Permission to Love

Chapter Three

Kathryn's stomach rises in her chest as she turns to face her father and his angry expression. Madeline comes rushing out of the mansion after Kathryn's parents and looks down the stairs to her friend before mouthing, 'sorry'. Before Kathryn has a chance to respond she is taken by the arm and pulled away from James. She tries to break free of her mother but she finds it useless. She looks back at James with wide eyes as he tries to reach for her hand. Mr. Lexington steps in between them and pushes James back with force. His face tightens with anger as he steps forward. He wants to hit this man, the man standing between him and the girl he loves, but he also has a brain and he knows one move against Kathryn's father will make the situation even worse than it already is.

"I want you to stay away from my daughter! I warned you once before and I promise you, the next time it will not be as pleasant. My daughter is of higher standards and values than someone of your," he pauses a moment and looks James over with a disgusted scowl, "status." He clicks his tongue and James' jaw clenches tightly at the sound. "And we will not be tolerant of men who carry themselves as children and expect us to approve of a relationship with our daughter. One more visit from you and I will inform the law...is that understood?" 

James glances back at Kathryn with a helpless expression. He was caught between a rock and a hard place with no light in sight. He has to try though, no matter the situation, he knows he has to fight. He promised her and he wasn't about to let her down...or himself. He looks back at Mr. Lexington with a firm expression and stands up straight, looking him straight in the eye. "Mr. Lexington, I love your daughter and I'm sorry but I can - no, I will not stop seeing her. She is my life and I'm sorry if who I am and the family I was born into doesn't meet your standards but you are an ignorant fool if you honestly believe that money and social status are more important than your daughter's happiness."

"You, son, are an ignorant bastard if you can't understand the importance of a stable life and the value of a good education. You will stay away from my daughter and she will, in fact, be happy. I'll make sure of that. You see, it would be completely unrefined of you to be dating another man's fiancé." A small smirk slowly appears on his face as Kathryn, Madeline and James all stare back at him with wide eyes.

James slowly begins to speak as his words come out stuttered. "W-what?"

Mr. Lexington turns around and smiles up at Alexander who had been listening at the top of the stairs for some time. "You see, my daughter is already promised to another."

Kathryn's eyes widen as her mother continues to grasp onto her arm, making visible marks on her wrist. She immediately begins shaking her head as her words come out whispered. "No...no...I won't do it!" Her eyes turn to fright as she immediately recognizes the seriousness of this situation. She heard horror stories about other girls her age, in the same lifestyle as her, getting married off like they were pieces at an auction but she didn't even think for one second that it could actually happen to her. How can her parents do this to her? They are forcing her to marry someone she only just met? Someone who is the exact opposite of everything she wants...and everything she loves?

Mr. Lexington looks back at his daughter with a now more sadistic smirk, obviously enjoying every minute of this little set up that would hopefully destroy any future his daughter and James dreamed of having. "Oh, but it's already been planned my dear; next month on the fifteenth, Callgary Gardens at noon. Perfect day for a wedding, don't you think?"

Kathryn looks back at James as her eyes begin to fill with tears. He stares back at her as the look on his face becomes more and more helpless. There is nothing he can do, she is destined to marry money and that is something he would never be. He can't promise her or her parents any of the things that this Alexander can. He is poor and lives in a five story walk-up with his mother and brother. He can't give Kathryn any of the things her parents want for her. He promised he would fight for her but how is he supposed to do that when he has nothing to fight with? He takes a step towards her as anger and pain flash across his face. His attempts to rescue her are obstructed by her father stepping in front of him once again. He focus' back on Mr. Lexington's face and gives him a scowl before looking back at Kathryn and speaking softly. "I'm sorry."

She just continues shaking her head as she is pulled back by her mother. "No." Her eyes widen as two men come up behind James and begin pulling him back. James struggles with them as she screams at them, her voice having the ability to send chills. "Jamie! Let him go! I don't want this! I never wanted any of this! I love him! Please! Don't hurt him." Tears begin to fall from her face as James is pulled farther away from her. She stops struggling with the people holding her back once James is out of sight and lowers her head in defeat.

Mr. Lexington walks over to his daughter and places his hands on her shoulders as she stares back at him with disgust. "We are only trying to do what's in your best interest, darling. You will see. In time, you will see."

She shakes her head with that same disgusted face and continues to try and break free from the one holding her arms behind her back. He pats her on the head with a patronizing smirk before walking back into the house and beginning to chat with the people inside as if nothing had happened.

She pulls her arms away in one swift pull and looks over at Alexander who is standing in the same spot he has been for the past ten minutes. "Did you know?" She asks in a shaken voice, her eyes blood red from crying.

Alexander nods slowly and glances down at the ground for a moment. "They told me a couple months ago that I would be engaged before the year was up." 

"I'm not going to marry you...I can't."

Alexander stares back at her with hopeless eyes and speaks with that same soft voice. "You don't really have a choice, Kat...neither of us do. My father said he would pull out his contribution to my company and I would lose everything I've been dreaming of."

She had heard how much work he has been putting into this idea for a company solely devoted to building homes for those in need. He has spent years thinking of ideas while his father promised to be the main financial contributor. She knows what will happen if his father pulls out his contribution; the facility will suffer and the idea will eventually fall through completely. Tears continue to fall from Kathryn's eyes as she wraps her arms around herself and lowers her head. Her first instinct is to run, to run away from this life she was born into and towards the life she wants with James but she knows she can't. She knows she wouldn't get any father than the state lines before her father finds her and forces her to marry this man she barely knows. Her father has connections beyond anything she can even imagine. He has enough money to call in a government search party, if need be. She can't believe how much simple, green pieces of paper affect the way people act and how the amount of money one has can change their whole view of you as a person. Kathryn has never felt so trapped in her entire life and that is saying something. All her life she has been shut out from the world, a prisoner in her world of material items and false affections. The predicament she is in makes her feel unworthy of love from someone as selfless and wonderful as James. She doesn't believe he deserves the pressure of sneaking around and fighting just to prove he deserves to be in her presence. He deserves someone with a family that accepts him and treats him with respect and dignity. The way her father sees it, James is an unacceptable match for his daughter but the way Kathryn sees it; James is far too kindhearted and open minded for a girl who lives in a life of materialism and deceit.