Out of Control: Into Your Everything-Chapter 144: Area Attack

Because they were wary of the boss, the other Veridian employees joining the camping trip all kept a good distance from Julian Ford, purposely lagging behind.

When the two were tightly hugging, the others had just rounded a bend in the mountain path.

All it would take was a look up, and they’d see them.

Blending in with the group, Ryan Ford was the first to catch this scene, and Aaron Carson, who’d been watching the boss for a while, also caught a glimpse.

Almost at the same time, the two worked in perfect sync, blocking the others’ line of sight and casually saying, "Let’s take a break, we’ve been walking for a while."

The tired ones took the chance to sit down and rest.

Those who weren’t tired, since The Fords’ Second Son and Special Assistant Carson had spoken, could only do as told too.

As soon as they stopped, someone chatted idly, "Why is Scarlett Shaw always walking way up front with President Ford? Feels weird."

"Who knows? Maybe after sitting with President Ford on the bus, she’s feeling confident now."

The guy speaking was in blockchain development at Veridian, a top techie and project lead, who’d long had a habit of using his position to harass and mock female colleagues, quietly pissing everyone off for ages. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Girls these days, all want to become a phoenix from a scrappy chicken, never even look at themselves. Clearly useless, but always wanting to climb the ladder, so damn vain."

At this broadside, the female coworkers resting nearby all frowned.

The guy didn’t think there was anything wrong with what he’d said, looking all self-important, thinking he’d seen through the world, and wanted to keep talking—when someone suddenly kicked him hard in the back.

"Where’d this dog come from, brain shrinking? Is working blockchain making your brain full of holes?"

Ryan Ford dangled a cigarette from his lips; a playful smile in his eyes, but he looked cold as ice.

"What, can’t it be that Scarlett’s just a great worker who got noticed by my brother?"

Aaron Carson also gave the guy a fake smile and said, "Scarlett’s indeed recognized by President Ford now. So, are you questioning President Ford’s judgment, or doubting his character?"

Skyler Miller chimed in, "Actually, during last week’s work report, President Ford even called on Scarlett by name."

Lily added fuel to the fire: "Exactly, when our department did overtime, it was Scarlett who had the guts to ask President Ford for his exact needs, and that sped things up, which let your dev team finish early too. Instead of thanking her, you talk behind her back—no conscience at all."

One’s the boss’s real brother, the other the boss’s right-hand man.

The other two were Scarlett’s department leads and colleagues again.

No matter how cocky he usually was, the guy’s face turned red and white, and he didn’t dare make a peep.

Plus, with Ryan’s smirk-not-smile, it was actually scary.

Everyone knew The Fords’ Second Son was basically the grim reaper—out there as a lawyer with shady tricks, and since joining Veridian, he wasn’t one to play nice either.

"Go, apologize to all the female colleagues."

Ryan pointed his chin and didn’t give him a choice.

The guy knew he was in the wrong, didn’t dare object, apologized to each woman nearby, and only after checking Ryan’s face, breathed a sigh of relief and slunk into the corner, silent.

Compared to Julian Ford’s cold, detached look, Ryan had that devil-may-care charm—fierce, but no airs, easy to get along with, and even went out of his way to say some gentle words of comfort to the ladies. As soon as he did, a flock of them wouldn’t leave him alone.

Ryan didn’t find it annoying at all; in fact, he handled it all like a pro.

Skyler Miller and Aaron Carson, standing nearby, seemed to have the same thought and glanced at each other.

Skyler Miller: "Thank God Scarlett broke up with this Second Young Master."

This Ford kid was okay as a person, but as a boyfriend—just a disaster.

She still felt Scarlett and President Ford were a better match.

Aaron Carson nodded in agreement.

He’d just gotten a whole new level of respect for Ryan Ford, too.

Word was that The Fords’ Second Son was a massive playboy, but if you didn’t talk romance, only saw him as a bro: passionate, generous, with a sense of justice—actually pretty trustworthy.

No wonder President Ford and his brother got along so well.

Skyler Miller glanced at Aaron now and, remembering her earlier misunderstanding, said awkwardly, "I used to think it was you and Scarlett, actually..."

Aaron smiled unfazed, "As long as you don’t think so now."

If people started talking about him and Scarlett now, he’d be dead.

Scarlett Shaw and Julian Ford, up front, had no idea what just took place behind them.

The two had just hugged, but with all the people around and Scarlett being thin-skinned—plus still pretending to be mad—she slipped out of Julian’s arms just as his lips were about to land on her forehead.

Except his kiss landed on her hair instead.

Her hand was still firmly held in his palm.

And now that he was holding her hand, there was no way he was letting go.

So the two just openly, hand in hand, walked up the mountain together.

Scarlett said nothing the whole way, just sighed to herself—looked like she was going to let Grand Strategist Yarrow’s "masterplan" go to waste again.

As for why their way was so smooth, and they’d gone unnoticed by the other Veridian colleagues the whole way—first, thanks to a certain little brother’s overwhelming charm. He didn’t just attract all the female staff, even random pretty hikers passing by were lining up for selfies with him.

Ryan Ford, anyway, never turned down a request.

As for the other male colleagues, with Aaron, Skyler, and Lily covering for them, they couldn’t spare the energy to notice anything else.

Once at the top, Scarlett and Julian waited a while. After ten minutes, Manager Lynch brought the main group up.

Last time, during the overseas rookie orientation, when Scarlett had gotten in trouble, he’d lost a chunk of his bonus.

This time, he’d learned his lesson—constantly doing headcounts to keep everyone safe.

Seeing everyone was there, Manager Lynch scurried up to Julian and pointed to a clearing not far off: "President Ford, there’s an open patch over there. Best spot for the sunrise—I had the site manager reserve it for you. And they say there’ll be a meteor shower tonight, so it’s basically perfect."

Julian gave a slight nod.

Manager Lynch still wanted to butter him up, but one look at the boss’s chilly eyes and that obvious "don’t talk to me" vibe, and he tactfully slipped away.

Scarlett was slinging her backpack, about to join Skyler and Lily to find a tent spot, when Julian called out, "You go over there."

He meant the primo spot Manager Lynch had just mentioned.

Scarlett didn’t stand on ceremony, nodded, and walked straight over.

Julian came along and set down his bag too, about to pitch a tent—when Scarlett stopped him: "This spot is for Skyler and Lily. Go find your own place."

Skyler quickly waved her hands, "This area is too damp, I don’t like it."

Lily added, "And I’m not into sunrises. I’m all about sleeping in."

Scarlett: "..."

Weren’t these two just last night demanding in the group chat to get the best sunrise spot?

Now, all it took was the boss showing up, and their dreams evaporated. Complete surrender to the forces of evil.

Scarlett was thinking this and had completely forgotten how deferential and respectful she used to act in front of Julian Ford. Turns out, when it came to walking all over someone, she was world champion—unmatched and unstoppable.

Of course, on this particular racetrack, she was the only contestant.

Julian glanced at Scarlett and paused. He turned to Skyler and said calmly, "You two stay here."

Then, he picked up his bag and walked away.