Taming the Storm

Damien Storm stood at the entrance to Serena's office, watching her from the doorway. She was hunched over her desk, her hand pressed lightly against her abdomen, her posture uncharacteristically slouched. There was a pale, almost sickly color to her face that sent an uncomfortable ripple through him. Serena was always so composed, always so self-assured, but today... today she seemed fragile, human in a way that made him uneasy.

He hated it. He hated seeing her like this, especially when he couldn't do anything about it. She looked like she was barely holding herself together.

"Serena," he said, his voice softer than he meant it to be. His steps carried him further into the room, his eyes not leaving her form. "Are you alright?"

She looked up, blinking, and immediately tried to brush it off. "I'm fine," she said, but the words were weak, lacking their usual strength.

Damien's brow furrowed. Her face was pale, her usual vibrancy muted, and her eyes held a dullness that hadn't been there before. She wasn't fine—he could see that. But she wasn't going to admit it, not to him. Not to anyone.

"I don't believe you," he said, stepping closer. His gaze softened for a moment, his voice dropping to something almost concerned. "You don't look fine."

She shook her head, giving a tired smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm just a little tired, Damien. Really, I'm fine."

Damien didn't buy it. But he said nothing. Instead, he lingered for a moment, unsure of how to handle this new side of her—this vulnerability. He'd never seen her like this before, never seen her slip past the protective armor she wore so perfectly. He wasn't sure what to do with it.

But before he could say anything more, she let out a soft, pained breath, her hand once again clutching her abdomen. Her face twisted slightly, her eyes closed briefly, and then—

She fainted.

Damien's heart skipped a beat as she crumpled, falling forward onto the desk. His instincts kicked in immediately. He rushed to her side, catching her before she hit the ground. The softness of her body against his was startling, and for a brief moment, he hesitated, just holding her.

"Serena," he muttered, his voice laced with worry as he checked for signs of consciousness. Her breathing was shallow but steady. "Damn it."

He didn't know what was wrong with her, but he wasn't going to take any chances.

Damien's hand moved swiftly to his phone, dialing the number for his personal doctor without a second thought. He needed her checked immediately. He was furious at himself for not noticing sooner, for not intervening before it got to this point.

His voice was clipped and urgent when the doctor answered, "I need you to come to my office. Now. Serena's fainted."

After hanging up, he gently lifted Serena into his arms, carrying her with surprising care for someone who was used to being ruthless, someone who was accustomed to command and control. She was so light, and yet, holding her like this felt... strange. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was a tightness in his chest. Something about this situation was different from anything he'd ever experienced before.

His eyes lingered on her face as he carried her through the halls. She looked so vulnerable, so unlike the woman who always stood strong in the face of adversity. And somehow, it only made his chest tighten more.

When they reached his private room—his personal quarters on the top floor of the building—he gently placed her on the plush couch. He took a moment to make sure she was comfortable, adjusting her position to make sure she would be able to rest without discomfort.

His mind was in chaos as he watched her, but there was no room for it now. He had to focus on getting her better.

He paced around the room, waiting for the doctor to arrive, his thoughts consumed with her. What had happened to her? Was it stress? Was it something worse? He couldn't just stand there and wait for answers—he needed to know. He needed to know everything.

The sound of the doorbell ringing jolted him from his thoughts. Without hesitation, he moved quickly to let the doctor in.

Within minutes, the doctor was by Serena's side, checking her vitals and giving her a thorough examination. He'd requested Serena's medical history a few months ago when they first started working together, just to ensure everything was in order, and he hadn't forgotten it. As the doctor went over Serena's condition, Damien stood at a distance, watching, his arms crossed over his chest.

The doctor looked up from his examination and gave a slight shrug. "Mr. Storm, there's nothing to worry about. It seems Serena is just having some cramps. It's nothing unusual—she's on her period."

Damien's chest unclenched slightly, but his concern hadn't fully faded. He glanced back at Serena, who was beginning to stir, her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at him, her face still pale but less strained.

"Where... where am I?" she asked weakly, her voice hoarse.

"You're in my office," Damien said, his tone soft but firm. "You fainted at work. I brought you here to rest."

Her eyes widened slightly, still groggy as she tried to sit up, but Damien was immediately at her side, guiding her back down gently. "Just stay still for now. The doctor said it's just your period. You need to rest."

Serena blinked at him, confused, before letting out a small laugh, her expression turning sheepish. "I'm sorry. I didn't think it'd be this bad."

Damien didn't know how to respond. He just nodded, silently grateful that it wasn't anything more serious. But something inside him, something unspoken, made him stay by her side, hovering protectively. He wanted to make sure she was okay. It was strange—he had never felt this kind of concern for anyone, and it unnerved him.

The doctor gave her a quick check and then left, his work done. As the door clicked shut, Damien sat down on the edge of the couch, watching her as she rested. She looked fragile, but she would recover soon.

"I'll stay with you," Damien said, his voice lower than usual, filled with something he couldn't name. "Just get some rest."

Serena gave him a faint, tired smile. "Thank you, Damien."

He didn't say anything else, his eyes never leaving her as she closed her eyes again, sinking back into a deep, peaceful sleep. For the first time, Damien felt something more than just obsession, something deeper, something he didn't fully understand yet.

But he wasn't leaving. Not now. Not while she was here with him.

---