She was standing on a ladder but couldn't quite reach the ceiling to adjust the spotlight that was supposed to light up the podium with their new towels, and not the beige floor beneath it. She was standing on the highest step, reaching for the light, her fingertips barely touching it.
Leo was watching her. The only thing he knew about her was that she worked on a different department than him. Her hair almost touched her waist and her piercing ice blue eyes were focused on the spotlight. He didn't even know her name. He saw her hesitantly lifting her foot to the top of the ladder. She let it hang in the air for a second before deciding to actually stand on the top cap.
He watched her putting her whole weight on it and pull herself up. His eyes moved to her face. She seemed nervous, aware of the risk but not caring about it. You weren't supposed to stand on the top of the ladder. He found it annoying. She was knowingly putting herself in danger.
"Do you need help?"
Ally looked down and found Leo standing beneath her. He was tall, with tattooed arms, and tousled hair.
"You can hold the ladder if you want."
She turned her focus back to the spotlight, which she was now reaching even though she had to stand on her toes.
"I meant that I could try instead. I'm taller than you."
She wasn't looking at him.
"No, thank you."
She didn't need to look at him to know that his brown eyes were still focused on her. She could feel it.
"You shouldn't stand on the top cap."
She knew of him. He was attractive with a charming smile, and she had watched him tease and joke with their co-workers. They had never spoken a word, but had shared the occasional smile when passing each other in the store.
"I know."
His hand tightened around the side rails.
"So come down. I'll do it."
She rearranged the spotlight.
"I'm almost done."
The light found the towels, but she wasn't quite happy. If she did something, she wanted it done to perfection.
"Come on. Get down."
His voiced changed. Became harder, demanding.
Her eyes found his. She found the order exciting, the need to do the absolute opposite of what he was asking, was awakened.
Someone asked him where a product was. His focus shifted from her to the customer.
"Done!" she said and snapped her fingers.
The customer leaned against their cart, pushing it slightly forward by its weight. The cart touched the ladder and made it shiver. The small movement was all the top cap needed to give up and cause her to fall.
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He's Fire and She's Playing with It - Mafia Version
ChickLitShe fell of a ladder at work. He caught her. He's a colleague and they have never spoken. Until he scolds her for putting herself in danger by grabbing her chin and turning it up to him: "I told you to get down." He's had his eyes on her for some ti...
