Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I was in a daze the whole day as I watched my family bond with her. A mafia leader. The thought made me feel dizzy and nauseous. I was in mixed emotions the whole time. I don’t know when she’ll blow up and pull a gun to kill each one of us. She’s a walking time bomb.

My mom introduced her to my grandma who was bedridden yet talks too much. She’s the reason my mom couldn’t leave the house to work. She had to watch over Damian and my grandma. I was the only provider of the family. That’s why I have to work hard. It’s the reason why I have to do what I had to do. Mortgage, bills, my grandma’s meds, they’re budget for the month- the list goes on.

My dad died when I was just sixteen. He had an accident at their construction site. Although the company paid for compensation, it wasn’t enough for us.

I was seventeen when I started working part time. I did a lot of odd jobs until I found a steady one at a diner. The owner was a friend and took me in willingly, understanding my predicament.

It was a hard time for us, for me, especially when I almost couldn’t focus in school. I was always exhausted and sleepy in the middle of classes. I had to work extra hard and not fail at the same time.

I didn’t proceed to college after I graduated high school. I worked a lot of jobs instead, saved for college and helped my family. My mom couldn’t work for us. Damian was still a baby back then and my grandma needed help. She was the only one who could take care of them and I was the only one who could work to pay for our expenses.

It was two years later when I finally saved up a lot for college. My computer skills had to be the one who had helped me the most. Most of my clients paid a good amount. Probably because hacking was illegal and dangerous. Although I knew I could be in trouble, it was the only thing that had a huge help in our times of crisis.

After more than ten years of working so hard for them, I still managed to put them into trouble.

“What do you do for work, dear?” My grandma asked.

Despite her condition, she requested to join us for dinner. She was sitting on the head of the table with mother and I on each of her side. Damian sat beside mom and insisted Cara to sit beside him. I was the only one here on my side.

“Oh, I haven’t asked her that.” My mom added, almost scolding herself for not remembering the most basic questions for her daughter in law.

Of course, you haven’t. All you did all day was praise her. How beautiful she is. How tall she is. How elegant she is. My grandma had the same reaction as well and most of the time, they were just happy and excited that I had finally found someone.

“I am the CEO of my company.” Mom and grandma gasped at her answer.

I think that fact was already a given so it was no surprise for me. She screamed wealth and power with just how she dressed and moved elegantly like she was a royal.

I watched my mom who was in disbelief. She was curious about something. I know that question looming in her mind was about how a mere commoner like me met a very rich businesswoman like her or the fact that how we formed our relationship.

Cara seemed to get her look and answered it. “Dylan works for me. He’s my assistant although only part time.”

Mom beamed at her answer. “My Lincoln always worked so hard for us.” Her eyebrows furrowed in thought. She looked at Cara in hesitation. “Will you be staying with us tonight?”

I stilled when Cara turned to look at me and showed me that common fake smile of hers. “We will stay for a few days. I know how much Dylan misses his family.” I could not help but see that spark in her eyes and I fear for our lives even more.

My mom squealed in excitement. She wanted us so much to spend time here even just for a couple of days. I usually visit twice or thrice a year and only spend two days and then go back to the city.

I honestly do not have time for vacation. Even on weekends, I have extra work to do. Miles had to force me to come whenever he planned an outing. And when I do come, I just bring my laptop and work. It frustrates him but he understands me anyway.

“Tell me, dear, how did you two meet? How did my grandson ask you to be his girlfriend? How did he propose to you?” Eagerness painted in her look as she leaned towards the direction of my so-called fiancee.

“Grandma, please. It’s already embarrassing enough that you two kept squealing all day like teenage fangirls.” I try to salvage myself from the dilemma. The woman always had an answer that made me uncomfortable.

“Lincoln! How could you say something like that?” Mom chastised while grandma only rolled her eyes. “We’re only interested in your relationship. I mean how could a simple man like you manage to catch a brilliant woman like her?” She teased.

God. The look on their faces while they adore her.

The dinner went on like a job interview. She answered every one of them smoothly with that fake smile of hers. It unnerved the hell out of me.

After dinner, I carried my grandmother back to her room. Mom helped her prepare for sleep. Grandma asked Cara to accompany her before she succumbed to slumber. She was still eager to continue their conversation. Ollie and Damian were in his room, probably playing video games again until he fell asleep.

For a second, I wondered why Ollie never saw her as a threat. I thought dogs are perceptive of danger.

I sighed. I took my time washing the dishes, dreading the fact that we’ll probably be sleeping in the same room.

There are four rooms in this house. Where my mom sleeps, Damian’s room, grandma’s and my room. Where else my fiancee sleeps but beside her future husband?

“Fuck.” I muttered.

“Did I just hear you curse?” I jumped at my mom’s sudden presence behind me.

“Mom! What the hell! You can’t just appear out of nowhere.”

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic.” She crosses her arms and leans against the sink.

“You know… you haven’t really answered your grandma’s questions.”

“About what?” For a second, a thought of telling her the truth crossed my mind.

I’m afraid of how she’ll react if she finds out that I blurted out their secrets. I always have to walk on thin ice whenever she’s around. I dread the day she decides we’re no longer worth delaying.

“About how you met? How she became your girlfriend or how you proposed?”

A small wry smile slipped past my face. “Can it be just our secret?”

“You are so stingy.” She chuckles. “You know you’re not going to escape your grandma. She won’t stop asking you until you spill.”

I chuckle. “Well, let her. I’m sure Cara will answer it anyway.”

My mom grins. “She’s a great woman, Lincoln.” Ever since dad died, she’s been calling me my second name. It was after all my dad’s name.

I frowned at her confession. “Despite her status, I was amazed that she’s down to earth.” My frown deepened as I continued to wash the dishes slowly while listening to my mom talk about Cara. “She helped me settle mom with a smile on her face. You know your grandma’s very chatty yet she’s not annoyed by the slightest bit. We’re really happy for you but you know, there’s just this side of me that’s… shocked.”

She noticed that I wasn’t saying anything so she continued her speech. “You haven’t had a relationship ever since because you've been so busy prioritizing us.”

“I know what you’re trying to say, mom. That I don’t deserve a woman like her.” I said almost sadly.

“No, no, dear.” She corrected it immediately. Somehow I couldn’t look her in the eyes because this is all just a bunch of lies created by her to torture me.

“You deserve a good woman, my darling. You’ve been nothing but good so you deserve every good thing that’s happened to you and all every other good thing in the world. It’s just… there are always consequences when you marry the rich, Lincoln.”

I paused, knowing what she meant. “I know.

My mind was reeling about what my mother had said as I climbed the staircase. I wasn’t a little bit bothered by it because it’s true. It was obviously impossible for a man like me to have a relationship with an elite woman like her- not to mention marry her.

The only thing that never stopped bothering me though was her unpredictable plans. Surely I wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing she’s around my family and her men were in the vicinity watching us like a hawk.

I sighed again for the umptenth time as I opened the door to my bedroom. My jaw immediately fell at the sight of the most tempting woman standing in the middle of my bedroom.

She was wearing my white t-shirt that fell just below her thighs, her long creamy legs in full display. Her hair was wet as she was drying it with a towel.

I stared down for far too long for my liking.

Our eyes met when I looked up and she showed me one of her sultry smiles, eyes glinted with mischievousness and excitement.