Chapter Three: Running toward the unknown

The doctors dispersed after Seraphina had uncovered the problem.

She was also about to leave when he called out,

“Dr. St. Claire?”

“Yes” Seraphina said turning to face him.

Damien studied her carefully.

"The St. Claire family is practically royalty in the medical world. "His gaze sharpened. "I've heard countless stories about Celeste St. Claire."

"Yet somehow, I've never heard a single one about you." He said. "Why is that?"

Seraphina smiled faintly,

"Fame was never my priority." She turned toward the door. "Saving lives is."

"Now, if you'll excuse me, your treatment plan won't write itself."

Damien glanced toward the silent television.

"Before you go..."

"Turn that on."

Just as the Television came on, it was a news on her engagement,

“The wealthy and renowned New York family, the St. Claire has cancelled the engagement ceremony between their second daughter, Seraphina St. Claire and Adrain Montclair, the CEO of Montclair Pharmaceuticals due to the disappearance of the bride to be from her own engagement…”

Seraphina stood there balling her left fist and tightening her grip on the remote.

Her eyes were deathly cold.

Damien observed her closely, he could tell something had happened for her to disappear from her own engagement.

He began to worry about her.

Seraphina’s phone buzzed bringing her back to reality.

It was a strange number.

She dropped the remote and left without any word.

The moment she stepped out; Cassian walked into the room.

Seraphina walked towards the rear before answering the call,

The moment Seraphina answered, Celeste’s cold voice exploded through the line.

"Where the hell are you?"

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Seraphina’s grip on her phone tightened,

“Are you dead now? or you’re just pretending to be deaf!”

“Can you please talk like a civilized person at least?” Seraphina said calmly.

"You embarrassed this family in front of the entire city." Celeste's voice laced with malice. "If you don't come back immediately, I promise you'll regret it."

"You want to lead the family’s business?"

"It’s all yours."

"You want Adrian and father's attention?"

"Keep that too." She spoke. "I'm done fighting for things that were never mine."

“What? Adrian? I don’t care about your fiancé?” Celeste said.

"You really want to know why I didn't show up?" Seraphina laughed softly.

There was no trace of amusement.

"Because I watched my fiancé kiss my stepsister."

For the first time since the call began, Celeste had nothing to say.

"So, thank you, Celeste, you saved me from marrying a man who never deserved me."

"And one last thing, don't call me again, as far as I'm concerned, I no longer have a sister."

Seraphina added before ending the call and blocking the number.

Seraphina ran her hand through her hair tiredly. She walked back into her manor sitting down to make some research. Research was the only thing that kept her busy from distractions she had while growing up. She continued her research for hours until her alarm buzzed. It was time for Damien’s medication.

She went into his manor and fetched the medications herself to personally bring it to him.

When she entered the room, Sylvester was the only one in the room clearing out the room.

“Where’s Mr. Laurent?” Seraphina asked.

“He left for the Westcliffe manor where he usually had his board meetings since he fell sick” Sylvester replied.

“Has he had lunch?” She asked him.

“I brought him lunch minutes ago but I’m unsure whether he has had lunch” He replied.

“Alright, thank you” Seraphina said then headed for the boardroom.

Inside the board room, the meeting had been ongoing for four hours, the executives treaded carefully because Damien was in a terrible mood today.

A senior executive was adjusting his tie nervously while Damien flipped open the pages of documents indifferently over the conference table.

“No, I don’t want this” Damien said.

Beads of cold sweat formed on the man’s forehead,

“Sir, the executives…” The man said but Damien interrupted.

“It is either they accept my decision or they prepare to leave!” Damien said.

The room fell silent almost immediately.

Damien was known to be intolerable to incompetence on a normal day.

But during a cardiac episode?

Everyone feared him except someone he just met earlier this morning.

The door to the room was flung open.

Seraphina pushed the trolley inside.

"Mr. Laurent." The entire room went silent. "Your medication was scheduled forty minutes ago."

Damien slowly closed the report.

"You just interrupted a board meeting."

"And you're ignoring medical orders." She responded.

Her gaze never wavered.

"I'd say we're both being equally disruptive."

The executives stared at her surprised.

Was she lecturing him?

Damien leaned back in his seat then raised an eyebrow,

"You always this bold?"

"Only when my patients are being stubborn."

"If that's what it takes to keep you alive?" She replied. "Absolutely"

Damien laughed softly.

He looked dangerously attractive when he smiled.

The executives began to wonder what kind of relationship she had with him.

Damien glanced around the room.

"You heard my doctor; this meeting is over!”

The executives one after the other.

Seraphina set the table carefully,

“I let them warm the food and the soup”

Damien carefully ate the food while she prepared his medicine.

As he ate, he observed how careful she was about serving him, she did it purely and efficiently.

The moment he finished his food, she cleared the table and made sure he took his drugs.

She placed all in the trolley,

“Seraphina…” Damien called out.

Seraphina froze when she heard him calling her that.

Damien watched her in silence.

"You know, most people would've sent the nurse but you came yourself."

He was surprised he could say thank you to her himself.

If the staffs were there, they would probably not believe him in the slightest.

Seraphina looked in his face,

"That's exactly what I'm doing, my patients don't get to neglect themselves on my watch."

Damien's eyes softened.

"Maybe, not everyone cares as much as you do."

Seraphina went silent, she was moved.

“Stress is the catalyst you should avoid right now” Seraphina said to clear out the awkwardness.

Damien smiled at her.

“Excuse me, Mr. Laurent!” Seraphina said then left the board room.

Damien stared at the closed door long after she was gone. He found that annoying. He had spent years building an empire, negotiating billion-dollar deals, and controlling every aspect of his life. Yet somehow, a woman he had known for less than twenty-four hours occupied more of his thoughts than any business meeting ever had.

He reached for his phone.

"Dig up everything on the St. Claire family."

There was a pause.

"Everything?"

Damien's gaze drifted toward the door.

"Especially Dr. Seraphina St. Claire."