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
169Undeterred, Michael chuckled, "Well, I've played a fair bit. It's all in good fun, right?"The rich men exchanged smirks, clearly amused by Michael's audacity. The leader scoffed, "Fun? This is a game for winners, not someone like you."Despite the condescending remarks, Michael decided to persist. "Come on, a friendly match won't hurt. Let's see who the real winner is."Michael was an ace at billiards, he played it with his grandfather when he was still very young.The men laughed, their arrogance intensifying. "You're out of your league, buddy. Go find a corner to hide in or something," one of them mocked.Michael, undeterred by the insults, picked up a cue stick and confidently approached the pool table. "Let's play. Maybe I'll surprise you."The leader, a tall man with slicked-back hair and a disdainful smirk, sneered, "Surprise us? I highly doubt that." He glanced at his companions, who all seemed to share the same arrogance.A burly man with a thick beard chuckled, "Look at
170Marcus gave a subtle nod, and as Michael prepared for his next shot, Rick discreetly leaned against the table, attempting to subtly shift the balance and throw off the game.Michael took his stance, unaware of the subterfuge. He took his shot, and the cue ball veered off course—just as Rick had intended. A smug smile spread across Rick's face."Looks like your luck's run out, Ventura," Marcus taunted.But Michael simply chalked his cue, unfazed. "Let's see about that."On his next turn, Michael adjusted his stance ever so slightly, compensating for the altered position of the table. The rich men, thinking they had successfully disrupted Michael's game, exchanged triumphant glances.Alex, with a smirk, exclaimed,"Nice try, Ventura. But you can't recover from that."Undeterred, Michael calmly observed the new layout and took his shot. To the men's astonishment, the cue ball crossed the altered path flawlessly, sinking another ball.Jeremy, was in disbelief, "How did he...? That sho