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“It’s freezing outside.”
“So?”
“The building is set to lower the heating by midnight and will only turn it up at six in the morning. Got to love an energy efficient building.”
He saw her face go pale as she looked out of the window once more.
“It’s close to nine now. We’ve got a couple of hours to get food and find some blankets before it gets cold.”
“You’re joking. This can’t be happening.” She sounded incredulous.
“You didn’t know?” he asked. “It was the way to cut the costs of the building. If no one is here why have it fully heated?”
“Because of this. Ugh, this is not my night.”
“At least you’re not alone. You’ve got me.”
She glared at him. “I don’t consider that a good thing.”
He chuckled. “Believe me. I know. At least we can work together. I mean, I know you’re always a lot slower than me but don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.”
She brushed past him. “I don’t need a man to take care of me and I certainly don’t need you.”
He watched her go.
If she thought for a second he was going to let her get away, she was mistaken.
He’d seen the warning text the moment it came in. He was aware of the danger they were in but he knew together they’d survive. He wondered how long they were going to remain trapped inside their office building.
Chapter 3
Delaney figured if she was stuck at work then she would do just that … work. She had a fresh cup of coffee sitting beside her on her desk, her computer booted up, and reports on the screen. She kept herself busy as she listened to holiday music, something she normally didn’t care about, but that might help in getting her in the holiday spirit. It might cheer up her sour mood.
Unlikely, but whatever.
She was tired, had already been here longer than she wanted to be, and it appeared she wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.
In the last hour the snow had started coming down even faster and harder. It was beautiful outside, but there was no way she’d be getting home tonight, not until the roads and sidewalks were cleared off, and they came and de-iced the front door enough to open it.
And the fact the heat lowered at midnight was just the cherry on top of the shitty sundae.
Leaning back and resting her head on the chair, she closed her eyes. She could fall asleep like this; just forget the fact she was locked in with Ivan. And as much as she hated that, she also kind of loved it.
After they let their manager know the situation once again on the landline, since their cells were shit at the moment, Delaney had checked out hotels within walking distance, even if it would have been hard as hell to get out the front door. There were none that had vacancies, and if they did they were far out of her price range.
She wasn’t about to spend—nor could she afford—five hundred a night at some ritzy hotel, even if the heat all but kicked off at midnight.
Hell, it couldn’t be that bad.
She did have a change of clothes in her desk drawer, something she always kept in case of coffee spills or any other wardrobe malfunctions. But a pair of dress slacks, another silk blouse, and some pumps certainly wouldn’t keep her warm.
A knock on her door had her opening her eyes and looking at Ivan. Instantly her eyes narrowed and annoyance set in. He leaned against the doorframe, two blankets in hand. The smirk he gave her was satisfied, and of course arrogant.
“Found these in the utility closet.” He held up the blankets. “Figure it will keep us warm enough.”
She was tempted to ask him why he didn’t shell out the money for a hotel room, or at the very least call someone to get the door fully opened and the sidewalk cleared off. It wasn’t like he didn’t have the funds. She had to assume he was staying here because of her, because he was trying to prove a point.
“You know, I could set us up at the Ritz Hampton and get us a room?”
It was like he read her mind, his smirk still in place, slowly growing into a full-on grin. She didn’t bother telling him, or at the very least reminding him, that it would be nearly impossible to leave the building let alone walk to the hotel.
But it seemed as if he were messing with her if the smirk on his face was anything to go by.
Damn him. That just pissed her off even more.
Call her stubborn, but she’d rather freeze to death than take him up on his offer, especially since he was grinning at her like he knew she would have agreed under any other circumstances.
