The Fake Engagement

Amara Bennett had always hated family dinners. Not because of the food. Not because of the expensive dining room with its crystal chandelier and polished table that looked like it belonged in a museum. She hated them because every family dinner came with questions. Questions about her future. Questions about her career. Questions about marriage. And tonight, Amara already knew exactly what was coming. She sat quietly at the long dining table, pushing a piece of roasted potato around her plate while her mother spoke about an upcoming charity event. Her father barely touched his food. He was too busy reading something on his tablet. Her older brother, Marcus, was scrolling through his phone. Everything looked normal. Too normal. Amara narrowed her eyes. Whenever her father became unusually quiet, something was about to happen. Finally, he placed the tablet on the table. "Amara." She looked up. "Yes, Dad?" "We need to talk about your future." There it was. Amara sighed silently. "I'm listening." Her father leaned back in his chair. "You're twenty-two now. You've finished university, you've started working, and you've proven that you're capable of taking care of yourself." "Thank you," Amara said carefully. "But?" Her mother exchanged a glance with her father. Amara immediately knew there was a but. Her father continued. "But you're still making decisions as if you're the only person affected by them." Amara frowned. "What does that mean?" "It means you're part of this family." "I know that." "And this family has responsibilities." Amara put her fork down. "What kind of responsibilities?" Her father didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked toward Marcus. Marcus suddenly became very interested in his phone. Amara's stomach tightened. "What is going on?" Her mother finally spoke. "Your father wants you to meet someone." Amara blinked. "Someone?" "A man." Her eyes widened. "No." Her mother sighed. "You haven't even heard what we have to say." "I don't need to." "Amara—" "I'm not going on some arranged date." Her father frowned. "It's not an arranged marriage." "Then what is it?" "A meeting." "A meeting that involves a man my parents picked?" Her brother suddenly laughed. Amara glared at him. "What's funny?" "Nothing." "Then stop laughing." Marcus lowered his head, still smiling. Her father rubbed his forehead. "You're making this more difficult than it needs to be." "Because you're making it difficult!" The room fell silent. Amara stood up. "I have work tomorrow." "Sit down." Her father's voice was calm, but firm. Amara hesitated. Then she slowly sat back down. Her father looked directly at her. "There is going to be a business partnership between our family and the Carter family." Amara's expression changed. "The Carter family?" "Yes." She knew the name. Everyone did. The Carters were one of the most influential families in the city. "And?" "My father wants us to become closer to them." Amara stared at him. "By introducing me to their son?" Her father nodded. "His name is Damon Carter." Amara had heard that name before. Damon Carter. Twenty-four. Successful. Private. And, according to everything Amara had heard, impossible to read. She had never met him. And she certainly wasn't interested in meeting him now. "I'm not doing it." Her father sighed. "Amara." "No." "Just meet him." "No." "One dinner." "No." "One conversation." She crossed her arms. "No." Her mother looked at her sympathetically. "You don't have to marry him." "Good." "You don't even have to like him." "Excellent." "But you do need to understand that your decisions have consequences." Amara stared at her mother. "What exactly are you trying to say?" Her mother didn't answer. That silence bothered Amara more than anything. She stood again. "I'm going upstairs." Her father didn't stop her. But as she reached the doorway, his voice followed her. "Sometimes, Amara, protecting the people you love requires sacrifices." She stopped. For a second, she almost turned around. Instead, she continued upstairs. Later that night, Amara stood by her bedroom window. The city lights stretched across the distance. She couldn't stop thinking about her father's words. There was something they weren't telling her. She knew it. Her family had never been good at keeping secrets from her for long. Her phone buzzed. She looked down. Unknown Number She frowned and opened the message. We need to talk. Amara stared at the screen. Another message appeared. It's about the Carter family. Her heart skipped. She typed quickly. Who is this? The reply came almost immediately. Someone who knows what your family is hiding. Amara's fingers froze. Before she could respond, another message appeared. And you should be careful about Damon Carter. She stared at the name. Damon Carter. Why was a stranger warning her about him? She typed again. What do you know about him? No reply. Amara waited. One minute. Two. Five. Nothing. She finally placed the phone on her bed. Then it buzzed again. She grabbed it. There was only one sentence. Your family doesn't want you to know why they need this engagement. Amara's heart began pounding. Engagement? She hadn't agreed to anything. Had she? She suddenly remembered her father's strange words. Protecting the people you love requires sacrifices. Amara looked toward her bedroom door. For the first time that night, she wondered whether her family had already made a decision for her. Her phone rang. The caller ID displayed a name she didn't recognize. She answered cautiously. "Hello?" A man's voice came through. Calm. Deep. Unfamiliar. "Amara Bennett?" "Who is this?" There was a brief silence. Then— "Damon Carter." Amara sat completely still. The person her family wanted her to meet was calling her. Before she could say anything, Damon spoke again. "We need to talk about the engagement." Amara's eyes widened. "What engagement?" Silence. Then Damon quietly said, "So they haven't told you yet." The call ended. Amara stared at her phone. For the first time in her life, she realized something terrifying. Her family wasn't simply trying to arrange a relationship. They were hiding something. And somehow, Damon Carter was already part of it.