Page 34 of One Night Billionaire

“Good night, everyone,” Brian said as the team left. “I know you’re all salary and I can’t give you tomorrow off because of the launch, but everyone gets Friday off. Thank you all for your hard work and support.”

“Me too?” Anna teased.

Brian didn’t reply. He watched as the team headed out and waited for a moment alone to talk to her. He couldn’t fix anything, he knew that, but he needed to apologize.

“Don’t.” Anna held up her palm. “I can’t do this with you, again.”

“Anna,” Brian started.

“I’m serious. Either we sleep together, or we fight, and, frankly, I’m too tired for either of those things. I’m going to pack my stuff and go home and get some rest. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

He stayed silent as she packed her computer and other things in her bag. No matter how much he wanted to press it and make her listen to his apology, he wasn’t going to push. She was right.

In less than ten minutes, and that was being generous, she had everything cleared away and was heading for the door.

“Good night, Brian,” she said.

“Good night, Anna.” Brian stood to open the door for her.

As she walked past him the building went dark.

Chapter seventeen

Annajumpedasthebuilding went dark around her. She managed to hold in her scream but that was all she had going for her.

She didn’t do well in total darkness. It was an odd fear as an adult, she admitted, but it didn’t make things better. Typically, it was never an issue because there were lights on. Now, there weren’t any.

She stood, frozen, half in and half out of the conference room with Brian right behind her. Anna couldn’t move. She couldn’t seem to get herself out of the fear enough to escape the doorway at least.

“Anna?” Brian said softly.

“Why aren’t there any lights?” she whispered.

“Looks like the power went out,” Brian said. She could tell he wanted to add that it was obvious or something, but he didn’t.

“But generators? Where are the emergency lights?” It was so dark that there was nothing for her eyes to adjust to.

“I’m not sure. There should be something, I suppose.” He seemed unbothered by the total darkness enveloping them.

Her heart was racing as she waited for the lights to come back. “There always is. There should be something.”

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Brian’s hand touched her shoulder, and she nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Hey,” he said soothingly. “It’s just me.”

“I-I know.” She did know. There was no one here but him and her and definitely no one else standing so close to her.

“You going out or staying in?” he asked, sounding a little annoyed.

Truth was, she didn’t know. She wanted to go out and down to the ground floor and to the street where there was sure to be light.

“Anna?” he asked, more annoyed now, his tone impatient.

“I can’t,” she admitted. Tears streamed down her face as the panic gripped her.

Brian didn’t respond but she could feel him near her still. She didn’t know what she would do if he walked away from her right now, she’d probably fall into a full panic attack at this point.

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