I turned my back on him and scoffed, “Send the word out, and wait for the next orders about how to proceed.”

“Yes, sir.” The Secretary said, and I quickly disconnected the call and turned to find James' shocked and reddened face as he made his way towards me.

“Please, sir, can we at least talk about this first? I thought this is what you wanted me to do.” James pleaded, as his face was now beet red, and sweat was dripping from his forehead.

I ignored his pleas and began to dial the head of security for my firm. He picked up on the first ring.

“You sent a security team with Mr. James Simmons, right?”

“Yes, sir.” He muttered, his voice a bit reserved.

“Send them back to the HQ and wait for further instructions.”

“Yes, sir.”

I disconnected the call and placed the phone in my pocket while James continued to plea. “Sir?” He repeated once more.

“You know what happens when someone goes against my orders,” I muttered, my gaze fixed on him, who looked away at my dismay.

“Please, sir. I did what I thought you wanted me to do. I was just trying to help. Please, sir, don’t do this, my kids, my wife—”

“No, James, you were trying to help yourself and made me look like a fool. Nobody does that to me. Get out of my sight before I do something I may regret.”

I felt a hand hold my arm behind me and saw Lucy grabbing it while looking at me with tears.

“Come with me, please,” she begged while tugging my hand toward her.

I sighed and wiped my jaw with my left hand as I turned toward James, who was still standing there looking at me with a shocked look on his face.

“Please,” Lucy begged.

Muttering a curse, I turned and followed her into her room, leaving everybody there.

She closed the door and laid her back on it while wiping the tears from her eyes.

I turned and began to walk toward her. “I am sorry if James caused you and your family any trouble.”

She sniffled and looked at me. “That’s not a reason to treat him that way.”

“No one disrespects the boss.”

“He thought he would make you happy.”

I scoffed and turned away from her, heading toward the window to see that the security vehicles were leaving, and James was walking to his vehicle. “I will have to think otherwise, and he didn’t just insult me. He insulted you, too.”

“He was doing his job, and what he thought you wanted him to do. Did it cause us extra stress, yes. But, Ella and your Mom have come to explain everything to us.”

“Lucy, please know that I did not know this was your family’s farm when we first tried to acquire it. Once I realized it was yours, I ceased operations.”

“I know, Mason. But, trying to bully a hard-working family out of their family business doesn’t sit well with me. Have you no morals?”

The look of disappointment in her eyes killed me. It was like I had a revelation of the kind of person that I have become, and am not sure I liked the feeling.

“Lucy, I understand that now. You are carrying our baby, and you have made me realize the type of man I am, and I don’t like it,” I said to her with genuine sorrow-filled eyes. “You make me want to be better, for our baby, for you. For us.”

I could see her shoulder relax a little, as a slight smile came across her face.

“For us?” Lucy repeated.