CHAPTER SIXTY TWO - THE FINAL PIECE

Ava nodded, a tentative smile of her own forming. "I guess that's what we're here for, right?" "Indeed it is," Max replied. He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Would you... care to join me for dinner? We could discuss tomorrow's agenda." The invitation caught Ava off guard. Part of her wanted to refuse, to maintain the professional distance she'd been so careful to cultivate. But another part, a part she didn't quite understand, was intrigued. "Sure," she heard herself say. "That would be fine." As they walked towards the dining hall together, Ava couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. Whether it was for better or worse remained to be seen. The dining hall was a large, rustic room with long wooden tables and a roaring fireplace at one end. The scent of hearty, home-cooked food filled the air, and the room buzzed with conversation as employees filled their plates from the buffet-style spread. Ava and Max found seats at a table near the fire, somewh