A Night With The Ruthless Billionaire

"Factors?" The word feels like a weight, pressing down on me. "What kind of factors?"

Dr. Whitman's eyes flick to Alex, a silent exchange between them that makes my skin prickle. I know they're hiding something. They both are.

"I'll explain everything shortly," Dr. Whitman says, his voice tight. "Just rest for now."

The door clicks shut, leaving an unbearable silence between Alex and me. The sterile walls of the hospital room feel like they're closing in.

"What aren't you telling me, Alex?" My voice is sharp, cutting through the tension.

He doesn't answer, his jaw tightening. The shadows in his eyes are darker than I've ever seen them.

"Alex!" I shout, tears burning my eyes. "Is the baby in danger?"

His gaze finally meets mine, and the raw emotion there shakes me. "It's you, Emma," he whispers. "It's not just the baby. Your blood work... it's rare. There are complications."

My heart races, a cold shiver running through me. "What complications?"

Before he can answer, the door swings open. A man strides in - a tall, imposing figure with dark eyes that mirror Alex's but colder, sharper.

"Damien," Alex mutters, stepping protectively in front of me. "You shouldn't be here."

Damien's smile is cold, a razor's edge. "She deserves to know the truth, Alex."

"Not now," Alex growls, fists clenching.

"Always playing the hero," Damien sneers. "But you can't protect her from this." His eyes shift to me, their intensity sending a chill through my veins. "There's more at stake here than you realize, Emma."

Before I can respond, a phone buzzes. Alex's expression hardens as he pulls it from his pocket, glancing at the screen. His shoulders tense.

"It's the family," he mutters, barely audible. "I have to take this."

He looks at me, hesitation in his eyes, a silent plea. "Stay here. I'll be back."

I nod, but my heart sinks. As he turns to leave, I catch his arm, our eyes locking. The world narrows to just the two of us.

"Come back," I whisper. "Please."

He cups my face, his touch warm, grounding. "I'm not leaving you, Emma. Trust me."

For a moment, the rest of the world fades. There's something in his eyes; vulnerability, fear, something deeper that I can't quite name. Then, Damien grabs his arm, dragging him out of the room.

"Time's up, Alex," he says, his voice low and menacing.

The door slams shut behind them, and the silence that follows is deafening.

---

I sit there, staring at the closed door, the echo of Alex's words still lingering in the air. My mind races. What are they hiding? What does Damien know?

I can't sit still. I need to check on my mother.

Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I push myself up, my body protesting with every movement. The nausea is still there, a dull ache in the pit of my stomach, but I force myself to stand.

The hallway is quiet, too quiet. I make my way toward my mother's room, each step heavy with anxiety. Then, I hear it - a familiar voice.

Victoria.

I freeze, pressing myself against the wall. She's talking to a nurse, her voice sharp and demanding.

"I'm looking for my husband. Alex Cardwell. Where is he?"

My heart pounds. She's close. Too close.

I duck my head, slipping past them, my pulse racing. The last thing I need right now is another confrontation with her. As soon as she disappears down the hallway, I break into a run, heading for the doctor's office.

---

Dr. Whitman looks up, surprised, as I burst into his office.

"Miss Parker," he says, concern etching his features. "You shouldn't be out of bed."

"I need to know when I can leave," I blurt out, my voice trembling. "When can my mother and I be discharged?"

He frowns, clearly taken aback. "Miss Parker, your mother's condition is still critical. She hasn't woken up. And you..." He stops, his eyes narrowing. "You need to be resting, not worrying about leaving."

"I can't stay here," I insist, my voice breaking. "I need to get out. It's not safe."

His expression softens. "Emma, what's going on? Are you in danger?"

I shake my head, tears welling up. "I don't know. I just... I can't stay here."

Suddenly, my phone buzzes. I glance at the screen - an unknown number. My heart stutters.

"Hello?" I whisper, my voice shaking.

Static crackles on the line. Then, a voice - low, urgent.

"Emma. You need to get out of there. Now."

The call disconnects.

I stare at the phone, my hands trembling. The room tilts, the walls closing in.

---

Meanwhile, outside the hospital...

Alex stands in the parking lot, his phone to his ear. Damien is beside him, eyes scanning the area.

"What did they say?" Damien asks, his voice low.

"They know," Alex mutters, running a hand through his hair. "They're coming for her."

Damien's jaw tightens. "We need to move her. Tonight."

"She won't leave without her mother," Alex replies, his voice filled with frustration. "And I can't force her."

Damien steps closer, his voice cold. "If we don't get her out of here, they'll find her. And when they do, they won't show mercy."

Alex's eyes darken. "I know."

Suddenly, headlights flash across the parking lot. A black SUV pulls up, its windows tinted.

"They're here," Damien says, his voice a deadly whisper.

---

Back in the hospital...

I step out into the hallway, clutching my phone, my mind racing. The doctor's words echo in my head, but the voice on the phone... whoever it was, sounded terrified.

As I turn the corner, I freeze.

Victoria.

She's standing at the far end of the hallway, talking to a man in a dark suit. She looks up, and for a moment, our eyes lock. A slow, cruel smile spreads across her lips.

Panic surges through me. I turn and run, my heart pounding.

I need to find Alex. Now.

I sprint down the hallway, my mind racing faster than my feet. Every corridor looks the same, each shadow stretching longer, darker. My breaths come in shallow gasps, my heart pounding so loudly it feels like it might burst.

I need to find Alex. I need to know what's happening.

I round a corner and nearly collide with a nurse pushing a cart. She gives me a startled look, but I barely register it, my focus razor-sharp. The hospital feels like a labyrinth, each turn leading me deeper into uncertainty.

Then I hear it - a familiar voice, low and urgent.

"Emma!"

Alex's voice cuts through the chaos in my mind. I turn and see him running toward me, his face a mask of worry and determination. Relief washes over me, but it's short-lived.

Behind him, Damien follows, his eyes scanning the hallway, his expression cold and calculating.

"We need to go," Alex says, grabbing my hand. His grip is firm, but there's a gentleness there too, a silent plea. "Now."

"Where? Why?" My voice is shaky, barely above a whisper.

"No time to explain," Damien cuts in, his tone sharp. "They're here."

"Who?" Panic claws at my chest. "Who's here?"

Alex's eyes flick to Damien, then back to me. "People who want the baby. People who will do anything to get to you."

Before I can process his words, the sound of footsteps echoes down the hallway. Heavy, deliberate. My blood runs cold.

Damien pulls Alex aside, whispering something I can't hear. Alex's jaw tightens, and he nods.

"Emma," Alex says, turning back to me. "Trust me. Please."

I nod, my throat too tight to speak.

Suddenly, Damien steps in front of us, his posture tense. He gestures to a side door. "That way. Now."

We move quickly, Alex's hand never leaving mine. The side door opens to a dimly lit stairwell. The air is thick, the scent of antiseptic giving way to something colder, more metallic.

Damien leads the way, his movements silent and precise. Alex follows, his eyes flicking back to me every few steps, as if making sure I'm still there.

We reach the bottom of the stairwell, and Damien pushes open a heavy door. It leads to a service corridor, the lights flickering overhead.

"This way," Damien says, his voice low.

We move quickly, the sound of our footsteps echoing. The corridor stretches on, each step feeling heavier than the last. My mind races with questions, but I know now isn't the time.

At the end of the corridor, a door opens to the parking lot. The night air is sharp, a stark contrast to the sterile warmth of the hospital.

Alex stops, turning to me. His eyes search mine, filled with a vulnerability I've never seen before. "Emma... I need you to know something. Before we go any further."

"What?" My voice is barely a whisper.

He steps closer, his hand brushing my cheek. "I didn't want this for you. Any of it. I wanted to keep you safe, to keep you away from all of this."

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "What are you talking about, Alex?"

He opens his mouth to answer, but a sudden noise cuts him off. The screech of tires. Headlights flash across the parking lot, blinding us.

Damien pulls me back, his grip firm. "Get down!"