Upfront

"Damian?"

Damian's name fell off of my lips almost in a whisper. His blue eyes stared at me with full concern as I almost fell to the ground face first.

His face drew a smile out of mine. My feet were ready to move closer to him when I felt a tight grip on my left arm and it made me realize that Lincoln is still standing by my side, having a hold of me.

"What are you doing here?" Lincoln's voice sounded stern that it made me look back at him. Confusion was written all over my face.

"I am to accompany her," Damian replied casually and pulled me towards him but Lincoln did not let go of his hold on my arm.

"She doesn't need that," Lincoln announced and now it's his turn to pull me away from Damian.

Their childish fight went on and on until a female voice spoke behind Damian. The three of us turned our heads to the owner of the voice and saw Samantha standing there, clutching her bag with a deep frown of annoyance on her face.

"What's happening in here?" Samantha repeated and that was the cue for Lincoln to let go of my arm, to my dismay.

Lincoln then walked past me and Damian, linking Samantha's arm with his as they head out of the plane. Once they were out of my sight, I heaved a deep sigh. Grabbing my things before I face Damian fully.

"I told you not to come," I said and started walking my way off of the plane. "How did you even get to join this fight in the first place?" I added.

Damian released a soft chuckle at my question. "I have connections," he replied as we walked side by side.

The moment we reached the arrivals area, Lincoln greeted me with a forced smile. Lending his hand towards a white Tesla waiting outside. Some men in black surrounded the vehicle and a few even waited for us behind the fence.

"I'll never get used to that," Damian whispered loud enough for me to hear.

I stifled a laugh before walking away from him. Dragging my luggage as I too walked past Lincoln and Samantha, making my way towards the exit of the airport.

"I was told that we're going to stay in one suite."

Lincoln suddenly spoke out behind me. Fixing his suit then finally went to my side for a better conversation.

"Great," I scoffed, "make sure that you'll go to yours and Samantha's private suite after putting up with this facade," I stated without glancing at him.

He on the other hand snickered quietly. Handing his and my carrier to the bodyguards before pulling the car door open for me. I then carefully got myself inside, putting on a seatbelt while he made his way to hop inside the car.

"Aren't you and Damian would do the same?" Lincoln interrogated as he wore his seatbelt.

Those words made me roll my eyes in annoyance. Here we go again. The game of turning tables and changing truths.

"I'm not like you so worry not," I simply answered, leaning against the backrest of the seat as the car finally drove off.

The whole car ride was silent. I could only focus on the lights of the city flashing through the window. Meanwhile, Lincoln was on the phone. With the way his voice sounded, I'm pretty sure he's talking to Samantha.

Once we reached the hotel, I hurriedly got out of the car. I did not even bother to wait for someone opening up the door for me.

The moment I stepped a foot on the ground and stood straight on my feet, the humidity welcomed me. I supposed it's already passed eight in the evening and yet the weather is still hot.

"Dubai at its finest," I whispered through the wind and the next thing I knew was an arm wrapped around my waist, nudging me to start walking inside the hotel.

"Let's go," Lincoln softly muttered as he guide me to walk alongside him.

In haste, I hurriedly pulled his arm off of my waist. He hissed as a reply to my action before simply pointing at the hotel staff that was eyeing the both of us. I even saw some of their family's employees who surely reported our every move to his parents, especially his mom.

Suddenly, the staff formed a straight line with us walking in the middle. I heaved a deep sigh and pulled off the next move to make our setup convincing.

"This would've been easy if you did not bring that woman with you," I said quietly, linking our arms together while we kept on walking until we reached the reception desk.

"It was her choice to join," he stated.

A man in a blue suit gave us some words of appreciation for us choosing the hotel for our week-long stay in the country. After signing some papers we head off to our suite with the same man whom I assumed to be the supervisor of the hotel.

"Please, enjoy your stay," the rest of the staff stated still in line from the moment we entered the premises.

I flashed a small smile to everyone as we walked through them and towards the elevator. When we got inside the elevator I immediately let go of Lincoln's arm. Stepping a foot sideways in the attempt of creating distance between us but the young lad have another plan in mind. All of a sudden he held my hand and made me froze on my spot.

Indeed, we put up on a show as if we're into each other when facing our investors but never in those times that he got a hold of my hand. He never tried so neither did I.

Confused, I was gonna asked on what was going on inside his mind. He has been acting odd-even during the flight and agitated by his surroundings. My mouth parted open to let out a few words when the elevator rings, cutting me off with a ding.

"Save that for later," Lincoln said and drag me softly out of the elevator. His fingers slipped in between the space mine, making it intertwined as I let him lead the way. Unconsciously, squeezing his hand in the process.