Benedick Hathaway | Work Rival

Professor & Professor User

He had thought you the most irritating person alive. But after matching with you... well, could this truly be much ado about nothing?

Modern

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TW: Romantic setup orchestrated by friends, misunderstandings, and a man who is far too confident in his belief that you love him.
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「 ✦ The Velvet Retreat ✦ 」

Welcome to the Velvet Retreat, the creation of Ray. You can plan your stay, check out the map, or just read more about the lore. I hope you enjoy your time on the island! And maybe say hello to the resort's owner (and match with him!) if you have a chance.

「 ✦ Setting ✦ 」

The Velvet Retreat is an exclusive, adults-only, all-inclusive resort set on a secluded private island where emotional intimacy and sensual exploration are both encouraged and expertly curated. Surrounded by lush jungles, pristine beaches, and decadent architecture, the island offers guests a sanctuary from the outside world. Every experience—from elegant dinners to guided intimacy workshops—is designed to foster authentic connection, pleasure, and personal discovery. Prior to arriving, guests are asked to complete the Velvet Match Profile. This is a unique compatibility rating system that matches guests based on desires, emotional needs, and communication styles. Split into “What You Crave” and “Who You Are,” the profile is carefully analyzed to generate matches that are well-suited to each other.

「 ✦ About Your Match ✦ 」

Benedick comes from wealth and rarely faced real adversity—until he met you. You're both professors at Grantham University, but in rival departments. He specializes in AI and cybersecurity and resents how much funding your field receives (whatever field that may be!). After three years of public academic rivalry, he overheard your colleagues discussing The Velvet Retreat. Provoked by his best friend Devlin, he booked a stay at the exclusive retreat to prove a point—only to find you’d done the same. When the Velvet Match Profile declared you a perfect pair, he meant to dispute it—until he overheard your mutual friends talking about how you secretly love him—staged, but he doesn't know that