"How do you expect to do your job with a scowl on your face?" Lucas questioned as they left the office headed towards the elevator; their workday coming to an end.

Rickter sighed with annoyance. Why did he have to bring up his current mood? "I get it. You don't have to tell me. I can't solve this mess with Irene."

"What did you do this time?"

He glared at Lucas, the man enjoyed infuriating him. "Nothing, that's the problem." He jammed the ground floor button on the elevator panel.

"Nothing? Then why do you assume something's wrong?"

"Because she didn't act normal. Plus, she..." he cut off the rest of his sentence, unable to divulge the source of his worries. He thought something was amiss with her final statement. When he turned back, she was crying. She had waited to cry.

"Do you still love her?"

It felt like the question came out of left field. Of course he loved her. Was the same true for Irene? "Yea, does it not look like that?"

"I believe the obvious answer to an outsider is yes," Lucas said with worry in his voice. The act unlike his usual sardonic behavior.

The elevator dinged as it reached the thirty-fifth floor. They both entered, with Lucas hitting the ground floor. Burgundy outlined by maple wood covered the enclosed space. The metal strips and elevator panel were in a polished brass. A bit ostentatious for an office building.

"Fighting doesn't mean we aren't in love," retorted Rickter.

"My reasoning is not based on that. When did you last spend time together? When did you last sit down and have a meal? Have you taken a vacation in the last year? Sir, you've been dating for five years, do you plan on getting married?"

Another ding sounded as they reached the bottom floor. The doors opened to the front lobby. Tall granite columns on each side formed a pathway to a central desk housing the security guard. A plastic cut-out of the company's logo hung above the desk. Beyond the glass-windowed exit darkness covered the landscape. High beams flashed past as late night workers headed home.

"I don't know. This last year flew by because of the promotion. I've had to focus on work, to fill the blank gaps in my ability. You should know how many late nights I've pulled," Rickter said as they walked towards the security desk.

The guard responded as he had many times before. "Good night Sir."

Rickter nodded his head with approval before passing through the automatic sliding doors. The cool night air greeted them as they stepped outside.

"Perhaps, that's the problem. Why don't you take a few days off and spend them together?"

After a long pause Rickter relented "Fine, I'll try. But if it backfires. I'm blaming you Lucas," he pointed at his secretary before turning to go their separate ways.