Arletta Jessica McDowell POV

I walked as fast as I could, so as not to run into that damn man who hugged and kissed my lips. Who the hell did he think he is? My body trembled as I hold back the feelings of annoyance, shame, and anger from the incident in the elevator. I have never been treated like that in my entire life!

Damn! All of this is because of Dad! If only he had not insisted on coming today, then I would never have met that lecherous man!

I had already walked out of Dad's office area, but after only a few steps, I looked back. There was no one there. "Where is Arlan? Is he going to meet with Dad like I heard when he got the call? He was such an asshole! I hope we never see each other again," I muttered, annoyed.

I looked away and saw that there were ten elevator doors. Five doors were on the left side and the other five were on the right side. The memory of the power failure, then the suddenly passionate kiss with Arlan, and the forced introduction came back to mind.

"I am afraid to use the elevator, but if I have to take the emergency stairs, I am too lazy."

I grumbled, unsure of which way to choose. Just as I was about to make up my mind, I heard the sound of my cell phone, and suddenly my attention was drawn to the bag I would be carrying. "Who is calling me, huh? I hope it is not Dad," I hoped.

I walked towards one elevator that differed from the one I had used earlier, while occasionally glancing around, especially backwards, towards Dad's office. It was a good thing there was not anyone around, including the strange man who hugged, even kissed my lips without permission!

The sound coming from my phone continued, but somehow, I was not ready to take it out of my bag. Was this the effect of the blackout and being stuck for a while in the elevator? Maybe so, but if I would be gone down to the lobby using the fire escape, it would have taken forever to get downstairs, and I needed to eat lunch soon, lest my heartburn flare up.

Well, I did not have another choice. I pressed the button and as luck would have it, the elevator door opened on its own and I went inside without hesitation. The same door closed again after I pressed button one. The same voice continued to be heard and then stopped.

I closed my eyes, but the damn thing just kept popping up as if it would not go away, much to my annoyance. "Why do I have to remember him, anyway? Is Arlan Dad's business partner? If he is, then this is bad for me. I do not want to see him again."

***

Thirty-seven minutes later

I sat alone in a restaurant outside my dad's office building, precisely in a corner that was a bit secluded and difficult to find because a large pillar covered it. I sipped on a strawberry milkshake while holding my phone and, one by one, sipping on the incoming messages, especially the unread ones on one of the chat apps.

I saw the screen change and a familiar name appeared: Gwen Toledo. Without thinking, as soon as possible, I answered the phone by pressing the green phone-shaped icon, so that her call could be connected immediately. Who knows, she had something important to say.

Me: "Hello, Gwen?"

My right hand picked up a piece of French fries and started to put it in my mouth, chewing slowly. Fortunately, I had a relapse of my ulcer, so I did not bother myself.

Gwen Toledo: "Where are you, Letta?"

Her voice sounded worried, surely because I had not picked up her phone call.

Me: "Why, Gwen?"

I did not answer Gwen's question directly. Somehow, the incident in the elevator came back to mind, even though I tried hard to forget it. Damn! That damn guy was really making my heart uneasy! Could I report him to the police on harassment charges? I was getting a headache myself!

Gwen Toledo: "Why are you asking questions back? Don't you know how freaked out I am?!"

Gwen's voice sounded panicked, but I just shook my head, even though she could not see what I was doing. I picked up the fries again and chewed with a feeling of unease. Arlan. Didn't that jerk give me a fake name and why did I stupidly say my full name? Shit!

Me: "I... I am having a bad time, Gwen. Give me some time to think."

I did not feel like eating. I had not finished my fries, and I had not eaten the fried chicken on the same plate at all. How could I have an appetite, when a few hours ago I had experienced an event that made two phobias relapse simultaneously? Not only that, there was a man who even kissed me and he even said that we would meet again?

Anxiety began to set in and the body trembled slightly. Damn! I hate having to experience scary things like before. Should I report this to Mom? If she found out, Mom's men could kill the man named Arlan. I did not hear Gwen's voice.

Gwen Toledo: "What has happened, Letta? Tell me."

Should I tell her what had happened? I deliberately did not answer Gwen's question, then started to look around. The jerk was not here, and everyone seemed to be busy with their own business. Many of them engaged in conversation and laughed happily. I was alone without a company and depressed.

Me: "Hm... I do not know how to tell you."

I inhaled, then exhaled and did this for several times. I did not want to have a panic attack that could rile everyone up. Calm down, Letta. Do not make a fool of yourself.

Gwen Toledo: "Did you have lunch? Should I call Sammy so he can pick you up?"

Sammy! I forgot about my boyfriend, but he did not understand what I was feeling, and we might end up fighting. No. Calling Sammy was not a good idea, at least for now.

Me: "No. It is not a good idea, Gwen. I-"

I stopped what I was saying and exhaled heavily. Sammy and I often fought over small things, and it was upsetting. I could already imagine what he would say and do if he found out about the incident in the elevator. It was all because of Dad! I regretted coming to the office, because it made the two biggest traumas in my life come to life on their own!

Gwen Toledo: "Letta, what exactly has happened to you? You have not answered my question."

Well, my chatty friend was still curious. I really did not dare to answer honestly, because I was still in a public place and vulnerable to being heard by others.

Me: "When I was going to Dad's office, I used the elevator, then something happened, so-"

***