Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

35  Prelude to Making More Money

Joshua said his goodbyes to Catherine, leaving her alone with Michael for their tutoring session. Michael promptly pulled out his lecture notes, prepared to dive into the day's material. The session progressed smoothly, with Catherine showing a marked improvement in her understanding of complex concepts. This was a relief to Michael; it meant he wouldn't need to repeatedly cover the same ground in future sessions.

Catherine's quick grasp of the material allowed them to move ahead of schedule, covering more topics than initially planned. Michael could see the confidence building in Catherine as she solved problems and answered questions with increasing ease.

As they wrapped up the session, Catherine expressed her gratitude. "Thanks, Michael."

"Just doing my job, ma'am…Oh I meant Catherine," Michael replied and continued. "If you don't mind me asking, who is that man that dropped you off earlier?"

Catherine's face lit up at the mention of Joshua. "Oh, Joshua? He's not just anyone; he's the CEO of Potato Chips Co.," she explained with a hint of pride in her voice. "He started his company right out of senior high, struggled initially, but now, look at him. His brand is all over the country, and he's admired by so many, including me."

Michael listened, nodding as Catherine shared the story of Joshua's rise to success. The admiration in her voice was unmistakable. Joshua had the looks, the car, and an accomplished career at a young age. Michael couldn't help but wonder, how could he compete with that?

"So, is a successful man like Joshua your standard?" Michael couldn't resist asking. The question had been gnawing at him since Joshua's smirk earlier that day.

Catherine paused, considering the question before answering, "Yes, I guess you could say that. I wouldn't settle for less. For someone as exalted as I, I deserve someone just as exalted, don't you think?"

"Yeah…" Michael mumbled. "It's really hard for guys like me. We couldn't really aim for someone like you." Catherine's brows furrowed. "What do you mean by that…don't tell me you have feelings for me?" Michael shook his head simply. "No, I was simply making an observation. Success, as you define it, is a blend of personal achievement and recognition. It's admirable to aspire to such heights and to seek companions who match that ambition."

Catherine seemed to relax at his clarification, but a curious look remained. "So, you don't believe in setting such standards for yourself?"

"On the contrary," Michael continued, his tone more assertive, "I believe in setting even higher standards. Not just in terms of business success, but in making a meaningful impact. Joshua's journey is inspiring, no doubt. It shows resilience, innovation, and the drive to succeed against all odds. My path, however, while different, is no less ambitious."

Catherine appeared intrigued. "And what path is that?"

Michael leaned back, choosing his words carefully. "A path that not only seeks success in the traditional sense but also challenges the status quo. One that contributes to society in a transformative way. Yes, financial success is a part of it, but so is social impact, sustainability, and innovation that benefits the larger community."

Catherine nodded thoughtfully, absorbing his perspective. "That sounds... quite noble. And ambitious."

"It is," Michael affirmed. "Success isn't just about what you achieve for yourself. It's about how those achievements can be leveraged to make a difference in the world. That's the kind of success I'm aiming for. One that's not just exalted, but also meaningful and impactful."

"Interesting…I didn't know you are capable of thinking so deeply about these issues," Catherine remarked, genuinely impressed. Their conversation had revealed a side of Michael she hadn't seen before, far removed from the typical tutor-student dynamic.

Just then, the sound of a message notification interrupted their discussion. Catherine glanced at her phone and her expression shifted. "That's Joshua. He's here to pick me up. We have a dinner engagement."

Michael nodded, understanding the cue. "Of course, don't let me keep you."

As they gathered their things, Catherine seemed hesitant, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "Michael, I really wish you good luck on your future endeavors. The solar panel you mentioned but turned out to be an error, maybe you'd be a great engineer in a year or two and work for the company that makes them."

"That's not necessary, I believe in my product's legitimacy. Thank you for your words but I also have a personal matter to attend to. Enjoy your dinner."

With that, Michael left the coffee shop, and as soon as he got out, the Ford Raptor Joshua was driving arrived. Ford Raptor…a lot of people dreamt of driving that kind of car in the Philippines, and Michael also dreamt of driving his own car. Earlier, he impulsively thought of buying a car, but it was clear that he didn't need it yet. Though he would definitely need his own vehicle because of the convenience and comfort it brings. For example, going from one place to another when he was scouting for a warehouse. He had to take multiple trips, buses, jeepneys, and tricycles. It was exhausting. Well—in three days. There's a plan to get more money and that is gambling and stock trading. He has seventeen million pesos in his bank account. If he can grow that tenfold, he might be able to afford himself his own warehouse and start his business enterprise. In the stock trading side, well Michael has to utilize his prediction of the crypto crashing. His seventeen million pesos wouldn't be enough to yield significant gains. But an idea popped up in his head, that would definitely make-or-break his life. For that, he needed to prepare everything, his prediction on the stock market, some evidence, and then a dash of confidence if he were to meet her in the casino.

December 15th, 2023. Newport World Resorts. Nine o'clock in the evening. Michael was in the VIP section, in the same table as Bridget von Reimann. "All in all, you took about 50,000,000 Philippine Peso from me for the last three days," Bridget mused. "Tell me, how much do you need to really start your business?" "About one or two billion pesos," Michael answered as he tapped the table, indicating to the dealer that he called. "You really believe in your product to the point you are willing to do anything to get the funds you need to start it huh? Such as gambling," Bridget commented. "Well, yes," Michael said. "Though not only in gambling, I also do stock trading. Gambling such as this is quicker as long as you have huge capital." "Indeed," Bridget concurred. "Well, how about you present to me your business plan? And then I'll decide whether to give you a billion pesos or not." Prelim Week Nôv(el)B\\jnn