Chapter 11 Chapter 11 When the VIP elevator got stuck , Cecilia's first move was to glance at her watch . " This is going to make me late for signing the document . ' she thought . 94 % - 回 X +15 Meanwhile , Stella was totally panicking and started frantically banging on the elevator doors . " Ah ! I don't wanna be stuck in here . If this elevator falls , we'll die a horrible death . " Stella yelled , kicking the hell out of the door and making an awful racket . Cecilia frowned , grabbed her arm , and yanked her back . " Don't you know the basics ? Now you should stay calm and wait for help . Kicking like a maniac only makes things worse . Knock it off . " Then Cecilia hit the emergency alarm button in the elevator . Stella was seething but kept her mouth shut . When the alarm connected and a security guard answered , Stella immediately snapped , " What's going on with your service ? Even the VIP elevator has broken down . Send help immediately and get us out ! " " I'm sorry . The elevator system is showing as inoperable . We're working on it urgently ." the security guard answered . Hearing this , Cecilia recalled something . " During the routine maintenance last month ," she said , " the engineer mentioned the system was having issues and needed an update . Hasn't it been updated yet ? " " We knew about the update . But the paperwork never came through , we haven't been able to get to it . I'm afraid it finally caused trouble . " the guard replied . Cecilia turned to Stella , puzzled . " Didn't you handle the paperwork ? " " What's that got to do with me ? That's Mr. Murphy's job , isn't it ? " Stella shot back without missing a beat . " Mr. Murphy has other responsibilities ." Cecilia reminded her pointedly , " Daily internal matters like this fall to you , Ms. Yates . Didn't you see or handle the pending items list I left on your desk ? " When Stella first joined Secretary Division , Cecilia was the one who showed her the ropes . Cecilia hadn't cared much about Stella's skills either way . But getting landed stuck in an elevator because of Stella's mistakes was a different story . Stella looked put out by the questioning . " I've just started this secretary job . It's normal to need time to adjust . Even Mr. Foster doesn't pick on me . " Cecilia didn't want to waste any more breath on Stella . She turned to the guard . " Have maintenance come to fix this . " " Right away , Ms. Jordan . " the guard replied . Staring at Cecilia , Stella asked suddenly , " Popping into Mr. Foster's office so much lately , are you thinking about coming back to Secretary Division , Cecilia ? " Cecilia just gave her a cool look and didn't answer . But Stella's mind went off the deep end . Eager to show off , she jumped in , " Mr. Foster says I'm doing great . I'll be taking on 1/4 12:44 Tue , Aug 12 G 94 % D X ( 415 ) Chapter 11 more of his work soon . Since you're sticking with Project Division , Cecilia , maybe stay focused over there , huh ? " With no one else in the elevator , Stella didn't bother hiding the jealousy in her eyes . " Then maybe start with your real job , you know , being a secretary ? " Cecilia shot back with a cold laugh . Suddenly , the elevator lights went out , plunging everything into pitch black . Stella freaked out and screamed her head off . Stumbling back in panic , she twisted her ankle . " Oh no ! I don't wanna die . " Cecilia stilled , holding her breath steady . She rested her back against the wall , hands firming their grip on the handrail . Then , the elevator's emergency intercom crackled to life once more . " Cecilia , you okay in there ? " Gavin's urgent voice came through . " Maintenance upgraded the system , but it's still stuck . The fire crew's here , and they're setting up to get you out right now ." " Mr. Foster , I'm so scared , and my foot's killing me ." Stella sobbed . " Hang in there , Stella ." Gavin said . But even as he reassured Stella , he wondered why Cecilia hadn't answered him yet . The firefighters jumped into action . Trapped between floors , the elevator doors were finally forced apart a crack with powerful tools . A shaft of light spilled in , cutting through the darkness . Suddenly , Stella lunged toward the opening and shouted , " Get me out ! I'm claustrophobic . I can't breathe ! " Her sudden movement made the already unsteady elevator lurch violently . The firefighter at the door barked out , " Steady there , Miss ! Hold still . We will get you out ." " I won't stay here . I need out now . " Stella was past listening to reason , thrashing wildly . Cecilia had had enough . In a flash , she struck Stella hard on the arm . " Get a grip ! " she snapped , her voice low and dangerous , " Stop this craziness before you get us both killed ." Clutching her arm where she'd been struck , Stella froze in place . She stood near the elevator entrance , her gaze locking onto Gavin behind the firefighters . " Mr. Foster , " she gasped out , tears streaming down her face , " I'm hurt , and I think … I'm choking for air . " Just then , a firefighter called out , " Which one first ? " Gavin's gaze swept over Stella's tear - streaked face near the opening . Then it shifted past her , landing squarely on Cecilia who stood calm . For a moment , Gavin leveled a cool , appraising gaze down at Cecilia . " Cecilia , if you wanna get out first , just say the word . " Gavin was offering her a way out , proposing a swap . Gavin wanted Cecilia to give in , to say sorry , to come back to him . He didn't think he was taking advantage . He was giving her a chance , out of his kindness . " Mr. Foster … " Stella's voice sounded utterly pitiful . 2/4 12:44 Tue , Aug 12 94 % H 0 X +15 Chapter 11 Cecilia , however , kept her cool and told the firefighters , " Get her out first . " It wasn't that Cecilia was some self - sacrificing person . She just didn't want Stella doing something crazy while she was getting out . Once Stella was out , she would actually be safer staying put in the elevator . " Cecilia , that's your choice ? " Gavin hadn't expected her to turn him down after he'd offered to get her out first . Fuming with anger , Gavin thought , ' Is she doing this on purpose ? Or does she just not know when to quit ? ' " Stella , I'm getting you out right now. " Gavin said , choosing her almost as if to spite Cecilia . Hearing that she was the one being picked , Stella couldn't contain her excitement . The firefighters slowly pried the elevator doors open . Worried the elevator couldn't handle the extra weight , they had to lie flat outside and pull Stella out . Eager to climb out , Stella suddenly realized her tight business skirt would make it easy for everyone to see everything . " Oh , my skirt ! " Halfway out , Stella desperately tried to cover herself , still dangling from the opening . " Miss , stop moving . It's dangerous ! " the firefighter kept yelling . Cecilia couldn't bear to watch this mess . She reached out and yanked Stella's skirt back into place to keep her covered . As Stella was being pulled up , she caught a glimpse of Cecilia right behind her . She gave a deliberate kick . Cecilia lost her balance , and her elbow slammed against the elevator door frame . A sharp pain shot through her , and her arm went numb instantly . At the same time , all Stella's thrashing around came with a price - her calf got scraped . At the sight of blood , Stella burst into tears . " Mr. Foster , it really hurts . " Gavin hurried over and held Stella steady . The firefighters kept working to get Cecilia out next . When Cecilia was finally pulled free , the jolting movement sent a fresh wave of pain shooting through her already injured elbow . " Miss , are you hurt ? " the firefighter checked . " I'm fine , thank you . " Cecilia said , catching her breath as it was still slightly uneven . Gavin's gaze lingered on Cecilia , a question about her condition on the tip of his tongue . But Stella , clinging to him in his arms , spoke up in a trembling voice , " Mr. Foster , I feel so dizzy . I'm so glad you were here . I don't know what would have happened to me otherwise . " Compared to Stella's dramatic show of distress , Cecilia just thanked the firefighters and didn't even glance Gavin's way . This deliberate snub made Gavin frown with displeasure . 3/4 94 % 0 X Chapter 11 ' She's clearly doing this just to spite me .' he thought , ' Looks like I haven't given her the cold shoulder long enough . She still hasn't learned to come around to me yet . " Stella , I'm taking you to the hospital . " Gavin said , steering her protectively towards the exit . Hearing this , Cecilia remembered the document in her hand . She darted after them , calling out , " Mr. Foster , wait ." Finally hearing what he'd been waiting for , a smug smile spread across Gavin's lips . ' I knew she'd crack . Gavin thought , ' That's more like it . If she just plays it right , I'll give her another chance . " Are you hurt too ? Do you need the hospital ? " Gavin waited , fully expecting Cecilia to ask for his comfort or even a hug . 4/4