RN Hospital.
Both Nidhi and Zaria reached the hospital, with Meg dropping them off. As soon as they entered, Ria hurried towards the Emergency Room. A hospital staff member was already waiting for her halfway down the corridor.
"Dr. Zaria, this way," she said, leading the path.
Ria gave a small nod and followed her, a few nurses and a junior doctor joining them.
"Brief me on the patient's condition," Ria asked, her voice steady.
"Accident while crossing the road. A boy around 12–13 years old. Head injury and a fractured left arm," the junior male doctor replied.
Ria nodded, stepping beside the patient's bed in the emergency bay. She slipped on her gloves and instructed, "Check his vitals. Keep him stabilized."
Then her tone sharpened.
"Prepare the OT. Fast. There is a 60% chance of cerebral hemorrhage."
Without wasting a second, Ria rushed toward the Operation Theatre, already changing into
scrubs, mask, and sterile gloves. The OT doors closed behind her, and the red light flickered on showing 'Surgery in Progress.'
Five long hours later.
The red light clicked off, and the doors slid open. A woman, not older than forty, rushed toward the doctors, her hands trembling.
"H-How is my son, doctor?" she asked, voice cracking.
"No need to worry," Ria reassured gently. "The surgery was successful. He's under observation for now. We'll shift him to the ward after twenty-four hours. You can see him then."
The woman's eyes welled up as she folded her hands, voice barely a whisper.
"Thank you so much… Dr."
"It's alright. It's our duty," Ria said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder before walking back to her cabin, exhaustion finally beginning to settle in.
AZTechs.
Meg walked through the corridor like she owned it. The reception desk ladies stared at her without even blinking.
"Hello, beautiful ladies!" Meg waved dramatically and threw in a playful wink.
The women immediately burst into soft giggles, two of them visibly blushing.
Meg stopped in front of the desk.
"Your boss inside?"
"Y-Yes, ma'am," the timid one stuttered.
"He's in his cabin," the more experienced receptionist added, smiling politely.
"Perfect. See you later, lovelies," Meg sang, blowing them a kiss before heading down the hallway.
More giggling.
As she passed through the office space, employees whispered among themselves;
the women admired her bold stride, the men couldn't stop staring at her confidence.
Meg opened the COO's cabin and found the chair empty.
"Where is he?" she muttered to herself, scanning the room.
Before she could move, a strong calloused hand wrapped around her wrist and pulled her toward the bookshelf.
The door clicked shut behind them in one swift motion. Her breath hitched, panic spiking.
Someone is holding her from behind. A hand covered her mouth, holding her still. She struggled, until she heard that voice, cool as steel.
"Relax, baby."
Her body instantly loosened. Of course.
She leaned back into his arms without thinking.
He chuckled, releasing her mouth.
"You scared me," she whispered, small and soft.
"Why?" His voice dropped, the edge unmistakable.
"Who else has the right to touch you… other than me?"
Her sigh was almost surrendering.
"Of course only you can, Rian."
That was all he needed. His ego, satisfied, settled. He turned her around to face him. His fingers traced her cheek, slow, claiming.
"Then why were you putting on a show out there, hmm?"
A smirk playing at his lips.
Meg looked away. "What show?"
He laughed quietly, dark, amused.
"You really don't know? Someone was too busy flirting with my employees."
Her breath hitched when she met his eyes again.
"But.."
"Shh."
His finger pressed against her lips.
"No explanation. Looks like I need to remind you who you belong to."
He leaned in.
Tring…
Her phone rang, slicing the moment clean in half. Rian's expression shifted instantly. Irritation pulling sharply across his face.
He stepped back just enough for Meg to reach her phone, though the space between them still hummed.
The screen flashed Zaria.
"It's Ria," Meg murmured.
The irritation vanished from Rian's face in a blink, replaced by something much gentler.
Concern. Silent. Immediate.
Meg answered, her voice softening in that way only Zaria could make happen.
"Yes, baby… I'll be there on time."
"No, no, don't wait up for me."
"Should I come pick you up?"
"Alright, dear."
"Just rest, okay? Don't push yourself today."
"Take care, baby."
Rian watched quietly.
This side of her. Warm, protective, loyal.
He didn't just love it. He adored it.
Meg hung up and looked at him. Eyes narrowed, arms crossed.
Rian blinked, genuinely confused.
"What?"
Meg's silence was heavy.