It had been two days. Just two days since Brittany last heard from Noah.
Two long, agonizing days filled with silence.
Every time her phone buzzed, her heart raced — only to be let down when it wasn't him.
At work, she plastered on a smile, trying to look composed. But inside, her mind was a whirlwind of questions. Where are you, Noah? What's going on? Did they find you?
That morning, Damien's mood was a total mystery.
He had been unusually quiet since their last chat — too quiet for her comfort.
When she walked into his office with a fresh report, he looked up slowly, his gray eyes as sharp as ever.
"Close the door, Ms. Taylor."
Her heart skipped a beat. "Yes, sir."
He motioned for her to take a seat, then leaned back, scrutinizing her. "So, how long have you been with us now?"
"Almost a month."
"Hmm." His tone was contemplative. "You've adapted quickly. Most people take a while to get used to my way of doing things."
"I pick things up fast."
"I've noticed." He tilted his head slightly. "Almost too fast."
Brittany's grip tightened around the report in her lap. "Is there an issue, Mr. Wren?"
He paused before responding. Instead, he opened a file on his computer and angled the screen toward her.
Security footage.
A timestamp.
The same night Noah had sent his last message.
A figure in a hoodie, face obscured, slipping from the back door of an apartment building and blending into the night.
Damien's voice was calm but icy.
"Someone attempted to breach our systems that night. They didn't succeed, but they did trigger an internal alert."
She fought to keep her expression neutral. "That's… serious."
"It is." His gaze locked onto hers, unyielding. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you?"
Her heart raced. "No, sir. Why would I?"
He didn't blink. "That's what I'm trying to determine."
For a long, tense moment, silence enveloped the room.
Then he leaned back, his tone shifting to something almost casual.
"People think they can keep secrets from me," he said quietly. "They forget I built this company from the ground up. Every wall, every system, every lock — I know this place inside and out.
"I'm sure you do," Brittany replied, treading carefully.
His eyes flicked down to her trembling hands. "You're nervous."
"Because you're intimidating."
That took him by surprise — just a brief moment, but she noticed it. Then, to her astonishment, a subtle smile crept onto his face.
"Honesty," he said. "I appreciate that."
He shut the laptop and stood up. "You can leave. For now."
As she stepped out, her legs felt like jelly.
He's getting too close.
By the time she reached the restroom, her composure cracked. She splashed cold water on her face, staring at her reflection.
"Hold it together," she murmured. "You can't break down now."
Later that evening, she arrived at the cafe to meet with Celia. She looked at her with concern, "I've ordered your favorites. Let eat first" Celia spoke sofly.
"You look terrible," Celia said gently. "Still no news?"
Brittany shook her head. "Nothing. His phone's off. His email's gone. It's like he just disappeared."
Celia paused. "Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe he's safe, just keeping a low profile."
"I hope so." Brittany sank onto the couch, hugging a cushion. "But Damien's searching for him. I saw the footage. If he links the hack to Noah—"
"Then he'll link it to you," Celia finished softly.
They sat in silence, while eating, the weight of reality hanging heavily between them.
The next morning, Brittany showed up early, only to find Damien already in his office, gazing out the glass window that framed the city below.
He turned at the sound of her footsteps.
"You're here early," he remarked.
"So are you," she shot back.
A faint smile flickered across his face. "Couldn't sleep."
Neither could she.
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air — heavy, but not unfriendly.
Then, almost in a whisper, he asked, "Have you ever lost someone, Ms. Taylor?"
The question took her by surprise. "Yes."
He nodded slowly, his gaze drifting off. "It changes you. You start seeing people in a different light. You begin to seek the truth… even when it stings."
Her heart ached at his words. "It really does."
Their eyes locked — and for just a heartbeat, they were no longer a billionaire and his assistant, stripped of secrets and lies. Just two souls who had endured too much loss.
But then the moment slipped away.
Damien straightened up, his tone turning businesslike again. "We have work to do."
As Brittany made her way back to her desk, she missed the silent notification that popped up on Damien's monitor:
Trace Complete. Location Found.
Subject: Noah Caldwell.
Damien's eyes narrowed.
At last, he had a name.