Please, Elara, just say yes already

Amara snorted. "When am I not intense?"

"Fair point," Felix replied with a grin, steering the car towards Lyselle Media's sleek, intimidating headquarters. The journey back to her family's company was supposed to be routine another day of schmoozing with executives and pretending to care about ratings. But today, there was something else on Amara's mind: her looming deadline. Less than 24 hours to recruit Elara into Lyselle Media, and no plan in sight.

Her pulse quickened just thinking about it.

As soon as they arrived, Amara was greeted by her parents. Her mother, a tall, elegant woman with a commanding presence, smiled warmly, while her father clapped her on the back like she'd just won the lottery.

"Amara, darling! You've done such excellent work on that reality show," her mother said, pulling her into a hug that smelled faintly of expensive perfume and dominance. "We're so proud of you."