One hour ago, Hann glanced at his watch, a deep unease was settling in his gut. He had looked at the door where President Victor and Kaylee had left the HVAC control room for what felt like the hundredth time.
About half an hour earlier, the team had concluded the minor fire investigation and confirmed the preliminary evidence found.
The head of security, Martin Liew, found and reported missing footage from the building's surveillance cameras between 1am to 2am this morning. The tampered memory card was then sent to a professional data recovery specialist.
Through the recovered footage, they saw a suspicious figure sneaking into the HVAC control room while the only person on the night shift was out for a toilet break, plugged something into the desktop, and swiftly typed something on the keyboard before sneaking out again.
Tracing the electronic access log to that room around that time, they were shocked to find an ID that was not supposed to be in during that time - Haidy Rimun, who was on a personal holiday. Hann's expression darkened when he was informed of that.
The minor fire later this morning was totally accidental, but it was timely to trigger this series of thorough investigations and troubleshooting.
Hann thought that was a key turning point for their troubleshooting thus far, and he was eager to share the news with President Victor and Miss Stone, but why were they not back yet? They had been gone for over two hours. Hann stopped pacing and made a decision. It was time to find them.
The senior HVAC engineer had mentioned it would take about twelve minutes to walk to the manually controlled zone. Without wasting another moment, Hann quickly assembled a team. He chose the building's maintenance supervisor, Carlos Empang, the head of security, Martin, two HVAC technicians, and a medical officer, Ainul Imran. Each member of this team had a critical role, and they moved with purpose through the authentically structured corridors of the building to the other side.
Upon arriving at the manually controlled zone, Hann felt the chill in the air, an ominous sign. The temperature was only 13°C in the corridors and common areas, but Hann knew that this was close to the threshold that could trigger Victor's traumatic memories and reaction. He remembered all too well the incident thirteen years ago and how careful they had been to shield Victor from cold temperatures since then.
They started their search from Block A, moving room to room with methodical precision. Hann led the way, his mind a storm of concerns. The manually controlled zone was seldom visited up until now, and given the currently ongoing building safety problems, anything could have happened. The corridors were eerily silent, save for the echoing of their footsteps.
As they moved into Block C, the signal was finally restored. Hann's phone buzzed with many notifications. He quickly glanced at it and saw the messages from President Victor. He opened the WhatsApp notification and felt a rush of urgency. "H520, Block E!" he shouted to the team and they broke into a run.
2°c? he cried out in his heart. How would President Vic survive that since 7.30pm! And Miss Stone! Is she still alright now? Hann's mind raced and his heart worried sick as they rushed to Block E.
When they arrived at H520, the cold was biting. Carlos inserted the emergency override key into the manual lock, but the mechanism seemed jammed due to the cold. He then used the portable electronic door lock bypass kit, a tool designed to reset and override the electronic lock systems in emergencies. After a tense few moments, the door clicked open.
They burst into room H520 to find Victor and Kaylee huddled together near the wall halfway into the empty room. Under the overcoat covering Victor, Kaylee's arms still wrapped around Victor's chest, very stiff. Ainul immediately instructed the guys to be very gentle as they moved Victor and Kaylee's limbs or bodies. Together, they managed to carefully remove Victor from Kaylee's embrace without hurting or injuring Kaylee's stiff limbs.
Ainul's heart sank at the sight of Kaylee's small body with her limbs in a very awkward posture after Victor was removed from her front. Her eyes teared a little and she sniffled as she very gently but skilfully re-arranged Kaylee's arms and legs and pulled down her dark navy dress from her waist to cover the black safety pants worn under her dress and the rest of her thighs.
Ainul could tell how thoughtful and caring this woman was by studying her chosen position - using her back to cushion President Victor from the icy cold wall, using her chest, arms, and legs to wrap around him for maximum body heat sharing, and the overcoat that was covering President Victor's front in addition to the overcoat that he was already wearing. This woman had given her all to keep their president alive. This courageous woman really had her respect, and she wanted to do her best to attend to her right now.
Hann felt the same, his heart ached upon glancing at Kaylee after his President Vic was carefully pulled out from her arms. He quickly looked away out of respect for her dignity and let Ainul do the necessary while he attended to Victor.
Kaylee was already unconscious, her body wracked with shivers, while Victor was barely holding on to consciousness. They were swiftly transported to the hospital.
Victor's condition, though serious, was not as dire as it could have been. His body had developed a certain resilience to cold after the traumatic incident thirteen years ago. As he lay in the hospital bed, his mind drifted in and out of consciousness.
He dreamed about his late mother singing the same song that Kaylee sang to him in the cold room. His mother had sung it to him thrice whenever he was upset since he was 18. Her voice, soothing and warm, was a balm to his soul. He remembered how she had told him about a girl who had taught her the song, a girl who had saved her. In his dream, he saw the blurry face of that girl slowly becoming clear, and Kaylee's younger face appeared.
Victor woke with a start, disoriented. He called out for Hann, desperate to know about Kaylee. Hann reassured him that she was in the ICU, stable but recovering from severe hypothermia. Victor's heart ached with worry, but he was also filled with deep gratitude for her bravery and sacrifice.
Hann also brought news that rocked Victor about the HVAC and fire safety systems tampering that was linked to Haidy. The possibility of betrayal cut deep, shaking Victor's confidence in his judgment of people. Considering the recovery that Victor needed now, Hann encouraged him to leave the rest of the investigation to the team and prioritize his recovery, reminding him not to waste Kaylee's utmost efforts in keeping him alive. He briefly shared with Victor what he saw when they arrived at the cold room.
Upon hearing that, Victor closed his eyes and covered them with his left forearm, his face in great agony. Hann deeply understood he needed a moment alone and quietly left the room.
***
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Cherie paced the room, her stilettos clicking sharply against the marble floor. The tension in the air was palpable as she awaited the call. When her phone finally rang, she snatched it up, barely glancing at the caller's name.
"Hello?" she snapped, impatience lacing her tone.
"Cherie, it's done," the voice on the other end said, a hint of nervousness seeping through.
She felt a momentary relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by a sense of dread. "What do you mean, 'it's done'?" she demanded, her voice icy.
"The Langford Group traced the tampering back to my ID. I guess they are now suspicious that I was involved."
Cherie's grip tightened around her phone, her knuckles turning white. "What?" she hissed. "How could you be so careless?"
"I... I don't know how they found out," the voice stammered. "The surveillance footage was supposed to be deleted. Maybe they recovered it."
"You idiot!" Cherie exploded. "You were supposed to do this cleanly and carefully. Do you have any idea what this means? My entire plan is falling apart because of your stupidity!"
There was silence on the other end, followed by a weak, "I'm sorry, Cherie."
"I don't want to hear Sorry now!" she spat. "Do you realize that my Daddy is now looking into this matter? The minor fire at the conference center has caught his attention, and he's already suspicious. This was supposed to be a simple, foolproof plan, and now everything is in jeopardy."
The voice on the other end was trembling. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I did everything you asked."
Cherie took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "You knew what was at stake, Haidy. This was your chance to prove yourself, and you failed. Not only have you jeopardized my position, but you've also put yourself directly in the crosshairs."
Haidy's voice was barely a whisper. "What do we do now?"
Cherie closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. "For now, you lay low. Do not contact me unless absolutely necessary. I'll try to manage the fallout from my end. But remember this, Haidy - if you drag me down with you, I won't hesitate to cut you loose."
There was a pause, and then Haidy said, "I understand."
Cherie hung up the phone, her mind racing. Haidy Rimun had been an easy pawn, his affection for her making him malleable and eager to please.
Several years ago, she had met him through a professional meeting he had with her father, Counsellor George Gana. Haidy, almost ten years older than her, had been smitten since then, but she found him too old and unremarkable. However, for this scheme, she had leveraged his feelings to her advantage, convincing him to tamper with the HVAC and fire safety systems to create a crisis that would allow her to manipulate Victor on her terms using the delayed permit approval as her means.
Now, her carefully laid plans were unraveling, and her father was the one handling the Langford Group's launch permit request for the new conference center. If he discovered her involvement, it would not only ruin her career but also strain her relationship with him. Counsellor George had a reputation to uphold, and any scandal involving his daughter could have serious repercussions.
She sat down heavily on the couch, her mind whirling with potential solutions. She needed to think fast, to find a way to divert suspicion from herself, and to control the damage that had been done. She couldn't afford to let Haidy's incompetence ruin everything she had worked for.
***
It was the third night in the hospital, Victor was finally allowed to get up from the bed for light movement. The first thing he asked was for Hann to bring him to see Kaylee. Hann brought over a wheelchair and wheeled him to Kaylee's room at the ICU.
Having consulted Victor yesterday, Hann had tried to reach Kaylee's next of kin to inform them about her current condition. He managed to obtain Kaylee's parents' contact numbers but was told that they had just departed to a two-week mission field in the rural area that had no communication signals and would be back in another twelve days.
Hann promised Victor that he would handle this and follow up closely to inform Kaylee's parents as soon as they were reachable. He had also contacted Kaylee's company to request medical leave for Kaylee until further notice.
Kaylee had not woken up since their admissions two days ago, but her body was gradually rewarming under the careful watch of medical professionals.
Hann positioned Victor's wheelchair next to Kaylee's bed and he left the room to give them their space.
The ICU room was dimly lit, casting a gentle glow over Kaylee's peaceful face.
Victor's heart raced with a mix of gratitude and guilt, he still felt the weight of the recent ordeal pressing heavily on his conscience. His eyes welled up with emotion. He reached out and took Kaylee's hand tenderly in his. Her fingers were still cool to the touch, but the warmth of his own hand began to seep into hers.
"Kaylee," he called out, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you. Thank you for everything you did to save my life." He paused, his eyes searching her serene face for any sign of response.
His voice broke slightly as he continued, "I'm so sorry you're in this condition because of me." Tears blurred his vision, and he wiped them away with his free hand, determined to keep talking.
"I heard you, Kaylee, your voice, your song. It kept me going. It gave me hope. You were so brave, so incredible." He squeezed her hand gently, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I can't believe you risked so much for me."
The rhythmic beeping of the machines and the soft hum of the ICU filled the room, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. He had been through so much in the past two days since he woke up, and now, sitting here with her, he felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"Kaylee," he continued softly, his voice trembling with emotion, "I don't know if you can hear me right now, but there's so much I need to say to you. So much I've been holding back."
He paused, taking a deep breath as he collected his thoughts. "When I first saw you, I was immediately drawn to you. It was before the auction, you were talking over the phone in the lounge area, and I was behind the divider panels in the VIP lounge corner. There was something about your spirit, your smartness, your kindness, that made me feel... alive. It's strange because I've never felt this way before. I've always been so focused on work, on responsibilities, that I never took the time to open my heart and consider that I would need someone in my heart."
Victor's eyes filled with tears as he spoke, his emotions raw and unguarded. "You've shown me a world I didn't know I was missing. Your courage, your compassion, your unwavering determination to help others, your faith - it's inspired me more than you'll ever know. I've been afraid to admit even to myself that I... I have feelings for you, Kaylee. Deep, genuine feelings that I've never experienced before. I know it sounds crazy - we've only just met, and this isn't the kind of thing you rush into. But I can't help what my heart feels."
He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his touch gentle and reverent. "I've spent my life building walls around myself, protecting my heart from fear and being hurt again after everything that happened to me. But you... you've broken through those walls effortlessly."
Victor's grip on her hand tightened slightly as he continued. "What happened last two nights, it's my fault. I should have been more prepared. I should have been more careful. I should be the one protecting you. Seeing you like this, breaks my heart."
He sighed deeply, his gaze never leaving her face. "I'm here for you, Kaylee. Whatever you need, whatever it takes to help you recover, I'll be right by your side. You mean more to me than I can put into words, and I'll do anything to see you smile again."
As he sat there, holding her hand and watching over her, he felt a profound sense of peace. For the first time in a long time, he had allowed himself to be vulnerable, to embrace the feelings he had kept hidden for so long. And no matter what happened next, he knew that this moment, this connection with Kaylee, was something he would cherish forever.
Victor's eyes softened as he continued to speak to Kaylee, his voice filled with tenderness and hope. "You've given me a gift, Kaylee - a chance to feel again, to believe in something more than just duty and responsibility. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I promise to always be honest with you and to always cherish and respect you. You're an incredible woman, and I'm honored to have you in my life, even if it's just as a friend."
With great honor, he gently kissed her hand, a silent vow of his commitment and care. "Let me pray for you this time," he offered hesitantly, trying to do for Kaylee what Kaylee did for him. When he said that, a powerful peace and strength filled his heart, it was as if the faith that he used to have when he was younger with his late mother came back alive and filled his whole spirit.
"God Almighty, this is Your amazing daughter, the most wonderful thing that has happened to me. Forgive me for putting her in this condition, but please, bring her back to me. In Jesus' name, amen," he prayed.
Still holding her hand, his heart was now full of hope and love. He knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but he was ready to walk it with Kaylee by his side. For the first time in a long time, he felt a sense of purpose and belonging, all because of the extraordinary woman lying beside him.
Victor's gaze lingered on her face, the soft rise and fall of her chest a comforting sight. Eventually, Hann entered the room, his footsteps soft and respectful. He approached Victor and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "President Vic, you need to rest. It's been a long day."
Victor nodded reluctantly. Hann offered a reassuring smile. "She's strong, just like you said. She'll pull through."
Victor gave Kaylee's hand one last squeeze before letting go. He silently vowed to be there for her, just as she had been for him. Hann wheeled Victor out of the room and very gently closed the door.
Inside on the bed, the dim light cast a soft glow over Kaylee's face, then, almost imperceptibly, Kaylee's closed eyelids fluttered for a while and her fingers twitched slightly.
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