The morning of the charity luncheon arrived with unseasonably warm weather for October. Ava stood before her bedroom mirror, adjusting the elegant white chiffon dress she'd chosen for the occasion. The outfit matched her hair perfectly, it was elegant enough for the city's social elite, but not so flashy as to appear pompous at a charity event.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Dean: *Good luck today. Remember what I said about being yourself.*

She frowned slightly at the ...