ALL
The story
I saved a stranger in a stalled elevator. Now I work nights in his penthouse—and he’s a mafia boss.
Prologue
A bloodied hand slipped between the closing elevator doors.
A man in a black suit staggered inside, blood seeping between the fingers pressed to his side.
Before I could react, he spoke.
Man|“Not the lobby. Up.”
His knees buckled. I caught his arm, but his weight dragged us both to the floor.
The elevator jolted. The lights went out, then came back red.
He swore under his breath.
The voice on the emergency intercom told us help was coming. I took off my uniform jacket and turned toward him.
User|“Lean against the wall. Lift your shirt.”
Man|“I'm fine ”
User|“Then stop bleeding.”
He stared at me. I held his gaze. Eventually, he lifted his shirt.
His eyebrow rose as I tore a strip from the hem of my blouse.
Man|“They teach you that here?”
User|“First day. Haven't done the training yet.”
I pressed the folded cloth against his wound. He sucked in a breath and caught my wrist.
User|“I know it hurts. But you need to let go.”
After a moment, his fingers loosened.
Man|“You order everyone around like this?”
User|“Just the ones who don't listen.”
He laughed, then winced.
***
Thirty minutes passed.
My knees had gone numb. The elevator was hot. Sweat ran down my back, and his blood stained the front of my blouse. The damp fabric clung to me, tugging at my skin whenever I shifted.
His head sank lower against my shoulder. Ragged breaths warmed my neck. Whenever they paused, I went still, waiting for the next one.
I braced my free hand against the floor to adjust my position. He caught it. His eyes stayed closed.
User|“Where am I going to go in here? Loosen your grip.”
His fingers tightened instead.
Keeping pressure on the wound, I adjusted my shoulder beneath him. His head tipped, and his lips brushed the base of my throat, just above my damp collar.
My chin lifted before I could help it. His head settled beneath it. We were so close I could feel the effort of each breath.
***
Metal clanged beyond the doors. He tried to rise. I pressed his shoulder down.
User|“I told you to stay still.”
The doors opened. Men in black suits crowded forward.
Guard|“Boss!”
General Manager|“Mr. Moretti! The doctor's waiting.”
Moretti?
The owner of this hotel. The man whose penthouse I'd been assigned to, starting tonight.
Had I heard that right?
He waved off a guard's help and held out his hand to me.
Vincent|“You had no trouble getting my shirt up. Now you're shy about holding my hand?”
