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?"

"It doesn’t have to sound real," Mei said, pouring herself a cup of tea and taking a satisfied sip. "You just have to act confident. These tech types don’t care about credentials as long as you look important. Wear black—it’s the universal color of ’don’t mess with me.’"

Ava glared at her lanyard. "This is going to go horribly wrong."

Ryan tilted his head thoughtfully. "At least your fake title sounds impressive. Emotional Compatibility Analyst makes me sound like I spend my weekends asking strangers how they feel about sunsets."

Ava snorted despite herself. "Well, Marcus, do you also assess rainbows and kittens? Or is it strictly sunsets?"

Ryan grinned. "I only analyze emotions on weekdays. Weekends are reserved for cloud-watching therapy."

Mei clapped her hands to get their attention. "Focus, you two. This is about more than just sneaking in. Julian Ashcroft is a menace, and he’s scheming something big. You’re my secret agents. You’ll observe, gather intel, and most importantly, keep a low profile."

Ava blinked. "Low profile? From the woman who fainted in front of a ballroom last night to distract security?"

Mei didn’t even flinch. "That was necessary. And very convincing, if I do say so myself."

"Yeah, Oscar-worthy," Ava deadpanned, slipping her lanyard over her neck. "Let’s get this over with before I start regretting my life choices more than I already do."

Ryan raised his coffee cup in a mock toast. "Here’s to regrettable life choices. Shall we, Cecilia?"

"Shut up, Marcus," Ava muttered, grabbing her coat.

---

The seminar venue was as excessive as Ava expected. Held in a lavish ballroom at a five-star hotel, it featured sleek black-and-gold decor, towering floral arrangements, and servers handing out champagne like water. The attendees—mostly wealthy investors and tech elites—milled about in designer suits, murmuring in low, self-important tones.

"Why do I feel like we’re walking into the villain’s lair?" Ava muttered as she and Ryan approached the registration desk.

Ryan smirked. "Because we probably are. Don’t worry—I’ll protect you from any evil algorithms."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Your hero complex is showing. Try not to trip over it."

The registration attendant glanced at their badges without much interest and waved them through. "Enjoy the seminar."

"’Enjoy’ is a strong word," Ava muttered as they stepped into the ballroom. The sheer opulence was almost nauseating—polished gold accents gleamed under crystal chandeliers, and a faint scent of expensive cologne lingered in the air.

Ryan leaned closer, his voice low. "Do you think they spent more on the decor or the smugness?"

"Smugness. Definitely smugness," Ava replied, scanning the room. "And I’d bet Julian’s ego was factored into the budget."

On stage, Julian Ashcroft stood like a king addressing his court. His tailored suit was immaculate, his hair perfectly coiffed, and his smile just smug enough to make Ava’s fists itch. Behind him, a massive screen displayed Innovate Love: Revolutionizing Relationships.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Julian began, his voice smooth and commanding, "welcome to the future of love."

Ryan leaned toward Ava again, whispering, "Should we bow, or do you think a polite golf clap will do?"

Ava smothered a laugh, nudging him with her elbow. "Stick to the plan."

"And the plan is?" Ryan teased, raising an eyebrow.

"Don’t get us kicked out," Ava said firmly, though her resolve was already wavering as Julian’s voice dripped with self-importance.

Julian gestured to the screen, which shifted to a video demonstration of Innovate Love’s latest app update. "With our cutting-edge technology, we’ve achieved what was once thought impossible: predictive compatibility with 98% accuracy. By analyzing text messages, syncing social media activity, and tracking heart rate data through wearable devices, we’ve removed the guesswork from relationships."

The audience murmured approvingly, and Ava felt her blood pressure spike.

"He’s literally spying on people to match them up," she hissed.

Ryan took a sip of champagne he’d swiped from a passing tray. "Creepy, but efficient. You gotta admit, the guy knows his target market."

Ava turned on him, glaring. "I don’t have to admit anything. This is invasive, manipulative, and gross. He’s turning people into... into spreadsheets!"

Ryan held up a hand in mock surrender. "Easy there, Matchmaker. I’m on your side, remember? Besides, your righteous fury is kind of impressive."

Ava ignored the compliment, her attention snapping back to Julian as the audience broke into enthusiastic applause.

"And now," Julian announced, spreading his arms grandly, "I invite you to explore the future firsthand. Our exhibits are open, our experts are ready, and Innovate Love’s visionaries are here to answer your questions. See for yourself why we’re the leaders in modern matchmaking."

The crowd began to disperse, heading toward interactive booths set up around the ballroom. Ava’s jaw tightened as she watched investors flock to the displays like moths to a flame.

"We have to stop him," she said, more to herself than to Ryan.

"Stop him how?" Ryan asked, sounding both intrigued and mildly amused. "Steal his evil plans like we’re in a spy movie?"

Ava hesitated, the wheels in her head turning. "Actually... that’s not a bad idea."

Ryan blinked. "I was kidding."

"I’m not," Ava said, her voice gaining momentum. "He probably has all his confidential notes backstage. If we could just get a look at what he’s planning—"

"Are you seriously suggesting we go full Mission: Impossible at a tech seminar?" Ryan interrupted, his grin widening. "Because I have to say, I like this side of you."

"Focus!" Ava snapped, though she couldn’t stop her own lips from twitching. "This isn’t a joke. He’s using people’s personal data to sell some dystopian version of love, and it’s wrong."

Ryan looked at her for a long moment, his teasing demeanor softening. "You’re serious about this, aren’t you?"

"Of course I’m serious," Ava said, her voice lowering. "This is everything I’m against. Love isn’t an algorithm. It’s messy and imperfect and human. What he’s doing—what he’s selling—it’s the opposite of everything I believe in."

Ryan’s gaze lingered on her, his expression unreadable. Then he gave a small nod. "Okay, I’m in."

"You are?" Ava asked, startled.

"Yeah," Ryan said, finishing his champagne and setting the glass on a nearby table. "Someone’s gotta make sure you don’t trip over a server while you’re breaking the law."

"I’m not—" Ava stopped herself. "Fine. Whatever. Just follow my lead."

Ryan smirked. "Oh, I can’t wait to see this."

The plan, if it could be called that, went off the rails almost immediately.

Mei, who had been lurking near the hors d’oeuvres table, decided to create a distraction by swooning dramatically in the middle of the ballroom.

"It’s too hot in here!" she declared, clutching her chest and staggering backward. "Is it the love, or am I just fainting for attention?"

A waiter dropped a tray of champagne flutes in his haste to catch her, and half the room turned to watch as Mei "collapsed" into Harold’s arms, fanning herself theatrically. "Someone fetch me a glass of water! Or a martini!"

Ryan choked on a laugh. "Your grandmother is terrifying."

"She’s committed, I’ll give her that," Ava muttered, grabbing Ryan’s arm. "Come on—now’s our chance."

They slipped through an unmarked door near the stage and found themselves in a narrow hallway lined with offices and storage rooms. Ava’s heart pounded as they crept down the corridor, her eyes scanning for anything that looked important.

"Over here," Ryan whispered, nodding toward a door labeled Private: Innovate Love Staff Only.

Inside, they found what appeared to be a small conference room. A laptop sat on the table, its screen displaying a presentation titled Innovate Love 2.0: The Algorithm Revolution.

Ava hurried to the laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "If I can just copy this onto my phone..."

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing louder with each passing second.

Ryan glanced toward the door. "Uh, Ava? Now would be a good time to—"

"Got it!" Ava whispered, yanking her phone free just as the door handle began to turn.

Ryan grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the supply closet in the corner of the room. They slipped inside, closing the door just as two security guards entered the conference room.

Inside the cramped supply closet, the air was thick with tension, and not just because of the two security guards searching the nearby room. Ava’s back was pressed against the wall, her breathing shallow as she tried to focus on the faint sounds outside rather than the proximity of Ryan, who was standing so close their shoulders brushed.

"Why do we always end up in these situations?" Ava whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ryan turned his head toward her, his smirk faint in the dim light filtering through the slats of the closet door. "Maybe it’s fate."

Ava rolled her eyes, but the usual edge in her voice was missing. "Right. Because ’fate’ would involve us crammed in a closet, trying not to get caught stealing files."

Ryan tilted his head, his grin softening. "Hey, it could be worse."

"How?" Ava shot back, unable to resist.

Ryan leaned in just a little, his voice dropping to that teasing, low tone that always got under her skin. "Well, for starters, we could’ve been stuck in here with Mei. She’d be narrating the whole thing."

Ava stifled a laugh, but it came out as more of a snort. "Fair point." Her voice trailed off as her eyes met his, the humor in her expression fading into something softer.

The quiet wrapped around them like a blanket, broken only by the faint rustling of the guards outside. Ava became acutely aware of every detail: the faint scent of his cologne, the warmth radiating from his body, the way his hand was still lightly braced on the wall beside her head.

Ryan’s gaze dropped briefly to her lips before darting back up, and Ava felt her heart skip. For once, he wasn’t teasing or smirking. There was something unguarded in his expression, a vulnerability she wasn’t used to seeing.

"You okay?" he murmured, his voice soft now, the humor gone.

"Yeah," Ava replied automatically, though her voice was barely more than a whisper. She wasn’t sure if she meant it, because her pulse was racing for reasons that had nothing to do with the potential of being caught.

Ryan hesitated, his hand dropping slightly as though he was second-guessing himself. But then, slowly, he leaned in closer, his forehead almost brushing hers. "Ava..."

Her breath caught, and for once, she didn’t have a sharp retort or a snarky comeback. She wasn’t even sure she could form words.

Ryan’s hand found her waist, tentative but steady, as though he was giving her a moment to pull away. She didn’t. Instead, she found herself leaning in, closing the tiny gap between them, her eyes fluttering shut.

The world outside the closet disappeared. There were no guards, no seminar, no Julian Ashcroft and his obnoxious algorithms. There was only Ryan—his steady presence, the warmth of his hand against her waist, and the way his lips brushed hers so softly it felt like a question.

Ava answered it, tilting her head slightly and pressing into the kiss, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. It wasn’t dramatic or rushed—it was slow and deliberate, like the kind of moment that sneaks up on you when you’re least expecting it.

The kiss deepened, and Ava felt a strange mix of relief and exhilaration, as though they’d both been waiting for this without realizing it. Ryan’s other hand came up, brushing lightly against her cheek, and she thought she might melt right there in the supply closet.

Then, footsteps sounded outside the door, jolting them both back to reality. Ryan pulled back slightly, his forehead still resting against hers as they both struggled to catch their breath.

"Remind me," Ryan whispered, his voice slightly hoarse, "why we always end up in closets."

Ava let out a shaky laugh, her cheeks flushing. "Maybe we’re bad at planning."

"Or maybe we’re just good at finding excuses," he said, his grin returning, though there was a softness in his eyes now that hadn’t been there before.

Before Ava could respond, there was a sharp knock on the door.

"Coast is clear," Mei’s voice came through in a stage whisper. "Also, you two have been in there a suspiciously long time. Did you get lost, or...?"

Ryan closed his eyes briefly, a low groan escaping him. "Of course."

Ava stepped back, adjusting her shirt and trying to suppress the flush still heating her cheeks. "We’re coming," she called, her voice slightly higher than usual.

Ryan opened the door, stepping aside to let her pass. As they emerged, Mei raised an eyebrow, her grin entirely too knowing. "You two seem... flustered."

"We’re fine," Ava said quickly, avoiding eye contact as she shoved the stolen documents into her bag.

Ryan, on the other hand, was annoyingly nonchalant, his smirk firmly back in place. "Let’s just say we had a... productive conversation."

Ava shot him a glare that only made him grin wider.

Mei clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! Now, let’s get out of here before security realizes my fainting spell wasn’t real. Oh, and Ava? Fix your hair, dear."

Ava groaned, running a hand through her hair as she marched toward the exit, Ryan chuckling softly behind her.

As chaotic and ridiculous as the whole night had been, Ava couldn’t help the small, secret smile that tugged at her lips. Because for all the mess and mayhem, something between them had shifted, and she had a feeling it wasn’t going back to the way it was.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read