Chapter 2 : Conference

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.

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