Chapter 59: Ethan’s Sabotage Plan
The day started innocently enough. Too innocently, as Ava would later reflect. The matchmaking convention was in full swing, and for the first time since arriving in New York, things seemed... quiet. No unexpected fire alarms, no surprise astrological predictions from Astrid, and, most shockingly, no Mei-induced chaos. Even Ryan, usually a source of playful quips or accidental distractions, seemed content to sip his coffee in silence.
For a fleeting moment, Ava thought the day might actually go smoothly. She made it through the first client meeting without any glitches, her schedule was running like clockwork, and Astrid’s latest planetary chart hadn’t made an appearance yet.
She should have known better than to trust the calm.
By mid-morning, there was an almost eerie stillness to the energy of the convention. Even the usual hum of chatter felt oddly subdued, as if the attendees were holding their collective breath. It wasn’t until Ava stepped into the main hall, her clipboard in hand and her second coffee halfway gone, that she felt the shift.
Conversations hushed when she passed. Small groups of attendees clustered together, sneaking glances in her direction. The whispers were growing louder, accompanied by knowing smirks and muffled laughter. Ava frowned, feeling a prickle of unease run down her spine. Something was definitely off.
---
Ethan approached, his smile as smug as ever. Beside him stood Julian, looking infuriatingly amused as usual, as if he had just tuned in to his favorite sitcom.
"Enjoying the attention?" Ethan asked, folding his arms and glancing pointedly at the printout in Ava’s hand.
"You did this," Ava accused, holding up the paper like it was Exhibit A in a courtroom.
Ethan gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Me? Why would I ever do something so... mischievous?" His smirk said otherwise.
Julian chuckled, leaning slightly toward Ava as if sharing a private joke. "You have to admit, the pie-eating contest detail? Chef’s kiss. I mean, if that doesn’t scream romance, what does?"