Chapter 11 His Voice Makes Her Feel Safe

The umbrella blocked half of the light from the streetlamp, so Whitney couldn't see the fleeting expression on Damian's face. She only heard him say, "I have a video conference later, so I won't go up." When he saw her clothes drenched, he urged her to go upstairs quickly so that she wouldn't catch a cold. Whitney nodded. "Okay. Drive safe." She handed him the umbrella before walking toward the building. Damian watched her disappear into the elevator before turning around. He then dialed a number and put the phone to his ear. He said gently, "You know I have to make her change her mind today. I was always with you on her birthday every year. Alright, wait for me at the villa." After hanging up, he quickened his pace. A figure holding an umbrella stepped out from behind a tree. They glanced at Damian's back before walking in the opposite direction. … Inside the elevator, Whitney pressed the button for the 16th floor and spaced out. Realizing she was starting to waver, she quickly reminded herself that once a decision was made, there was no room for hesitation. Suddenly, the elevator jolted violently and stopped. Whitney froze and looked up at the panel. The number "7" appeared, but it wasn't complete. It was as if the elevator was about to reach the seventh floor but hadn't quite made it yet. She quickly pressed the emergency button, which directly connected to the property management. "Coaska Heights Management," a voice answered. "Hi, I'm the resident of H-16-1. The elevator broke down, and I'm stuck inside." The staff member on the other end immediately reassured her, telling her not to worry. They would contact the maintenance workers right away. Often, it was the maintenance workers of the neighborhood who first assessed the situation. If it was beyond their ability or if it was an emergency, they would immediately report it to the fire department. This was the first time Whitney had encountered such a situation. Adding to her anxiety was the fact that she had come across a news article about an elevator accident in another neighborhood just a few days ago. It made her so nervous that her palms had begun to sweat. She pulled out her phone and noticed she still had two bars of signal. With trembling hands, she dialed Damian's number. Whitney knew it was pointless to call him now, but she just wanted to hear his voice. Perhaps it would ease her growing anxiety. In the past, whenever something upset her, it was Damian who helped calm her down. The beeping sound continued to echo in the receiver until a mechanical female voice sounded, and the call was automatically disconnected. Right, he had mentioned having a video conference. It wasn't a good time to distract him. But in the stillness of the elevator, Whitney's anxiety only deepened. Suddenly, the overhead light flickered twice, and the elevator dropped sharply. It felt like she was weightless for a moment, and Whitney gasped. There was another loud noise as the elevator stopped its descent. As she looked up at the panel again, it showed the number "5". She collapsed to the floor. Her pale face was reflected in the elevator's mirror. She silently prayed for the maintenance workers to arrive soon. "Whitney?" A voice suddenly called her name from outside the elevator. "Yes, I'm inside." Whitney wasn't surprised the person knew her name. After all, property management could easily access the contact information of residents. "Is the situation serious? Can it be fixed? How long will it take to get me out?" she asked. The voice outside answered, "Listen carefully. The maintenance workers are on their way. For now, I need you to do exactly what I say." At this time of night, the property staff would be working, but the maintenance workers were already off-duty. Whitney had forgotten about that. "Okay, I'll follow your instructions." Even though it was a stranger, his voice somehow made her feel safe. "First, focus on your breathing. Grab the handrail tightly." Whitney stood up slowly, breathing deeply as she held onto the handrail. It seemed that the man on the other side of the door knew she had completed the first step as his voice came through again. "Now, bend your knees slightly, stand on your toes, and keep your head and back pressed against the elevator wall." Whitney followed the instructions, and she started to calm down. "Thank you, sir. I'm not scared anymore. But could you wait until the maintenance workers arrive before leaving?" Knowing someone was there made her feel less anxious. "I'll stay right outside," the voice reassured her. Minutes ticked by. To distract herself from the waiting, Whitney asked, "Sir, may I ask your name? You've helped me so much. I'll make sure to treat you to a meal." At that moment, there was a commotion outside. Someone asked if she was Ms. Spencer, the resident of the 16th floor. The maintenance workers had arrived. About ten minutes later, the elevator doors slowly opened. Whitney was freed, and a female staff member helped her out. As she walked through the crowd, she saw a familiar figure.