An Accident

Chapter Two

The moment Nikolai Rosewood stepped out of his office that bore his name, the world seemed to hush around him.

His tailored navy-blue suit clung to his tall, broad frame like a second skin, his black hair barely out of place despite the long day.

Even the drizzle that misted the pavement seemed to pause for him.

He was the kind of man who didn't simply walk... he commanded the ground he stepped on.

Employees stationed at the front desk instinctively straightened, bowing their heads in silent respect.

Some dared to sneak a glance, their gazes filled with both admiration and fear. That was the power of Nikolai Rosewood... the youngest and most formidable CEO in the country.

He walked with an aura into the underground parking lot, where his black Lamborghini Urus sat waiting like a loyal beast.

As he unlocked the car with a subtle tap on his key fob, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and sighed.

"Mom," he muttered under his breath, silencing the call. Not now!

He slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The powerful rumble echoed through the empty parking lot as the headlights cut through the dim space.

He reversed out with precision and drove into the night.

The rain began to pick up as he merged onto the freeway.

His phone buzzed again, vibrating insistently against the seat. This time, he picked up.

"Yes, Mom," he said, his voice clipped.

"You brat!" came the scolding yet affectionate voice of Mrs. Rosewood. "Why weren’t you answering? Have you closed from work?"

"I have," he said curtly, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gear shift.

Her tone softened immediately, her motherly concern weaving into her words. "Good! Be careful. It’s raining hard tonight. And by the way, I’ve arranged a date for you tomorrow at noon. Don’t mess this up, Nikolai. You’re thirty-one. I want grandchildren before I’m too old to hold them."

Nikolai groaned inwardly, dragging a hand down his face. "Mom, not this again—"

"No excuses, young man! She’s from the Ivanov family. Gorgeous, well-mannered, and educated. Exactly what you need. And don’t give me that cold CEO nonsense! I know you still eat cereal in your pajamas when no one's watching."

He chuckled despite himself. "You’re blackmailing me with cereal now?"

"Yes! And I’m serious, Nikolai. I want you to go and be nice this time. You’re not made of ice."

"We’ll see," he murmured.

And then ... "Shit!" His tires screeched.

Something... no, someone... had darted into the road out of nowhere.

The phone slipped from his grip and clattered against the console. He slammed on the brakes with both feet, but it was too late.

There was a sickening thump followed by a dull crack and then silence. The rain hit harder now, like bullets on the windshield.

"Nikolai? Nikolai! What was that?!" his mother’s panicked voice called out through the speaker. But he didn’t respond.

He threw the door open and jumped out into the rain. Cold water soaked through his suit instantly, but he didn’t care. His eyes locked on the dark silhouette lying on the road.

A woman... Unconscious.

Blood pooled beneath her head, swirling into the rain like ink in water.

"No, no, no," he whispered, crouching beside her.

She was young ... no older than twenty-four. Her soaked dress clung to her slender frame, and her dark hair was plastered to her face.

Her chest rose faintly, but she wasn’t moving. Her pale hand was twisted unnaturally, and the gash at her temple wouldn’t stop bleeding.

Without hesitation, Nikolai scooped her into his arms. His heart pounded, guilt and dread coiling inside him like serpents.

He laid her in the back seat, slammed the door, and jumped back behind the wheel.

He didn’t think... He just drove.

Red lights were a blur. Traffic signs didn’t matter. Horns blared, and headlights flashed as he sped through intersections, pushing 160 km/h.

The hospital was just nearby. He just needs to get them as soon as possible.

It wasn’t just any hospital, it was his. Rosewood General, the crown jewel of his mother’s medical empire. And tonight, it would be the difference between life and death for the young lady in his car.

He screeched to a stop right at the emergency entrance. Before the security could react, he was already out of the car, lifting the girl again.

"Get Doctor Ahmed! And prepare the trauma team!" he barked. The staff, recognizing him instantly, scrambled into action.

Within seconds, a gurney appeared, and nurses helped him place her down. Blood smeared the sleeves of his white shirt.

Her head lolled to the side, and something about her face ... soft, delicate, and eerily peaceful ... made his chest tighten.

"She’s going into shock!" a nurse yelled.

They wheeled her away, and Nikolai was left standing in the middle of the emergency lobby, drenched in rain and blood, breathing heavily.

His phone rang again but this time, it was Rafael, his best friend.

"Where the hell are you? You missed the board dinner—"

"Raf, I need you to bring me a change of clothes. I'm at Baldwin General. Emergency wing," Nikolai said curtly.

"Whoa, what happened? Did someone die?"

"Not yet," Nikolai said with a sigh.

*******

Twenty minutes later, Rafael entered with a garment bag slung over his shoulder and a mischievous grin on his face. His curly hair was damp, and he smelled faintly of cologne and whiskey.

"Damn, you look like a mafia boss after a bloody shootout," Rafael said, eyeing Nikolai’s soaked and stained suit.

"I hit someone," Nikolai said flatly, removing his jacket.

"What?! What did you say? Like... hit hit? With your fists or your car?"

"The car! She just... she ran out of nowhere. I didn’t even see her." Nikolai explained curtly.

Rafael’s smirk vanished instantly. "Shit! Is she okay?"

"They’re still in surgery," Nikolai answered.

Rafael handed him the clean shirt and pants. "That’s... heavy, man. Are you okay?"

Nikolai didn’t answer immediately. He stood still, staring at the door through which the woman had disappeared, his jaw clenched.

"Do you... know who she is?" Rafael asked.

"No! How would I know someone from the street out of nowhere?" His voice dropped. "But I can't get her face out of my head."

Rafael softened. "It’s not your fault, Nik. It was an accident."

"Doesn't matter. I was the one driving. I should’ve seen her. If she dies—" His voice broke slightly, something uncharacteristic for the man known to be colder than steel.

"Hey, hey," Rafael said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let’s wait and not jump to conclusions, alright. She's in good hands."

Nikolai nodded silently and walked toward the private waiting room, leaving bloody footprints behind him.

*******

Five hours later.

The surgeon stepped out, pulling off his gloves. Nikolai stood instantly, his eyes fixed on the man’s face.

"Doctor?"

The surgeon gave a tired but reassuring nod. "She’s stable. We managed to stop the internal bleeding. The skull fracture was clean and not that serious ... she’s lucky. She’ll be unconscious for a while, but barring complications, she should recover fully."

Nikolai exhaled, a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

"Thank you." He said to the doctor.

"She’s being moved to a private room. You can see her soon." The doctor said.

Rafael patted Nikolai’s back. "See? Told you. She's a fighter."

But Nikolai said nothing. He simply walked toward the ICU like a man in a trance.

Inside the room...

She lay still, her face cleaned, the wound now stitched and bandaged. An oxygen mask covered her mouth.

Monitors beeped softly around her. She looked fragile now, not like the girl he’d seen running in the rain.

Nikolai pulled up a chair and sat beside her. He didn’t even know her name or why he wanted her to make it out badly.

But something inside him refused to leave.

"You scared the hell out of me," he whispered.

No response. Just the steady rhythm of her breathing.

He leaned back in the chair, his eyes fixed on her pale face.

"You'd better wake up, little girl. Because now... now I need to know who you are."

"I will help you find her identity now!' Rafael said and took out his phone a took a picture of the girl's face before leaving the room to make calls.

Nikolai kept staring at the girl's face. Something about her seemed familiar. But he still couldn't remember where he'd seen her.