Zayden's POV
Zayden hadn't slept. The chair beside Elena's bed had molded to his body. His stubble was rough against his skin, and his eyes were bloodshot—but he refused to leave.
The memory of Elena fainting in that goddamn elevator looped in his mind like a nightmare he couldn't wake from.
The footage finally arrived.
He watched the grainy security video on his tablet, jaw clenched. The screen showed Elena getting into the elevator around 9:02 PM. She pressed the button… then the elevator jerked. And stopped.
At 9:04, the hallway camera caught a flicker of movement. A shadowy figure slipped away from the electrical room. Female. He paused the frame.
Long dark hair. Slim figure. He zoomed in.
Celeste.
His blood turned cold.
She had been lingering for weeks. Clinging. Always watching Elena from a distance. He had brushed it off. Dismissed it.
Never again.
His hands curled into fists.
"Sir?" the nurse peeked in. "Still no change, but her vitals are stable."
"Thank you," he said, standing. His voice was quiet. Controlled. Dangerous. "Send someone to monitor Elena. I'll be back soon."
---
Celeste's POV
She fixed her lipstick in the mirror, humming lightly in her office. The news hadn't leaked yet. Elena's absence? Barely a whisper in the company.
Perfect.
With Elena out of the picture, it was only a matter of time before Zayden saw who was truly worthy of standing beside him.
Her.
She smoothed her blouse, grabbed a file, and walked out confidently—
Only to nearly slam into the steel wall of Zayden's chest.
"Zay—" Her voice caught. "Good morning."
His eyes were dead cold. "My office. Now."
She blinked. "Is… something wrong?"
He didn't answer.
---
Zayden's POV
The moment the door clicked shut behind Celeste, he turned to her slowly.
"You were in the building last night," he said flatly. "Why?"
"I—I was just organizing a proposal draft. I thought—"
"Cut the lies."
Her mouth parted in confusion. Zayden tossed the tablet on the table, playing the paused frame.
Her image. Caught in the act.
Her face turned ghost-white.
"I didn't… mean—"
"You locked her in there." His voice was low and sharp, each word slicing through the room. "She fainted. Hit her head. She's still unconscious."
"I didn't think it would get that bad!" Celeste snapped, eyes wide. "I just… wanted her to be scared. To leave. You don't see the way she looks at you—like you belong to her."
Zayden took a slow, menacing step forward.
"If Elena doesn't wake up…" he hissed, "I will make sure you never work in this industry again. I will bury your name so deep, no company will dare take your call."
Celeste swallowed hard. "You're overreacting—"
"Out. Of. My. Office."
She flinched, grabbed her bag, and ran.
Zayden exhaled heavily, gripping the edge of his desk. His heart was thundering. The rage wouldn't settle.
He didn't care if it made him ruthless.
If Elena didn't open her eyes soon…
he would burn down every lie, every threat, every jealous rival—
Until she was safe again.