The whole event was a charade. Ava too was acting well on her part. The business associates of her husband's were quite jealous of their marriage, unaware of the sham emotions they were showing off. Ava by then got used to that and managed to fool everyone to think that she was the happiest person on earth.

Ava was talking with one of her oldest acquaintances then Mrs.Bank, who was managing the charity gala,came closer to her and whispered in her ear,

"Blair is looking for you at your right side straight", Ava looked surprised and stared at Mrs.Bank confusingly.

Ava then looked to her right and saw Blair was waving her hands at her. Blair was hosting the charity gala, and there she was signalling Ava to go by her side. Since there wasn't much of choice, so she nodded her head and excused herself from the ladies, and she went straight towards her right.

In the mid way she bumped into someone, as she was looking down for hiding her pained expressions which were caused by her frequent movements.

"Ahh... sorry I wasn't- ", Ava rose up her head to apologise but her talking stopped as she was looking at the most handsome man.

Wait what? Handsome man? Why it felt like she was having deja vu!

"It's no problem", the handsome man before her started to talk but couldn't continue as Blair suddenly came just beside Ava and looking at the man, she said,

"Sorry Liam, But I have to take her for now"

Then she took Ava by the arm and almost dragged her towards the corner. Ava was still trying to process what just happened and why the man looked oddly familiar, heck! His name too. But her thoughts couldn't continue as Blair snapped her attention back to reality.

"Ava, were you listening what I just said?"

Sheepishly smiling at Blair, Ava shook her head.

"Arghh Ava,  Will you please volunteer as a candidate for the dancing partner that was planned to be auctioned?"

"What?", Ava burst instantly.

"It's just a dance, Ava. One of the candidates didn't show up and I have to fill the spot. So please?", Blair sounded so desperate at that moment.

Ava thought for a several minutes, honestly she didn't want to participate but she couldn't say no to her directly, so instead she said,

"Ask my husband first. He doesn't like to see me with strangers"

Blair just replied her with a frown but she still hadn't given up. Therefore, she managed to locate Marcus's position in the damn crowd and then quickly went there with Ava.

Marcus was half drunk when he felt someone tapped his shoulder. He looked back and saw Blair, he instantly greeted her with placing the light smooch. Then Blair started explaining the situation and waiting for his reply.

Marcus looked at Ava who was desperately eyeing him to refuse, so suddenly he wanted to play with fire! As a result Ava didn't have other choice but to participate.

"Don't worry Ava, I will bid the highest on you",Saying that he pecked her lips.

"Umm Marcus, you cannot bid on your wife. It's against the rules."

Hearing the sudden change of plans, he was about to back out of his words, but Blair stopped him, "No, you already agreed" then she took Ava again by the arm and dragged her away from her husband.

*******

Ava was at loss for words. She didn't know what reaction she should give. After the auction, it was finally the time to dance with her highest bidder. And that shocked her mostly. The handsome stranger from earlier was standing in front of her.

Forwarding his hands towards Ava, he said, "Shall we?"

They both then stood on the dance floor, hands in hands starting with music. Ava couldn't help but staring at him. His touch was gentle and something about him was still bothering her.

"Have we met before?"

The man was at first looked at her with confusion. After observing her for a moment, he flashed a charming smile at her, making Ava hooked at him.

"Yes, we have. Don't you remember?"

That was even more frustrating for Ava's part, since the stranger knew exactly how and where they had met before. And there she was, still hadn't figured out yet.

"When? Where? No wonder you looked oddly familiar to me!"

"We had met exactly how we met today! Like bumping into me then started apologising for not watching your steps"

Ava kept staring at him, no words came out of her mouth.

"You do stare a lot, you know that?" Chucking and shaking his head slightly he asked, "Are you done checking me out?"

Then it clicked in her mind. Damn! It was that handsome stranger, she met at Jack's 60th birthday party.

"Yes yes. Exactly. You are that handsome stranger!", Ava blurted out and instantly she regretted calling him by that name.

The man gave him a amused smile.

"Handsome stranger huh?!"

Ava blushed at his sudden retort. She bit her tongue, restraining herself from saying anything at all.

"I do have a name you know. Call me Liam"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Not Edited)