HER ONLY EXCEPTION

Chapter 6- TRAPPED TOGETHER

By Friday evening, Andrea felt like her brain had been scraped clean. For four straight days she'd been buried under spreadsheets, reports and acquisition files, trying to understand the Hillcrest project with almost no guidance from Harrington. Every time she thought she was finally making progress, another document appeared in her inbox and sent her back to square one.

And through it all, she'd been avoiding Henry. She made sure to take the stairs instead of the elevator, leave her desk when he walked by and keep her head down in meetings to avoid his gaze. Now it was past six on Friday, most of the department had already gone home. Andrea shut down her computer, grabbed her bag and headed toward the elevators. All she wanted was a hot shower and a full night's sleep.

Andrea pressed the button, her mind already on her apartment and a hot shower, her bed. The doors opened and Henry was inside. She immediately regretted every life decision that had brought her to this moment.

Their eyes met and for a moment neither of them moved. Then one corner of Henry's mouth lifted slightly.

"That's a disappointing reaction."

Andrea blinked. "What?"

"You look like you are considering taking the stairs."

"I am."

His eyebrow rose. "Really? We're on the thirty-eighth floor."

"That’s why I have no choice but to join you."

For some reason, that almost made him smile.

Andrea immediately regretted getting into the elevator the second she stepped inside. She had been avoiding Henry for days only to clash into him here. She’d been taking the stairs lately so she wouldn’t run into him but today she was too exhausted to go down thirty floors and since it was late and everyone had already left, she thought maybe she should use the elevator today only to meet the devil she’d been running away from. The doors closed behind her, leaving them alone.

She stood in the far corner, pressed against the wall like she wanted to meld into it.. Henry didn't look at her, just stood in his navy suit with his tie loosened and top button undone. The doors slid shut and the elevator descended in silence.

"You know," he said after a moment, "most people don't act like sharing an elevator with me is a punishment."

Andrea stared at the floor numbers. "Well most people probably know you better than I do."

"Is that your way of saying you've formed an opinion already?"

"I think you've formed one of me."

His mouth twitched slightly. "Fair."

The elevator continued downward. Andrea silently prayed the ride would end before the conversation started again.

Unfortunately, the universe hated her.

The elevator jolted hard and Andrea stumbled forward. Henry's hand shot out, steadying her by the elbow. His fingers were warm through her blouse and his thumb pressed against her pulse.

"You okay?"

"Yeah." She jerked her hand away quickly.

The elevator shuddered and stopped completely. The lights flickered, then went dark except for dim emergency lighting casting shadows across their faces. "What just happened?" Andrea whispered, her heart racing.

Henry reached for the emergency button and pressed it twice, but nothing happened. He pulled out his phone but there was no signal. "I think there’s building maintenance on the electrical systems," he said calmly. "Probably knocked something out."

Andrea checked her phone and of course there was no signal either. Henry's phone showed one bar briefly and he sent a quick message to security before it disappeared. " I just sent security a message, they'll get us out but it’s going to take a while."

Andrea leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. "This is literally the last thing I need right now."

"Are you done with the Hillcrest analysis?"

Her eyes snapped open shooting daggers. "Are you seriously asking me about work right now?"

"We're stuck in an elevator. What else are we going to talk about?"

"Maybe nothing, maybe we could just stand here in silence like normal people."

Henry tilted his head. "You don't like me much, do you?"

Andrea laughed. "What gave it away?"

"You're always tense around me."

"Well, you're always a jerk to me." she countered

"Fair enough. But you weren't nice to me on your first day either."

Her cheeks flushed. "I…uh…I didn't know who you were."

"Would it have mattered if you did?"

"Yes. She hesitated for a moment “ I mean… Maybe."

Henry pushed off the wall and took a step toward her. "What are you doing?" Andrea straightened immediately.

"You didn't answer my question. Are you done with the Hillcrest analysis?"

"Almost."

"Almost isn't finished. New girl"

“Yeah, I know that I'm still working on it”

He took another step and the elevator suddenly felt much smaller. "You've been working late every night this week."

"How would you know that?"

"I notice things."

"Oh, that's not creepy at all."

Henry moved closer again and his cologne filled the small space between them. "You're dedicated and I like that." He whispered flirtatiously

"I don't care what you like."

"Don't you?"

Andrea's breath hitched, she tried to take a step back but realized the wall was behind her.There was nowhere else to go.

"You've been avoiding me," he said quietly.

"What no, I… you've not been around either."

"True." Henry's gaze dropped briefly to her boobs and he passed his thumb against his lips seductively "...want to know why?"

"Not really.” She felt uncomfortable

He leaned in slightly. "Because I don't trust myself around you."

Andrea swallowed hard. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Henry leaned in slightly, "that I want you."

Her irritation was mixed with a flutter "Mr. Moore…"

"You've been driving me crazy all week." His hand moved to the wall beside her head, caging her in. "...looking at me like you want to slap me and kiss me at the same time."

"Um…that's not true,"

"Yes, it is."

His other hand moved to her waist and dragged her in. Andrea gasped. The touch was firm and possessive. His palm pressed against her hip through the fabric of her skirt.

And that's when reality crashed back in for Andrea. She immediately shoved him hard. Before he could recover, her hand cracked across his cheek and the sound echoed in the small space.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Andrea demanded, her voice shaking with fury. "Do I look like one of your playthings?"

Henry turned back to her slowly. His cheek was red from where she'd hit him, but his expression wasn't angry. It was satisfied.

"Don't ever think," Andrea continued, her voice rising, "that because you're the CEO, you can touch me whenever you want. I'm not one of those women."

Henry's eyes went cold. "Careful."

"Careful?" Andrea let out a bitter laugh. "You put your hands on me without permission and you're telling me to be careful?"

"You didn't stop me," he said.

"I was in shock!"

"No, you were considering it."

"Huh…you're delusional."

Henry's expression shifted to something dangerous. "Am I? Let me tell you something, you’re not any special, women like you throw themselves at me every single day."

Andrea crossed her arms. "Good for you."

"I'm a billionaire, Henry continued his tone, bold and matter of fact “...handsome and powerful," He stepped closer. "What woman wouldn't want someone like me?"

"Are you actually serious?"

"I could have anyone I want but I'm choosing you. You should be flattered."

"Flattered?" Andrea's voice rose. “You think I should be flattered because you cornered me in an elevator and put your hands on me?"

"I think," Henry said slowly, "that you're lying to yourself about what you want."

"What I want…" Andrea said through gritted teeth, "is for you to stay the hell away from me."

Henry's mouth curved into a cold smile. "You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do."

"Don't tell me you don't feel this, The s****l tension is there, don't deny it."

"There is no tension!" she snapped. "There's just you being an arrogant asshole who thinks his money makes him irresistible!"

Henry’s smile widened "My money, my looks, my power, my connections. All of it?" He tilted his head. "Most women would kill to be in your position."

"Then go find one of them because I want nothing to do with you."

"You're very stubborn."

"And you're delusional if you think wealth substitutes for being a decent human being."

Henry's expression darkened. "Watch yourself."

"Or what? You’ll fire me? I'd rather be unemployed than work for someone who thinks he can buy people."

"I don't buy people because I don't have to. They come willingly."

"Well, I won't." she said, her voice firm. "I don't care how rich you are. I'd rather be alone. I'd rather be with a blind man than someone as arrogant and controlling as you."

Henry stepped closer and tried to touch her but she shoved him back again. "Don't touch me and don't come near me." His face suddenly went cold and professional. "You have two weeks to finish the Hillcrest deal. If you don't, you're gone. Understood?"

"Understood."

The elevator jolted and started moving again. Neither spoke as the numbers counted down and the tension between them was suffocating. When the doors finally opened, Andrea walked out without looking back, her legs shaking and her hand still stinging from the slap. She made it halfway across the lobby before her knees almost gave out.

Behind her, Henry stood in the elevator doorway watching her walk away. His hand came up slowly and touched his cheek where she'd hit him. Still warm. And then, despite everything, a small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth because he was obsessed, and her fire just made him want her more.

“You think you can resist me, Andrea Collins?

We'll see about that.”