Chapter 46

The silence in the room shattered as Zachary's voice cut through it. "Mr. Parker? You finally decided to show up." He smiled, standing confidently, without a hint of fear.

Hayden shifted his gaze from me, stepped forward, and snorted coldly. "An emergency shareholder meeting to dismiss me?" His contempt was palpable; it was, I almost forgot, his natural state.

While everyone waited for Zachary's explanation, he stunned them all. "It was a test of loyalty to Parker Group. No need for Mr. Parker to be nervous."

The shareholders gaped in disbelief. "What's going on? What loyalty test?" "So you've been messing with us this whole time?" A few, quicker to understand, slammed their hands on the table, irritation evident on their faces.

Sean quickly intervened, attempting to ease the tension. "Everyone, calm down. I'm sure most of you voted 'no,' right? This is just a way to show Mr. Parker our loyalty."

At least thirty percent of the shareholders scowled, instinctively concealing their voting slips—clearly, they'd voted 'yes.' They nervously laughed, muttering reassurances, "Of course we voted no. Why would Mr. Parker test us like this?"

Hayden's icy gaze swept the room, his aura chilling. "The drop in Parker Group's stock was a market reaction; it will recover. Making a fuss over something so trivial seems hasty." Even after a year away, his reputation for dedication was well-known. No one dared provoke him.

Silence fell. Zachary stepped forward. "Mr. Parker, don't be upset. We're concerned about you. Your personal style reflects Parker Group's image. Let's end this meeting; everyone can leave."

I looked at Zachary in surprise. Was this it? Was he intimidated by Hayden's anger? Then I noticed Zachary's relaxed demeanor. Had he never intended to escalate the situation?

The shareholders, relieved, quickly gathered their things and left, anxious about potential repercussions. Conveniently, they all took their voting slips with them.

Once most had left, Hayden turned to Zachary. "Zachary, cease your underhanded tactics. At Parker Group, you don't call the shots." He showed no mercy.

Zachary, his smile gone, met Hayden's gaze coldly. "Mr. Parker, do you think Parker Group is the same as when you left? Don't be naive… You sacrificed the company for a woman; you should have known this day would come." He glanced at me.

A shudder ran through me. That woman? Others might perceive a strong connection between Hayden and me, but he’d distanced himself. It was truly sad.

"Whether I'm here or not, Parker Group belongs to the Parker family. As for you..." Hayden paused, leaning closer, whispering, "...you're our servant. No matter how much you bark, you can't change that."

Zachary's expression hardened. His jaw clenched; I could almost hear his teeth grinding. I expected him to attack, but instead, in that furious moment, he smiled and approached me.

He stopped beside me, grinning. "Mr. Parker, you're speaking too soon. Why not ask your wife first!" With that, he left me in stunned silence. I had merely witnessed the drama—it hadn't involved me directly.

When I looked up again, only Hayden remained. His cold gaze met mine. After a long pause, he spoke. "What did Zachary say to you?"

"Nothing much," I replied honestly. It was my first real interaction with him.

Hayden didn't believe me. He strode toward me, picking up a voting slip. His expression darkened. "You voted in favor?" His teeth seemed to grind.

"Yes," I nodded, unapologetic.

Hayden called my name coldly, his gaze intense. I'd anticipated this.

I stood, meeting his gaze. "Zachary was right. A CEO who can't trust his own people doesn't deserve to lead Parker Group. Would you trust someone like me with the company?"

I turned to leave, but Hayden gripped my wrist, pulling me back. "Do you really hate me that much? Are you willing to ally with Zachary to get back at me?" His accusation felt perceptive.

I laughed. "Hayden, don't overestimate yourself. Get back at you? I don't have the time."

"Zachary is using you. His goal is to take over Parker Group," Hayden said, his gaze cold and precise.

Did he think I didn't know? From the moment Sean gave me the slip, I'd understood Zachary's test. Voting against him would have made my life difficult. By voting 'yes,' I lowered their guard. Besides, it wouldn't significantly harm Hayden—he was the golden child. What could go wrong for him?

I smirked. "I'm curious, weren't you with Joanna? I thought you'd forgotten your last name, but here you are."

"What do you mean I was with Joanna?" Hayden frowned, confusion in his eyes.

I couldn't believe his denial. I grabbed a photo from the table and tossed it to him. "This is from last night. Don't tell me you've already forgotten?"

Hayden picked up the photo, his lips curling coldly. "That's not me."