Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 444: Chapter 444

The tension in the meeting room was so thick, it felt like the air itself had frozen, suffocating everyone present.
Leah stared at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her lips quivered as if she wanted to say something, but shock rendered her speechless.
"Dalton, did you make a mistake? I have a close relationship with Mr. Duesler. How could he give something so important to her?" Leah finally snapped out of it, her voice shrill and frantic, laced with a touch of hysteria.
She turned sharply toward Dalton, her hands instinctively clenching into fists, knuckles turning white from the force, trying to read his face for any signs that he might be joking.
Then, she glared at me again, her eyes full of disdain and mockery. It was as if she believed me to be nothing more than a small-time opportunist trying to latch onto power, utterly incapable of having any real connection to Yaeger.
A wave of uncertainty washed over me as I furrowed my brow. Was Dalton talking about the same Yaeger I knew?
Suddenly, it hit me. One of the shareholders of The Herrera Group was named Duesler. However, he had never attended any shareholder meetings, and all document signings were handled by Dalton. In fact, Dalton had never even been to any of the branches.
The realization gnawed at me, but looking at Dalton's determined expression, I knew this wasn't a coincidence.
At that moment, Leonard Cleveland, the manager of the marketing department, abruptly stood up, slamming his hands on the table.
He leaned forward, his face flushed with anger as he shouted, "Laurel, how dare you fire someone from HR without proper authorization? Just because you're on good terms with the shareholders doesn't mean you can use your position for personal vendettas!"
He pointed his finger at me, his muscles twitching with agitation, as though I had committed an unforgivable crime.
Then, with a sneer, he added, "Mr. Herrera got hurt for you, and you turn around and start flirting with other men. Really..."
I felt my blood boil as I shot him a look. His words were beyond reckless. But when I noticed the adoring look he gave Leah, it all made sense. He was just an idiot trying to get into her good books.
I couldn't help but smirk inwardly. He thought he had a chance with Leah?
Dalton, who had been standing to the side, now looked displeased. A slight sneer crossed his face, and he coldly shot a glare at Leonard, his gaze like a blade that could freeze you in place.
With a soft but firm chuckle, Dalton turned to Leah and said, his voice laced with authority, "Miss Parks is Mr. Duesler's savior. If anyone dares speak ill of her again, they'll have to answer to Mr. Duesler."
Dalton swept his gaze across the room. The people who had been watching me like hawks quickly lowered their eyes, unable to meet his gaze.
The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by Austin, who shifted in his seat. His eyes flickered back and forth between me, Leah, and Dalton.
Finally, he cleared his throat, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and said, his voice careful, "This... this seems like a misunderstanding. We all want what's best for the company, let's just talk this through calmly."
Leah shot Austin a sharp look, her voice rasping with emotion as she snapped, "Austin, don't you agree? She's an outsider—what gives her the right to run the company?"
Her voice cracked with frustration, her chest rising and falling in quick succession.
Austin opened his mouth, clearly struggling, then glanced at Dalton before offering a nervous smile, not saying anything more.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I closed the file slowly and looked at Leah with calm, unwavering eyes. "Leah, do you have anything else to say?"
For a moment, her eyes flitted nervously, and her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Her previous arrogance had vanished, replaced by confusion and helplessness.
"This matter will be handled by the board," I said, pausing. My gaze shifted to Austin, my voice firm. "Austin, you should really start addressing the issues with the CFO."
Austin froze, visibly startled, and quickly nodded, beads of sweat sliding down his face. "Yes, yes. I'll take care of it immediately."
Dalton gave me a satisfied glance and bowed slightly, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Miss Parks, now that everything's been clarified, I'll take my leave."
I nodded in return, offering a small smile of gratitude. "Dalton, please thank Mr. Foster for me."
Dalton turned, his movements measured and steady, leaving the room without a second glance.
As soon as his figure disappeared through the door, the tension in the room lightened somewhat. The others in management exchanged confused glances, unsure of what just happened.
"Let's call it a day," I said, standing up, taking the file, and preparing to leave.
When I reached the door, I paused and looked back at Leah. There was a warning in my eyes, a deeper meaning behind my gaze. "Leah, I suggest you tread carefully."
Without waiting for her response, I walked out of the room.
Back in my office, I slumped into my chair, letting out a sigh of relief.
Thinking back to the scene that just unfolded, my heart was still racing. I hadn't expected Yaeger to send Dalton to help me—it was a total surprise.
As a businessman, Yaeger never does anything without a return. He'd helped me once, and in exchange, he agreed to treat Alex's leg injury. But now, this move was baffling. Was he afraid I might back out on my promise? Or did he have something else in mind for me?
Just as I was lost in thought, a soft knock on the door interrupted me.
"Come in," I called out, and Betty walked in with her usual graceful steps.
She walked directly up to me, and without any preamble, she asked, "What exactly is your relationship with Yaeger?"
I was taken aback by her directness.
"On what grounds are you asking me that?" I raised an eyebrow, a subtle but knowing smile creeping onto my face. "Are you interested in Mr. Foster? Or is it because of Alex? You came back for him, didn't you?"