Everyone chuckled lightly. The tone in the room was easy, collaborative — professionals at work, but with the air of something exciting about to unfold.
Markus turned the tablet around to Lukas. "We'll walk you through the plan in detail, then get you to the wardrobe for fitting. You'll meet our creative team, and we'll have you out there in less than an hour."
Lukas nodded, eyes scanning the visuals on the screen. "Sounds great," he said simply, the same calm, polite tone he always used, but inside, he could already feel that familiar buzz of adrenaline building again.
This was a different kind of arena, not the roar of fans or the glare of stadium lights, but the world of brand image, sponsorships, and global exposure.
And even though it wasn't a pitch, Lukas knew instinctively — it was still a stage.
* * *
