The study was empty. Aubree pushed open the door but didn’t see Bowen inside
“Bowen?” Aubree called out tentatively as she stepped into the study for the first time. Her eyes swept across the room, but it appeared empty.
Moving deeper into the room, Aubree noticed several cigarelles scattered across the desk.
Aubree thought, “Bowen smokes!
“Who would we thought someone <b>as </b>refined and gentlemanly as Bowen would actually smoke?”
At first nce, Bowen gave the impression of a perfect gentleman, refined in manner, elegant in demeanor, and cultivated in temperament, all seamlessly blended into one.
She’d always pictured Bowen as the type to meditate in a room with burning incense. But this discoverypletely caught her off guard.
Aubree picked up an unlit cigarette from the <b>desk </b><b>and </b>sniffed it. The scent wasn’t unpleasant, more like the kind women would prefer.
***No smoking, youngdy.” <b>A </brge, well<b>–</b>manicured hand reached over her shoulder and plucked the cigarette from her fingers.
Aubree turned back. Towering over her, Bowen’s usually deep and tranquil eyes met hers, yet now, <b>faint </b><b>ripples </b>of emotion shimmered within them.
With the desk behind her and Bowen standing closely in front, Aubree found herselfpletely trapped between him and the table.
<b>Trapped </b>in his ams, Aubree’s face flushed with panic and confusion.
The way he was pinning Aubree down from above made Bowen recallst night, her bare back exposed as shey face down on the bed, cheeks flushed. eyes filled with shyness,pletely under his control, just like now
Bowen’s Adam’s apple bobbed as <b>his </b>gaze darkened, and he unconsciously leaned in closer. Aubree’s instincts screamed, she <b>could </b><b>sense </b>danger in the <b>air</b><b>, </b>warning her, “Something’s not <b>right</b>, <b>he’s </b>way too close.”
“Bowen,” Aubree stammered tentatively.
Bowen braced one hand against the <b>desk</b>, veins bulging on the back of his <b>hand </b><b>as </b>it <b>restraining </b>some powerful urge.
Bowen parted his lips, mping the cigarette between them. With his free hand, he swept up the metal lighter from the desk and pressed it into Aubree’s palm. “Light it for me.”
Trapped in the tight space between him and the desk, all she could see was him, all she could breathe was his scent. For a moment, she felt utterly dazed, caught in a whirlwind named Bowen.
The cold metal in her palm snapped Aubree back to reality. <b>Flustered</b>, she hastily shoved the man looming over her away.
With an amused smirk, Bowen stepped back following her <b>push</b>. As he retreated<b>, </b>he deftly snatched the lighter from Aubree’s hand and it his cigarette with practiced ease.
The crisp metallic click of the lighter snapped Bowen back to <b>his </b><b>senses</b>, ruthlessly suppressing all the improper thoughts that had been swirling in his
mind
“Alright, what brings you here?” Bowen exhaled, the smoke slightly obscuring his features. He took just one <b>drag </b>before letting the cigarette rest between his fingers.
“Let’s get back to business,” Aubree said,posing herself with a serious expression. “I want to invest <b>in </b><b>an </b>esports <b>club</b>”
llowen arched <b>an </b>eyebrow, unsurprised by <b>her </b><b>proposal</b>. “Not exactly groundbreaking, is it?”
She thought, “Indeed, in my previous life, aside from Alvin, the trust ford kid who bankrolled a club of God’s fury and briefly let it <bpete </b><b>with </b><b>the </b>established teams in the esports league, it was basically dominated by the same few teams.
Right now, League of Legends is the hottest game, and if you want a slice of the exports ple, establishing a club for it is essential
“This is just the first step. There are rumors that in theing years, League of Legends and several other games will be official Olympic events, if that really happens, esports will enter its golden age. Now is the perfect time to get in on this Aubree dered confidently
Bowen’s gaze was full of approval. “I suspect you have more in mind, don’t you?”
He didn’t understand gaming, but capital was his domain.
Bowen had already caught Aubree’s drift the moment she started speaking
Using God’s Fury as a springboard to enter the League of Legendspetition and establish an esports club was a promising strategy. With its current poprity and buzz, proper branding and management, plus a couple more championship wins, could make bing the next powerhouse like Apor Squad entirely achievable.
Exactly, Bowen, Have you ever paid attention to any live streams or broadcasts of regr esports matches?
“Bowen, what if <b>there </b>was an app that could connect fans directly with their idols for real–time, face–to–face interactions? Do you think people would pay for that? And what if this tform was open to everyone, so ordinary people could also showcase themselves and build their own brand?”
Aubree outlined her vision to Bowen<b>, </b>describing a short video livestreaming tform model that would go viral nationwide in theing years, just as she remembered from her previous life.
“That’s highly visionary, Bowen remarked. Just from hearing Aubree’s proposals, he could already envision the substantialmercial returns if these Ideas were put into practice.
Not only that, this model could spawn numerous spin–off ventures, and every <b>single </b>one would be a cash cow.
Aubree’s eyes lit up. Jackpot she thought to herself, barely able to contain her excitement.
Seeing that Bowen was hooked, Aubree continued, “With God’s Fury’s championship, they’re at peak poprity. If weunch the club together with the app, we can have the team kick off livestreaming on our tform, starting with gaming streams. <b>Once </b>traffic builds, more creators will want to join. That traffic bes both our product and our customer base, creating a virtuous cycle that fuels its own growth.
“And as the tform’s operator, all we’d need to do is maintain order.
Aubree thought to herself, ‘Back then, this tform wasn’t just a nationwide phenomenon. Even government agencies joined in to promote themselves
Bowen hadn’t nned to refuse <b>her </b>anyway. If it failed, he’d just treat it as a learning experience.”
The fact that she came up with such an idea truly caught him off guard. But from a business standpoint, if <b>this </b>proposal hadnded on his desk, he would have invested without hesitation
Bowen <b>stubbed </b><b>out </b>the cigarette in his hand and asked directly, “So, what do you want me to <b>do</b><b>?</b>”
Aubree was straightforward, “Money I need money she <b>dered</b>, “Even <b>the </b>over 3 million in prize money from the tournament <b>is </b>barely enough to keep God’s Fury’s team running for a year.
“Just setting up a club and buying a League of Legends franchise spot is already a huge investment. From what I know, a slot usually goes for anywhere between 20 to <b>25 </b>million dors. And I’m broke 7
Bowen couldn’t help but smile at her bluntness. He’d had plenty of peoplee to him for investment before, but this was the first time someone had been so bold and unapologetic about it.
He agreed without hesitation. “Done. Name your price, I’ll cover it all. But in return, I <b>want a </b><b>30</b>% equity stake from the very start, in both your new esports club and the software you’ll be developing<b>.</b>”
Aubree thought, ‘Thirty percent is no small stake, but it’s still within my eptable range
Aubree bit her lip, weighing the offer for a brief moment before giving a farm ned
Aubree thought, “Trading thirty percent of the shares for unlimited financial backing from the Turner Group, and the prestige of their nam backing? Absolutely worth it, no matter how you look at it
“After all, without this funding, even getting started would be impossible for me”
Bowen said, “I’ll have the funds wired to your ount by tomorrow”
<b>With </b>the funds secured, all that was left <b>was </b>to set up the club. For that, she still needed to negotiate with Alvin, since he was now the owner of <b>God’s </b>
Fury
“I won’t keep you any longer, Bowen Aubree obediently left, carefully closing the door behind her.
The moment she left, the study was plunged into a hollow silence,
Bowen hung his head, eyes narrowed in thought as his fingers flicked the lighter restlessly. The me danced, mirroring the turmoil churning inside him
Bowen clicked his tongue in frustration.
He thought, ‘Bowen, what the hell is wrong with you? Why am I feeling that Bree…”
An irritated tut escaped through his clenched teeth once more, just as his phone rang.
Bowen answered curtly, “Talk.”
“Bowen, what’s with that tone? Feeling a little… pent–up?” Olle Lane teased over the phone, clearly delighted to catch Bowen in a bad mood.
Bowen said impatiently, “Whatever I’m hanging up.”
“Come <b>on</b>, mant Mark King’s out and wants to get the guys together. You wouldn’t <b>bail </b>on us, would you?”
He realized he really did need to blow off some steam. Tightening his grip on his phone, Bowen said, “Location”
“Nightworld.”
“Got it,” Bowen replied, pausing awkwardly. Trying to sound casual, he added, “That book you Daughter“, do you still have it? Mind sending me a copy?”
u mentionedst time… something like ‘360 Ways to Raise A
Ollie gasped. “Wait, did Bowen really
take that random thing I saidst time to heart?
Ollie’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he chuckled styly, “Absolutely, I’ll send <i>it </i>right over
ug but a document titled “360 Ways to Love Your <b>Wife</b>” and renamed it “360 Ways to Raise A Daughter“, and sent it to
As soon as the <b>call </b>ended, Ollie dug Bowen.
AD