CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO - The Price of Fame: Whispers and Shouts

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the trendy New York café, its rays filtering through the large windows and illuminating the cozy interior. Ava Hart sat across from Max Bennett, savoring the rare moment of tranquility in their usually hectic lives. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of buttery croissants. Ava took a sip of her latte, her eyes never leaving Max's face. "You know, I could get used to mornings like this," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. Max leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed for once. "Maybe we should make it a regular thing," he replied, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Although I'm not sure the board would approve of their CEO and CSO starting work at noon every day." Ava chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm pretty sure they'd have a collective heart attack. But it's nice to dream, isn't it?" As Max opened his mouth to respond, something caught Ava's eye. Her gaze drifted to the magazine rack ne