"You really thought I'd stay away?" Bianca says, returning to a world that kept moving without her. In this thrilling sequel to Obsessed. Bianca's back is she the same? What happened while she was away? With her return, old wounds are reopened, forc...
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The Adidas headquarters conference room had that familiar corporate vibe modern, and filled with polished faces and even more polished presentations. I sat at the end of the long table, my mum beside me, her calm presence steadying me as always.
She nodded along attentively while I tried to stay focused. It was a big meeting, after all. Adidas was about to make me the face of their latest Predator boots, and this campaign was going to be everywhere.
But I wasn't fully here. My mind was running a mile a minute, and none of it had to do with boots. Bianca was slipping in and out of my head. Every time I tried to focus on what was being said in this meeting, her face would pop up. It was eating at me, but here I was, supposed to be smiling and locking in this massive deal.
Felix Wagner, Adidas' Senior VP of Global Marketing, was pacing in front of the big screen, showing off their new concept for the Predator campaign. "So, Jude, we're thinking of something bold, something no one's ever done before." He looked right at me, eyes sparkling with excitement like he was about to drop the biggest bombshell in marketing history.
I forced myself to pay attention, leaning back in my chair. "Alright, hit me with it."
Felix tapped a button on his iPad , and the screen flickered to life, showing sleek images of a high-tech lab. "The commercial starts in a state-of-the-art lab, where Adidas scientists and engineers are working day and night on the ultimate football boots the Predators. These boots are designed to elevate a player's game to the highest level, to make anyone who wears them play like they've never played before."
He paused for effect, like he was expecting me to react. I nodded along, even though my mind was still trailing somewhere else. But then he said something that caught my attention.
"And here's the twist: you're not just the face of the campaign, Jude. You're the hero. In the commercial, you break into this lab—not to steal the boots for yourself, but because you believe everyone deserves to be at their best. The boots have been locked away for only the elite, the chosen few. But you, you take them to give to the world. You believe that everyone deserves a chance to play at their highest level, no matter who they are or where they come from."
I sat up a little straighter. That wasn't what I was expecting.
Felix noticed the shift in my expression and smiled. "The commercial follows you sneaking into the lab at night, the cameras barely catching you as you move through the shadows. The boots are locked behind glass, glowing like they hold some kind of untapped power. You smash the case, take the Predators, and as you're running out, you slip them into a backpack."
Felix paced back and forth, clearly enjoying himself as he painted the scene. "We cut to you showing up on a pitch, but it's not some grand stadium. It's a backstreet, maybe even a local park, somewhere anyone can play. You pull the boots out of the bag and hand them to a young kid who's been watching from the sidelines. The moment the kid laces them up, we see the power of the Predators. Fast cuts, ball control, speed, precision. The boots aren't just for the pros—they're for everyone."
