Chapter 204: Under New Faces-2
+25 Points
Reserved only for the upper tier of Blackwood’s security division-personnel who had undergone advanced training, cleared higher-level assignments, and operated above standard field teams.
On paper, they sat alongside Monroe’s command structure. In practice, they were the handpicked few assigned to the company’s most sensitive, high-profile operations.
Rarely seen. Rarely deployed. Never casually present.
Designed to disappear into a crowd-yet somehow never actually did.
Every line served a purpose: mobility, precision, silence over display.
It was meant to blend in at a glance.
It never did.
It didn’t ask for attention.
It commanded it.
An understated warning in fabric form-saying without words that the person wearing it wasn’t
ordinary.
And somehow, on Damien, it fit too well.
Ashcroft looked up-and immediately frowned.
“This is fucked up,” he said flatly.
Damien didn’t even slow down. “You’ll live.”
Ashcroft pushed himself up from the chair just as James followed behind, moving toward the
couch where he picked up the second garment bag.
“Here’s your uniform, Mr. Ashcroft,” James said, holding it out.
Ashcroft took it with a muted, “Yeah, yeah.”
But his attention had already drifted again.
Still stuck on the message.
On whether she’d reply. On what she’d say. On whether she’d even-
No.
Focus.
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hapter 204 Under New Faces 2
+25 Points
He still checked his phone anyway, then checked it again a second later, like repetition might
somehow change the result.
Nothing.
Fuck this.
A sharp exhale left him as he locked the screen and shoved it back into his pocket, jaw tightening as if that alone could force the thought out of his head.
Damien glanced at him, catching the edge of irritation-or maybe something closer to
nervousness, though he didn’t comment on it. “Expecting a call?”
Ashcroft shot him a look. “No.” A beat. “I’ll go change.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed toward the private room.
A few minutes later, Ashcroft stepped back out, now dressed in the same fitted black elite security
uniform.
On anyone else, it would have made them blend seamlessly into the building’s high-level security
personnel.
But on him-
It didn’t quite land the same.
Not the posture. Not the ease. Not the still-contained tension in his stance.
Damien’s gaze flicked over him once, assessing without hesitation.
“Relax your shoulders,” he said.
Ashcroft frowned. “They are relaxed.”
“They’re not.”
A quiet exhale left Ashcroft’s nose as he forced them down a fraction.
“Better,” Damien said.
“Don’t get used to it.”
Damien ignored him.
James stepped forward, tablet already in hand.
“Hudson and Cruz are in position,” he reported. “They’ll enter the conference room after Ms. Trina’s team arrives. It’ll appear as a standard meeting-nothing unusual.”
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Chapter 204 Under New Faces-2
Ashcroft’s focus sharpened immediately. “And us?”
+25 Points
James glanced down at the tablet. “Mid-meeting, you’ll enter with Monroe. He’ll introduce you both as elite security OICS assigned to the Isla Aurelia grand opening event.”
Ashcroft exhaled once. “Fine.”
Damien adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, his expression settling into something colder-less
conversation, more focus.
“How much longer before the meeting starts?”
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