Black Scorpion Basecamp at Evercrest.
In the basement, Juan Hayes stared coldly at Jacob Adams, who sat tied to a wooden chair with his hands bound behind his back.
His patience was wearing thin. A few days had passed since his men had begun searching the capital for Sienna, yet they had found nothing. Tracking her phone had led nowhere because her number was inactive. She had also disappeared from social media, leaving no trace behind.
Every lead had ended in failure, and Juan was growing tired of wasting money, manpower, and time searching for a woman whose whereabouts remained completely unknown.
Looking at Jacob's pitiful face only made his mood worse.
"Please, sir... give me more time. I promise I'll find her," Jacob pleaded, his voice trembling.
Juan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned back on the couch, lit his cigar, and took a slow drag before releasing a cloud of smoke into the air. This wasn't the first time Jacob had made the same promise, and Juan no longer believed a single word that came out of his mouth.
His cold eyes settled on Jacob once more.
"If you say that one more time, I really will kill you."
The threat hung heavily in the room. Juan remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly enjoying the sight of Jacob's pale face and frightened eyes before speaking again.
"My people have searched multiple areas of the capital, and they still haven't found any sign of Sienna," he said calmly, though the danger beneath his tone was impossible to miss. "Are you sure she was living there?"
"Y-Yes, sir. I'm sure." Jacob nodded repeatedly. "She's in the capital."
Juan's expression darkened at once.
Without taking his eyes off Jacob, he raised a hand slightly, signaling someone behind him.
A moment later, a man with a long scar across his face stepped forward. He approached Jacob without hesitation and struck him hard across the face.
"AAAGH...!"
Jacob's head snapped to the side. Pain exploded through his jaw as his cry echoed throughout the basement.
"This is punishment because you have wasted my time."
"S-Sir..." Jacob's voice shook as he struggled to speak. "I didn't lie to you. My sister-in-law told me Sienna really lived in the capital, but... I'm sorry, sir. We didn't know the address."
Juan raised an eyebrow.
"Then you should have used force to get the information from your sister-in-law."
Jacob immediately pressed his lips together and lowered his head.
Juan studied him for a moment before speaking again.
"Do you want me to help you get that information?" His voice sounded casual, but the malice in his eyes made the meaning of the offer perfectly clear.
"No, sir." Jacob shook his head so quickly that his neck almost hurt. "I will... I will try asking her again."
"You won't have much time." Juan's voice remained calm, but every word carried weight. "Either you give me something useful, or your family's house becomes mine."
Jacob's eyes widened instantly. The little color remaining in his face disappeared. Panic churned inside him as he lowered his gaze and desperately searched his memory for anything that might save him.
The room fell silent.
Several moments passed before Jacob finally lifted his head.
"Sir, I have an important clue."
"Speak."
Juan didn't even look at him.
"After graduation, Sienna worked at a hotel in Star City. I don't know where she's working now, but I believe she's still in the hotel industry."
That finally caught Juan's attention. His eyes shifted directly to Jacob, though his expression remained as cold as ever.
"And you're telling me this now?"
The quietness of his voice was far more terrifying than if he had shouted.
"I'm sorry, sir..." Jacob swallowed hard. "I forgot."
Juan slowly rose from his seat. The simple movement was enough to make Jacob tense. Step by step, Juan approached him.
"Jacob, I've shown you more patience than I've shown anyone else."
Jacob immediately lowered his head. Sweat gathered across his forehead as he avoided Juan's sharp gaze.
Then Juan stopped directly in front of him. Without warning, he grabbed a fistful of Jacob's hair and forced his head upward until their eyes met.
"Now, best pray that we find Sienna, or you're dead."
Juan released him roughly and turned toward his men.
"Get him out of here before I change my mind," Juan said coldly.
"Yes, boss!"
Two men rushed towards Jacob and dragged him out of the room.
...
After Jacob was taken away, Juan didn't linger in the basement; he returned to his office on the second floor and settled onto the sofa.
A few minutes later, Marco, his right-hand man, entered the room, his expression tense, as if he knew his boss was not in a good mood.
Marco greeted him politely as he approached. "Boss, is there anything you need me to do?"
Juan remained silent for several moments as he smoked his cigar. Finally, he spoke.
"Send your best men back to the capital. I want every hotel investigated one by one. Find Sienna Adams."
Marco immediately straightened. "Boss, there are thousands of hotels in the capital. How could we find her?" he asked in disbelief.
"Then send more people."
Juan's answer left no room for argument.
"Start with the star-rated hotels. She's educated, experienced, and qualified. I doubt she'd settle for a small hotel."
Marco nodded immediately.
"Understood. I'll arrange everything right away."
Juan dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
Marco turned to leave but paused when a question surfaced in his mind.
"Boss?"
Juan looked up.
"Why are you so obsessed with finding Sienna?" Marco asked carefully. "There are plenty of women who would gladly warm your bed."
Juan offered no answer.
Instead, he simply waved his hand again, signaling for Marco to leave.
Once the room was empty, his gaze drifted toward the window.
A slow smirk appeared on his lips.
"Sienna Adams, wherever you're hiding..."
The smile deepened.
"I will find you... And you will be mine!"