<h4>Chapter 356: Something off?</h4>


    ~Allen Groups~


    Davis had just stepped out of the Allen Group conference room. His face was cold, his aura icy. As he walked towards his office, the tension in the air was unmistakable.


    One look at his tall, powerful frame made it clear he was angry and barely holding it in.


    Ethan and the rest of his assistants followed silently behind him. No one dared to speak. Each step Davis took seemed to echo louder than thest.


    Trailing at a cautious distance was the head of the R&D department. His fists were clenched, his nerves on edge. Summoning the courage, he spoke up.


    "Sir... please, give us another chance to prove ourselves.


    Davis stopped in his tracks. Slowly, he turned to face the man. His sharp gaze narrowed, making the department head swallow hard.


    He didn’t know what else to say at the moment; he just knew he couldn’t afford to lose this job just like his words had echoed in the hall earlier.


    Earlier, Davis had held a joint meeting with both the old and newly appointed R&D staff. It was supposed to be a follow-up to the introductory meeting the day before.


    But today’s session went poorly.


    He had given them a simple yet crucial task, something that should have been within their capability. Yet, for over three hours, they couldn’t deliver any response. No solutions, no progress. Just confusion and weak excuses.


    Inside the conference room, frustration had built steadily. Davis had watched as one team member after another failed to contribute anything worthwhile.


    Even the more experienced staff had looked lost. His disappointment turned into quiet fury. This was not just ipetence; it was carelessness.


    Without uttering any word, he turned away from the pleading man and continued walking. The department head felt lost and was at his wits end, as the silence around him thickened.


    Ethan kept stealing nces at his boss but said nothing while the new assistant followed without any expression on his face as he walked back to his office.


    Once Davis reached his office, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The door shut firmly behind him.


    Ethan waited a few seconds before following him in.


    "Should I cancel your next meeting?" he asked carefully.


    "No," Davis replied, voice calm but cold. "Push it back to an hour. I need to clear my head."


    Ethan nodded and stepped out.


    Inside the office, Davis moved to the window and stared out over the city skyline. His reflection in the ss was sharp and hard. His thoughts churned with frustration.


    Thepany is already hanging by a thread... If the R&D team couldn’t even put together a decent proposal, how could I expect them to handle a fullunch?


    If they can’t build a presentation, how can they manage an entire prototype development?


    This is the same R&D department that once thrived... How did they fall this far?


    Has Desmond be sox that he doesn’t even notice the decay under his nose?


    Davis had personally invested time and trust into that department. Today’s embarrassment felt like a personal betrayal. If things continued this way, he’d have no choice but to clean the house.


    If they couldn’t keep up, then recements had to be made.


    His fingers drummed on his thigh as he considered his next step.


    Maybe it was time to bring in fresh minds, fresh blood, and outsiders with no internal politics or bias into the system. He had done it before. Perhaps it was time again.


    A soft knock broke his thoughts.


    "Come in."


    Ethan entered, holding a tablet. "I’ve rearranged the next schedule. Also... I’ve gged some names from the R&D list. You might want to review them."


    Davis took the tablet and scanned the screen. His eyes hardened further.


    "Schedule a meeting with HR for tomorrow at 10," he said.


    Ethan gave a sharp nod. "Understood."


    As he turned to leave, Davis spoke again.


    "How is the new assistant doing?"


    Ethan halted briefly. "He is coping perfectly."


    "From his CV, he stated he is skilled in research?"


    Ethan’s brow furrowed for a while as he tried to consider the direction this question was headed.


    He breathed heavily. "Yes."


    Davis nodded briefly. "I see."


    Ethan nodded and turned around to leave, but just as his hand touched the doorknob, Davis’ voice filtered through.


    "And get me the file on the Alpha project. I’ll review it myself. I guess the Louis’ family daughter wants to y along, and I don’t mind keeping herpany for a while."


    After Ethan left, Davis walked back and sank into his chair. He leaned back, his eyes briefly closed as he allowed the weight of the matters at hand to press down for just a second.


    Then, with a sigh, he straightened his posture.Quietly, he began working on the files on his desk when there was a brief tap on the door and it was pushed in.


    With the thought it was Ethan, he didn’t look up as he answered, "Did you get it?"


    He waited for a response, but when he didn’t get any, he lifted his gaze, but then it was Jessica that walked in.


    "Baby, you are here?" he asked as he hurriedly left his seat and walked over to her, pulling her into a warm embrace.


    "I’m tired," she muttered.


    "What happened? Are you okay? How was the trip?" he asked in one breath.


    Jessica could read the various emotions in his words: fear, concern, and worry.


    Jessica rubbed his brow. "Can you not worry so much?" A smile ying on her lips. "I am just naturally tired."


    Davis rxed, and carefully he led her towards the couch and had her settle down.


    He picked up the phone and dialed the inte for an assistant toe over.


    He sat beside her, gently lifting her legs onto hisp. His brow furrowed.


    "The swelling looks worse today."


    Her baby bump was now clearly visible, and the swelling in her legs had started showing a few days earlier giving Davis concern.


    "I thought as much. I intended to stop over to check at the hospital, but Grandma only suggested constant massage."


    Davis nodded. "How is she doing?" he asked as his hand carefully massaged her legs, from the knee point down to her soles and toes.


    "Did she tell you the reason why it swelled? Maybe it could be avoided?"


    "The major cause" she exined "in the third trimester, the baby’s weight puts pressure on the pelvis. And not just that..."


    she murmured as her eyes fluttered lightly. "I want to sleep."


    The door pushed open and the new assistant walked in.


    Jessica’s eyes opened, her gaze on the young man unflinching as her eyes narrowed.


    "Hubby, you have a guest," she said with an inquisitive gaze.


    Davis smiled lightly and flicked her forehead.


    "Ouch!" Her hand flew to her forehead as she rubbed it, ring at the culprit.


    Davis shrugged and helped her rub the spot. "Not a guest but my new assistant, Luke Norman."


    Jessica nodded lightly as she nced at him. "Luke Norman?"


    "Yes, ma’am," he answered, neither humble nor overbearing.


    "I hope you will work with sincerity," she said, a challenging smirk on her lips.


    Luke nodded. "It’s only natural to serve the boss with sincerity," he said as he met her gaze head on.


    "Get her a cup of tea and some snacks," Davis said.


    Luke nodded and turned around to leave, but not without ncing at Jessica again.


    Seeing him exit the office, her smile faded, her eyes cold. Noting the change in her expression, Davis flinched.


    "What is the problem?


    Are you okay?


    Does it hurt?"


    Seeing him anxious about her, Jessica felt helpless.


    "Haven’t you noticed something off about this assistant of yours?" she asked.


    Davis’ brow furrowed in thought. "Something off?"


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