CHAPTER TWENTY - THREE

~Riya~

The first thing I felt was the stiffness in my throat, as if I’d swallowed smoke. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and blood, and somewhere nearby, a machine beeped in a slow, steady rhythm.

When I opened my eyes, bright white light stabbed through them. For a moment, I panicked, until I heard a voice.

“Riya?”

It was shaky, filled with disbelief.

I turned my head weakly to the side. Leanna was sitting beside my bed, her fingers tightly wrapped around mine. Her eyes were swollen, and her hair was tangled.

“Oh my God, Riya!” she gasped, pressing her other hand to her mouth. “You’re awake! You’re actually awake!”

“You scared me so bad,” she whispered, half laughing, half sobbing.

I blinked slowly. “Leanna… where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital.” She sniffled, straightening up to wipe her tears. “You’ve been out since yesterday.”

My memory was foggy. “The fire…” I whispered. “There was smoke, the storeroom…”

Leanna nodded quickly. “Yes. It all started just after you went in there.”

She took a shaky breath before continuing. “The gas cookers in the kitchen suddenly started exploding, one after another. The whole place caught fire before anyone even realized what was happening. It spread so fast, Riya. The curtains, the ceiling… everything.”

My heart sank. “The restaurant…”

“It’s half gone,” she said quietly. “But everyone made it out.” She paused. “Everyone except you.”

I swallowed, my throat dry. “Did you try to…”

“I did,” she interrupted quickly. “I tried to get to the storeroom, but the fire was too much. I couldn’t even see through the smoke. I kept calling your name, but nothing. Then I had to call Dorian.”

“Dorian…” I murmured, barely able to process it.

She nodded. “He didn’t even hesitate. He just ran straight into the fire. With a mask, but no hesitation, nothing. I swear, Riya, I thought he was going to die in there with you.”

I closed my eyes; the image flashed through my mind.

Leanna sniffed again. “If it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

I turned to her weakly. “Is he… alright?”

“He’s fine,” she said softly. “Burned his arms and legs, but the doctors treated him. They said he just needs bed rest.”

I exhaled.

Just then, the door opened, and a nurse walked in with a warm smile. “Well, look who decided to wake up.”

Her voice was light and kind. “How are we feeling today?”

“Like I’ve been run over,” I muttered, trying to sit up.

“Easy there,” the nurse said, adjusting my pillows. “You inhaled a lot of smoke, but your vitals look good. You’re recovering well.”

Leanna smiled faintly. “She’s stubborn. I’m not surprised.”

The nurse chuckled, checking the monitor beside me. “You’re lucky, Miss Riya. It’s a miracle you made it out alive.”

“It wasn’t luck,” Leanna muttered under her breath. “It was Mr. Steele.”

The nurse’s brows lifted slightly, but she smiled. “Ah, yes. The owner. He’s been hovering since he got here. You must be special.”

I frowned slightly. “No, I’m just… his employee.”

Before the nurse could respond, the door opened again.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop immediately.

Dorian walked in.

He was dressed in dark slacks and a plain shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal bandages wrapped neatly around his forearms.

The nurse turned to him with a polite nod. “Mr. Steele. You shouldn’t be walking around yet.”

“I’m fine,” he said flatly. “How’s her condition?”

“She’s stable,” the nurse replied. “The doctor will still need to run a few final checks before discharge, but she’s responding well.”

He nodded once. “Good.”

The nurse smiled at both of us. “I’ll bring the forms for her discharge later. Try to rest in the meantime.” She gave a polite bow before leaving the room.

Leanna cleared her throat softly. “Mr. Steele, we’re really sorry about what happened to the restaurant. I swear none of us…”

“I know,” he interrupted. “No one’s being blamed.”

That alone made her pause.

He continued, “I’ve sent all staff home. The restaurant will be closed until renovations are complete.”

Leanna frowned. “So what do we do until then?”

His eyes moved to her. “You and Riya will come with me.”

I blinked, stunned. “With you?”

He looked back at me, his expression unreadable. “The staff quarters were completely destroyed. You don’t have anywhere to stay.”

I hesitated. “But…”

“It’s not a request,” he said coldly. “You’ll stay in my private estate until the restaurant reopens.”

Leanna exchanged a look with me. “Mr. Steele, Riya hasn’t been discharged yet…”

“The doctor will clear her within the hour,” he cut in, already reaching for his phone. “I’ve arranged transportation and accommodation. The decision’s made.”

Leanna muttered under her breath, “He’s so bossy.”

He ignored her completely.

Turning to me, his voice dropped slightly, but it wasn’t gentle; it was controlled. “You’ll need rest if you’re going to be useful again. I can’t have my head chef coughing her lungs out when work resumes.”

I bit my lip, looking down. “Yes, sir.”

“Good,” he said simply, checking his watch. “My driver’s bringing food. Once he gets here, we leave.”

He walked to the window, his back to us. The late afternoon sunlight cast a hard glow on his profile, sharp jawline, tense shoulders, and those cold, calculating eyes staring out at nothing.

Leanna sighed quietly. “He’s unbelievable.”

I almost smiled despite myself. “He did save my life.”

She snorted. “Probably just so he wouldn’t have to hire a new chef.”

Before I could reply, a nurse came in again, holding a clipboard. “Miss Riya, your discharge has been approved. You’re clear to go home, but please make sure you rest and use your medication properly.”

“Thank you,” I said softly.

The nurse nodded, removing the IV carefully. “We’ll bring a wheelchair to take you down.”

Minutes later, Dorian’s driver appeared at the door with two paper bags of food. Dorian barely acknowledged him before turning to us. “Let’s go.”

Leanna raised a brow. “No rest for the wicked, huh?”

“Move faster,” was all he said.

The orderly helped me into the wheelchair. Leanna followed behind, clutching my bag. Dorian walked beside us, silent and composed, his long strides steady.

As we passed through the hospital corridor, nurses whispered quietly, sneaking glances at him. He ignored them all.

Outside, the sun was sinking low, bathing the hospital entrance in orange light. A sleek black car waited by the curb.

Dorian held the door open wordlessly as the orderly helped me into the back seat. His bandaged hand brushed mine for a second.

Leanna climbed in beside me, muttering, “I feel like we’re getting kidnapped by our boss.”

Dorian shut the door, expression blank. “If that’s what keeps you two quiet, then good.”

The driver pulled away from the hospital, the city slowly fading behind us.

Leanna leaned close and whispered, “So… we’re really staying at his place?”

I nodded slowly, watching the reflection of Dorian in the rearview mirror, his eyes fixed ahead, face unreadable.

“Apparently,” I murmured.

As the car sped down the empty road, a chill settled in my chest. I didn’t know

what awaited us at his so-called private mansion. But one thing was certain: this wasn’t an act of kindness.

It was control.

And now, I was under it again.