Chapter 12: Ava’s Realization
The Camellia Ballroom was quiet now, the soft rustle of the cleanup crew the only sound echoing through its once lively halls. The twinkling chandeliers had dimmed, and the last of the guests had long since departed. Ava stood at the edge of the room, her clipboard forgotten on a nearby table. Her eyes traced the remnants of the night, the empty champagne glasses, the slightly crumpled napkins, the faint scuff marks on the polished floor where couples had danced.
She should have felt triumphant. By all accounts, the gala had been a success. Matches were made, smiles exchanged, and even Madam Elise had left with an uncharacteristically pleased expression. But Ava’s thoughts were elsewhere, tangled up in the quiet hum of emotions she didn’t fully understand.
"Lost in thought, Matchmaker?" Ryan’s voice broke through her reverie, warm and familiar.
Ava turned to see him leaning against the doorway, his tie loosened and his jacket draped over one arm. He looked as tired as she felt, but his grin was still firmly in place.
"Shouldn’t you be halfway home by now?" she asked, though her tone lacked its usual bite.
Ryan shrugged, stepping closer. "Thought I’d check on you first. Big night and all."
"I’m fine," Ava said quickly, but the words felt hollow even as she said them.
Ryan tilted his head, studying her with that infuriatingly perceptive gaze. "You don’t look fine."
Ava crossed her arms, her defenses rising instinctively. "Why do you care?"
"Because I do," Ryan said simply, his voice quiet but steady.
The sincerity in his tone caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. She glanced down at her shoes, the faint scuff on the toe suddenly fascinating.