Uncrowned Princess

18

As the elevator doors opened, Isabella was about to step out when she suddenly came face-to-face with Ethan. His expression was a mix of frustration and determination, and before she could react, he pushed her back into the elevator.

"Ethan, what the—?" Isabella started, but her words were cut off as Ethan stepped inside, and the doors slid shut behind him. He immediately pressed the button to take them back up.

"I want to talk," Ethan said firmly, his eyes fixed on her.

"I don't want to talk to you!" Isabella shot back, crossing her arms defiantly.

"You have to hear me out," Ethan insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Isabella rolled her eyes and then covered her ears with her hands. "Lalala, I can't hear you!" she said childishly.

Ethan grimaced, his patience wearing thin. "I forgot how much of a child you can be."

In response, Isabella stuck out her tongue and turned her face away from him, clearly not taking him seriously.

"You're impossible," Ethan muttered under his breath. Frustrated, he grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away from her ears. "You're going to hear me whether you like it or not!"

But before he could say anything more, Isabella bit his nose in a quick, playful move. Ethan yelped and backed off, rubbing his nose with a pained expression. Meanwhile, Isabella was already reaching for the elevator panel, frantically pressing buttons in an attempt to stop the elevator.

"Isabella, stop it!" Ethan shouted, trying to regain control of the situation. He grabbed her hand just as the elevator suddenly jolted to a stop, leaving them both frozen in shock.

The lights flickered slightly, and the small space seemed to close in around them. Isabella's anger flared as she whirled on Ethan. "This is all your fault! We're stuck because of you!"

Ethan raised his hands defensively. "I didn't touch anything! You're the one who can't keep her hands to herself!"

Isabella narrowed her eyes, raising her fists in mock readiness. "Oh, really? Do you want to test your little theory?"

Ethan stared at her, his frustration momentarily giving way to exasperated disbelief. "You're completely insane, you know that?"

Isabella smirked, but beneath her bravado, the tension between them was palpable. The elevator remained stubbornly motionless, the weight of their unresolved emotions hanging in the air.

Ethan pressed the button for help and turned to Isabella. "They'll fix it... I hope."

Isabella leaned against the elevator wall, her arms crossed, and raised an eyebrow. "You hope?"

"Yeah." Ethan ran a hand through his hair, glancing at his watch. "Ronald's the one who usually fixes this stuff, and he's not here. He won't be back for another hour."

Isabella's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you crazy? This isn't a problem for you? We're stuck in here for an hour! We'll suffocate before he even gets back!"

She waved her hands dramatically. "Is it getting hot? Oh my God, is the oxygen running out?"

Ethan couldn't help but chuckle. "Unbelievable."

Isabella shot him a side-eye. "This is all your fault, and you're just standing there laughing? Insane."

"Don't blame me," Ethan shot back. "You're the one who was clicking every button like a madwoman."

"You're the one who dragged me in here!" she snapped.

"Because I wanted to talk," Ethan replied, trying to keep his voice calm.