Page 22 of Stitched Up in You
“Bingo,” I say, the moment the wall moves enough to read the elevator number, and I input it into a search bar tied to his system to change the access code. I work quickly to change it, forcing the doors to close before he can move to step into it.
I spin myself in the chair, tossing my arms above my head. “You kidnapped the wrong one,” I squeal, letting out a cackle like the wicked bitch I am, and settle in to wait.
Across the screen I watch his big muscles bunch in his suit as he jams at the buttons over and over on the panel. I get up from my seat, dancing around the room with happiness. I bend my knees and twerk, coming to a stop when the phone on the table rings. Oh boy oh boy. Just like I said.
I answer the phone. “Bernie’s Mule Farm head jackass speaking?”
“Miss Crenshaw, any idea why the elevator isn’t working?” Frank asks, his tone light.
“Hmm, I mean, it could have something to do with the fact that I changed the code,” I answer. I start to laugh, the sound deep as my shoulders shake, and the line goes silent. “Hello?”
I turn the chair back around and my heart stops.
“What the fuck?”
The elevator doors slide open and I get a short glimpse of Frank’s broad back as he moves to get on.
Shit.
My fingers are a blur in motion as I fight to keep him from getting up here. I expected him to take the stairs once I made theelevator useless. Only it’s not useless, because the doors are now closing, allowing him and his men to climb aboard and make their way easily up here.
Fuck.
Mikael had let slip that it’s the only private elevator and the only elevator that can reach the penthouse. A crazy security measure, but one that works to my advantage, or would if changing the code to the elevator had actually worked.
How did he do that…
He must have a bypass code. Shit, that’s what I would have done too.
Ugh. It would have been so perfect to make them all run the stairs. I wonder where they even are, and Talbot is definitely not up to building code if they don’t have one. My mind fixates on useless information as I find the controls to the elevator and try to take back control.
A few keystrokes later and a satisfied chuckle passes between my lips. “Let’s see you use the elevator when it doesn’t have power big guy.”
I snort to myself, watching the lights inside the elevator, waiting on them to go dark, but my brows come together when they barely flicker in response to my commands.
“What the actual fuck?” I say to no one in particular. How is this possible?
Shaking my head at how there’s probably no way I’m not going to see a jail cell after tonight, negotiations definitely did not go as planned, but I think I can cut the power to the building.
I leap to my feet and begin shutting down the whole building. Night night, Talbot Global. Once the power goes out, the generators should kick on automatically, giving me just enough time to escape.
I very seriously doubt Frank Stein tells the news about how he had me kidnapped and forced me to work for him a few days, which should keep him from telling the cops about me.
Of course, if the cops do show up, I could just claim I shut down the building to escape?
I shrug. Either way Frank loses, which is good with me, bummer about the building though.
But I wince at how the whole place is about to be left in the dark, the many restaurants, the gym, people are going to be upset.
It shouldn't take that long to get the power back.
“Sorry my dudes,” I mumble under my breath, plunging the whole building into darkness.
I get to my feet, stumbling from the massive chair to press my face to the glass. Years ago, Talbot Global had a water fountain put in out front, with a lightshow attached that never ceases to dazzle the New Yorkers and everyone else on vacation.
I relax against the glass wall, relief coursing through me when I find it unmoving, its lights out—distinguished and quiet.
“Yes! Aha! Take that, Frank Stein!” I shout.
