The descent of the industrial elevator felt like a slow-motion fall from grace. The mechanical groan of the rusted cables echoed through the small metal box, vibrating through the soles of Alex's shoes.
Beside him, Victoria stood as rigid as a statue. Her silk reception gown, once a shimmering symbol of high-society elegance, now looked tattered in the dim, flickering overhead light.
"I can't believe you didn't say anything," Alex bit out, his voice raw. "You could have warned her that they were monitoring Lawrence's call."
"Your problem, Alex, is that you think the entire world should revolve around her," Victoria snapped. "Some of us just want to live our lives without distractions, and you're making it impossible. Have you ever once thought about how I feel in all of this?"
