Chapter 14: Love Guru vs. Matchmaker Mayhem

Ava Lee didn't believe in omens, but if she did, the morning's burnt bagel would've been a neon billboard screaming: DOOM AHEAD.

It had started with her morning coffee run, which turned into a tragic juggling act. She'd balanced her planner, an overflowing tote bag, and a precariously full latte like a contestant in some cosmic reality show. Then came the fateful moment when her bag strap caught the corner of a pastry display.

The result: an explosion of croissants, muffins, and powdered sugar across the café floor.

"Rough morning?" the barista asked, his tone dripping with poorly hidden amusement.

Ava, covered in a fine dusting of powdered sugar, offered him her best I'm-holding-it-together-thank-you-very-much smile. "Just another Tuesday."

The universe wasn't done with her yet. By the time she made it to her office, her latte had spilled into her tote bag, soaking her client folders. She had exactly two minutes to dry them out before her assistant Kelly burst in, phone in hand.

"You're going viral," Kelly said, holding the phone aloft like it was the Olympic torch.

Ava blinked, dabbing at her folders with a damp paper towel. "What do you mean I'm going viral? I haven't done anything worth going viral. Unless…" Her eyes narrowed. "Did the video of me falling into that chocolate fountain resurface again?"

"No, no, it's not you," Kelly said, biting her lip. "It's… this guy."

She spun the phone around to reveal a polished man in a perfectly tailored suit, standing on a sleek stage with the words CUPID'S ALGORITHM: LOVE, PERFECTLY PROGRAMMED glowing behind him.

---

In the video, Ethan Chase was gesturing with the confident swagger of a man who'd never spilled a latte in his life.

"Matchmaking is both an art and a science," he declared, flashing a dazzling smile that could probably power half the city. "But with Cupid's Algorithm, it's more science. No guesswork. No fate. Just guaranteed love."

"Guaranteed love?" Ava muttered, squinting at the screen. "What is this, a matchmaking service or an infomercial for laundry detergent?"

The video cut to Ethan walking dramatically across the stage, arms outstretched. "Unlike other matchmaking services in this city—services relying on outdated intuition or haphazard methods—Cupid's Algorithm is modern, precise, and unmatched in its results. We're not just changing the game. We're leaving the competition in the dust."

He ended the video with a wink so smug Ava felt her soul try to leave her body.

Kelly gave her a sheepish look. "You're not going to like this next part."

"Next part?"

Kelly tapped the screen, revealing a news segment showing Ethan cutting a ribbon in front of his new office. Ava's stomach sank. The camera zoomed out to reveal the location: directly across the street from Ava's office.

Her jaw dropped. "You've got to be kidding me. He set up shop there?!"

---

Ava stormed into her matchmaking office, her heels clicking furiously on the scuffed wooden floors. The space, once a charming brownstone, had been lovingly converted into what she called "romantic chaos" and what Ryan had once called "Cupid's thrift store."

The reception area was cluttered but cozy, with mismatched armchairs, a plush rug that had seen better days, and walls lined with photos of couples Ava had matched over the years. The centerpiece of the room was Mei's pride and joy: a wall-to-wall bulletin board covered in love stories.

Pinned to it were handwritten notes like: "Thank you, Ava! We're naming our first baby after you!" alongside photos of smiling couples holding engagement rings or wedding cakes. Mei had even added a section for pets, featuring Ava's successful attempt at matching two dog owners who'd met at her "Puppy Playdate Mixer."

Unfortunately, the room also had its fair share of quirks, like the antique lamp shaped like a cherub that flickered ominously every time someone sneezed.

Kelly followed Ava in, looking nervous. "So, what's the plan? You're not going to march over there and confront him, are you?"

"Of course I am," Ava said, snatching her bag.

"But—"

"I don't need a plan," Ava said, already halfway to the door. "I've got righteous indignation."

---

Ethan's office was the polar opposite of Ava's. Sleek chrome furniture gleamed under fluorescent lights, and every surface was unnervingly spotless. Monitors on the walls displayed graphs, charts, and video testimonials from attractive couples gushing about their matches.

It felt more like stepping into a tech start-up than a matchmaking business. Ava half-expected someone to hand her a VR headset and a Soylent.

Ethan himself appeared from behind a glass partition, wearing a tailored navy suit and the kind of grin that made Ava want to file a noise complaint.

"Ava Lee," he said, as though her name were a winning lottery number. "Welcome to Cupid's Algorithm. I was wondering when you'd stop by."

"Don't flatter yourself," Ava shot back. "I'm here because you've decided to insult my business and park your circus tent across the street. What's your game, Chase?"

Ethan spread his hands innocently. "No games. Just innovation. I've simply developed a service that's faster, smarter, and, let's face it, a bit more… modern than yours."

Ava crossed her arms. "Modern, huh? Is that what you call your giant neon banner? Because I call it obnoxious."

Ethan smirked. "Clients want results, Ava. They don't care about handwritten compatibility notes or… tea leaves."

"For the last time, I don't use tea leaves!" Ava snapped.

"Of course not," Ethan said, his tone dripping with insincerity. "It's probably chicken bones."

Ava stepped closer, poking him in the chest. "Listen, Guru Ken Doll. You can build all the algorithms you want, but love isn't a science experiment. It's messy, unpredictable, and—"

"Outdated," Ethan interrupted smoothly.

She opened her mouth to argue but was cut off by the blare of trumpets. She turned to see confetti cannons outside Ethan's building, showering pedestrians with glitter as a banner unfurled: "The Future of Love Is Here!"

Ethan grinned. "You've got to admit, I know how to make an entrance."

Ava glared at him, jaw tightening. "This isn't over."

As she marched out, Ethan called after her, "Looking forward to the competition, Ava!"

---

By the time Ava got back to her office, her mood was as dark as the cherub lamp. And it only got worse when she saw who was waiting for her: Ryan Kim, leaning casually against her desk.

"Long time no see," he said, his smirk infuriatingly familiar. "Still convincing people that love isn't a terrible idea?"

Ava clenched her teeth. "Still convincing them that it is?"

Ryan grinned. "You know me. Just doing my civic duty."

She shot him a look that could've set the cherub lamp on fire.

"Oh, don't look so angry," Ryan said, adjusting his tie. "If it helps, I'm only here because of my client." He gestured to the woman beside him, an impeccably dressed heiress who was flipping through a bridal magazine.

"Let's get one thing straight, Ryan," Ava said as she sat down. "I don't need you to tell me how to do my job."

Ryan smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

---

As Ava walked Ryan and his client out the door, she glanced back at Ethan's confetti-covered building. Her hands clenched into fists.

If Ethan thought he could outmatch her, he had another thing coming.

"Let the games begin," she muttered, already scheming.