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75  The Art Of Data

The easiest part of every plan is probably making the plan. Executing it? Not so easy.

I'm used to battling on two fronts but this one would be different. Elsa and Justin are not my usual opponents.

I know what you're thinking. Isn't Elsa a target? How is Justin an opponent?

Let me explain.

Targets are goals that I have to achieve. Opponents are things I have to conquer. See the difference?

My opponent in order to win this deal isn't Wang Tae Bin. It's Justin Kale.

Wang is an obstacle that I have to overcome in order to show Justin that I'm the right choice to back.

From our conversation, he seemed to have already made up his mind and was just giving me a chance to show him what I could come up with before finding reasons to shoot me down. I have to convince a man who doesn't want to be convinced.

As for Elsa Klarsson, she isn't your average woman.

She is someone who is as much a warrior as I am. Someone who would never allow herself to be a target. Approaching her like a target would do more harm than good in this situation.

Which was why I was approaching this meeting like a businessman. I wasn't here to seduce anybody. I was here to conduct business.

My Regera purred to a stop in front of WireFrame Solutions. I stepped out of the car, eyeing the building.

Unlike most buildings around it, instead of being tall, it was long. That was not to say it wasn't tall but it was like a fallen rectangle that screamed success without needing to shout, which was a lot like the woman who ran it.

I exhaled. With this visit, I should be able to make Elsa my ace in the hole.

If Eidolon Interactive wanted innovation, I would give them something Wang and his Walk Shop couldn't touch.

I adjusted my tie and stepped into the lobby. Immediately, I could tell that this was the kind of place where even the air felt smarter.

I sorted things out with the receptionist and in a minute, I was taking the elevator up to the top floor.

A minute later there was a chime and the elevator door slid open.

Sitting there was Elsa's personal assistant. This was my first time meeting her but she stood with a big smile as if I was an old friend.

"Good morning, Mr. Voss. Ms. Karlsson is expecting you." She gestured at the door leading into her office.

"Thank you." I nodded with a smile of my own.

I entered her office and the first thing that popped into my mind was 'space.'

The room was so spacious, the furniture was like islands in an ocean.

On one side of the room was a seating area meant for relaxation or discussions. In the middle of the room was a tall table with no chair, meant for standing only.

And on the other side of the room, standing in front of a large screen, her blonde hair in a bun. This time, she wore a black pantsuit, looking like a queen in her domain.

She turned as I walked into the office, her lips curving into a polite smile.

"Nico." Her voice was smooth and confident. "Welcome to WireFrame."

"Elsa." I offered her a genuine smile, extending my hand. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

She shook my hand firmly, gesturing to the seating area. "Please, sit. I can't say I'm not interested to hear what brings you here so soon after moving in."

I took a seat across from her, leaning slightly forward. "I'll go straight to the point."

There was no point beating around the bush.

"I have a situation that only WireFrame can help me solve."

Her brow arched slightly. "You have my attention."

I laid down the situation for her.

"I'm competing for a partnership with Eidolon Interactive for my boutique hotel venture, Sunset Inn. The competition? Wang Tae Bin's Walk Shop. He's proposing an AI driven recommendation engine. I need to not only counter it but outclass it."

I could see the interest in Elsa's eyes. "And you think data is the answer."

"Not just data. Your data." I held her gaze. "WireFrame specializes in creating behavioral maps on consumer behavior. I want to leverage your expertise to design a hospitality experience so personal and thoughtful that no AI could replicate it."

She tilted her head, studying me. "Go on."

"Sunset Inn isn't just about luxury." I explained. "It's about personalization at an emotional level."

"Imagine a guest walks into our hotel. They're greeted with their favorite drink. Not because they ordered it but because we know they love it."

"Their room temperature adjusts automatically, their favorite playlist is playing and their itinerary matches their preferences without them lifting a finger. That's the vision. But to do this, we need more than just AI. We need the kind of deep behavioral insights that only WireFrame can provide."

Elsa leaned back in her chair, her fingers steepled. "I like what I'm hearing. But why should I involve myself in this race? What's your edge against Walk Shop?"

"My edge," I said with a shark-like grin, "is that I'm willing to take risks. Risks that Wang would never dare."

"Wang is scrambling to save his company. He must create something solid before it all comes crashing down around him. But I'm not looking for the same safe and generic solution. I'm looking for innovation that disrupts the norm. WireFrame can deliver that."

She considered this for a moment. "What's your timeline?"

"Three weeks." I said. "Eidolon expects a final pitch and I need your support to craft something that will leave them no choice but to choose Sunset Inn."

"Three weeks is tight." Elsa's tone was neutral, but I could see the wheels turning in her mind. "What's your budget?"

"Money isn't an issue." I said confidently. "I want the best. Whatever resources you need, they're yours."

"You're bold, Nico. I like that." She smiled faintly. "If we agree to this, you'll need to trust us completely. That means full access to your plans, your goals and your data."

"Done." I said without hesitation. "I'll give you everything you need. I don't want to just make a business deal. I want to make a statement saying Sunset Inn isn't here to compete. It's here to dominate."

Elsa's smile widened, a glint of approval in her eyes. "I like your conviction. Very well, I'll assign my best team to your project. But I have one condition."

"Name it."

"I want WireFrame's name on this. If we succeed, I want the industry to know that we were the force behind Sunset Inn's transformation."

I nodded. "Deal. You deserve the credit."

She stood, extending her hand. "Then we have an agreement."

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