CH: 292 Frustration

{Chapter: 292 Frustration}

Hammer Industrial Building – Top Floor Corridor

"Mr. William! I didn't expect you to return so soon!" Justin Hammer rushed out of his office, practically stumbling over himself to greet the man walking confidently down the corridor. "Why don't you stay out traveling a little longer? The world's still talking about your work in India—it was revolutionary! Simply unprecedented! The Indians are terrified—truly, utterly stunned by your might."

William chuckled, clearly amused by the man's sycophantic praise. "Oh? Do you really mean that, Justin?"

"Of course I do! Mr. William, you're not just the greatest man alive—you're the greatest man who has ever lived, past or present. No one can compare to you. Your strength, your intelligence, your presence—it's all... magnificent!" Justin practically beamed, his words dripping with flattery.

Maria, walking just behind William with her arms crossed, spoke coldly, her voice laced with contempt. "I've never seen anyone so disgustingly shameless. You're a disgrace to humanity, Hammer. People like you are the reason the world mocks American integrity."

Feeling her icy glare, Justin's confident demeanor wavered, his shoulders flinching slightly. He looked toward William and asked nervously, "Mr. William… who is she?"

William offered a calm smile. "She's from S.H.I.E.L.D."

"S.H.I.E.L.D.? That secretive organization? The one that pulls strings from the shadows?" Justin's voice trembled. "Please tell me she's not here to interrogate me or something…"

William smirked, his tone playfully menacing. "Don't be scared. Didn't you notice? They're already under my control. No one here can harm you—not while I'm around. But… if you dare to leak a single detail—"

He trailed off, letting the implication hang like a blade above Justin's head.

Justin paled and immediately waved his hands. "I-I would never! Not in a million years! I'm loyal to you, Mr. William. Only by following your lead can I live a good, peaceful life… a life of luxury and purpose!"

"Peaceful? That's one way to put it…" the White Queen giggled from the back, covering her mouth with an elegant gloved hand. "More like a parasite's life."

Justin ignored her, undeterred. "I mean it! Serving Mr. William is the greatest honor I've ever had. The happiest days of my life began the moment I pledged myself to his cause!"

Natasha gave him a look of pure disgust. "So that's what happened. I always knew you were hiding something, Hammer."

Justin narrowed his eyes. "You… you look familiar…"

"Of course I do," Natasha said icily. "I was part of the federal team that raided Hammer Industries eight months ago. You were shaking like a leaf that day."

The White Queen gave him a contemptuous glance. "She's right. You nearly wet yourself. I was there, too, watching you sweat."

"Yes, yes! I remember now!" Justin exclaimed, pointing. "You—you're that nosy investigator who suspected me back then! Well, look at the tables now. I work for Mr. William, and you're the one in chains. What can you possibly do to me now?"

"You think this is over?" Natasha replied, her eyes like twin blades. "Don't get too comfortable. If I ever get free, you won't live to see the next morning."

Justin clicked his tongue and shrugged. "Tsk. Say what you want. I've got Mr. William backing me. That's all that matters." He turned to William again with a hopeful grin. "You'll keep me safe, right, sir? I'm your most loyal lackey. I do everything you ask, without question!"

William gave a slow nod, his expression unreadable. "That's true. You are loyal. But remember, a good dog knows when to bark—and when to stay silent. Bark too much, and even your master might grow tired of the noise."

Justin's face froze for a moment, then he forced an awkward smile and bowed his head repeatedly. "Yes, yes, of course! Mr. William is absolutely right. I'll behave. I won't cause trouble."

Natasha sneered. "You really are human garbage."

Unbothered, Justin smiled smugly. "Say whatever you like. None of it matters. The public doesn't know the truth. All they see is success. They worship me now—envy me, even. Let them gossip and guess. As long as I stand next to Mr. William, I'll be untouchable."

Maria glared at him, her voice like a blade of ice. "You'll fall, Hammer. Just like him. You'll both be dragged into the dirt and crushed beneath the boots of the very people you mock."

"Mr. William is so powerful. The scenario you just described will never come to pass. It's you people who always fail in the end. You are the ones who get crushed under Mr. William's feet."

Natasha and Maria found themselves momentarily speechless. There was no witty retort, no clever comeback. They could only grit their teeth and swallow their fury. The humiliation they felt at that moment couldn't be released—it festered silently in their chests, suffocating and infuriating.

Inside the top-floor room, a soft digital flicker lit up in White Queen's eyes as streams of encrypted data scrolled past her irises. With a soft mechanical click, the door unlocked and slid open.

Justin, who had followed them to the doorway, was quick to act with fawning subservience. "Mr. William, I won't intrude. You all go ahead and enjoy yourselves inside. I'll stay out here and guard the door. No one will disturb you. Please, have as much fun as you like."

William glanced at him with amusement, then gave his head a firm pat. "Not bad, Justin. You're becoming more and more obedient. A good dog indeed."

Justin's face lit up with a grotesque mixture of pride and resignation. "Thank you, Mr. William! Being praised by you—it's the greatest honor of my life."

With a slight smirk, William walked into the room alongside White Queen and the others. The door closed firmly behind them with a soft hiss.

Justin stood outside in silence, his smile slowly fading. He stared at the door as though expecting it to open again, but it didn't. His expression shifted to one of quiet bitterness. How could he possibly be happy? William treated him no differently than a mutt—a lapdog trained to sit, beg, and bark on command. Yet even knowing that, he had no choice. He was too far gone, too entangled. William was a demon in human skin, and his power was something Justin could never hope to resist. All he could do was suffer through the shame in silence.

---

Inside the lavish, dimly-lit room, William carelessly threw himself onto the large velvet bed like a man who owned the world. He let out a satisfied sigh, his arms behind his head. "Natasha, do you remember when I offered you one hundred thousand dollars per session? You turned it down like some noble saint. Fine. I'll be generous today. I'm raising the price to one million per night. That should be more than enough to tempt even the most stubborn."

Natasha's gaze turned to ice. "If you kill yourself, I might consider it."

William chuckled, amused. "Kill myself? Would that turn you on? But in that case, I'd already be dead. Would you sleep with my corpse, then? Damn. I always heard you had a dark side, Black Widow, but this is something else. I admire your... unique tastes."

Natasha's face darkened. She drew in a deep breath, trying to control her fury. "Don't project your filth onto me. I have zero interest in you. In fact, every second I spend looking at you makes me physically nauseous."

William raised his hands in mock innocence. "Oh really? But the way I see it, I'm just appreciating art. Especially the art of your curves. That backside of yours... it's been giving me some serious hand spasms lately."

He stared at his palm with an exaggerated expression.

Natasha's fury boiled over. Memories of the day he humiliated her—pinned her down and spanked her like a misbehaving child—flashed through her mind.

"Don't you dare mention that again," she snarled.

William grinned, unbothered. "Mention it or not, facts don't cease to exist just because they're inconvenient. You were on the ground, beneath me, and there wasn't a damn thing you could do."

Natasha turned away with a bitter scoff. "There's no point in wasting words on a degenerate like you. I came here to ask something important."

Before she could continue, White Queen interjected with a teasing tone, "You mean the nano-cameras you installed throughout Hammer Industries?"

Natasha's lips tightened. "So, you figured that out already."

"From the very moment you planted them," White Queen said with an amused smile. "I accessed them almost immediately. I redirected their feeds, tracked the terminal they were transmitting to, and while I was at it, I cracked your precious firewall just for fun. Honestly, it was child's play."

Natasha's fists clenched at her sides. "So I was being used the whole time. You turned my surveillance against me. How thorough."

White Queen shrugged. "You shouldn't feel too bad. After all, it's only natural to lose when you're playing against the best. I am, after all, the most advanced intelligence in the world."

She said it with the same arrogance William often carried in his voice.

A heavy silence settled over the room. Natasha, ever the hardened agent, felt a strange weight in her chest. William. White Queen. Then there were Alice and Ada—each one more untouchable than the last. She couldn't defeat any of them. This wasn't just another mission. This was something more—something bigger than her.

For the first time in a long time, she tasted bitter defeat. Not a tactical setback, not a temporary loss. Real, personal defeat.

Was this what it meant to hit a wall? To confront an enemy she couldn't even begin to understand, let alone beat?

And worse—was the only option left… to admit it?

*****

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