Love Algorithm

Chapter 1: Elena's POV

The soft hum of machines was the only sound that filled the otherwise silent office. Elena Vasquez sat at her sleek, glass desk, her fingers flying across the holographic keyboard projected in front of her. The glow from her multiple screens reflected in her sharp, dark eyes, highlighting the intensity of her concentration. Lines of code cascaded down the screen like a waterfall, each one precise and perfect—just the way she liked it.

The rest of the world seemed to fade away when she was coding. It was the one place where everything made sense, where logic ruled and emotions had no place. And that was just how Elena preferred it. Her world was one of ones and zeroes, data points and algorithms, carefully curated to ensure that everything, down to the smallest detail, fit perfectly together.

She leaned back in her chair, eyes scanning the final section of the algorithm she'd been perfecting for the past six months. **The Algorithm**, as it had come to be known within the company. Her creation. Her masterpiece. Lovematch Industries had developed a reputation for bringing technology into every aspect of life, and now, they were on the verge of revolutionizing love itself—or, at least, what most people considered love. Elena never put much stock in romance herself. To her, it was all patterns and compatibility percentages, a math equation with variables that could be controlled, measured, and, ultimately, solved.

The idea of trusting something as chaotic and unpredictable as feelings to guide major life decisions made her laugh. That's why she had poured her heart—and yes, she allowed the irony—to create the dating algorithm that would change the future of relationships. Love as people knew it was flawed, messy, and unreliable. But this algorithm—*her* algorithm—could predict the perfect romantic match with nearly 100% accuracy. At least, that's what she believed.

Her fingers hesitated above the keys, hovering as if waiting for permission to strike. Just one more test, one more simulation, and it would be done. She had to be sure. She had to know that it was flawless.

"Working late again, I see," a voice interrupted her concentration. She hadn't noticed anyone approach. Sarah Nguyen, her closest friend and fellow programmer, stood in the doorway with a knowing smile on her face. "Do you ever actually go home?"

Elena barely glanced up, her fingers still hovering. "I could ask you the same thing," she muttered, eyes still scanning the code.

Sarah strolled into the room, her usual casual confidence radiating from her every step. She was wearing her favorite graphic t-shirt under a lab coat, and her dark hair was tied back into a messy bun that somehow looked effortless. "Well, unlike you, I actually have plans after this," she teased, leaning against the edge of Elena's desk. "I'm just stopping by to drag you out of your work cave."

Elena sighed, finally pulling her eyes away from the screen. She sat up and rubbed the back of her neck. It was stiff, no doubt from hours of sitting in the same position. "You know I'm close," she said. "Just a few more adjustments, and it'll be ready for final testing."

Sarah rolled her eyes dramatically. "Elena, you've been saying that for weeks. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were avoiding something."

"Avoiding what?" Elena arched an eyebrow, her expression impassive.

"Life, for starters. You know, that thing that happens outside of this office?"

Elena shot her a look that bordered on amusement but didn't quite reach her lips. "Life is overrated. Besides, why waste time on all that when we have the tools to perfect it?" She gestured to the code on her screen, as if it were the answer to all of life's problems.