Chapter 4 Menu After work in the afternoon , almost everyone in the office was gone . Latrina stood by the window , watching Eduardo downstairs holding flowers and waiting . She couldn't help but snort softly . Eduardo was the deputy party secretary in the municipal government . That was a title his father had pulled strings to secure , though it was little more than an empty honor . His father , owner of Denver's largest car dealership , had never approved of his relationship with Latrina . He much preferred Sonya's family background . Sonya's parents were government officials , and a marriage between the two families could directly link the Gillespie family's transportation business to government projects . So Sonya was sure she could win Eduardo over in the end . However , since Eduardo was still Latrina's boyfriend , their romance was hidden in secrecy . Latrina stood at the elevator , answering Eduardo's call through her earphones . She scrolled through a comic on her iPad , her face twisted in disgust , but her voice oozed sickly sweetness as she faked adoration , " Okay , honey , you head over first . I'll be there soon - I'll be on time , don't worry . " She didn't notice the elevator doors had already slid open . Kelvin was holding them ajar with a hand , keeping them from closing . Her over - the - top , fake flirtation drew a faint smile from Gerhart , who stood inside the elevator . Kelvin didn't dare to laugh and turned his face away . " Yeah , you know my boss , a total vampire , working us to the bone ... " She was about to go on , but when she glanced up , her eyes locked with Gerhart's darkening expression . She also caught Kelvin's deer - in - headlights look . Panic shot through her , and she fumbled to end the call . " Mr. Crowley ... " He grunted in reply . Somehow , she thought she spotted the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips . " Get in ! " Kelvin hissed , shooting her pointed , urgent looks . Latrina forced a smile , stepped inside , and stood rigidly by the elevator wall . An awkward silence descended over the three of them . That was how much trouble one careless sentence could stir up . " Ms. Glover , are you off to a date ? " Gerhart asked . " Not exactly , " Latrina blurted out . " Just taking a ' friend ' to the crematorium . " " Need a hand ? " He didn't sound the least bit surprised . " Not for now , " she said , forcing another smile . Kelvin , catching what she really meant , stifled a cough , Latrina's twisted romance with Eduardo was hardly a secret between the three of them . The elevator stopped at the 18th floor , home to the Publicity Department , and suddenly seven or eight people piled in . Kelvin and Latrina quickly stepped back to make room . " Hi , Mr. Crowley ! " they chorused , sounding perfectly at ease . Gerhart only nodded slightly . 13:11 WebNovel 1.8 % < Chapter 4 Menu The Publicity Department crew was notoriously outgoing , always joking and chatting . Even in the cramped elevator , they kept the conversation flowing nonstop . " Move over a bit . No room here ! " someone called out , and the elevator grew even more crowded . Just then , Latrina felt a firm , sudden grip around her waist . Warmth seeped through her thin shirt as she was tugged to Gerhart's side . Her foundation dusted lightly against his black suit , leaving a faint smudge . But he released her just as quickly . In an instant , her face burned like a furnace . When the elevator reached the first floor , the Publicity Department team filed out in a rush , their voices trailing behind them . " Did you see that ? The hickey on Mr. Crowley's neck ! " " I heard Mr. Crowley had breakfast with someone this morning . I have no idea who it was , but that love bite ? Definitely from a woman ! " Latrina thought , " Ugh , the Publicity Department really lives up to its name , spreading gossip like wildfire ! " At that moment , she wanted to slip out with them , but when she saw Eduardo still waiting by the door , she quickly shrank back to the side . Gerhart's gaze flickered to her , his expression giving nothing away . " Are you going out ? " Kelvin asked , smiling . Latrina was certain he knew exactly what was going on . If she left now , she'd meet that jerk Eduardo . But if she stayed , should she tag along with them ? She'd already ridden in Gerhart's car once today . Sneaking out in it again would be too conspicuous . " I left something upstairs . You guys go on ahead . I'll head back up in a minute . " Latrina lied , forcing a casual tone . It dragged on even this one - floor ride felt endless , like a knife at her throat , ready to end her at any moment . When the elevator reached BL , they stepped out , and Latrina finally sighed in relief . Stuck between leaving and staying , she eventually trudged back to her desk to bury herself in sketching . On the 28th floor of the Crowley Building . Latrina let out a long , relieved breath . She wandered back to the windowsill , gazing out at the scattered lights below . Then she settled back at her desk , turned on some soft music , and immersed herself in sketching . She had no idea how much time had passed before Eduardo called her again . She ignored it and turned off her phone . Then fetched a cup of coffee from the break room and dove back into her work . She thought , " Just you wait . I'll make you pay for it , bastard ! " At 10:30 p.m. , Latrina gave a satisfied smile , admiring the finished sketch . She shut her laptop , stretched lazily , slung her bag over her shoulder , and headed for the elevator . To her surprise , both elevator indicator lights were dark . Frowning , she unlocked her phone and checked the department group chat : " Elevator maintenance in progress . It will resume operation at 8 a.m. tomorrow . " She murmured , " You've got to be kidding . Does it mean I have to trek down 28 flights of stairs ? " She snapped a photo of the dark elevators , opened Instagram , and posted it with the caption , " Trapped . Anyone coming to rescue me ... " Then , with a heavy sigh , she dragged her feet toward the dim , eerie fire escape . 1311 WebNovel ATS THRE BODY DEDELEMY 1.8 % Open > < Chapter 4 She sighed , gathered her courage , and walked downstairs . Menu She'd barely taken two steps when her phone suddenly rang . Startled , she yelled and dropped it into the middle of the stairwell , not even glancing at the caller ID . The ringtone echoed briefly through the concrete steps before cutting off . Instantly , darkness swallowed the space , leaving only the faint sound of her ragged breathing . Latrina groped around for the phone , but its screen was pitch - black . Probably , it was broken from the fall . She thought , " Damn ! Why am I so unlucky ? " She mashed the power button repeatedly , hoping it could spring back to life . But the screen stayed dark . Upstairs , though , a sensor light flickered on . Just then , a sharp , rhythmic sound echoed down the stairs . She heard the sound made by leather shoes and the soft huff of someone breathing . " Who's there ? Latrina shrank back into the corner , sweat beading on her forehead . The footsteps stopped . A tall figure loomed on the step above , backlit by the dim sensor light , his silhouette sharp but his expression hidden in shadow . " Don't you recognize me , your ' vampire boss ' ? " She realized it was Gerhart . Mr. Crowley ? W - why are you still here ? " Latrina's voice trembled , her body rigid with fear . " Vampires tend to be busy at night , don't they ? " His voice carried a hint of that teasing lilt , as if she could see the smirk playing at his lips . Latrina fell silent , thinking , " So he remembered my offhand comment . This man is quite unforgiving . " Still , she relaxed slightly . At least he wasn't some stranger lurking in the dark . Though truth be told , he didn't exactly feel like a " good gentleman " either . " Come up with me , " he said . " I'm going home , " she mumbled . She suddenly found him more intimidating than any shadowy stairwell . Gerhart let out a faint , almost imperceptible huff through his nose . " The first floor's locked . You wouldn't get out , " he said flatly . He paused , then added , " Elevator repairs usually take an hour or two . If you don't mind , come up for a coffee . She thought , Can I say I do mind ? " But it didn't seem like she had a choice . Gerhart didn't wait for her answer , just turned and started climbing back up . Latrina glanced at the pitch - black void of the stairs below , then reluctantly followed . Even the fire escape on the 30th floor had access control .