Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 106

**Across Distant Skies Lies Hope Waiting To Be Found by Kade Rowan Flint 106**

I have to get rid of the annoying insect.

**Grace**

Have you ever found yourself in a moment when it felt like a hundred pairs of eyes were scrutinizing your every move? That was precisely my predicament, sitting there at the long, polished table, surrounded by a cadre of wealthy, influential individuals who regarded me as though I were merely a lamb waiting for the butcher.

My fingers gripped the fabric of my skirt, twisting it tightly beneath the table as if it could somehow anchor me in this storm of judgment. What on earth was I doing here? This was not just uncomfortable; it was downright unbearable. And why in the world did Austin have to make it sound like I was the sole person responsible for everything? I had merely shared my thoughts with Apollo, and he was the one who had actually ventured into the depths of the situation, uncovering whatever truth lay buried beneath the surface.

With a flicker of courage, I dared to steal a glance at him. Apollo lounged in his chair, exuding an air of nonchalance that suggested he was blissfully unaware of the tempest he had unleashed within me. A surge of frustration coursed through me; I had never felt such a potent mix of emotions before, but at that moment, I genuinely wished I could just smack him upside the head.

“She? Are you serious?” one of the directors scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. “She solved the problem? I heard the whispers but thought they were just idle chatter. How could she possibly do that?”

Another director leaned in, brows furrowed, skepticism etched into his features. “Right? This is highly suspicious. How can she resolve an issue that seasoned employees couldn’t? How can you be sure she’s not part of the scheme herself?”

“Yes,” chimed in another voice, eager to join the fray. “She could very well be involved. We should investigate her thoroughly.”

The cacophony of voices rose, overlapping in a chaotic symphony of doubt and accusation. My heart plummeted into my stomach, but I remained silent. What could I even say? “I’m not involved, I haven’t done anything wrong”? Speaking up would only make me look guiltier in their eyes. The more I defended myself, the more they would twist my words to fit their narrative.

Beside me, Chase’s expression darkened, and he muttered under his breath, “What a bunch of lunatics. Jumping to conclusions without a shred of evidence. Don’t pay them any mind, Grace.”

I nodded, though my heart was racing. “I won’t.”

I could sense their irritation simmering beneath the surface, fueled by my calm demeanor. They wanted me to squirm, to plead for their forgiveness, but I was resolute. After everything with Charles and his family, I had vowed to myself that no one would ever again wield that kind of control over my life.

Suddenly, a man slammed his palm against the table, rising to his feet with a force that sent a ripple through the room. His voice boomed, cutting through the tension like a knife. “How dare you continue to sit there? Do you honestly believe we won’t investigate you? Chase, call security this instant!”

Chase remained unmoved, his gaze fixed on the man as if he were impervious to the chaos around him.

The director’s face flushed crimson, his anger palpable. “You imbecile! I hold more power than you can fathom. Call the authorities on this foolish woman and have her removed from here!”

Still, Chase did not budge. He merely tilted his head, as if genuinely perplexed by the man’s outburst. I glanced at him, astonished. I appreciated his defiance, but wasn’t he risking his position by ignoring a director like that?

The director was about to unleash another tirade when a deep, commanding voice sliced through the air like a sword.

“You have quite the audacity to speak to her in that manner.”

The authoritative tone resonated throughout the conference hall, freezing everyone in place, myself included.

All eyes shifted to Apollo, who remained seated, his dark gaze locked onto the man, an unyielding force in the storm of uncertainty.

The man blinked, clearly taken aback. “W-what?”

Apollo leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, and in that moment, it felt as though the air in the room had thickened. “What gave you the right to speak to her like that?”

The director swallowed hard, his hands twitching nervously at his sides. “I—sir, I was merely concerned that you might be placing your trust in the wrong individual. As a director, it is my duty to ensure no one schemes against the company.” He forced a smile, but it felt more like a grimace. “I’ve been here for the past ten years. I cannot allow anyone, especially someone insignificant, to jeopardize our interests, sir.”

The man was visibly rattled now, his breathing quickening, chest heaving as he fought to regain composure. He opened his mouth to protest, but one look into Apollo’s icy eyes extinguished any words he might have had. They died on his tongue, leaving him speechless.

“This way, sir,” Austin said, already motioning toward the exit.

The director bit down hard on his lip, casting a furious glare at the floor before finally retreating from the room, his pride shattered.

The silence that followed was deafening. I swear, if a pin had dropped, it would have sounded like a cannon blast.

Apollo’s gaze swept across the assembly, landing on each director in turn. “Does anyone else have anything to add?”

No one dared to breathe. Their heads dropped in unison, as if they feared that making eye contact with him might seal their fate.

“Good,” Apollo said, his voice lowering to a grave tone. “Because I will not tolerate baseless accusations hurled at the woman I respect. To me, you are all insignificant. So don’t think for a moment that I wouldn’t fire you.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison, voices trembling with obedience.

I sat there, stunned, unable to fully grasp the enormity of what had just unfolded before my eyes.

Why was he like this?

Why did every interaction with him feel like navigating a labyrinth?

One moment, he was reprimanding me for reasons that eluded my understanding, and the next, he was standing up for me against a room full of powerful men. I was left questioning which version of Apollo Reed was the true one.