She had removed her high heels.
Her red dress swept lightly across the carpet as she walked between the rows of seats.
For the first time, she could hear the quiet sounds of the building itself.
The hum of ventilation.
The faint creak of old timber.
The distant movement of workers beyond the lobby.
She stepped onto the stage.
Looked out.
And smiled.
Nicholas appeared in the doorway.
“There you are.”
She turned.
“Looking for me?”
“Always.”
He walked toward the stage.
Maggie sat upon its edge.
Nicholas joined her.
For a while, they looked out at the empty auditorium.
Then he said, “Remember the first time we came here together?”
Maggie smiled.
“You mean when you asked whether the projection room was necessary?”
“I thought it was a reasonable question.”
“It was a terrible question.”
He laughed.
“And you told me my company's redevelopment plans were hideous.”
“They were.”
“And that my chief financial officer apparently had a problem with his neck.”
Maggie burst into laughter.
Nicholas shook his head.
“I should have known then.”
“Known what?”
He looked at her.
“That my life was about to become considerably more interesting.”
She smiled.
Then leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Nick?”
“Yes?”
“Do you ever wonder what would've happened if that zipper hadn't broken?”
He considered.
“Constantly.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think?”
He looked toward the empty seats.
“I think we might have met at the reception.”
“And?”
“You would've presented your proposal.”
“Yes.”
“I might have listened.”
“Might?”
He grinned.
“Probably.”
She laughed.
“And then?”
He considered.
“I would've asked a few difficult questions.”
“Of course.”
“You would've become annoyed.”
“Obviously.”
“And perhaps we would've spent the next several months arguing about the theater.”
Maggie smiled.
“So nothing would've changed.”
Nicholas turned toward her.
“Something would.”
“What?”
He gently touched her cheek.
“I wouldn't have known quite so quickly that the most extraordinary woman I'd ever met was willing to trust a stranger when she needed help.”
Maggie's expression softened.
He continued.
“And perhaps you wouldn't have discovered that the terrible Nicholas Sterling was capable of doing something useful.”
She laughed.
“Zipping up a dress?”
“Precisely.”
Maggie looked at him.