Before Mary could finish her sentence, the door to the room was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang. The unexpected intrusion sent a wave of tension through the room as a tall man stormed in, his sharp eyes scanning the scene with barely contained fury.
"Mary!" Jason Miller's voice was sharp with worry as he rushed to her side. His gaze darted between her and the men surrounding her, his fists clenched. "Are you okay? Did they do anything to you?"
Behind him, four other figures entered—Malik, Gia, Mar, and Zi—all equally tense and ready for confrontation.
Jason, as the son of the club owner, had acted quickly the moment Mary stopped responding to their messages and calls.
Knowing something was off, he had checked the club's CCTV, only to see three unfamiliar men carrying her away. Not taking any chances, he had stormed in with security, prepared for the worst.
Mary, startled but not alarmed, quickly reached for Jason's arm. "Jason, calm down. I'm fine."
His sharp eyes scanned her, checking for any signs of distress or harm. "Then what the hell happened? Why weren't you answering your phone? And why were you carried off like that?"
Elijah smirked, leaning lazily against the couch. "Damn, what an entrance."
Jason shot him a glare, his stance defensive. "Don't test me."
Mary sighed, exasperated. "I lost consciousness. I would've fallen down the stairs if they hadn't caught me. One of them is a doctor, Jason. They didn't do anything to me."
Elijah, who had been holding Mary's bag, cleared his throat and lifted it slightly. "That would be because of this." He sighed. "Her phone was ringing, but we didn't answer because, well, it wasn't our place to breach her privacy. Also… things happened so fast, it slipped our minds."
Jason shot him a glare, still tense, but at least partially satisfied with the explanation. "You should've at least let us know she was safe."
Jason narrowed his eyes at Elijah for a moment before glancing at Mary, who gave him a small nod of reassurance. He finally exhaled, relaxing slightly.
Jason's suspicion remained, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Alex. "You? A doctor?"
Alex, sensing the doubt, reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek black business card, holding it out. "Dr. Alexander Young. Neurologist at Hospital A."
Gia, who had been assessing the situation quietly, suddenly stepped forward. "Wait—Alexander Young? The newly appointed head of the Neurology Department?"
Alex raised a brow, surprised. "That's me. How do you know that?"
Gia crossed her arms, her sharp gaze unwavering. "My mother, Dr. Evelyn Brown, is a specialist in internal medicine at Hospital A. My father, Dr. Christopher Brown, is the head of the Cardiology Department."
Recognition flickered in Alex's eyes. "Dr. Christopher Brown… right, I've met him. He's a highly respected cardiologist. And I believe I've heard of your mother as well."
Gia nodded, then turned to Jason. "He's legit. If he says Mary's okay, I trust him."
The tension in the room gradually eased, though Jason still looked unconvinced. "Even if that's true, she should go to the hospital."
Mary immediately shook her head. "I'll go tomorrow. It's the weekend, and I'll have time to get checked properly."
"Mary—"
"Jason," she interrupted, her tone firm. "I'm not going to collapse again in the next few hours. Let it go."
Jason exhaled sharply, clearly not happy but unwilling to push further. Malik, ever the pragmatic one, finally spoke. "Alright. Now that we know she's fine, let's all take a breath."
William, who had remained silent until now, took the opportunity to introduce himself. "Since we're all calming down, might as well introduce ourselves properly. William Lancaster. Heir to Lancaster Enterprises—real estate and luxury developments."
Michael stepped forward next, his presence commanding. "Michael Whitmore. Military officer."
Jason frowned. "Whitmore… as in, the wealthy Whitmore family? Specialized in national defense?"
Michael nodded. "That's the one."
Elijah stretched his arms. "Elijah Carter, heir to Carter Multimedia Corporation."
Mary's breath hitched slightly at that name, though she kept her expression neutral. Carter Multimedia. That meant Elijah was the older brother of Ethan Carter—the hacker she was after, the one connected to her accident. She hid her thoughts well, but inside, her mind was already analyzing the implications.
Benjamin, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke. "Benjamin Hayes. Attorney."
Jason gave him a long look, recognizing the name. "Hayes… one of the top lawyers in the country."
Benjamin smirked. "That's me."
Finally, Adam's deep voice cut through the air. "Adam Jones. Heir to Jones Corporation."
That statement alone was enough to make Jason's group straighten slightly. Jones Corporation was the number one corporation in the country, a powerhouse that dominated multiple industries. It wasn't something to take lightly.
Mar, ever the sharp one, crossed her arms. "Damn. We really walked into a room full of big shots, huh?"
Zi smirked. "Guess so."
Mary, now understanding exactly who she had been dealing with, studied them all carefully. It made sense now—their composure, their confidence, their presence. They weren't just any men; they were among the most influential in their respective fields.
Adam raised a brow. "And you are?"
Jason straightened. "Jason Miller. My father owns this club."
Elijah chuckled. "No wonder you stormed in here like that. Being the owner's son does have its perks."
Jason scoffed, his sharp gaze settling on Elijah. "Damn right it does."
Malik stepped forward. "Malik Davis. Heir to Davis Shipping."
William gave a small nod. "I've heard of Davis Shipping. Impressive company."
Mar tilted her head. "Marvet Karam. My mother is a professor at Diamond College, and my father, Daniel Karam, is a well-known news anchor at NEWSNOW television."
At the mention of Diamond College, the five men—Adam, Elijah, William, Michael, Benjamin, and Alexander—exchanged knowing glances. Diamond College was one of the most elite institutions in the country, renowned for producing top-tier professionals. Anyone working there had to possess exceptional abilities and was highly respected in academic and professional circles. As well as they have heard of Daniel Karam before.
Zi smirked. "Zehraa Tuffin. My family owns Belle Élan Boutique. "
Elijah whistled. "Belle Élan? My mother swears by that place."
Zi grinned. "Glad to know we have loyal customers."
The five men took in the introductions, mentally assessing the group before them. While they weren't necessarily at the same level as them in terms of influence, it was clear that Mary's friends were from well-established and capable families. The group was well-formed, each bringing a unique background to the table.
The tension had dissipated entirely now, the two groups settling into a strange but not unwelcome harmony.
Jason finally exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Since everything is settled, I'll let this go. But Mary, you're still coming with us after this."
Mary rolled her eyes but smiled slightly. "Noted."
Adam, who had been watching Mary's interaction with Jason closely, felt an unfamiliar irritation settle in his chest. Jason had been too quick to touch her, too concerned, too familiar. The way Mary placed a hand on Jason's arm in reassurance only fueled his jealousy, though he masked it well. He didn't like the easy way Jason interacted with her, the way his eyes softened as he looked at her.
He didn't like it. The protectiveness was understandable, but something about it irked him. Jason was too close, his tone too intimate, his concern too personal. And worse, Mary didn't seem to mind.
He suddenly spoke. "I'll have my driver ready if you need a ride."
Before Mary could respond, the door suddenly swung open again, this time with a different energy entirely.