A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194

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CRESCENT DYNAMICS

Marcus stepped out of the car with the kind of confidence that made the security guards straighten unconsciously. He didn’t spare them a glance as he adjusted the cuffs of his suit and lifted his chin, taking in the towering glass façade of Crescent Dynamics.

His lips tilted–not into a smile, but into an expression carved from arrogance and satisfaction.

So this is what he built.

Marcus had seen the building in papers and on TV, from a distance. But he had never stepped into it… until now.

The automatic doors parted for him, and he walked inside as though he owned the place. Several heads turned instantly–receptionists, interns, and staff scattered across the lobby paused mid–task, drawn by the unfamiliar presence of a man who didn’t move like a visitor.

He moved like someone returning home.

He stopped at the front desk.

“Your name, sir? And how may we help you?” the receptionist asked, recovering quickly from her initial confusion.

Marcus offered her a polite, controlled smile. “Marcus Blackwell… and I’m not sure you can help me.”

A moment passed. Then the woman blinked, her eyes widening slightly. “Blackwell… as in Mr.

Alexander Blackwell?”

The murmur traveled across the lobby. Chairs shifted. Someone whispered. Marcus watched the small ripple of reaction with amusement.

Of course the name rang bells.

Alexander Blackwell was an only son–known, respected, mentioned countless times in company documents, newsletters, and employee conversations. So naturally, the staff tried to make sense of what they were seeing. The resemblance was there… the nose, the jawline, and the height.

“Oh–oh! You must be related, I can see the resemblance now,” the receptionist said with a relieved laugh. “A cousin, maybe?” she asked, trying to be warm.

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Marcus’s jaw flexed faintly. The irritation was there… sharp, immediate… but he swallowed it back. He didn’t explode. He didn’t correct her. He simply looked around the lobby as though inspecting it for flaws, letting the smugness settle on his face like a second skin.

“You’ve all done well,” he said casually, sweeping his gaze over the company emblem mounted on the wall. “Alexander has done a good job managing things in my absence. I have to admit… I’m impressed.”

The receptionist blinked again, taken aback. Her lips parted as she tried to interpret that sentence. His absence? What did that mean?

But she wasn’t paid enough to question such things.

“S–sir, if you’re here to see Mr. Alexander, he’s in a meeting at the moment,” she said, trying to remain professional. “You’ll have to wait a little while.”

“No,” Marcus said, already turning toward the elevators. “I think I’d rather join the meeting.”

The woman stared. “S–sir, you can’t just walk in-”

Marcus had already begun walking.

Another staff member–a young man–quickly followed him. “Sir, please, we’ll need to announce you first. Mr. Alexander does not permit interruptions in board meetings…”

“That’s all right,” Marcus replied smoothly as he stepped into the elevator. “He’ll permit this

one.”

The doors nearly closed, but the staff member squeezed in at the last second, still insisting nervously that this wasn’t how things were done.

Marcus didn’t even look at him.

The elevator chimed as it reached the top floor. The doors slid open, revealing a quiet corridor with heavy doors at the end–the boardroom. The staff member was surprised that

Marcus knew the exact floor he was going to.

But he didn’t have enough time to wonder. He hurried ahead of Marcus and reached for the door handle. “Let me speak to them first…”

Marcus placed a hand on the man’s shoulder and gently moved him aside.

“No need.”

Before anyone inside could prepare, he opened the door and walked into the boardroom with flawless composure.

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The room went dead silent.

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Ten board members sat around the long table. Screens displayed charts and projections mid–discussion. Alexander stood at the head of the table, hands braced against the surface, his expression frozen in a mixture of surprise and calculation.

The staff member skidded in behind Marcus, breathless. “I–I’m so sorry, Mr. Blackwell, I tried to…”

Alexander lifted a hand slightly, signaling him to step aside. He didn’t take his eyes off

Marcus.

Something about Marcus felt farmilar. The tension was instant… heavy and thick.

One of the board members cleared his throat sharply, attempting to restore order. “Excuse me, sir,” he said, focusing on Marcus with professional confusion. “This is a closed board meeting. What can we do for you?”

Marcus acted as though the question were unnecessary.

“I’m aware it’s a board meeting,” he said. “That’s precisely why I’m here.”

A stunned hush filled the room. Someone’s pen clattered to the table. The staff member behind Marcus pressed a hand to his forehead, realizing the situation was spiraling out of

control.

Marcus stepped further inside… not toward the door, but toward the table.

He didn’t wait for an invitation. He didn’t ask permission.

He belonged, and he made sure they saw it.

Alexander finally spoke. “What is this about?”

Marcus met his eyes at last.

He gave a quiet, amused breath–the kind that was more of a controlled laugh. He dragged out a chair with a scrape of metal against the floor and sat down at the table as though he had been doing it for years.

“Calm down,” he said lightly, glancing around at the stunned board members. “I’m going to introduce myself.”

The temperature in the room felt like it dropped several degrees.

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