I began asking the questions on the cards Alexandre had given to me.

"So, how was your relationship at the start?"

Ms. Daniels started first, "It was great. I enjoyed cooking and cleaning up the place, while he was the more outdoorsy type, usually working on the backyard and garden."

That's nice, and all but that doesn't tell me a hell of a lot.

Mr. Connor luckily continued.

"We were a good match, as you guys had predicted; we had plenty to talk about but also plenty to learn about. We talked a lot about books we both read but also shared each other's hobbies of video games from me and cooking from her."

"I see. How about near the middle, let's say three weeks or so ago?"

"That's...well, that's when it happened." Ms. Daniels said.

"I'm telling you it didn't happen in the first place-" Mr. Connor tried to interject.

"Look ok, I don't want to continue this argument anymore. That's why I had them called over so we can resolve this."

"Alright..." as he finally silenced, Ms. Daniels could continue.

"We were in bed together and were doing our routine social media browsing when I noticed he had viewed and liked a picture of one of my friends!"

"I see, and Mr. Connor, what's your side of the story?"

"We both go on those sites a lot, so me liking a pic from a friend is like second nature. I don't even remember doing so, and it just slipped my mind, y'know?"

Ah, so it was one of those things. This is gonna get annoying real quick.

I thought, but I kept my customer service smile and glanced at my partner.

You're still writing away, huh? Hey, say something, dammit.

Surprisingly she actually did.

"May I have your phones for a short while?"

"Ah, sure."

"Alright."

They handed her their phones, and right when I thought she was gonna help me out, she returned to her own world and browsed their devices.

So much for that.

I swallowed my disappointment and continued to ask them the questions I was given.

"Alright, and the problem has persisted. Why?"

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"Because he doesn't want to own up to it. To him, it's nothing, but I care a lot about people's thoughts on me, especially someone who's supposed to be my partner."

She wasn't wrong in that idea, but it seemed she was overreacting a tad bit.

"Look, I really just want this to be over, but every time I apologize, she just thinks it's a ruse to hide my feelings for someone else, and it's getting really stressful, you know?"

I could see that. Hell, he even decided to pretty much move out from what we could see. I tried to look at my notes to continue the conversation but it seems the two had other plans.

"Even when you decided to leave, I still saw your account going around and looking at other women's profiles!"

"Our friends' profiles, you mean. I have other friends too, you know? And whenever I see you looking at pics of other guys, I don't bat an eye! Even if I don't know them, I trust you."

Sheesh, this is starting to get annoying.

"Well, I do bat an eye! I've been pleading with you for over a week now and-"

"If you can't trust me here, what about everything else?"

"Umm, please calm down for a seco-"

I tried to interject, but it was no use trying to quell their frustration.

"I can't trust you if, for all I know, you could have someone else other than me...and we even went through the trouble of matchmaking..."

Did you go through the trouble, though? Seems more like we're here picking up the pieces.

"Well then, what do you want from me? To quit browsing the internet as a whole? Avert my eyes from every woman I know?"

For starters, I want both of you to shut the hell up for a second.

They kept on arguing but soon enough, I tuned it out.

Think.

Think dammit.

Oh, right, I'm not alone here.

I thought as I turned to face my partner as she continued silently writing something down and fiddling with the couple's phones.

Is she? Is she really going through someone's social media profile? Are you kidding me? Now? Of all the goddamn times now?

I was about to lose my cool sooner or later with these three as I looked at the cards I had.

You know what... I'll try my method.

I lost my customer service smile and closed my eyes as I breathed a sigh. I pocketed the cards in my hand and faced the two who were still going at it.

"Maybe... Maybe the two of you should just quiet down, and end this relationship now."

The room went silent; their once frustrated faces and loud voices turned to shock and silence. My "partner's" writing screeched to a halt, and all eyes were on me.

My cue to keep talking, I guess.

"If such a small issue is enough to bring you to this point, maybe it's best we dissolve this relationship, yes?"

This time I said that with customer-service mode turned back on.

There's no reason to delay this anymore, come on.

I thought, but that's when I felt a tug on my arm, and a cold, commanding voice entered my ears.

"Outside. Now."

I wanted to reply but both my body nor my mind wanted to know the consequences of disobeying. I stood up and followed her outside, and began to defend my case.

"Look, they're screwed if that much tears them apart, and I don't want to be the reason for a long-term failure."

"So you'd much rather be the reason for a short-term one? How inconsiderate could you be?"

"It doesn't matter. You saw how they were in there-"

"What does matter is our objective here. Our company strives to create relationships, not destroy them. You said it yourself, didn't you? That this was a minute and tiny conflict. Then tell me, why has it brought you to the point of throwing in the towel?" I couldn't reply as she used my own words against me.

"You might not agree with what we're trying to do here, but at the very least, pretend to care, if not for the sentiment at the very least because it is, as of now, your job to do so."

"...Alright, I get it."

I was defeated. I still didn't agree with her or aiAI's logic and beliefs, but one thing I did agree with was that this was my job and the least I could do was do it properly.

"Good. Before we go in and apologize, it's time to compile our data."

"Wait, what?"

"Have you already forgotten? Both of us are here to collect information in different ways and reach a common solution for their conflict."

"Then does that mean you weren't being completely useless earlier?"

"Can you repeat that?"

Oops, she might stab my tongue with her pen.