Ziv pulled into his driveway, the low rumble of the engine fading as he turned off the car. The tension from the evening still lingered in his chest, but now a new idea had begun to form in his mind—a way to disarm Noa's potential threat to his plans.
Inside, the house was dark and quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos of his thoughts. He loosened his tie and poured himself a glass of water, leaning against the kitchen counter. How could he ensure that Noa didn't disrupt things with Liora?
He replayed the evening's events in his mind, searching for a solution. Noa had been quiet lately, but he couldn't ignore the possibility that her silence hid suspicion—or worse, intent. He needed to act quickly.
Then it came to him. Bring them together. If Noa and Liora grew comfortable with each other, Noa wouldn't seem like a threat to Liora. And if Liora trusted him even more, it would smooth the way for everything.
Satisfied with his plan, Ziv picked up his phone and called Liora.
"Ziv?" Liora's voice was soft and warm, but he could detect a note of curiosity.
"Hey," he said, trying to keep his tone casual. "I've been thinking… I don't want there to be any tension between you and Noa. I know it's probably weird having her around, so I thought we could all have dinner together. You know, clear the air."
Liora hesitated. "Dinner? Just the three of us?"
"Yeah," Ziv said, injecting a light chuckle. "I want you to see that Noa's just a friend, nothing more. She's been through a lot, and I think you'll actually like her once you get to know her."
After a pause, Liora agreed. "Alright. Dinner sounds good."
Ziv ended the call with a small smile, then immediately dialed Noa.
"Noa," he said when she picked up. "I need your help with something. I've planned a dinner for you, me, and Liora. It's important that everything goes smoothly."
Noa's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "A dinner with Liora? Why?"
"To show her there's nothing to worry about," Ziv replied. "It'll be good for everyone."
Noa agreed, her mind already calculating how she could use the dinner to her advantage.
The next evening, the table was set, candles flickering softly in the dim light. Ziv had outdone himself, preparing an elegant meal to set the tone for a relaxed evening.
Liora arrived first, her smile warm but curious. Noa arrived shortly after, her demeanor calm and composed.
Dinner began with polite conversation, the three of them talking and laughing as if nothing was amiss. Liora glanced at Noa, her initial skepticism fading as the evening wore on.
"So," Liora said, turning to Noa with a curious smile. "How did you and Ziv meet?"
Noa exchanged a quick glance with Ziv, her face betraying nothing. "We were introduced through mutual friends," she said smoothly. "It wasn't anything special, but we kept in touch over the years."
Liora relaxed visibly, letting out a small laugh. "I see. That's nice."
Ziv felt a surge of relief. The tension was melting away, just as he'd hoped.
After dinner, Liora and Noa insisted on doing the dishes together, leaving Ziv to relax in the living room.
As they worked side by side, Noa turned to Liora. "So, how did your family come to own the vineyard?"
Liora smiled wistfully. "It's been in the family for generations. My great-grandfather started it, and it's been passed down ever since. Now it's my dad's turn to manage it."
"That's incredible," Noa said, her voice genuine. "It must be a lot of work."
Liora sighed. "It is, but it's not as glamorous as it sounds. These days, we're just scraping by. Big companies are taking over, and we don't have the resources to compete. The vineyard does okay, but it's nothing extraordinary. We sell to local shops and supermarkets, but that's about it."
Noa tilted her head thoughtfully. "Have you ever thought about expanding? Maybe finding investors to help you grow?"
Liora shook her head. "We've talked about it, but who would want to invest in a small vineyard like ours? We're not exactly a big deal."
Noa placed a comforting hand on Liora's arm. "You'd be surprised. Sometimes all it takes is the right vision and the right people to back you up. You should think about it—it could change everything."
Liora's eyes softened, her guard falling completely. "Maybe you're right. I've just never thought of it that way."
As they finished the dishes, Liora felt a newfound sense of hope. Noa had spoken like a true friend, and for the first time in a while, she felt inspired.
But as Noa smiled and dried her hands, her mind was already racing with plans of her own.