Loving a Black Rose & Life in an Elevator

Chapter 3

Hey, big dog, would you mind pressing 2nd floor?" the small man asked the tall man in a relaxed, slow tone.

"Big dog?" the tall man replied, articulating each vowel of the words, as if someone was stabbing him multiple times in the back.

"I meant big man. You're a big man, right?" said the cheerful man.

The tall man was paralyzed. "Did you hear me, bro?" the small man said, tipping the tall man's arm with his finger. The tall man still didn't answer.

"It's fine; I'll do it myself," he said in a quirky voice. He stepped in front of the tall man and pressed the button for the 2nd floor.

For thirty seconds, silence ruled the elevator while the tall man maintained his dominant stance, crossing his arms tightly and casting furtive glances at the small man on the opposite side, who was whistling. I was standing in the middle, firmly clutching my brown bag with both hands. I couldn't tell if the situation was supposed to be comical or stressful. The tall man seemed ready to lash out at the small man. I felt caught in the crossfire.

We passed 6th floor, then 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd. "Blang!!!" The elevator stopped abruptly, sending all three men sprawling to the ground. My head hit the floor, and everything began to slow down and darken.

"Help! Help! I'm trapped!!" I wasn't sure who was screaming—was it me? Should I help whoever it was? Confusion swirled around me.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying down, seeing the tall man frantically pressing the alarm button, which seemed futile. "Will you answer? I'm the new senior partner of this firm, and I will not let this problem make me late for my important meeting!" the tall man shouted, pounding the button with his fist.

"Hey, big guy, could you keep it down? Security will come and rescue us. Just relax and sit next to me; it might help you. You don't need that much money anyway," said the small man, absurdly sitting on the floor with his legs up against the wall, as if the world around him didn't matter.

The tall man responded aggressively, "I don't know who you think you are, but I have important matters to attend to, and they're all expecting me to arrive any moment to resolve their problems. You must not even understand me, or even have a job, you and your stupid hat."

"My... my... stupid hat?!" the small man exclaimed. Suddenly, he stood up, faced the tall man, and pointed his index finger at his chest as if aiming a weapon. "It's a sombrero! Want to know where I got it? In Mexico, it's a gift from an artist." He continued, "He's a real artist, not a fake one who just sticks a banana peel on a canvas, calls it ART and sells it at Christie's for millions. He is a created and honorable man, who draws beautiful flowers, and you, my good man, will not defile his name!"

The tall man looked down at the small man, his tone dripping with contempt as he grabbed the collar of the small man's shirt. "I don't know if you're making fun of me or if your are just crazy, but I promise you, I will do everything in my power to investigate your presence in this building. If I find out you're just a beggar wandering here, I will sue you, and not even your sombrero will be left of you."

"If you think your money and suit can protect you, you're wrong," said the little man, then head-butted the tall man, who staggered back, blood streaming out of his nose.

I couldn't take it anymore. I had just missed my dream job opportunity, and now they were fighting. Rage was boiling inside me. "You'll pay for that, you dwarf," the tall man spat.

"Stop! Could you please stop, for fuck's sake?!!"