**Chapter 47** Elliot sat in the plush seat, feeling as though he were the punchline of a cosmic joke. Why was Avery so intent on hiding from her friends? Was it truly that mortifying for her to be seen next to him? As the recital commenced, the atmosphere shifted, and Avery gradually found her composure. Thank the stars Tammy hadn’t spotted her, she thought, her mind racing with curiosity about her friend’s whereabouts. The urge to glance around the auditorium tugged at her, but she fought against it, knowing better than to act on impulse. Meanwhile, Tammy, seated in the fifth row with another friend, was vocalizing her surprise at the spectacle before her. “Who are those three people hogging the entire first row? Such a waste of seats!” she complained, her eyes narrowing at the nearly vacant row. “They’re probably loaded! We’re in the fifth row, and these tickets cost over a hundred and fifty bucks. I bet those front-row seats are a fortune! It’s clear they’ve reserved the whole row. Look at that guy in the middle—definitely oozing wealth. The lady beside him? Either a daughter or a mistress, if you ask me. And that brawny guy on the other side? Must be his bodyguard.” Tammy nodded, fully agreeing with her friend’s expertly crafted analysis. “Wait a second,” she squinted, leaning closer. “That woman on the left—doesn’t she bear a striking resemblance to my best friend?” Tammy couldn’t help but marvel at the shape of the back of Avery’s head, a familiar silhouette. “What kind of best friend would I be otherwise? Of course, I’d recognize my bestie’s hair!” The longer she stared, the more convinced she became that it was indeed Avery. With a nudge of mischief, she fished her phone from her bag and snapped a sneaky photo. “You can’t take pictures in here!” her friend hissed, glancing around nervously. “You might as well stroll up to the front and check it out yourself!” “Not a chance! The recital’s about to start,” Tammy replied, sending the photo to Avery before shoving her phone back into her pocket. In the seat, Avery felt her phone buzz furiously in her pocket. She pulled it out, only to find Tammy’s text flashing before her eyes. *Tammy: Avery, doesn’t this woman look a lot like you?* Avery’s heart leaped into her throat. A chill of panic washed over her, and she instinctively sank deeper into her seat, hoping to avoid notice. Elliot, sensing her discomfort, turned slightly, peering back at her with a bemused expression. “Damn, he’s hot!” Tammy exclaimed, disbelief coloring her voice as she beheld Elliot’s striking features. “Holy sh*t! Is that Elliot Foster?” her friend gasped, eyes widened in recognition. “Yeah! Are you kidding me? I’m a business major. Of course, I’d know him. That’s definitely Elliot Foster!” Tammy confirmed, her voice hushed yet fervent. A sigh escaped her lips as she processed the implications, “If that’s the case, then that woman next to him can’t be my Avery. Why on earth would she be right beside him?” Her fingers, still buzzing with adrenaline, typed another hurried text. *Tammy: Sigh, it can’t be you because that man next to her is Elliot Foster! Do you have any idea who he is? He’s super-rich and super hot! I nearly stopped breathing when he looked our way!* Avery’s heart raced. Super hot? Why couldn’t she see it? Avery’s phone vibrated again barely moments later. *Tammy: My friend wants to get a photo with him later. Should I ask for one, too? I wonder if he’d be cool with that.* The words burned like fire in her palm. “Elliot…” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, “I suddenly feel really hungry… Let’s go grab a bite!” The prospect of being discovered sent a wave of terror coursing through her veins. She had to leave—now. Before Elliot could respond, she grasped his arm with one hand and hastily scooped up her coat with the other, practically dragging him out of the hall. In a flurry, Avery ended their recital experience in less than ten minutes flat. This marked the first occasion Elliot Foster had ever taken a woman to such an event. He had never shown much interest in these sorts of gatherings, but for Avery, he had managed to push past his reservations, all in the pursuit of making her happy. With his stature and status, it was inevitable that he would capture the attention of all eyes. Yet here was Avery, depriving herself of a chance to revel in his company, too embarrassed by the mere thought of being seen alongside him. It was a stinging blow to his pride. Once they exited the concert hall, Elliot shook her grip from his arm, striding away from her in simmering silence, not even casting a glance back. Watching his tall, departing figure, Avery was hit by a sudden surge of realization. Had he intended their time at the recital to be their first date? But wasn’t it the norm for both parties to agree to such a date? Could it be that he wished to surprise her? A whirl of confusion enveloped her heart as she stood there, contemplating the implications of his invitation, wondering where it had all gone wrong.