A CALL TO PROTECT

Lawton righted himself, furious as well as well shocked at how he had almost been removed from the place. Really, was this how low he looked?

He straightened his now rumpled shirt and stared down at Smithsons head where he knelt. He hurried to him, exasperated now.

Lawton grimaced. “Smithson what are you doing?” he bent to whisper in the man's ear. He really didn't want people seeing or even knowing.

He glanced about wearily and saw that a few people had stopped to stare. But before, when he was about to be thrown out, everyone had gone about their business like nothing was wrong and no one was being manhandled.

The receptionist quivered where she knelt. “Oh please, tender justice with mercy, Sir. I have done you a great wrong, but…but I didn't know!”

Smithson got up and his eyes shot fire at her from where he stood. “You do this to visitors at the

company? Is this how you've been presiding over your duties, young lady?!” he thundered. Smithson didn't wait for more, he did not want to know any more about whatever had happened.

All he knew was that they had reduced Lawton and almost roughly thrown him out. “You're fired, girl! And you two as well.” He said to the other two security men who'd grabbed Lawton as well.

A piercing wail fell from the girl's mouth as she clasped her hands together in front of her, rubbing them in supplication, tears already falling from her previously judgy eyes.

Lawton would have found the change in her funny, if he wasn't still furious at how horribly and lowly she had treated him.

“Please, please don't do this, Mr Smithson Sir, I swear, I had no idea he was an important dignitary, I would have never done that. I swear, I will never again in my life—”

Lawton cut her off. “You swear a lot for someone who wouldn't even give another person the benefit of the doubt. You levied false accusations against me and called security. What exactly do you hope for now?”

Julie threw herself on Lawton's feet, gasping for air. “Mercy, Sir. I beg for your forgiveness and your mercy.”

Smithsons face was hard as stone. “We don't have time for this. Security!” he said, calling them on her the way she had on Lawton. “Take this girl out of here. She's fired and she can never come back.”

The security men who were more than afraid for their own jobs rushed to do as they were told.

They yanked the receptionist to her feet and started to pull her with them.

Lawton turned away from her. He held no pity for her, she had so thoroughly enjoyed mistreating him and being condescending.

Smithson placed a hand on Lawton's shoulder and led him towards the private elevators. “I'm very sorry for what happened, young master, I had no idea you were already here, or else I would have come to take you up myself.”

Lawton nodded. “It's okay, Smithson. Her discrimination is not a fault of yours.”

Smithson stepped back respectfully and allowed Lawton to enter the elevator first, before he joined him and so did the bodyguards in black.

“Smithson, I do not have time on my side. Tessa is in the hospital and it's serious. I have to get the hospital bills as soon as possible.”

Smithson stared up at Lawton. “Tessa, your nanny? She remains with you?”

Lawton nodded. Tessa had left his house with him the day his father had disowned him. She lived as his mother now and cared for him and his wife like they were his own children. Lawton too saw her as his mother.

“That will be taken care of at once, young master.”

They got to executive level and again, Lawton stepped out first before they all proceeded to the office at the end of the hallway. The hallway was marked CFO and underneath it was Smithsons name in block letters.

One of the bodyguards opened the door and they stepped inside. The secretary sitting inside stood up and bowed as only Lawton and Smithson made their way to the main office.

Smithson went first, opened the door and held it open for Lawton. If Lawton had to admit, he had gotten used to doing things for himself and this much fanfare was tiring him.

Smithson motioned to one of the plush leather couches set in a square form sitting area before the large desk for Lawton to make himself comfortable.

“What would you have to drink or eat, young master?” Smithson asked Lawton as he settled down in one of the large, high backed couches.

Lawton automatically went to say no and refuse the offer, but he remembered how hungry he was. How he hadn't even had a decent meal since two days ago. Hospital food wasn't anything to write home about.

“Yes, I'll have something to eat, Smithson. I'm quite hungry, and the scene with the reception made me even hungrier.”

“Of course, young master.” Smithson immediately went to the intercom on the desk and sent out orders to his secretary.

He returned to sit across from Lawton, tugging his suit jacket off and hanging it over the arm of the couch. He faced Lawton with a grim face.

“Young Master, I'm afraid the situation at the company and on home ground is dire. There are signs that someone is after your parents and their legacy.”

Lawton sat forward. His father had enemies. Powerful ones such as he himself was. But he had always had everything under control. Now that his father was sick, things were probably less secure.

“As your father's current condition worsens, the sharks circle Eden Corporation, and the rest of your family. They are coming closer and closer to getting—”

“Never, Smithson!”

“Yes, young master. You are the only one left between your family and your father's enemies.

Your father had asked me the last time he woke up to find you and bring you back home. It is now or never.”

“I am coming home, Smithson. Worry not. I will never allow anyone to hurt my family. It is my duty to protect everyone now.”