#Chapter 186: Good Chemistry

Ava Later that night, Chris and I arrived in the elegant dining room—this one larger than the other, with a crackling fireplace situated at the far end and a gleaming mahogany bar against the wall. Chris pulled my chair out for me and I took my seat across from Clara, who was sitting beside Bernard. “Thank you for having us,” I said as Chris sat beside me. Bernard nodded stiffly, his voice gruff as he responded, “Of course.” It was clear that his mind was still elsewhere, although he looked a lot more open than he did that morning. Clara offered a warm smile. “We’re so glad you could join us for dinner tonight. Shall we begin with some appetizers?” As she passed around a platter of delicious-looking hors d’oeuvres, I reached into my bag and pulled out two bottles of wine, which I had brought from home. I intended to leave them as a parting gift, but I had decided to share them tonight—admittedly in the hopes that they would further sway Bernard’s decision.