The plush interiors of Villar's boardroom were quieter than usual, with the familiar faces of the country's most powerful business tycoons gathered once again. The atmosphere was different from their last eting; it was more focused, more intense. Today, instead of discussing strategies or upcoming projects, they were watching a live broadcast of the Senate hearing where Michael Reyes was being questioned.
On the wide screen, Michael sat confidently, answering the senators' probing questions one after another. The tycoons had been waiting for this mont, hoping the Senate hearing would be the platform that would expose cracks in Reyes Corporation's teoric rise. Yet, as they watched him skillfully deflect each question, it beca clear that Michael was not just surviving the scrutiny—he was thriving.
"He's handling himself well," Jai Zobel de Ayala admitted, his arms crossed as he observed Michael's calm deanor. "Better than we expected."
Villar, who sat at the head of the table once again, nodded grimly. "I hoped this would shake him, but it seems he's well-prepared. We've thrown everything we can at him—scrutiny on his acquisitions, pressure through regulatory bodies—and he's still coming out unscathed."
Henry Sy Jr., usually the most calculated of the group, leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the screen. "The senators are playing right into his hands. Every question they ask gives him a platform to highlight his achievents. Look at him—he's spinning this to his advantage."
On the screen, Michael was addressing a question about Reyes Corporation's rapid growth and its potential monopoly in multiple sectors. His response was asured, emphasizing how his company's innovation and investnts had created jobs and pushed industries forward. The senators, clearly hoping for a slip-up, were instead receiving well-rehearsed and compelling answers.
Lance Gokongwei shook his head in disbelief. "This hearing was supposed to be about putting him on the defensive. Instead, he's turning it into a PR win. The more they press, the more he talks about job creation and public benefits. He's painting himself as the hero."
Pangilinan, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. "He's mastered the art of public perception. Even when they tried to question his academic background, he turned it around. Made himself look like a relatable underdog who overca the odds. The public loves that narrative."
Villar clenched his fist on the table. "It's not just about perception. He's smart, too smart for his own good. But we need to rember—public sentint can change quickly. He's walking a fine line between being a visionary and being seen as too powerful. We need to exploit that."
Sy Jr. nodded in agreent. "He's still vulnerable. His rapid expansion, especially in tech and energy, is creating a lot of pressure points. If we can find a way to shift the narrative—make it less about his innovations and more about the dangers of one company holding too much influence—it could start to turn public opinion."
As they continued watching the broadcast, the cara panned to Senator Moreno, who was gearing up for another round of questioning. Moreno had been the most critical of Michael throughout the hearing, but even he seed to be running out of angles to attack from. Despite his best efforts, Michael had deflected every attempt to undermine him.
Ayala let out a deep breath. "He's good. Too good. He's framing this hearing as an opportunity to position himself as a visionary, soone who's not just leading a corporation, but leading a national movent toward progress."
Gokongwei spoke up, his voice tense. "This is exactly why we need to ramp up pressure. He's using this platform to solidify his image as untouchable. If this continues, no amount of regulatory pressure will stop him."
Villar steepled his fingers, deep in thought. "The problem is, we're fighting on his terms. The more we focus on these hearings and regulatory challenges, the more ti he has to consolidate his power. We need to hit him where it hurts—his public image."
Pangilinan nodded. "Public sentint is the battleground we need to focus on. We have to create doubt about the man behind the company. There are still questions about his rapid rise, his academic record, and the way he's managed to stay one step ahead of everyone. We need to feed that narrative—make people wonder if he's too good to be true."
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Villar tapped his fingers on the table. "Agreed. The key is to start planting seeds of doubt. Use the dia, push stories about the risks of monopolies, the dangers of overreach, and how unchecked power can harm consurs. We need to make sure people see the risks in allowing Reyes Corporation to grow unchecked."
Ayala chid in, "We also need to start quietly supporting the competitors he's overshadowed. If we can help those smaller companies push back, even a little, it will create cracks in his narrative of being the only innovator in the market."
Sy Jr., who had been largely silent, finally spoke again. "He's playing a long ga, and so should we. We can't defeat him with one swift move. But if we can slowly erode his support base, chip away at his credibility, and create enough distractions, we can slow his progress."
Villar stood, signaling the end of the eting. "It's ti to ramp up our efforts. We have the resources, the connections, and the influence. Let's make sure we use them. Reyes may have won today's battle, but this war is far from over."
"But I realized sothing," Gokongwei spoke. "Well if we are fighting Michael Reyes on a legal term, then the possibility of us winning won't be as high. We have to do illegal things…"
The room fell silent after Lance Gokongwei's remark. Everyone in the room knew that the line between legal and illegal was often blurred in business, but outright acknowledging it was sothing else.
"Illegal, such as what, Lance?"
Gokongwei glanced around the room before continuing. "We've all dealt with competition before, but Reyes is different. He's operating on a scale and speed that we've never seen before. Regulatory pressure and dia manipulation won't be enough to bring him down. If we're serious about this, we need to hit him where he can't defend himself. We need to disrupt his operations—not just through red tape and public sentint, but through more direct ans."
Henry Sy Jr. remained silent for a mont before speaking. "You're suggesting sabotage?"
Gokongwei nodded, his face emotionless. "Not just sabotage—intimidation, infiltration, whatever it takes. His infrastructure is growing faster than we can contain it. But it's still vulnerable. We can hit his supply chains, disrupt his partnerships, and destabilize his workforce. If we can create enough chaos, he won't be able to maintain the sa level of control."
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