AN: I have no idea what kind of staff lifts they have in Bloomingdales. Any information would be gratefully received. I do not think it is a big leap of the imagination to write that they are old fashioned and poorly maintained.

The Elevator

Rachel hurried for the lift, getting in just as the doors closed behind her. She was so busy today. She was busy every day, having to go from here to there, and deal with phone calls and paperwork. Just ten minutes ago another memo had dropped on her desk but she had torn out of her office without reading it. Someone was busy churning out memos when they could be helping out, Rachel thought. She'd been too busy to read it. She was too busy to wait for the elevator.

She was relieved the she'd caught the elevator until she saw who else was in it. The only other person in the elevator. Emily. She hadn't seen her for weeks — the last she'd seen was at the wedding. Emily was the one who wanted to keep her out of Ross's life and and blamed Rachel for everything. Emily hated her and Rachel wasn't so keen on Emily herself.

What are you doing in here? It's staff only,' Rachel demanded. Damn Emily, she was keeping Rachel out of Ross's life so Emily could just keep out of Rachel's elevator. Emily had no right to be looking at her in that horrified manner.

I — ' The lift suddenly stopping with a jolt, knocking whatever Emily had to say out of her mouth. They both looked up. Was this just a temporary stop?

Oh no, I've got to get down to the First floor,' Rachel said, This crummy building. These old fashioned lifts.' She banged the door with her fist. She was supposed to be down on First half an hour ago.

We can't be stuck,' Emily exclaimed. She started pushing buttons.

Hey stop that anything could happen,' Rachel said sharply.

What, you mean we might move?' Emily snapped back. She had a valid point but Rachel didn't want to admit it. She watched Emily press buttons, every single one on the panel.

What are you pushing the "up" button for?' Rachel demanded, I don't want to go up.'

Anywhere's better than here, not that we're getting anywere.'

You got that right,' Rachel averred and pressed the alarm. There was no sound. She tried it again. C'mon!' Rachel urged. She had to get out of this lift.

Maybe somebody did hear,' Emily said. It might only make a noise outside.' Rachel hoped so. She tried the lift phone. It was dead.

Well it'll get moving again,' Rachel said, moving to the far corner of the lift. She looked over at Emily who had taken the other corner of the lift. They weren't far enough away from each other. Anyway, what are you doing here? It's staff only.'

I've been visiting my uncle,' Emily said.

Rachel's boss. She'd been avoiding him ever since the wedding in case he, like apparently everyone else in Emily's family blamed her for the debacle. She hadn't felt comfortable at work ever since she'd got back and in fact was thinking of leaving as soon as she could line up another job. Her sales weren't what they were before the wedding. Joshua wasn't coming in to help her improve them any more and she'd lost interest in sales anyway. It was particularly bad at the moment because she was sure there were thefts going on in the dress department but she hadn't worked out how it was being done, let alone how to stop it.

Emily looked at her watch and said,

If they don't fix it soon, I'm going to be late.'

Well I'll get into trouble,' Rachel said, thinking of the delivery downstairs. She was in trouble anyway, and much worse trouble than Emily, she was sure. She didn't know for sure but it seemed that Emily didn't have a job so it didn't really matter where she was and whether or not she was late.

Rachel put the clothes on the floor. They were safe in their plastic covers from the dust. Emily put her own shopping on the floor. Rachel looked at her watch. They probably won't be in a hurry to fix it. This is only a staff lift.' It was only the customer lifts that got prompt attention. In any case, she wasn't certain that the lift stoppage had been noticed.

You mean they won't fix it in the next twenty minutes?' Emily asked sharply.

Probably not,' Rachel said, thinking of how long it took for anything to get fixed.

Oh no,' Emily said, sounding upset.

Yeah well I'm not thrilled either,' Rachel said. The only good thing about this was at least no-one could say that the fact she was currently not on the job was her fault. Someone else would have to deal with whatever problems were going on.

I have to meet Ross. I'll be late.'

Oh poor you.' Emily glared at her.

He's got a very important job interview this afternoon and I said I'd meet him afterward.'

How would I know that?' Rachel retorted, although in fact she did know. Things got back to her, one way of the other. You've kept me out of his life.'

With good reason.'

You had no reason at all,' Rachel said.

After what happened at my wedding and after you tried to get Ross to go away on my honeymoon with you — '

I wasn't,' Rachel said.

You were,' Emily said angrily, You didn't come to wish us well at our wedding like a normal wedding guest. You came to break it up.'