“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kyle muttered, jabbing at the elevator buttons again. The lights flickered, and the car shuddered to a halt between floors. He turned to the woman beside him, who was already pulling out her phone. “No service. Of course.”

Dana sighed, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. She was dressed in a fitted blazer and pencil skirt, her heels clicking softly as she shifted her weight. Her sharp green eyes scanned the panel, her lips pursed in frustration. Kyle, in his rumpled button-down and loosened tie, looked like he’d been running late even before this.

“Maintenance should’ve fixed this last week,” Dana said, crossing her arms. “I swear, if I miss this meeting—” Her phone buzzed suddenly, and she glanced at the screen. Her expression shifted, something unreadable flickering across her face. Kyle raised an eyebrow. “What?” She hesitated, then held up the phone. “You’re not going to believe this.”