LUCAS’ POV

"What the hell are you doing here, Andres?" I demanded, my voice tinged with anger. After everything that had happened, Andres had the audacity to come in and stir up trouble, the nerves to show up in my presence.

Andres smirked. "Last time I checked this establishment was owned by my father, I don't see anything wrong with being in my father's company," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm, and worse, how he emphasized on "my father"... Son of a bitch!

I gritted my teeth. "Cut the crap, Andres. You know damn well why I fired the secretary."

"Enlighten me, then," Andres said, crossing his arms over his chest.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my anger in check. "The secretary embarrassed Samantha, insulted me, and then didn't even mean the apology he made to her. That's why I fired him."

Andres raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I see. So you fired him because he embarrassed your little girlfriend and insulted your delicate ego? How very noble of you, Lucas."

I felt my anger rising again. "Don't you dare talk about Samantha like that. And this isn't about my ego - it's about running this company properly."

Andres chuckled. "Sure it is. But you know, Lucas, you can't just go around firing people without consulting the rest of us."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.

Andres leaned against the doorway, his expression smug. "I mean, this is a family business, after all. you can't make rash decisions like this on your own, not without father's consent ."

I stared at him, incredulous. "Are you kidding me? You're just trying to get a rise out of me, aren't you?"

Andres shrugged. "Believe what you want, Lucas. But the fact remains that I won't let you fire the secretary."

I could feel my blood boiling. "You're not going to let me? Who the hell do you think you are, Andres?"

"I am the heir of Java, Lucas. I have every right to dictate who stays or leaves the company." His tone was filled with arrogance and a hint of malice. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. How could he make such claims?

I was dumbfounded but I managed to speak, "Andres, what are you talking about?" I asked, trying to keep my voice level. "When and where were you made the heir to this company? That's news to me."

Andres smirked at me, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Father made me the heir after realizing that I have a better vision for the company's future," he said. "Unlike you, who is too stuck in the past."

I felt anger boiling inside of me. How dare he insult me like that? "You have no right to make decisions without consulting me first," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Andres just laughed. "Oh please, Lucas. We both know that I'm the one who really runs this company. You're just a figurehead."

I gritted my teeth, trying to control my temper. I couldn't believe my own father was trying to undermine me like this. "I won't let neither you nor Dad make such an important decision without consulting the board," I said firmly.

"Pfft… Dad? You mean the one who put me in the position as the next heir?.. and need I remind you, the founder of this company" Andres scoffed. I clenched my fist in anger one more word from this bastard and I'll make sure his white shirt is stained with blood, definitely not mine.

Andres just shrugged. "Do what you want, but I'm not changing my mind. The secretary stays. You may go back to your office,"

As soon as the secretary left the room, Andres turned to face me with a smug grin on his face. "You see, Lucas? This is what it means to be a real leader. You can't be swayed by emotions and sentimentality. You have to do what's best for the company, even if that means making tough decisions." I felt my blood boiling at his words, but I tried my best to keep my composure.

"What are you talking about, Andres? You just saved that bastard's job for no reason other than to spite me. You're not a real leader, you're just a petty, arrogant jerk who likes to throw his weight around."

Andres scoffed at my words. "Lucas save yourself the stress, it only depicts how much you reek of mediocrity and incompetence,"

Before I could even say anything, Andres spoke again, his tone dripping with condescension. "You know, Lucas, you really are too soft for this job. You let your emotions get in the way of making the tough decisions that need to be made. You'll never be able to run this company like I can. Imagine firing one of your employees because of a mere lady,"

I felt a surge of anger and frustration at his words. "You don't know anything about me, Andres. I may not be as ruthless as you are, but I have a heart and a conscience. I'm not going to tolerate unprofessionalism nor harassment of any sort."

Andres just laughed. "Oh, spare me your bleeding heart nonsense, Lucas. This is business, not a charity. If you want to succeed in this world, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes. And stop acting like some pathetic coward,"

That was it, that was the height of it all, how dare Andres call me a coward. Me? A coward? After he sent assassins after me I lost every sense of composure and gripped him by the collar in anger. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

"How dare you Andres… how dare you speak to me in such a condescending manner?"

My hand was clenched into a fist, ready to strike him right across his face. I could feel the heat emanating from my body as I prepared to deliver the punch. But then something strange happened. Andres remained calm and collected, almost as if he was expecting me to lash out at him.

It was as if he was taunting me, trying to provoke me into hitting him. I couldn't understand why he would do something like that. Didn't he know how angry I was? Didn't he realize the magnitude of what he had just done?

I stopped with my hand midair, confused by his reaction. Andres simply looked at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes, as if he was enjoying my anger.

"Damn you… Andres," I said with gritted teeth.

Andres smirked. "You always were the sensitive one, Lucas. Always wearing your heart on your sleeve. It's no wonder father always favored me over you. I'm the one who has what it takes to run this company."

I could feel my blood boiling at his words. How dare he bring up our father? How dare he act like he was better than me? I had worked just as hard as he had, if not harder.

"What's wrong with you, Andres?" I asked, my hand still midair.

"What's wrong with me?" he repeated, smirking at me. "What's wrong with you, Lucas? Are you really going to hit me because of a woman? You're the one who's acting stupid here."

I felt my anger rising again, I pushed him but he got his balance rigid. "Don't talk about her like she's nothing. She's my guest and deserves to be treated with respect."

Andres straightened the collar of his shirt, "Oh please cut the crap about respect… you're overreacting,"

I was about to respond when Samantha stepped in between us. "Stop it, both of you," she said, her voice shaking. "This isn't worth it."

Andres ignored her and raised his hand to hit me again. But this time, he didn't stop. As his hand came down towards me, Samantha stepped in the way, almost taking the punch.