BOUND TO THE TEXAS TYCOON

Chapter Nineteen

Adonis’s POV

“Gabriel, I saw your message. What do you have to tell me?” I said into the phone.

“Adonis, it’s about Ralph Lorenzo,” Gabriel replied from the other end.

“He’s still obsessed with those ranch lands. Your refusal is not sitting well with him. From what I found out, he wants to use those lands to grow illegal crops like opium and tobacco.”

I clenched my jaw. “That man is crazy. My instincts were right. He has always had a hidden agenda for pushing so hard.”

“We can’t relax, Adonis. We need to stay careful and prepared. I also think it’s best if the schools and facilities get finished on time.”

“Mr. Albert is overseeing the work, but I’ll go check it out myself today,” I said.

“I’m coming, babe,” Gabriel said suddenly, his voice softer.

“Is that Audrey?”

“Yeah. I need to go. We have a meeting later today.”

“Are you trying to hang up on your boss right now?”

“Sorry, boss. Let me go attend to my girl, and you go attend to your wife. Talk later.” He hung up just as Antonio walked into my study.

“Is everything okay, Antonio?” I asked.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Just call me Adonis. I prefer that.”

“Alright, Adonis.”

“Do you feel comfortable here? Have you familiarized yourself with everything? I just realized we haven’t really talked much since you started.”

“I’m getting there. I’m becoming familiar with the ledgers and seeing what the ranch needs. The computers make the administration much easier,” Antonio said.

“That’s good. I’ve been so busy with office work that I haven’t had time to focus on the ranch. Since you’re here, let’s go to the pastures and check things out. After that we can look at the construction on the lands.” I stood up.

“Alright, Adonis.”

We were about to leave when Louis came in.

“Adonis, I need to see you about something urgent. I just need a few minutes alone with you.”

I looked at Antonio. “Can you excuse us for a moment? I’ll meet you outside.”

Antonio nodded and closed the door behind him.

“What do you want, Louis?”

“Adonis, I’ve kept quiet for a while, but I can’t hold it in anymore. After Maya’s father died, I was supposed to be the new foreman. You promised me yourself. Instead you brought in a new man over me, and you even invited him to eat at your table with your wife. Neither I nor any of the other workers have ever eaten with you. Why do you treat him better than me?” Louis’s voice was full of anger.

“Lower your tone. Who the hell do you think you are to question my decisions on my own property?”

“Listen, Adonis. You promised to make me the foreman. Don’t try to deny it.”

“I never promised you anything, Louis. I said I would think about it. I chose someone else over you.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t say that.” Louis sat down on the couch and spoke more calmly. “As far as I remember, you still owe me a big favor.”

I stepped forward and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him up roughly. “Are you threatening me right now?”

“I have every right to, considering the secret I’ve been keeping for you. Should I go ahead and tell Jasmine what kind of beast you really are?”

“Keep your mouth shut for your own good, Louis. Why are you making it sound like I killed him on purpose? It was a f*****g mistake, you i***t. The next time you try to use that against me, I will throw you off this ranch. Now get out.” My voice rose with every word.

Louis pulled free and hurried out, slamming the door behind him. I ran a hand through my hair and tried to steady my breathing. After everything I had done for that man, he had the nerve to threaten me.

I stood still for a moment, staring at the closed door. Louis had become a problem I could no longer ignore. He knew too much, and he was starting to use it. I needed to deal with him before he did something irreversible.

I left the study and stepped outside. Antonio was waiting a few feet away. He looked calm, almost too calm. I nodded toward the pastures.

The sun was already high. The ranch stretched out in front of us, peaceful on the surface. But under that calm, things were shifting. Ralph Lorenzo wanted the land for illegal crops. Louis was ready to blackmail me. And somewhere in the middle of it all, I still had a wife who barely looked at me without anger in her eyes.

I needed to stay in control. Ralph Lorenzo. Louis. Jasmine. Every problem seemed to be closing in at once.

“Let’s go,” I said, leading Antonio toward the pastures.