The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 464

Chapter 203: This Creepy Freak Show-1

The room emptied with purpose.

Every movement aligned with the decision already made.

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James and Monroe led Hudson and Cruz to the adjacent receiving suite-a private lounge

reserved for high-profile clients when Damien was unavailable to receive them immediately. Those

granted access there were never ordinary guests.

The space was designed for discretion and comfort. A refined lounge more than a waiting room, it

featured deep leather seating, polished wood finishes, and a private bar stocked with rare spirits

and premium beverages. Even the bottled water was imported sparkling mineral from an exclusive

European label. Beyond it, a private powder room allowed guests to freshen up in complete

privacy.

It sat just outside the smaller executive conference room within Damien’s office-the one reserved

only for select, high-value dealings. Not the main boardroom used for corporate theater, but the

more private room where real business was handled.

At Damien’s instruction, James prepared the suite for Hudson and Cruz to rest, recover from travel,

and freshen up while he and Monroe moved to make preparations for the test run. Clothing,

access clearances, movement routes, internal coordination-everything would be arranged before

the masks were put to their first real test.

Still wearing Damien and Ashcroft’s faces, Hudson and Cruz followed James and Monroe into the

receiving suite.

Even with full knowledge of who stood before them, James and Monroe couldn’t help the faint

awkwardness settling over the room.

It was unsettling.

Instinct didn’t seem to care what the mind knew.

To break the silence, James cleared his throat.

“Um… ahem.” He gestured lightly toward the lounge. “Gentlemen, please help yourselves. Make yourselves comfortable. Monroe and I will handle the preparations. I’ll return shortly with clothing and your access passes.”

Hudson inclined his head slightly.

“Thank you, Mr. Horton.”

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203 This Creepy Freak Show |

James blinked.

“Oh-no need for formalities,” he said quickly. “Just call me James.”

Hudson noticed the hesitation in him almost immediately.

There was a brief pause before he asked, calm and direct,

“Is there something you want to ask?”

James stiffened slightly.

“Oh… um, no. It’s just…”

His eyes flickered-despite himself-to Damien’s face.

“This feels strange. Talking to you like this when…”

Hudson finished it for him.

“When you’re looking at your boss’s face?”

James gave a reluctant nod.

“Yes.”

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Hudson merely nodded, a faint smile touching Damien’s face in a way that felt oddly disorienting.

“That means it’s working.”

James frowned slightly.

“Excuse me?”

Hudson held James’s gaze with quiet ease.

“If Mr. Blackwood’s right-hand man feels intimidated-even knowing the truth-then the mask is doing exactly what it was designed to do.”

The words settled.

And suddenly James understood.

This wasn’t merely appearance.

It was presence.

Authority.

Perception.

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Chapter 203 This Creepy Freak Show 1

The realization hit him almost visibly.

“…Right.”

His expression shifted.

Not discomfort anymore.

Recognition.

This was the first test.

And it had already begun.

James straightened slightly, recovering himself.

“We’ll leave you two to settle in.”

Then he reached into his pocket, pulled out a card, and handed it to Hudson.

“Here’s my number. Call me if you need anything.”

Hudson accepted it and inclined his head in a small, respectful gesture.

“Thank you.”

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