Chapter 708 - Leasing office space (2)

Hearing Felix's suggestion to take the elevator, Sophia stopped and answered: "Don't worry. I'm going one-by-one floor down while talking notes on the space and ideas for what it can be used. If you don't come after me by the time I'm done, I will come back here to find you."

Sophia was also interested to see this open-railed staircase between levels. Few thick cables are in the place of rails, preventing people from falling through. It has a modern and edgy look, matching the rest of the space.

"Your secretary is committed." Beverly commented when Sophia descended down the stairs. "You must have very good people skills if you managed to hire someone who will be so devoted to you and the work. I see that Sophia is completely focused on assessing the space."

"She is not my secretary." Felix responded.

Beverly smiled awkwardly. "I apologize, Mr. Martin for making assumptions. Is she your office designer?"

Felix reminded himself that Sophia wants to see the space in peace, and if he tells Beverly that Sophia is in charge, Beverly will probably go after her. So, he decided not to reveal that Sophia is the CEO.

"She is my wife." Felix went with this as a description of Sophia's role. Well, he is not lying.

"Oh! Oh. Oh…" Beverly was unable to hide her surprise mixed with disappointment and it took her some time to recover.

"It's nice that you brought your wife to see the space where you will work." She awkwardly said.

Felix smiled, revealing his two charming dimples. "Yes. Sophia is hands-on and prefers to do planning herself."

With every word they exchanged, Beverly could not prevent herself from being more attracted to Felix. "It is very generous of you to allow your wife to organize your work environment. But if I'm not mistaken, she is pregnant. Shouldn't she stay at home and rest? Don't you have anyone in your company who could do that?"

"I would not call that generous. She is more than capable, and in the company,  there is no one who would dare to say 'no' to her."

Felix didn't lie at all, but Beverly understood his words in her own way.

"Mr. Martin, that is a proof how domineering you are. No one dares to oppose her because she has your support. That is very admirable." Beverly gushed.

Felix was not sure if he should laugh or cry. Whatever he said, this woman turned it around in order to flatter him. Is she… interested in him?

He cleared his throat and glanced at the time. Even if Sophia takes only five minutes on each level, with four floors to go, that is twenty minutes! He needs to keep Beverly busy so that Sophia finishes as soon as possible, without interruptions. "Let's focus on discussing the space. You mentioned that this whole business block has connected underground parking. How is security managed?"

Beverly's eyes sparkled, happy that Felix asked a question she knows how to answer. She can show her knowledge and impress him. "Yes, yes. Each building has its own designated parking spots, but it's all connected with passages and access keys. So, if you coordinate security access with DunsyInc which is that tan building there…", she pointed through the window, "…you can get your access keys to open yours and theirs parking spaces."

"Is White corp. included in this?" Or course, Felix would like to know about White corp. Can they go there without accessing street level? That might be something that Sophia would like to know.

"They are indeed part of the large parking complex. However, they don't allow underground access to any other company. Having this access means that you can get to their elevators without going through security checks at the lobby level…"

While Felix listened to Beverly's endless chatter, Sophia visited each of the floors below and took notes. She was now on 26th floor and checked time and saw that it's almost half an hour how she left Felix with that chatty woman. Sophia's legs were achy, and she decided to take the elevator up.

Up on the 30th floor, Felix was glancing at his watch and thinking that Sophia should be back by now. He decided to give her few more minutes, and if she does come back, he will go and look for her.

Beverly was listing restaurant options in the area and hinting that it's almost lunch time when they heard a loud 'pang' sound from the direction of the elevators.

Felix and Beverly looked toward the elevators, and saw that arrow 'down' on the elevator #3 is blinking red.

Beverly paled.

"What does the red light mean?" Felix turned to Beverly who was frozen. He didn't miss her strange expression. "What is going on?"

She stumbled over her words. "Something is wrong with the elevator. That one was closed for maintenance…"

Felix narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, closed for maintenance? Shouldn't the elevator be closed off if it's under maintenance?"

Beverly's chin quivered. "It was. I removed signs thinking that it will look bad."

Felix wanted to ask her how can she think about looking good or bad if it would put people in danger. But it was not a time to give lessons. He felt that something is not right. Sophia is not with him. "Where does this elevator go?"

"From this floor down to fifteenth." Beverly mumbled.

Felix got his phone and called Sophia. He got a generic message that her phone is out of service area. He quickly checked on the GPS tracking app and saw that she is in the building, very close to him. The app does not show the elevation, so he could not tell on what floor she is, but it's obvious that she is in the building. Her phone not having a signal can be because in the confinement of the elevator cell phone signal is blocked.

Felix rushed to the door of elevator #3 and saw that it is a newer "Otis" model.

"Is there a storage room here?" He asked with urgency.

"Behind the elevators." Beverly mumbled.

Felix hurried where Beverly pointed and came back less than a minute later with a thick wire-looking-thing about thirty centimeters long. He pushed the wire on the top left side of the elevator door and within seconds, he unlocked the security mechanism and opened the elevator door with his hands.

Felix can see that the elevator is stuck but can't gauge at what level.

Few things he knows are that elevator is out of order, one cable is dangling loosely, looks like it snapped… and the elevator is NOT on fifteenth level. Considering that Sophia is in the building and her phone is out of service, his only guess is that she is inside that elevator.

"Mr. Martin!" Beverly screamed when she saw Felix jump inside elevator shaft. "Mr. Martin!!!" She rushed toward the elevator door and watched in bewilderment how Felix swiftly lowered himself down the cable using only his hands.