Page 2 of Xander

Internally scoffing at the ridiculously shallow app, I turned to Caden. “I’m shocked you agreed to make this app.”

Caden was our own Frankenstein, who ran a university lab, conducting questionable experiments and drug trials. He often ignored the university’s requests to undertake profitable ventures, but they couldn’t fire him since he was a rising star in science who brought them funding and attention. Giving in to their demands was contrary to his usual behavior.

Caden resignedly looked up at the skies as if regretting his life choices. “Don’t remind me. The university demanded an invention with commercial value to fund the new lab. And that app will generate a lot of money.”

“Sure. But did you have to assign a stupid status?” The pressure to meet an arbitrary status set a terrible precedent. One might accuse Caden of being eccentric, but he was a respectable, bona fide scientist. I assumed he’d hold himself above trivial, superficial matters.

Caden caught the expression I wore and felt the need to distance himself from something he deemed a cheap party trick. “Damon installed all that crap to mainstream the app—something fun for superficial idiots.” He scantly regarded Sophie, the insinuation clear.

Sophie was riding high from her results and either didn’t notice his jab or didn’t care. “There are also tiers within the goddess status. The percentage ranges correspond to the different levels, each named after a Greek goddess known for her beauty. Those over 90 percent are Athena while 95–99 percent are Hera.”

“What if someone is a 100 percent match for all the features considered perfect?” Jasper asked.

“Aphrodite,” came Caden’s brief answer.

My head tilted with curiosity.

“If someone hits 100 percent, they’d be declared Aphrodite,” Caden drawled, the explanation seeming trite. “It’s unattainable because perfection doesn’t exist. According to another study conducted by more vain idiots, the closest anyone has come to it is Jodie Comer at 94 percent.”

“Who?” My pop culture knowledge was lacking as both names drew a blank.

“Actress,” Caden replied disdainfully.

Sophie stared at me incredulously. “Do you live under a rock? Hello! Jodie Comer from Killing Eve? She is fantastic.”

“Also considered the most beautiful woman on earth.” Caden didn’t sound impressed, only factual.

“If Jodie Comer’s rating is 94 percent, that means the perfect woman hasn’t been discovered yet.” Jasper sounded intrigued.

“All of New York is attending this party,” Sophie piped in enthusiastically, gesturing at the guests filing onto the lawn. “Maybe we’ll discover Aphrodite tonight.”

Caden scowled, frustrated that his explanation held no weight. “Stop taking this seriously,” he scolded. “Beauty is, and will always be, subjective. Eye of the beholder and all that crap. So, look through your damn eyes instead of through this dumb lens.”

The profound words from our resident cynic surprised me but didn’t deter Sophie. “We’ll hold this over everyone’s face tonight and see who is the fairest of all,” she told Jasper.

Sophie and Jasper pointed the iPad at unsuspecting guests. I rolled my eyes at them while Caden looked like he’d rather be anywhere but here.

As the evening progressed, Sophie and Jasper’s search for Aphrodite lost its initial fervor. They abandoned the iPad at the terrace bar and migrated inside with the rest of the guests.

While others were happy to escape the oppressive summer heat, I remained on the terrace. The bar inside was packed, whereas this one was relatively quiet.

Bored, I unlocked the iPad and tinkered with the app. Holding my drink in one hand, I distractedly skimmed over the attendants on the terrace through the camera lens.

83 percent.

58 percent.

73 percent.

The tablet suddenly froze. The drink in my hand unintentionally paused mid-sip as well.

Sun.

Blue sky.

Those two thoughts were at the forefront of my mind as the app scanned the face that had popped up on the screen. The bright loading icon symbol spun furiously for what felt like an eternity before spitting out the results—100 percent—answering the divisive question from this evening: Does perfection exist?

The magical words everyone had been hunting appeared across the screen like a prophecy.