Ella

"It's okay," Josh said, his voice calm. "The auxiliary lights will come on within twenty seconds. You don't have to worry."

"It's not the lights I'm worried about," I said, breathless, both my hands reaching out to find the wall. "It's the elevator falling." I found him instead, my hands gripping onto one of his biceps, which even to my terrified mind felt impressive. "Oh, sorry," I said and pulled my hands away, searching for the wall. "I wanted to hold onto the railing."

"No problem," he said, his voice amused in the darkness. "Always happy to help a damsel in distress. And the elevator wouldn't likely fall. If anything, it'd probably go up and hit the roof."

Of course, that sent my heart rate racing. "Thanks for those words of encouragement."

"Any time," he said softly and I could almost see his smile in the darkness.

I found the railing and held on, my eyes shut tightly. If it was pitch black, I didn't want to know it. Somehow, with my eyes closed, I could pretend it was just dark because they were shut and not because I was in a stalled elevator somewhere above the tenth floor.

It seemed like an eternity but was probably more like ten seconds before the lights did click on. Secondary lights, not as bright as the usual overhead lights. I kept hold of the railing but turned my head to meet his eyes, needing to see that he, at least, was calm.

"Power must have gone out. It happens sometimes. This building's old and being renovated," he said quickly, like he was trying to calm me. "Just internal offices being refinished. Drywall. Electrical. That sort of thing."

"This has happened before?"

He nodded, and bit his bottom lip. "Hate to tell you, but several times, in fact."

"Great," I said. "I have to take it at least four times a day, five days a week."

"So, this is your first day?"

I nodded, glad to be distracted for a moment, but I didn't want to tell him too much.

"Cool," he replied. "We're neighbors."

"Yes," I said, my throat dry. I swallowed, trying to moisten my tongue, which felt like cotton. "It's only my third day in New York, in fact. I'm from New Hampshire."

"You're having a really great intro to Manhattan. Almost killed by a cyclist. Robbed in Grand Central. Caught in an elevator with the power out." He shook his head. "I officially apologize for my city."

"Thank you, but I've wanted to live here all my life," I replied, my voice wavering. "But I really am having a great day. I have no money and no ID. And I may be homeless, if I can't get someone to accept a wire transfer for me."

He frowned. "You really have no money? No ID?"

"Yeah, someone stole my fantastic custom-made and designed backpack with slots for everything. There was a GoFundMe campaign by the creators, and I was one of the early adopters. It had a slot for a laptop, a tablet, an iPhone, your passport, a built-in wallet, places for pens and notebooks... There was even a built-in battery charger so like a fool, I put everything inside."

"Jesus. I saw those advertised on the internet. I was almost going to buy one for myself."

"They're great, but it had everything I owned of value in it. Wallet. ID. Computer. Even my cashier's check for my first and last month's rent for my new apartment."

"Crap. Do you have any friends in town who can help? Any family? Business associates?"

I sighed and ticked off imaginary numbers on my fingers. "Nope. Nope. Nope."

"Damn," he said in a low voice. "Sorry," he added. "That's really rough. Manhattan is great, but it can be a hard place to live."

"I'm going to my first meeting with my new boss and I'm going to have to ask her if she'll accept a bank transfer for me. I won't be able to eat or pay for my new apartment otherwise. The police officer who interviewed me said he didn't think I was the type to do well dumpster-diving and sleeping under the Brooklyn Bridge."

He laughed. "I would have to agree. You most definitely wouldn't do well living on the streets."

I laughed in return and then, when the moment passed, I exhaled heavily. "Maybe the local soup kitchen has room in the lineup."

He watched me for a moment and then he crossed his arms. "I can front you some cash until you can get your ID."

"You?" I glanced at him to see if he was serious. "That's so nice of you to offer, but I don't want to impose on a stranger. Especially a stranger I almost sent to the ER yesterday."

"I hate to see you ask your new boss to accept the money transfer on your first day. You should be doing everything you can to be seen as competent and capable."

"And being robbed in Grand Central Station would signal that I'm not?"

He shrugged, grinning. Then he grew serious. "It would just mean you were her problem instead of the solution to her problem."

I glanced at my Fitbit, which told me I had exactly three minutes to make my meeting.

"Oh, damn," I said. "Speaking of my boss, I'm supposed to be meeting her in three minutes."

He removed a cell from a pocket over the bicep of his riding suit sleeve. "Be my guest."

"Thanks," I replied, then I opened up a browser window and signed into my Gmail account. Then, I sent her an email.

Sharon – it's me, Ella. Just a quick note to let you know that I'm currently stuck on the elevator somewhere between the tenth and twelfth floor. I know you have a meeting so just in case they don't get us out before then, you'll have to go by yourself. So sorry!

Luckily, she got it right away and sent me a response.

No problem. That damn elevator. I'll be glad when they get the other one working. Good luck. It took two hours the last time someone got stuck. See you as soon as you get here. If I'm in the meeting, just have Tate show you in.

I handed the cell back to him and sighed. "She said it might take two hours to get us out."

"That sounds about right."

I closed my eyes. "Two hours in this elevator... I hate elevators."

"You're really very safe. Safer than driving in a car. Or a bike." He grinned.

I sighed. "Well, there's nothing I can do. I'm going to miss my first meeting with my boss on my first day of work. What else can go wrong?"

"Shh," he said. "Don't tempt the gods." He shook his head, his gaze moving over me. "You look like you need a drink."

I laughed, but the idea of a glass of beer sounded really good to me. "I need something, that's for sure."

"When you're finished today, I'll take you for a drink and meal at Frank's Pub down the street. They have great food. Call me when you're done for the day."

"I don't have a cell."

He nodded. "I have a burner if you want to use it. "

"I couldn't impose on you."

"No seriously. You can use it until you get your money transfer and a new cell."

I stared at him, shocked that he was being so generous.

"That's really nice of you, but you don't have to," I said, a surge of gratitude going through me. He was gorgeous, and he was nice. And he was asking me to go out with him. That was a date, right? Or, at least, a sympathy invite.

"I know I don't have to, but I want to. I have a weakness for damsels in distress. They bring out the hero in me." He grinned, giving me a brilliant smile.

"I wouldn't want to deny a man the chance to be a hero," I said. "How could I resist?"

"Resistance is futile."

Just then, the elevator jerked back into action and we ascended past the twelfth floor.

"Oh, thank God," I said and closed my eyes. "I might just make that meeting after all."

"Thank the elevator gods," he said with a chuckle. "Usually, this takes a lot longer. You're blessed."

"I am." I smiled at him, feeling like I just might make it through the day after all.

"I'm serious about the cell and that drink and meal. Considering you lost all your earthly goods, it's the least I can do."

"It might take a couple of days to pay you back."

He shrugged. "When you get some money, I want that pencil. I must have that pencil!"

I smiled and held it up. "It's yours – once I get some money."

"Look. Come up to the apartment and I'll give you the cell."

"Okay," I said finally and only because I really needed a cell phone.

We went up to the top floor of the building. We left the elevator and there was only one apartment on the floor. Josh opened the door and pointed inside.

"Come on in," he said. "I'll get you that cell."

"Holy cow, is this your apartment?"

"No," he said and waved a hand. "The company owns it. I just have access because I know the owner of the company."

We went inside and I stood in awe. The apartment was amazing. Floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, looking out onto the Manhattan skyline. High-end furniture and decorations. It was worth millions, even to my unsophisticated eye for real estate.

I watched as he went to a drawer in the most amazing kitchen I had ever seen in my life – huge, with chef-level appliances. Now, my father had a great income from his position as a governor and the business he owned before he went into politics, but this – this was wealth above and beyond anything I had ever seen up close.

"Aren't you intimidated being in this place?" I said, walking around, running my hand over the marble fireplace hearth. I stood at the window and looked out over the city. "It's fantastic."

"The view is good," he said. He came over to where I stood and handed me an iPhone.

"This is a burner phone?"

"Not really, but it's an old model. It's been factory reset and I put a new SIM card inside so it should work. You can use it until you replace the one that was stolen. The phone number's in the contacts under This Phone. I put my contact info in as well so you can text me when you're ready to go for that drink and dinner."

"Thanks," I said and held it up appreciatively. "This is a godsend. I can phone my landlord and get back into my apartment. At least I won't be homeless until Monday night."

"Seriously," he said and looked at me from under a frown. "I know it's crazy, and I just met you, but if you need money, I could probably help you out." He went to the kitchen once more and opened a leather wallet. "I have a couple hundred that should keep you afloat until Monday."

He came over to me and held out a couple of hundred-dollar bills.

I glanced at the money, not sure if I should take it but he pushed the money into my hands.

"You actually carry that much money around?"

He shrugged. "I went to the bank today to get money out for the week. If you can't get a cashier's check by Monday, I can front the rest to you. Worse comes to worst? You can stay here. I'll okay it with the owner first, of course," he said. "I'm sure he'd be pleased to think he was helping you out."

"My rent is five thousand dollars."

"I could probably get that together."

"You have five thousand dollars just lying around?"

He shrugged. "I have some savings, shall we say. Interest is pretty lousy these days, so I won't miss out if I don't have it in the bank for a couple of weeks until you can get things back to normal and get that bank draft."

I shook my head and looked at him, the money still in my hand. "Why are you being so nice?"

He shrugged. "Maybe I'm just a nice person?"

"I think you are," I said, and finally put the money away in my sweater pocket. "Seriously. Thank you so much."

"You can start paying me back by coming for a drink and meal after your first day at work. How does that sound?"

"It sounds perfect." I turned around one last time. "Well, I better go to my office or I'll be late for my meeting." I went to the elevator, feeling slightly better now that I had a cell and some cash.

"Hey," he said when I got inside the elevator. "Nice to meet you, Ella. Hope you're have a better rest of the day."

"Thanks, Josh," I said as the doors were closing. Through the door, I heard him shout, "Message me later. We can go to the pub down the street for supper."

"Okay," I replied, but I had no idea if he heard me.

So, Josh's boss owned the penthouse floor and let him use it to store his bike and get changed in the morning. Josh himself was willing to front me money instead of me having to ask my boss. Part of me thought the offer was too good to be true, but maybe he was just a super nice guy.

I rode down the elevator, a skip in my heart rate at the thought of how nice he was to offer financial help. It skipped a little more at the prospect of going out for a drink and food with him after work.

Hell, even just talking to him was more than I had done with a handsome man in – well, since Jerkface.

It felt nice.