#####CHAPTER 5

I drove to the cafe, my heart racing with excitement. I couldn't believe she had agreed to go on a date with me. At first, she had seemed hesitant, even hostile, to the idea of fake dating. But something must have changed her mind, and I was grateful for it.

As I parked opposite the cafe, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. I got out of the car and walked towards the entrance, my eyes fixed on the warm and inviting atmosphere inside. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room until they landed on her.

She was behind the counter, her hair shining in the soft light, her smile radiant as she chatted with an elderly couple. I felt my heart skip a beat as I watched her, my mind struggling to comprehend why I was so drawn to her. "What is wrong with me?" I thought to myself, shaking my head to clear my thoughts. "I'm doing this for myself, to get closer to her, to show her a good time."

But as I approached her, my resolve began to weaken. She looked up, her big hazel eyes locking onto mine, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. Her face lit up with a smile, and she handed her apron to her coworker, revealing a stunning blue flowery dress that hugged her curves and showcased her features. I felt my jaw drop, my eyes unable to look away.

"You look...stunning," I stammered, holding out my hand for her to take. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she took my hand, her voice barely above a whisper. "Th...thank you, you clean up nice as well."

I smiled, feeling a sense of pride and gratitude that she had agreed to this date. "Let's go?" I asked, my eyes locked onto hers. She nodded, her smile still shining bright, and I led her out of the cafe, into the bright sunlight.

*****

" The amusement park? Really?" I beamed, my eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yeah, is it..." He trailed off, looking pleased with himself.

I didn't let him finish. "I love it!" I exclaimed, bouncing up and down like a kid on Christmas morning.

Luca chuckled and got out of the car, walking around to open my door. He offered me his hand, and I took it, feeling a jolt of electricity as our palms touched. We walked into the park together, his hand on my lower back, guiding me through the crowds.

We rode every ride, laughing and screaming together like a pair of teenagers. Luca kept a straight face, but I could tell he was enjoying himself. On the Ferris wheel, we sat in silence, taking in the breathtaking view of New York City.

"Whoa, look at that view, it's...mesmerizing," I breathed, my eyes fixed on the glittering skyline.

The Ferris wheel stopped moving, and I felt Luca scoot closer to me. I was still gazing out at the view, but I sensed his eyes on me. When I turned to look at him, I was surprised to see a nervous expression on his face.

"It's breathtaking, isn't it?" he said, his voice low and husky.

I nodded, feeling a flutter in my chest. What was going on here?

Luca cleared his throat, his eyes locked onto mine. "I know this is just a fake thing, a facade, it's not real," he said, his voice filled with a strange intensity. "But I want to do it the right way."

He took my hand in his, his fingers intertwined with mine. "Dovey, I know we just met, like, 24 hours ago, and I know what I'm asking is a huge favor...but Dovey..."

My heart was racing now, my mind reeling with possibilities.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" he asked, his eyes burning with sincerity.

I felt like I was drowning in those eyes like I was falling into a deep, dark pool with no lifeline. But somehow, I knew I wanted to take the plunge.

It felt real, I wanted it to be real.

We sat there in silence, the only sound the creaking of the Ferris wheel and the distant hum of the amusement park. But at that moment, it felt like the whole world had come to a standstill.

I knew it was crazy. I knew it was just a facade, a pretend relationship to fool his father. But in that moment, it felt like so much more.

"Okay," I whispered finally, my heart racing with excitement. "Okay, yes."

Luca's face lit up with a radiant smile, and he pulled me into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Dovey," he whispered into my ear. "Thank you for saying yes."

As we hugged, I felt like I was melting into his arms, like I was home. And in that moment, I knew that I was in for a hell of a ride.

We pulled up to an upscale, fancy restaurant after leaving the amusement park. As we stepped out of the car, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious and out of place. People were dressed in shining, luxurious outfits, and heads turned to look at us - or rather, at Luca. Photos were taken, and shocked expressions were written on people's faces.

I felt like a small fish in a big pond, sticking out like a sore thumb in my casual clothes. Luca, on the other hand, looked like he belonged here, with his designer suit and confident stride.

As we were led to our table, I couldn't help but scan the restaurant, taking in the opulent decorations and the refined atmosphere. Luca was looking at the menu, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"What would you like?" he asked, as the waiter poured wine into our glasses.

I hesitated, feeling overwhelmed by the extensive menu. "I'm not sure," I admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Can you order for me? I don't know what's good here."

Luca nodded, gesturing to the waiter with his hand. "We'll have the filet mignon and the seafood risotto," he said, his voice confident and assured.

The waiter nodded, taking the menus from us. "Excellent choice, sir," he said, before disappearing to place our order.

I took a sip of my wine, feeling a bit more at ease. Luca smiled at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Don't worry, I've got this," he said, his voice low and reassuring.

I smiled back, feeling grateful for his help. "Thanks, Luca," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

As we waited for our food to arrive, I couldn't help but steal glances at Luca, who was sipping his wine and looking around the restaurant with a look of satisfaction. He was so confident, so self-assured, and I couldn't help but feel a bit in awe of him.

Our food arrived, and we dug in, savoring the delicious flavors and textures. I closed my eyes, letting out a contented sigh, and when I opened them again, Luca was smiling at me, his eyes shining with amusement.

"Good?" he asked, his voice teasing.

I nodded, my mouth full of food. "Mmm-hmm," I managed to say, my eyes shining with delight.

Luca chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Glad you like it," he said, his voice low and husky.

We sat in silence, the stillness between us feeling almost palpable. It wasn't an awkward silence, but rather a comfortable pause, like we were both savoring the moment. After some time, Luca suddenly spoke up, his voice low and smooth. "Emilio," he said, his eyes locked onto mine. "That's my middle name. I want to get to know you, even if this isn't real." He gazed at me intently, his gaze piercing through me like a gentle breeze on a summer day.

I felt a flutter in my chest, my heart skipping a beat. "Elizabeth," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "That's my middle name." We stayed silent again for a few seconds, the only sound being the soft hum of the cafe's background noise.

Then, Luca spoke up again, his tone light and playful. "Favorite color?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Purple," I answered, my response automatic.

He smiled a small, gentle smile that made my heart flutter again. "You," I said.

"Black," he spoke, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Cliche," I muttered under my breath, not wanting to be heard. But, of course, he did.

He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. "Miss Dovey, what's cliche about it?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I felt my face heat up, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Did I say that out loud?" I asked, covering my mouth with my hand.

He chuckled again, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Well..." I began, trying to explain myself. "It's just so...predictable, I mean. Big, tall guy in a suit, followed by bodyguards, and you probably like black coffee. I mean, you're not the type to be into colors and stuff."

Luca's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're quite the profiler, aren't you, Miss Dovey?" he teased, his voice light and playful.

After our meal, Luca decided to drop me home, and I navigated the road for him, my directions guiding him through the quiet evening streets. As we pulled up to my apartment building, he opened the door on my side, and I got out, feeling a slight chill in the evening air.

"Thank you for today, Luca," I said, turning to face him, my eyes meeting his in the soft glow of the streetlights.

"Thank you," he replied, his voice low and smooth, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

We just stood there in silence, waiting for one of us to say something, the only sound being the distant hum of cars driving by. The night air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and I felt a sense of tranquility wash over me.

Then, Luca spoke up, his voice breaking the silence. "Are you free tomorrow?" he asked, his eyes locked onto mine, his gaze piercing through me like a gentle breeze on a summer day.

I felt a flutter in my chest, my heart skipping a beat. "I...I...yes, tomorrow is my day off," I said, trying to sound casual despite the excitement building up inside me.

Luca's smile grew wider, his eyes sparkling with delight. "That's good," he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "I'll come to pick you up by 2:00 pm. We can discuss the details of our fake relationship contract, and I'd like to take you out again."

My face suddenly fell, the mention of the contract a harsh reminder of the reality of our situation. I had almost forgotten that our relationship was just a facade, a business deal disguised as romance.

But I quickly recovered, not wanting to ruin the moment. "Okay, that sounds great," I said, trying to sound cheerful despite my reservations.

"Goodnight," I said, taking steps towards my apartment, feeling a sense of reluctance to leave his presence.

"Good night, amore," he said, walking backward towards his car, his eyes never leaving mine. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the endearment, my heart skipping a beat.

I walked to the door of my apartment, turning back to wave at him. He waved back, his smile still plastered on his face, and I felt a sense of warmth spread through me. As I entered my apartment, I heard the roar of his car driving away, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with trepidation for tomorrow.