A week later, Michael found himself heading into the Senate hearing, fully aware that this session would be tougher than the last. As he stood in front of the mirror in his office, adjusting his tie, he felt the seriousness of the situation. Luis walked in with a stack of papers.
"Ready for this?" Luis asked, handing over the docunts for review.
Michael glanced at the stack and gave a simple nod. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"This will be more political than the PCC hearing. They'll be looking for soundbites, not just facts," Luis reminded him.
"I know," Michael replied, taking one last look at his reflection before turning to face the day ahead.
Juliet entered next, carrying updates from the dia. "Senator Arnaldo Moreno will likely lead the questioning. He's been very critical about corporate influence on public services, so expect him to dig deep into your acquisitions."
Michael nodded again, taking in the information. "What's the plan for after?"
Juliet was already on it. "We'll need to make sure you're consistent. Keep the ssage clear: Reyes Corporation is bringing progress and benefits to the Filipino people. Focus on jobs, innovation, and affordability."
With that, the team made their way out of the Golden Topper, Reyes Corporation's headquarters, and into the waiting car that would take them to the Senate.
The Senate hearing room was packed. Caras were lined up at the back, capturing every move. As Michael took his seat, he could see Senator Moreno shuffling papers, clearly preparing for the grilling ahead.
The committee chair, Senator Isabel Santiago, began the proceedings. "Today, we will discuss Reyes Corporation's impact on market competition and consur welfare, particularly in the sectors of energy, technology, and pharmaceuticals."
She nodded towards Moreno, who was quick to jump in. "Mr. Reyes, Reyes Corporation has grown into a dominant force in several industries. My concern is the effect this growth has on smaller businesses and, more importantly, the consurs. Can you explain how your recent acquisitions help promote competition, rather than stifle it?"
Michael leaned into the microphone. "Senator, our acquisitions have allowed us to increase efficiency and reduce costs, which in turn benefits the consur. We're able to provide better services at lower prices. Smaller businesses can still operate in areas where they have a competitive advantage."
Moreno didn't waste any ti. "But isn't it true that your pricing strategies are putting smaller competitors out of business?"
Michael shook his head. "Not exactly, Senator. We focus on improving operations and passing those savings on to consurs. Smaller companies still have opportunities in local markets and niche areas. Our presence pushes the industry to innovate, which ultimately helps everyone."
The back-and-forth continued, with Moreno digging deeper into specifics about pricing and market share. Michael remained focused, answering directly and keeping his explanations clear.
Senator Moreno moved on to another line of questioning. "Let's talk about your control over the pharmaceutical sector. Given your recent acquisitions, how do you ensure that Reyes Corporation won't hike prices once you've dominated the market?"
Michael responded, keeping his tone neutral. "We have internal policies that ensure price increases are tied to actual production costs, not market dominance. We also work closely with regulatory bodies to ensure transparency."
The hearing stretched on for hours as different senators raised concerns. So questioned Reyes Corporation's market strategies, while others asked about the potential long-term effects on public services. Juliet and Luis kept passing notes, helping Michael stay on point with facts and figures.
As the hearing resud, Senator Arnaldo Moreno leaned forward, ready with a new line of questioning, one that felt more personal than the business inquiries so far.
"Mr. Reyes," Moreno began, his tone sharper than before, "you've certainly made a na for yourself in a very short ti. Reyes Corporation has seen exponential growth under your leadership. You've developed revolutionary technologies and made ga-changing acquisitions across multiple industries. But there's sothing that concerns —and others, I'm sure. How does soone with a relatively average academic background, who by all accounts was a middling student in elentary and most of college, suddenly start excelling in such a spectacular fashion during your second year in college?"
Michael, who had been expecting business-related questions, knew this mont would co sooner or later. He calmly adjusted his position and prepared to defend his personal journey.
"Senator," Michael began, speaking directly into the microphone, "I understand your curiosity about my academic history. It's true—I didn't excel academically during my earlier years. I struggled to find focus and direction. But in my second year of college, things changed. I beca passionate about what I was learning. I started diving deeper into subjects that sparked my interest—specifically, technology and engineering. Once I found my path, my performance improved."
Senator Moreno wasn't satisfied. "That's a convenient explanation, Mr. Reyes. But your rise has been so teoric that it raises legitimate questions. People want to know how soone with no obvious history of academic brilliance or scientific background is suddenly at the forefront of developing world-changing technologies. Can you explain that?"
Michael leaned forward slightly, his expression serious. "Senator, success doesn't always follow a straight line. My earlier academic struggles shaped —they pushed to work harder when I finally found my passion. Innovation doesn't co from following the sa path as everyone else; sotis it's about finding new ways to solve problems. I surrounded myself with the best minds, the best teams, and we worked tirelessly to bring these technologies to life."
Juliet glanced at Michael, signaling that this line of questioning could quickly turn hostile. She passed him a note, reminding him to keep his answers focused and asured. Michael acknowledged it with a slight nod.
Senator Moreno continued, undeterred. "It still seems rather unusual, Mr. Reyes. We're not talking about moderate success here—we're talking about groundbreaking inventions in multiple sectors. So might say it's almost too good to be true. So I ask again: how can a person with an average academic record suddenly co up with technologies that are ahead of their ti?"
Michael didn't flinch. He knew where this was going, and it wasn't about the integrity of his company. Moreno was going after his personal credibility.
"Senator Moreno, this isn't hearing isn't about personally—it's about Reyes Corporation and the value we bring to the Filipino people. I appreciate the questions about my background, but the real issue here is the impact my company is having on the industries in which we operate. The fact is, we've created jobs, introduced technologies that are making people's lives better, and kept prices affordable for consurs. That's what matters."
Moreno leaned back in his chair, seemingly unsatisfied with Michael's redirection, but Michael wasn't done.
"Yes, I wasn't a straight-A student," Michael continued. "I didn't follow the traditional path to success. But that doesn't an I can't lead a company to success or contribute aningful innovations. The world is full of stories of people who found their calling later in life or in unconventional ways. What matters is the result, and the results speak for themselves."
Senator Isabel Santiago, the committee chair, stepped in to redirect the questioning. "Senator Moreno, I think Mr. Reyes has made it clear that his personal journey is not the primary issue at hand. Let's focus on the corporate aspects of today's hearing."
Moreno, though visibly frustrated, nodded in acknowledgnt, but not before getting in one last jab. "Mr. Reyes, we'll let the public decide whether your rise is credible or not. But let's move on."
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