Page 5 of Inescapable Gravity

And given the bulky fit of the man's suit, he was carrying at least four weapons on him. Three pistols and a knife.

What he wouldn't give to pat the man down to check.

Marius stopped just short of the desk, his arms resting easily at his sides.

"Mister Blackwood."

The man tipped his chair back slightly, making the recessed lighting warm the top of his balding head. "Ares?"

If he'd been in a mood to acknowledge the other man's resourceful nature, he might have smiled or even offered him his hand to shake.

Instead, Marius dipped his chin just a hair. "Marius Goddard."

The billionaire tipped his head slightly to the side and raised a brow before he gestured at the lone seat in front of the desk.

Marius noticed that there were three other chairs just like his placed off to the sides. He expected to be the only one in the room, but apparently, Mr. Blackwood was ready to meet with groups of different sizes.

Smart really.

He'd always keep the visual appearance of being the head of the group.

Mister Blackwood wore power as well as he wore his bespoke suit.

Like he was born in it.

Before Marius was seated in the chair, Mister Blackwood started his questions.

"Age?"

"Thirty-four, sir."

"Where are your people from?"

With a touch of a smile at the corner of his mouth, Marius answered. "I don't have a profile at 23 and Me, but if you're talking about where I grew up. That would be Chicago, sir."

"Big City boy in the military. Hmm. Did you feel out of place?"

Marius shook his head. "It was an easy transition, sir."

Mister Blackwood let a long beat of time pass between them. "You're a quiet one."

Marius blinked and waited.

He knew from what Alex Marchand had told him during the briefing that other security companies had been invited to apply for the job.

Invited, sure, but Marius knew the job would be his.

He didn't need to defend himself or his personality to the billionaire.

Securing a protectee wasn't about being chatty or open with information.

It was the opposite.

Friends missed things.

Social interactions with the people you were guarding made things messy. Distractions got people killed.

Marius waited for the next question.

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