Looking for a Beating

Back when Umbrella was rapidly expanding, the USS had already carried out several abductions under Andre's command.

Some of the top engineers at certain corporations couldn't be poached no matter how much money was offered.

So what if they simply "invited" them over?

However...

Anyone who was invited over would remain forever in an underground research facility.

The method used to make them cooperate was simple and brutal: threatening their families' lives.

Fortunately, after Halsey spoke with 049, the brainwashing technology was being perfected, so there was no longer any need to be quite so "inhumane."

And with Optical Camouflage combat suits, the USS, led by an old colonel from the KGB, had a one-hundred-percent mission success rate.

They left no traces behind.

Clean.

Effective.

Employees who had signed the Confidentiality Agreement acted with utmost respect whenever they saw William, and the USS was one of the reasons why.

After all, rumors circulated throughout the company that this unit could kill without leaving a trace.

Of course, those rumors had also been spread under William's orders.

Thinking of this, William turned to Megan, who was gradually relaxing her guard beside him, and asked:

"Did those men in suits hurt you?"

"No."

Megan shook her head slightly. "I've eaten well and slept well these past few days. I just haven't had any freedom."

As she said this, she patted her stomach and mocked herself. "At this rate, I might even get fat."

"Mm, that's good, then."

William rose to his feet. "I've booked every room on this floor. Pick whichever one you like. Tomorrow morning, I'll have someone take you home."

"Huh?" Megan looked somewhat stunned.

From those men in suits, she had learned that she had been brought over to "serve" Mr. Russell. She hadn't expected that he had no such intention at all.

He was almost too much of a gentleman...

William didn't care what Megan thought of him. He continued walking toward the door.

To be honest, women like her were always a source of trouble, no matter the circumstances.

But he couldn't let go of a certain Goddess with a screw loose.

Besides, he had spent five days in meetings, and negotiating with those politicians had been mentally exhausting. The fatigue helped him maintain his sage mode.

"Mr. Russell, wait."

When Megan suddenly jogged up behind him, William gave her a strained smile. "What is it?"

"Could you take me to the filming location tomorrow? I... I don't want to go back to that home anymore." Megan finally mustered the courage to say it.

"Oh?"

William thought for a moment before carefully asking, "Did your family... accept money?"

"Yes." Megan wore an expression of extreme disgust. "Your bodyguard said they were able to take me away from the filming location only because they had my mother and stepfather's permission.

"What's the point of going back to a home without any familial affection? I'd be better off finishing my scenes."

"..." William fell silent.

Indeed.

Andre might have been ruthless, but he probably wouldn't have made things difficult for Megan's parents. He might even have given them plenty of benefits.

After all, if Megan became involved with him, she would rise to prominence and become the girlfriend or mistress of the owner of a huge corporation.

Her family might claim it was for her own good, but more than anything, it was for the money.

"Fine." William didn't refuse. He even spoke with a hint of apology. "As compensation for what happened, sign with my film company. That way, you'll at least have a steady source of income."

"Th-Thank you so much!" Megan felt as though she had turned a misfortune into a blessing.

"We were in the wrong first." William waved his hand dismissively.

This small amount of money was nothing to him. It was just a matter of casually doing a good deed.

When he reached the door, William pounded on it and shouted, "Open up!"

"Click—"

The Alpha guards stationed outside opened the door in strict accordance with his orders.

William then led Megan into the hallway and instructed the Alphas:

"Miss Fox will be staying here temporarily tonight. Tomorrow, she'll go to the filming location with me.

"So make sure she's safe. Understood?"

"Yes, boss."

"Mm. Take Miss Fox to one of the vacant rooms on this floor." William nodded.

"Yes."

After receiving their orders, two Alphas escorted Megan away.

Only then did William helplessly shake his head and prepare to return to his suite.

But...

Just as William was about to go back inside, he saw Hunk approaching with a handsome Alpha.

That Alpha wore a conflicted expression, as if he were preparing to make an enormous sacrifice.

"What's going on?" William asked suspiciously.

"Ahem." Hunk cleared his throat, pushed the Alpha beside him forward, and said:

"Boss, it's too late to find someone better for you.

"But we Alphas are willing to sacrifice everything for you, so..."

"So, boss! Let me serve you tonight!" The handsome Alpha shut his eyes and shouted.

???

This was the second time that day William had made that expression.

He was completely dumbfounded.

Wait...

They couldn't actually think he was gay, could they?

Damn it!

That also explained why Andre had hidden his search for top-class beauties from him, then sent them straight to his room.

What the hell? The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

William kicked the Alpha who had just shouted and glared at the people beside him in extreme displeasure.

"I like women. I liked them in the past, I like them now, and I'll like them in the future. Even after I die, that won't change.

"Make sure every one of you remembers that!

"And... (his tone turned gentle again)

"I know you're doing this for my sake, but you don't need to meddle in my romantic affairs."

"But..."

Hunk and the group of Alphas looked at one another.

They had drawn lots and even fought among themselves to choose a volunteer, yet they had never expected all that effort to be completely pointless.

"I still have work tomorrow morning. I'm going to bed."

As he spoke, William returned to his suite and closed the door behind him.

Staring at the tightly shut door, the Alphas wore expressions that could not have been stranger. In the end, they all covered their mouths and laughed silently.

They had gone to all that trouble, only to get scolded. Still, they had seen another side of their boss.

They had also confirmed that their boss was normal.

The atmosphere remained quite cheerful.

Not long afterward, Hunk's expression became stern again as he issued an order:

"All right, everyone. Those on duty, take your posts. Those resting, get to bed as soon as possible.

"Everything still revolves around the boss's safety. Don't let your guard down."

"Yes, Lieutenant!"

The morning after the farce.

William took Megan to the filming location for Iron Man.

Because of the confidentiality measures surrounding William's schedule, the production crew couldn't believe that their boss had actually come to make a cameo.

What surprised the crew even more was that Megan, who had been "missing" for several days, had gotten out of the boss's car as well.

This inevitably made everyone start gossiping.

Fortunately, Megan had also signed the Confidentiality Agreement with William, so she would never reveal what had happened.

That made things even more mysterious!