The days that followed were a whirlwind of planning and preparation. Noah and Amara had agreed to meet regularly to work out the details of their arrangement. As much as it felt like a business deal, there was an undeniable tension simmering between them, something neither of them could quite ignore.
Amara found herself sitting in Noah's luxurious office one afternoon, reviewing the timeline of the upcoming family gathering. Noah was methodical, outlining the key dates and family members she would need to impress.
"You'll meet my grandmother first," Noah explained, sliding a photo of an elegant, silver-haired woman across the desk. "She's the one who matters most in all of this. If we can convince her, the rest of the family will fall in line."
Amara studied the photo. There was a regal quality about Noah's grandmother, the kind of woman who commanded respect with a single glance. It was clear that Noah held her in high regard, despite the pressure she was putting on him.
"And what about the rest of your family?" Amara asked, curious.
Noah sighed, leaning back in his chair. "My parents are supportive, but they're not as involved. My siblings… well, they'll be harder to fool."
"Great," Amara muttered under her breath, earning a chuckle from Noah.
"You'll be fine," he assured her. "Just be yourself. That's all I'm asking."
Amara wasn't so sure. Pretending to be in love with Noah—someone she barely knew—was going to be a challenge in itself. But the more time she spent with him, the more she realized there was more to Noah than his charming exterior.
There was a depth to him, a vulnerability he kept hidden behind his confident demeanor. He was doing this for his family, for reasons she still didn't fully understand. But there was something about him that drew her in, despite her better judgment.
As they continued to go over the details, Amara couldn't shake the feeling that this was all too good to be true. She had agreed to the arrangement, but she couldn't ignore the nagging voice in the back of her mind, warning her that this was more than just a business deal.
And as the day of the family gathering approached, Amara found herself wondering if she had made the right decision.