3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Aidan
S even hours ago…
The ride home was a blur of anger and confusion. I leaned back in the black SUV, my fists clenched, trying to understand exactly what happened.
“Julian, what the hell happened? How did that fire start?”
“We’re still investigating, sir. It could be sabotage, but we don’t have enough to go on yet.”
“Sabotage, huh?” I muttered, rubbing my temples. "Make sure to contact the fire department and police. I want to be informed about everything regarding the investigation. If it was sabotage, I want to be the first to know. I’m so curious to find out who had the audacity to mess with me.”
“Yes, sir,” Julian said, his pen flying over the paper. “I’ll make it a priority.”
I stared out the window, clenching my jaw. “And I want a detailed report on the incident, how many injured, how many critical. If there’s any chance of fatalities, I want to know now.”
“There are no confirmed deaths yet, sir. Mostly burns, smoke inhalation, some broken bones. We’re still compiling the list,” Julian responded, keeping his tone even.
“Good.” I gritted my teeth. “At least no one’s dead. Yet.”
The car sped through the dark streets, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Amelia.
How’s it possible she looks so much like Alma? Oh, Aidan focus… I thought.
“Sir, are you alright?” Julian asked, glancing at me, clearly sensing something was off.
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I found myself rubbing my hand over my face. Amelia —she had Alma’s eyes. I couldn’t shake the feeling.
By the time we reached my mansion, I was already out of the car before it fully stopped, eager to escape the thoughts chasing me.
Fergus was waiting by the door, his sharp eyes taking in my expression. He didn’t ask questions, just raised an eyebrow as I walked past him into the house.
“I came immediately, I heard the news about the fire… what happened? Who’s behind it?”
“I don’t know yet,” I snapped, my frustration building.
“You don’t have to worry Julian, and I will investigate the matter closely. But it seems like something else is bothering you”
“Oh Fergus, you know me so well and it scares me” I chuckled.
“News flash, I am your best friend and your business associate. So yeah, I know you like the mark on my dick”
“Oh, shut up!”
I took a deep breath, trying to ground myself. “There was a woman at the scene. Her name is Amelia. She…” I paused, my thoughts drifting. “She looked just like Alma. I swear, Fergus, it was like seeing a ghost. Same eyes, same face. It was... unreal.”
Fergus’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer. “What! You sure? Could’ve been the stress of everything…”
“No,” I interrupted sharply. “I know what I saw. She looked exactly like Alma. Julian also saw her right?”
“Yes sir, I did” Julian said.
Fergus seemed to consider it for a moment before speaking carefully. “Alright, let’s say it’s not a trick of your mind. What does this mean?”
“I don’t know,” I said, frustration evident in my voice. “But there’s something about her. I just can’t place it.”
Fergus let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sure she’s just someone who looks like Alma,” Fergus said, his tone steady but firm. “But we’ll figure this out. First things first, we get to the bottom of the fire.”
“Julian,” I said, my voice low and firm, “I need you to get me everything you can find on Amelia Thompson. Where she’s from, where she lives, where she works... everything.”
Julian nodded quickly; his pen ready in hand. “Understood, sir. I’ll start right away.”
“Good,” I said, my gaze piercing.
As Julian made his way out to handle the task, Fergus leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. His eyes narrowed; the skepticism clear in them. “You’re diving headfirst into this, huh?”
“I know what you’re thinking, Fergus,” I muttered, not even looking up. “You think I’m overreacting, that I’m letting my head get clouded.”
“I’m not saying that I just don’t want you getting your hopes high and hurting yourself.” Fergus said, his voice softer now.
“Now that we are alone… I noticed that you have blood stains, but no injury and you look like a mess. Are you sure that no one saw your injury heal?”
“Oh shit! I didn’t think of that. I was in my office and then I woke up in an ambulance…”
“Which means that someone carried you to the ambulance. The question now is “who?” and did he see anything?”
“I really hope not because the last thing I want is my identity being revealed.”
“Don’t worry, I will look into it. Just take a shower”
“Fine” I said as I walked to my bedroom.
The hot shower was like a reset button for my mind. I shut my eyes, letting the water cleanse away the blood, grime, and residue of the chaos during the night. The sound of the shower drowned out everything else, and for just a moment, I allowed myself to breathe.
As I stepped out of the shower, I grabbed the towel from the heated rack and dried off quickly, already thinking about the next move. There was no time to waste. I needed answers, and I needed them fast.
I threw on a pair of dark jeans, a simple black shirt, and a tailored jacket and went back downstairs.
“You look almost human again, Aidan,” Fergus teased, tossing his phone onto the table and standing up.
“We are going to the office now.”
“I’ll meet you at the office, Aidan. You know I don’t drive that fancy SUV like you” he said with a casual shrug.
I rolled my eyes. “Of course, you’ll be driving that obnoxious yellow Lamborghini of yours.”
“It’s not obnoxious. It’s just... hard to ignore. Like me.”
I just smirked and headed out the front door. The cool night air hit me as I stepped onto the driveway. The black SUV gleamed under the lights, the sleekness of it matching the sharpness of my focus. I slid into the back seat, the leather upholstery cool against my skin and nodded to my driver to get going.
“Let’s go,” I muttered, leaning back against the seat. The car roared to life, pulling out onto the driveway and speeding down the streets.
As we pulled out onto the main road, I caught a glimpse of Fergus in the rearview mirror, his bright yellow Lamborghini already a few yards behind, the engine’s growl unmistakable even from a distance.
“Typical Fergus. He’s always the showman, always ready to leave a trail of stares and whispers behind him… I wonder how we are best friends if we completely opposite” I muttered.
I sat at my desk, fingers drumming absentmindedly against the smooth surface, watching the news about the fire at the refinery.
“This is bad, I’m sure the investors abroad must have heard this” Fergus said.
“Have you gotten any calls yet?” I asked.
“No, I haven’t but I’ll have secretary attend to any calls pertaining to it”
The door creaked open, and Julian stepped inside, his face taut with tension.
“Sir,” Julian said, his voice calm but his eyes telling me everything I needed to know. “I’ve gathered the details from the fire department and our team.”
“What do we know?”
“Eleven people sustained severe burns. Two are in a coma. Thirteen others made it out without any injuries.”
“Oh my! What else?”
Julian set a folder on my desk, the weight of it was more significant than I was willing to admit. “Cause is still under investigation. Teams are working around the clock, but it’s too early to confirm anything.”
I nodded, my fingers grazing the edge of the folder. The cause didn’t matter at this moment. What mattered was the fallout—how we would manage this, how we would make sure those affected knew they weren’t alone.
“I will handle the insurance and the hospital bills of the victims. Julian email me the details” Fergus said.
“Okay sir”
“Good. We’ll schedule a board meeting later today, make sure everyone is aligned with the next steps. But in the meantime, we need to visit the victims in the hospital. Let them know we’re here, that we’re doing everything we can to support them. And Amelia… Any word on her?”
“She’s from Countryside Orlando. Moved to Silverpines 4 years ago, She rooms with Sienna a doctor at St. Lukes Hospital, where she’s a nurse.
“St. Luke’s hospital?”
“Yes sir, the same hospital where the victims are”
“Get my car ready. I’m going to the hospital. We need to get food and flowers for the victims and make sure they are comfortable... maybe I’ll have a chance to see her too.”
Julian’s nod was immediate, and I could tell he understood without me saying another word. “I’ll arrange it, sir.”
I straightened my suit, trying to ignore the quickening beat of my heart. There were too many things at stake—too much that needed my attention—but Amelia... the thought of seeing her again, of somehow being near her, added to the weight I hadn’t expected to carry today.
“Are you coming with me?” turning to Fergus.
“No, I have to handle things here.”
“Okay then.”
As I walked towards my car, my mind flickered back to the fire victims, to the people who were fighting for their lives.
The moment I arrived at St. Luke’s Hospital, the weight of the day seemed to settle deeper on my shoulders.
I walked into the hospital lobby, my footsteps echoing off the tile floors as I approached the director's office.
“Mr. Hale, it’s good to see you here," the hospital director, Dr. Sylvia Reynolds, greeted me as I entered her office. She was a middle-aged woman with silver streaks in her hair, her demeanor calm and professional. “I understand this must be a difficult time for you, and for everyone involved."
I gave a small nod, my jaw tight. “I need a full update on the victims, their conditions. I want to know exactly where they’re at.”
Dr. Reynolds didn’t hesitate. She went straight to her desk and pulled out a folder. “We’ve had a few patients transferred to the burn unit. Eleven sustained severe burns, as you know. Two are in critical condition, with third-degree burns across their upper bodies. We’re monitoring them closely, but their survival chances are still uncertain.”
My stomach churned. It felt impossible to hear those words without seeing the faces of the people who had been affected. My refinery, my responsibility.
“And the others?” I asked, trying to steady my voice.
“Thirteen made it out with minor injuries, mostly smoke inhalation. They’re already being discharged today. We’re confident they’ll recover without long-term issues.”
I exhaled, trying to push the knot in my chest away. “I’ll be covering all the bills for the victims. Please make sure no one is burdened with financial concerns during their recovery.”
Dr. Reynolds smiled softly, her eyes softening with appreciation. “Thank you, Mr. Hale. That’s very generous of you.”
“I also brought food and flowers for the victims. Can you have a nurse, or someone distribute them with my assistant?”
She nodded and stood. “Of course. Follow me, I’ll show you to the different wards.” She said, turning to Julian.
When they left, I walked down the hall, past the pediatric ward and into the cafeteria. The low hum of conversation, the clink of trays, and the smell of coffee filled the air. My eyes scanned the room, automatically looking for someone familiar. That’s when I saw her.
“Amelia...” I whispered.
But it wasn’t just Amelia. She was standing close to another man, a tall, broad figure with blonde hair. I recognized him from the refinery. They were sitting close to each other, laughing softly, leaning into each other. And then, in a move that completely threw me off balance, they kissed.
It wasn’t a quick kiss either. It was slow, deliberate, and to my surprise, I felt something claw inside of me, something raw, something visceral.
My fists clenched at my sides as I stood frozen at the entrance of the cafeteria, watching them, unable to look away. Why did it feel like I’d been punched in the stomach? Why did I feel so... betrayed?
I walked towards them filled with so much anger.
“Am I interrupting?” I said, trying to control my anger.
“Yeah, you are” he blurted.
“Mr. Hale…” Amelia’s voice faltered.
“I really didn’t mean to interrupt the cute moment with your boyfriend”
“He’s not my boyfriend… I mean uh … He’s the man that saved your life yesterday. Finn Harper”
I forced a smile that felt too tight, too sharp. “Is that so? Well, thank you for saving my life,” I said, my tone flat. My gaze locked onto Finn, and I felt a twinge of tension in the air.
A brief silence fell between us, and Amelia seemed unsure whether to speak, but Finn stood up, wiping his mouth.
“Now that you are here, I would like to speak with you” Finn said.
“About what?” I asked.
“Your true identity” he said looking straight into my eyes.