Chapter 7(Adrian P.O.V)

I knocked on Dr. Kingston’s door.

“Come in,” he said.

I stepped inside. His eyes lit up the moment he saw me.

“Oh, it’s you, Adrian,” he chuckled.

“I have a response to your request, sir,” I said. “I’m honored to be your assistant. I hope to serve you well.”

“That’s good, boy.” He clapped once, loud and sharp. “Welcome, boy. Let’s go say hi to her.”

He rose from his chair, and I followed him into the elevator. We ascended to the 14th floor, the VVIP floor. I’d only heard rumors about it. Nothing good.

The doors opened. We walked to Room 16. Bodyguards lined the hallway like statues. When I tried to follow Dr. Kingston inside, they blocked me.

“Calm down, boys. He’s one of us now,” Dr. Kingston said, waving them off.

They stepped aside, and I hurried after him.

The door required several passcodes before it opened. Inside, the room was stark white; massive, pristine, colder than any hospital room I’d ever seen. Bigger than my apartment. Too big.

“Go say hi to her,” he said, moving toward the computer.

I approached the tube slowly. She was asleep—drugged, limp, fragile.

“Hello, miss,” I said softly, bowing a little.

She didn’t move.

“She won’t respond,” Dr. Kingston said from behind me, amusement in his tone. “Her adopted brother made sure of that. And who can blame him? He didn’t want her inheriting everything.”

He laughed no; he cackled and suddenly struck me hard across the back.

“Stupid boy. Did you think you’d be handed all this for free? Everything has a price.”

I swallowed my fear.

“Anyone who knows about this die, if things go wrong,” he continued, voice low and dangerous. “We know everything about you now. If you make a wrong move…” He leaned in. “Your sister dies.”

“It won’t happen, sir,” I said quickly, bowing again.

“Good boy,” he said, patting my shoulder as if he hadn’t just threatened my family. “Let’s go.”

We stepped out. Before I could breathe, he stopped me.

“Look.”                  

I glanced back. Several CCTV cameras were pointed directly at me.

“Big Boss is watching, Adrian. Always watch your back.”

“I will,” I murmured, then walked away, heart pounding.

I returned to the office I shared with Jack. He wasn’t there. Good. I needed to think.

What the h£ll just happened?

Four years. Someone had been locked in that room for four years. And now I was tied to the secret—with my sister’s life hanging in the balance.

A knock snapped me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I said.

Jasmine stepped in, smiling warmly. “Good morning, Ad.”

“Morning,” I replied, still shaken.

“Dr. Kingston said I should inform you your new office is on the 13th floor. He called it a ‘special treatment.’”

She left before I could respond.

A new office… in exchange for knowing about the woman in Room 16.

I headed to the 13th floor. When I opened the door, my heart skipped.

“Whoa…” I whispered.

The office was massive, big enough for six people. Tastefully furnished. Elegant. And the view… I could see almost all of Dublin from here.

I sank into the chair and closed my eyes briefly.

Things were spiraling. Someone was imprisoned. Someone else was threatened. And now I was right in the middle.

My phone rang. I groaned, assuming it was another senior surgeon trying to dump a risky surgery on me. They loved using younger doctors to clean up their messes.

I glanced at the caller ID.

Dr. Stevens. Nina’s doctor.

My stomach clenched.

“Hello, Dr. Stevens,” I answered quickly.

“Adrian,” he said, voice tense. “Are you in the hospital?”

“Yes, why? Is something wrong?”

“You need to get to her ward immediately. Nina’s unconscious. She collapsed in school today. Her teacher brought her in as fast as he could.”

“What?” I shouted, already leaping from the chair. “I’ll be there in a second.”

I hung up and sprinted toward the elevator.

“Nothing must happen to Nina,” I breathed. “Hold on, Nina. I’m coming.”