The Lift

A quick fumble at his leaving do left both of them realising that they had wasted the last four years of opportunities. Business trips where they stayed in adjoining rooms, trade fairs where they'd had long evenings to fill, train rides that they had spent with their heads over laptops had all seemed so innocent at the time, but now were all tinged with regret; remembered as wasted opportunities.

And now what? Now they were forever to be labelled the one that got away, as he’d left for a new town and their main competitor while she’d played happy families with her husband and kids. They exchanged texts that bordered on sexts, they flirted on Facebook messenger, but if their past was littered with lost chances, their future was a desert with no sign of an oasis of opportunity.
But then it was the big one, the industry blue chip event, everyone who was anyone would be there, including Charlie and Louise. They would get to see each other again. Of course there would be logistical problems; they worked for competitors now so different hotels, different functions, different priorities and of course the dangers of being caught fraternising with the enemy. But at least it would be a chance to see each other again, to smile, to brush passed one another, to make something happen - a kiss, a touch, more?
The conference though was agony, if absence made their hearts grow fonder, then being in close proximity without being able to act made the passion tingle and lust reach dangerous levels. It was already day three, the last day, and they'd not been able to spend more that 60 seconds together and never alone. Both of their bodies ached like they had been hit by the double decker bus of unresolved desire.
But Charlie had a plan, he got out his phone and wrote a text.
‘Meet me in the shopping centre outside Debenhams.’

 Next to the conference hall was a huge mall that was easy to get lost in. Surely they could fine some anonymity in there.
He was there, she was there, they acted like it was coincidence,
‘Oh hello, I'm just going up to the top floor for a coffee,’ he said loudly, nodding towards the lifts.
‘Oh so am I,’ she’d got the idea, ‘the coffee is awful next door.’
To their great relief the lift was empty; finally they could be alone. But jut as the doors were closing they heard a voice.
‘Just a sec.’ The woman had hit the button just in time and the doors slid open. It was a client from the exhibition, she smiled at them.
‘Two old colleagues going for a coffee.’ Charlie announced a little too desperately. Guilty conscience setting in.
They had no choice now but to buy coffee, both ordering piccolos so they could shoot them down and find another lift.
This time the lift was empty and it stayed empty. They threw themselves at each other like hungry tigers at prey. They kissed, they fumbled, they breathed in each other's smell, desperate to make the most of their thirty seconds alone time, oblivious to the fact both their bosses were staring open mouthed at the passionate couple in the glass lift.