Asking For Permission

"So you're telling me that Lincoln, the almighty womanizer is willing to step down from his tittle to date Samantha?"

Maria spoke on the other line. Her and her husband is currently at Venice enjoying their honeymoon and here I am disturbing her only to whine about how Lincoln wanted to put everything in chaos for this girl who popped out of nowhere after years of disappearance.

"I don't wanna repeat myself," I replied while standing in front of the wall glass and staring at the city flashing with lights.

"Is he not thinking straight?"

I can hear how irritated Maria is, along with the loud noises on the background. By the sounds of it I can tell that they are strolling around the market. Loud and lively. Far different from the quiet office that I'm in right now.

"Samantha and her family would suffer if Lincoln insist on dating her," I claimed as I turn around and walk towards my swiveling chair. Carefully sitting on it and put my phone on speakers, leaning against the backrest as I closed my eyes, thinking of ways on how to explain everything to both parties when Lincoln's plan unveiled.

"Of course, they will. Knowing how powerful the Sandovals are. They'll surely face a lot of hardships just to stop Samantha and Lincoln from having a relationship and getting exposed in public."

I have a lot in mind while listening to Maria. The thoughts of what if's going through my brain. It's already been days after my conversation with Lincoln about his plans of withdrawing from the marriage that we're tied up to. And since then I'm always bugged with the worst case scenarios that might happen.

It hasn't been around five minutes since I closed my eyes when I heard a knock on the door. Springing from my seat I immediately grab the phone and move my way towards the couch.

"I'll call you later, Maria." I told her as I settle myself on the single couch and eventually end the call.

I crossed my legs ever so carefully so that my skirt won't ride up to my thighs. Fingers fumbling over each other as the door creak open and reveal an unexpected guest.

"Mrs. Sandoval," I blurted out and instantly got up from sitting. Making sure that I'm standing properly and straight before Lincoln's mother.

The sophisticated woman flashed a smile on me and points the couch using her hand to tell me to go back on sitting like a lady. She occupied the other one across mine, placing her branded bag on the glass table.

"What a surprise, can you tell me what brought you here?" I asked with full of politeness. My hands are resting on my lap to keep my fingers from fidgeting.

Mrs. Sandoval looked at me straight in the eyes, her lips move to word out what she wanted from me. "Tiffany, I'm not going to beat around the bush," she said as her hands clasped together and placed on her lap.

I became all ears to what she's going to say. There's a part of me which already anticipated that the woman already knew about what I and Lincoln talked about that evening. Just merely thinking of the possibilities or Lincoln's mother having knowledge of what he wanted to do is giving me way too much anxiety, making me bite my inner cheek. A couple of sweat droplets trickling down my neck.

"I scheduled a date for you and Lincoln."

The woman in front of me stated. Upon hearing her words, I get to breath in relief. Fortunately, she appeared to be clueless of what her son was about to do.

"Yes, of course." I beamed the usual sweet smile that I'm giving the woman everytime we're meeting each other. "Expect me to come," I added which made Mrs. Sandoval's face lit up in glee.

We talked for quite some time, going over how the marriage would help the company to get bigger and force our competitions to step up their game in trying to meet our level. In all honesty, I'm more comfortable talking about business than my soon to be married life with Lincoln – if ever it'll happen like how our parents wanted.

"You're very polite, Tiffany." Mrs. Sandoval blurted out of nowhere. Her golden brown eyes were glued to my face as she speaks, "I hope Lincoln can see how great of a wife you'll be."

Her words got me smiling, both in amusement and disappointment. Amused that I get to be praised on how great I would be when finally I'm married to their family. And disappointed with the fact that I only married for the sake of our family's business and reputation. There's no love at all. A trophy wife for Lincoln.

Minutes later, the elderly woman bid her farewell and left my office. I almost feel like my energy were drained by the way I'm trying hard to hold back any words from slipping off of my lips. Words of how Lincoln is plotting a different story of how he wanted his relationship status to be. Things of him suddenly having a change of heart and wanted to end up marrying the lady he likes.

"Damn you," I whispered through the wind hoping that it'll reach him wherever he is right now.

After an agonizing silent on the room, my phone rings and I almost stumble on the ground from the shock. I stretched my arms out to reach for my phone. My forehead creasing as I read the call register. Lincoln usually don't make any phone calls especially when her mother set us up in a date or the likeness.

"Hello?" I heard the jazz music from the background. It's a little muffled but I'm pretty it's louder than what I'm thinking with the way it sounds.

My eyebrows turned into deep furrow while trying to figure out where Lincoln's at right now. I was about to ask it to him when he cut me off midway.

"Hey, about the date." He started off and I sit here listening through the other line.

I was expecting him to say he couldn't make it or he refused to go but what he said next made my eyebrow quirked at no one.

"Can I take Samantha with me?"