I looked over at the control panel. “We have five more floors,” I insisted, then kissed her again.
She giggled and let me go on for another moment, but then she fought me off and started straightening her clothes, apparently worried what Stanley the night guard would think.
I was about to suggest a possible strategy – walk slowly and chat about something work-related – when the doors opened and she took off like a rocket.
I almost had to run after her.
“Hi, Stanley,” she shouted when she was still a hundred feet away from the guy. A deaf man would have been able to pick out the nervousness in her voice.
Stanley looked up, obviously taken aback. He lifted one hand hesitantly, as though unsure whether he wanted to get in the middle of whatever weirdness was going on.
I caught up with her in a few quick strides. “Very slick,” I whispered good-naturedly. “Very under the radar.”
“Oh, shut up,” she whispered back – and I wanted her more than ever.
But she suddenly turned away. I didn’t know why; at first I thought I had really offended her, but then I saw the second bank of elevators she was heading towards, and the ‘Parking’ sign over them.
“I’m this way,” I called out. When she turned around, I pointed towards the front of the building.
She looked flustered. “You didn’t park in the garage?”
“No.”
“But… there’s no street parking out front after seven,” she said, and I could see the rising panic in her face. “They might have towed your car!”
“I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”
“But – ”
“Lily,” I said, in as soothing a voice as I could. “Calm down. Just walk out with me.”
She looked into my eyes, and I gave her as warm a look as I could. She nodded once, then walked beside me across the lobby. Once I was sure she wasn’t going to bolt, I pulled out my phone and texted Johnny.
Come pick me up.
Then I put it back in my jacket.
“Night, Stan,” I said as we walked by the guard station.
Stanley smiled and raised his hand again.
I wanted to tease Lily about how well people react when you don’t weird them out – but I didn’t want to lose her, so I just kept quiet as we exited the lobby and walked out into the street.
20
Downtown was bustling with cars, though none were parked along the side of the streets. Apparently that alarmed Lily, because she cried out, “Oh no, your car!”
I thought that was funny, but it was a reasonable assumption. After all, what kind of a person had a chauffeured Bentley at their disposal?
I was kind of looking forward to her reaction – but I wanted to know where she stood before it showed up.
“Quit worrying about it. I have a question to ask you.”
“But – ”
“Lily. Focus,” I said, and raised her chin so she was looking into my eyes. I felt her tense – but she didn’t fight me, so I kept my fingers there as I asked, “Did you mean what you said earlier about this being the best night of your life?”
I could see the struggle play out on her face – but eventually, the truth won.
“Yes,” she whispered.
I kissed her. I had to; I wanted her so badly, there simply was no other option.
She tensed again – harder this time – but eventually I felt her melt into me and give back as good as I gave.
I didn’t want to stop kissing her… but I could hear the soft whisper of the Bentley in the background.
So I pulled away and looked into her eyes, which she gradually opened as though waking from a dream.
“Come with me,” I whispered.
“…what?” she asked, stunned.
“You said this was the best night of your life. So let’s keep it going. Maybe even make it the best weekend of your life. Come with me.”
I could see the struggle in her face: happiness and fear, both vying for control. “I… I can’t… what are you talking about?!”
I took both her hands in mine. “Come with me,” I said, more urgently this time.
“But – the reports – ”
“Are crap. A fake test Klaus didn’t pass anyway. Forget them. Come with me.”
“The office – I left everything on – ”
“Who cares? Leave it and come with me.”
There is a moment in every negotiation, every argument, every game, where there is a tipping point. The moment where everything is either lost or won. Usually it’s a very small moment – and usually won by one person gradually convincing themselves, rather than by overwhelming logic or emotion. If the reasons to do something are overwhelming, it was never a true negotiation or argument or game in the first place.