Chapter 56: The Mysterious Invitation
Ava stared at the ornate invitation in her hand, the words Exclusive Visionary Seminar: Julian Ashcroft Presents The Future of Love embossed in obnoxiously shiny gold lettering. The font was so dramatic it practically screamed, "You’re not smart enough to be here."
"This is a bad idea," she said, shaking her head. "An incredibly bad idea."
"Oh, don’t be so dramatic," Mei chirped, standing at the tiny kitchenette in their hotel suite, calmly stirring a pot of tea with the serenity of someone who had never considered consequences. "It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"For what? Getting arrested for impersonating strangers at an elite tech event?" Ava shot back.
Ryan leaned against the doorframe, sipping his coffee with a grin. "She’s not wrong. Besides, crashing this seminar sounds kind of fun. Haven’t done something this sketchy since law school."
"It’s not crashing," Mei corrected, looking mildly offended. "I borrowed two invitations from people who weren’t attending. You’re perfectly legitimate guests now. Technically."
"Technically?" Ava arched an eyebrow. "That’s not comforting, Grandma."
Mei shrugged, unfazed. "Life is a series of risks, dear. I’ve taken care of the hard part—you just have to show up and look official."
Ava shot her grandmother a skeptical look. "Whose names are on these badges?"
Ryan squinted at his lanyard. "Marcus LeBlanc, Emotional Compatibility Analyst? That’s... oddly specific."
Ava read hers aloud. "Cecilia Raines, Relational Dynamics Specialist." She groaned. "This doesn’t even sound real. Are these fake jobs from some matchmaking sci-fi movie?"