Escalate the Chaos

As Ava and Zach settled into a wary, wine-fueled truce, the staff mobilized like a covert ops team.

"All right, people," Adelle whispered into her spoon-radio. "We are greenlit for Operation Nudge the Idiots Closer."

Chef Marie flicked the fuse box with the precision of a demolition expert.

Inside the sunroom, the lights flickered once… twice… then died with a final dramatic sizzle.

Ava froze mid-sip.

Zach blinked at his glass like it had personally owed him an explanation.

"Did you pay the electric bill?" Ava asked suspiciously.

Zach gave her a look. "I live here. I don't even know where the bills are."

Outside, Charles slipped a crackly old Bluetooth speaker under the door and hit play.

Cue: Soft romantic jazz.

Inside, Ava visibly recoiled. "Oh my God," she whispered, horror dawning. "They're trying to set the mood."