"I know you can go there," he insisted, "But never hesitate toe to me if you need to," there was a pause then he added, "...or want to.”


    Some unseen force promoted me to turn to him and I did. And my heart caught in my throat. Even though it was semi-dark, the tenderness I saw in those eyes was intense.


    What does he mean,..e to me?'' I thought as I quickly looked away from him. Was there an underlying meaning to his words?


    I swallowed when another thought popped up in my head. Yep, it''s definitely the situation we''re in. Else, I would not be thinking his e to me'' could also imply that he was asking me toe back to him


    I shook my head and closed my eyes to get rid of all the rubbish thoughts that were popping into my head. He was just being a nice boss. He probably still wanted to make it up to the former employees for the way he took over thepany.


    As I mulled over it in my head and his words started to make sense, his phone''s light suddenly went out.


    Aiden muttered, "What ha- shit, it''s dead."


    The subdued panic came rising in a heartbeat. My breathing came in fast bursts and my grip on my knee tightened painfully then....


    His big warm hands covered mine. I wanted to pull away like I had wanted to when he sat beside me but I couldn''t.


    I didn''t want this calm I suddenly felt to be gone. His touch was like magic, an instant medication that quenched all of my fears.


    His fingers intertwined with mine and he grabbed it and ced it on hisp. "I''m here," he muttered tenderly.


    I swallowed, suddenly finding the strength to pull away. I pulled at my hand weakly and whispered, "Let


    go."Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "I still remember," he said fondly and I could hear the smile in his voice.


    For some reason, my heart did a somersault in my chest. After all these years he still remembered? Why? How? Well, maybe forgetting you once had a girlfriend who freaked out when left alone in the dark was not so easy.


    This only made me feel a stronger urge to stay away from him. I pulled at my hand again, "I''m fine."


    But his a


    grip only tightened. "Just hold on until help gets here."


    I fell silent at his gentle assurance.


    I


    Until help arrives, I told myself. I just have to hold on until help arrives.


    We stayed like that, my hand in his, our fingers intertwined, a fuzzy feeling in my belly that would ticket deliciously whenever his thumb caressed the back of my palm.


    I perked up when we suddenly heard voices, utter relief flooding my system. The voices were indistinct


    at first, murmurs and grunts then suddenly, it was a booming clear sound on the other side of the elevator.


    I think this one is broken too," the person said before he shouted, "Is anyone in there?"


    Aiden was quick to rise but he seemed to remember that he was holding my hand - or maybe it was because I unconsciously reflexively panicked when he wanted to let go and tightened my grip on his hand because he stopped and sat back down.


    "In here!" He bellowed out enough for anyone around to hear.


    "There''s someone in that one," a voice said. "Hang on, we''ll get you out in a minute."


    It took more than a minute. After several minutes of nks and thuds and even at some point the elevator shook, bringing Aiden and I even closer, finally the elevator door creaked open.


    At that moment, I couldn''t remember any moment where I had been so relieved and d to see a door open.


    Immediately the door opened and some light filtered into the space, I yanked my hand from Aiden''s gentle grasp, grabbed my bag and rushed out.


    As I ran up the stairs, my legs hurt from taking so many steps at a time and at such speed and I was breathing heavily. But I kept going. The thought of taking another elevator didn''t even appeal to me. I wondered if I''d ever take any elevator ever again.


    I finally arrived at my destination, the bathroom on one of the floors.


    I stopped before the mirror, rested my forehead on the mirror as I regained my breath.


    Suddenly, I wondered what I would''ve done... how I would''ve coped if Aiden hadn''t been in there with me. I bet I''d have screamed like a banshee, cried my eyes out and lost consciousness.


    Thank God it was all over.


    But... I looked up at the mirror. "What''s that?" my gaze lowered to my reflection''s chest. "Why is your heart pounding so fast?"


    I scoffed. Of course, it would, I just escaped from a dark tiny hell hole. "That''s it, nothing more. I was trapped in a hole with my ex and he offered to help. I epted the help because I seriously needed it and that''s all."