A CONFLICTED HEART

OLIVIA'S POV

Sitting across from Emily in our favourite little cafe, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the world pressing down on me. Her Warm hazel eyes studied me, filled with concem.

"You look like you haven't slept in days, Liv. What's going on?" Emily asked, sipping her cappuccino.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, "it's Vanessa."

Emily's eyebrows shot up in suprise, "What's she up to this time?”

“she's been sniffing around a lot lately, she's suspicious about Dawson and I. keeps asking questions, poking holes in our story, as if she knows there's more going on.

Emily frowned, leaning in closer. "And you're sure she'd doesn't know about the arrangement?”

"She doesn't know," I said quickly, shaking my head. "But she suspects something. I can feel it. Every time I see her,, she's watching me, like she's waiting for me to slip up.”

Emily sat back in her chair, her fingers tapping thoughtfully on the table. "sounds like she's trying to figure out if you and Dawson have is real or Just an act."

"that's what scares me." I admitted. "She's already got everyone else fooling into thinking Sha's moved on, but I think she's still after him. She's not just curious, She wants to know if our relationship is as perfect as it looks, and if it's not, she'll use that against us.”

Emily sighed, Stirring her drink absently, "Liv, what exactly do you want me to Say? I mean, are you worried about Vanessa because of the deal or... because of something else?"

I avoided her gaze, staring down at the foam in my latte. "What do you mean?”

Enrily reached out, touching my hand lightly. "you're scared Vanessa's going to mess things up, but is it just the business you're worried about, or are you afraid of losing Dawson?"

I opened my mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn't come out instead, I found myself swallowing hard and looking away. "it's not that simple."

"Does Dawson knows how you feel?" Emily asked gently, her voice soft with understanding.

I bit my lip. “I don't even know how I feel, Em. its complicated. We're in this arrangment, and yes, we've gotten closer, but it's not.... it's not real, right?"

Emily's eyes narrower with a knowing glint "you sure about that?"

I didn't answer. I wasn't sure about any thing anymore.

Before I could dwell on it further, Emily's phone buzzed on the table. she glanced at it, her expression Immediately brightening. She was blushing.

“I need to go but you need to be sure of your feelings for him” she stated.

“What if he still wants Vanessa?”

I felt a wave of nausea rising in my throat "Do you think he is still in hove with her?"

Emily's expression softened. "I don't know, Liv, But the real question is does it matter?”

I stared at her, confused. “Of course it matters.”

She shook her head gently. "No, Liv, What matters is how you feel about him, forget Vanessa for a second, forget the deal. You've been dancing around this for months. Are you in Love with Dawson?"

My heart pounded in my chest as Emily's question hung in the air. Was I? Had I fallen for him without realizing it."

I thought about the way he looked at me sometimes, with a softeness in his eyes that made me forget about the world outside. I thought about the nights we'd spent together, the quiet moments when it was just the two of us and everything felt…right.

“I don't know,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. But deep down I did know It, I Just wasn't ready to admit it.

Emily gave me a knowing smile, her hand squeezing mine. “I think you Do. You're scared, and I get It. But you've got to be honest with yourself. If You've falling for him, you need to figure out what you want before it's too late.”

I nodded, my throat tight. Emily was right I couldn't keep pretending like this was just a business arrangment anymore. Whatever this was between Dawson and me, it was real. But where did that leave me? Where did that leave us?

As I sat there, trying to make sense of it all my phone buzzed in my pocket. it was Dawson.

Just landed back home, we need to talk, see you at home tomorrow after work .

I stared at the message, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it, whatever was happening between us. What ever decisions needed to be made, I couldn't avoid it anymore.

Emily leaned forward, her expression serious, “you've got to talk to him, Liv, and this time, be honest, not Just with him, but with yourself?"

I nodded slipping my phone back into my pocket “I will.”

As I left the cafe, a storm of emotions churned inside me. I had no idea what Dawson was going to say, or what I was going to say to him, But one thing was clear, it would change everthing.