Chapter 134

Chris

I stood in front of the window in my office; it was dark enough outside by now to see my reflection staring back at me in the glass. I still hadn’t rested all day, and I had no plans to sleep anytime soon.

With a sigh, I adjusted a stray lock of hair that kept falling down into my forehead. When it fell again, I gave up and huffed, turning to grab my jacket off the back of my chair. Ava wouldn’t care if my hair wasn’t perfect, I figured. Although…

Just as I was about to turn and give myself one last once-over just for good measure, there was a sudden knock on my office door. I furrowed my brow, wondering who might be calling at this hour, but called out, “Come in.”

A moment later, the door creaked open to reveal none other than Elder Elise.

“Oh. Elder Elise,” I said, bowing my head respectfully as she swept into the room in a flurry of robes. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Elise stopped in the center of my office, her hands lost in the long sleeves of her robe. “I wanted to ask if you’ve compiled your list of the top three bachelorettes from last night,” she said. “We should have made the announcement today, but it’s fine. We’ll do it tomorrow.”

I frowned. Had I not made it clear last night that I wasn’t interested?

“Uh, no,” I replied as I shrugged my jacket on. “I haven’t. And I was just about to leave.”

Elise pressed her lips into a flat line and eyed me suspiciously. “Where are you headed at this hour?”

I paused just as I was rounding the corner of my desk. “Are my whereabouts after hours at all pertinent to the matter of the bachelorettes?”

“Yes,” Elise replied quickly. “They are. One might even assume that you are visiting another woman at an hour like this.”

For a moment, I just stared at her incredulously. The nerve! But, truthfully, she was right; I was going to see Ava. Things seemed to be looking up with her, and I had every intention of resuming our relationship—secretly or not secretly.

“We’ll speak in the morning,” was all I said, brushing past Elise.

Suddenly, however, Elise stopped me with an outstretched arm. Her knotted old hand poked out from beneath the long sleeve of her robe, her fingers twitching with annoyance. When I looked over at her, her eyes were stern.

“I can make this easier for you,” she said, slowly withdrawing her hand. “Lady Amelia is a perfect match for you. You two seemed to hit it off last night; in fact, I can set up a private date for you.”

“Amelia?” I pursed my lips as I thought back on the beautiful redhead from last night. Sure, she was attractive, smart, and kind; but she wasn’t Ava. “I have no interest in Amelia.”

Elise huffed in response. “Who, then?” she ground out. “First you say no to the darling Lily, who was kind enough to attend the ball last night anyway despite your first rejection. And now Amelia, who was a perfect match for you. Is there another bachelorette on your mind?”

“No.”

“No?” Elise followed me to the door, stepping in the way again. I grit my teeth as I carefully avoided her gaze. She was getting on my nerves—all of the Elders were. Even Degas, despite his unfortunate hospital visit.

“Tell me, Chris,” Elise continued. “Who is the subject of your affection? There must be someone.”

Fine, I thought to myself, clenching my hands into fists at my sides. If Elise wanted the truth, then she would have it. I was tired of hiding, of dancing around like this, of not getting to be with the woman I had loved since I was a child, all thanks to some antiquated rules.

“It’s Ava,” I replied coolly. When Elise’s eyes widened into saucers, I continued, “I love Ava. You can send all of the bachelorettes away, because I don’t plan on choosing any of them and I never did from the start. I was lying when I said that that kiss was only for the cameras, and I’m sorry for that. But the truth is, I only want her.”

Elise’s mouth hung open, but only for a moment. Just as I was trying to sidestep around her, she stepped in my way yet again.

“Ava,” she growled, “is not who you think she is.”

“Is that so?” I paused, folding my arms across my chest.

Elise nodded. Pursing her lips, she motioned to one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. With a heavy, exasperated sigh, I turned and sat—if only out of politeness toward the Elder. But I had no interest in staying, or listening to whatever she had to say.

“Go on,” I said, leaning my elbows on my knees. “Grace me with your wisdom, Elder.”

The Elder narrowed her eyes at my jibe, but didn’t comment on it. Shutting the door behind herself, she scurried over to the chair beside me and took a seat. This close, I could see the intensity mixed with weariness in her eyes.

“Chris, there’s something I must tell you,” she said gently, leaning closer. “I didn’t want to say anything, because I knew that you had… feelings for Ava and that it might hurt you to hear this. But I think it’s time.”

I cocked an eyebrow, silently urging her to continue and get this over with so I could get the hell out of here.

She paused for a moment, sighed, and shook her head. “Ava is… not the sweet woman you think,” she said quietly. “In fact, just last night, she approached me to complain about you—to tell me that you were pursuing her.”

“Is that so?” I asked disbelievingly, my eyebrow raising even further.

Elise nodded, and her gaze hardened into a look of truth that gave me pause; she didn’t appear to be lying. In fact, she seemed just as utterly astounded as I was about to be.

“She told me that she finds your constant pursual of her to be quite pathetic,” she finally said after a beat of silence. “And that she plans on rejecting you.”

Pathetic.

That word hit me like a freight train. Pathetic. No; Ava couldn’t possibly think that. Elise had to be lying… But once again, when I met the Elder’s stern gaze, I just couldn’t find a hint of anything except for pure sincerity there. She grimaced slightly as though the words pained her as well, and shot me an apologetic look.

Instantly, I felt my shoulders slump. Pathetic… Was that what she was thinking today, when I asked her if we could talk tonight? That I was pathetic? That she needed to reject me yet again?

Before I could formulate a response, Elise was reaching out to give my hand a gentle squeeze between her cool, steady fingers.

“I’m terribly sorry, Chris,” she said quietly. “I understand how it feels, and that you may want to believe I’m lying; but I’m not. You and Ava may have had your fun, but she has no interest in continuing a relationship with you. I fear you’re just heading toward more heartbreak by going to her tonight.”

She paused then, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.

“Lady Amelia… Well… Does she deserve heartbreak, too?” she murmured.