Ava's mind was still reeling from the recording. The sound of her own voice, filled with drunken adoration for Liam, echoed in her ears. She couldn't believe she had been so open, so vulnerable. And now, Liam was calling, wanting to talk about it.But as she listened to his calm, professional tone, her confusion grew. He didn't mention the confession, not a single word about her declaration of love. Instead, he launched into a detailed account of his meeting with Mr. Henderson."He was very impressed with your ideas, Ava," Liam explained, his voice filled with admiration. "He sees a lot of potential in you, in your innovative approach to game design."Ava's heart skipped a beat. Mr. Henderson, one of the most influential investors in the industry, was interested in her ideas? It was a dream come true."He's willing to invest in your concepts," Liam continued, "to provide you with the resources to develop your own projects. You'd have your own team, your own office..."Ava's head spun. This was incredible. But it also felt... strange. Why wasn't Liam talking about the elephant in the room? Why was he acting as if her confession had never happened?"Does this mean... I wouldn't be working for Aesher Solutions anymore?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Liam chuckled. "Not exactly. Aesher Solutions would retain a share in your ventures, and you'd have the opportunity to collaborate with us on future projects. But essentially, you'd be running your own company, with Mr. Henderson as your primary investor."Ava's mind reeled. This was a life-changing opportunity, a chance to achieve her dreams on a scale she had never imagined. But a nagging doubt lingered in the back of her mind. Was Liam pushing her away? Was this his way of gently letting her down after her drunken confession?"Liam," she began, her voice trembling, "about last night...""Don't worry about last night, Ava," Liam interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. "We both had a bit too much to drink. Let's just focus on this incredible opportunity in front of you."Ava's heart sank. He was dismissing her confession, brushing it aside as if it were nothing more than drunken rambling. Disappointment and confusion warred within her.She thanked Liam for the news and hung up the phone, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. On one hand, she was thrilled about the prospect of leading her own company, of bringing her creative visions to life. But on the other hand, she couldn't shake the feeling that Liam was pushing her away, that her confession had changed everything between them.With a heavy heart, Ava got ready for work. As she dressed, she couldn't help but glance at the recording on Sarah's phone. The memory of her uninhibited declaration of love brought a mix of embarrassment and longing. She wished she could take it all back, erase the memory from Liam's mind.But deep down, a flicker of hope remained. Perhaps Liam needed time to process her confession, to confront his own feelings. Perhaps this business proposition wasn't a rejection, but a way of giving them both space to figure things out.As Ava headed to the office, her mind raced with questions and uncertainties. She knew one thing for sure: her relationship with Liam had just taken a complicated turn, and the future was more uncertain than ever.