Chapter 13
When the VIP elevator broke down, Yvonne’s first reaction was to check the time. This incident was going to delay the signing of the document yet again.
Unlike her, Shirley was clearly terrified. She started banging on the elevator doors, screaming, “No! I don’t want to be stuck in here! I’ll die if the elevator free falls and crashes!”
The elevator doors clanged sharply as she kicked it repeatedly.
Frowning, Yvonne pulled Shirley aside and snapped, “Don’t you have any basic knowledge about safety procedures in a crisis? When you’re stuck in an elevator, you need to stay calm and wait. The elevator is even more likely to crash if you kick the doors. Now stand still.”
She pressed the emergency call button in the elevator.
Shirley wanted to retort, but she was too afraid to.
Once the emergency intercom was connected, Shirley immediately took her anger out on the staff and demanded, “Is this how you people do your jobs? How is it possible that the VIP elevator has broken down? Hurry up and get someone to rescue me.”
“I’m so sorry. According to the system, the elevator can’t be operated right now. We’re arranging for someone to inspect the situation right away.”
After hearing the security team’s response, Yvonne thought of something. “During the routine maintenance last month, the technician mentioned there was an issue with the elevator system and requested an upgrade. Has it not been updated yet?”
“We know the system needs to be updated, but the paperwork hasn’t gone through yet, so we haven’t been able to get the work done. Who would’ve thought that the elevator would actually end up breaking down?”
Tuming to Shirley, Yvonne asked puzzledly, “Haven’t you completed the paperwork yet?”
“What does that have to do with me? That’s probably Mr. Manning’s job,” Shirley shot back at once.
She didn’t even hesitate to throw the blame onto someone else.
“Mr. Manning has other work to attend to. You’re the one who should be in charge of such small matters involving the company’s intemal operations,” Yvonne reminded curtly. “I left a list of pending tasks at the secretarial department. Didn’t you check the list and get the work done?”
When Shirley first arrived at the secretarial department, it had been Yvonne’s responsibility to mentor her. Technically speaking, Shirley’s ability to do the job had nothing to do with Yvonne.
That being said, the fact that Shirley’s failure to carry out her duties had caused Yvonne to get stuck in the elevator certainly was an issue.
Yvonne’s questioning made Shirley’s expression turn nasty.
“I only just started working as a secretary. It’s perfectly normal that I haven’t adjusted to the workload yet. Even Mr. Ford has never picked on me like that.”
Yvonne didn’t want to waste any more of her breath on Shirley.
“Get in touch with the maintenance department right away. Tell them to fix this,” Yvonne instructed over the intercom.
“Yes, Ms. Jamison,” the security guard replied.
The respectful tone he used reminded Shirley of something. She stared sharply at Yvonne and said, “You’ve been dropping by the president’s office a lot the last two days. Don’t tell me it’s because you want to return to the secretarial department, Yvonne.”
Yvonne merely glanced at Shirley without responding, but Shirley’s imagination ran wild.
Her expression grew desperate as she declared, “Mr. Ford says I’m doing an excellent job! I’ll definitely be a huge help to him in the future. Since you want to further your career in the projects department, you shouldn’t divide your attention between anything else.”
Since they were alone in the elevator, Shirley didn’t bother hiding her jealousy.
“And you should be fulfilling your basic responsibilities as a secretary first,” Yvonne pointed out curtly.
All of a sudden, the light went out in the elevator. Immediately, Shirley started shrieking. Stepping back in panic, she even sprained her leg.
Sobbing, she cried out, “I don’t want to die…”
Yvonne held her breath and pressed her back against the wall of the elevator, holding the railing tightly with both aims.
Just then, a voice rang out from the emergency intercom in the elevator.
“Yvonne! Are you guys alright?” Jared asked anxiously. “The maintenance department is doing a system upgrade, so they can’t open the elevator. The firefighters are here. They’ll save you soon.
“Mr. Ford, I’m scared of the dark… and my leg hurts!” Shirley whined tearfully.
“Don’t be scared, Shirley,” Jared replied as he wondered why Yvonne didn’t respond to him.
Meanwhile, the firefighters got to work. The elevator was stuck between floors. Once they managed to pull the elevator doors open ever so slightly, light flooded in, and Shirley rushed forward at once.
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Chapter 13
“Hurry up and save me,” she screamed. “I’m claustrophobic! I can barely breathe right now!”
Thanks to her sudden movements, the elevator, which was already unstable to begin with, started swaying. The firefighters immediately tried to stop her.
