Drake had been given some of what he needed — not everything, but enough to try. Damien plugged a cord from the phone into the system, hoping to trace the incoming signal.
"Hello. Who is this?" Damien answered sharply when the video call connected. The face on the other end was hidden behind a mask. The room fell so silent that everyone could hear their own breath.
"Hi, princey," the distorted voice purred.
"And who are you?" Damien frowned, leaning closer to the screen.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten your baby so soon." The kidnapper giggled wickedly.
From the background came a muffled sound — "Hmmm…"
Then the voice said, "Would you like to see who's behind the camera?"
The video shifted, and Damien's chest tightened.
Aiden was tied to a bed, his face covered with a black sack, trembling. The man yanked the sack away.
Aiden's face was pale, slick with sweat and tears.
"Don't you dare touch him!" Damien's voice cracked with fury. "Or I swear you'll be dead before sunrise."
"I feel like that's just an empty threat," the kidnapper laughed and stroked Aiden's cheek for the camera. "See for yourself."
The screen went black.
"Damn it!" Damien slammed the desk. "He disconnected!"
"Were you able to track him through the call?" Charlie asked Drake.
Drake hesitated. "No… but—"
"But what?" Damien snapped.
"But I think he's nearby. The IP was too scrambled for a remote trace. The pointer kept circling within this district."
"And how sure are you?" Charles asked.
"If he were far, the signal wouldn't appear at all. Look here—" Drake pointed at a blinking dot on the map. "It's roaming within range."
"Did you check nearby buildings or their CCTV?" Charles asked the guards.
"No, sir. The staff refused cooperation. They demanded a police warrant before giving access," one guard replied.
"What?" Charles growled.
Sean explained, "The building's owner isn't exactly friendly with the Smith Empire. They said letting us in would be 'invasion of privacy.'"
"That's ridiculous," Charles muttered.
"Who owns the building?" Damien asked.
"Sir, I—"
"Who cares who owns it?" Charles cut in, frustrated.
Drake's voice broke the tension. "Sir Damien, I might be able to access their cameras remotely. Maybe not all of them, but enough."
"Then do it. Now," Damien ordered.
A few tense minutes later, Drake shouted, "I think I've got it!" Everyone rushed to his screen. The footage showed Aiden being carried through the hotel lobby. The staff didn't react — one even cleaned up after them to erase the trail.
"The problem is, I don't know what floor they went to. The camera feed cuts after they entered the elevator," Drake said.
"Good work," Charles nodded. "Sean, meet me downstairs. Now."
Damien stormed into the elevator, jaw tight with rage.
---
At the Hotel
"Sir, you can't access the penthouse right now," the receptionist said nervously. "It's under construction."
Before Damien could reply, a woman among the staff recognized him. She hurried forward and whispered, "Mr. Smith… how can we assist you?"
Damien's eyes darted around. He knew it — Aiden had to be here. The car never left the premises.
"Damien," Charles whispered beside him, "I just saw the same black van in the parking lot."
The woman subtly slipped a keycard across the counter. "Use this," she mouthed.
"What are you doing?" another receptionist barked. She hit an alarm button, summoning security.
Too late. Damien's men burst in from the entrance, weapons drawn. Gunfire erupted, echoing through the hallways as Damien pushed forward, heading straight for the penthouse.
---
Inside the Penthouse
"Sir, I think they've found your location!" a voice yelled from another room.
"You think!?" the masked man roared. "Idiot!"
He snatched his phone, sneering. "Don't worry, princess. No one's going to catch me. But I'll get you again soon — and next time, you won't be rescued." He laughed, hurriedly dressing and shoving a bag into his coat.
Aiden could hear him pacing, hear the rush of footsteps outside. Panic surged through him.
"Hmmmm…" he whimpered through the gag, trembling violently.
The silence deepened until it pressed on his chest. Tears stung his eyes. He gasped for breath, shaking as the room tilted around him — and everything went black.
---
Sometime Later
"Help me… please!" Aiden jolted awake, drenched in sweat and tears. He blinked at the sterile white walls, the beeping of a heart monitor. "This isn't my bed…? Why am I in a hospital gown?"
"You're awake," a voice said softly.
Aiden turned. Damien sat beside him, laptop on his knees, eyes heavy with exhaustion.
"What am I doing here?" Aiden asked weakly.
Damien closed the laptop. "You made my life hell last night."
"What?"
"I combed the entire city looking for you," he said, standing. His tone was flat, but his hands trembled.
"So that wasn't a dream?" Aiden whispered.
"No. And because of it, we missed our flight. We were supposed to be on our way to Monaco by now."
Aiden clenched his fists. "So… you mean the flight was delayed because of me?"
"Yeah. Maybe if you'd listened — I told you not to drink from strangers, not to talk to—"
"Oh, shut up!" Aiden snapped, sitting up despite the pain. "Says the man who treats people like toys! You call me yours one minute, then stand next to a fiancée the next! You think I risked my life just to be some side story in your rich‑boy drama?" His voice shook with anger. "I'm done with your games, Damien. I want to be out. Just take me back to where I came from."
The room fell silent, the only sound the monitor's steady beep.
Damien's expression didn't move — but something in his eyes cracked.