hapter 207: Out of Place
Back at Blackwood Enterprises, the effect was immediate.
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The moment Hudson appeared on the floor, the atmosphere inside R&D shifted almost instantly.
Conversations cut off mid-sentence.
The quiet tapping of keyboards gradually slowed as heads turned one after another toward the
elevator lobby.
Then recognition spread.
Employees straightened instinctively.
Some stood immediately.
Others lowered their heads respectfully the second they realized who had arrived.
“Mr. Blackwood…”
The greeting came quietly at first before echoing across nearby workstations in a ripple.
Hudson acknowledged none of it beyond a calm, unreadable glance across the department.
And somehow, that made the pressure even worse.
James stepped out beside him smoothly, tablet already in hand, posture composed and
professional as though this was just another ordinary walkthrough.
Behind them, Monroe and Cruz followed without a sound.
At the very back-
Damien and Ashcroft emerged last beneath borrowed faces, blending seamlessly into the
formation.
Ashcroft’s eyes swept across the department carefully.
Even he had to admit-
It was convincing.
Too convincing.
Not a single person questioned Hudson’s identity.
Not even for a second.
The silence inside R&D shifted only when movement came from deeper within the department.
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Chapter 207 Out of Place
An office door opened.
An older man stepped out.
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Mid-fifties. Slightly round build with a well-fitted suit that strained just a little at the waist. A
salt-and-pepper beard carefully maintained. His expression adjusted the moment he saw the group, shifting instantly into something welcoming, almost rehearsed.
He approached with measured confidence, stopping at a respectful distance before bowing
slightly.
“Mr. Blackwood, sir,” he said with a practiced smile. “What a pleasant surprise. If we had known
you were coming, we would’ve made the proper arrangements.”
Hudson looked at him for a moment, taking him in without hurry.
The man held his posture, but there was a subtle tension in his shoulders now, as the silence
stretched just a little too long.
“Last I checked,” Hudson said evenly, “I own this company.”
A brief pause.
“I don’t need to notify anyone before I walk through it.’
The man’s smile tightened.
He gave a small, nervous laugh as if trying to smooth it over.
“Of course, sir. That’s not what I meant, I just-”
Hudson lifted a hand slightly. Not abrupt. Not forceful. Just enough to stop him.
The man fell silent immediately.
“I’m here for a walkthrough,” Hudson continued calmly. “Not to waste time on irrelevant
conversation.”
The shift in tone settled over the area like pressure.
The department head nodded quickly, the earlier confidence gone.
“Oh… of course,” he said, forcing a tighter smile as he tried to recover. “I-I apologize. Yes, sir. Of
course. Understood.”
The man who had stepped forward was Bill Franklin, Director of R&D. He managed the entire department’s operations, including project selection, budgeting, and hiring decisions. In most situations, he carried himself with the ease of someone used to authority within his own domain.
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Chapter 207 Out of Place
But that authority didn’t translate here.
Not under Damien Blackwood.
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It showed in the smallest details now-the stiffness in his posture, the way his hands stayed loosely clasped in front of him, and the careful control of his breathing as he tried to maintain composure under scrutiny.
Bill cleared his throat once, stepping slightly aside as he gestured down the corridor.
“Um… okay,” he said quickly, his voice noticeably more careful than before. “This way, sir.”
Hudson didn’t answer immediately, just followed his gaze for a moment before taking a step
forward.
It was then that movement slipped quietly from the same office Bill had just come out of.
A younger woman stepped out.
She was dressed neatly, though slightly too polished for a casual R&D environment.
There were subtle signs of disarray-her hair not quite sitting in place as if it had been hastily fixed, a few strands out of alignment. Her blouse wasn’t fully smooth, slightly creased in a way that suggested she had just adjusted it quickly before stepping out. Even her lipstick, while still sharp, had a faint imperfection at the edge.
Nothing dramatic.
But enough to suggest she hadn’t simply been sitting at a desk.
She moved quickly, carefully composed, as if trying to leave without drawing attention.
She didn’t look up. She kept her gaze lowered, adjusting her pace just enough to blend into the background as she moved toward one of the cubicles.
But the timing wasn’t natural.
It was too calculated to be casual, too delayed to be incidental.
She wasn’t supposed to be seen.
Or at least-she was trying not to be.
Bill didn’t react much, but his posture stiffened noticeably, the smallest tension running through his shoulders before he forced it back under control-his expression a fraction too composed, like someone trying to keep a situation contained before it could be noticed.
The nearby employees didn’t react either. Outwardly, nothing changed, as if it was just another
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Chapter 207 Out of Place
routine occurrence in a place where nothing unusual ever needed to be acknowledged.
But the group that had just entered the floor noticed.
There was something off about it.
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.