No Way Out E-Book

Angel Rupert

• Herausgeber: Bentockiz
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

He nodded, not realizing the importance of the information until later that day when he went to use it and found himself trapped in the stall. He tried to jiggle the lock, but it wouldn't budge. In a moment of panic, he remembered what others had said and quickly called for assistance. As he stepped out, relieved and embarrassed, he realized that the smallest details could have significant consequences. He made a mental note to pay attention to details in the future and to always ask for help when needed.

Leseprobe

Title Page

No Way Out

Whispers and Secrets

Angel Rupert

No Way Out / 1st of series: Whispers and Secrets / By Angel Rupert

Published 2023 by Bentockiz

e-book Imprint: Calkden Norsh

e-book Registration: Stockholm, Sweden

e-book ISBN: 9789198848601

e-book editing: Athens, Greece

Cover Images created via AI art generators

Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Introduction

Through books we come into contact with everything important that has happened in the past, analyzing also current events and putting our thoughts together to predict the future. The book is a window to the world, acquiring valuable knowledge and sparking our vivid imagination. It is a means of entertainment and is generally seen as a best friend, or as a slave that carries together all valuable information for us. The book is a friend who stays together without demands, a friend you call upon at every moment and abandon when you want.

It accompanies us in the hours of boredom and loneliness, while at the same time it entertains us. In general, a book does not ask anything from us, while it waits patiently on a dusty shelf to give us its information, to get us out of dead ends and to travel us to magical worlds.

This may be the travel mission of our books. Abstract narration, weird or unconscious thoughts difficult to be understood, but always genuine and full of life experiences, these are stories of life that can’t be overlooked easily.

This may be the start of something amazing.

Chapter One

Zach heard this rejection in the full breadth of its implications. He also heard it in its simple and compelling fairness. No one should be forced to be another’s purpose. No one should be forced to be another’s home. These were basic rights, the kind of rights one thought about and saw clearly and accepted at moments like this, accepted fully and without debate. And for the first time Zach realized just how lost he was.

Beneath him Allison took matters into her own hands—or, rather, her own body—by sliding her butt toward his groin. In a physiological affirmation of his age and libido and full trust in his partner, Zach’s penis had remained tumescent throughout their verbal exchange. It slid easily into her vagina. Released by her simple gesture, their bodies blended into their old best self that was their present and still best self, a merger that culminated in one more chance at procreation, whatever that prospect might mean to their joint or separate futures, a chance thrown forth into the recesses of her body with Zach still far above her on his locked arms.

Matt left a note in Allison’s cubby in the employee locker room asking her to meet him at the high-speed elevators at 5:10.

The maintenance guys would occasionally invite the data jockeys to ride with them to an empty upper floor for a spectacular overlook of the city. These private viewings were one of the few perks of being a lowly maintenance guy, and they doled them out judiciously in return for favors or status. That Matt was asking her probably meant that he had something planned with Mary and Ian and maybe some of the other file clerks.

But when she asked Ian about it late in the afternoon as she passed him in the mailroom, he said he knew nothing about it.

She shrugged and said, “Guess he and Mary are planning a surprise.”

“Mary left early, to go to the dentist.”

Allison looked puzzled. “Wonder what he wants?”

Ian looked down at her like the big brother he seemed to want to be. “Good question.”

Allison looked back at him in annoyance, wishing his protectiveness were jealousy or at least a hint of rivalry. “I’m sure he just wants to show me something.”

“My thought exactly,” Ian said.

She punched him in the shoulder like the big brother he wanted to be. “I can take care of myself.”

He winced and rubbed his shoulder. “I can see that.”

She left in a huff.

At precisely 5:10 she was waiting alone in the cramped and unadorned elevator entrance on the sub-basement level. On this level the elevators were key-access only, so there were no buttons to push or digital floor-level indicators. She waited for five minutes that seemed like an eternity in this lonely concrete cubicle lit only by the glow of emergency lights and pervaded with the dull hum of all the equipment housed in the rooms around her, lighting and heating and guarding the sixty-two floors above her. The thought of all those floors, their sheer mass and oppressive weight, sent a shiver over her body. She turned toward the door to the stairs.

Behind her the metal doors to the high-speed elevator opened. Matt stepped out, used his key to lock the doors open, and said, “Don’t I get at least five minutes’ grace period?”

She let go of the handle of the stairwell’s fire door and faced him. “You got six. If it had been five, I’d have been gone.” She tried to look perturbed but couldn’t. He had the cutest dimples when he smiled, and a schoolboy’s curly brown hair. There was no way she could remain angry with that face.

“I’ll count myself lucky then. Ready for a zoom to the top?”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“A surprise I’ll like?”

“I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t think so.”

She hesitated just a moment then stepped past him into the mahogany paneled elevator.

Matt unlocked the doors and stepped in beside her. He inserted the same key into a lock at the top of the control panel, above the button labeled Observation Deck. Before turning the key, he pulled a pack of gum from his pocket and offered her a stick.

“That fast?”

“Popped a lady’s eardrum last week—or that’s what she claims. Probably popped it herself with a cotton swab and figured she’d milk the world’s biggest insurance company for a hefty claim.”

“Third biggest.”

“What?”

“Insurance company.” Allison unwrapped the stick of gum and put it in her mouth. She stuffed the empty wrapper in the front pocket of her brown corduroy pants.

“First or third, deep pockets anyway you cut it.”

“You think she’ll win?”

“With our claims agents and lawyers—not a chance.” He turned the key.

Allison started to nod agreement but forgot the gesture as the elevator’s sudden upward rush caused her to lose her balance and fall against the back wall of the car.

Matt said, “Fasten your seatbelt.”

“Now you tell me,” she said. Her ears popped painfully despite chewing the gum. Maybe the woman was telling the truth.

In twenty-two seconds (Allison counted while staring at the elevator’s marble floor and trying hard to ignore her queasiness) the car began to decelerate, and came to a full stop at exactly thirty seconds. The doors opened on a darkened space. She looked at Matt who had a big grin on his face. “Where have you brought me?” she asked. She wondered if this was the entry to some sort of surprise party, but her birthday wasn’t for months and she was already married so what would the surprise party be for?

“Come and see.” He stepped out into the darkness and reached up with his magic key to lock the elevator open, on this floor till he decided to release it.

She walked cautiously to the doorway and stared into what awaited her. With the bright light of the car behind her she could see that the space beyond wasn’t nearly as dark as it had seemed. The entire floor of the building was open and dimly lit by red emergency lights and the sparse light of the evening and the city that the heavily tinted windows let in. There was heavy industrial equipment arranged throughout the space—electrical panels, massive square and round metal ductwork, air handlers, blowers, pulleys and cables for the elevators, exposed steel beams and trusses—all looking quite eerie and intimidating in the pale red glow.

“My home away from home,” Matt said, gesturing with a sweep of his arm across the entire space.

“I don’t know if I should be impressed or terrified.”

“Don’t be either. Just step on into my humble abode.”

She did, tentatively. But when she realized the concrete floor was level and uncluttered, she walked with considerably more confidence. “I love what you’ve done with the place—so tidy and cozy.”