161Back at the house, Michael was taken aback by the icy silence that greeted him. Emily was the only one present, her arms crossed tightly over her chest."Where is everyone?" Michael asked, glancing around the empty living room.Emily's lips formed a thin line. "Olivia left," she said icily, "followed by Robert and Hilary."Michael blinked in surprise. "Why? What happened?"Emily's eyes flashed with anger. "Hilary had the audacity to eat the cookies Olivia brought for you," she spat out. "Olivia was hurt, and in her anger, she stormed off."Michael's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "And Robert and Hilary?"Emily shrugged. "They didn't stick around for long either," she retorted. "Your day together turned into a complete fiasco.""It's not my fault they decided to drop by," Michael defended himself.But Emily wasn't finished. "And you," she pointed a finger at him, "hid from me that you found our father."Michael's eyes widened. "I was trying to protect you-"Emily cut him o
162Back at the house, Emily returned home in the evening, her mind still swirling with conflicted emotions from her encounter with their father. As she entered the living room, she found Michael sitting on the couch, staring at his phone."Michael," she began, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "our father says he regrets everything... but I don't know if I believe him."Michael looked up, his face etched with concern. "I understand why you feel that way, Emily," he replied, his voice sympathetic. "But he seemed sincere to me. He wants to make things right."Emily crossed her arms, her expression guarded. "He had the means to find me all these years, but he never tried. It's hard to trust someone who abandoned us."Michael nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "I get that," he said softly. "But people can change, Emily. Maybe he's realized his mistakes and genuinely wants to be in our lives now."Before Emily could respond, Michael's phone rang, startling both of them. He quick
163In the dimly lit alley, Michael faced the trio of masked men with a growing sense of irritation. His narrowed eyes betrayed a mixture of annoyance and frustration as he confronted the unwelcome situation."Seriously? Can't a guy catch a break today?" he muttered, his tone laced with exasperation.The first masked man, emboldened by anonymity, demanded, "Shut up and hand over your valuables!"A wry chuckle escaped Michael's lips as he flexed his muscles, subtly showcasing his confidence. "You guys picked the wrong day for this."The masked trio circled him menacingly, their obscured faces concealing their intentions."We're not messing around. Cooperate, or things will get ugly," warned the second masked man.Rolling his eyes, Michael's annoyance escalated. "You really don't want to do this.""Enough talk. Let's get him!" declared the third masked man impatiently.With unexpected speed, Michael dodged the first attacker's lunge effortlessly. "Come on, you can do better than that."
Once home, Emily rushed to inform Michael about the urgent matter. She entered the room, a hint of concern on her face, "Michael, Olivia and I need to reopen the store tomorrow. We're in a hurry, and Olivia asked me to tell you. We've even invited the media, saying you'll be there. You can't stand them up."Michael, still processing the events of the day, raised an eyebrow, "Media? Why did Olivia use my name?"Emily sighed, "Well, she thought it would attract more attention. You know how these things work."Michael nodded reluctantly, "Fine, I'll do my best to be there, but I have a meeting at TecnoVen first thing in the morning for an important contract."The next morning at TecnoVen, Michael's secretary Jen approached him with a concerned look, "Mr. Ventura, the managers from Goldrex Company are here to see you.""Let them in, Jen," Michael instructed, his mind already racing with thoughts about the morning meeting and the potential conflicts.As the door opened, Michael recognized
165Michael's voice dripped with bitterness as he continued, "Yes, you had no idea. You never bothered to see past your own arrogance and treat your employees with respect. I hope you've learned something since then."John, visibly uncomfortable, attempted to diffuse the tension. "I'm here to discuss the potential partnership between TecnoVen and Goldrex Company."Michael's eyes narrowed as he addressed him, his tone laced with disdain. "You must be thrilled, to have your the company you rule seeking a partnership with the 'poor loser' you once knew. How times have changed."His face flushed with embarrassment, and he cleared his throat nervously. "Michael ... Mr. Ventura, that was a long time ago. I've changed, and so has my son."Michael scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Changed, huh? Well, you'll forgive me if I remain skeptical. I have no interest in entertaining a partnership with a company that has a history of mistreating its employees."John Smith, shifted uncomforta
166Once home, Emily was angry with Michael for his absence, saying she and Olivia called him many times without him picking up.Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Emily, I had an urgent matter to attend to at TecnoVen. Something unexpected came up."Emily crossed her arms, frustration evident in her voice. "Unexpected? Michael, we had plans, and you left us hanging. What could be more important than your family?"Michael tried to explain, "It's a cybersecurity crisis. TecnoVen is under a cyber attack, and I had to rush back to handle it. They're threatening to leak sensitive information if we don't pay them 10 millions dollars."Emily's expression softened slightly, concern replacing anger. "A cyber attack? Is the company in danger?"Michael nodded, "Yes, it's serious. I need to focus on resolving this issue to protect the company and its reputation."Concern etched across her face, Emily asked, "Do they know who the hackers are?"Michael shook his head, "Not yet. It's
167Michael needed to address the growing skepticism.He sighed, "This is a PR nightmare. We need to act fast to salvage our reputation."His father, reached out, "Michael, I've been through similar situations. Trust me, merging TecnoVen with my cybersecurity company is the best way to restore confidence."Michael hesitated, "I appreciate the help, but I want TecnoVen to stand on its own. I've learned from my mistakes, and I want to prove we can overcome this independently."Edward insisted, "Michael, this is not just about you. It's about the company, its partners, and public perception. A merger will strengthen our position."Michael argued, "But I want TecnoVen to succeed on its own merit. I can handle this setback."Edward pointed out, "This is not just a setback; it's a crisis. You need a strategic move to regain trust. Let me handle the merger details, and you'll still lead the new company."Reluctantly, Michael conceded, "Fine, but I want to be actively involved in the process.
168Next day, the documents for the merger of the two companies were ready, and Michael's father sent him Douglas, his right-hand man, along with the leaders of the cybersecurity company.Douglas handed over the documents, "Michael, these are the merger details. Your father believes it's the right step to rebuild TecnoVen's reputation."Michael scanned the papers, concern etched on his face. "I hope this doesn't compromise TecnoVen's identity."The cybersecurity leader assured, "We've structured it to preserve TecnoVen's essence. This merger will enhance our capabilities against future threats."Michael, still troubled by the events of the previous day, decided to pay a visit to Olivia's store in an attempt to see her and explain himself. On his way to Olivia's store, Michael contemplated the recent contract TecnoVen had signed.The merger and the ease with which the experts from the cybersecurity company had flushed out the hackers. He couldn't help but wonder if his father had orche