His face is stuck in a frown as he watches where he’s stepping. “Someone was heating up their lunch on the sixth floor and didn’t realize the takeout box was made of aluminum. Lit the whole kitchenette on fire.”
“Oh my gosh,” I gasp, as well as a few of our other coworkers who are close enough to hear.
“The sixth floor has been evacuated; so far, no known injuries and the fire department is on its way. We’ll have to figure out what to do with that workspace if it’s unsafe for them to return,” Theo says, and I wonder if he’s still talking to me or thinking out loud. The sixth floor is not a part of Nexus, but it’s still our responsibility as the owners of the building.“I’ll have to call whoever is in charge of their lease.”
His eyes are downcast still, and I can’t see his expression well enough to determine what he’s thinking. Theo doesn’t say another word, though, until we make it down to the ground level. There’s already a large mass of people waiting in the lobby as if they’re unsure where to go. A few groups of people leave the lobby to go wait outside.
Theo pauses one second, taking everyone in, and then he steps into the crowd, cupping his hands over his mouth and shouting to get everyone’s attention. Slowly, the room quiets, and Theo can speak to everyone.
In a loud, booming voice—which I have never heard from him before—he instructs everyone to slowly exit the lobby and go to the parking garage to wait for further instructions. A few people from our company have questions about how long it’s going to take, or if we’ll take a half-day. He answers as best as he can in this moment and helps filter everyone through the doors.
I stand by his side, trying and failing not to be impressedwith the way he’s handling the situation. I’d never had to go through a potential emergency with Mr. Peterson, yet somehow, I imagine even if I had, he wouldn’t have handled it as smoothly as Theo is right now.
Number 7: Good Leader
Theo approaches me after talking with the fire chief, looking exhausted. Though it’s a breezy autumn day, Theo has sweat beading on his forehead from running around and taking care of everything.
“I think I’m going to send everyone home,” he says to me. “They cleared the other floors so everyone can go get their personal items, but it’s been a shit show. Might as well start fresh tomorrow.”
I nod my head. It’s barely noon, but we’ve been out here for nearly an hour. “Okay. How’s the sixth floor?”
Theo looks dismayed as he says, “Well, the microwave didn’t make it. But I think once we get the kitchenette remodeled, we can find a good replacement.”
I stare at him, trying to decide if he’s being serious, and then I laugh. His eyes glint, and finally, I see the Theo I’ve known all along—myTheo.
“They’re running through the floor again right now, double-checking everything in the kitchen and break room. It should still be fine to work in, though.”
“Thank goodness,” I say.
“Indeed,” Theo agrees. “That would’ve been a nightmare.”
It would have. We have about a hundred people working on each floor, and it would’ve been tricky finding new work spots for them. We probably would’ve had to have them work remotely until the floor was remodeled.
“So, half day?” I tease.
He chuckles and pulls out his phone. “Yes, I’ll send the email out now.”
“Do I get to have a half day too?”
He’s staring down at his phone, typing the message out on the screen. “Yes, of course.”
“What about you?”
Finally, once he’s hitsend, he looks up and gives me a wry grin. “I never get a half day. I’ll probably work from home. I still feel like I’m drowning in paperwork.”
I rock on the balls of my feet as I consider my impending offer. I should just take the half day and run, but I’m still unsatisfied with the way today has gone with Theo, given everything that happened over the weekend. Biting the inside of my cheek, I finally decide to offer. “Do you want me to come with you and help?”
Theo’s eyes flash with something indescribable, and he trails them over me. My body heats up under his gaze, and I nearly shiver when he visibly swallows. His voice is gravelly as he says, “Only if you want to.”
I nod my head fervently. I think I would do anything for this man if he asked me in that tone of voice. “I do.”
Theo nods his head and then looks out at our coworkers, who are slowly getting the memo that work is canceled for the day. “Let me make sure everyone gets out of here okay, and then I’ll call a car.” Then he shoots me a glance. “Unless you want to drive yourself over to my place.”
My stomach tightens when I realize the implications of me leaving my car here overnight. If I do that, then I’ll have no way home or back to work in the morning—unless I spend the night and ride with him. Desire courses through me, and I tell him, “I’ll just ride with you.”
Theo’s eyes darken as he studies me again. “Okay then.” I want to do a happy dance when his eyes trail over the length ofmy body, and he licks his lips as if, all of a sudden, he wants me just as badly as I want him. “Do you need to get anything inside?”
I nod, and he tells me to go ahead and go get it and that he’ll be along shortly. I do as he says, sayingthank youto the firefighters still lingering in the lobby. They tell me I can use the elevators, much to my relief. I think I might’ve died of a heart attack if I had to climb eleven flights of stairs just to get my planner and laptop.
