Disown Him

“Look for a way to escape or whatever. Meet me there in thirty.”

Lincoln stared at the text Ethan had sent with growing anxiety.

How on earth am I supposed to slip away from Rahim? He wondered. Meeting up with him will stir up suspicion in his mind. What do I do?

“I think this is the perfect outfit for a date.” Rahim said, bringing out a shirt and pants from the closet, “What do you think?”

Lincoln stared at it unenthusiastically, and then shrugged, “Cool.”

Rahim regarded him for a while and then hung back the clothes in the closet.

He folded his arms, “Is something wrong dude?”

Lincoln flinched at the question, “What? No, everything is fine.”

“You know we've been best friends for over five years, bro. I know you like I know the back of my mind.” Rahim stated, “Where were you two nights ago? Something happened, right? You've been tenses since that night.”

Lincoln averted his eyes, terrified that his eyes would give him away, “No, nothing happened.”

He wanted to tell Rahim so badly, but Rahim was a beat friend employed by his father. They wouldn't be best friends if he hadn't been employed.

And Rahim owns his life to his father, so telling him has always been out of option.

Rahim came and sat beside him on the bed, “Look, I know something is wrong. The motorcycle that you snuck out with two nights ago, is missing.”

Lincoln stiffened.

“You didn't return back with it and I had to cover up for you when the butler noticed it was gone.” Rahim continued, “You rarely have panic attacks these days, but you had them yesterday. What happened? I'm worried.”

The way Rahim held his hand and gazed into his eyes with genuine worry and concern broke Lincoln's walls and he nearly told him.

He opened his mouth to speak when a knock came through the door.

“Young Master,” A maid's voice came from outside the room, “I'm sorry for the disturbance but I was sent by the butler to call for Mr Rahim.”

Rahim stood up and then sighed, “The date is in an hour. Wash up and get dressed, I'll be back by the time you're finished.”

Rahim walked out.

Lincoln sat for a while, his hands wet with sweat.

Then a thought struck him. The date is in an hour and Rahim won't be checking on him till in an hour!

Which means he still had time to sneak out!

He quickly sprang to his feet and darted into his bathroom. He showered as quickly as he could, dried up and got dressed.

Opening his door a little, he peeped to the left and then to the right. Seeing no one in sight, he exited the room and quietly shut the door.

He tiptoed down the hallway to the rail of the stairs. He looked down and saw the butler speaking to Rahim in the middle of the large foyer, each of their backs turned to the stairs.

Heaving a silent breath, he took off his shoes and silently strode down the stairs as quietly as he possibly could without making a sound.

His joy knew no bounds when he reached the bottom of the stairs without either of the two men noticing his presence.

Then all of a sudden, the butler, a man in his late fifties, with gray hair and beard whipped his head towards the stairs, instantly locking gaze with Lincoln.

Lincoln's heart sank!

He pleaded with his eyes and silently shook his head.

The man nodded at him.

“Actually, there are other things I'd like to discuss with you Rahim,” He put his hand over Rahim's shoulder and then began to lead him towards the exit, “Come.”

Lincoln mouthed, “Thank you.”

The butler mouthed back, “I got you.”

Heaving a deep breath, Lincoln escaped through the back door.

Rushing to the garage, he got into another motorcycle and drove off through the back gate.

Thirty minutes later, he was at Amy's Diner.

He caught his breath the moment he laid his eyes on Ethan. He sat by the window side, looking immaculate, graceful, suave and charming, as though he owned the place.

Damn! Lincoln thought. He's so fine! I can't believe a man as hot as that once made love to me. He's way out of my league!

Ethan's gaze shifted and then met his.

Lincoln felt his soul abandon his body as they locked his gaze.

There was just the he stared at Lincoln that made him have butterflies in his stomach.

Ethan waved him over.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and then began to walk down the aisle, each step taken heavier than the last.

He reached the table and halted.

Not knowing whether to say hi or hello, he just shut his mouth.

“Hi,” Ethan said, glancing up at him, “You finally made it, though you're fifteen minutes late. Now, sit.”

Lincoln thanked the stars as he sat down. His whole body has been feeling heavy since he stepped into the diner.

The two stared at each other for a while without either of them saying a thing to each other.

“Won't you at least say hi?”

“Just cut to the chase already!” Lincoln spat, his tone coarse and hostile. “Let's get this over with.”

“You look good in those clothes,” Ethan complimented, deliberately ignoring his curt tone, earning a surprised look from Lincoln, “But you look better without them. I know what I'm saying.” Then he winked.

Lincoln's face went crimson despite himself and he quickly glanced away in embarrassment, biting down on his lower lip.

God, I can't believe I'm blushing right now. He thought. This is no time for that!

“Look, I shouldn't be here,” He said, “If my assistant notices my absence, he'll report to my father.”

“What are you? Twelve?” Ethan asked, “I looked you up and found out that you're twenty-five, you turned twenty-five yesterday. So tell me, why are you still living in fear of your father? You're a man now, aren't you?”

“You don't understand,” Lincoln muttered, “You obviously don't know my father. He's an evil puppeteer that will pull our strings, even from afar.”

“Then disown him.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Disown him.”