Think Aerosmith’s “Love In An Elevator” on this one


The elevator ground to a halt three floors from their destination. Not again, she thought. Just last week she had been trapped in the same elevator with the same man under very nearly the same circumstances.

“They really need to hire some new maintenance people,” Raymond Reddington declared from his position behind her where he was leaning against the rear wall of the elevator.

“I’m sure they’re doing their best!” Lizzie spat over her shoulder acidly. Sure, she was annoyed, too, but she was going to take the high road and not complain.

“I can’t believe this is happening to us, AGAIN,” she grumbled.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he reflected optimistically, “I kind of enjoyed the last time.”

She whirled on him, “Are you kidding me?! We were stuck in here for an hour arguing; it was torture!”

“Oh, I quite enjoyed our verbal…..sparring.” he pushed himself off the handrail, closing the distance between them with a step.

“Really?” she countered, sarcastically. “because I distinctly recall you using the words ‘incessant’, ‘volatile’, and incompetent’ during our last incarceration here.” She spun around to face the elevator doors, punching the buttons for good measure.

“I don’t think you have any idea how…..arousing I find our quarrels.” He had stepped even closer, leaning into her ear as he spoke.