A Moment in Time

Episode 13: A Moment in Time

Lina’s POV

The next morning, Zara and I were summoned to yet another family meeting. The dining room was buzzing with activity, both sets of parents discussing guest lists, business mergers, and some kind of charity gala that we were apparently now expected to attend.

“Don’t you two look thrilled,” my mother remarked as Zara and I slid into our seats.

I exchanged a look with Zara, who raised an eyebrow in silent agreement. Thrilled wasn’t exactly the word we’d use.

“Since you’ll both be representing our families at the gala,” Zara’s mother began, “we’ve arranged for a formal fitting this afternoon.”

“Great,” I muttered under my breath. Another day of being paraded around like a show pony.

Zara nudged my leg under the table, her gaze steady. “It won’t be that bad,” she said softly, surprising me.

Her voice was calm, almost reassuring, and for a moment, I believed her.

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Zara’s POV

The fitting was held at an exclusive designer’s studio, where racks of couture dresses and tailored suits lined the walls. Lina wandered through the space with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, occasionally holding up a dress with a raised eyebrow.

“You’re not seriously thinking of wearing that, are you?” I teased, gesturing to a particularly frilly pink gown she’d picked up.

She smirked. “What? You don’t think I could pull it off?”

“Not in a million years.”

She stuck her tongue out at me before tossing the dress back onto the rack. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics.

When it was finally her turn to try on a dress, I waited near the fitting room, scrolling through my phone. The sound of her voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Zara, can you help me with this zipper?”

I looked up to see her standing in the doorway, the dress half-zipped and her back exposed. My throat went dry.

“Uh, sure,” I said, setting my phone down.

As I stepped closer, I could feel the warmth of her skin under my fingers as I carefully pulled the zipper up.

“There,” I said, stepping back quickly.

“Thanks,” she said, turning to face me.

The dress fit her perfectly, hugging her curves and highlighting her natural beauty. I tried not to stare, but it was impossible not to notice how stunning she looked.

“What do you think?” she asked, holding her arms out.

“You look… nice,” I said, cursing myself for sounding so awkward.

She grinned. “Just nice?”

“Don’t push it,” I said, smirking.

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Lina’s POV

After the fitting, we decided to grab coffee at a nearby café. It was a small, cozy place with mismatched furniture and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Zara surprised me by ordering a latte with caramel syrup—a far cry from her usual no-nonsense black coffee.

As we sat by the window, watching the city buzz outside, I noticed her hand resting on the table, her fingers lightly tapping against the surface. On a whim, I reached out and placed my hand over hers.

She froze, her eyes darting to mine.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice soft but curious.

“Nothing,” I said with a shrug, not moving my hand. “You looked like you could use a break.”

Her lips curved into a faint smile, and for once, she didn’t pull away.

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Zara’s POV

By the time we got back to the mansion, the day felt lighter somehow, as if the weight of our responsibilities had lifted, even if only slightly.

As we stood in the foyer, Lina turned to me, her expression uncharacteristically shy.

“Thanks for today,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“For… being less of a robot,” she said, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t get used to it.”

She stepped closer, her gaze locking with mine. Before I could react, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.

“Goodnight, Zara,” she said, grinning as she walked away.

I stood there, stunned, my hand instinctively brushing the spot where her lips had been.

“Goodnight,” I murmured, though she was already out of earshot.

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