Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 85: Julian’s Algorithm Unleashed

Chapter 85: Julian’s Algorithm Unleashed

The morning sun streamed through the grand windows of the L’Amour Élite headquarters, casting a golden glow over the pristine marble floors. The venue, an opulent Parisian ballroom repurposed for matchmaking, was buzzing with excited chatter. The air smelled of expensive cologne, fresh roses, and the rich aroma of pastries being served at the morning briefing.

Ava, sipping on her second cup of espresso, was doing her best to suppress an eye-roll as Margaux Duval, the ever-glamorous host, took center stage. The woman exuded effortless grace, dressed in an ivory silk ensemble that probably cost more than Ava’s entire wardrobe combined.

Ryan, sitting beside Ava, leaned over with a smirk. "Bet you a box of macarons that Julian does something dramatic within the next five minutes."

Ava smirked but kept her eyes on Margaux. "I’m not taking that bet. We both know Julian thrives on theatrics."

As if on cue, the doors at the far end of the ballroom swung open, and Julian Ashcroft strode in like he was walking onto a movie set. His dark suit was perfectly tailored, his blond hair styled with calculated precision. And, of course, Ethan Chase trailed behind him, flashing his usual cocky grin.

Julian cleared his throat, commanding attention. "Ladies and gentlemen," he announced smoothly, "allow me to introduce the future of matchmaking."

Ryan groaned. "Here we go."

Ava crossed her arms. "This should be good."

Julian gestured toward the sleek screen behind him, where a logo for Perfection Pair—his new matchmaking algorithm—flashed onto the screen. The crowd murmured in intrigue.

"Gone are the days of guesswork," Julian continued. "Gone are the moments of hesitation and uncertainty. Perfection Pair is the most advanced matchmaking system ever created, powered by AI, data analytics, and a patented predictive formula that guarantees the most successful romantic connections in history."

Ethan stepped forward, flashing a grin. "That’s right, folks. No more awkward first dates. No more failed relationships. We have scientifically perfected love."

Ava let out a disbelieving laugh under her breath. Scientifically perfected love? Oh, this was rich.

Ryan glanced at her. "How long before you say something?"

Ava took another sip of her coffee. "Three... two..."

Margaux, intrigued but skeptical, spoke up. "A bold claim, Mr. Ashcroft. But how exactly does this system work?"

Julian smiled like he had been waiting for that question. "Simple. Every participant in this competition will have their data processed through Perfection Pair. The system will generate ’perfect matches’ using its groundbreaking compatibility formula. The competitors will then facilitate these matches."

A hush fell over the room as realization set in.

"You mean we have to follow your algorithm?" Ava asked, voice laced with disbelief.

"Precisely," Julian said smoothly. "You and your... colleagues will be expected to use Perfection Pair as part of today’s challenge."

Ryan scoffed. "So you want us to play matchmaker for people using your glorified dating app?"

Julian didn’t even flinch at the insult. "I want you to witness firsthand what happens when science eliminates error."

Ava’s fingers clenched around her coffee cup. Eliminates error? Love wasn’t about being error-free—it was about messiness, unpredictability, and the human element that no algorithm could replicate.

Julian turned to Margaux. "Shall we begin?"

Margaux, to her credit, kept her expression unreadable. "Let’s see how it works."

The competition was officially on.

---

The tension inside the elegant conference hall was palpable. L’Amour Élite had transformed a grand Parisian ballroom into a high-tech matchmaking showcase, complete with sleek screens, glowing data points, and sophisticated graphics displaying the success rates of various matchmaking techniques.

At the center of it all stood Julian Ashcroft, basking in the glow of his latest creation—Perfection Pair, his matchmaking algorithm that promised scientifically flawless love.

Ava stood toward the back, arms crossed, watching as Julian commanded the stage. Beside her, Ryan sipped his coffee, eyes narrowed at the smug billionaire as he delivered his presentation.

"This is going to be insufferable," Ryan murmured.

Ava exhaled through her nose. "Oh, absolutely."

Julian, dressed immaculately in a tailored suit, clicked through his presentation slides, his voice dripping with confidence.

"For years, matchmaking has been clouded by human error—flawed instincts, irrational emotions, and unpredictable behavior." He paused for effect, scanning the room. "But with Perfection Pair, we remove the guesswork. We use advanced behavioral data, neurochemical compatibility metrics, and cutting-edge AI simulations to create statistically superior matches."

A few murmurs of approval rippled through the audience. Margaux Duval, seated near the front, observed with an impassive expression, revealing nothing of her thoughts.

Julian continued. "With just a simple input of preferences and personality scans, our algorithm can predict long-term compatibility with a 98.7% success rate. No awkward dates. No uncertainty. Just perfection."

Ava scoffed under her breath. "Sounds soulless."

Ryan smirked. "Surprised he didn’t add a ’money-back guarantee.’"

Ethan, standing off to the side like Julian’s smug hype man, clapped dramatically. "Brilliant. Simply brilliant."

Julian tilted his chin up slightly, letting the praise settle over him. "Perfection Pair isn’t just the future of matchmaking. It is matchmaking. And soon, the outdated methods of intuition-based pairing will become obsolete."

Ava clenched her jaw. Outdated?

Ryan noticed her tense posture and nudged her lightly. "Easy, Matchmaker. Don’t let him get under your skin."

Ava exhaled slowly, forcing a smile. "I just love when a tech bro who’s never successfully dated someone thinks he’s cracked the secret to love."

Ryan snorted into his coffee.

Julian, oblivious to their hushed conversation, stepped back, gesturing toward a screen where his algorithm’s latest matches were displayed. "In fact, we have our first public test today."

A screen behind him flickered to life, revealing several elegant profiles of couples matched by his AI system. "These pairs," Julian continued, "have never met before today. Yet based on extensive data analysis, they are statistically the most compatible matches in the entire competition."

The audience leaned forward in intrigue.

Ava’s stomach twisted. This is dangerous.

She knew matchmaking wasn’t just about numbers. You couldn’t quantify chemistry, timing, or the spark that made love feel electric. But Julian, with his carefully curated charts and intimidating confidence, made it look effortless.

Beside her, Ryan studied her reaction. "You don’t trust it."

Ava shook her head. "No. And neither should they."

---

After the briefing, Ava and Ryan walked through the courtyard of the L’Amour Élite headquarters, where the participants were reviewing their assigned matches. The crisp Parisian air was a welcome contrast to the suffocating tension inside.

Ava skimmed her list, frustration evident in her furrowed brows. Julian’s so-called perfect matches felt... off. The data paired a woman who wrote poetry about nature with a man whose entire personality revolved around stock investments. A free-spirited traveler was matched with someone who hadn’t left their hometown in years.

Ryan, leaning against the wrought-iron railing, watched her. "I take it you’re not a fan of Julian’s science experiment?"

Ava exhaled, rubbing her temple. "This isn’t matchmaking. It’s calculated guesswork dressed up as perfection."

Ryan smirked. "Say what you really mean, Matchmaker."

Ava shot him a look. "I don’t trust this. Matchmaking isn’t just about numbers—it’s about instinct, about knowing people beyond a set of data points. Julian is reducing human connection to a formula."

Ryan nodded, tucking his hands into his pockets. "Then don’t let him change how you do things."

Ava blinked. "That easy, huh?"

"Yeah," Ryan said simply. "You don’t need his algorithm. You’ve been running circles around him since New York. Trust yourself."

Ava bit her lip, his words settling something deep in her chest. "You make it sound so simple."

Ryan shrugged. "It is. Julian plays games. You don’t need to."

Ava sighed, allowing a small smile. "And here I thought I was the motivational one."

Ryan smirked, stepping closer. "We can take turns."

Their moment was interrupted when Mei suddenly appeared out of nowhere, holding two éclairs in each hand.

"Oh good, I found you!" Mei beamed. "I bought too many desserts again."

Ryan took one without hesitation. "Love that about you, Mei."

Ava, still processing their conversation, slowly took an éclair as well.

Mei studied them, eyes twinkling. "You two are standing awfully close."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "And?"

Mei grinned. "Just saying. Paris is the city of love."

Ryan chuckled. "You are the queen of subtlety, Mei."

Mei winked. "You’ll thank me later."

Ava groaned. "I swear if you start scheming—"

Mei gasped dramatically. "Me? Scheme? Never."

Ryan laughed, taking a bite of his éclair. "Well, let’s go find out just how terrible Julian’s algorithm really is."

Ava, feeling more determined than ever, nodded. "Let’s do this."

The challenge had begun, and she was ready to prove that matchmaking wasn’t about numbers—it was about people. And no algorithm, no matter how perfect, could change that.

Julian had made his move. Now it was time for Ava to make hers.

---

Julian & Ethan’s Perspective: Smug Victory

Offstage, Julian and Ethan observed the reaction from the audience, noting the growing excitement over Perfection Pair.

Ethan smirked, swirling the wine glass in his hand. "Well, this is going better than I expected. You’ve got them eating out of your hand."

Julian allowed himself a smirk. "Did you ever doubt it?"

Ethan stretched his arms, his satisfaction evident. "Not at all. But I was hoping for at least a little struggle from Ava. You know, for entertainment purposes."

Julian scoffed. "She’s already on the defensive. Her instincts are unreliable. She’s clinging to an archaic practice in an era of innovation. She knows she’s losing relevance."

Ethan nodded toward Ava and Ryan. "Look at them. They’re trying so hard not to react. You can practically feel her frustration."

Julian followed Ethan’s gaze. Sure enough, Ava’s expression was tight, her usual confident presence dimmed by the weight of what was unfolding.

Satisfied, Julian adjusted his cufflinks. "By the time this competition ends, she won’t just lose—she’ll be forgotten."

Ethan took a slow sip of wine. "Cold. I love it."

Julian’s lips curled into an elegant smirk.

Perfection had arrived. And Ava Lee’s imperfect, emotion-driven matchmaking wouldn’t stand a chance.

---

As the event wrapped up, Ava remained in place, her arms crossed, watching Julian shake hands with elite matchmakers who were clearly dazzled by his algorithm.

Ryan, noticing her deepening frown, leaned in. "You know you don’t have to pretend to be okay, right?"

Ava exhaled sharply. "I hate that he’s convincing people that love can be engineered. That his machine can replace something as raw and unpredictable as human connection."

Ryan studied her carefully, then quietly slipped his hand into hers.

Ava blinked, looking up at him in surprise.

Ryan’s voice was calm, reassuring. "Hey. You’re not wrong. But let him have his moment." His thumb traced soft circles on her palm, grounding her. "It won’t last."

Ava let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. "You really believe that?"

Ryan’s lips quirked into a soft smirk. "I know that. Because algorithms don’t hold hands when you’re nervous. They don’t make you feel safe when you’re doubting yourself."

Ava’s heart skipped a beat.

Ryan continued, voice softer now. "They can’t love someone the way you do."

Ava’s fingers instinctively tightened around his.

For a long moment, they just stood there, hands clasped, as the world around them bustled with conversation and excitement over Julian’s "flawless" program.

Then, finally, Ava took a deep breath, rolling her shoulders back.

"Alright," she said, straightening. "If Julian thinks his algorithm is perfect, then let’s prove him wrong."

Ryan smirked. "That’s my girl."

Ava’s cheeks warmed. She ignored it.

Julian might think he had matchmaking down to a science.

But Ava Lee knew better.

And she was about to show the world.