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74  A Familiar Opponent Approaches

As I drove, my mind went back to the research I'd done on Elsa Karlsson.

When I'd typed her name into the search bar on my laptop, I couldn't say I was surprised by the quantity of articles that popped up.

Apparently, WireFrame Solutions was a juggernaut in the data industry, dealing with everything from market analytics to predictive modeling. They had their fingers in multiple pies. Finance, tech, healthcare, entertainment, you name it.

And while her net worth estimates varied from one person to the next, most sources placed her comfortably at around $1 billion.

But there was a common theme in the articles about her. Everyone was of the opinion that she wasn't just a CEO. She was a power broker, someone who could turn trends into profits and information into influence.

The more I'd dug deeper, the more excited I'd felt. This woman wasn't just rich. She was valuable. She was a potential ally. Someone I could use on my road to sitting at the top.

I'd immediately called Tom to set something up between Sunset Inn and WireFrame Solutions. I had to make this more than just a stamp. I had to add her to my team. The team I'd need to go against my father.

I put the whole thing out of my mind as I pulled up in front of Eidolon interactive, stepping out of my car and glancing up at the building.

As much as I wanted to radiate confidence, I couldn't. While Justin Kale had been someone who thought fondly of my mother, I do not believe that would even affect his decision on whether I'd secure this partnership.

He was a man who didn't allow his personal feelings to make the decisions in his company which had once been called the beating heart of innovation in the video game industry. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

And I know what you all are wondering. What can a video game company do for a hospitality company?

That's the thing. Eidolon Interactive wasn't just about video games. It also had something that I believe will be beneficial to Sunset Inn. Artificial Intelligence.

I crossed the lobby and as I approached, the receptionist smiled at me, recognizing me on sight. "Mr. Voss, Mr. Kale is expecting you." She said, gesturing towards the elevators. "Top floor."

"Thank you." I said with a nod before moving and stepping into the elevator.

The journey upward was quiet, giving me a few moments to gather my thoughts.

I had to convince Justin Kale to accept this partnership. I had to convince him to grant access to his AI framework, one of the most adaptive AIs on the planet.

The elevator doors slid open to a beautifully designed, minimalistic office space.

I had my work cut out for me.

Kale's office was at the far end, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city. He himself stood by the window, hands in his pockets, radiating an aura of casual authority like a king surveying his kingdom.

"Nico." He turned to greet me, a grin on his face. "Right on time."

"Justin." I replied, striding forward to shake his hand. "Thanks for meeting me."

"Of course." He said, motioning for me to sit in one of the chairs opposite his desk. "I've been looking forward to hearing more about what you're doing with Sunset Inn. From the documents I have with me, I can say it's an interesting concept."

"I'm glad to hear that." I said, settling into the chair. "We're positioning Sunset Inn as a boutique experience that combines luxury with personalization. Each guest will feel like the hotel was designed just for them and this is where I think your Adaptive AI can shine."

Justin leaned back in his chair, studying me. "That's ambitious. But ambition isn't enough to stand out in today's market."

He hummed, eyeing me with skepticism. I definitely didn't like that. Then, he nodded like he'd just come to a conclusion and I got a bad feeling in my gut at his expression.

"You've got a strong pitch, Nico. But to be frank, it's not entirely unique. Personalization has become the new buzzword in hospitality."

I leaned forward, meeting his gaze. This wouldn't be where it ends.

"And that's why we're integrating cutting-edge technology to take it to the next level. AI driven guest profiles, dynamic room settings, personalized itineraries, all integrated into the guest experience."

"That's interesting." Justin said. "But here's the thing, Nico. We're not the only ones you're talking to, are we?"

I kept a polite smile on my face. What was he trying to say? "Eidolon Interactive is our priority." I replied.

He smirked in a way that told me he could see through my diplomatic response. "Let me level with you." He leaned forward. "We're in talks with another client about something similar. Walk Shop is proposing an exclusive integration of their AI recommendation engine."

Of course it would be Wang Tae Bin and his company. Why was the universe so eager to pit us against each other? He might be bad with women but I doubt he's that bad with his business.

"Walk Shop is offering a system that can curate personalized experiences based on a user's digital footprint." He continued. "Their tech is impressive and they're positioning it as a one-stop solution for guest engagement."

I kept my face blank, not giving anything away. "That's an interesting angle."

"It is." Justin nodded. "And it puts you in a challenging position."

He paused. "If you want Eidolon to commit to Sunset Inn, you'll need to show me something groundbreaking. Something that outshines what Walk Shop is offering."

"Groundbreaking." I repeated, my mind working on this particular problem.

"Yes." He said. "You're competing against a technology that could fundamentally change how hospitality operates. If Sunset Inn wants to lead, you'll need more than just vision. You'll need innovation and here at Eidolon Interactive, innovation is our bread and butter."

"Understood." I nodded. "And what kind of timeline are we looking at?"

Justin smiled faintly. "I'll give you a few weeks. I believe in Sunset Inn's potential, Nico, but you'll need to prove it."

I rose from my seat, extending my hand. "Challenge accepted."

Justin shook my hand firmly. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with."

As I left his office and rode the elevator down, I grinned to myself.

Normally, I just wouldn't compete and would look for another route as Justin's mind seemed set in stone. After all, It would be much more beneficial to partner with Walk Shop than Sunset Inn.

The company might have been hit hard by the ransomware attack and was looking to use this deal to rise back up but the truth was it had a product that works.

Unfortunately, for both Wang and Justin, I wasn't giving up.

First, because it was Wang Tae Bin.

And second, because this would be the perfect opportunity to work closely with Elsa Klarsson.

By the time I got back to my car, there was already a plan forming in my head. With this stone, I'll kill two birds, eat my cake and have it at the same time.