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Chapter 2
Rose awoke the next morning to the smell of frying bacon. The sun was beginning to brighten her room.
She rolled over and rubbed her face. Pulling her hand back she realized that she had fallen asleep without taking off her make-up. She dropped her hands and swore.
Meanwhile, Lewis was frying bacon in the kitchen. He danced along to a song he was humming.
His phone rang in his pocket. He glanced at it before answering, "Good morning, Pete."
"Hey, Lewis. How did things go last night?"
Lewis tossed some of the bacon into his mouth, straight from the skillet. "Ouch! Well, there wasn't screaming. I'm calibrating my scale to that."
Pete sighed. "How bad?"
"Not enough to affect stock market prices. But, I think we should probably limit any other engagements this week."
"Agreed." He sighed, "I really hope she can pull herself together. I hate seeing her so miserable."
Lewis tossed another piece of scorching bacon in his mouth. "Me too."
Rose walked into the kitchen wearing a bathrobe and a freshly washed face. "Good morning."
"Morning. There's coffee." Lewis told her and returned to his phone call.
Rose poured herself a cup of coffee and watched Lewis pick up the frying bacon with his fingertips and toss it in his mouth.
"Ouch!" He complained and continued to talk to Pete. "Yeah, Mickey. Yeah, I spoke with him last night. He's having a great time."
He tossed another piece of bacon into his mouth and grimaced.
"Stop that." Rose scolded him. "You're burning yourself."
"Hang on, Pete. Sorry, what?"
She had already grabbed a fork and handed it to him. "Use this. Stop burning yourself and let it cool. What is the matter with you?"
His face spread into a smile. "It tastes better with the burn."
"You've lost your mind, Lewis. Completely barking."
"I canceled your 10:00. Pete and I agree you need a few days off."
She exhaled her relief. "Thank you."
"Eggs?" He asked.
"No, thanks." She walked out of the kitchen with her coffee.
She took a long, hot shower to wash off all of the terrible thoughts that had run through her head last night. She couldn't deny how much better she felt this morning. She dressed in a pair of comfortable jeans and an oversized hoodie that was made of soft fleece.
She gasped aloud again as she walked back into her bedroom. The floor-to-ceiling windows almost made her feel that she was about to walk off the edge of the building. She stopped and slowly walked over to the windows.
Holding her arm out, but still standing far enough away from the windows to prevent that fear from returning, Rose made up her mind that she wanted to change rooms.
Walking in her sock feet, she decided to slide the rest of the way into the kitchen.
Lewis was off the phone, "Feeling better today?"
She giggled began to make herself another cup of coffee. "Yes. I slept like I had died."
He grinned, "Yeah, your snoring kept me up."
She leaned against the cabinet and watched him cut up some vegetables. He was wearing some trousers from one of his suits, and an oxford. If he hadn't told her that they were staying in today, she would have thought he was just needing to grab his jacket. And his tie, if it was someplace where he would have to shake someone's hand.
"Lewis, I think I want to change rooms."
"Really?"
"Is that alright with you?"
"Sure. There's several more. What's wrong with your room?"
"I think….I'm frightened of it."
Lewis glanced at her, "You're not afraid of heights-"
"No, I'm not. It just. It's uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable. Yeah, I agree with that."
"What? You don't like it either?"
"Why do you think I didn't pick it?" Lewis grinned.
She smiled. "Yeah. Pete said you stay here a lot."
"Only when I'm in New York."
She giggled. "What are you making?"
"Soup." He told her. "It's supposed to snow later today."
She took a carrot and began to crunch it. "What did Pete have to say?"
"He hopes you can find your smile. Boiled down that it."
She chewed on the carrot while he finished what he was cutting up and put it into a pot. Busy with the task at hand, he hadn't looked up at her.
"Did he say anything about Mum?"
"She's good. Worried about you, I'm sure."
She looked at the floor.
Lewis walked over to stand in front of her. "Do you ever wish you were in another place?"
"Well, yeah-" She laughed at his words.
He held up his hand and laughed. "Sorry. Bad explanation. Um. Do you ever look back at your life, and think about what you would have done differently?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Go on."
As soon as she thought Lewis was about to lay some wisdom on her, he seemed to lose his nerve. "Nevermind. I don't think I can explain what I'm trying to say."
"Come on, you…"
He bit his bottom lip and went back to chopping the vegetables. "Nah. Forget about it. Let me think about it a bit more. It's not what I'm trying to say at all."
They stood in silence while he finished up.
He put the lid on the pot and then began to wash up.
Rose finally spoke. "I wanted to thank you."
He wiped his hands on a towel and turned to face her. "For what?"
"Just being so great."
He chuckled under his breath. "You should at least taste the soup before you decide you don't like it-"
"I'm not trying to butter you up, Lewis."
He grinned, "No?"
"I'm serious. I know this is just a job to you, but- "
"Nah," he insisted. "Pete Tyler is family. I've known him for years."
She smiled, "I didn't know that."
"Yeah."
"How long?"
He tossed the towel to lay beside the sink. "I didn't mark a calendar. It's not as though we exchange cards on that anniversary."
His comment made her laugh, "I really would have been lost last night had you not been there."
"You would have been fine." He reassured her.
"No, I don't think I could have….. I know I wouldn't have been able to talk to people like you did last night."
"Just being friendly."
She stepped forward and met his eyes. "Thank you, Lewis. Truly."
He smiled. "You bet."
She pat his elbow as she walked past him, "You're a natural negotiator, Lewis. You should think of a career in politics."
He chuckled.
"I'm serious."
He looked over at her, still smiling. "I'll keep it in mind."
Lewis's phone rang. He answered it quickly, "Yes."
He groaned, "No, that's my mistake. I'll be straight down."
He ended the call.
"Problem?"
"I forgot to tell the limo you were taking the day off. I just need to run downstairs and sort it out."
"Can I have the rest of these carrots?"
"Sure."
He quickly left the flat.
The elevator seemed to take forever to arrive. Lewis rocked on his feet while he waited. He began to hum the same tune.
Finally, the ding alerted Lewis to the elevator's arrival. He stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor.
"Hold it!" He heard someone shout.
Lewis quickly caught the doors and they reopened.
A tall man with dark hair rushed into the elevator. He was still getting dressed for what looked like something important. He wore a suit, or rather, nearly wore a suit. As the door closed, he pulled on his jacket.
"Thanks." He told Lewis.
"No problem." Lewis smiled.
The man quickly threw his tie on his neck. "This building. Has. The slowest. Elevators." He struggled to say as he stood on one foot to tie his shoes.
Lewis laughed, "It's true. But, this one is the faster of the two. You probably don't even have to rush."
The man laughed as he stood up and tied his tie. "You're not wrong." After folding down his collar he held his hand out, "How are you, Lewis?"
He smiled and shook his hand. "I am well. It's nice to see you again, Danny."
Danny used his reflection on the elevator's wall to comb his hair. "Just getting back in town?"
"Yeah. Got here yesterday."
Danny nodded and put away his comb. "Damn! We've not even halfway down!"
"Slowest elevator I've ever seen."
"Maybe it's old?"
Lewis looked at him, "Old isn't necessarily a bad thing-"
"When you're this arthritic and still having to work it is. The need to let this elevator retire."
"Shhh." Lewis teased, "Let us get done with this journey before you offend it."
Danny readjusted his suit and laughed.
Lewis smiled. "It will probably be worse this afternoon when it starts raining then."
"Shit. That is today, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Damn." Danny complained.
"Well, at least we'll wake up to snow in the morning."
"You are clearly, not from New York," Danny complained. "I should have grabbed a coat. I'm going to freeze my nuts off."
"Where are you off to?" Lewis asked.
"Job interview. A friend of mine has a project he says I owe him a favor on."
Lewis smiled.
Danny was none other than the famous Danny Morgan. Voted "Sexiest Man Alive" by Time magazine for the past three years, Danny's last two movies had grossed millions of dollars. Sadly his personal life was more what he was known for.
The media coverage of his daughter's death had been nothing compared to his divorce the following year. His ex-wife had committed suicide shortly after. Even though he was in his late 20s, Danny's dark hair showed lots of silver streaks. But with his darker completion, it only added to his already handsome appearance.
Lewis had instantly liked this man the first time they had met. Several months ago, in the same slow elevator. "Think you'll do it?"
Danny shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea. But, I told him I would listen to the pitch. How's your wife, Arla?"
Lewis smiled at the mention of her. "Girlfriend. She's good. Thank you."
Danny crossed his arms. "She's the one you were here with last month, right?"
"Yeah. We stayed a few days."
"She has a funny accent. What is that?"
"German."
"Really, not, Norwegian?"
"Just ask me, Danny."
"What?"
"Norwegian. Help me out. That means you think that she's from…"
"Norway." Danny planted his feet and took a deep breath. "And I tell you what else I think."
Lewis grinned, "What's that?"
"I think you work for Pete Tyler."
Lewis sighed and pressed the "Stop Elevator" button.
"Well, don't do that! It takes 20 minutes to get this old thing to warm back up!"
"Pete Tyler, huh? Why do you think that?"
"I know he has an apartment in this building. No one knows which one it is. I'm willing to bet it's next door to the one I'm staying in."
"Why Norway?"
"It's all over the news this protesting with the Tyler Organization closing down that beach in Norway."
"You're watching the news?"
"Well…no, just that part-"
"Danny. Do not watch the news."
"I was catching the weather."
"Get an app for your phone."
"With the damn phone again, will you with the elevator!-" Danny playfully smacked Lewis's hand.
Lewis released the button and the elevator started to move again. "Pete Tyler, huh? What do you want to bet?"
"Oh, hell. I have no idea. But, tell me I'm wrong!"
The elevator dinged as they finally reached the ground floor.
"Need a ride to your meeting?" Lewis asked.
"I would pay double," Danny said.
Lewis and Danny nearly ran through the lobby to the street. The cold wind reminded Danny about his forgotten coat. The rain was already changing over to ice.
Lewis opened the door of the limo for Danny.
Danny was stunned, "You're joking."
"My coat is in there. Use it."
Danny climbed into the limo, "This is only helping my theory, man."
"Good luck with your interview," Lewis told him and closed the door. He then stepped to the front window to explain the change of plans to the driver.
Lewis watched the limo pull away and inhaled the cold air deeply into his lungs. When he exhaled, the mist from his breath created smoke. He pulled his neck back and looked at it in surprise.
Holding his breath, he didn't see it.
He began to breathe and stopped when he saw the smoke again.
"Strange place." He grumbled as walked back into the warmth of the lobby.
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