The greetings were exchanged. Evan passed down a judgmental look at Raven. William noticed and, embarrassed by his daughter, didn't want to introduce her, but he did mention her to the Shah's heir.
Benedict took advantage of the tension and said, "She is Raven Zhao."
The Shah heir, Atish Shah, politely stood up and said, "Mister William said you are an author."
"Well, he said she wrote three books," Benedict corrected. Aidan simply sat down, one leg on the other, tapping his fingers on his knee, and he asked, "Atish Shah, I am impressed how these two are charmed by you."
"It is Mr. William and Mr. Evan who welcomed me with such open hearts." Atish Shah said, "Unlike Mr. Lin and his people, who are quite biased, they asked if I use a curry perfume."
"They thought I was Indian." He continued and burst out laughing.
Benedict slipped his hand in his pocket and said, "Are you not?"
Raven laughed. Aidan looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously???"
"What?" Raven asked, shocked.
Aidan noticed all the eyes were on him; he coughed, "Nothing."
She didn't smile once for me, but this idiot cracks one joke, and she is all jolly.
"How about we schedule a meeting tomorrow?" Evan distracted them and asked.
"Not tomorrow." Atish's face changed; suddenly he was all serious and cold. "This weekend." He signaled his secretary and excused himself, leaving the hall.
"That was quick." Benedict commented, taking a seat next to Evan, "Mr. Evan, Shah has impressed you, but you need to work hard to impress him."
"He is right. All I need is his sign on paper. But you, William, you need his finger." Evan teased, "I have a good pen, but you don't."
"Shut up." William threw the napkin and looked at Raven displeased.
"You should try that, Mrs. Vivian's son. He is one rich spoiled brat," Evan said, snorting.
"He is a shameless alcoholic." William stood up and turned to Raven. "Did you find any friends today?"
Raven was invited to the conference for widening connections and networks. But Aidan knew very well how she had introduced herself to people.
"She found six young elites. You should be proud of her." Aidan glanced at her and said, giggling.
"Well, yeah. Not six though. Just two." Raven didn't smile; she answered simply.
"Who?" Evan asked. "Do we know them?"
"Perhaps, Mr. Sharma and Mr. Fan. They were quite impressed by the pitch. They have arranged a meeting this Tuesday. As long as the proposal is reasonable, they will sign it." Raven said.
"When did you meet them?" Aidan asked, puzzled.
"Shut up!" Raven mumbled.
"I need results." William warned and left.
…
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 quickly 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 replied. "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. 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."
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 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?"
Raven didn't look up again. Her fingers continued moving across the keyboard.
"Why are you asking that?"
Aidan hesitated before answering.
"Your father is considering a marriage alliance with the Shahs."
Raven let out a short laugh.
"Impossible."
Her lips curved faintly.
"The Shah family is extremely particular about their daughters-in-law. And besides…" she shrugged lightly, "this Atish—he's a notorious womanizer."
She leaned back in her chair.
"There are dozens of influential families connected to the Shahs. If he wanted to marry, he could have done it years ago. Yet he's still single."
Aidan watched her carefully while she spoke.
"You seem very well informed," he said quietly.
Raven didn't deny it.
"It's true he's a genius," she said. "But geniuses often come with… quirks."
Then she closed her laptop halfway.
"If the Shahs ever accepted me," she added dryly, "I might consider accepting him."
She scoffed.
"And what are the odds of that?"
"Minus ten billion."
Aidan studied her expression.
"You sound very confident."
Raven shrugged.
"In this matter?" she said calmly.
"No one can beat me." Outside the glass walls of the hotel, the city lights stretched endlessly into the night. Inside, Raven Zhao continued working as if nothing in the world could disturb her plans.
Aidan leaned back into the couch, his gaze lingering on her. For someone so certain that no one would ever choose her, she seemed strangely confident that she could refuse anyone.