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.
