Aiden's POV

The atmosphere in the office was tense, silence filled with apprehension. Employees moved quietly, their eyes darting around corners, avoiding unnecessary conversations, and most importantly, steering clear of Aiden Evans, the once-composed CEO who had become a storm of fury.

"Hey, have you noticed how boss has been acting lately?" Anna, Aiden's secretary asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mike, Aiden's secretary nodded, his face etched with concern. "Yeah, it's hard not to. He's been yelling at everyone he comes across. It's like he's angry all the time."

Anna sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I saw him in the hallway yesterday. He looked like he was ready to explode. He started yelling at the marketing team about their latest campaign."

"I heard about that," Mike said, shaking his head. "Apparently, he wasn't happy with the numbers."

"And it's not just the marketing team. He's been snapping at everyone, from the receptionists to the senior managers. It's creating such a tense atmosphere around here."

"I know what you mean," Mike said, leaning against the counter. "People are on edge, trying to avoid him as much as possible. It's like walking on eggshells."

Anna frowned, her mind racing. "I wonder what's going on with him. He used to be so composed. Maybe there's something happening behind the scenes that we don't know about."

"Could be," Mike conceded.

In the CEO's office, Noah, Aiden's assistant, stood in front of the desk, delivering his report. "Sir, we've investigated all her known contacts, but we didn't find anyone matching her description."

Aiden's voice was cold and detached. "And the other matter?"

"Handled, Sir. She's in the black room for ten days. After that, we'll send her to the sea."

Aiden nodded. "Good. That's enough. Dismissed."

"Yes, Sir." Noah bowed slightly before leaving the room, nodding to the other two men present.

Harris leaned back in his chair, his eyebrows knitting together in contemplation. "I thought you weren't going to look for her."

Eddie smirked, leaning forward with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Want me to give it a shot? I'm sure I can find her."

Aiden walked to the glass wall of his office, staring down at the city below. The lights glittered mockingly, deepening his sense of gloom. He clenched his fists, the reflection of the city blurring as emotions surged within him.

After that night, he told himself he would forget her. But a month had passed, and he couldn't get her out of his mind. Her laughter, her touch, her warmth—they haunted him. Something told him she didn't hate him or the night they spent together. Maybe he was misunderstanding everything.

He'd stationed guards at the hotel, hoping she might come back for him. He believed they would meet again. He'd never believed in love at first sight, but here he was—having fallen hard in one night, only to be abandoned. The ache in his chest was a constant reminder of what he'd lost.

He'd decided not to look for her, but when he learned that the woman who drugged her was still alive, he realized she had completely left him, not even seeking revenge. The realization stung more than he cared to admit.

His heart broke, but he sought vengeance for her. He ensured the culprit would suffer. With a sliver of hope, he tried to find her again through the culprit, but it was another dead end. The futility of his efforts weighed heavily on him, yet he couldn't bring himself to stop.

"Aiden?" Harris's voice pulled him back to the present.

"Hmm?" Aiden turned, emerging from his thoughts, his gaze meeting Harris's concerned eyes.

"Eddie wants to know if he should look for her," Harris said, his tone softening slightly.

"No. There's no need," Aiden replied, shaking his head. "She doesn't want to be found. And I don't want to force her." His voice was firm, but the pain behind his words was evident.

"So you're just going to give up?" Harris asked, raising an eyebrow, skepticism lacing his voice.

"No. I will wait," Aiden confessed, his voice filled with determination. "I don't know why, but now I can only see my future with her and no one else. I don't think I can give up on her."

Eddie leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "Then will you finally tell us how you met her and what actually happened that night?"

Aiden sighed, leaning against the window, the city lights reflecting in his eyes as he held his coffee cup. His mind drifted back to that fateful night.