them stood a gleaming edifice, its facade adorned with sleek lines and sparkling glass. The sign above the door read "Ec

r movements fluid and practiced. Jojo's eyes widened in wonder, her gaze darting around the opulent interior. She had heard w

sses. Before Jojo could process what was happening, the workers converged on her, their warm smiles enveloping her like a gentle em

The workers' gentle prodding urged her forward, and she felt herself being swept into a room filled with the sweet scent of lotions an

pected a wait, of course - ladies and their beauty rituals were notorious for taking time, after all. But as th

rth were they doing to her in there? He wondered, a hint of irritation creeping into his thoughts. Were they rebuild

seconds mocking him with their slowness. He couldn't help but wonder if time itself

h a pent-up energy that threatened to burst free at any moment. His eyes remained fixed on the

d's frustration boiled over, and he muttered under his breath, "Why on earth is that little

as if the very universe had decided to answer his plea. Jojo stepped out of t

dropping cut that accentuated her round eyes and beautiful smile. The makeup highlighted her natural beauty, and the stunn

essence of beauty itself. Gerald's eyes were glued to her, his gaze drinking in the sight of he

t help but stare at the vision of loveliness approaching him, her silver heels clicking on the fl

tance between them. Gerald's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape route or a plausible excuse,

and husky, trying to sound nonchalant despite the f

ement. "As if you've just seen a goddess, your jaw d

my foot!" he retorted, but his eyes betrayed hi

owed his, and she gasped in wonder. "I look different

ave. "Well, at least you look like a human no

olled her eyes.

door, his eyes never leaving hers. "We have a d

ransformation still leaving him in awe. He had a feeling that this was going to be a l

**

large, its facade gleaming with an air of luxury and sophistication. A fountain danced in the center

?" she wondered, turning to Gerald with a que

the car door, his eyes sparkling with a hint of misc

"Not until you tell me where we are,"

nto his expression. "We're at my grandmother's h

andmother's house?" she repeated, her voi

with amusement. "To see her, what else?"

our girlfriend, and now you're taking me to meet your grandmother?" She felt like she was drowning i

of it as part of the act, Jojo. We need to convince my famil

m I supposed to tell your grandmother about us?" The thought of fa

tainty that made her heart flutter, despite the nagging voice in the back of her mind that whispered this was all a deception. Gerald Sull

ll in love?" Jojo pressed, still grappl

yful. "I'll do the talking; you just stay quiet." He offered his