abcnovels
Chapter 381 381 Shopping
Chapter 381 381 Shopping
Chapter 381 Chapter 381 Shopping
"I understand, Mr. James. Tiffany's happiness means the world to me. I am willing to do whatever it takes to meet her standards."
Tiffany, unable to contain her frustration, abruptly pushed her plate away and threw her knife and fork onto the table. The clatter echoed in the room, drawing the attention of both men.
Reaves, maintaining his calm demeanor, reached out and touched Tiffany's shoulder gently. "Tiffany," he said, addressing his daughter, "we are in the midst of an important conversation."
Tiffany, her eyes blazing with anger, retorted, "This isn't a conversation, Dad. You're treating me like a bet, and I won't stand for it!"
Reaves, unfazed by his daughter's outburst, nodded. "I respect your feelings, Tiffany. You have a say in this matter, and I value your choice. Only the finest young man is worthy of being your partner."
Tiffany, though appreciative of her father's respect, knew the underlying implication. She had the freedom to choose, but the chosen man had to surpass Mike in every aspect. It was a bittersweet realization that offered a glimmer of hope.
"Fine," Tiffany said, her anger subsiding. "But I won't settle for less, Dad. He has to be my choice."
Reaves smiled, understanding his daughter's resolve. "You deserve the best, Tiffany. I have faith that the right man will come along."
The conversation shifted, with Mike now more determined than ever to prove himself not only to Reaves but also to Tiffany. The challenge was laid bare, and the pursuit of excellence took on new meaning.
Reaves rose from the table, excusing himself with a polite nod. "I've had my fill, and there are matters in the office that require my attention," he announced, gesturing towards his office. "I'll leave you two to enjoy some time together." With that, he left the dining room, creating a void filled with lingering tension.
With Reaves gracefully excusing himself from the dining table, Mike and Tiffany found themselves in an atmosphere charged with unspoken expectations.
The lingering tension hung thick in the air, creating an awkward silence between the two. Tiffany, her eyes reflecting a mix of frustration and contemplation, occasionally shot glances in Mike's direction. On the other hand, Mike, the weight of the recent conversation evident on his furrowed brow, was deep in thought, contemplating the unexpected turn of events.
Feeling the need to break the palpable silence, Mike cleared his throat awkwardly, a subtle attempt to dispel the uneasy atmosphere that enveloped them. "Well, that was... quite a discussion, huh?" he ventured, offering a nervous yet friendly smile.
Tiffany, her gaze fixated on her nearly untouched plate, responded tersely, "Discussion? More like a scripted interrogation." The frustration in her voice was palpable, mirroring the internal conflict that churned within her.
Mike chuckled nervously, his discomfort evident. "Yeah, I guess it did feel a bit intense. Your dad has high standards, huh?" he remarked, attempting to lighten the mood with a touch of humor.
Tiffany shot him a sharp look, her eyes piercing through the air with a mix of irritation and vulnerability. "High standards? More like unrealistic expectations. He's treating me like some kind of prize to be won," she retorted, her frustration finding an outlet in her words.
Mike, sensing the weight of Tiffany's emotions, nodded sympathetically. "I get it. It's not easy for you either. But we're in this together, right?" His attempt at solidarity was met with a resigned sigh from Tiffany, acknowledging the complex web of circumstances they found themselves entangled in.
"Yeah, I suppose we are," Tiffany conceded, her tone softer, revealing a glimpse of vulnerability beneath her composed exterior.
With Reaves now absent from the dining hall, the room echoed with the unspoken thoughts that swirled around the two individuals. The polished wooden table, adorned with remnants of the dinner that had become a backdrop to their unexpected encounter, seemed to bear witness to the unfolding drama.
Feeling the need to shift the focus from the weighty conversation, Mike seized the opportunity to propose a change of scenery. "Hey, um, maybe we could... I don't know, do something to lighten the mood? How about we go shopping or something?" he suggested, his eyes searching for a hint of enthusiasm in Tiffany's reaction.
Tiffany, surprised by the unexpected proposal, looked up from her plate, her eyes reflecting a mix of incredulity and curiosity. "Shopping? Seriously?" The mundane yet novel suggestion seemed to catch her off guard, momentarily diverting her thoughts from the intricacies of her father's expectations.
Mike, determined to infuse some levity into the situation, maintained his earnest expression. "Yeah, why not? A change of scenery might help, and who knows, we might even find something fun," he proposed, a hint of optimism underlying his words.
Tiffany hesitated for a moment, weighing the unusual proposition, before relenting with a resigned sigh. "Fine, whatever. Let's go," she agreed, her demeanor still guarded, yet a glimmer of willingness to escape the stifling atmosphere of the dining hall flickered in her eyes.
There was no end to Mike's excitement when he heard it loud from Reaves about taking his beautiful daughter. He was floating on cloud nine. There couldn't be anything better than taking a beautiful girl like Tiffany on a date. Mike knew how much Tiffany loved shopping, so he invited her on a shopping spree to make things between them work. His emotions and feelings were strong for her, despite Tiffany having shown any interest in him.
Mike understands everything takes time and his bonding with Tiffiny would get better with time. So, he pulled out his hands from his pockets and stretched toward Tiffany to take her out to an expensive store in the town.
Tiffany looked at him and his hand for a while. Reluctantly, Tiffany gathered her emotions and agreed to go with him, only to show off. She took his hands and his offer and both of them left the resident. After a while, they reached an expensive clothing store in the town. The entire time Tiffany remained silent as she consumed thoughts of Mike roaming around her. She wanted to get over the day as quickly as she could.
As they stopped at a store, Tiffany had her eyes on a mannequin on display. The dress she spotted was elegant and matched her taste. She knew she could distract herself from Mike if she kept him on the edge while walking along with him. The dress did make her gasp but she wanted to look for other options as well. Mike had a smile on his face as he felt relieved to see Tiffany taking interest in him.
"Tiffany, let me know if you like any dress in this store. I will buy it for you. By the way, the dress you spotted earlier in the display was out of this world." Mike started with a grin on his face while Tiffany gave him a flat smile while nodding her head. She wanted to keep the conversation as little as possible.
Mike rushed to open the door for her like a true gentleman and Tiffany responded to him, "Thank you!" and entered the store.
"The pleasure is all mine." Mike whispered in a seductive tone, and Tiffany rolled her eyes while walking ahead of him.