The Briefing at DEDIS Hotels

The rumble of the plane shook Chris's seat as he adjusted his position, looking out the window at the ocean of clouds below. The pilot's voice over the intercom confirmed they were an hour from arriving in Geneva, and for the first time since booking this flight, reality set in. This was not a trip—it was a turning point for ROWON Enterprises.

Ryan sat beside him, reading through a paper on his tablet. "You okay?" he asked without looking up.

Chris nodded, stretching his hand across his thighs. "Just psyching myself up. This press conference is more than I expected."

Ryan chuckled. "Of course, it is. DEDIS Hotels is an international giant. All the big players in the industry will be there. And they're seeking innovation."

Chris took a breath, reclining. "Yeah, I understand that. But closing a deal here? It won't be simple."

"Nothing worth winning ever is," Ryan grumbled, refocusing on his screen.

After a safe touchdown at Geneva Airport, the two of them ventured out into the cold Swiss atmosphere. A chauffeur-driven car courtesy of DEDIS Hotels was waiting in attendance. Travel to the hotel was in silence, the two men lost in thought, seriousness of the circumstances making words superfluous.

DEDIS Hotels was even more impressive than Chris had ever imagined. Even the entrance, with marble floor, chandeliers, and an atmosphere that screamed exclusivity, was enough to inform Chris that the company was rich and influential. They were led to the conference hall, where dozens of other representatives of businesses and executives had already gathered.

As Chris stepped inside, he recognized some faces—competitors from other parts of the country, some of whom had been in the business longer than he had. He could feel their gaze on him, sizing him up, asking themselves if he was tough enough to compete with them.

Ryan elbowed him. "Welcome to the battlefield."

Chris smiled. "Yeah, I see that."

Before they could get comfortable, a black-haired man of great height with piercing blue eyes approached. He wore a dark suit well tailored and a DEDIS Hotels pin on his lapel and exuded authority. Chris recognized him immediately—Alexander Pierce, CEO of DEDIS Hotels.

"Mr. Rowon," Alexander said, extending his hand. "Welcome. It's an honor to have ROWON Enterprises as our guests."

Chris gave it a good shake. "The pleasure is ours. We're grateful for the opportunity."

Alexander's gaze flicked to Ryan before he nodded in gratitude. "You'll find this year's competition will be more intense than ever. Many companies have dispatched their best teams, and we're looking forward to revolutionary innovation. I hope ROWON Enterprises is ready?"

Chris smiled, trying to hide his nervousness. "Absolutely."

Alexander nodded, gesturing toward the stage. "Good. The press conference will begin shortly. You'll want to pay close attention. The rules this year are stricter than before."

________________________________________

The conference room filled quickly, and within minutes, the event commenced. Cameras flashed, journalists whispered, and representatives sat poised to absorb every detail. Alexander Pierce took the podium, his presence commanding the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the DEDIS Hotels Global Innovation Briefing. You all know that this competition is a benchmark for companies all over the world. The champions will receive a 12-month contract for supplies from DEDIS Hotels, a 50% discount on promotional services with our top models and celebrities, and exposure that can redefine their position in the market."

A buzz of interest ran through the crowd. Danger was high, but so was reward.

Alexander continued, "But this time, we have one new stipulation. Every firm has to present a completely uninvented, proprietary product—one not yet unveiled to the market at large. Your innovation should be proprietary, groundbreaking, and capable of agitating the field."

Chris's stomach clenched. He had anticipated strict demands, but this raised the bar. He glanced at Ryan, who was still expressionless, his fingers tapping against his tablet.

Alexander's voice grew serious. "We do not accept innovations of existing products. Any submission which is found to be an upgrade of existing technology will be eliminated on the spot. Only pure innovation will be entertained."

Chris could feel the room tension grow. A number of competitors exchanged glances, undoubtedly rethinking their strategy.

After the keynote presentation, attendees were free to mix. Chris and Ryan were swamped by other business executives, some no doubt ready to question their strategy, others openly sizing up the competition.

One of them, a tall, broad-shouldered man with an intimidating presence, moved forward. "Chris Rowon, right?"

Chris turned, nodding. "Yes. And you are?"

"Dylan Hayes. CEO of NovaTech." Dylan grinned, his confidence evident. "I've heard a lot about ROWON Enterprises. Let's see if you can hold your own in the big leagues."

Ryan interrupted smoothly, "We'll let our product do the talking."

Another man joined the conversation—a slightly older but just as crisp-looking executive. "Hayes, don't shortchange the newcomers. Sometimes new ideas are better than experience."

Dylan chuckled. "Sure, Alan. We'll see."

Chris saw the familiar face of Alan Stetson, CEO of Stetson Global, one of the oldest companies in the business. He nodded to acknowledge. "It's an honor to be competing against veterans like yourselves."

Alan grinned, as if pleased. "Same here. Let's see if ROWON Enterprises can surprise us."

More introductions to come, all interaction with hidden motive—some eager to probe strength, others not afraid of distrust. The rivalries were much stronger than Chris had anticipated, and ROWON Enterprises would have to work hard in unexpected ways.

As evening was starting to fall, Chris and Ryan stood on the balcony of the hotel, gazing out at Geneva's skyline.

Ryan exhaled. "This is going to be a hell of a competition."

Chris nodded, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "Yeah. But we're not here to lose."

Ryan smirked, stepping closer. "Good. Because neither am I."

Chris turned to face him, but before he could respond, Ryan reached out, gently adjusting Chris's tie. His fingers lingered for a moment longer than necessary, his gaze locked onto Chris's.

"You know," Ryan whispered, "I've been watching you handle all of this—leading, strategizing, taking all the pressure. But let me ask you, Chris… when do you let someone take care of you?"

Chris swallowed hard, surprised by the shift in the atmosphere. The night air felt warmer, his heart pounding in his chest.

Ryan took another step closer, his voice gentler now. "You don't have to do this alone. I'm here. With you."

For a moment, the world outside them faded—the competition, the responsibilities, the pressures. There was only them, standing in the gentle light of Geneva's cityscape.

Chris hesitated, then, almost against his will, relaxed his body a fraction. "I know," he whispered, his voice little more than a breath. "And that means more than you know."

Ryan smiled, his hand remaining on Chris's tie. "Good. Because I don't intend to leave anywhere."

End of Chapter 17