41

Chapter 41

Darcy’s Pov

The conversation with Mark, my assistant had ended when I made my way upstairs heading to my room at least to freshen up. Today was stressful and with the news that made me restless, I was so exhausted already but needed to check the scheduled appointment for the Tokyo conference call and other project.

On my way, I caught sight of Adrian leaving Pink’s room, her steps slow and heavy.

Her face looked like the color had drained completely. Her shoulders drooped, and she was really tired, that kind that went beyond exhaustion — it was the kind that came from fear and guilt mixed together.

“Adrian, wait,” I called softly.

She stopped and turned, her expression guarded. “Yes, Mr. Rodrigo?”

The title hit harder than I expected. We had come too far for her to sound that distant. But I let it go.

I took a phone out of my pocket, the one I’d asked Mark to buy on his way over. “I need you to take this,” I said.

Her eyes flicked to it, very cautious. “I already have a phone.”

“This one’s for emergencies,” I said firmly. “My number’s already saved on it.” I gave it to her and she took it, but it took her a while. “If anything happens, no matter how small — you call me. Immediately. Understand?”

She nodded slowly. “I understand. But sir, Pink is always with me. If something happens…”

“Then you call me,” I interrupted, my tone sharper than I intended. “Anytime. No matter what. Just call.”

The urgency in my voice seemed to surprise her. Good. She needed to know this wasn’t casual.

“Adrian you should understand that Pink means everything to me,” I said, hearing my own voice tighten. “If you see signs of danger, please call me.”

“Okay, sir. I’m sorry about today.” Her tone was small, filled with guilt that twisted something inside me. “I should’ve been more careful. Should’ve noticed him sooner.”

“This isn’t your fault Adrian,” I said, cutting in before she starts overthinking the whole incident . “What happened wasn’t on you. It was his fault — for showing up. Leo’s fault for not paying closer attention. But not yours.”

She gave a weak nod, clearly not convinced. “Thank you for the phone. I’ll keep it with me at all times.”

“Good.”

I wanted to say more. To apologize for raising my voice earlier. I wanted to speak up,to tell Adrian she wasn’t at fault for what happened earlier and that he deeply trusted her to take care of Pink but I couldn't say it out loud. It was hard for me to express.

She walked away with the phone on her grips like it was the only thing that mattered while I just looked at her.

---

Later in my study, I tried to focus on work but found it hard to do so.

Mark had also sent over the files of today's meetings which I’d requested for. I didn’t get to finish the conference, so I'd to go through it.

The file contained detailed projections and strategy notes for the Tokyo expansion.

I've looked and read a page for fifteen minutes but I didn't understand.

All I could think of is how Adrian was at the park when that strange man approached her and Pink. I know my daughter was scared too.

The way Adrian had defended herself with her hands shaking, voice unsteady, but still brave enough to face me despite my anger.

I should have been able to concentrate. The Tokyo project was important, maybe even critical for our next phase of growth. But I'd a lot of thoughts in my mind. What if I’d lost Pink?

What if something bad happened? What if Leo had been looking the other way? What if that man, Martin, had taken Pink or hurt her before anyone could react?

The thought made my hands clench against the desk. I’d looked into Martin already and the details of his record only made my blood boil. He wasn’t just a stranger from Adrian’s past. He was dangerous. And the idea that he’d come close to my daughter sent a deep, unfamiliar panic coursing through me.

After I spent another useless hour looking at my screen without focusing on understanding, I gave up. The business could wait for now. But Pink couldn’t.

I left the study and quickly headed upstairs to check on her. Her room, dim with soft glow from the nightlight in butterfly shape which Adrian had bought lit the room. The small sound of her breathing reached me — uneven, quick, broken by quiet sobs.

My chest tightened instantly. She was crying in her sleep.

I moved closer and sat beside her. “Hey, sweetheart,” I said. “It’s me. Daddy’s here.”

Pink stirred, still half asleep, then whimpered softly. “The bad man, Daddy. He was scary.”

I carried her to my arms, brushing my hand over her hair. “I know, princess. But he’s gone now. He can’t hurt you, alright? You’re safe with me.”

She holds me tight, small and shaking. I carried her gently,like I used to carry her when she was a baby.

Slowly, she became quiet as her sobs became quiet , and then she was breathing calmly again.

But I knew this wasn’t the last time she would wake up again and still look for someone to stay with.

And when that happened… she’d want Adrian.

Adrian was the only one who could calm her completely. She had a way of soothing Pink’s fears — patient, soft-spoken, steady. If Pink woke in another panic, I’d need Adrian close.

I reached for my phone and then remembered the one I’d given her earlier. The emergency phone.

I picked it up and dialed.

It rang. Once. Twice. Five times. No answer.

I frowned and tried again. Still nothing.

By the fifth call, irritation crept in. By the tenth, it turned into worry.

I told her specifically to keep the phone with her. Did something happen to her?

I looked down at Pink who was asleep again, her face marked with tears and carefully I tucked her bed sheets in, placing her stuffed rabbit beside her.

Then I stood and left the room quietly.

Adrian’s door was down the hall, closed like usual. But when I turned the handle, it didn’t move. Locked.

I hesitated. She usually didn’t lock it unless she wanted privacy. Or unless she felt unsafe.

“Adrian?” I knocked lightly. “You alright?”

No answer.

I knocked harder again .. “Adrian, can you hear me?”

Still silent.

As it lasted longer without hearing her talk the heavier my chest felt.

Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe she is sleeping or muted the phone. But after everything that happened today, I couldn’t shake the worry.

I got out my master key. This is used when there were emergencies and then I inserted it into the lock. “Adrian, I’m coming in,” I said. quietly. " to make sure you’re okay.”

The door opened slowly...

She moved into her room, there was a lamp beside her bed. The bed was as it was, the sheets were neatly arranged. The air was warm. I heard her singing in the bathroom and the sounds of running water.

I was relieved. She was showering. At least that explained why she was not answering the calls.

She must have left it in her room while showering. Which meant she hadn’t heard a thing. I was scared for no reason or maybe because of the strange man who approached then earlier today

I sighed and touched the back of my neck. I should leave. Go back to Pink’s room and wait for her to finish.

But I couldn't see the phone, I'd checked her cupboard but it wasn’t there. Did she discard the phone?So I decided to call it again. When I called it, the phone was right there, the screen still lit up with my missed calls.

Ten of them. All from me.

The sound echoed clearly through the room. Loud. Impossible to miss.

And then the bathroom door flew open.

Adrian rushed out from the bathroom moving to get the phone, water still glistening on her skin and hair. At that instant it hit me like a shock — her body, her presence, her suddenness.

For a split second, I didn’t process what I was seeing. Then everything froze.

She froze too.

Her expression shifted from urgency to sheer surprise as her eyes locked with mine.

Time slowed. The air between us grew heavy.

I didn’t move an inch. I didn’t want to look away from her body.

Her bare body was stunning. The same woman from that night. The same curves of her hips, the same mark on her breast that I’d never forgotten. The truth I’d buried the hunger to touch her again slammed into me, hard and undeniable.

I froze, on what I was seeing.

Adrian’s hand covered her chest immediately when she noticed I was there when she rushed out naked.

“Darcy...” she whispered.

Should have said something. But I couldn’t. My thoughts were a mess of confusion, memory, and something far deeper I didn’t want to name.

Then everything in me went still.