Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 93: Chaos at the Catacombs

Chapter 93: Chaos at the Catacombs

Of all the places in Paris for the final matchmaking challenge, the Paris Catacombs was not what Ava had expected.

The eerie underground tunnels stretched for miles, lined with centuries-old skulls and bones stacked into neat, haunting patterns. The air was damp, filled with an odd mix of history and claustrophobia.

"I’m just going to say it," Ryan muttered, adjusting his flashlight. "This is not the most romantic setting for matchmaking."

Ava sighed. "Tell that to Margaux."

Margaux Duval, the elegant mastermind behind the L’Amour Élite competition, stood at the entrance of the Catacombs, smiling like this was a charming vineyard tour instead of a literal underground graveyard.

"Welcome to your final challenge, matchmakers," she announced, her voice echoing against the stone walls. "Today, you will lead your assigned clients through the Catacombs, solving riddles about love, history, and—most importantly—connection."

Ryan whispered to Ava, "What kind of psychopath puts a matchmaking challenge in a literal tomb?"

"Margaux," Ava whispered back.

Margaux continued, completely unbothered by their concerns. "Your goal is simple—guide your clients through the labyrinth, answer the matchmaking riddles at each checkpoint, and reach the exit before time runs out."

Julian, standing smugly nearby in an obnoxiously tailored suit, scoffed. "Well, this is adorable."

Ryan rolled his eyes. "You sound jealous."

Julian’s smile tightened. "Of what, exactly?"

Ryan smirked. "That I don’t have to worry about ruining my shoes down here."

Julian looked down at his clearly expensive dress shoes and frowned.

Ava hid a snort of laughter. This was already off to a great start.

Each team was handed a matchmaking dossier and a flashlight.

Ava glanced at her assigned clients—Mathieu and Sophie, a pair of hopelessly romantic artists who wanted a connection as "epic as history itself."

"Oh good," Ava muttered. "Dramatic romantics."

Ryan, grinning, nudged her. "Sounds like your people."

Meanwhile, Mei adjusted her scarf dramatically. "This is perfect. Love, mystery, danger—this is basically a romance novel waiting to happen."

Harold, already pale, muttered, "More like a horror movie."

Ava took a deep breath. "Alright, let’s do this."

And with that, Team Chaos descended into the darkness.

Checkpoint One: The Riddle of Love

The first stop was an ancient archway filled with inscriptions, each one dedicated to lost loves from centuries past.

A soft glow illuminated the carved words, and a tablet beside it displayed their first challenge:

Riddle:

"True love is not about gazing at each other, but looking in the same direction."

Who said this?

Mathieu’s eyes lit up. "Antoine de Saint-Exupéry! The author of Le Petit Prince!"

Ava and Ryan exchanged a look.

"...That’s correct," Margaux’s voice came through the overhead speakers. "Proceed."

Ava blinked. "That was fast."

Sophie clutched Mathieu’s arm. "I knew we were meant to be!"

Ryan leaned toward Ava, whispering, "Either this match is meant to be, or they’ve studied more love quotes than an Instagram poet."

Ava smirked. "Either way, we’re winning."

Checkpoint Two: Mei Disappears (and Harold Panics)

They moved forward, winding through the tunnels.

Then—chaos.

One moment Mei was with them, the next—gone.

Harold spun in circles. "SHE’S GONE. OH GOD. SHE’S GONE."

Ryan, unfazed, chewed on a protein bar. "She’ll turn up."

Harold, wild-eyed, grabbed Ava’s arm. "WHAT IF THE GHOSTS TOOK HER?!"

Ava sighed. "Harold. We are not being haunted."

"Aren’t we?!" Harold demanded, eyes darting around.

Ryan pointed. "There she is."

Mei, completely unfazed, had wandered off to admire a centuries-old engraving about a forbidden love affair.

"Oh, there you are," she said cheerfully. "I found gossip."

Harold, near collapse, muttered, "I need a new job."

Checkpoint Three: Ryan Accidentally Triggers an Alarm

The next challenge required them to find a hidden key to unlock a gate leading deeper into the tunnels.

Ryan, in his infinite wisdom, leaned against a wall while Ava studied the inscriptions.

The wall MOVED.

A loud BEEP-BEEP-BEEP rang through the tunnels.

Ryan froze.

Ava gasped.

Harold screamed.

Julian, from another tunnel, shouted smugly: "Was that you, Kim?!"

Ryan, lifting his hands, muttered, "...Technically, yes."

Mei, unfazed, took a bite of a croissant she had apparently smuggled in. "Interesting. What do you suppose happens now?"

The entire corridor suddenly flooded with red warning lights.

Ava groaned. "Ryan."

Ryan gave a sheepish smile. "In my defense... bad design."

Margaux’s voice came over the speakers. "That was an emergency alarm. Please remain calm. Someone from security will escort you out shortly."

Ava clenched her jaw. "We are NOT losing because Ryan Kim doesn’t understand walls."

Ryan grinned. "Admit it. You’d miss me if I wasn’t causing problems."

Ava sighed, already knowing he was right.

She turned to Mei. "Any ideas?"

Mei, thoughtfully sipping from a flask of what was probably not water, mused, "I could seduce security."

Harold, horrified, whispered, "We’re all going to jail."

---

Julian’s team had taken a different route, but Ava knew they weren’t far behind.

They had one final riddle before reaching the exit:

"What is the only thing that grows when shared?"

Sophie gasped. "Love!"

The tunnel lit up—correct answer.

Ahead, Julian’s team appeared from another entrance, mere seconds behind.

Julian smirked. "Well, well, look who’s struggling to keep up."

Ava, still catching her breath, glared at him. "Really? Trash talk right now?"

Ryan dusted himself off. "Julian, your shoes are covered in skull dust. Maybe focus on that."

Julian, horrified, immediately looked down.

And that’s when Ava and Ryan sprinted past him.

Julian, realizing he’d been distracted, shouted: "HEY—"

But it was too late.

Ava and Ryan burst through the Catacombs exit, winning by seconds.

Aftermath: Champagne & Victory

Standing in the cool Paris air, Ava let out a deep breath.

Ryan grinned. "We won."

Mei, casually dusting off her scarf, shrugged. "Obviously."

Harold, clutching his knees, wheezed. "I am never going underground again."

Julian emerged a moment later, looking furious.

Margaux smirked. "It appears our winners have been decided."

Ava turned to Ryan, grinning.

Ryan smirked back. "Drinks?"

Ava linked her arm through his. "Absolutely."

And with that, Team Chaos walked off victorious—because, of course, they did.

---

After surviving the most chaotic matchmaking challenge ever held in a literal tomb, Ava wasn’t sure whether she wanted to laugh, collapse, or pour an entire bottle of wine down her throat.

Margaux, ever the poised hostess, gave them a polite smile as she handed Ava a gold-embossed victory card, signifying their win.

"Congratulations," she said smoothly. "I will admit, I had my doubts when you triggered the Catacombs’ security alarm—" she flicked her gaze to Ryan, who looked unreasonably pleased with himself—"but you two managed to win against all odds."

Julian, emerging behind them, scowled. His expensive suit had dust marks, and his normally immaculate hair looked one gust of wind away from total collapse.

Ryan smirked. "Tough break, Ashcroft."

Julian narrowed his eyes. "Enjoy your win, Kim. Because next time—"

Ava cut him off, waving the victory card in his face. "Oh no, Julian. I’m going to enjoy every second of this."

Julian’s jaw tightened. He turned with a dramatic flair, walking off toward the cars waiting at the entrance.

Ryan leaned toward Ava, whispering, "You live for this, don’t you?"

Ava grinned. "Absolutely."

---

Margaux had arranged a post-challenge celebration at a rooftop bar overlooking the glittering Seine.

The venue was stunning—golden lights strung across the terrace, jazz music playing softly in the background, and a view of the Eiffel Tower twinkling in the distance.

Ava stood by the railing, taking a slow breath. "Okay. I have to admit, this is... perfect."

Ryan, standing beside her, handed her a glass of champagne. "See? Winning can be fun."

Ava accepted the drink, smirking. "It’s fun because we beat Julian."

Ryan grinned. "Also true."

Mei and Harold arrived a moment later.

Mei held up a flute of champagne and declared loudly, "To the victors! May they always be chaotic, impossible, and mildly reckless!"

Harold muttered, "Mildly?"

Everyone clinked glasses.

As the celebration continued, the tension of the night melted away. The competition still had more challenges ahead, but for now—Ava let herself breathe.

---

A while later, with the party still going strong, Ava slipped away to the private balcony attached to the rooftop bar.

The cool Parisian breeze kissed her skin as she leaned against the stone railing, watching the city lights reflect on the river below.

A few moments later, Ryan found her.

"You always sneak away," he murmured, stepping beside her.

Ava glanced at him, her smirk softer this time. "You always follow."

Ryan set his glass down and nudged her shoulder playfully. "Can’t have you running off with the victory champagne."

Ava chuckled, but the warmth in his gaze was different tonight.

She exhaled, staring at the city below. "You know... I actually had a moment in there where I thought we’d lose."

Ryan tilted his head. "You? Doubting us?"

Ava bit her lip, then shrugged. "It was more like... if we lost, I wasn’t sure how to keep proving that my way of matchmaking works."

Ryan studied her for a long moment. Then, with deliberate slowness, he reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together.

"Ava," he said quietly, "you’re already proving it."

She blinked. "What?"

Ryan turned toward her fully. "Julian’s algorithm? His perfect numbers? They didn’t win. You did. Because people believe in what you do."

Ava swallowed, her heart doing that stupid thing again.

Ryan smirked slightly, tightening his grip on her hand. "You don’t need to win every battle to prove you’re right. You are right."

Ava let out a soft breath. "That’s... actually really sweet."

Ryan leaned closer, his voice lower now. "I have my moments."

Ava tilted her chin up, meeting his gaze. "You know, I think you like winning just as much as I do."

Ryan’s lips curled into a slow smirk. "With you? Always."

And then—he kissed her.

There was no hesitation this time. No teasing interruptions, no distractions—just the quiet hum of Paris beneath them, the distant laughter from inside, and the warmth of his mouth on hers.

Ava melted into it, her fingers gripping his jacket, pulling him closer.

Ryan’s hand moved to her waist, holding her there as he deepened the kiss—slow, unhurried, like they had all the time in the world.

And maybe, for this moment, they did.

When they finally pulled apart, Ava was breathless.

Ryan grinned. "Took you long enough to admit you like me."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Don’t get cocky, Kim."

Ryan chuckled, pressing one last lingering kiss to her forehead. "Too late."

Ava sighed, shaking her head—but she didn’t let go of his hand.

Not this time.

Because, maybe, this wasn’t just a victory in the competition.

Maybe... this was a victory for them, too.