Laurene Ashford strode through the glass doors of the conference room with the kind of poise that made even the most seasoned executives take a step back. As CEO of the R&M industries, a leading sports company, she had built an empire. Her empire. And today, it was about a deal that would make it even bigger.

At twenty nine, she was already one of the most powerful women in the industry, known for her sharp mind and relentless drive. She’d sacrificed everything to reach this point. Success was the only thing that kept her going.

“Morning, everyone,” she greeted her team as they gathered around the polished conference table. Her voice was calm and authoritative, sending an immediate ripple of respect around the room. “Let’s get started.”

The merger she was overseeing would place her company in a dominant position in the global sports market. But there was one complication: the negotiation was with Sebastian king, CEO of her biggest rival, king industries.

Laurene had worked tirelessly to stay ahead of king industries, and she knew Sebastian kings reputation. He was charismatic, ruthless, and just as ambitious as she was—if not more. The two companies had been in a battle for supremacy for years, and she was determined not to let him get the upper hand now.

The door to the conference room opened with a soft whoosh, and in walked Sebastian king himself.

Dressed in a tailored suit, Sebastian exuded effortless confidence. His reputation preceded him, but Laurene wasn’t impressed. She couldn’t afford to be. He was a thorn in her side, the man she’d been trying to outpace for years. Being in the same industry, their companies had crossed paths counless times but they had never met each other personally —until now.

“Miss Ashford,” he said, flashing her a grin that seemed too cocky for the occasion. “I have to say, I’m impressed. Your team’s been keeping up, but I have to wonder… can you keep up with the competition?”

Laurene didn’t flinch. “I don’t play games, Mr king, I win them.”

Sebastian chuckled, a low, confident sound. “Ah, the ‘I’m the boss, don’t mess with me’ routine. I’ve seen it before. But let’s be honest here—you and I both know that in this business, you can’t win on your own. Sooner or later, you’re going to need help.”

Laurene tilted her head slightly, and with a grin she said, “We’ll see about that.”

He took a seat across from her, effortlessly slipping into the power dynamic as if he owned the place. Laurene was acutely aware of how his mere presence seemed to command attention, even in her own boardroom. He was the kind of man who didn’t care about rules—he made them. And that irked her more than she was willing to admit.

The meeting began, but the tension between them was palpable. As she presented her company’s strategy for the merger, she could feel Sebastian's eyes on her, analyzing every move she made. His comments were sharp, pushing her to consider angles she hadn’t fully anticipated.

“I see you’ve planned for every contingency,” Sebastian said, his voice smooth and laced with approval. “But you’ve missed one important detail. The market’s shifting. It’s not just about who has the best product or who provides the best players anymore. It’s about who controls the narrative. And if we combine our forces, we could write the narrative together.”

Laurene held her ground, never showing the flicker of doubt that his words might have planted. “I don’t play second fiddle,Mr King. I’ll win this deal, just like I’ve won every other battle.”

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, a smug smile playing at the corners of his lips. “You’re always so sure of yourself, miss Ashford. But sometimes, even the best-laid plans need a little help from outside forces.”

He was right. But admitting it? That was something she couldn’t do—not yet.

The rest of the meeting continued, but every word Sebastian spoke seemed to cut through her carefully curated façade. He didn’t just challenge her ideas—he challenged her entire approach to business. And despite herself, she couldn’t help but admire his boldness. But that didn’t mean she would let him win. Not now, not ever.

When the meeting finally wrapped up, Laurene stood from her seat, straightening her blazer.Thankyou for your precious time today Mr king,she said with a smile on her face.

Not at all miss Ashford, this deal is something that we have to do together and will benefit both our companies. Lets meet and sign the contract at tomorrow's confrence, he said as they shook hands.

The sleek glass walls of the Paramount Hotel Conference Center gleamed under the morning sun, mirroring the bustling energy of the sports industry’s elite gathered inside. This was no ordinary confrence. Today, the heads of two of the biggest names in the business were about to face off—except this time, they were expected to play nice.

Laurene Ashford, CEO of L&M, stepped out of her black SUV, her heels clicking confidently against the polished marble floor. Every stride was deliberate, every glance commanding. She wasn’t just attending the conference; she was the conference. Known for her razor-sharp instincts and unparalleled drive, Laurene had built the L&M Indusries into a global empire.

Inside the main hall, the buzz of conversations hushed slightly as Laurene entered, her signature tailored navy blue suit exuding authority. She scanned the room quickly, her eyes narrowing as they landed on the one man she hoped to avoid but huh no luck there.

Sebastian King.

CEO of The King Industries, her fiercest rival. Tall, charismatic, and annoyingly talented at making headlines, Sebastian was everything Laurene wasn’t: reckless, charming, and maddeningly unpredictable. They’d clashed more times than she could count—on deals, sponsorships, even athletes.

And now, thanks to a merger between their key partners, they were being forced into an unlikely partnership.

“Laurene,” Sebastian greeted, his smirk already grating on her nerves as he approached. He held a coffee cup in one hand, his gray suit fitting him like it was made just for this moment. “Fancy seeing you here. Or should I say, it’s about time?”.He said pretending as they had just not met the day before.

“Sebastian,” Laurene replied coolly, refusing to be baited. “I see you’re already on first name basis, good at starting small talk huh... Let’s hope your business strategy is just as good.”

He laughed, a low, easy sound that made several heads turn towards them but they just as fast turned back as Laurene glanced towards them. “Oh, it is. But you’ll find out soon enough. Shall we?”

The conference room loomed ahead, its glass doors emblazoned with the logo of the biggest sports retailer in the world, AllStar Sports. AllStar Spors was and international sports unit which organized most of the major international Sports contests, all the major Sports companies had wanted to join this venture but being impressed by their ways they had wanted L&M and The Kings to handle it —a venture neither CEO had wanted but both knew they couldn’t afford to refuse.

Laurene took a steadying breath, straightened her shoulders, and stepped inside, sebastian following close behind. The room was filled with reporters, executives, and potential partners, all waiting to see if these two titans could bury the hatchet—or sharpen it further.

As the meeting began, Laurene couldn’t help but feel the familiar heat of rivalry flaring in her chest. Sebastian leaned back in his chair, looking far too relaxed for her liking.

Let the games begin.

The ink was barely dry on the contract, but the tension between Laurene and Sebastian was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Back at the L&M headquarters, Laurene sat in her corner office, staring at the partnership agreement spread across her desk. The deal made sense on paper—a strategic alliance to create a groundbreaking product line that would dominate the market. But in practice? Working with Sebastian King was already testing her patience.

Her assistant, Chloe, poked her head in. “He’s here,” she said cautiously.

Lauren's eyes flicked up. “King?”

Chloe nodded. “He’s in the conference room, waiting to go over the launch plans.”

Laurene sighed, smoothing her blazer as she stood. “Let’s get this over with.”

When she entered the room, Sebastian was leaning back in one of the chairs, scrolling through his phone. His tie was slightly loosened, and he looked annoyingly at home in her office.

“Punctual as always,” he said without looking up.

“And unprofessional as always,” she shot back, taking a seat across from him. “Shall we begin?”

Sebastian grinned, finally setting his phone down. “By all means. Tell me how you’re planning to micromanage this project into oblivion.”

Laurene ignored the jab and pulled up the presentation on the screen. “The joint product line will feature cutting-edge performance gear with a focus on sustainability. L&M will handle the design and manufacturing. Kings will manage distribution and marketing. We’ll need bi-weekly progress meetings to ensure everything stays on track.”

“Bi-weekly? Do you think I don’t have anything better to do?”

“This is better than whatever else you’d be doing,” she replied crisply. “And unless you want to explain to AllStar why their golden partnership is falling apart, you’ll make time.”

Sebastian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. For a moment, the teasing glint in his eyes faded, replaced by something sharper. “You know, Ashford, for someone who claims to hate me, you sure love telling me what to do.”

Laurene met his gaze head-on, refusing to flinch. “And for someone who claims to be a leader, you seem to enjoy avoiding responsibility.”

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken challenges. Finally, Sebastian sat back with a smirk. “Fine. Bi-weekly meetings. But only if you agree to let me handle the creative direction for the marketing campaign.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Laurene.” His voice softened, almost coaxing. “This isn’t just about numbers and efficiency. You want this line to stand out? Let me do what I do best.”

She hesitated, the weight of his words sinking in. As much as she hated to admit it, Seb had a knack for creating buzz. The Kings could use that edge.

“Fine,” she said finally. “But if you go off-brand even once, I’m pulling the plug.”

“Deal.”

Sebastian extended a hand across the table, and after a brief pause, Laurene shook it. His grip was firm, warm, and annoyingly self-assured.

As their hands parted, Sebastian’s smirk returned. “This is going to be fun.”

Laurene wasn’t so sure.