She'd been in the elevator for a good forty-five minutes, riding it up and down the length of Meade Publications, hoping he would finally get on. Dread filled her as she wondered if she'd already missed him. Marc had specifically said she had to do it today and if she didn't, she was going to have to do it in the lunchroom tomorrow. Amanda really didn't want anyone seeing her do what she was about to do.

Wringing her hands, Amanda bit her lip as she felt the elevator jolt and start its descent to the lower floors of the building. She saw that they were headed for his floor. Okay, she'd do it and get the hell off this elevator so she could go home and take a scalding shower. As she felt the elevator descend, Amanda checked to make sure everything was in place. Was she in view of the security camera? Check. Thick coat of lipgloss? Check. No one else in the elevator? Check. Low cut blouse to highlight her assets? Check.

Suddenly Amanda saw that they were making a stop at floor directly above him. Shit. She'd have to do something drastic. The elevator doors slid open and Amanda saw a handsome man in a long grey overcoat getting ready to step into the elevator. If this was any other time, he'd be her date for tonight. But like a soldier with a mission, Amanda pushed her desires aside and steeled herself for what she was about to do. She reached out, gave him a shove that sent him sprawling to the floor, and punched to button to shut the doors.

The man stared up at her from his position on the floor. "Sorry!" Amanda called and gave him a pained smile as the doors slid shut. She barely had time to compose herself before the doors opened again, this time on his floor.

"Uh, hello," he said as he stepped into the elevator and stood close to her.

Amanda forced herself to smile and leaned across him to punch the button that would take them up to the lobby of the building. She knew she was invading his personal space. Amanda heard his breath hitch in his chest as she turned her head towards him and asked, "Going my way?" She put on her most seductive smile as she waited for his response.

It took him a few moments before he could think of a response. "The lobby? Yes."

Amanda nodded happily and brushed against him as she went back to her original spot beside him in the elevator. "Sorry," she grinned. "This space is so small."

He nodded. "Yeah." She noticed him nervously looking around the elevator as if unsure as to what was happening.

"Is this tie new, Henry?" Amanda asked as she pulled it from his sweater and running it between her fingers. She kicked the seduction up a notch by using the tie to pull him closer to her. She took a quick peek at the placement of the security camera. Marc had better be able to see this. "You know, Henry, I've never noticed how sexy your glasses were."

Henry pushed the glasses up the bridge of his nose and laughed nervously "Sexy? Really?"

Amanda nodded vigorously and pulled him even closer. She looked again to see how quickly they were approaching the lobby. Shit! They were nearly there. Amanda slapped her hand against the emergency stop button and turned his head to she was looking at her again.

"Whenever I see a man in glasses, I just can't control myself. I just have this overwhelming urge to," she paused and stared at his lips, "kiss them." Amanda turned her head away for a second to suppress her gag reflex. "Can I kiss you, Henry?"

She had only mean to give him a quick peck on the lips and flee the scene, leaving Henry heartbroken and her debt paid to Marc. She hadn't counted on Henry grabbing her by the arms and furiously start kissing her. She hadn't expected to get drawn into his hungry kisses and respond to them. Amanda was pulled in by the smell of his cheap cologne and his soft lips. She grabbed the collar of his sweater and pulled him flush against her. He tasted like Listerine and smelled like Axe. And dammit, she couldn't get enough!

As she felt Henry's lips move down her face and to her neck, dreamy smile on her face, Amanda's eyes drifted to the security camera. The security camera where Marc was watching the whole scene play out.

"No!" Amanda cried out and pushed Henry away. She pushed the emergency stop button again and felt the elevator start to rise.

"What?" Henry asked, confused. "Did I do something wrong?" Amanda shook her head and Henry pulled her close again. Somehow her hands were inside his cheap acrylic sweater and she was starting to unbutton his shirt.

An irritating ping pulled them from their actions and Amanda got a look at herself in the reflection of the large brass doors. Her hair was a mess and her lipgloss was smeared. Somehow the top three buttons of her blouse were unbuttoned and she held Henry's glasses in her hand. Amanda placed the glasses carefully on his face and gently kissed his cheek. "I can't do this Henry," she whispered and ran out as soon as the door opened.

Pushing the revolving door open, Amanda took great breaths of the cold night air and looked around. She saw Marc sitting at the nearby bus stop, bouncing up and down in excitement. Amanda smoothed down her hair and waited for Marc to start in on her for making out with Henry.

"What happened? Did you have to fight your way out of the elevator?" Marc stood up and held out the crook of his arm for Amanda to loop her arm through while they walked.

"What do you mean, didn't you see it on the security camera?" Marc had to be playing with her, right? He'd probably stolen the tape of the elevator scene to put on YouTube.

"No, everything went all static-y when you pullled him in for the kiss. I wait a few minutes and then I got bored. So I came out here," Marc gestured to the bus stop in a disgusted manner. "Thank god you came out. You look like he ravaged you. Has it been that long since someone kissed Lord AddsALot?"

Satisfied that her secret was safe, Amanda pasted a disgusted look her face and nodded. "Most definitely. I was lucky to escape at all. He probably wanted to club me and drag me back to his polyester apartment." Amanda looked down to check her reflection in the mirror that she kept in her handbag, when she suddenly realized she had no handbag. "Oh my god!" Amanda moaned and slapped her hand to her forehead.

"What is it, sweetie? Did you discover that you can't possibly live your life without some more nerd lovin'?" Marc quipped as Amanda began pulling him back to the building.

Amanda curled her lip into a snarl at Marc and turned him to face her. "Marc, I felt my handbag in the elevator. With Henry. You have to go get it for me."

"Oooh, don't want to face the heart you broke?" Marc asked as he hopped from one foot to another.

Amanda gritted her teeth. "I wouldn't have broken any hearts if you hadn't made me pay off that bet to you by forcing me to kiss Henry. Now go get it!"

"How do I even know you kissed him? I saw nothing." Amanda's murderous look convinced him otherwise. "Alright, alright. Don't get your nonexistent panties in a twist. When I come back, we're making mojitos and you're telling me everything. In detail. With drawings, if necessary." Marc slowly made his way back into building. Amanda waited a few nerve wracking minutes, imagining Marc giving Henry the third degree about what went on in the elevator and feared Henry would tell the awful truth-that she'd kissed Henry (hell, she'd let him get to second base) and that she'd liked it. Finally, Marc emerged from the building sans handbag.

"Well, where is it?"

"That weird security guy, the one who smells like shoe polish, says Henry took it with him. He left you a note." Marc dutifully handed the note over and Amanda turned away to read the note, while trying to hide it from Marc's prying eyes.

Amanda,
You left your purse in the elevator. I took it with me, since I figured I would be safe with me. I'll drop it off later tonight. We'll talk about what happened tonight.
Regards,
Henry Grubstick

Amanda rolled her eyes. Did he really need to include his last name? And he was coming to her apartment? Tonight? Oh god!

"Ooooh, the first of many love letters!" Marc snatched the note away and read it.

"Marc, you have to help me. I can't be alone with him!" Amanda said desperately. "You saw what he wrote. Tell him you're my boyfriend and that no one messes with your woman."

Marc and Amanda stared at each other for a second, soaking in what Amanda had just said and then broke into laughter. "Sorry," Marc said. "No one is going to believe that."

"I know," Amanda sighed. "Just come to my apartment with me. He won't try anything if you're there."

Marc pulled Amanda's arm through his and patted her hand. "Alright, Mandy." Marc heaved a great sigh and said, "The things I do for you."

Amanda leaned her head on Marc's shoulder and waited for the cab Marc was signaling to pull over and take her back to her apartment where Henry was probably waiting for her.