KISSES AND BITES

By the time we reached this rooftop café, the setting sun had already dipped below the mid-sky and was casting a golden glow over the city. The air was warm, tinged with the scent of fresh flowers and the faint hum of evening traffic below. It was a place that, under other circumstances, I could almost have found charming-an intimate little retreat where couples might lose themselves in each other's company, far above the noise and confusion of the world below. Tonight, however, the beauty of the setting only accentuated the tension knotted in my stomach. I was here on a date with Noah-a man I had come to despise, but whom I had to convince of my love.

We strolled over the rooftop as my heart jolled in my chest. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, scrutinizing my every move, every expression. I knew this wasn't just a date; it was a test. Noah was giving me just enough freedom to test whether I would betray him-if I would try and run. He was watching me, waiting for any sign tha