In the middle of it all, Rick, our head chef, walked up to me. He had always been flirtatious, but I had never paid much attention—until now.

“What’s wrong? Everything okay? Are you managing?” I asked as soon as Rick got near. He looked tired but not stressed.

“Everything’s fine,” he said, rolling his shoulders. “Lots of orders, but my team’s handling it.”

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“Then why aren’t you in the kitchen?” I asked, crossing my arms.

He hesitated for a second. “I wanted to ask you something.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Ask me what?”

Rick glanced around, then leaned in slightly. “If you don’t have plans after work, how about I cook us dinner? We can celebrate Valentine’s Day together.”

I blinked. “Are you flirting with me?”

“I’ve been flirting for a while,” he said, smirking. “Glad you finally noticed.”

I shifted my weight. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

Rick nodded. “If you change your mind, I’ll be waiting.” Then, he walked back to the kitchen.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Rick—something about him pulled me in, even when I tried to ignore it.

He was confident, funny, and kind. But my heart still felt tangled in the past. My divorce was still fresh, and I wasn’t sure I had made the right decision.

Mike had cheated—that was a fact. That was why I left. But I kept questioning myself.

Had I been too harsh? Should I have given him another chance? People make mistakes.

Maybe I had walked away too soon. Maybe I had let my anger speak louder than my heart.

I sighed again, feeling a familiar ache settle in my chest. I needed to clear my mind.

I walked toward the elevator, pressed the button, and stepped inside. My thoughts spun as the doors slid shut.

The elevator stopped on another floor. Distracted, I almost stepped out, then realized it wasn’t mine. I stayed inside. The doors opened.

My breath caught.

Mike stood there, smiling, his arm draped around a young woman. She had bright eyes, flawless skin, and the kind of carefree energy only college students had.

My stomach dropped.

Mike and the woman stepped into the elevator, talking and laughing. She held a massive bouquet of red roses and white lilies, cradling them like a prized possession.

She beamed up at him, eyes full of admiration, while he smirked like he had won some kind of prize.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Mike said casually, as if we were old friends running into each other at the grocery store.

I folded my arms. “You didn’t expect to see me at the hotel where I work?” My voice was flat.

Mike chuckled, wrapping an arm around the woman’s waist. “This is Sandy, my girlfriend,” he said, his tone full of pride.

I forced a polite smile. “Karen. Nice to meet you,” I said.

Sandy’s face lit up. “Oh! You’re Karen. Mike told me about you,” she said, nodding as if we were in on some shared secret.

I arched an eyebrow. “Did he?” I asked, glancing at Mike.

Sandy tilted her head. “Yeah, he said you were still kind of… attached,” she said, twirling a strand of her perfectly curled hair.

I scoffed, but before I could answer, she turned back to Mike. “Babe, will you buy me lobster tonight?” she asked, gripping his arm.

“Of course, for you, anything—” Mike started, but before he could finish, the elevator suddenly jerked to a stop. The lights went out, leaving us in total darkness.

Sandy shrieked. “What’s happening?” she cried, clutching Mike’s arm.

Mike’s voice was tense. “What’s going on?” he asked.

I reached for the radio on my belt. “No idea. Let me check with our maintenance guy.” I pressed the button. “Earl, the elevator just stopped. What’s happening?”

Static crackled before his voice came through. “The power’s out in the area. The generator can’t handle the elevator, but they’re bringing another one.”

I sighed. “How long will that take?”

“Maybe an hour, maybe two. There’s heavy traffic right now.”

“Any way to open the doors?” I asked.

“You’re stuck between floors. No way to get you out,” Earl answered.

Sandy groaned. “You mean we’re trapped?” she whined.

“Looks like it,” I muttered. “At least turn the lights back on.”

A second later, the elevator flickered to life. I exhaled. “Thanks, Earl,” I said, shutting off the radio.

Sandy crossed her arms. “I can’t believe we’re stuck in an elevator on Valentine’s Day.”

I let out a dry laugh. “I never imagined I’d be trapped in a small space with my ex-husband and his new girlfriend.”

Sandy shrugged. “Well, at least you didn’t have any plans tonight.”

Mike smirked. “Hey, not everyone is as lucky as we are. Some people just can’t find a partner.”

My stomach twisted. “Maybe I could have if my ex-husband hadn’t cheated on me,” I said sharply.

Mike sighed, rubbing his temple. “It was only once.”

I clenched my jaw. “Once was enough.”

Sandy smiled sweetly and kissed Mike’s cheek. “Well, at least now he’s happier with me.”

I scoffed. “Give him a few more years, and he could easily be your father.”

Sandy lifted her chin. “Love has no age.”

I smirked. “Then I suggest you learn the early signs of a heart attack. That knowledge might come in handy soon.”

Mike groaned. “Karen, stop. You’re just jealous.”

I let out a dry laugh. “Jealous?” I repeated, shaking my head.

He nodded smugly. “You realized what kind of man you lost, and now you’re bitter because I moved on while you’re still thinking about me.”

I stared at him, barely believing what I was hearing. “Are you kidding me?” My voice was sharp.

Mike grinned. “Oh, come on. If I managed to get a girl like Sandy, that just proves I’m better than most men.”

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. “Right. A real catch.”

Our voices rose, filling the small space. Mike smirked as he tossed out one insult after another, each one cutting deeper than the last. I shot back, my frustration spilling over.

Sandy shrank into the corner, her arms wrapped tightly around her bouquet. Her eyes darted between us, her smile gone.

Mike’s arrogance fueled my anger, but what truly burned was the realization that he wasn’t entirely wrong.

I had considered taking him back. Seeing him with someone younger, someone so carefree, twisted something inside me.

He had moved on. I was still stuck. I barely registered what I was saying anymore. My voice was sharp, my words biting.

Then, Sandy’s voice sliced through the argument.

“Enough! Both of you, stop!” Sandy shouted, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. She shook her head, her arms still wrapped around the bouquet. “I’m not his girlfriend, okay?”

I blinked, my anger pausing for a moment. “What?” My voice came out flat.

Mike turned to her, his jaw tight. “If you don’t shut up right now, you’re not getting anything I promised,” he hissed, his voice low.

Sandy rolled her eyes. “Whatever. This whole thing is disgusting,” she said. “It’s obvious she still has feelings for you, and you’re playing with her like it’s a game. You’re a jerk. I don’t know how anyone ever loved you.”

I stared at her, my thoughts scrambling to catch up. “I don’t understand what’s happening,” I said slowly.

“I’m not his girlfriend,” Sandy repeated. She tossed the bouquet onto the floor like it suddenly disgusted her. “I’m a dancer.”

“A dancer?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“At a club,” she said.

It clicked. “You mean a strip club?” I asked.

Sandy shrugged. “Yep.” She glanced at Mike, her expression unreadable. “And in case you’re wondering, Mike’s been a regular for years. Even when he was married. I could still see the tan line from your wedding ring, dumbass.”

I sucked in a breath. My stomach twisted.

Mike’s face darkened. “What are you doing? We had a deal!” he snapped at her.

Sandy crossed her arms. “I can’t sit here and watch this. I won’t let another woman feel like she’s losing her mind over some loser who doesn’t deserve her.” She waved a hand at him. “Besides, you didn’t pay me enough to be stuck in a broken elevator listening to you whine about your ex-wife.”

I let out a laugh, shaking my head. “You paid her to pretend to be your girlfriend?” My voice rose in disbelief.

“He wanted to make you jealous,” Sandy said, looking at me. “He thought if you saw him with someone young, happy, and in love, you’d come crawling back.” She smirked. “Do you really think it was a coincidence we came to this hotel for dinner?”

“This is ridiculous,” I muttered.

“Karen, I can explain,” Mike said, stepping toward me.

I held up a hand. “No need,” I said. “I actually considered taking you back, forgiving you. But thank you—thank you for showing me exactly what kind of person you are.” I turned to Sandy. “And thank you for telling me the truth.”

Mike’s face twisted in frustration. “We… we can still fix this,” he said quickly. “We can forget about it and start fresh.”

“So you can cheat on me again?” I asked.

Mike ran a hand through his hair. “I was thinking maybe we could have an open relationship,” he said. “I mean, you never really satisfied all my needs.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re pathetic.”

At that moment, the elevator jolted, then started moving again. Earl’s voice crackled over the radio. “All set, boss.”

I pressed the button. “Thanks, Earl,” I said, relief washing over me.

When the doors slid open, I stepped out without hesitation. Mike moved to follow, but I caught Sandy’s smirk as she reached for the button and pressed it, sealing him inside.

I gave her a nod of gratitude.

As I walked away, I clicked my radio. “Hey, Rick. I changed my mind about dinner.”

A pause. Then Rick’s surprised voice. “Really?”

I smiled to myself. “It’s Valentine’s Day, after all. And love deserves a chance.”

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