Monday came quickly, and Harper found herself pulling up to Ivy’s cottage with a sense of unease she couldn’t quite shake. Beside her, Kim sat in the passenger seat, smirking as she held two manila envelopes like she’d already won the lottery.

“Ready to make some magic, superstar?” Kim teased, nudging Harper with her elbow.

“Let’s just get this over with,” Harper muttered, stepping out of the car.

The air smelled earthy and fresh, the faint scent of lavender lingering even as Ivy appeared from around the side of the house, carrying a basket brimming with freshly picked mushrooms. She was a vision of serenity in a maroon sundress, her loose curls bouncing slightly as the breeze caught her hem.

“Ah, you’re here!” Ivy beamed. “Perfect timing—I was just about to start on some mushroom soup. Come in!”

Kim leaned in toward Harper and whispered, “If you don’t want her, I could definitely get used to this.”

Harper gave Kim a sharp shove, her ears burning, but managed a weak smile for Ivy. “Thanks for having us,” she said, trying to sound casual.

Inside, the cottage was as picturesque as Harper remembered, filled with soft colors and rustic charm. Ivy led them to the dining table, where Harper and Kim sat as she disappeared into the kitchen. When Ivy returned, she carried a tray laden with delicate teacups and tiny cakes, placing everything down with a care that made Harper’s chest ache.

Ivy joined them, her amber eyes scanning the spread she’d prepared, her face glowing with the kind of warmth Harper found rare and disarming. Harper felt her pulse quicken. This was going to be harder than she thought.

Kim cleared her throat loudly, cutting through the moment. “Alright, Harper, enough stalling. Get to it.”

Harper sighed, running a hand through her dark hair. “So… I don’t know if you’ve seen the video…”

Ivy’s hands trembled slightly as she picked up her teacup, but she quickly set it down, her gaze dropping to the table. “I… saw it,” she said quietly, her voice trembling as much as her hands.

Harper opened her mouth to say something reassuring, but Kim was already sliding the contract envelope across the table. “Great. Then you know why we’re here,” Kim said, her tone brisk. “Ivy, I’ll cut to the chase. We want to make this official. Sign the contract, and I promise, this collaboration will be worth your while.”

Ivy jumped slightly at Kim’s sudden intensity but picked up the envelope. Her eyes widened as she pulled out the paperwork and caught sight of the check clipped to it.

“This is… $36,000?” Ivy’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“That’s just for the first two months,” Kim said, leaning forward with a grin that Harper recognized all too well. “You’ll be making $300 per session, three days a week. And, of course, there’s the $3,000 commission for Harper’s portrait.”

Ivy’s gaze flickered uncertainly to Harper. “This is a lot…”

Kim pressed on, relentless. “Look, Ivy, Harper’s hit over a million followers, and her YouTube’s blowing up too. This is your chance to ride that wave. Let us turn this fairytale into reality for the fans. You’ll be rolling in cash—and I might even pull some strings for that greenhouse you were talking about.”

Harper stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. “Kim, back off. Let her decide for herself.”

Kim threw up her hands, smirking. “Fine. But let’s not pretend this isn’t the deal of a lifetime.”

The tension in the room thickened as Ivy looked between them. Finally, she turned to Harper, her voice soft. “Are you… okay with this? I feel like you’re being pressured into it too.”

Harper shrugged, forcing a small smile. “This is kind of my job. Pretending isn’t new for me. I’ve had plenty of fake friends—what’s one more fake girlfriend?”

Ivy’s brow furrowed, concern flickering in her amber eyes. Harper’s stomach twisted under her gaze.

After a moment, Ivy sighed. “Alright. Two months, right? I guess I can do it. The money will help me build that greenhouse.” She tried to sound optimistic, though her voice wavered.

Kim grinned triumphantly, pulling a pen from her pocket and laying it on the table. “Smart choice, Ivy. Play your cards right,’ Kim said, her hands descending on Ivy’s shoulder, leaning right down next to Ivy’s ear, “and I might even get you that greenhouse for free.”

Before Ivy could respond, Harper stepped in, grabbing Kim by the arm and yanking her back. “Don’t touch her.”

Kim raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Whoa, getting protective already? You’re really selling this, Harper.”

“Just leave her alone,” Harper said firmly, her eyes narrowing.

Kim backed off with a laugh, but Harper’s attention was already back on Ivy, who sat wide-eyed and blushing. Harper sank into the chair beside her, the tension in her posture unmistakable.

Ivy hesitated, then picked up the pen, glancing at Harper. “You’re sure about this?”

Harper leaned back with a lopsided grin, trying to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. If anything goes wrong, I’ll handle it.”

The sincerity in her tone made Ivy’s heart flutter, and she nodded, smiling softly. “Alright. I trust you.”

As Ivy signed the contract, Harper felt a strange mix of relief and dread settle over her. This arrangement was going to be far more complicated than she’d expected.

When Kim finally swept out the door, Harper lingered, catching Ivy’s hand. “Don’t stress about any of this, okay? I’ll make sure it all works out.”

Ivy looked up at her, her cheeks warm as Harper’s clear blue eyes met hers with quiet determination. “Thank you,” she murmured.

As Harper walked to the car, she couldn’t shake the feeling that tomorrow’s shoot couldn’t come soon enough—and not just because of work.