Ashley raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden spark in Benjamin’s eyes. "Oh boy, I know that look. What crazy idea are you cooking up upstairs?"
Benjamin leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the counter as a slow grin spread across his face. "Nike has Cristiano Ronaldo. Adidas has Lionel ssi. They’re the faces of their brands—forces to be reckoned. But Puma? They don’t have that one figurehead yet. What if I beco THAT guy?"
Ashley blinked, processing his words. "You want to be Puma’s answer to Ronaldo and ssi? That’s... ambitious, Ben."
"Exactly," Benjamin said, his voice gaining confidence. "Nike and Adidas already have their kings. Puma’s offer might not have the sa upfront flash due to popularity, but they’re offering sothing the others can’t—a chance to build sothing from the ground up. To be the player people associate with their brand."
Ashley leaned back with her arms crossed, and a small smile playing on her lips. "You’re serious about this, aren’t you?"
"Completely," he said, nodding firmly. "It’s risky, sure. But if it works out, I won’t just be another na in their roster. I’ll be the one who helped put Puma on the map in football."
Ashley tapped her fingers against her arm, considering his words. "It’s a bold move. Puma’s betting big on you, but you’d also be betting big on them. If they don’t deliver on their end..."
"I know," Benjamin interrupted. "It’s a gamble. But Ashley, I’m not just playing for money or short-term fa. I want to leave a mark. I want to leave a Legacy... I want to be rembered—not just as a great player but as soone who helped change the ga."
Ashley studied him for a long mont, her expression a mix of skepticism and admiration. Finally, she let out a low laugh. "You really are sothing else, Benjamin."
He grinned. "Is that your way of saying you think it’s a good idea?"
"I think it’s a crazy idea," she corrected, though her tone was light. "But you’ve always thrived on proving people wrong. If anyone can pull this off, I believe it’s you."
Benjamin leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile on his face. "So, it’s settled then. I’ll go with Puma."
Ashley rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. "Alright, Mr. Visionary. I’ll get in touch with them and start ironing out the details. Just promise one thing."
"What’s that?" Benjamin asked, his tone curious.
"Don’t let this go to your head," she said, jabbing a finger in his direction. "You’ve got a lot of potential, Ben. But potential ans nothing if you don’t keep working for it."
He nodded, his expression turning serious. "I won’t. I promise."
"So, what about Red Bull? Have you decided yet?" She asked.
Benjamin leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful expression clouding his features as he stared at the Red Bull proposal still lying on the counter.
Unlike the others, this one wasn’t just about football—it covers sothing much bigger, sothing broader. It was a chance for him to diversify, to branch out into avenues he hadn’t even considered before.
His fingers tapped against the edge of the table, the gears in his mind turning. "Red Bull’s offer... It’s different."
Ashley nodded, watching him carefully. "That’s true. It’s not purely football with them. It’s lifestyle, culture, and everything in between. You’d be stepping into a whole different world."
"It’s quite tempting, though" Benjamin admitted, his voice quieter now. He picked up the docunt, and his eyes scanned over the bold text again. "The money’s great, and the exposure is insane"
"They’re offering €400,000 annually," he said thoughtfully, "and that’s just the base. The off-field ventures, the events, the docuntary... it’s a brand-building opportunity."
Ashley nodded, leaning her chin on her hand. "Exactly. Red Bull’s not thinking about your football career alone—they’re thinking about your future as a global personality. It’s a different kind of investnt."
Benjamin tapped his fingers against the counter, his mind racing. He could see it now—future comrcials that didn’t just feature him as a footballer but as an icon.
Docuntaries that’d tell his story, not just on the pitch but beyond it. Collaborations with other Red Bull athletes, diving into eSports, extre sports, and dia campaigns that spanned across industries.
"The best part about this is, it’s not exclusive to football gear either," Ashley added, breaking his train of thought. "That ans you can still sign with Puma for boots or even explore other options down the line."
Benjamin’s lips curved into a small smile. "So, I get to have my cake and eat it too."
"Exactly," Ashley said with a chuckle. "Red Bull’s deal is different from the others. It’s more versatile, more open-ended. But that also ans it’s on you to make the most of it. They’ll give you the platform, but you’ll have to do the heavy lifting."
Benjamin exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "You know, I wasn’t sure about Red Bull at first. It felt... out of my league. But now, seeing it like this, it feels like a no-brainer. I’d be stupid to let this slip."
Ashley smiled knowingly. "I was waiting for you to say that. I’ll reach out to their reps and finalize everything. We’ll set up a eting to go over the terms and get the signatures done."
Benjamin nodded, his mind already buzzing with possibilities. "Do it. Let’s make it official."
Ashley straightened up, picking up her phone. "You won’t regret this, Benjamin. Red Bull’s a big organization, just like you’d be a few years from now. And together, you’ll make one hell of a team."
As she began drafting an email to Red Bull’s representatives, the sound of the door unlocking drew their attention.
The door creaked open, and a light, cheerful voice called out, "Hey, Benjamin, I’m back!"
A mont later, Sophie stepped into the apartnt with her small suitcase trailing behind her. Her blonde hair frad her face perfectly, and she radiated confidence, even in casual wear.
Her eyes quickly swept the room, landing on Benjamin and Ashley at the counter. Sophie raised a brow and a teasing smile crept onto her lips. "Umm, did I co in at the wrong ti?" she asked, her voice laced with playful innuendo.
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