The conference had long since ended.
It was late into the night. Most of the guests had left, and the grand hall had fallen into a quieter rhythm. The distant clink of glasses and the murmur of a few lingering conversations echoed faintly through the lounge.
Raven sat alone at one of the low tables, her laptop open before her.
Her shoulders were tense as her fingers moved across the keyboard. An earbud rested in her ear while she spoke into her phone.
"I've marked the changes," she said calmly. "I need the sample by Monday."
Her eyes scanned the document on the screen.
"And prepare the market evaluation report too."
Across the room, Aidan approached quietly.
"Yeah… no, don't send it from that email," Raven continued. "Use the other one."
She paused, listening.
"No, not that one. I'll text you."
She ended the call and removed the earbud.
Only then did she notice Aidan sitting across from her.
He had appeared so silently that she hadn't even heard him approach.
"Why did you lie?" he asked.
Raven barely looked up.
Jacob stepped forward beside Aidan, speaking first.
"I did some research," he said. "Both of them have a long-standing rivalry. They're major names in show business."
Raven nodded without looking away from the screen.
"Yes. Which is exactly why they have enough money to sponsor our launch."
Her fingers continued flying across the keyboard.
"I have a plan," she added.
Aidan leaned back slightly, watching her.
"And if I pull it off," Raven continued, her voice steady, "we'll have both of them sign the advertising deal."
Aidan chuckled softly.
His thumb brushed across his lower lip as he studied her with growing curiosity.
"Are you sure about that?"
Raven finally looked up.
"Yes," she said simply.
Her eyes shone with a sudden spark of excitement.
"Look—it's simple and complicated at the same time."
She turned the laptop slightly toward them.
"But if it works…"
Her fingers resumed typing rapidly.
"It becomes a win-win-win situation."
Aidan leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table.
"Explain the win-win-win part," he said.
Raven stopped typing for a moment and rotated the laptop toward him. On the screen was a simple diagram—two names on opposite ends, arrows pointing toward a central campaign logo.
"These two celebrities hate each other," she said calmly. "Their rivalry has been trending for years."
Jacob frowned. "And you think they'll work together?"
"They won't," Raven responded. "Not directly."
She tapped the screen.
"They'll compete."
Aidan's eyebrow lifted.
Raven continued, her voice gaining energy.
"Two separate advertisements. Same product launch. Same week. Their fans will fight online. The media will cover it for free. Every article will mention the brand."
Jacob blinked.
"So the rivalry becomes the marketing engine."
"Exactly."
Aidan studied the screen, then leaned back slowly.
"That's genius. But it is risky. There are too many variables."
Raven shrugged.
"It's business."
For a moment, the lounge was quiet except for the distant clatter of glasses being cleared from the hall.
Aidan watched her fingers resume their rapid typing.
Earlier that evening, she had been the awkward girl in the corner drinking a mocktail. And now she looked for like an obsessive strategist.
Aidan leaned back against the couch, his fingers loosely interlocked. His eyes were lowered as he spoke.
"That Shah… how was he?"
"In what way?" Raven moistened her lips and looked up briefly from her laptop.
"He's smart," Aidan said quietly. "Sharp."
Then, after a pause, he added,
"Do you like him?"