3rd person POV.
Max sat in his study, staring at the flickering spark of the light in the room. His mind was heavy, different thoughts swinging in his mind like a web he couldn’t escape. The discovery of his father’s missing body had shaken him, but now, learning the reason behind his father’s captivity filled him with cold fury.
Stanford Hayes.
Max clenched his jaw as he thought about the man. A fraud. A man who had been shrinking his father’s company. And Vivian had been the one to expose him.
Max could still remember that day vividly. His father had taken Vivian to the company headquarters, and when she realized Stanford’s schemes alongside his cohorts, she hadn’t hesitated to sack them, all of them. She had always been like that-brave, intelligent, unafraid to do what was right when it came to serious business.
That day, Max had felt uneasy when she left with his father. Something inside him had warned him that it wasn’t safe. He had spoken up then and she declined and he had brushed it off as nothing ever since, not caring to dig into the details of what transpired in the company that day. Now, everything had spiraled into chaos as he watched the video in front of him, with Vivian who sacked upto six shareholders, cutting of their money as a breach of the contract.
Now his father was gone. Assassins had taken him and he didn’t know if he was dead or alive. Vivian’s mother had been kidnapped too. And now, he was about to travel to Zurich to face the man who had started it all.
Max exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his dark hair. No matter how much rage he felt, he couldn’t leave without seeing Vivian first.
She was in the hospital, still recovering. And he needed to see her, touch her, reassure himself that she was safe.
He stood up, grabbed his coat, and walked out of the study.
Ray was already waiting for him in the hallway. The man was sharp-eyed and loyal, always ready for whatever mission Max had for him.
“We’re still on schedule for Zurich?” Ray asked, adjusting the gun holster under his jacket.
“Yes,” Max replied. “But first, I need to visit Vivian.”
Ray gave a slight nod, his face unreadable. “I’ll drive.”
___________
The hospital room smelled of antiseptic and fresh linens. The soft hum of machines was the only sound in the quiet space. Vivian lay on the bed, her delicate face pale against the white pillow.
Max’s chest tightened at the sight of her.
She looked fragile, like a porcelain doll, but he knew better. Vivian was strong. Stronger than what anyone gave her credit for.
She stirred as he stepped closer, her lashes fluttering before her warm brown eyes met his. A small, sleepy smile curved at her lips. She was finally awake. It’s been days he left her.
“Max,” she whispered.
He reached for her hand, holding it gently between his palms. “How are you feeling?”
She sighed, squeezing his fingers weakly. “Better, I think. The doctors say I’ll be fine, just need rest.”
His thumb brushed over the back of her hand. “I don’t like hospitals you know.”
Vivian chuckled softly. “Neither do I. But I’ll be out of here soon.”
Max swallowed the lump in his throat. He wanted to tell her everything-about Zurich, about Stanford, about the storm he was walking into. But he didn’t want to burden her. Not now.
Instead, he cupped her cheek, his touch feather-light. “I need to go away for a while,” he said carefully.
Vivian’s brows furrowed. “Where?”
“Zurich.”
“Why?”
Max hesitated, then decided there was no point in hiding the truth. “Because Stanford Hayes is the reason my father was shot. He’s the reason behind everything. And I need to face him.”
Vivian’s lips parted slightly, shock flickering across her face. “Stanford? But how-”
“He held my father captive because of you, Vivian,” Max said, his voice low but firm. “Because you exposed him.”
Vivian blinked, absorbing his words. Guilt flashed in her eyes, but Max was quick to shake his head.
“Don’t,” he said. “Don’t blame yourself. This was never your fault.”
She bit her lip, looking away. “I remember him, I just- I didn’t know. I was only trying to do the right thing.”
“And you did,” Max assured her. “Stanford was a thief. He deserved to be thrown out”
Vivian took a deep breath and turned back to him. “Max… what if it’s dangerous?”
“It is,” he admitted. “But I have to go.”
Silence stretched between them. Then, Vivian pulled herself up slightly, her fingers tightening around his hand.
“Then be careful,” she whispered. “You’ll come back right, and not like the last time?”
Max stared into her eyes, seeing the worry, the silent plea.
He bent down, leaning into her face, his forehead almost touching hers. “I promise.”
She closed her eyes, inhaling his cologne.
Max wished he could stay longer, wished he could take her away from all of this. But he had something to deal with first. And he wouldn’t stop until he got justice for everything, after all it began with him.
Reluctantly, he pulled away. “Rest, Vivian. I’ll be back soon and when I come back, you tell me who stuck you with the bottle.”
She nodded, though her eyes followed him as he stepped out of the room. But he didn’t leave without enforcing strong security around the whole hospital.
_________
The private jet hummed softly as it soared through the sky.
Max sat near the window, his fingers drumming against his knee. He had been replaying his conversation with Vivian over and over again.
Ray, seated across from him, finally spoke. “Boss, are you okay? Is it her?”
Max glanced at him but didn’t deny it.
Ray smirked. “I didn’t know there was a day you would come to care about a woman?”
Max exhaled. “Yes.”
Ray chuckled. “And does she know?”
Max ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. I don’t think so, she hates me.”
Ray tilted his head. “You should tell her, you know.”
Max gave him a look. “Now isn’t the time for that conversation.”
“Maybe,” Ray admitted. “But everything is unpredictable at this point. You can never tell”
Max clenched his jaw. He knew that all too well.
The flight continued in silence for a while. Then, Ray shifted slightly in his seat.
“Are you ready for this Boss?” he asked.
Max met his gaze, his eyes dark with determination. “More than ever Ray.”
Because this wasn’t just about revenge anymore.
It was going to be intense. About his father. About protecting the woman he had come to care for even though he wouldn’t admit it.
And he wouldn’t stop until he got what he came for.
Zurich awaited.
And so did Stanford Hayes.