Going "up"

"Welcome. Please press the button for the desired floor", exclaimed the automated female voice. Even though the new building was still under construction, the lifts at least were operational on Christmas eve. I won't complain as long my tummy doesn't...would anyone love climbing 13 floors?? No way!! The security cameras were yet to be installed and the 12th floor was still under construction, so I moon-walked my way into the lift. As I pressed the button 13 and creased out the wrinkle on my spotless Van Heusen shirt, I couldn't help but exclaim, "What a ridiculously squeaky voice. She wasn't focussing when her voice was recorded. I bet someone else would have done a better job. The loser deserves to be fired!!!". The shine from my spotless shoes diverted my attention as the lift ascended to my floor.."The raise is mine. I am the Senior Program Manager now. I get to rub shoulders with the biggies in the management and hopefully some beautiful girls too". I was shaken out of my Utopian dream when the familiar fragrance of Jasmine wafted through the lift. I raised my head to notice the back of the woman who had gotten on the next floor. Though she was not facing me, her posture was a comfortable enough feast for my eyes!! Here I was, all alone in the lift, getting bored...and now, I have something soothing for my eyes. I might even cajole her to into a cup of coffee. God, today is my lucky day after all.

As I was facing her back, I had a gorgeous view of what I would rather not explain. Her beautiful legs keep grabbing my eye-balls as I vehemently tried to make out her face. The familiar Jasmine fragrance and the sight of the legs was a heady cocktail and I had to control myself from doing something indecent. "Talking of indecent, I no longer need to sit in the icky 2x2 cubicle listening to the trite nonsense of my team members. I have my raise, I finally get to show them the finger and the swanky room with lighting control cooler is mine. The simple thought of that room just pumps up my adrenaline..I could do so much in the privacy of that room. Hey, maybe I could even invite this beautiful woman to that room and things might turn out the way I want. Dirty me.." (sniggers silently)!!

The fragrance kept picking at my brain and it was getting increasingly familiar....when suddenly, I saw something flash under my neck. I broke out of my reverie and looked nonchalantly at my Van Heusen shirt which was wet...red wet...with my blood!! Oh my God!!! I felt my knees buckle under me and I fell down to the floor writhing in pain. As a thick pool of blood started accumulating under my adams apple, the feminine figure in the lift rushed forward to help...just as blackness enveloped me....

***
"You got to believe me. Alex and you have an equal chance of getting the promotion. Now, you try your best not to screw up anything.. and you just might get that coveted swanky room my boy!!". I hated my Senior manager's condescending attitude and badly wanted to strangle him for that. I had been awaiting this promotion a long time, but the new recruit Alex was so dilligent, I was no longer the sole contender. I had had enough....I have to get that promotion, even if it means sabotaging Alex's career. I heard Alex was from a poor family and that was what drove Alex to outperform everyone. So what?? Even I am poor...I can barely afford a Gucci or a Van Heusen or a Tag Heur for that matter. There was also this rumour agog that Alex was from a mental rehabilitation centre. Well that made absolutely no sense. Anyhow, in tommorrow's client meeting Alex would be making a very crucial presentation. I'll screw that up so bad, Alex would be driven out of contention...and the promotion will be mine!!
***

"What was that?? Did my life just flash before my eyes?? Nah, it must be the adrenaline rush. Karma is philosophical trash!! You will rock the day man!! My floor has almost come and this beautiful woman is still with me. I might get that coffee on my table after all (sniggers)". Suddenly everything blacked out....but things came into focus in a flash. I had to strain my eyes as everything was so foggy. I was still on the floor, in a pool of blood which was seeping out of my neck. I gasped for help, but nothing came out..."What is happening to me?? This is supposed to be my day. No, this is just a dream..wake up man, wake up". Somehow, I couldn't. The beautiful woman moved forward to help me, when there was another flash as a knife drove right into my chest and then my wrists. I tried to grab her, but my weak hands just about managed to grab her ID card. As the knife was pulled out, more blood oozed out and I lost my grip on the ID card...and then, the lift stopped. "Floor number 12, Have a nice day". "Why was the lift stopping on the 12th floor?? Am I getting help?? Yes, yes!!" The woman who had just stabbed me, hid the bloody knife and made a quiet exit.

She had double-tapped the button 12, which meant I was stuck on this floor unless someone pressed the lift button from outside or I from inside. As I silently lay helpless in my own pool of blood, with numb wrists that just wouldn't move, I had a flash. The jasmine fragrance suddenly brought a face into focus. I had hit on many women before which ended in me giving them death threats. But this face, was of the woman whom I had been hitting on for the past two days...it was the face of the woman who had slapped me when I made a move on her...she used Jasmine-flavored perfume. The pain was unbearable now and I was losing consciousness fast. The aesthetic lights didn't seem aesthetic any more. The whirring fans sounded more like death knells...I was blacking out..."The ID card..the ID card...it had read Alex...Alex...Alexandria - Program Manager". My eyelids shut close as the lift door closed..."Welcome. Please press the button for the desired floor".


Note: the story and characters bear no resemblance to any living person (especially me). Women, please excuse me and think I am a male chauvinistic pig!!