Don't Explain To Me!

James POV.

After what felt like an exhausting three hours, Lily and I finally got home with the groceries. We'd spent that much time because apparently, there was a queue.

I'd have contacted the store owner for VIP treatment, but Lily would hate that she didn't pick up the ingredients into the basket by herself.

There were usually never queues at the mall but since it's the holidays, a lot of people seemed to be buying ingredients.

The thought of it made my jaws clench. Why couldn't people just treat December like any other month? What made the holidays so special that it had to come with so much celebrations?

“Not everyone's Christmas got ruined James. Quit the thought,” my innervoice reminded me, making me shove back my thoughts.

Right.

Everyone was happy and living their lives while mine was crumbling down in this particular month so many years ago.

No matter how much I tried to think past it, it remained imprinted in my mind and–

“Esther! Your leg’s okay!” Lily squealed as she ran towards Esther.

Esther walked towards Lily before crouching and wrapping her arms around her small body. My gaze instinctively moved towards the injured feet, the redness had dulled and she seemed to be experiencing no pain.

Great.

Not that I cared about her though, I cared more about how Lily would enjoy the holidays if her nanny was walking like her legs weren't the same length.

“Thank you for helping out Sir James. I sincerely appreciate it,” Esther smiled, her brown eyes sparkling with gratitude.

I gave a small nod as I stretched the hamper towards her.

Her brows crossed slightly as she took the hamper and I didn't bother asking why. Probably because I knew. She’d expected me to say she was welcome but honestly? She wasn’t.

I just did it for Lily.

Sooner or later, she'd do something much more irresponsible and I'd get her out of this house one way or the other.

The thought of that made me feel a little better about the time I spent out there. I brushed past her right after.

I'd just reached the stairs when I heard my mother's voice from above me.

“Son, I want to have a word with you,” she declared, her fingers curling around the railings and her eyes as dark as coal.

The sound of that made my body stiffen. The only time she looked like this was when something bad has happened and to the best of my knowledge, everything was fine.

“On my way Ma,” I replied, taking slow steps up the stairs.

My mind raced with a thousand and one thoughts as I walked up, wondering what she wanted to speak to me about.

But none of the spiraling produced any proper thoughts.

When I reached the top staircase, I found her frame sauntering towards her room and anxiety whipped my spine. I paused in the passageway, staring at the long path with different photos frames of her.

That room held memories I wasn't sure I wanted to confront and as if my mind was playing a sick trick on me, all those memories flashed through my vision within the next second.

Dread curled inside me as I took a step back.

I wasn't sure I wanted to go there.

As if on cue, she stopped in her tracks, glancing over her shoulders, her dark expression never faltering.

“It's urgent.”

“I'm right behind you,” I said, adjusting the buttons of my shirt for more airflow.

“Control James, control,” I chanted the words mentally as I moved.

After what felt like an endless walk, we arrived in her room. She clasped her hand behind her, turning around to face me as I slammed the door shut.

“What's the news I'm getting about the company son?”

My brows arched as I slipped my hands into my pants to project confidence even though I was only inches away from shattering. For a man, that was pathetic but that was what I felt whenever I was around my mother.

I still didn't know whether to call this fear or respect.

“What news Ma?”

Her eyes widened like she hadn't been expecting the response, then she narrowed her gaze on me.

“Someone hacked into the company's account and stole two million dollars. Do you realize how much loss that is?” She queried, her tone shifting into its sharp edge immediately.

I still had no idea what she was talking about because I'd been checking out other departments of the company while simultaneously preparing a presentation for the next phase of my company's growth plan.

“I–I had no idea ma. I haven't gone through the financial records for the month yet. I've been busy with–”

“Don't bother explaining to me, I don't want to hear it. Your father left this company in my care and I'm entrusting you with it. The last thing I want is for it to crumble okay?”

Her words landed on me like hot lava, shredding me of every will to explain myself. My throat bubbled with words I planned to say, instead I just swallowed them, maintaining the icy expression on my face.

“I understand Ma. I'd get to the bottom of it.”

“Good. Get to it immediately,” She instructed, jutting her head to the door.

I nodded, turning around to leave. The moment I was out of her room, my blood was now boiling at volcano–level. If there was one thing I hated, it was getting scolded by my mother, especially with regards to the company.

I did not work this hard only to be reprimanded like I was still that sixteen year old boy.

I would find whoever did that and make sure they regret knowing how to hack.

Following that thought, I pulled my phone out of my suit pocket, swiping to find my assitant’s contact.

My fingers moved swiftly on my screen, my jaws clenching so hard it felt like it would break.

“Ivan, organise a meeting with the finance department of the company within the next 48 hours.”

I tapped send right after.