Chapter 37: Point-Blank Ultimate, Black WidowObediently Goes to Work
Lin Nuo had one hand in his dress trouser pocket, while the other rested extremely casually on the back of the sofa behind Natasha.
"The Red Room?"
Natasha maintained a perfect professional smile, tilting her face up to meet the man's gaze.
"Mr. Lin's imagination is truly rich. Is that some ballet troupe in Russia? My resume does state that I spent some time in Moscow."
Lin Nuo lowered his head, his breath brushing against her red curls.
"No need to rush to refute it."
He withdrew his arm and walked to the liquor cabinet to pour two glasses of ice water.
"Star Umbrella Group doesn't need moral paragons with spotless resumes. The fact that you can create such beautiful camouflage networks for S.H.I.E.L.D. or any other agency proves that your information processing capabilities are sufficient to qualify for the position of Chief Legal Officer."
The glass was pushed onto the coffee table.
Lin Nuo sat back in his swivel chair.
"A monthly salary of $200,000, plus a luxury apartment in Midtown Manhattan. If that's acceptable, go to the HR department next door now to process the paperwork. Come to my core office in ten minutes."
Natasha picked up the water glass, her fingertips pressing against the cold glass.
This man had even skipped the testing process.
He had exposed her identity directly, yet he didn't hesitate to push her into the core circle.
This completely contradicted the psychological profile report provided by Nick Fury.
"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Lin."
She stood up and straightened the hem of her silk shirt.
...
Ten minutes later.
The top floor of Star Umbrella Group, the CEO's core office.
The holographic security door slid open to both sides.
Natasha walked in, holding her onboarding documents.
The interior space was ridiculously large.
In front of the giant floor-to-ceiling windows, Lin Nuostood with his back to her, examining a three-dimensional image suspended in mid-air.
It was hundreds of intricate genetic chains, accompanied by extremely precise structural diagrams of a mechanical exoskeleton.
Natasha's gaze lingered on the holographic screen for only a second, and her heart rate accelerated.
That was the theoretical model for rapid cellular regeneration that the S.H.I.E.L.D. technical department had spent months failing to break through.
Now, it was just hanging in mid-air, treated so casually.
"Do you know how to read blueprints?"
Lin Nuo didn't turn around, his voice echoing in the spacious room.
"I've encountered some basic physics blueprints before, during an acquisition case for Stark Industries."
Natasha walked closer in her high heels, stopping at a safe distance of three steps away from Lin Nuo.
Lin Nuo's long fingers slid across the holographic panel, and the genetic chain was magnified.
"This is called telomerase-directed modification technology. As long as it's injected into the human body, ordinary gunshot wounds can heal within five minutes, without leaving even a scar."
Lin Nuo turned around, his black eyes staring straight at her.
"Ms. Rushman, tell me, if we were to sell this to the Military, or to certain people at The Pentagon, how many orders could Star Umbrella get?"
Natasha maintained her composure.
"This is epoch-making biotechnology; its commercial value is immeasurable. However, if this technology falls into the hands of unregulated private armed forces, it will attract trouble from the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation?"
Lin Nuo let out a scoff.
He strode forward with his long legs, walking straight up to Natasha.
Without pausing, without slowing down.
His tall figure approached with a sense of oppression.
Natasha's combat instincts made her want to retreat, but she held back, forcing herself to stay rooted to the spot.
The distance between the two was reduced to less than half a meter.
Lin Nuo lowered his head slightly, and the aggressive scent of woody cologne enveloped her.
"I'm not afraid of trouble. I'm only afraid that the chips they offer won't be enough."
The man's palm raised.
Natasha held her breath, her muscles already prepared to counterattack.
However, Lin Nuo's large hand reached over her shoulder and pressed directly onto the holographic control console behind her.
Click.
A palm-sized silver storage drive popped out of the console and fell onto the tabletop.
This movement brought their bodies almost into contact.
Lin Nuo's arm brushed against the forearm wrapped in Natasha's silk shirt, and his high body temperature was conducted through the clothing.
"Take this to the Legal Department's Second Group downstairs."
Lin Nuo's voice was right by her ear.
"Tell them to draft a technology transfer letter of intent using the strictest liability disclaimer clauses. Fill in S.H.I.E.L.D. as the partner."
Natasha was shocked.
S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Was he planning to just throw this core technology directly to Nick Fury?
She turned her head; because the distance was so close, her lips almost brushed against Lin Nuo's jaw.
"What?"
Lin Nuo tilted his head, his gaze shifting downwards, landing on her slightly parted red lips.
"Doesn't the transfer of this technology require discussion by the board of directors?"
Natasha suppressed her emotional fluctuations, her tone professional.
"Here, my word is the board resolution."
Lin Nuo's slender fingers pinched the storage drive and stuffed it directly into the pocket of Natasha's jacket.
His fingertips, through the thin fabric, intentionally or unintentionally brushed against the sensitive curves of her waist.
An extremely brief touch, separating as soon as it made contact.
Yet Natasha felt as if her waist had been scalded.
This kind of physical contact, which seemed casual but was actually filled with a strong possessiveness, was more lethal than any direct words.
The sound of high heels came from outside the door.
Betty Ross pushed the door open, holding an official document.
Seeing the two of them so close to each other in front of the holographic console, Betty's footsteps paused for a beat.
Her gaze swept across Natasha's incredibly seductive face, then landed straight on Lin Nuo.
"Boss."
Betty swayed her waist as she walked to the desk, her tone laced with sarcasm.
"I heard you promoted someone to Chief Legal Officer right after the interview. I thought you were reviewing her professional capabilities, but it seems you were conducting a physical examination?"
Natasha naturally stepped back half a step, widening the distance.
"Director Ross, I'll go downstairs to handle the handover now."
She maintained a perfect subordinate posture and turned to leave the office.
The metal door closed.
Betty slammed the document onto the table, walked to Lin Nuo's side, and her fingers restlessly hooked onto the edge of his belt.
"That woman has a dangerous scent about her. You keep her by your side; aren't you afraid of trouble?"
Lin Nuo pinched Betty's wrist and pulled her in front of him.
"Jealous?"
He looked down at Betty.
"I'm just reminding you."
Betty lifted her face, her eyes shimmering.
"It's one thing that you protect that little girl Gwen, but this woman is clearly not someone to be trifled with."
"The more dangerous the prey, the more valuable it is to tame."
Lin Nuo released her wrist.
"Go keep an eye on the laboratory at Empire State University. That old fox at Oscorp has been making a lot of moves lately; don't let them pull any tricks under our noses."
Betty knew when to quit; she knew where this man's bottom line was.
"Understood, Boss."
She picked up the documents that needed signing.
"I've arranged your schedule for the evening. Are you going to Warehouse No. 1 of Stark Industries?"
"You don't need to come along."
Lin Nuo leaned back in his swivel chair.
"Have the new Chief Legal Officer accompany me."
Chapter 38: Ambushed by Snipers, Lin Nuo Holds Natashawith One Hand
The night was thick.
A black bulletproof maybach sped steadily along the road leading to the suburban highway.
The space in the back seat of the car was cramped and private.
Natasha crossed her legs, and her form-fitting professional pencil skirt rode up slightly with the movement, looking extremely alluring.
She turned her head, her gaze crossing the distance between them and landing on the side of the man's face next to her.
Lin Nuo leaned against the leather seat back, his eyes closed, his breathing steady.
Natasha's gaze swept quickly over the man's Adam's apple, the rhythm of his chest rising and falling, and the muscular lines of his arms.
Her brain was making precise assessments.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s profile on this man was full of question marks.
He had risen too quickly, and his methods were too ruthless.
The things he said in the office today had directly exposed her background.
"Have you seen enough?"
A deep voice rang out in the quiet carriage.
Lin Nuo didn't even open his eyes, yet he had keenly captured her gaze.
Natasha's smile did not fade, and her tone was gentle.
"Mr. Lin has very superior features. As a temporary assistant, I was just confirming whether the boss's state is suitable for the upcoming itinerary."
Lin Nuo opened his eyes.
His highly aggressive black eyes stared straight at her.
He reached out with a long arm, crossed over the leather armrest in the middle, and directly gripped Natasha's slender wrist.
The force was immense, making it completely impossible to break free.
Lin Nuo applied a little force, pulling her entire body toward him.
Wearing form-fitting clothing, Natasha was carried along by this unreasonable force, her knees knocking directly against the edge of the seat.
She was forced to lean over, with most of her body suspended above the man.
The distance was forcibly closed.
The scent of woody cologne, mixed with the scorching body heat radiating from the man, surrounded her completely.
Lin Nuo used his free hand to pinch her pointed chin.
His rough fingertips pressed against her full red lips, grinding and rubbing them heavily twice.
Natasha felt the pain and let out a very slight whimper in her throat.
Lin Nuo stared at her, his fingers brushing aside the red curls by her ear.
"There isn't a single word of truth in that mouth of yours."
"Is the first lesson S.H.I.E.L.D. taught you to bat your eyes at men?"
Natasha was forced to look up, her hands pressed against Lin Nuo's solid chest.
"Mr. Lin, you are hurting me. If you are not satisfied with my work ability, you can fire me at any time."
Lin Nuo let out a soft laugh that vibrated in his chest.
His large hand slid down from her chin, glided across her swan-like neck, and stopped directly on her waistline.
Through the thin fabric of her shirt, the heat of his palm was extremely scorching.
Lin Nuo's tone was husky, carrying a naked threat.
"Prey that falls into my hands only has two outcomes. Either be eaten clean by me, or be locked up by me."
"Want to use firing as an excuse to run away? Do you think that's possible?"
Natasha's breathing became rapid.
This man's sense of oppression was too strong, completely exceeding the scope of a normal human being.
The fighting skills she took pride in—the moment he gripped her wrist, she knew she was no match for him at all.
Natasha tried to use workplace topics to distract the man, while simultaneously changing her strategy.
"Is this also the attitude Mr. Lin had toward Director Bettyin the office today?"
Her red lips parted slightly, and she deliberately leaned close to Lin Nuo's ear.
Her voice was lowered, carrying a deliberate coaxing tone.
"It was the boss who started by pinching me."
The Agent's top-tier manipulation was online.
She tried to regain a bit of initiative by softening her posture.
Lin Nuo turned his head.
His thin lips brushed directly against her cheek.
Their breaths intertwined, full of provocative meaning.
"She knows what position she should be in."
Lin Nuo's finger hooked the first button of her shirt, his fingertips intentionally or unintentionally touching her exquisite collarbone.
"I don't just want to pinch you, I also want to peel away this hypocritical shell of the Red Room. Let's see just how much you resist being controlled by a man in your bones."
Such extremely explicit words made Natasha afraid to even breathe heavily.
She dared not retreat; to retreat was to show guilt.
She also dared not advance; to advance would surely result in being devoured by this man.
Right in the middle of this life-or-death tug-of-war, the maybach slowed down and stopped in front of Warehouse No. 1.
The dilapidated industrial rolling door rose automatically.
It was pitch black inside.
Lin Nuo patted her lower back, then let go.
"Get out of the car and follow me closely. Don't do anything stupid."
Natasha secretly breathed a sigh of relief, straightened her messy shirt collar, and quickly followed.
This place used to be where Tony Stark stored early prototypes, and now it belonged to Star Umbrella.
Her heels clicked on the concrete floor, echoing in the empty space.
Natasha's eyes immediately became cold and sharp.
There was an extremely faint smell of gunpowder in the air.
Natasha reported quickly; professional instinct allowed her to enter her state.
"The ventilation duct in the southeast corner has been forcibly cut open."
"There are tactical boot prints from more than five people in the dust on the ground."
"They have received professional training."
"Mr. Lin, we must retreat immediately and call for Star Umbrella's security team. There is an ambush here."
Lin Nuo had his hands in his dress pants pockets, not stopping his pace, and let out a snort of disdain.
"Call security? Do you think I brought you here to fulfill your legal duties?"
Natasha froze on the spot, then took two quick steps to catch up.
"What do you mean?"
Lin Nuo stopped walking; the two of them had reached the center of the warehouse, with towering steel structures overhead.
"Nick Fury sent you over, wasn't it just to see my trump cards?"
"Today, I'll teach him a lesson for free."
The surroundings were unusually quiet.
Suddenly, a faint reflection flashed on the steel frame high up on the left.
This was the intuition brought to Natasha by extremely rigorous visual training.
Sniper scope reflection.
Three infrared aiming points appeared out of thin air, piercing through the dim light, and locked directly onto Lin Nuo's chest and the center of his brow.
Natasha did not hesitate at all.
She knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to demonstrate loyalty.
Stepping forward at a critical moment when her employer was facing a life-or-death crisis would not only clear her suspicions but also gain the absolute trust of this arrogant man.
Natasha shouted out loud.
"Get down!"
She exerted force with her ankles, and her whole body, like a fully drawn bowstring, lunged directly at Lin Nuo.
In her plan, she would push Lin Nuo down behind the metal container next to them, and then fight back with the micro-pistol she carried.
Even if she got shot in the arm, it would be completely worth it if she could obtain core intelligence.
The plan was perfect.
But reality went completely off the rails.
Natasha's fingers had just touched the fabric of Lin Nuo's shirt.
A large hand, hard as iron, directly and steadily intercepted her in mid-air.
Lin Nuo's movements were surprisingly fast.
He held Natasha's slender, soft waist with one hand, his arm muscles contracting powerfully.
An extremely domineering pulling force came.
Natasha's forward-lunging body was forcibly redirected.
Her whole body uncontrollably crashed into Lin Nuo's broad, scorching chest.
Natasha exclaimed in loss of control.
"You're crazy!"
In a dead-end situation locked by a sniper, not only did he not hide, but he also pulled her over to be a living target.
Lin Nuo looked down at her, his black eyes full of aloof disdain.
"Shut up and stay in my arms obediently."
Chapter 39: Don't Block the Gunfire, The Exclusive Toy Delivered to Your Door
The sniper rifle's suppressor emitted a faint, muffled sound.
Three large-caliber armor-piercing rounds tore through the air, firing from three different vantage points in a triangular formation, completely sealing off all routes of retreat.
Natasha was roughly pulled into Lin Nuo's arms, her nose filled with the aggressive, woody scent of the man's cologne.
Her cheek was pressed tightly against Lin Nuo's solid chest, stealing away even her breath.
In her calculations, without cover, bullets of this caliber were enough to pierce through both of their bodies.
She closed her eyes, preparing to meet the expected pain.
One second.
Two seconds.
Aside from the whistling of the night wind at the top of the warehouse, nothing happened.
Natasha opened her eyes, her gaze shifting upward.
The three special armor-piercing rounds, capable of punching through light armored vehicles, were hovering silently in mid-air, less than half a foot from Lin Nuo's brow and chest.
The brass-colored warheads were still spinning at high speed, emitting a piercing screech as they rubbed against the air, yet they could not advance even a fraction of an inch.
It was as if an invisible Wall of Sighs had abruptly severed the laws of physics.
"How is this..." Natasha's throat tightened.
The decade of brutal training in the Red Room and her top-tier experience in S.H.I.E.L.D. shattered into dust at this moment.
Lin Nuo circled her slender waist with one arm, his tall figure standing as straight as a pine.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the three spinning bullets, his tone full of mockery.
"The dogs Obadiah keeps are far inferior to the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
He didn't even lift a hand.
Just an invisible Bio-field expanded instantly.
With a muffled "bang."
The three armor-piercing rounds were instantly crushed into a heap of scrap metal, flying back the way they came at a speed several times faster than before.
Three dull thuds echoed in succession from the high steel beams.
Subsequently, three corpses clad in black tactical gear slammed heavily onto the concrete floor from a height of over ten meters, and the smell of blood immediately permeated the air.
The warehouse returned to silence.
Lin Nuo released the arm circling Natasha's waist, his long-fingered hand sliding up to grip her chin, forcing her to look up.
The man's palm was scorching, his rough fingertips pressing directly onto her flushed cheek, rubbing slowly.
"Did you see clearly, Miss Rushman."
Natasha's heart beat rapidly, her cheeks feeling flustered by the careless heat.
"Mr. Lin, who exactly are you?"
"Who I am is not important."
Lin Nuo lowered his head, his thin lips moving close to her ear, his warm breath hitting her sensitive earlobe.
"What's important is your behavior just now."
Lin Nuo's thumb brushed over her lower lip, causing a slight tremor.
"When you discovered the snipers, your first reaction wasn't to dodge, but to throw yourself at me."
Lin Nuo's voice was extremely husky, every word possessing great penetrative power.
"Is the script S.H.I.E.L.D. taught you to use a bitter ruse to gain the target's trust?"
She had been completely seen through.
Natasha suppressed the panic in her heart, her red lips parting slightly.
"Boss, I take a salary from Star Umbrella; protecting you is my duty."
"Lying."
Lin Nuo interrupted her mercilessly, his fingertips applying more pressure, leaving a faint red mark on her chin.
"That is an instinct the Red Room carved into your bones."
"Treating you as a consumable, ready to throw yourself onto the altar at any time to complete a mission."
As these words came out, the perfect mask on Natasha's face finally cracked.
Her body tensed, struggling to retreat, but she was firmly pinned in place by the man's large hand.
"Don't move."
Lin Nuo applied a little force, pulling her close again, zeroing out the distance between them.
He lowered his head, his nose almost touching hers.
"I don't need a tool that is ready to die at any moment."
"Remember, my woman doesn't need to stand in front of me to block gunfire."
These words were highly impactful, striking Natasha's nerves.
No one had ever said such things to her before.
In the Red Room, she was Black Widow; in S.H.I.E.L.D., she was the most useful Agent.
Only in front of this man was she roughly stripped of her shell, forced to face the decay within her heart.
She bit her lip, trying to regain the initiative.
"Mr. Lin, when did I become your woman? We are just in an employment relationship."
Lin Nuo let out a soft chuckle that vibrated in his chest.
He released her chin and instead pinched the soft flesh at the nape of her neck.
"From the moment you took that forged resume and walked into my office."
The man's palm was extremely large, the warmth transmitting through her silk shirt into her skin, bringing a sense of control that could not be resisted.
"Did you think you could manipulate me?"
"Baby, you are delivering yourself to my door."
That "Baby" was called out extremely naturally, exuding pure bewitchment.
Natasha's earlobes burned red, her body inexplicably going soft.
The reason she prided herself on was being dismantled bit by bit in front of this man, who was full of hormones and a sense of oppression.
"Let's go."
Lin Nuo did not continue further, withdrawing his hand with extreme restraint.
He patted her waist.
"Go see if those dead dogs left anything fun on them."
Natasha steadied her breathing and followed behind Lin Nuo toward the corpses.
The black-clad assassins' deaths were gruesome; their chests were completely concave, smashed in by the rebounded bullets carrying terrifying kinetic energy.
"They are remnants of the Ten Rings."
Natasha glanced at the tattoo on the assassin's neck and gave a professional assessment.
"After Obadiah died, these people became mercenaries who lost their financier."
"They came here, presumably for the remaining Stark Industries weapon blueprints in the warehouse."
"The blueprints were long ago moved out by my people."
Lin Nuo kept one hand in his pocket, his tone indifferent.
"This is just a group of brainless wild dogs."
"But the commotion here will attract the police."
Natasha analyzed quickly.
"We need to leave as soon as possible; besides, Star Umbrella's security perimeter must be re-evaluated."
"You don't need to teach me how to do things."
Lin Nuo turned sideways, his gaze landing on her red curly hair, slightly disheveled by the night wind.
He reached out, naturally tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"There's been enough shock for tonight, temporary assistant."
"Now, your task is to accompany me back for a drink."
The man's fingertips inadvertently grazed her cheek, bringing a tingling sensation.
Natasha lowered her eyelashes.
"Boss, does my job description include drinking with you?"
"That depends on whether you want to get that transfer agreement for the core bio-technology."
Lin Nuo offered a lethal bait.
"To make Nick Fury satisfied, you have to pay something."
"There is no free lunch in the world."
The two walked side by side out of the abandoned warehouse and returned to the maybach parked in the night.
The car door opened.
Lin Nuo shoved her directly into the back seat and then sat in himself.
The interior of the car once again fell into that cramped and intimate atmosphere.
Lin Nuo took a bottle of top-tier champagne from the car refrigerator and poured two glasses.
He handed one glass to Natasha, then held the other himself, leaning back against the seat.
"Drink it."
Lin Nuo commanded.
Natasha took the wine glass, the cold glass body pressing against her palm.
"Is Mr. Lin trying to calm my nerves?"
"You could say that."
Lin Nuo swirled the golden liquid in his glass.
"And by the way, celebrate you officially becoming my exclusive toy."
"I am a legal officer, not a toy."
Natasha insisted stubbornly, taking a small sip of champagne.
"But here with me, you are just a coward who doesn't even dare to face yourself."
Lin Nuo put down the wine glass and leaned forward.
His tall body completely blocked the light from outside the car window, shrouding Natasha in absolute oppression.
The man's arms braced directly against the edges of the seat on either side of her body, completely caging her in.
"What exactly are you afraid of, Natasha."