Seneca nodded. “I’m sorry, Jessica. The whole family is. But this thing with Alicia Lange is bogus. It shouldn’t even go to court.”
“That’s not really for you to decide, is it?” Jess countered and turned to leave. It hurt her to speak to Seneca like this. She’d always liked her plucky love consultant and her way of plain-speaking to the heart of the matter.
“Hey,” Seneca called out, trailing her down the gravel drive towards the waiting car.
Jess turned to face her.
“There’s one thing more you should know. My brother really cares about you…more than I’ve seen him care about any woman, ever. And he’s had his pick.”
“So? It doesn’t change the investigation, Seneca,” Jess replied.
“So, the idiot retook the profile test this afternoon. This time completely on his own. And the results changed. I checked them this morning. You two are a 99.5% guaranteed match.” Seneca thrust out a piece of paper. “Even the LoveLines system knows you two belong together. Seems a shame that you don’t.”
Jess felt like she’d been slapped. All this time she’d assumed their relationship was built on incompatibility. Her nerves sizzled like a lightning bolt strike that sent shivers straight to her heart.
She glanced at her latest weekly match up. There was a picture of Matteo smiling back at her. “I don’t believe it.” She shook her head. More like she didn’t want to believe it. “It’s too easy for your family to manipulate things to get what you want.”
Seneca’s brows drew together. “We don’t cheat, Jessica. It’s not in our family values.” She looked a little offended.
“What do you call posing as a client to thwart an investigation?” Jess crossed her arms, crushing the paper in her fist.
“Well, most of the family called it stupid. Me included,” Seneca admitted. “But Matteo called it protecting the family interests. And he wasn’t cheating the system, he was just trying to keep us out of harm’s way—the way he always has. He’s always looked out for us, especially when Mom and Dad died….” Her voice trailed off. “What he did wasn’t right and he admits that. But surely you can see past that, to the man he truly is. My brother really is a good guy. One of the best.” Seneca’s face was an open plea for forgiveness.
It touched Jess that his family would go to such lengths to help him, a real testament to Matt’s character. Still…when she thought about how he tricked her….
“So, why does the profile test match us now?” Jess wasn’t letting her get off that easily, even if her heart went out to this family that tried so hard to keep the pieces together through a devastating loss.
“Matteo inadvertently cheated when he tried to dupe your answers. Once he took it honestly, the system put you two together. Face it, Jess. Whether you choose to believe it or not, you two are made for each other.” And she stomped back up the steps to the ranch house.
In the car on the way to the hotel, Jess found her hands smoothing out the paper on her thighs. Matt’s face smiled back up from her lap. Jess frowned. Things were getting too complicated.
She wanted to believe the Brandts, to find a way to prove that her client’s allegations were false. But so far, all the paperwork and the facts seemed to point straight to one conclusion—one that might cost Matteo his perfect record and jeopardize his family’s beloved ranch. There was just no disputing the facts.
Unless Jess could find some flaw, Alicia Lange was going to win.
***
Matteo cleared his throat nervously as they all piled around the large conference table. Tensions were high. Once seated, Seneca whispered nervously to their attorney. As the mediator entered, Matteo could see the plaintiff, Alicia Lange, hovering near the elevators. She looked determined and more than a little smug. He cracked his knuckles. Today was going to be painful.
For both him and Jess he guessed.
He didn’t know why his pride wouldn’t let him refund Alicia Lange’s money and be done with it. He should have. He could’ve avoided all this conflict and gotten on with the business of providing security for his family. He just couldn’t risk one blot on his company’s record. Aside from compromising his principles, rewarding Lange’s false allegations might jeopardize LoveLines subscriptions. The media would crucify him. Both LoveLines and the ranch could go under. Matteo clenched his jaw. He’d go down in flames before he let that happen.
Jess stepped off the elevators, clad in a starched white blouse and grey suit. Though she looked a little pale and nervous, his pulse raced at the sight of her. He was in flames, all right. Her gaze raked over him and left him almost panting with longing. She set every nerve ending in his body on fire.
Matteo exhaled slowly. If he’d have just compromised his principles, he’d never have met Jess…the woman of his dreams. And that would’ve been the worst consequence of all. He was so glad his system had finally matched them. All it took was a little honesty. Maybe after all this was over, they could find a way to work things out. Until then….
No, he didn’t dare hope. He shook his head, forcing himself to concentrate on the case.
Alicia Lange’s attorney began, citing the allegations of fraud. Matteo forced himself to sit still, while her attorney described the months of subscription that yielded an unsuccessful match, causing undue stress to the client. His hands gripped the armrests of his chair, until they ached. Undue stress, his ass.
After the better part of an hour, his own attorneys were finally able to give a weak rebuttal, and handed over the legal contracts for the money back guarantee. He forced himself to relax, until the mediator signaled. Then, Jess was asked to testify. Matteo ground his teeth in frustration as she described the iron clad guarantee, and the specific language the company used in their legal documents. The mediator took careful notes before asking for comments.
“This appears to be fairly straightforward. However, you still assert that your system works, Mr. Brandt?” the mediator asked him.
“I do.” Matteo gestured and his attorney passed over years of their records of successful matchmaking. “LoveLines has a perfect record thus far. Our clients have been satisfied with the program.” He willed his gaze not to stray to Jess. “Very satisfied.”
“Goes towards support, but I’m unclear as to how this impacts this particular case.” The mediator steepled his hands.
Things were going badly. He knew something wasn’t right, he just couldn’t put a name to it. And unless they were able to come to an agreement, this thing was going to court.
“Perhaps we just need more time, to find a suitable candidate for Ms. Lange?” He tried to sound encouraging.
“Time is not the issue.” Alicia Lange sniffed. “I mean, there are only so many decent men out there who meet my standards.” She looked down her nose at Matt. “And your system failed to match me. LoveLines owes me compensation for wasting my valuable time.”
There was a long pause. Matteo felt like he was drowning, but suddenly Jessica’s face turned solicitous. She seemed lit up from within. Matteo could only guess she was on to something.
“Decent men that meet your standards? So, you’re saying that you responded to the survey questions with a specific purpose in mind, a certain type of man?” Jess prompted. “To attract a specific type?”
Alicia Lange snorted. “Of course, I did.”
Jess tapped her fingernails on the table. “Is it possible that your responses were…skewed towards this ideal type?” She smiled politely.
The plaintiff waved her hand airily. “I suppose it’s possible.”
“Interesting.” Jess glanced at Matteo, as if willing him to pick up the crumb trail of clues. He chewed on her words a moment before realization dawned. In a flash, he saw it.
Skewed. Towards an ideal.
The real reason he wasn’t matched to Jessica Barlow the first time he took the profile test.
He hadn’t been honest.
Alicia Lange had lied on her profile. She’d concocted her responses to draw a specific type of man to her, and then when the system didn’t match them, she’d claimed fraud. She’d have no way to know what her faked survey would net her in the program—she could only guess at how to answer to attract her supposed ‘ideal’. It wasn’t legit, any more than his first test results had been. And it didn’t comply with their legal contract.
Honest participation was in the fine print of the money back guarantee.
“How do you know?” he asked, tossing his pen on the table and crossing his arms.
Suddenly, Alicia looked uncomfortable. Her eyes darted to her attorney who gave a slight shrug, and back to Matt. “How do I know what?” she gritted.
“Do you have any advanced degrees in human psychology? How do you know the constructed responses you gave would match you to the ideal man you were hoping for?” Matt asked. Jessica’s face was suspiciously neutral but he saw the light of triumph candle her gaze.
“I…uh…” Alicia Lange looked pale.
“The profiling system is a blend of thirty-one psychological tests. We intentionally hired a team of doctors and psychologists to create the formula for the matching program. It’s statistically set to establish a foundation based on a participant’s conscious and subconscious preferences.” Matt smiled. “It took years of research to formulate.”
“I…I didn’t know. I didn’t think that…” she trailed off, looking embarrassed. She cleared her throat. “Regardless, the system didn’t work. None of the candidates were a suitable match.”
“Ms. Lange,” Jess interjected. “The contract offered by LoveLines guarantees a match based on honest participation. I’m not sure if attempting to manipulate the system constitutes ‘honest’ participation. If you distorted your profile responses, I’m not sure the system can be held responsible. Do you?”
Lange’s attorney leaned closer to her and scribbled something on a notepad. Alicia shook her head and bit her lip. Her attorney sighed and tossed his own pen on the table.
“So, you’re saying, because I skewed my answers, I voided the guarantee?” Alicia looked unsure now.
The presiding mediator nodded. “It would appear so. However, you are still free to pursue the matter in court. Perhaps a judge would find differently.” He didn’t sound very convinced.
“And if I lost?” Alicia Lange snapped her notebook closed.
“You could be responsible for the full costs of the defendant’s legal fees, as well as face punitive damages.” The mediator pinched the bridge of his nose and waited.
Another hasty whisper from her attorney, which Alicia Lange cut off with a sharp gesture.
“Under these circumstances....” She met Matteo’s eyes. “What would happen if I...uh…” she wet her lips with a nervous tongue. “Decided not to pursue this further?”
He wanted to pump his fist in the air, but forced himself to merely smile. “If you’re willing to retake the personality profile, LoveLines would be happy to reestablish your account under the new parameters. You would enjoy the full duration of your original membership subscription. Guaranteed with honest participation and effort on your part, of course.” He folded his hands together, to keep from grabbing Jessica’s knee under the table and squeezing.
When her attorney sat back without complaint, Alicia Lange nodded. “I think I’d like to try that.”
“Then it’s all settled.” Matteo smiled. “We’ll start fresh this week.” He couldn’t believe it.
His clever Jess had done it.
The mediator thanked them for their participation, and offered to have his office send a written report. Both attorneys agreed to the terms and Alicia Lange signed off on withdrawing her suit.
“I’ll be in touch,” she promised, before sauntering out of the conference room, her attorney beating a hasty retreat behind her.
And just like that, it was over.
Now, he wondered, could he and Jess have a new beginning? His heart pounded. Matteo waited until everyone else filed out of the room before approaching her.
She stacked her paperwork in a manila folder. “Congratulations.” Her voice was cautious.
“Yeah, thanks to you. That was a brilliant realization, Jess.” He grinned. “What clued you in?”
Her cheeks pinked. “I was thinking about what you said…about the test not matching us. You said you used my test as a foundation for your responses. When Seneca revealed we were matched once you retook the test, I realized you couldn’t have possibly answered honestly the first time, not if you were duplicating my answers.”
“She told you about that, huh?” He grinned. His sneaky little sister looking out for him.
“Yeah, it made me wonder if the system could be circumvented somehow. And it seems it was.” She shrugged. “So, that’s that.” She bit her lip.
“I’ll have the developers check for that particular bug in the matching system for the future. Maybe build in some additional questions to ferret out honest responses.”
Jess smiled. “Sounds like you have a new plan. I’m happy for you.”
“And you? What are your plans? You’re heading back to Atlanta?” he asked, stifling a tight pain in his chest. He couldn’t stand the thought of her leaving.
“It looks that way. Maxwell won’t be thrilled, but the job is completed. InvestiCorp gets paid regardless of the outcome, so….” She fiddled with the edge of the folder.
Payment reminded him of something he’d meant to do, something long overdue.
“Oh. Here.” He handed her a check for the full amount of her subscription to LoveLines. A cute little wrinkle appeared between her brows.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“A refund. LoveLines’ first.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from touching her. Her mouth made a perfect little pink “o” that drove him crazy. The things those lips could do to him… “Since we weren’t matched.”
Jess compressed her lips. “I don’t get it. We’re a LoveLines match.”
He shook his head. “Not at first we weren’t. Not until I retook the test. Technically, you weren’t successful in the program.”
“Why now? What about your principles? The company’s perfect record?” She shook her head, exasperated. “What was all of this for, anyways?” She swung a hand around the mediation chamber.
“I used to think love was a game. Just a matter of lining up the right players at the right time. You changed all that for me, Jess. Winning no longer matters.”