### Chapter 79 Elliot's voice was low and firm as he leaned back in his chair, his expression inscrutable. “You have the power to reject,” he stated, a hint of challenge laced within his words. “Just eat your food!” Avery shot back, her irritation simmering just beneath the surface. “Just because I’m considering working with Charlie Tierney doesn’t mean I’m going to fall for him. Do you really think I’m that gullible?” Elliot went silent, the weight of their exchange hanging heavily in the air. Avery, after enduring the tense dinner, retreated to the sanctuary of her room. She sat down at her desk, powering up her laptop, and opened Charlie’s email, her heart pounding with a mixture of curiosity and dread. As she skimmed through the words, a wave of unease washed over her. Though she lacked the expertise to navigate corporate waters, Charlie’s proposal was crystal clear. If they followed his suggested path, Tate Industries could rise from the ashes. The thought was tantalizing—but the undeniable truth remained: Charlie was Chelsea Tierney's brother, and that connection made her hesitate. With a defeated sigh, she shut her laptop and flopped onto her bed, the quietness of the room only amplifying her thoughts. Just then, a notification pinged on her phone, pulling her from her spiraling mind—Tammy's text flashed across the screen. [I slept with Jun Hertz! Ugh! I think I’m in love with him!] Avery couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected turn in her friend’s life. Despite his quirks, Jun wasn’t half bad. Avery: (Work things out with him if you’re in love. This is your fate!) Tammy's response came quickly, filled with an excited buzz. [He said he wants me to meet someone important tomorrow but won’t tell me who it is. I’m so nervous!] Avery: (Maybe he wants to surprise you.) Tammy: (A surprise is fine, but I don’t need a fright. Let’s talk about your husband! Do you sleep in the same room?) Heat flooded Avery’s cheeks as she hesitated, then typed a response. [I’m in the guest bedroom. There’s nothing much to talk about him. Stop asking.] Tammy’s next message was almost cheeky. [Is he good looking?] Initially, Avery wanted to brush it off, but then she couldn’t banish the image of Elliot's striking features from her mind. She typed back before she could second-guess herself. [Yes.] Tammy: [Damn, Avery! You sure are lucky! How old is he?] Avery: [He’s up there. He’s pretty much an old man to us.] Tammy replied with a teasing tone. [Older men have their advantages. They’re gentle, thoughtful, and know how to treat you well.] Avery countered, [I think you’ve been watching too many romantic dramas.] Tammy insisted, [Didn’t you say he was good looking? That’s all you need! A handsome face can make up for all a man’s shortcomings!] The next morning at breakfast, as the sun bathed the room in gentle light, Avery found herself studying Elliot, her gaze lingering longer than usual. His thick brows, smoldering eyes, chiseled nose, and those oh-so-seductive lips ignited something within her. She recalled Tammy’s words from the night before and couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps a handsome face could indeed overshadow a man’s flaws. Elliot, seemingly unaffected by her scrutiny, broke the silence with a question that sent her heart racing. “Do you have time tonight?” The implication hung tantalizingly in the air. Was he asking her out? Avery felt a rush of warmth flood her cheeks. “I think so,” she managed, lowering her gaze and taking a distracted bite of toast. “I’ll get the driver to pick you up in the afternoon,” he informed her. “Where are we going?” she asked, curiosity piqued. “You’ll find out when we get there.” His tone held a promise of excitement, a welcome change from the time he had whisked her away to a recital without even a hint of where they were headed. At 5 p.m. that evening, Jun brought Tammy to an upscale restaurant, a place awash with opulence and the clinking of fine china. “Do you remember that friend I mentioned before?” he asked, his fingers entwined with hers, savoring every moment they spent together. “The one who suddenly got a wife?” Tammy’s brow furrowed as she sifted through her memories, the details slowly clicking into place. “Do you mean the one who had a shotgun marriage? The one who made you help out his wife when she got in trouble and got mad when she actually came out to meet you?” With the night opening before them like a blossoming flower, Avery and Tammy hovered on the threshold of new beginnings and uncharted feelings, the air rife with anticipation. The unexpected twists of fate awaited, and nothing would be the same again.