THE RULES OF SOCIETY

Lawton couldn't believe that what was happening was actually happening. Was he really about to be thrown out of his own father's company?

And before he met Smithson?

He tried another route. “I'm simply asking, young lady, that you actually check Mr Smithsons schedule. You will see that he has an appointment with me truly. In fact, he asked me to come.”

Julie barked out a laugh. “You're a liar, a scammer and a thief. No way will I let you into Eden so that people's valuable documents and the company's secrets can get out. Please leave while

I'm still asking,” she said, the threat evident in her voice.

Lawton was still battling with disbelief. He almost wanted to snap at the girl, but this was a delicate situation. “Just check what I'm saying, is that so hard to do?”

“And who says that I haven't checked?! The girl snapped back at him so fast his own eyes widened.

“If you refuse to leave on your own, I'll have to call security now.”

Lawton threw up his hands in frustration. “Why on earth do you need to call security?” He was tired. He hadn't slept for a full day and a night now, and he was hungry as hell. Why wouldn't this prissy girl just do her job as a receptionist and just let him up?

“You have 5 seconds to leave or else I call security to remove you from the premises.”

Lawton planted his feet as he threw his hands up again In frustration. “If you won't let me go in then at least let me call him.”

Lawton had his phone on him, he dug it out and waited expectantly for the receptionist to give him Smithsons number.

“Oh, so this must have been your plan the entire time. To get me to release Mr Smithsons work contact information. Are you out of your mind?! Want to get me fired?!

The girl was really angry now and Lawton realized his mistake. He no longer had Smithsons number and knowing who he was, he had expected that the girl give him the number, but then Julie didn't know his real identity.

“You have proven yourself to be a scammer. You are here for some undercover theft or to scan the environment aren't you? Security!”

Lawton was feeling a tad desperate now. “Look, you call Mr Smithson yourself and find out. You don't need to give me his number, just do it yourself.”

“I am not a scammer.”

The girl pulled out the landline and started to dial a number on the phone pad. Lawton hoped it was Smithson she was calling, but he soon heard her words.

“Some riffraff thief is trying to get to the executive level, please hurry up, his behavior is very erratic and threatening…”

Lawton shook his head in utter disbelief as his mouth hung open. “I'm not threatening you—”

Suddenly Lawton was yanked up from the floor by two arms around his own and his legs flailed

uselessly in the air.

There were two big security men to either side of him with grim looking faces.

“Put me down. I said put. me. down!” Lawton yelled, embarrassment making him kick his feet as he got angrier and angrier.

People were openly staring now, looking him up and down and deciding that he deserved to be thrown out of Eden.

“Do you think any low life scumbag that enters here just gets to have an audience with Mr

Smithson?” Julie barked.

“Throw him outside. And don't ever let him into Eden!” she ordered, enjoying the little power that she had a little too much.

“You don't know if I'm really telling the truth. You realize that if I am, you will regret this?!” Lawton yelled at her.

She folded her arms across her front. “But you're not. You had the audacity to bring your stinky and dirty self in here. Take him away!”

The security men turned towards the revolving doors and Lawton's feet still weren't touching the floor, they held him so tightly locked with their arms that no matter what he tried, their hold on him wasn't even budging.

They yanked him towards the door. And Lawton was humiliated in front of the people in the lobby who openly gaped at the scene. He felt low to be treated like this.

Just then a voice came from behind them.

“What are you doing? Why are you manhandling a visitor in Eden that way?”

The security men turned back around and Lawton was so relieved to see Smithson, but

Smithson wasn't looking at him, he was looking at Julie.

Julie had the most brilliant of smiles on her face. “Sir, he's a thief and a scam artist. He came in here claiming that he had an appointment with you,”

Immediately, Smithson turned to get a look at the person and he saw it was Lawton, his face became drained of all color.

“Drop him this instant!” Smithsons voice thundered.

The security men stood frozen in shock and then they dropped Lawton, looking at each other with fear in their eyes. Julie scrambled to her feet behind the reception, looking at what was happening.

Smithson rushed to where Lawton was standing shakily on his feet and knelt before him, bowing his head.

“Oh, forgive me, Young Master. I have allowed you to be mistreated and humiliated.”

Julie could have died on the spot and the security men blanched. If one of the most highly placed men in the company was kneeling before Lawton, then they had royally fucked up.

Julie ran out on her heels from the desk and dropped to her knees a few paces behind Smithson, bowing her head until it touched the cold tiles.

“Please forgive me, Sir. I had no idea who you were.”