Chapter 369

Only a handful of employees lingered in the Blackwood Group headquarters at this late hour.

Nathaniel Blackwood sat hunched over his desk, fingers combing through stacks of financial reports.

The company had grown exponentially under his leadership, but success came with its own set of challenges.

The tech sector proved particularly brutal. Their strategic alliance with QuantumTech had created an industry powerhouse, controlling nearly 80% of the market share.

This dominance made Nathaniel a target. Competitors launched smear campaigns and underhanded tactics daily.

The latest crisis involved their new smartwatch line. Whistleblowers claimed the devices secretly recorded private conversations, sparking lawsuits and media frenzy.

"Get PR working on damage control immediately." Nathaniel's voice cut through the tense silence.

"Track down the source of these rumors. I want defamation lawsuits filed by morning."

"Recall all smartwatches from retailers. Have R&D run forensic tests for any surveillance capabilities."

After hours of crisis calls and document signings, Nathaniel finally pushed back from his desk. His fingers dove into the wastebasket, retrieving torn paper fragments.

The shreds were tiny, nearly impossible to reconstruct. His temples throbbed as he painstakingly arranged the pieces. "Damn you, Oliver! Was shredding necessary?"

Just as the puzzle neared completion, his secretary knocked.

"Sir?"

Nathaniel's body jerked, sending paper scraps flying across the floor like confetti.

The secretary froze mid-step. "Are you unwell, Mr. Blackwood?"

"Don't move!" His command sliced through the office. "Watch your feet."

She became a statue. "Shall I call maintenance to clean this, sir?"

"No." Nathaniel smoothed his tie, regaining composure. "What is it?"

"Mr. Prescott called. He's sent coordinates via WhatsApp and specifically requested..." She hesitated, eyes darting to the trash bin. "He said not to retrieve anything from the receptacle. Hygiene concerns."

Nathaniel's jaw tightened. "Duly noted."

Only when the door clicked shut did he check his phone. The location pin made his lips curl into a predatory smile.

"Running won't save you this time, Vivian."