Chapter 365 The Struggle of Enduring Awkwardness
Elinor found herself musing, 'What is the issue with my name being Elinor? Has something transpired that I should be aware of?'
Ava, extending her hand with a warm smile, introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Ava. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Elinor, with a hint of hesitation, reciprocated the gesture, her hand meeting Ava's in a polite shake. "Hello, Ms. Anderson," she responded, her voice steady.
Their exchange was cordial, a veneer of politeness masking the undercurrent of uncertainty.
Victoria, observing the scene, found herself unable to endure the spectacle any longer. She wondered, 'How did the situation become so convoluted? William seems to be stirring up more chaos than I am.'
"Alright, alright, now that everyone has been introduced, let's proceed to the private room. I'm famished, has anyone ordered yet?" Victoria interjected, hoping to diffuse the tension.
Ava responded, "We've placed our order, but we weren't certain of your arrival time, so the food hasn't been served yet."
"Then I'll inform the waiter to serve the food," Victoria declared, making a beeline for the waiter as if seeking refuge. She exchanged a few words with him before he nodded and left.
Victoria, avoiding any potential eye contact with William, hastily retreated into the private room. The remaining trio shared a glance, their conversation abruptly halting, leaving them in an uncomfortable silence.
Ava, sensing the unfamiliarity between Elinor and William, attributed it to William's apparent nervousness and Elinor's lack of enthusiasm. Their combined presence seemed to breed an awkward atmosphere.
She attempted to break the silence, her smile warm, "Now that everyone is here, let's head inside. We shouldn't just stand here."
"Okay, let's go," William agreed, positioning himself next to Ava and inadvertently pushing Elinor to the back.
As they began to move, Ava felt a sense of unease. She paused, turning to William who was now beside her, and whispered, "You should walk with her."
William's gaze flickered to Elinor, his discomfort evident. Elinor, too, felt a wave of unease wash over her.
'Why must I endure this awkwardness without reason?' Elinor questioned internally. Ava, assuming William's nervousness was the cause of the tension, took the initiative to walk alongside Elinor, not wanting her to feel excluded.
"Will is truly clueless, he has no idea how to pursue a woman," Ava thought, shaking her head.
Elinor, observing the duo ahead of her, was left perplexed. However, she had no choice but to follow them into the compartment.
The atmosphere was undeniably awkward, especially for Elinor. She was struggling to comprehend the situation. It seemed as though William harbored feelings for Ava. His gaze towards Ava was telling. Yet, Ava didn't appear to reciprocate his affections. Her kindness towards him was devoid of any romantic undertones, as if she extended the same courtesy to everyone.
"So, what exactly is their relationship?" Elinor voiced her confusion.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, none of which provided any clarity.
"Ms. Fairfax, Will often speaks highly of you. Now that I've met you, I can see that his praises were well-founded," Ava complimented Elinor, hoping to ease the tension. If Will wasn't making an effort, she would step in to help him.
Elinor was at a loss for words. She barely knew William.
Victoria, sensing Elinor's discomfort, gently tugged at her sleeve, "Elinor, didn't you mention that you've heard William speak of Ava? You were quite curious about her. Now that you've met her, what are your thoughts?"
Elinor said, "She's nice, really nice."
"So, there shouldn't be any issues, right?" Victoria probed, hoping to steer the conversation in a more comfortable direction.
This conversation was beyond Elinor's current comprehension. Ava, noticing Elinor's unease, concluded that Elinor was also an introverted individual.
"Ms. Fairfax, is there anything specific you would like to eat?" Ava asked, hoping to shift the focus, "We can order a few more dishes."
"I'm fine with anything," Elinor said with a smile, "I'm not a picky eater, I love food."
