Chapter 27: Emergency Shot

CHASE

The next day was Saturday, and Kiana was staying for the weekend. I went to work as usual, and she focused on her studies.

Neither of us mentioned what she had revealed the night before, or the kiss after. I wanted to, but I knew better. She had been through enough. I shouldn’t make her relive any more than she already had. Admitting it was brave enough.

I wanted to stay home and let Kiana have a peaceful weekend to recover after everything that had happened, but it was impossible. We had to attend a business dinner this evening.

The media would likely be sniffing around for the latest gossip about new deals and partnerships, and my presence was vital for the company’s success tonight.

I had told her to use my card to buy a new dress for the evening, ~despite her protests~.

But when I returned to the penthouse and saw her, I was speechless.

She was wearing a stunning red dress that swept the floor, strapless with a heart-shaped neckline. I admired how she didn’t try to hide the scar on her body, despite the pain it represented.

The dress fit her perfectly, highlighting her slender waist and flowing into a beautiful silhouette. Delicate pearls decorated her waist, arranged in an inverted V pattern that blended seamlessly with the rest of the dress.

Her hair was styled in a thick braid, pinned up with silver clips, each tipped with pearls. And around her neck was the necklace I’d gifted her on our first night out together.

Her lips were a vibrant red, and her makeup was flawless, enhancing her natural beauty without overshadowing it.

“You look…” I was at a loss for words.

She absentmindedly brushed a non-existent loose strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze dropping to the floor.

“~Stunning~,” I concluded.

“Thanks, it wasn’t too extravagant—” she started, but I cut her off.

“I’ve told you before, I don’t care about the cost.” I cleared my throat, a little awkwardly. “I’ll go get ready. Won’t be long,” I said, tearing my eyes away from her and dashing into my room.

A tight sensation gripped my chest, heat radiated through my body until it felt like I was suffocating, and my arousal was now fully awake and ready for action.

~Damn. Why does she affect me like this?~

I doused my face with icy cold water, trying to snap back to reality.

I quickly slipped into black formal pants and a deep red shirt, leaving the top two buttons undone.

I was almost ready to leave when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out, preparing to reject the call. However, Lucas’s name popped up on the screen.

I couldn’t lock him off; he could have found something about Cooper.

Just thinking his name made my blood boil. I would do everything in my power to make him pay, no matter what it took.

~I’m sorry, Kiana, but I can’t just let this one go.~

“I’m listening,” I said, closing my door to ensure she couldn’t hear me.

“Cooper Smith, only child to Lilian and Jackson Smith. Studied abroad for the last four years in preparation to take over his father’s business. Came out in the top percentage in his academic year.

“He has a history of mental illnesses on his mother’s side, a little wild in the club scene, and has a number of minor traffic incidents as well as indecent exposure, but nothing solid or worth writing home about.”

“And the business card?”

“Fake, as suspected. I couldn’t trace his number, and he has no known address. He must be staying in a hotel or with a relative or friend.”

“He’s just come home from being abroad. He might not have gotten that far just yet. I want any dirt you can find on this guy, and I need an address and phone number as soon as possible.”

“Will do,” Lucas said assuredly. “Is this guy a threat?”

My jaw tensed. “You could say that. Just let me know when you have it.”

I hung up the phone, forcing myself to calm down before joining Kiana.

KIANA

We arrived at the restaurant not long after we left. A nagging feeling tugged at the back of my mind that I had forgotten something crucial, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was.

Chase was engrossed in his phone for most of the car ride, which didn’t surprise me. He was always working. I thought I caught him glancing my way a few times, but he didn’t say anything. Maybe I was just imagining things?

When the car halted, the driver opened my door. Chase strolled over to my side and, as if on cue, offered me his arm before we stepped into the restaurant.

We were guided to a table where a few people were already seated, sipping on their drinks. I didn’t recognize most of them, and the ones I did were people I had only briefly interacted with at previous events.

I was beginning to adapt to these events. It felt similar to mastering a dance routine. And just like dancing, you occasionally needed to incorporate your personal flair to truly shine.

Once we had ordered, the women who were there just for show or to impress started their own chatter, leaving the men in suits to discuss the intricacies of business and potential deals.

“What’s your take on this?” the woman next to me whispered.

“Take on what?” I responded, unsure of what she was referring to.

“This spectacle. Everyone’s playing make-believe. It’s all for the press.” She gestured around us at the hidden cameras and not-so-subtle reporters. I was suddenly grateful for my position, which obscured the view of my face from eager lenses.

“I’m Amelia. My husband owns a few hotels in the city. He’s looking to expand beyond the UK.”

“I’m Kiana. My boyfriend owns a security—”

“Oh, darling, I know. We all do. It’s Chase Winters, after all. That name carries quite the reputation, and it only seems to grow with each generation.”

I wasn’t surprised. Everyone who interacted with Chase always showed respect. Despite being only twenty-five, his reputation surpassed those nearly twice his age.

I noticed a woman at the table opposite me. Her expression was intense, and she was openly casting hostile glances toward me.

~Who is she?~

It took me a minute to register that familiar, unfriendly face…

~Joanna.~

I didn’t expect her to be here tonight.

Throughout the evening, she kept shooting me nasty looks. I didn’t need to meet her gaze to know she was wishing all sorts of ill will upon me. I tried to shrug it off. There was nothing she could do to me anyway.

Apart from the devil’s daughter, the dinner went smoothly. Amelia and I got along quite well, and we kept each other company for most of the night.

I could hear more than see the media snapping photos and eavesdropping on private conversations. Chase had made sure my seat was out of sight of prying eyes. But just to be safe, I kept my back to them. I didn’t want my picture splashed across the newspapers.

After a while, I started to feel dizzy. It hit me out of nowhere. I felt nauseous, and my hands began to shake. My palms were sweaty, and a throbbing in my head made me wince.

What was going on with me?

The only thing that made me this way was…

~Damn! My insulin!~

I’d forgotten to take my insulin shot! I was supposed to take it while I was getting ready, but I was too preoccupied with thinking about everything that had happened over the past few days.

I dug through my purse until I found my emergency shot at the bottom of my bag. Thank goodness I didn’t forget that.

“Excuse me,” I said to Amelia as I rose from my seat rather quickly.

Chase turned his head the moment I stood and gently grabbed my arm.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice laced with worry.

I leaned down and whispered, “Yes, I just need to use the ladies’ room. Don’t worry. I’m not making a run for it,” I joked, trying to ease his concern.

He gave me a skeptical look as I walked away.

The receptionist pointed me toward a restroom at the end of the corridor. The moment I stepped inside, my legs gave way. I clung to the sink to keep from falling and managed to regain my feet. I doused my face with water, trying to clear my blurry vision.

I had to give myself the injection, but I needed to see clearly to do it.

Eventually, I slid down to the cold floor, lifting my dress to reveal my thigh. Just as the needle was about to pierce my skin, the door flew open, and Joanna barged in.

She stared at me with a look of pure disgust, as if she had walked in on something utterly revolting.

“I knew it! I knew you were hiding something!” With a swift, forceful motion, she knocked the syringe from my hand. It soared across the room, smacking against the bathroom stall door.

I tried to retrieve it, but my body was too weak. I could feel myself fading fast. I was slipping into insulin shock. Without my medication, I could lapse into a coma—~or worse~.

“It was just as well that nice man called me and told me of your disgusting habit,” she spat. “But I didn’t dream I’d actually catch you in the act!”

Nice man? The only people who knew of my condition were Mia, my doctor, and those from my past…

~Cooper!~

“You won’t ruin Chase with your drug addiction!” she hissed, crushing the insulin syringe under her heel. The liquid splattered across the immaculate tiles.

My eyes widened in terror, and a strangled gasp escaped my lips. “No.”

I didn’t have another one; that ~was~ my backup!

Without my insulin, I could…

~I could die.~