Morning light seeped through the heavy curtains, casting a muted glow across the room. Daniel Blackwood stood near the window, his posture rigid, as he stared out at the city skyline. The report lying on the desk behind him was incomplete—disappointing. His jaw tightened as he turned to face Liam, who stood before him with his head bowed.
"You know, Liam, this is the first time you've failed to provide me with the information I needed," Daniel began, his voice edged with frustration. "That's why I'm letting you go this time. But I need answers—who is our second enemy, the one who tampered with my brother's anti-drug pill?"
Liam hesitated before responding, his voice laced with guilt. "Boss, I've searched everywhere, questioned everyone. But... there's nothing. No evidence of tampering, no signs of an intruder. It's as if whoever did this left no trace."
Daniel's eyes narrowed, his frustration deepening. "My brother is going to wake up any moment now, and what am I supposed to tell him? That I'm not capable enough to bring him even the smallest piece of information?" He slammed his hand down on the report, the papers rustling under the force.
Liam's gaze dropped further. "I understand, sir. I'll keep digging, but... it's like trying to find a ghost."
"Ghosts don't drug my brother, Liam," Daniel snapped. "We're dealing with someone real, someone dangerous. You have until noon. If you don't bring me something solid by then, consider your time with the Blackwood family over."
Liam nodded, his face pale. "I won't fail you again, Boss." With that, he turned and hurried out of the room, leaving Daniel alone with his turbulent thoughts.
As the door clicked shut, Daniel let out a slow, controlled breath. The uncertainty gnawed at him. Someone had gotten close enough to harm Alex, and yet they had no leads, no suspects. It was infuriating.
His attention was drawn to the sound of approaching footsteps, and he turned to see Simon entering the room. The doctor's expression was serious, his brows furrowed with concern.
"How is he?" Daniel asked, his voice strained with the tension of the situation.
"He's stable," Simon replied, moving to Alex's bedside to check his vitals. "But there's something you need to know about the pill."
Daniel's eyes locked onto Simon, waiting for the explanation. "What is it?"
Simon sighed, his expression grim. "I'm still running tests, because as per the initial results, there's no evidence of any alteration done to the pill."
Daniel blinked, taken aback. "What do you mean? How could the pill not have been tampered with? Alex never would've been drugged if it worked properly."
"That's what's troubling," Simon admitted. "The pill was effective against the standard substances we've encountered before. But whatever drug was used on Alex... it's something entirely new. Something designed to bypass the defenses of the anti-drug pill altogether. It's sophisticated, unlike anything we've seen before."
Daniel felt a chill run down his spine. "So you're saying whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing? That they've developed a drug specifically to target my brother?"
Simon nodded. "It's a possibility. We're dealing with someone who has resources, someone who's prepared to go to great lengths to hurt Alex. The fact that the pill wasn't tampered with, but rather circumvented, suggests a high level of expertise."
The weight of the situation pressed down on Daniel like a vise. "We need to find out what this drug is and who could have access to it."
"I'm already looking into it," Simon assured him. "But it might take time. This isn't something we can trace easily."
Daniel's frustration simmered beneath the surface. Time was a luxury they didn't have. Whoever was behind this had made their move, and it was only a matter of time before they struck again.
"Keep me updated," Daniel finally said, his voice steely. "And make sure Alex is ready to wake up soon. We need him back on his feet."
Simon gave a curt nod before returning his focus to Alex, administering another check-up to ensure his recovery was on track. Daniel, however, couldn't shake the unease settling in his chest. This enemy was more cunning than he had anticipated, and if they didn't find them soon, the consequences could be catastrophic.
As he stood there, watching over his brother, Daniel silently vowed that no matter what it took, he would uncover the truth. He would protect Alex, and he would make whoever was responsible pay dearly.
As the first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the heavy curtains, Alex stirred from his deep sleep. His body, though still tired, felt significantly better, thanks to the medication Simon had administered. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light as he took in the room around him. The memories of the previous night were hazy, but the lingering sense of unease was unmistakable.
Turning his head, Alex noticed Daniel sitting near the window, lost in deep thought. His usually composed and confident younger brother now appeared tense, his shoulders slumped as he stared out at the city below.
"Daniel," Alex called out, his voice still slightly hoarse from the ordeal.
Daniel's head snapped up at the sound of his brother's voice. Relief washed over his features as he quickly rose from his chair and hurried to Alex's bedside. "Brother! You're awake!" His voice was a mixture of concern and overwhelming relief. "How are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable? Should I call Simon back? Do you need anything?"
Alex smiled faintly, holding up a hand to stop the barrage of questions. "I'm perfectly fine, Daniel. A little tired, but nothing to worry about."
Upon hearing these words, Daniel's composure broke. Tears welled up in his eyes, and before he could stop himself, he began to cry like a child. Daniel, who was known to the world as a cold, aloof businessman—just as formidable as his older brother—had always let his guard down in front of Alex and their family. In these moments, he wasn't the tough and unyielding figure he portrayed to the outside world; he was just a younger brother who loved and looked up to his sibling.
Seeing Daniel cry so openly, Alex felt a surge of affection. Despite the age difference, despite the roles they had taken on in the world, Daniel was still the little brother who had always been protected and spoiled by him. Alex reached out and placed a comforting hand on Daniel's shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here, aren't I? There's no need to cry."
Daniel tried to stifle his sobs, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "I was so worried, Brother. I couldn't find out who did this to you, and I was terrified that..."
"Shh, it's alright," Alex interrupted softly. "We'll figure this out together. I trust you, Daniel. You've always had my back, and I know you won't let me down now."
Alex noticed the dark circles under Daniel's eyes, evidence of a sleepless night filled with worry and stress. Concern flickered across his face as he interrupted Daniel's emotional outburst. "Looking at your dark circles, it seems like you haven't slept all night," Alex said gently. "For now, just go and get some rest. We'll discuss everything later."
Daniel hesitated, his eyes still glistening with unshed tears. "But, Brother, there's so much we need to figure out—"
"I know," Alex cut him off, his tone firm yet caring. "But you won't be any good to me or to anyone else if you're running on empty. Go rest. That's an order."
Daniel opened his mouth to protest, but the look in Alex's eyes stopped him. He sighed, recognizing the wisdom in his brother's words. "Alright, but only for a few hours," Daniel relented, though it was clear he was reluctant to leave Alex's side.
Alex smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling with a warmth that only Daniel ever saw. "Good. I'll be here when you wake up, and we'll tackle this together. We've been through worse, remember?"
Daniel nodded, a small, grateful smile finally breaking through his exhaustion. "I remember. Thank you, Brother."
With that, Daniel slowly rose from the bedside, giving his brother one last reassuring glance before heading towards the door. The weight of the previous night still lingered, but the tension had eased somewhat now that Alex was awake and recovering.
As Daniel left the room, Alex leaned back against the pillows, his thoughts already beginning to swirl around the events that had transpired. But for now, he pushed them aside, focusing on the immediate task of recovery and ensuring his brother got the rest he so desperately needed.