"Dad, this is Ramsey Blackwell."

"How do you do, sir?" Ramsey reached out with a hand and a pleasant smile on his face.

Jerome managed to get on his feet before Sarah reached to help him. He accepted Ramsey's handshake.

"I'm well."

Awkwardly, the handshake lingered longer than it should. Jerome lifted his chin and the look in his eyes got intense.

"Ramsey," Jerome mentioned in an I'm-happy-but-weary-tone.

Sarah noticed.

"Dad, Ramsey brought this for you." She pushed forward the bottle of wine in her hand.

Their attention shifted to her. Jerome finally broke off the handshake.

"Oh," he looked at the bottle in her hand. "That's a valuable wine."

Jerome looked at Ramsey. "Thank you. Please sit."

Sarah left the bottle on the center table and sat on the couch, next to her father.

The older man lightly tapped her leg. "It's okay dear, you can sit next to him. I think that'll make him more relaxed."

Sarah stared at her father, quite taken aback. Then, she glanced at Ramsey who wore a simple amused expression.

"I'm fine, sir. She can sit in whichever place she likes."

She felt conflicted. Her father does think they have a serious and in-love kind of relationship. Sarah worried he might become suspicious if she declined or if he noticed the slip-ups in their behaviours.

She stood on her feet and went to sit next to Ramsey. They exchanged a look. She was first to withdraw her gaze down to her hands on her lap.

"So, you want to marry my daughter." Jerome started, wearing a quick smile.

"Yes, sir."

"Um, I know my daughter is beautiful. I don't care what the rest of the world thinks. But, why her? I mean, I'm aware we're no match for your family's status. Why do you want to marry Sarah?"

Ramsey was silent. Longer than he should be, and Sarah worried that he didn't have anything to say. It was not much of a surprise to her. In a way, they were still strangers. She thought about saying something in his place.

"I love your daughter's tender heart. She's patient and selfless... Sometimes, I look at her and I want to become a better person. She deserves all the protection in the world, and I want to be the one to give her that. I think forever with her would be like an adventure."

Ramsey shifted his gaze to Sarah who had been staring at him through his speech.

"That's beautiful. What about your family? What would you do if they said no?"

"They don't. My father has given his consent."

He has? Sarah thought to herself.

"They want me to be happy."

Jerome's lips curved up into a smile.

"Do you love Sarah?"

Ramsey stalled.

Sarah worried. It frightened her more when she noticed the squeeze between her dad's brows and the slight head tilt. Once he becomes suspicious, it is game over for them. Without hesitation, she gently placed her hand under his arm and interlocked her fingers with his.

Sarah managed to muster a smile that seemed genuinely warm and real.

"We love each other." Then turned to meet a pair of his staring back at her. Her heart was almost in her hands. "Right?"

"Yes." He replied, now looking at Jerome with a light smile.

Jerome was hesitant. His eyes bounced between the both of them and then he made a continuous nod, adding a smile at the end.

"Sarah, please give us a minute alone."

"Huh?"

"A minute, dear." He repeated.

"Um," she glanced at Ramsey, uneasy about the idea. Ramsey smiled wider, holding eye contact a bit longer to communicate to her. "O-okay."

They watched her stroll out of the living room.

"After my wife passed away and I was left with this limping, things became rather difficult." Jerome started; a bit relaxed.

"Against my heart's desire, Sarah has had to be the breadwinner in this family since her last year in high school. She even gave up going to college. It still haunts me that she had to do that. If I can, I want to give her the world."

He paused. His eyes momentarily lowered from Ramsey.

"I can see you're a young man with manners and humility. I understand why Sarah would be attracted to you. But you have to understand that I have my worries. No matter how many times you sugarcoat it, your world and ours do not mix. I'm afraid that she doesn't understand that important aspect and... I don't want her to ever be crushed."

Ramsey sat up, his elbows resting on his legs.

"I understand, sir. She's precious. I promise I'll do my best to protect her from everything. I'll stand by her, always."

Jerome nodded. A much genuine smile crept up his face.

"Thank you."

Ramsey smiled. Grateful and yet, riddled with guilt. This was a father, who was desperate and honestly requesting he look after his daughter. Even though he meant his words about shielding her from the harsh reality of their union, he couldn't help the self-doubt that lingered around. The last thing he would ever want is to crush her heart. Although he and Sarah had once mentioned the terms of their agreement, he wondered if it was clear enough.

Later, Sarah escorted Ramsey out. Their initial time together in the elevator was filled with silence. Ramsey appeared lost in thought. She noticed and worried it might be because of the charade they had to put on in front of her father. She also recalled how she held his hand.

"I'm sorry," Sarah spoke up. He turned to her. His face was a canvas of confusion.

"I held your hand."

He looked at his hand, front and back. "You did?"

The change in her eyes garnered amusement on his face.

"I'm kidding. It's fine. You can hold it whenever you want. I don't mind."

Her eyes turned softer and she lowered them from him.

"Aren't you worried you might give me the wrong impression?"

"Well, I didn't know you were quite narrow-minded."

She lifted her eyes.

"Friends can hold hands," he commented.

A light crease appeared between her brows as she looked away from him. He leaned towards her view.

"You're not disappointed, are you?" A mischievous smile played on his face.

She blinked more.

"You like to tease. I see." Sarah pointed out, almost like a snap but in a calm voice, then looked elsewhere from him.

He chuckled, a moment of furrow between his brows.

"You're cute."

Her eyes came back on him, slightly wider than usual. They left the elevator together and out of the building.

"I'll call you." Ramsey walked away and she watched him strut down the few steps then towards his car.

He waved to her and she waved back before he got into the car. Sarah watched him drive away. She looked at the sky. It was a mix of gold and red, the sun disappearing beyond the city skyline. She touched her cheek as the warm breeze blew past her. September was turning out to be a fine month. Sarah hurried back into the building.

That night, alone in the living room, Sarah sat in the dining area. She was busy sorting out their bills. She jotted, calculated, and planned which to deal with first with her last pay from the Blackwells.

For a moment, her gaze drifted to her phone on the table. After a short time, she repeated the same. Finally, she reached for it. Once the light came on, she checked the call log.

Nothing.

Sarah sighed and shook her head at herself. She left the phone and picked up her pen once more. Her eyes fixed on the papers in front of her.

Suddenly, she lifted them. Distracted. She bit her bottom lip.

"I'll call you." Ramsey's words came to her mind again.

Sarah knew she wasn't supposed to take those words seriously. It could have the same meaning as see you later. It was upsetting that her brain might have registered that quite literally. Maybe even her heart.

... Sometimes, I look at her, and I want to become a better person...

She recalled the way he spoke about her. A smile tugged at the end of her lips.

He didn't have to speak so highly of her.

Sarah picked up her phone and stared at it.

Call.

After a while, she returned it where she picked it up. Sarah shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thoughts of Ramsey.

It worked for some time and she managed to get her work done. Down to the moment, before Sarah fell asleep on her bed, she checked her phone once more.

Sarah found a new job as a waitress at a popular hotel restaurant. A work she was lucky to come across online. Fortunately, they hired her. The pay wouldn't be as much as she earned while working for the Blackwells but she would have to take up a part-time job to help with expenses.

Sarah went out through the backdoor to dispose of the trash in the bin in the alley. Then, she stood to check her phone. A glance at the caller log.

Again, nothing.

A sigh eluded her and she left it in the pocket of her apron. Sarah barely took three steps forward when her phone rang. She reached back into her pocket for it.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Does he remember?

"Uh..."

Ramsey laughed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't pull your leg."

Oh.

"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"

"Tonight?"

"It's fine. We can do it some other night if you're occupied."

"No, no. It's fine. Tonight is fine." Sarah replied quickly.

"Alright. I'll pick you up by 6:30. Is that fine?"

"Yeah." Her pitch went a little higher.

She shook her head at herself.

"I mean, yes."

"Okay, see you tonight. Bye."

"Bye."

Sarah felt a sense of relief after the call was disconnected. A smile brightened her face. She went back to work in a better spirit than the one she came in with.

"For table six." The chef told her. She nodded, lifted the tray, and was on her way out of the kitchen.

As Sarah approached the designated table, her steps slowed until she halted. She recognised one of two women at the table even though all she could see was a side of them.

Freya Blackwell.

Even in casual attire, she reeked of sophistication. Aided by cream-coloured high-waist vintage cotton tapered chinos, a dark blue, short-sleeved shirt loosely tucked in before the brown leather belt. Slingback leather pumps stayed pretty on her feet with her legs crossed under the table. The pearl stud earrings peeped whenever her short hair bounced a little behind.

Sarah's mind went three-sixty degrees and back. Going back to the kitchen wasn't an option on the table. She couldn't start her first day by choosing tables to serve.

She took a deep breath and marched forward.

When she arrived at the table, they were so engrossed in their conversation that neither felt the need to look up at her while she set the plate in front of them. She turned to walk away.

"Excuse me," Freya called.

Sarah's heart raced beneath her chest. She turned to her.

They stared at each other. Freya's expression barely expressed surprise. Sarah prayed with all her heart that the older woman would not make a scene here.

"You switched our orders." Freya declared, looking away from her.

"Oh... I'm sorry." Sarah hurried to switch their plates.

"Thank you."

The other woman mentioned with a welcoming smile.

"You're welcome."

Sarah stole a look at Freya. But Freya wasn't sparing her another look and remained that way until the young woman returned to the kitchen.

"You seemed surprised. Do you know her?"

Freya readied her fork and knife. She lifted her eyes to her friend.

"No."

Thank you for reading. I hope you liked the chapter. Please vote or comment your thoughts. see you soon!