Chapter 149 She's Mr. Foster's Very Own Grandmother
Shrugging her shoulders, Adeline slid the phone back into Lucia's hands, "Back to work;, it's office hours. Less gawking at the gossip."
Lucia's mouth hung open in shock, "Director Adeline, don't you have anything to explain about this?"
Adeline glanced at her coolly, "Do I need to explain anything to you all? "
"Even if I did, would you believe me?"
Under the astonished stares of those around her, Adeline's lips curved into a faint smile as she turned and walked into her office.
She was fine with the little schemes Stella had cooked up.
She had outgrown the age of living for the opinions and gossip of others.
What she really wanted now, more than anything, was to finish all her design drafts and . To earn an honest chance to go out and enjoy a day with Bennett and Lauren.
Another hectic day it was passed.
At closing time, her assistant knocked on her door tentatively, "Director Adeline, there's someone here to see you."
Adeline glanced at the time—5 PM—and let out a wry smile, thinking Sebastian had come to pick her up punctually as usual. "Let him in," she said indifferently.
But soon after, the door swung open, and it wasn't Sebastian who entered.
Mrs. Foster, the Foster family matriarch, stormed in with the help of two staff members. She planted herself onto the sofa in Adeline's office with a commanding air, "Had it not been for today's news, I wouldn't have known you've taken a job at my grandson's company!"
A crooked smile played on Adeline's lips.
"You drove me out of Blue Bay because you accepted a bribe from Molly," she said.
"So what now? Are you pPlanning to kick me out of Foster Group? "
"Who's been generous this time?, Stella?"
Mention of Stella immediately struck a nerve, and Mrs. Foster seethed, "You have the nerve to speak of my granddaughter-in-law! "
"Do you think I'm oblivious to the shameful things you've done?"
Seated on the sofa, Mrs. Foster pounded her cane forcefully, "Driven by jealousy of Stella, you even ruined her favorite artist's paintings! "
"She came to the old family home today, crying about the injustice of it all!"
"That painter was her favorite since her teenage years, and you just went ahead and destroyed her most cherished painting!" Mrs. Foster's voice grew increasingly furious, part of her wishing she could whack Adeline over the head with her cane. "When Jasper and Molly were together, you were constantly scheming, ultimately driving a wedge between them."
"Now that my real daughter-in-law and Lauren's true mother hasave returned, I won't let you ruin Jasper's family again!" She finished her tirade and , pointedly gestureding towards the office door. "Get out!"
"The Foster Group has no use for an employee with such questionable morals! "
"Either leave now, or I will go to Jasper myself and have you fired on the spot."
Adeline couldn't help but find humor in the situation.
She shifted into a more relaxed position in her chair, gazing indifferently at Mrs. Foster, "Then go find Jasper if you must. "
"Let's see if he's willing to fire a hardworking employee like me."
Mrs. Foster was completely enraged by Adeline's fearless defiance.
When had she ever been challenged like this?
Fuming, Mrs. Foster stood up, marching toward Adeline with the support of her cane. "Hardworking?"
"The Foster Group has never been short of hardworking employees!" she declared, then abruptly snatched the design sketch Adeline had just completed from the desk.
With a loud rip, the sketch was torn in half right before Adeline's astonished eyes.
But even the tear wasn't enough for Mrs. Foster, who seemed intent on continuing her tirade.
"Enough already!" Adeline's blood boiled as she watched her hard work being senselessly destroyed.
She grabbed Mrs. Foster's hand and rescued the torn halves of her sketch, setting them aside.
"You wretch dare to stand in my way?"
Seemingly under some strange influence from Stella, Mrs. Foster glared furiously at Adeline. "You ruined someone's favorite painting; what's the big deal if I tear up one of your design sketches?"
Without restraint, she reached for more of Adeline's designs on the desk.
Adeline caught her hands firmly, her patience finally ignited by Mrs. Foster's provocations.
She hated anyone touching her designs, let alone destroying them.
Even the most tempered person wouldn't tolerate this.
She gripped her hand tightly, glaring, "Don't tell me I've ruined a real Sebastian piece, and even if I did, it's not your place to scold me!"
"Director Adeline..."
Just then, Scarlett knocked and entered, "Mr. Foster has asked you to..."
Before she could finish, Scarlett caught sight of Adeline's furious gaze fixed on Mrs. Foster, her grip tightening on the older woman's hand.
Amidst her shock, Scarlett didn't forget to ingratiate herself with Mrs. Foster.
Scarlett darted forward, "Director Adeline, let her go!, Sshe's Mr. Foster's grandmother!"
No sooner had she spoken than Mrs. Foster's brows furrowed, and she let out a pained scream.
"Ouch—!"
"Assault!"
"My bones areIt's broken!"
"SMy old bones, she's killing me!"
The wails drew the entire office's attention.
The entire design department crowded outside the door, sneaking peeks inside the office.
Scarlett felt she had found a powerful ally.
She supported Mrs. Foster, a picture of empathy, "Mrs. Foster, are you alright? "
"Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"
"No need..."
Tears welled up in Mrs. Foster's eyes, "Take me to my grandson, let him judge this! "
"I am a senior member of the Foster Group, and she dared to... to treat me this way..."
Scarlett, through gritted teeth, quickly nodded, "Okay, I'll take you right away!"
With that, she helped Mrs. Foster out, and they left together.
Adeline remained, exhaling a deep breath of relief.
The office door was open.
Employees craned their necks, trying to sneak a peek.
"Don't you all have work to do!?"
With an icy glance at the onlookers, Adeline snapped the door shut with a loud "bang."
Slumping back into her chair, she gazed at the torn design plan on her desk, her mind filled with agitation.
It had taken her an entire afternoon to finish that drawing.
Jasper had already given her a tight deadline, and now a whole afternoon was lost, the time she had to make up somehow.
She was disheartened, powerless, and furious.
Flooded with emotion, Adeline covered her face with her hand, sighing heavily.
"Director Adeline, what's happened here?"
Abruptly, the office door opened, and a soothing male voice entered.
Sebastian had arrived.
Adeline sighed with a mix of frustration and relief.
She withdrew her hand and pointed to the blueprint that lay torn in two on the table. "Look."
Sebastian was a painter, and he understood all too well the heartbreak of seeing one's work destroyed.
A frown creased the man's brow as he carefully tried to piece together the broken blueprint. "How about I help you with this? "
"What if I become your assistant and help you with the tracing?"
Watching his earnest gaze, Adeline couldn't help but offer a small smile. "You're too expensive; I caouldn't afford an assistant like you."
Collecting herself, she stood up. "Forget it; we'll talk about it tomorrow."
After all, it was already the end of the workday, and she had plans with Sebastian to move that evening.
Sebastian gave her a casual glance and chuckled, "That's fine; moving might just lift your spirits a bit."
After packing up, they left the office together.
Before they could make it out of the design department, they bumped into Scarlett rushing through the door.
The woman looked down at Adeline with disdain. "Adeline, Mr. Foster wants to see you."
Adeline frowned and moved past her, heading towards the exit. "It's after hours;, whatever it is can wait till tomorrow."
Seeing her about to leave, Scarlett grabbed her arm. "It won't take much of your time, and you might not even need to come in tomorrow."
"The old lady found out that Mr. Foster compensated Sebastian's painting with ten million dollars because of you, and she's furious, demanding you to pay it back."
Sebastian's eyebrow arched slightly at Scarlett's words. "So, this is this what the fuss is about?"
"Shall I join you for this little meeting?"
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