As they walked toward the elevator, Mia suddenly caught sight of Nathan down the hall. He was leaning against a wall, casually receiving a call on his phone. Mia immediately perked up and told the others, "Hey guys, I'll see you later. I need to talk to someone real quick."
The others didn't question her as they continued toward the elevator.
Mia, now walking briskly toward Nathan, was stopped by his two towering bodyguards, who immediately blocked her path. "Hey! Relax, I'm not a threat," she protested, throwing her hands up.
After noticing the commotion, Nathan glanced in Mia's direction and immediately gestured for the guards to step aside. "It's okay," he said with a nod.
Mia walked up to Nathan, grinning. "Hey, Mr. Reed. How've you been doing?"
Nathan gave her a polite smile. "I'm good, Mia. And you?"
"I'm fine," Mia replied. She hesitated for a second before adding, "I just wanted to thank you for staying by Elena's side. It means a lot to her… and to me too."
Nathan's expression softened. "It's nothing, Mia. It's just what a friend would do for another friend. She's important to me."
Mia raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Important, huh? Got it," she teased. Nathan simply shook his head, ignoring her playful tone.
"By the way," Mia continued, "when are they going to discharge her?"
Nathan checked his watch briefly. "Probably tomorrow," he replied.
Mia smiled. "That's good to hear. Alright, I'll get going now. Take care, Mr. Reed!"
"You too," Nathan said as Mia turned to leave.
As Mia walked away, Nathan noticed Thomas standing near the car waiting for him. Nathan strode over and gestured for Thomas to join him in the car.
Once they were both seated, Nathan leaned back in his seat. "Alright, Thomas. What do you have for me?"
Thomas pulled out a file and handed it to Nathan. "Here's the investigation you asked for," he began. "We managed to gather evidence about the men who were following Elena. They're small-time criminals hired for this specific job. They've been arrested, and the police are interrogating them as we speak."
Nathan flipped through the file, scanning the photos and details of the suspects. "Have they confessed anything yet?"
Thomas shook his head. "Not yet. They're refusing to reveal who hired them. But the authorities are confident they'll crack soon."
Nathan's jaw tightened as he snapped the file shut. "Tell them to keep the pressure on. I want answers. Make sure they don't stop until those men spill the name of the person who sent them."
Thomas nodded firmly. "Understood."
Nathan stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath. Just as he was about to head back into the hospital, his phone buzzed. It was a call from Aria.
Nathan sighed and answered the call. "What is it, Aria?"
On the other end, Aria's cheerful voice rang out. "Wow, what a warm greeting, big bro! Can't you sound a little happier to hear from me?"
Nathan rolled his eyes but couldn't help smirking. "Alright, fine. Hey, Baby Chaos. What do you want?"
Aria laughed. "That's better! Anyway, I just wanted to check on you. How's Elena?
"She's fine," Nathan replied.
There was a brief pause before Aria spoke again. "So… when are you going to tell her?"
"Tell her what?" Nathan asked, even though he knew exactly what Aria meant.
"You know," Aria teased, "how much you like her."
Nathan sighed. "Aria, don't start with this again."
Aria laughed. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you alone. For now. Take care of her, okay?"
"I will," Nathan said, ending the call.
Nathan walked back into Elena's hospital room to find her fast asleep. He stood by the door for a moment, simply watching her. Her peaceful expression made him smile, and for a second, he forgot about all the stress and chaos surrounding them.
As if sensing his presence, Elena's eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times before focusing on him. "Hey," she said softly, her voice still groggy. "When did you get here?"
"Just now," Nathan replied, moving closer to her bed.
Elena smiled weakly. "You didn't have to stay, you know."
Nathan pulled up a chair and sat beside her. "Hey, do you need anything to eat?"
Elena shook her head. "No, I'm fine."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Hey, lady, don't you dare reject my offer. You need to eat so you can recover faster."
Elena laughed lightly. "When did you become a doctor?"
Nathan smirked. "I didn't. But I know what's best for you."
They both laughed, the tension easing between them as they continued to talk and enjoy each other's company.
The next day, Nathan was in his office reviewing the company's stock performance when Thomas knocked on the door.**
"Come in," Nathan said without looking up from his desk.
Thomas entered, holding a folder in his hand. "Good morning, boss."
"Morning," Nathan replied, finally lifting his gaze. "Do you have any updates?"
Thomas nodded and opened the folder. "Yes, sir. Regarding the men who caused Elena's accident, we interrogated them as instructed. We've used every possible method to extract information, including... well, let's just say some aggressive questioning. But no matter what, they won't give us the name of the person who hired them. It's clear they're terrified of whoever it is."
Nathan frowned and leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled together. "So, they're more afraid of whoever sent them than of us. Interesting."
"Exactly," Thomas said. "However, I have gathered some evidence that might help us track down their employer. Surveillance footage around the café shows these men meeting with someone wearing a hoodie two days before the accident. We're currently analyzing the footage to see if we can identify them."
Nathan nodded thoughtfully. "Good work. Keep pressing them. I don't care what it takes—make them talk. Whoever is behind this is trying to hurt someone I care about, and I won't stand for it."
Thomas smirked a little. "Someone you *care* about? Is this about... Miss Elena?" he teased, raising an eyebrow.
Nathan shot him a sharp look. "Thomas, this isn't the time for your jokes."
Thomas chuckled nervously. "Alright, boss. Just saying."
Nathan ignored him and glanced at his wristwatch. "Get the car ready. I'm heading to the hospital now."
Thomas, unable to resist teasing further, grinned. "Of course, sir. Anything for Miss Elena, right?"
Nathan narrowed his eyes at Thomas but chose to say nothing, merely pointing toward the door. Thomas laughed under his breath as he left to get the car.
Nathan walked quietly down the hallway toward Elena's room, carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers. As he approached, he heard voices and stopped outside for a moment. Inside, Elena and Mia were chatting and laughing.
"I don't want to interrupt them," Nathan muttered to himself and turned to leave. But before he could walk away, Elena spotted him from the corner of her eye.
"Nathan!" she called, waving him in with a smile. "Come in!"
Nathan hesitated briefly but stepped inside. "Hey, how are you feeling today?" he asked, his voice warm.
"I'm much better, thanks to you," Elena said. Mia nodded in agreement. "You've really been a lifesaver, Mr. Reed—I mean, Nathan."
Nathan smiled. "Good to hear. I'm just glad you're alright."
They all chatted for a while, with Nathan occasionally glancing at Elena to make sure she wasn't overexerting herself. After some time, the doctor arrived and cleared Elena to be discharged. Nathan handled all the paperwork while Mia helped Elena pack up her things.
As they stepped outside the hospital, Elena was about to hail a taxi when Nathan gently grabbed her hand. She turned to look at him, confused.
"Elena, I have an idea," Nathan began, his tone serious but soft. "Why don't you come and stay at my place for a while? It's much safer there, and Mia can visit you anytime she wants. Plus, my staff can take care of you better than you trying to manage on your own."
Elena blinked in surprise. "Nathan, I appreciate everything you've done, but... I can't. You've already done so much for me. I don't want to be a burden."
"You're not a burden," Nathan said firmly, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "I just want to make sure you're safe and have everything you need to recover. That's all."
Elena glanced at Mia, who was standing beside her with an encouraging smile.
Mia chimed in, "Honestly, Elena, I think Nathan is right. His place is secure, and his maids can look after you better than I can, especially with my busy schedule at the café. It makes sense, and you know it."
Elena hesitated, still unsure. But seeing the sincerity in both Nathan's and Mia's eyes, she finally nodded. "Alright, fine. I'll stay... but only for a little while."
Nathan's face lit up with a small, relieved smile. "Good. Let's get going, then."
Mia teased, "Take good care of her, Mr. Reed. She's my bestie, after all."
Nathan chuckled. "You have my word."
As they all got into the car, Nathan couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. For once, everything seemed to be going right. But little did he know, this was just the calm before the storm.