Chapter 4
The lobby air felt colder than the restaurant. It hit my bare shoulders and the back of my neck as soon as the host closed the double doors behind us.
My boss had set the bouquet down on the low marble table by the elevators. The black paper had crinkled and one corner had come unfolded. The red ribbon was still tied, but it looked wrong there, like someone had forgotten it. He stood a few feet back from Daniel and me, his hands in his pockets. He was trying to give us space without actually leaving.
"I should not have put you in this position," I said to him. My voice was low. I could hear how thin it sounded.
He shook his head once. "You didn't. This is clearly personal. We can reschedule the check-in. No one needs to make a work thing out of a family thing."
Daniel hadn't moved. He was still calm, still controlled, his hands clasped loosely in front of him. His gold watch caught the lobby light.
"We were supposed to have dinner," I said. I was talking to my boss, but I was looking at the bouquet. "Can we keep it that way? On paper. If anyone asks, we had the work dinner. We talked about the project."
My boss glanced at Daniel, then back at me. "Of course. I'll tell the host we had to cut it short. Don't worry about the office."
That was what I needed to hear. I nodded and pulled my wrap tighter around me. My phone was still on the table upstairs, but my keys were in my clutch. I could be at the office in fifteen minutes if I left now. I wanted to see where those papers were waiting before Daniel could reframe them again.
"I'm going to go check," I said. I turned slightly toward Daniel. "I'm going down to the office. Tonight."
Daniel's expression didn't change. "Good," he said. "We should ride down together. It needs your acknowledgment tonight anyway."
My boss took a small step forward, like he was going to object. I held up a hand without thinking.
"Daniel," I said. "We don't need to do that."
"We do," he said evenly. "The clerk said it won't be considered delivered until you sign for it. They close the intake at ten. If we go together, it's done. No extra trip."
The elevator chimed. The doors opened and a couple stepped out, laughing, not seeing us. The empty car waited with its mirrored walls and warm light.
My boss looked at me. "Do you want me to wait with you? I can call a car."
I shook my head. "You've done enough. Thank you. Really. For tonight."
He gave me a short, professional nod. He didn't pick the bouquet back up. He just said, "Take care of what you need to. We'll talk Monday," and stepped back toward the lounge, giving Daniel and me the elevator alone.
Daniel held his hand out, palm up, toward the open doors. Not touching me. Just indicating.
I stepped in first. He followed. The doors closed.
The elevator was silent except for the hum and the soft jazz still playing through the speaker. I watched the numbers change. 32, 31, 30. My reflection in the brass panel showed my dress, my hair, my lipstick that hadn't smudged. I looked exactly like I had when I'd left our apartment two hours earlier.
"You filed while I was getting ready," I said. It wasn't a question. It came out flat.
Daniel stood beside me, not looking at me, watching the numbers.
"You were doing your hair," he said. "You asked if the red dress was too much for a work dinner. I said it was perfect."
I remembered it exactly. I'd been at the bathroom mirror with the curling iron. He'd been on the bed behind me on his phone.
"I drove downtown, filed it, and came back before you finished your makeup," he said. "I sat in the parking garage and waited until you were ready to leave. I didn't want you to be late for your boss."
29, 28, 27. The car dropped smoothly.
"You could have waited until tomorrow," I said.
"I waited long enough," he said. He finally looked at me. His voice was still calm. "I wanted a witness. Someone who matters to you."
My throat tightened. I stared at the doors.
The elevator slowed. The chime sounded again and the doors opened to the parking garage. The air was concrete-cold and smelled like exhaust and rain coming in from the open exit ramp. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead.
My boss's bouquet was still upstairs on that marble table. Our table upstairs was still set with the wine and the candle. And we were already at the bottom, with the doors open to the garage.
May you like
Daniel stepped out first and held the door with his hand.
"After you," he said.
