

I take deep breaths to calm myself and look up to recollect my thoughts. I try to take another step and feel the tear stretch, making me stop again in the fear that it will enlarge further. I glance back again at Asher who still had his back towards me. He was standing, slightly bent over in a rigid posture, clenching the edges of the desk. As if he was having a major battle with himself. I almost asked him if he was okay but he probably wants me to leave him alone. Especially after this super embarrassing event. 

It's okay Cara, you can do it. Just walk slowly and you'll make it. Slowly. One step at a time. 

I take off my pumps and hold them in my hand. I try to drag my feet in slow, small steps. 

"Stop." I freeze when I hear his hard voice. I turn towards him and see him standing straight, his hands in his pockets and a stone expression on his face. His form reminded me of that of Trevor. Why are you thinking about that rude person right now? Your skirt is torn. You are standing here in front of a man whom you dislike. And he dislikes you mutually. The building is quiet and if he does something no one will hear you. 

He takes a step towards me and my eyes go wide. He stars moving towards me making me take steps back, but I had hardly taken a few when my back is met with the wall. Asher doesn't stop and keeps advancing towards me. I stare at him and anxiety grows in me. When he's about a step away from me, I shut my eyes tight and flinch as I feel him extend his arm. I bite my lip anticipating but when I open my eyes I find him standing by the door, his hand holding a jacket which he didn't have before.

 So..he was just taking his jacket?

"Do you plan to stay there stuck against the wall like a lizard all night?" He asks blankly and I am at a loss for words.

"I uh-I am-" I stutter. He just rolls his eyes and walk out. 

What? Is he really going to leave me here? Then again, whom are you thinking about Cara? What else can you expect from him? 

I huff and move out carefully. I sigh in relief when I don't feel it tearing more. Keeping my hand over the patch I move out to find him  leaning against the wall beside the elevator sporting his vexatious smirk. 

"So, finally decided against being a lizard?" He says and swishes the jacket over his shoulder. "Can you stop?" I rebuke baffled. He just smirks and the elevator doors open. He gives a two finger salute and moves in. 

"Hey wait!" I say when I see him press the floor button. He just shrugs and makes a welcome gesture with his hands. I release an exasperated breath and walk forward with slightly faster strides. As I am about to reach I see the doors sliding shut, my body bangs against the closed metal doors when I finally reach. 

WHAT?! COULDN'T HE LIKE WAIT FOR TWO SECONDS? HE ACTUALLY WANTS TO TRAP ME HERE!? THAT SON OF A STALE BISCUIT!

I jump back when I feel the doors slide back open. Asher was standing there engaged in his phone. I stare surprised and he raises his gaze, "I will shut the lift down after I reach the basement. So get in now if you don't want the stairs." He says giving a quick glance at my torn skirt. I swallow the million curses I wanted to holler at him and get in without uttering a word.

Just ignore him Cara, ignore him. Forget that he is standing by the opposite corner. Forget that he exists. 

I sigh quietly and think of how to reach home. I will need to travel half way across the city. I check the time on my watch to see it was past seven. Not very late but by the time I will get home it will be around nine. 

I see the elevator pass the second floor and then everything goes dark. The lift becomes still and I am standing there in complete darkness. 

Cara. You. Are. A. Bad. Luck. Magnet. 

I look around and suddenly a beam of light strikes my eyes. I cover my eyes but the beam was strong. 

Jesus, is that you?

The light is removed and I see it was Asher using his phone torch. "Well, what an eventful day it is today." He says and roll my eyes. I search for my phone and frown when I don't find it. Then it hits me I had kept it in my coat pocket..which was lying alone in my office...

  Great, I am stuck here in this elevator with a jerk, a torn skirt, and no phone..well my own one. Oh Lord, save me from this Hellevator. 

I bury my face in my hands tired. I really feel like laughing at my condition right now. Can this get any worse? It possibly can't get any worse than this-

  'I am on a hellevator! 

My hellevator!'

I am on a hellevator'

Really Lord? Are you actually trying to prove me wrong? 

I glare at Asher, who was playing this song on his phone. I really wish I had laser eyes-

"I know you are wishing for laser eyes, but too bad you can't have them." He says not looking up from his phone. He had switched the torch mode off and the light from his phone screen dimly illuminated the surroundings. The harsh light falling on his face highlighted his sharp features and I notice how lush his eyelashes were. 

Stop.

I continue to remain silent and stretch out my hands to feel for the cold metal walls. I sit down slowly, resting my back against it. Asher gives a momentary look at me and shrugs before sitting down too. He casually plops down and extends his legs forward, as if sitting on his bed. The music fills the enclosed space and I close my eyes.

 Ignore Cara, this is nothing, you can ignore him. 

The song ends and another starts playing. After a few notes I realise which song is this and my eyes shoot open.

'The mood is set,

So you already know what's next.'

That is it..

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU ASHER EVANS?! LIKE HAVE YOU DECIDED TO MAKE IT YOUR MISSION TO TORTURE ME? DON'T YOU FEEL ANY SLIGHT REMORSE AT MY CONDITION?! DON'T YOU HAVE AN OUNCE OF SYMPATHY TO LEAVE MY POOR SELF ALONE? WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?! DON'T YOU REALISE WE ARE HERE STUCK IN THIS ELEVATOR, WHICH F.Y.I., IS A LIMITED ENCLOSED SPACE,WITH LIMITED AMOUNT OF AIR, LIMITED AIR MEANING LIMITED OXYGEN WHICH F.Y.I. AGAIN, KEEPS YOU ALIVE. WHAT IF WE DIE HERE? HUH? AND YOU ARE BUSY PLAYING SONGS ON YOUR PHONE INSTEAD OF MAKING A DAMN CALL AND GETTING US OUT OF HERE?!" I scream at him. He just keeps a straight face throughout which irks me further. 

"No signal." He shrugs and goes on playing his songs. 

What? 

I scoff and dwell in thoughts of death. He puts on his ear plugs and bobs his head to some song which I could faintly hear. "Yo! Nice skirt." He says and I whip my head towards him but see him singing along to the song he was listening.

 What sort of a line is this?  Is he teasing me?! That jerk-

I feel a sudden jerk and the lights come on, making me sigh in relief.

I am alive!

I get up and dust my clothes. The lift finally reaches the ground floor and I scurry out quickly. Asher walks out and meets the guard who explains him what went wrong with the machinery. I advance towards the exit but then the unpleasant condition of my skirt hits me and I hesitate. 

I hear Asher instruct the guard regarding things, after warding him off he walks up to the exit and moves past me. I shake my head and walk out of the building too, I remove my cardigan and tie it around my waist but that too didn't do much to cover it up. 

I had barely walked a step when Asher pulls me up and pushes me against the wall. I flinch slightly as he keeps a hand on the wall trapping me from one side. I glare at him and he looks back square.

"What do you think? You can go just like this?" He says and hands me his jacket. I look between it and his face. 

"Are you actually offering me your jacket?" I almost laugh. "I don't want it." 

He clenches his jaw and pushes me further into the wall. He leans in and I feel my heart starting to beat faster at our close proximity. He smirks at my reaction and brings his lips next to my ear. "By the way Strawberry, I had a signal throughout." He says but I am too shook to do or say anything. He drapes the jacket around me and moves back. The jacket was long enough, reaching till my knees and loose on my frame. 

After walking few steps he turns around and says, "also, you smell like strawberries." 

I don't remember how long I stood there. Maybe just a few minutes, though it seemed longer. My mind was blank and the only thing I could think about was, 

Did he just call me strawberry?

......................................................................................................................

HEYO WASSUP! HOW ARE YOU MY DEAR READERS?! 

So, what do you think about Asher so far? 

I will try to improve on the chapters, though I hope you liked it!

Vote!

Comment!

Share!

Cookies!