Hired by the Billionaire

CHAPTER THREE: KIDNAPPING

Damian arrived at work unusually early, dressed sharp for a major business meeting.

But as he entered the building, a strange silence filled the air. Something was off. His eyes scanned the office.

Serena wasn’t there. “Tch… Not only is she rude, but she’s lazy too?” he muttered, loosening his tie slightly. “Impressive". Still, despite the sarcasm, something gnawed at him.

He tapped out a quick w******p message and shoved his phone into his pocket. After the meeting, he checked again.

No reply. Not even a “seen.” A chill ran down his spine. Without hesitation, he called HR. “Get me Serena’s address. Now.” Ten minutes later, he was driving through a neighborhood that made his chest tighten.

Trash lined the streets. The air smelled of damp, filth, and hopelessness.

This is where she lives? He parked in front of a rusted iron gate and knocked hard on the door of a small, crumbling house.

Nothing.

He banged louder. Still nothing. That gut feeling hit again, harder this time. Without thinking, he kicked in the door. Everything froze.

Serena lay on the floor in a pool of blood. Her skin was ghostly pale, her veins tinged a sickly green.

The small blade lay nearby, soaked in crimson.

“s**t Serena!” He rushed to her, lifting her delicate frame into his arms. She was so light too light.

His jaw clenched as he carried her out and sped to the nearest hospital, running every red light on the way. His mind screamed with panic.

Please… don’t die.

Doctors whisked her away to emergency as soon as he burst through the hospital doors.

Damian was left standing there, breathless, shaken scared. “What the hell are you doing to me?” he muttered, gripping his chest. “I’ve never prayed for anyone before ” Unable to sit still, he returned to the office to drown himself in work but peace was far from his reach.

And then chaos.

As he stepped into his office, the scent of perfume hit him like poison.

Benita. Perched half-naked on his chair, legs crossed, lips curled into a seductive smirk.

“Miss me, baby?” she purred. His face darkened instantly. “Who the f**k let you in?”

“Relax,” she said, standing up slowly, revealing barely there lingerie beneath her coat.

“I thought I’d cheer you up.” He grabbed his phone. “Security, now”

Benita’s expression hardened. “Is it because of her? That little nobody? Don’t think I don’t know you took her to the hospital.” Damian’s nostrils flared, rage boiling beneath his skin. “Get out.” “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what does she have that I don’t?!”

“GET OUT!” he roared, slamming his fist into the desk, startling even himself.

Benita flinched, then gathered her coat.

At the door, she turned back, her voice low and venomous.

“You’ll regret choosing her.” The moment the door slammed shut, she pulled out her phone.

“Ryder,” she said darkly. “Sending you a photo. I want her gone.” A voice on the other end replied coolly, “Consider it done.”

Back at his desk, Damian buried himself in work but his thoughts kept drifting back to Serena.

Was she okay? Did she wake up? Could she hear him when he whispered her name? His phone rang.

“Sir… there’s been another incident,” the nurse said, her voice trembling. “Serena was attacked.”

He didn’t even let her finish. He was already out the door.

At the hospital, chaos erupted.

“She’s alive,” the doctor explained.

“One of the nurses spotted a man entering her room and raised the alarm before he could do anything. He escaped before security could catch him.”

Damian’s fists clenched. His voice dropped to a dangerous growl. “I want full security on her room. No one goes near her. No one.” Then he placed a call.

“Alex. I need you to find out who the hell tried to kill her. I’m sending everything I have.”

Alex, his closest friend and a tech genius didn’t ask questions. “Give me a few hours.” Damian stared out of the hospital window, storm raging behind his eyes. Who the f**k would do this?

Two hours later, his phone buzzed.

“It was Benita,” Alex said. “She sent a hitman. We caught the guy trying to leave the city. He confessed.”

The phone nearly cracked under Damian’s grip. “I’ll make her pay,” he muttered. “I’ll make them both pay.”

He ended the call and stormed back toward the hospital wing, every step echoing with fury.

But just before he reached Serena’s room, a piercing scream rang out. The lights flickered. Nurses ran.

Then a single word broke through the chaos. “Serena!” He bolted forward only to freeze at the doorway.

The bed was empty. Serena was gone.