Deceptive Hearts

15

Alora stood by her bed, the open suitcase staring back at her like an abyss. She picked up a dress, holding it in her hands, unsure if it was right for Dante’s world. This wasn’t just a birthday trip. It was a private jet, a luxury yacht, and a family with more power than she could ever fathom. And above all, she had to remember why she was there—her mission.

“Alora, stick to the plan,” Eyra’s voice cut through her thoughts. Her sister leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, her expression serious. “You can't get too comfortable with them. Don’t forget what Mina’s expecting.”

Alora sighed, placing the dress in her suitcase and turning to face her sister. “I know. It’s just… this whole thing is bigger than I expected. He’s not some random guy, Eyra. This is Dante Santoro. His family could swallow me whole.”

“And that’s exactly why you have to stay focused,” Eyra said, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed. “You don’t have room to mess this up. No distractions. No feelings.”

“I know. But the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to keep everything in line. He’s... different.”

Eyra gave her a hard look. “Different how?”

“He’s not the cold, detached billionaire I thought he’d be. He’s…” Alora paused, running her hand through her hair. “He cares. He’s kind. And I think he’s starting to trust me. That makes it harder.”

Eyra narrowed her eyes. “Trust you? You mean he’s falling for you. That’s perfect, Alora. You need him to feel that way to finish the job.”

Alora bit her lip. “Yeah, but it’s not that easy. Every time he looks at me, it’s like... he sees right through me. And I don’t know how long I can keep lying.”

Eyra leaned forward, placing a hand on Alora’s arm. “You don’t have a choice. Remember why you’re doing this. You need this. We both do. If you don’t finish this, there’s no way out for either of us.”

Alora nodded, though her stomach twisted with uncertainty. She knew Eyra was right, but it didn’t make it any easier.

---

Later, aboard Dante's private jet, Alora settled into the luxurious leather seat, her hands gripping the armrests as the engines roared to life. Dante sat across from her, leaning back in his seat with an easy confidence that only someone in his position could have. He looked over at her, his eyes softening as they met hers.

“You look nervous,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“I’ve never been on a private jet before,” she admitted, trying to steady her breath. “It’s... a lot.”

He chuckled, leaning forward slightly. “You’ll get used to it.”

As the jet climbed higher into the clouds, Dante's demeanor shifted slightly. He leaned closer to her, his voice dropping just enough to catch her full attention.

“Alora, when we land, I want you to introduce yourself as my girlfriend.”

Alora blinked, her heart skipping a beat. “What?”

“It’ll make things easier with my family,” he said, his tone casual, though his gaze was intense. “I don’t want them to think you’re just some random woman I brought along. You mean more than that to me.”

Alora's mind raced. His girlfriend? That wasn’t part of the plan. But what was she supposed to say? She couldn’t refuse him without raising suspicions.

“But... won’t that make things complicated?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Complicated how?” he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“It’s just—what if they expect more from us? I don’t want to mislead anyone.”

Dante reached across the small space between them, gently taking her hand. His touch was warm, and for a moment, it made her forget everything—Mina, Eyra, the plan. All she could think about was the way he was looking at her.

“Trust me, Alora,” he said softly. “I want them to see how serious I am about you. And I am serious.”

Her breath caught in her throat. This was exactly what she wanted—getting close to him, gaining his trust. But why did it feel so dangerous? Why did it feel like she was crossing a line she could never come back from?

“I... okay,” she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

Dante smiled, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand. “Good. You’re going to be perfect.”

As he leaned back, releasing her hand, Alora couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to get much more complicated. She glanced out the window, watching the clouds drift by, knowing that when they landed, she would have to play a part she wasn’t sure she could keep up with.

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter it wasn't pretty long again but I hope it was enjoyable.

How do you think the family meeting will be?

Thank you!
Love y'all 💗

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