Chapter 50: Clash of the Matchmakers
The morning of the first official panel arrived far too quickly. Ava had barely managed to get a few hours of sleep thanks to Harold’s symphony of snores and Mei’s 2 a.m. popcorn escapade. Ryan, somehow, had woken up looking completely unbothered, like he had spent the night in a five-star spa instead of a makeshift armchair bed.
Meanwhile, Ava was on her second coffee of the morning, glaring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror as she attempted to tame her unruly hair. "First impressions, Ava," she muttered to herself. "You’ve got one chance to look like you belong here."
Outside, Ryan’s voice floated in. "If you’re talking to yourself, that’s usually my job. Let’s not switch roles just because it’s New York."
"Keep talking, and I’ll make you wear this curling iron as a tie," Ava called back.
Ryan appeared in the doorway, holding up two lanyards with their names on them. "Well, Matchmaker Lee, we’re officially registered. Ready to go mingle with the matchmaking elite?"
Ava snatched her lanyard, ignoring his smirk. "As ready as I’ll ever be."
---
The main ballroom of the convention center was dazzling, with rows of pristine white chairs arranged in front of a raised stage. A massive banner hung overhead: "Redefining Love in the 21st Century."
As Ava and Ryan found seats near the middle, she immediately noticed Julian Ashcroft sitting front and center, looking polished and infuriatingly confident in a tailored gray suit. Beside him sat Ethan, who was already chatting animatedly with Astrid LaFleur, the French astrologer who looked like she had just walked out of a Parisian fashion editorial. Astrid had draped herself in silk scarves and was gesturing dramatically with one hand while holding a crystal-topped cane with the other.
"Oh, great," Ava muttered. "The gang’s all here."
Ryan followed her gaze. "Well, if it isn’t Mr. Data-Loving Robot. Should I go wave?"