Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 90: Margaux’s Big Test

Chapter 90: Margaux’s Big Test

The air inside the grand ballroom of L’Amour Élite was thick with anticipation. Unlike the previous matchmaking challenges, which had involved detailed profiles, compatibility tests, and carefully selected client pairings, today’s event was entirely different.

Margaux Duval stood at the front of the room, poised as ever in a silk cream-colored dress, her sleek bob perfectly styled. She held a single white envelope in her manicured hands, her expression unreadable as she surveyed the competitors before her.

"Today’s challenge," she began, her voice carrying effortlessly across the room, "is a true test of instinct, perception, and connection."

Ava shifted beside Ryan, her fingers tightening around the edge of her notebook. She could already tell this was going to be different.

Margaux continued, "There will be no profiles. No background checks. No statistics. No algorithms. Just people." She gestured to the back of the ballroom, where a set of double doors opened to reveal a gathering of men and women, each one looking uncertain, hesitant—even nervous. "These individuals have agreed to trust us, the world’s best matchmakers, to find them a connection. You will have thirty minutes to interview as many clients as possible. Then, you must make your matches based only on what you observe."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the room.

Julian, standing at the opposite end, scoffed under his breath. Ava caught the brief smirk he exchanged with Ethan before turning his attention back to Margaux.

"Sounds simple enough," Julian said smoothly.

Margaux smiled, but there was a sharp edge to it. "It is not simple, monsieur. A true matchmaker sees beyond words, beyond presentation, beyond the obvious." She turned her gaze to Ava. "Some of you already know this. Others... will struggle."

Ava didn’t miss the pointed look she cast toward Julian.

Ryan nudged Ava playfully. "You got this."

Ava smirked. "I know I got this."

Margaux raised her hand, and the room fell silent.

"Your time starts now."

---

Ava’s Intuition vs. Julian’s Algorithm

The room erupted into movement as competitors scattered, each one rushing toward the waiting clients. Some grabbed notebooks, others pulled out pre-prepared questions, but Ava?

She closed her eyes for a brief second, exhaled, and let instinct take over.

Ryan watched her, fascinated. "Okay, what’s the plan?"

Ava opened her eyes, scanning the crowd. "We don’t go in with a plan. We observe."

Ryan raised a brow but followed her lead as she walked toward a small group of waiting clients. Ava didn’t go for the ones who seemed overly eager or chatty. No—she was drawn to the ones on the edges, the ones hesitant, the ones looking as if they weren’t quite sure they should be here.

She stopped in front of a woman in her mid-thirties, her hands folded neatly over her lap, her gaze darting around the room.

Ava crouched slightly to her level. "You don’t like big crowds."

The woman blinked in surprise. "Excuse me?"

Ava smiled. "It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? Too much noise, too many eyes on you. You’re a thinker. You observe first, act second."

The woman’s expression softened. "That’s... accurate."

Ava nodded. "Then you need someone patient. Someone who doesn’t fill every silence with words but understands the quiet."

The woman looked at her as if Ava had read a page from her soul.

Ava glanced over her shoulder, scanning the room before pointing toward a man at the coffee station, stirring his cup absentmindedly, looking just as lost in thought as the woman in front of her.

"Him."

The woman blinked. "You think—?"

Ava grinned. "I know."

Ryan let out a low whistle. "Show-off."

Ava smirked. "Watch and learn."

Meanwhile, Julian was visibly struggling. He had approached a young businessman, immediately launching into rapid-fire questions about his job, lifestyle, and preferences. His usual charm was there, but without his data to back him up, there was an edge of uncertainty.

Ethan leaned in, whispering something to Julian, but even that didn’t seem to settle him.

For the first time since the competition began, Julian Ashcroft looked... lost.

And Ava?

She was thriving.

---

Julian’s Desperation

As time ticked down, Ava and Ryan had already made several matches, each one based on nothing but conversation, observation, and gut instinct.

Julian, on the other hand, had resorted to overanalyzing, listing off statistics that made the clients more confused than charmed.

Margaux watched it all unfold with a knowing smile.

When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the challenge, the clients were escorted out, leaving the competitors to await their results.

Julian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair. His jaw was tight, his frustration barely contained.

Ava, standing beside Ryan, couldn’t resist.

"You okay over there, Ashcroft?"

Julian turned to her, forcing a smirk. "Of course. Just recalculating."

Ryan grinned. "Might want to reboot that system, man. Looked like it crashed about ten minutes in."

Julian’s eyes flickered dangerously, but before he could respond, Margaux stepped forward.

"Bravo," she announced, clapping her hands together. "Some of you excelled. Some of you..." Her gaze landed briefly on Julian. "Have much to learn."

A few competitors chuckled.

Margaux smiled, then turned toward Ava. "Mademoiselle Lee, your matches were the strongest. Each pairing showed a deep understanding of connection, of compatibility beyond the surface."

Julian’s smirk vanished.

Ava crossed her arms, grinning. "Thanks. I do my best."

Margaux nodded approvingly. "It seems that, even against the rise of technology, instinct remains unmatched."

Ryan muttered, "Mic drop."

Julian clenched his jaw, but Ava had already turned away, basking in the small but significant victory.

For once, she had made him doubt.

And that?

That was better than winning any challenge.

---

The challenge had ended, but the tension still lingered in the air. Julian’s smugness had been effectively shattered, and Ava had done what she did best—proved that intuition and human connection would always outweigh algorithms and formulas.

But even as the competitors began filing out of the ballroom, Ava found herself still standing there, the weight of the victory settling over her.

Ryan nudged her lightly. "You okay?"

Ava blinked, turning to him. "Yeah. Just... processing."

Ryan smirked. "You mean savoring the fact that you completely annihilated Julian in front of an audience?"

Ava let out a breathless laugh. "Okay, maybe a little."

Ryan chuckled. "You deserve it. That was incredible."

Ava shook her head. "It’s just... I was nervous, you know? With everything Julian’s been pulling, I thought maybe—just maybe—he’d finally find a way to throw me off. But he didn’t. I know people. That’s something he’ll never understand."

Ryan’s gaze softened. "That’s because you don’t just match people. You see them, Ava. That’s what makes you you."

Ava swallowed, warmth spreading through her chest. "You always know what to say, huh?"

Ryan shrugged, grinning. "It’s a talent."

Ava rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t deny the way her heart fluttered.

Before she could say anything else, Ryan reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. "Come with me."

Ava blinked. "Where?"

Ryan tugged her gently toward the exit. "You’ll see."

The night air was crisp but not too cold as Ryan led Ava through the winding Parisian streets. The city was alive with soft chatter, music drifting from open cafés, and the golden glow of streetlights casting everything in a dreamlike haze.

Ava tilted her head as she walked beside him. "Are you just wandering, or is there an actual plan here?"

Ryan smirked. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Ryan."

"Trust me," he said simply, squeezing her hand.

And, surprisingly, she did.

After several minutes of walking, Ryan finally stopped in front of a quiet riverside bistro tucked away from the busier parts of the city. The terrace overlooked the Seine, lanterns flickering gently in the breeze.

Ava’s lips parted in surprise. "You planned this?"

Ryan shrugged, leading her to a small table by the railing. "You’ve been working nonstop. Thought you deserved a moment to just... be."

Ava looked around, taking in the intimate setting—the dim lighting, the sound of the river flowing just a few feet away, the distant hum of Paris beyond them.

It was perfect.

She sat down, watching as Ryan signaled to a waiter like he had done this a thousand times before. Within moments, two glasses of wine were set on the table, along with a small plate of delicate pastries.

Ava raised a brow. "Dessert before dinner?"

Ryan smirked. "We did just win. It feels appropriate."

Ava chuckled, shaking her head as she reached for her glass. "You really thought this through, huh?"

Ryan leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Maybe."

Ava took a sip of her wine, studying him. "You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to woo me, Kim."

Ryan’s smirk deepened. "And if I was?"

Ava tilted her head. "Well... I’d probably say you’re doing a pretty damn good job."

Ryan didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he reached across the table, his fingers brushing against hers. "Ava."

She swallowed. "Yeah?"

Ryan exhaled slowly, his voice dropping to something softer, something more serious. "Can I ask you something?"

Ava raised a brow, wary but intrigued. "Depends on the question."

Ryan smirked but didn’t let go of her hand. "Are you finally going to admit that I’m your official boyfriend now?"

Ava blinked. Then laughed.

"Seriously? That’s what you wanted to ask?"

Ryan grinned. "Well, I figured since we’re doing the whole romantic-dinner-by-the-Seine thing, we might as well make it official."

Ava shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Okay, fine. But only if you promise not to make me sign a prenup."

Ryan burst out laughing. "Excuse me?"

Ava smirked. "You are a divorce lawyer."

Ryan groaned, shaking his head. "Wow. Unbelievable. I plan a perfect evening, and this is what I get?"

Ava leaned back, grinning. "You love it."

Ryan let out a dramatic sigh, but the smile never left his lips. "Yeah. Yeah, I do."

And as the night carried on, filled with laughter, teasing, and stolen glances across candlelight, Ava found herself realizing something.

This wasn’t just Paris.

This wasn’t just some fleeting romance in the most romantic city in the world.

This was them.

And she was finally ready to let herself have it.