Dared Home

Chapter 2

(Adams POV)

At this moment, Adams stood firmly, hoping for whatever response Mina had for him, and the whole world seemed to collapse upon his hand while meeting hers.

It was a grip that was warm, steady—the touch of someone who probably orders people around for breakfast. Hers, however, was icy, shaking like she was about to slip down for good. But right there, in that weird little bubble, all the superficial things that separated them just vanished.

The air was electrifying. Words weren’t needed; some kind of cosmic shift was happening, and they both knew it, even having zero clue what it meant for them.

Then, a distraction: heels clicking on the linoleum floor, and the snap of the spell between them was broken.

“Family of the Ibrahim accident victim! Pre-op consent! Please we need you, right now!” A nurse, with a voice all business, sliced through the tension like a hot knife.

Mina snatched her hands off Adams, stung like she’d touched a stove, his warmth still burning on her palm. She scrubbed the tears from her cheek, trying to pull herself together. As she took a step ahead and glanced back at him, her eyes were huge, shining and reflecting way too much. The look wasn't just a thanks. It was more like a new discovery.

She bolted with her newfound hope.

The observation window was freezing. She leaned on it, her breath fogging up the glass, staring as they wheeled her sister into a blindingly awful light in the theatre room. Fear still gnawed at her, but it wasn't controlling her anymore. Hope had muscled its way into her confidence and fierce nature.

She whispered his name, and it tasted solid. Safe. Like something she could hold onto whenever she needed it. And over every crack of worry, she remembered his hands that remained steady as rock.

"My whole life had been a lesson that nothing comes free. There’s always a catch, always a hook in the bait. But this guy? Didn’t ask for numbers. Didn't give the once-over. Didn’t offer a loan with strings attached. He just saw me falling apart and reached out. No questions, no price tag." She meditated.

This act of kindness broke her, and somehow fixed something she didn’t know was broken. It made her believe for the first time that miracles—random, unplanned, and unfair—might just exist.

For the first time in a while, since the world flipped upside down on her, she actually regained hope and confidence. But still, she was unsure if her sister would wake up, laugh again, or live a normal life.

Mina stared at her reflection in the glass. Pale, haunted, but underneath—something was fighting to survive. Then a wild thought struck her: "What if Adams wasn’t just a lucky break? What if fate was playing matchmaker with my life?"

Adams waited outside leaning on his car. Black, shiny, it looked like a spaceship for rich people. He stared at his reflection in the tinted window and sighed, "Adams. Billionaire, master of the boardroom, a guy with a five-year plan for everything."

He mumbled to himself, "I hope everything goes well. But I need to know more about this lady, background check and all the necessary information."

This moment was the first tug at a thread that might unravel everything. He could feel it, deep down. Something big was starting, and there was no way to stop it.

The hospital bills were cleared, and the real investment just began.

He headed back into the hospital. The doors whooshed and shut behind him, feeling less like he was in a hospital and more like he’d just crossed into a whole new world.

The lights buzzed overhead, but it didn’t feel harsh anymore. More like the soundtrack to a fresh beginning. He spotted Mina a short distance away by the nurse’s station, a tiny splash of blue in a sea of beige and green, hugging herself tightly like she was trying to hold her heart together.

His voice pitch was kindly low. “It’s done,” he said. “All payment went through and successful. Your sister will be fine and good.”

She looked up. Her gorgeous eyes were still shimmery with leftover fear. She looked relieved after he informed her.

"I don’t… I don’t know how to thank you,” She whispered, voice all wobbly, like she might fall apart all over again. And for a second, neither of them knew what would happen next.

“You really don’t have to, dearie." He shot back with pure reflex. He gave her a once-over, sizing her up.

Money? Easy. Influence? That’s the tricky bit. If she was going to survive this place, he’d have to grease the wheels himself. “C’mon. There’s someone you gotta meet.”

Her eyebrows adjusted with curiosity. “Who?”

“A buddy of mine. He works here. Trust me, you want a local guide, because this place eats rookies for breakfast,” Adams joked humorously.

He didn’t bother asking if she was coming. He spun on his heel and headed toward Sadiq's office, and behind him were her footsteps as she followed. She wasn’t sure who she was going to meet and felt like turning back or running, but still followed.

He led her down the corridor and right to Sadiq's office that looked like a tornado had moved in and refused to leave. The door was hanging half-open, sickly yellow light leaking out, like the room was too tired to care about anybody. Adams nudged it wide.

Inside was Sadiq buried in patient files, hunched like he was guarding a dragon’s hoard, but the treasure was paperwork and a sandwich that had clearly lost the will to live.

“Wassup. Adams, how far?" Sadiq grunted, not looking up. “What is it now? Did the market crash give you a fever again? Or did you finally paper-cut yourself into needing a grown-up?”

Adams couldn’t help grinning. That old banter felt good—like slipping on a jacket you forgot you owned. “Relax, not everything is a corporate coup, Sadiq.”

He stepped aside so Mina could be seen. “This is Mina Ibrahim. Her sister’s in the OR. I took care of the bills, but she needs more than that. She needs someone who can slice through all this hospital BS. And that’s you.”

At that, Sadiq’s sarcasm evaporated immediately. He stood straight up, suddenly all business, like someone flipped a switch inside of him. He gave Mina a serene glance that said, 'I got you.' And honestly, she looked like she needed that.

“Mina.” He spoke kindly. His voice was low and softer. “You’re in a safe hand. The surgical crew tonight? Best in the game. No one’s giving up on your sister. She will be fine."

She held tight, and he wondered if that made a difference and a positive impact on her condition.

“Thank you, sir. She’s… she’s everything. The only sibling.” Her voice wobbled.

Adams had seen different sorts of titans of Wall Street fold under pressure, but somehow, this hit way harder.

Sadiq nodded, slow, like he was absorbing her pain. “Don't worry dear, she got something most people don’t. Please be strong and hang in there. She’ll need you as strong when she wakes up.”

Mina’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. The pause stretched, heavy, but nobody tried to fill it. The silence says what words can’t.

Adams cleared his throat, pulling the moment back to business. “Seriously, Sadiq. No runaround. She heard everything straight from you. And counting on your words."

Sadiq locked eyes with him—ten years of friendship compressed into one look. Barely a nod, but it said everything, "Got it. This one is different. By God's grace, she will be just fine."

Then the office intercom rang and Sadiq excused them and picked up the call. "Hello," he said.

And from the other end was a tense voice, "Please, rush over, your attention is needed in the ICU."

They all got a sudden freakout. Sadiq dropped the call in a hyper rush and asked them to relax and wait for him in the office.

Mina's heart hammered against her ribs. "Please, hope it's well?" she asked furiously.

Adams's mouth wide open as Sadiq hastily stepped

out. "Guy, what is it?" Adams inquired.

But Sadiq didn't respond as he ran toward the ICU. Mina couldn't hold it, so she followed.