What Shadows Can’t Hide

Tanya took a deep breath through her nose, trying her hardest to sustain some form of composure despite the awkward situation.

She had come to FledgeCorp for an interview, simple. What wasn’t simple was that Stone Devers had also come for an interview, sitting in the waiting room in a tailored suit and - were those, sneakers? - looking as calm as Tanya was nervous. To make matters worse, the power had fizzled out of the building just as they were leaving and stranded them in one of the many elevators, stuck between the fortieth and forty-first floors. Trapped with your mortal enemy in an elevator without power? Perfect.

She had already called for help on her cell and had tried to keep her cool, but it had become increasingly difficult as the minutes ticked by.

Eventually, she gave up trying to keep up her professionalism and opted for comfort, removing her cream colored heels before joining Stone on the floor in a very unladylike fashion.

“My feet are killing me,” she muttered, eliciting a chuckle from Stone. “What?” She demanded coldly.

“Just surprised it took you this long to take those off,” he replied through the darkness of the elevator. “So, why are you here? You own a share in the company?” He asked snarkilly.

Tanya sent a glare in the direction she guessed her adversary to be. “No. I had a job interview today. Lead Project Manager,” she replied proudly. She had accomplished a lot, why shouldn’t she flaunt her talents a little?

“No kiddin’?”

Tanya cringed at his bad grammar.

They grew quiet before Stone shattered it with sudden laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Tanya demanded.

“I just remembered when you were head of the prom committee and were insistent on blue and silver balloons. I’ll never forget the look on your face when they showed up with pink and forest green!” He laughed again.

“Don’t remind me,” she groaned. “Those colors were atrocious!”

“I thought they worked great. It was like seaweed and coral that way. Made it feel like we were actually underwater,”

A small smile came to her face for a mere moment before she shook it away, reminding herself who she was talking to.

“What happened to your glasses?” He asked suddenly.

“Contacts. What happened to your white hair?” She shot back.

“Hm, figures bosses would prefer something more ‘natural’ looking,”

“Blonde suits you,” she commented.

“Tanya Eastman, did you just give me a compliment?” He asked, an air of excitement in his tone.

“N-no, I,”

“You did! The apocalypse is upon us! Every man for himself!” He teased.

For the first time, Tanya was grateful for the darkness as it covered up her blush.

“So, why do you wanna work here?” Tanya asked, quickly changing the subject.

Stone was stunned but quickly recovered enough for a hasty reply of “Good benefits,”

“Should’ve known,” she muttered.

“And, to kind of, stick it to my parents,”

Now THAT surprised her.

“My parents wanted me to go to law school and take over the family firm; but when I told them I was going to college for business, they scoffed at the idea. They didn’t think I could make it on my own, so I wanted to prove them wrong by landing a really good job and I thought this might just be the ticket,”

Tanya stared in his direction, amazed at his vulnerability.

“I wanted to show my sister that I can be just as happy with a job as she is with a family. I don’t need a boyfriend to feel fulfilled,”

“I hope you get it. I know you’ll do great with all your organizational skills and lists,” Stone replied truthfully. “Besides, Stone doesn’t sound like the name of ‘Lead Project Manager,’”

“I’ve always wanted to ask, why is your name Stone?”

“My parents were ‘flower children’ and they wanted all of us to have names that would help ‘preserve the earth’,”

“That’s... different,” Tanya said hesitantly.

“That’s not even the half of it! My sister’s name is Tide, my brother’s is Dune, and my middle name; Shadow,”

Tanya couldn’t contain her laughter, the lights flickering to life suddenly. Stone helped her to balance as she rose from the floor and the elevator resumed moving

“You should laugh more often,” he admitted, as he left through the now open elevator doors, suitcoat slung over his arm and looking sorelaxed.

Maybe Stone Devers had grown up to be a decent human being after all.