Ava adjusted her blazer for the third time, glancing around the grand ballroom with a mix of pride and mounting anxiety. The venue sparkled under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers, their reflections dancing across the polished marble floor. Round tables draped in pristine white linen were arranged with precision, adorned with floral centerpieces that featured blush roses and eucalyptus sprigs. Everything was perfect a testament to Ava's meticulous planning.
Well, almost everything.
"Remind me again why I agreed to this," Ava muttered, her heels clicking against the floor as she paced near the entrance.
"You didn't agree," Ryan said from behind her, leaning casually against a column. "Mei volunteered you. And I, being the generous soul that I am, offered to help."
Ava turned to glare at him. Ryan was dressed impeccably, as usual, his tailored suit fitting him like a glove. His tie a deep burgundy added just the right amount of flair, as if he'd stepped off the cover of a magazine. The smirk on his face, however, was less polished and more infuriating.
"Generous? You're enjoying this way too much," Ava snapped.
Ryan shrugged. "I'm just here for the free champagne and to see you squirm."
Before Ava could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps made her stiffen. She turned to see Madam Elise, one of Mei's most prominent and notoriously difficult clients, sweeping into the room. Dressed in an emerald-green gown and dripping in diamonds, Madam Elise carried herself with the confidence of a queen inspecting her court.
"Ah, Ava!" she said, her sharp eyes scanning the room before settling on Ava with an approving nod. "Everything looks wonderful, as expected."
"Thank you, Madam Elise," Ava said, forcing a bright smile. "I'm glad you're pleased."
Madam Elise's gaze shifted to Ryan, her brows lifting in surprise. "And who is this handsome gentleman?"
Before Ava could introduce him or make up an excuse Ryan stepped forward, offering a dazzling smile and extending his hand. "Ryan Kim. I'm Ava's fiancé."
Ava froze, her heart skipping a beat. "Excuse me?!"
"Oh, how wonderful!" Madam Elise exclaimed, clasping Ryan's hand warmly. "I had no idea! Congratulations, you two."
Ava shot Ryan a look that could have melted steel. He merely winked at her before turning back to Madam Elise. "We wanted to keep it low-key, but tonight felt like the perfect occasion to celebrate."
Madam Elise beamed. "Ava, darling, you've outdone yourself. He's charming and handsome just the kind of match I'd expect from Mei's granddaughter."
Ava opened her mouth to protest, but Madam Elise had already moved on, leaving the "engaged" couple standing in awkward silence.
"What the hell was that?" Ava hissed, rounding on Ryan.
Ryan shrugged, clearly unbothered. "She was already suspicious of you after the Arthur and Ms. Liang debacle. This gives you credibility."
"Credibility?!" Ava's voice rose an octave. "You just lied to one of Mei's most important clients!"
"Relax," Ryan said, his tone maddeningly calm. "It's harmless. Besides, you're always telling people to 'trust the process.' Consider this... improvisation."
Ava groaned, pressing her fingers to her temples. "This is not how matchmaking works."
"No," Ryan said, his smirk widening. "It's how we work. Admit it you couldn't have handled her without me."
Ava opened her mouth to argue, but the words stuck. As much as she hated to admit it, Madam Elise did seem unusually satisfied. But that didn't mean Ava was letting Ryan off the hook.
"This isn't over," she muttered.
---
As the evening progressed, the "fake engagement" took on a life of its own. Word spread quickly, and before Ava knew it, she and Ryan were fielding congratulations from nearly every guest. Ava plastered on a smile, her cheeks aching from the effort, while Ryan seemed to revel in the attention.
"You two are such a perfect couple," gushed Sarah, the yoga instructor. "I always knew there was chemistry between you."
"Chemistry?" Ava asked, her voice a touch too sharp.
"Oh, absolutely," Sarah said, nodding enthusiastically. "The way you argue it's so passionate."
Ava resisted the urge to scream. Instead, she glanced at Ryan, who was leaning casually against the bar, chatting with Arthur. He caught her eye and raised his glass in a mock toast, the glint in his eyes telling her he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
---
Later that evening, Ava found herself cornered by Madam Elise once again.
"Ava, dear," the older woman said, taking her arm. "Have you set a date for the wedding yet?"
Ava's mind went blank. "The... wedding?"
"Yes, of course," Madam Elise said, her tone impatient. "A couple as well-matched as you and Ryan shouldn't wait too long. Besides, Mei will want to oversee the arrangements."
Ava scrambled for a response, but Ryan appeared at her side, saving her from certain doom.
"We're still discussing the details," he said smoothly, sliding an arm around Ava's waist. "But rest assured, it'll be an event to remember."
Ava stiffened at his touch, her brain short-circuiting as Ryan flashed Madam Elise another of his signature smiles.
"Wonderful," Madam Elise said, completely satisfied. "I'll be looking forward to the invitation."
As she walked away, Ava turned to Ryan, her cheeks burning. "Would you stop doing that?"
"Doing what?" Ryan asked innocently.
"This!" Ava gestured wildly between them. "The arm thing. The smiling thing. The... engagement thing."
Ryan chuckled, his hand dropping to his side. "Relax, Matchmaker. You're overthinking it."
Ava glared at him, her frustration boiling over. "You don't take anything seriously, do you?"
Ryan's smile faltered, just for a moment. "You think I'm not serious?"
"You're turning my career into a joke," Ava said, her voice trembling. "This isn't a game for me, Ryan. It's my life."
For the first time all night, Ryan's teasing demeanor softened. He stepped closer, his voice quieter. "I'm not trying to make a joke out of you, Ava. I'm just... trying to help."
Ava blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his tone. But before she could respond, a voice interrupted them.
"Time for the first dance!" a guest called out, and the crowd began to cheer.
"Oh, no," Ava said, backing away. "Not happening."
"Oh, yes," Ryan said, grabbing her hand before she could escape. "You're engaged, remember?"
Ava had no choice but to follow as Ryan led her to the dance floor. The music swelled, a soft waltz filling the room, and Ava found herself in Ryan's arms, her heart pounding for reasons she didn't want to examine.
"You're enjoying this way too much," she muttered.
Ryan's grin returned, but his voice was gentle. "Maybe. But you're not half bad at it."
Ava rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. Despite everything, she had to admit this fake engagement wasn't the worst idea.